RLn 11-15-18

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.

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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]

1

Community Announcements:

Harbor Area A Bridge Home Information Fair

SAN PEDRO — Please attend to learn more about the proposals for a Bridge Home at 515 S. Beacon Street. Each service department and provider will have a booth to answer your questions and concerns. Light refreshments will be served.

Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 27 Cost: Free Details: RSVP www.tinyurl.com/y98mjw8p Venue: Boys and Girls Club, POLA site, 100 W. 5th St., San Pedro

Officials Urge Monetary Donations to Help Fire Victims

LOS ANGELES — Instead of donating goods to local fire victims in need, Los Angeles County and city officials urge individuals wanting to help to instead make monetary contributions to a local non-profit organization supporting residents displaced by the Woolsey fire.

With monetary donations, the difficult and labor-intensive efforts to sort, store and repackage donated or in-kind goods can be avoided. Instead, nonprofits can provide direct support to residents in need. Once immediate needs are met, nonprofit organizations will continue to support victims for weeks, months and even years later.

Officials also caution members of the public to beware of financial scams related to wildfire recovery support, urging that donations be made to reputable first responder, relief, and animal-aid organizations, such as those listed below: •American Red Cross: redcross.org • United Way: unitedwayla.org • Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation: lacountyanimals.org • Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: https://twitter.com/LAFDFoundation Details: www.lacounty.gov/woolseyfire

It’s a Good Time to Sign Up For a Bridge Tour

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LONG BEACH — With the opening of the Gerald Desmmond Bridge Replacement Project about a year away, requests for our on-site construction tours have increased recently. The new monthly tour sign-up page is Eventbrite which gives you the ability to register for tours through April 2019.

Behind-the-scenes tours are led by a senior engineer on the Bridge who covers the types of bridge construction, immense scope of the work, and fun facts about the history and building of the new bridge. Tours last about 90 minutes and occur on the third Thursday of each month, except November and December due to the holidays.

Tours are free and parking is provided.

Details: www.newgdbridge.com/contactus/site-tours

LBER Pipeline Replacement Project

LONG BEACH — In mid-November, Long Beach Energy Resources (LBER), formerly known as Long Beach Gas & Oil, will begin work on a pipeline replacement project near Spring St. and Palo Verde Ave. This work will ensure gas distribution facilities continue to function at high standards of safety, reliability and efficiency.

Details: Project map: www.longbeach.gov/ district5/news/long-beach-energy-resourcespipeline-replacement3

Carson City Council Regular Meeting

City Council, Housing Authority and Successor Agency regular meeting Time: 6 to 11 p.m. Nov. 20 Details: www.ci.carson.ca.us Venue: 701 E Carson St., Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, Carson

November 15 - 28, 2018

Free E Waste and Tire Recycling

2

E-waste, household hazardous waste, and used tire drop off is also available the second and fourth Saturday of every month, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the EDCO Recycling and Transfer Collection Center, located at 2755 California Avenue in Signal Hill Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec.1 Cost: Free Details: (562) 570-2856; www.longbeach.gov/lbrecycles.

Venue: Environmental Services Bureau, 2929 E. Willow St., Long Beach

Committed to Independent Journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for More Than 30 Years [Timing from p. 1]

Getting the Timing Right This Time Entertainment District and started construction onto developments such as the Centre Street Lofts, Bank Lofts and the Vue. It was hoped was that these would mostly be owner-occupied condos. It took the bursting of the housing bubble at the start of the Great Recession to bring the boom of that time to a halt. Today we are on the cusp of another development boom with the hope of building San Pedro’s population density to allow the historic downtown to rival other Southern California beachfront cities.

But that boom is once again threatened by the possibility of tough economic times ahead. The developments set to come on line include: • Holland project on Palos Verdes Street between 5th and 6th • Harbor View House redevelopment at 921 S. Beacon Street • Johnson Towers on Nelson Street between 5th and 6th • Boutique Hotel, 544 S. Pacific Avenue • 24 on Centre, between 8th and 9th • San Pedro Courthouse • Highpark Development (formerly known as Ponte Vista) • Rancho San Pedro Public Housing

The biggest difference between the current development cycle and the last is the discussion of affordable housing. Back then, affordable housing was generally only discussed as a means to support the arts community so as to maintain the reputation of downtown San Pedro’s core as an artist colony, a community whose reputations lent credence to the seriousness of the arts district.

In the past few years, homelessness due to the general lack of affordable housing has become a greater concern. Community members remain divided by how to proactively address the problem.

“The real estate market has been softening as of late,” Epperhart noted. “It will be interesting to see what happens when the new developments come on line in the next couple of years. We’re talking about adding units to a stable housing market.”

Off the top of his head, Epperhart surmised that there were about 30,000 rental units in San Pedro, about half of those occupied. The American Housing Survey found that, using 2016 numbers, there were approximately 20,000 total units in San Pedro, with a roughly 8.4-percent vacancy rate. Epperhart noted that even if there were only 20,000 rental units in San Pedro and 1,000 units were added, that would represent a five percent bump in housing supply.

“Consider what will happen when the new developments come on line in two or three years,” he said. “We have to consider where these new people are going to come from to fill these new developments. Is it from Long Beach, Carson, or L.A.?”

Epperhart noted that 10 years into the recovery from the last recession, no one should be in a hurry to fill the new developments.

Market watchers who have been paying attention believe a new recession is going to hit after the first of the New Year. Consumer debt is rising.

Here is what is currently on the development table:

Rendering courtesty of developer

San Pedro Courthouse

A boutique hotel is in the works at the corner of 6th Street and Pacific Avenue, next to the Warner Grand Theatre. Plans for the hotel include utilizing Art Deco architectural details that would echo the Warner Grand.

The Holland Group, the same developer that would eventually take over the Ominet project at 550 Palos Verdes Street, became the developer of choice for the San Pedro Courthouse in 2016.

The Holland Group and Los Angeles County negotiated terms for two years before negotiations broke down and the county put out a new Request for Proposals.

At the time, Kerjon Lee, communications manager for the county Department of Public Works, said Holland requested terms that were not financially feasible. A letter to Holland stated the developer had requested a 67-percent reduction in property taxes and a free lease for the entire 66-year life of the development agreement.

In so many words, the county called out the Holland Group for being greedy. Unnamed county representatives noted that the Holland Group was unwilling to agree to a Project Labor Agreement.

A new Request for Proposals was issued in June with a deadline set for August. The county was set to make a decision by October. Sources unauthorized to speak on the matter said they are still deciding on a finalist and will name the developer at the end of November.

Highpark

(Formerly known as Ponte Vista) The Highpark development has changed hands once again, and the details that the city and the immediate community have worked out over the years is locked in with 700 units—a far cry from the 1,950 units the original developer proposed nearly 15 years ago.

Harridge Development Group acquired the massive Highpark housing development for $151.6 million.

The project will deliver 676 homes across more than 60 acres at 26900 South Western

Avenue. It will include single-family detached homes, townhomes, flats, a jogging trail, park space, recreation centers and “resort-style” amenities, according to its website.

Since its inception nearly 13 years ago, Highpark has faced several setbacks due to its high density, permitting issues, and complicated infrastructure groundwork, the Daily Breeze reported.

The seller, iStar, acquired the project in 2010.

It reduced the scale of the site in 2012 and 2013, further reducing the number of homes from the original 1,950 units proposed by the original developer, Bob Bisno.

With Harridge on board, construction is expected to begin later this year.

Boutique Hotel at 544 S. Pacific

West Hollywood developer AJ Khair, known for a number of homes and multi-unit complexes on the Westside and West Hollywood, is planning to build a boutique hotel in the open lot on 6th and Pacific in San Pedro. The seven-story hotel will have 80 keys, a restaurant, and a full bar. The hotel will have 62 underground parking spaces with valet service. There’s been discussion of outfitting the hotel with a device that would offer stack parking to economize on space. The intended market is cruise-ship passengers.

Architecture firm Axis/GFA Architecture + Design is designing downtown San Pedro’s newest proposed hotel and their plans call for incorporating Art Deco elements from the Warner Grand Theatre and other neighboring buildings.

That includes a vertical neon sign similar to the one outside the theater.

Property records show that AJ Khair bought the 12,500-square-foot lot in March for $1.6 million.

[See Developments, p. 7]

Thinking about holiday shopping yet?

For the Holidays

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November 15 - 28, 2018

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San Pedro and Harbor Gateway Turned into a Shooting Gallery

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November 15 - 28, 2018

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Police say that back-toback shootings in Harbor City and San Pedro on Nov. 11, left two men wounded, one critically. In the first shooting at about 6:30 p.m., a man was on the sidewalk in front of Enigma Bar on Pacific Ave. near 13th St. in San Pedro when two men approached him and one opened fire in an apparent gang-related crime, Officer Rosario Herrera, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles Police Department said.

Around the same time, a man was involved in a verbal dispute with two others in front of Passion’s adult video store on Pacific Coast Highway near 257th St. in Harbor City. One of them pulled out a gun and shot him, according to police.

The suspects fled, with the victim taken to a hospital in stable condition, she said.

This follows four shootings on Nov. 9, to which Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Station officers responded. The fourth incident involved two men chasing each other with guns. Photos by Raphael Richardson

[Blue Wave from p. 1]

Accused Serial Fraudster into Custody

LOS ANGELES — Jeffrey Craig Yohai, 36, former son-in-law of Paul Manafort, was arrested Nov. 8 on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft. Yohai was denied bail, in part because a new criminal complaint just unsealed in United States District Court outlined alleged he participated in a series of previous scams while free on bond after pleading guilty in a prior federal case.

In both cases, Yohai obtained money for what he claimed was a legitimate purpose, such as an investment, but he then used the money for personal expenses or to pay debts.

The first case, which resulted in a guilty plea, involved approximately $15 million in real estate loans that supposedly would be used to purchase and rehabilitate properties in the Hollywood Hills.

Court documents show Yohai defaulted on the loans and the properties went into foreclosure — which Yohai tried to delay with bankruptcy filings.

The unsealed case discusses the prior loan fraud case, as well as evidence of prior scams, including a $6 million investment scheme and a check kiting scheme involving more than $500,000 in checks that bounced. The new case alleges a loan-fraud scheme related to two of the properties at issue in the original federal case.

The case against Yohai is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division. The two cases against Yohai are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section.

EPA Awards $300K to California Small Businesses

City Attorney Feuer Files Amicus Brief with Coalition, Against Trump

and march, they also spent the last two years organizing and volunteering to get out the vote in critical swing districts. That is how we won,” he said.

“There were people all over Chicago looking for this kind of way to make a difference,” said Connie Meyer, a co-leader of Northside

Chicago Swing Left, which formed in February 2017 and helped unseat six-term representative Peter Roskam, who’d never gotten less than 59 percent defending his suburban seat.

Barbara Kent was a Swing Left co-leader in NY 11, covering Staten Island and parts of [See Democrats Gain, p. 10]

Join us on for our monthly meeting on

Monday, November 26 at 7 p.m.

Midterm Election Results!

What’s Next?

At Think Café

302 W. 5th St., San Pedro • Details: (916) 837-0920

November 15 - 28, 2018

[See News Briefs, p. 10]

U.S. Representative-elects Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, above, are the first muslim women to be elected to Congress. File photo

LOS ANGELES — City Attorney Mike Feuer announced Nov. 8 that the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago were joined by 17 cities and counties in filing an amicus brief supporting the Plaintiffs in Flores v. Sessions. The coalition is seeking an injunction to prevent the Trump administration from implementing new federal rules resulting in longer detentions and lower standards of care for immigrant children.

In 1997, the federal government entered into the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA) which set out a nationwide policy for the detention, release and treatment of children in custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, now

the House in early January can thank Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum and Beto O’Rourke for generating the enthusiasm and turnout that made it possible.”

The diversity of candidates was also noteworthy, finally starting to reflect the diversity of the progressive voter base. Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar, an American-raised, Somali-born refugee, became the first of two Muslim congresswomen. Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids (a lesbian and mixed martial arts fighter with an Ivy League law degree from Cornell) became the first Native American congresswomen. Jahana Hayes, 2016 National Teacher of the Year and Ayanna Pressley were the first black congresswomen from New England — Hayes from Connecticut, Pressley from Massachusetts. Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia became the first Hispanic congresswomen from Texas.

At the state level, Democrats won sweeping victories, flipping eight governorships, six state legislative chambers, and more than 300 state House and Senate seats. They gained unified control of the governor’s office and legislature in eight states, more than doubling their previous total of just six. In addition to changing the direction of state-level governance, this bodes well as a first step toward preventing a repeat of the systemic gerrymandering Republicans pulled off after the 2010 census. Democrats also won a majority of attorneys general seats. And similar gains trickled down to the local level.

For example, 65 percent of candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County won, according to DPOC spokesperson Rachel Potucek.

“That’s a significant accomplishment,” including a lot firsts, Potucek told Random Lengths News.

There were also significant victories for progressive initiatives — expanding Medicaid, raising the minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, expanding voting rights, and protecting against gerrymandering. Florida’s Amendment 4 restored voting rights for 1.4 million felons who had served their full sentences, representing roughly 10 percent of the state’s electorate.

But behind it all was a tremendous increase in voter participation, hitting a 104-year high in midterm turnout, with near presidentialyear levels in most places. Youth turnout was up more than 50 percent from 2014, though still well below average at 31 percent. And that, in turn, was partly driven by an enormous increase in activism. Swing Left, a group which focused on the flipping the House, mobilized 150,000 volunteers (either doing voter contact or fundraising), 40 percent of whom had never been involved in a campaign before.

“This election was a historic breakthrough for progressives even before the results,” Solomon said. “With growing intensity over the last two years — while Republicans consolidated their power at the top of the U.S. government — wide sectors of the left set aside timeworn theoretical arguments to mobilize behind the political imperative of halting right-wing momentum with votes.”

“Taking back the House is a testament to the unprecedented power of the grassroots effort led by the thousands of volunteers who channeled their energy into meaningful action,” Swing Left co-founder Ethan Todras Whitehill said.

“In response to Trump and the Republican agenda, progressives did more than just protest

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LOS ANGELES — Nov. 8, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $300,000 in funding to three small businesses in California to develop new technologies that protect the environment while growing the American economy. About $1.7 million was awarded to 16 small businesses nationwide.

The contracts are funded through the EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research program, which encourages the development and commercialization of novel technologies that support the EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.

The EPA is awarding Phase 1 contracts to the following three small businesses in California: Seacoast Science Inc., Carlsbad, to develop innovative broad-spectrum analysis methods for Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that will simplify PFAS analysis, reduce cost-per-sample, and allow portability to remediation sites; Altex Technologies Corporation, Sunnyvale, to create a process to produce renewable, toxic-free, lowenergy, low cost bioplastics; Intelligent Optical Systems Inc., Torrance, to create greener, degradable plastics with a high heat tolerance, produced from bio-based feedstock.

Details: SBIR contracts funded, https://tinyurl. com/https-cfpub-epa-gov-ncer-abs and www.epa. gov/sbir

Blue Wave Crashes Trump’s Party

5

Dear’s Back, Santarina Ousted, Charter Passes

By Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter

In the aftermath of the Nov. 6 election, Carson politics may prove to be as stormy as the nation’s for the next two years. As contrary as ever, the majority of voters approved a controversial and hastily-prepared city charter, but the council vote totals favored the two candidates who campaigned most stridently against the charter — Jim Dear and Lula DavisHolmes. In returning Dear to the

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council, voters ousted Elito Santarina, who’d supported the charter.

With Carson now electing its city officials in November of even years, two city council seats, along with the offices of city clerk and treasurer, were on the ballot. Carson’s officials serve four-year terms.

Carson’s voters didn’t support Jim Dear in 2016 — when he was recalled in a situation many of his supporters continue to insist was politically motivated — but they returned him to the council this time.

Dear served fourteen stormy years on the council,

Unofficial tally for Carson council candidates: Lula Davis-Holmes

8,166

Jim Dear

6,288

Elito Santarina

5,237 Ramona Pimentel 3,568 Sharma Henderson 3,333 Louie Diaz 2,794 Osmond Buendia 1,304 Nafis Muhammad 1,060 Lori Noflin 941

24.98% 19.23% 16.02% 10.91% 10.20% 8.55% 3.99% 3.24% 2.88%

Unofficial tally for Measure CA: Yes 10,420 No

8,472

55.16% 44.84%

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most of them as mayor, before becoming city clerk for about a year starting in mid-2015. During his time in office he survived multiple recall attempts before one stuck in 2016.

Both incumbents played a role in Dear’s downfall, as both voted to censure Dear prior to the 2016 recall. At times Santarina has been Dear’s ally, other times, his foe. Dear and Davis-Holmes have long been bitter rivals. She once spent a whole year steadfastly refusing to sit in the council seat he assigned her.

Santarina has been on the council since 2003 and Davis-Holmes since 2007. Santarina is a staunch ally of

Mayor Albert Robles. Since Dear’s recall Santarina has regularly voted in line with Robles and Jawane Hilton, including for an ordinance to allow “cannabis centers” (but not dispensaries) in Carson. This brought him disfavor with Carson voters who opposed allowing any commercial marijuana activity in Carson.

Carson is a city of more than 92,000 and, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, contains 58,495 registered voters. The registrarrecorder’s website also states 21,098 ballots were cast in the community, with 36.07 percent of eligible voters participating.

Dear is no stranger to Carson’s history of negative campaigning.

During this election season, several mailers identified as “Paid for

By Carson Citizens for Reform,” dragged up some of the lurid long-ago allegations that eventually resulted in his recall.

Davis-Holmes, in contrast, was subjected to an unprecedented level of attack. Mailers opposing her came from at least three different sources– Carson Citizens for Reform, Carson Residents for Progress, and Carson Residents Supporting Carson Measure CA, the proposed charter.

Several mailers attacked DavisHolmes and Dear as if they were allies.

One included such bizarre allegations as, “Davis-Holmes and Dear are campaigning together and are the only council candidates opposed to Measure CA, which would eliminate ALL empty

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lots that are only used as places to hang their political signs.”

The number of votes for and against the city charter proposal totaled 18,892, showing voters were sharply divided concerning their support for the charter compared to their support for various council candidates. Voters could vote for as many as two council candidates, and there were 32,691 votes total for council candidates—indicating perhaps 16,345 voters supported one or more candidates—further demonstrating an apparent gap between votes for the candidates, or a slate of candidates, and votes for the charter.

Santarina and planning commissioner Pimentel campaigned together for the charter, as a series of mailers paid for by all three campaigns showed.

A separate series of mailers identified as “Paid for by Carson residents supporting charter measure CA,” also urged voters to vote for Santarina, Pimentel, and the charter proposal. A mailer from the Santarina and Pimentel campaigns identified Robles, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Rep. Nanette Barragan and Assemblyman Mike Gipson as supporting Santarina. Although the same mailer did not identify them as supporting Pimentel or the charter, it asked voters to support all three.

The city clerk, Donesia GauseAldana, and the treasurer, Monica Cooper, ran unopposed. Cooper received 16,234 votes and GauseAldana, 15,884.

The city clerk must certify the election by Dec. 4. The swearingin ceremony will be in January.

[Developments from p. 2]

San Pedro Developments “The hotel is going to be a huge help to upper downtown,” said Eric Eisenberg, the prior owner of the Pacific Avenue-facing lot. “I like that the hotel will match the color scheme of the Warner Grand but I hope it will include more Art Deco elements, like the stamped concrete in front of the Warner Grand theatre.”

Following other medium to high-end boutique hotels in the Bay Area, the Westside and West Hollywood, stacked parking is being considered for guests who need cars to get to San Pedro, but not while they are here.

“I’m not sure how (stacked parking) would work in San Pedro. We have municipal parking lots in San Pedro that stay empty,” Epperhart said. “Parking is not an issue for San Pedro.

When it is a problem, downtown San Pedro will be successful.”

Renderings courtesty of developer

Rancho San Pedro Public Housing

Harbor View House

Johnson Tower

(Formerly known as Nelson One) Councilman Joe Buscaino has been trying to get the much-maligned Nelson One project for a few years now. On the concept alone, the project has been

Photo by James Preston Allen.

Single-family residences go up on Centre Street between 8th and 9th. Twenty four units are slated to be finished in early 2020.

24 on Centre

Photo by James Preston Allen.

The Santa Clarita-based developer Williams Homes broke ground on 24 on Centre in October 2017.

The project will consist of 24 singlefamily residences, each with a rooftop deck and a parking garage. So far, the foundation and steel frames are in place.

Renderings of the development, which was designed by KTGY Architecture + Planning, portray a collection of contemporary three-story buildings, located along a central driveway.

November 15 - 28, 2018

The historic landmark at 921 S. Beacon St. was a YMCA then the largest residential board-and-care facility west of the Mississippi for mentally ill adults. Its unique site makes it desirable for redevelopment.

by July 2019. But that timetable maybe speeded up now that the elevator at the historic landmark has been found to be irreparably broken, forcing HealthView Inc. to move the residents sooner rather than later in order to be in compliance with the American Disabilities Act.

Many in the community would agree that the redevelopment of Harbor View House is a long time coming. It was a great place that served a great need. Just in the wrong place.

“Beacon Street is supposed to be our Ocean Avenue,” Eric Eisenberg, a downtown property owner said. “That’s not possible if (we) have Harbor View House clients walking about.”

Built in 1925 as a YMCA, Harbor View House has operated as a mental health facility since 1968.

Epperhart is also happy something is being done with Harbor View House since it has been sold. It’s one less issue for the community to be divided about. There hasn’t been much discussion about the placement of the current residents of Harbor View House since the sale of the historic building was announced except that they would be relocated to other facilities.

“We had a dozen group homes at one time

in my neighborhood,” Epperhart said. “The guy that ran them had died and the homes got sold off.”

The Ocean Avenue Eisenberg was referring to was the one in Santa Monica overlooking the bluff rather the example on the other side of the Vincent Thomas bridge.

“Long Beach is the exact opposite of what we’re trying achieve,” Eisenberg said. “Their downtown maybe financially successful, but they have completely separated their community from their waterfront.”

The identity of the developer has been kept firmly under wraps, named only as the “applicant” in official documents. But according to presentations delivered through its attorneys, the applicant proposes to maintain the existing 24 on-site parking spaces and add 26 bicycle parking spaces. The applicant reportedly purchased an adjacent lot that will enable an additional 23 parking spots for a total capacity of 47 cars and they are also committed to providing an additional 23 parking spots for a total capacity of 47 cars with valet services.

The previous owner (HealthView Inc.) was supposed to complete the relocation of current residents of Harbor View House

Johnson Towers is the new iteration of Nelson One, named after its new developer Johnson Teh. It is designated to rise on tiny Nelson Street between 5th and 6th.

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This past August, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles chose the Richman Group out of four developers to redevelop the 21-acre Rancho San Pedro public-housing complex. The Richman Group leads co-developers National CORE Renaissance and Century Housing Corporation. The trio, known as the One San Pedro Project, are tasked with replacing the 478unit former workforce housing with up to 1,626 residential dwelling units that will consist of new affordable rental units, new affordable owner units, new market-rate rentals, new market-rate home-ownership opportunities, and significant space for community amenities and commercial enterprises.

The main guiding principles of the collaborative’s vision for Rancho San Pedro Redevelopment include: neighborhood services, open space and amenities, inclusive neighborhoods, health and wellness, developing within, immediate investment, and replacing the existing housing first.

The redevelopment site will also include parks, a promenade, Harbor Jogging Trail, community gardens, and bike paths. Onsite service providers may include Boys & Girls Club, Youth Development Center, WorkForce Development Center, Local Hire and Apprenticeship Programs, and expansion of supportive service for the residents of Rancho San Pedro community.

panned as out of character with the neighboring architecture and the narrow one-way street on which it would be built.

The other issue is that he chose developer Richard D. Lamphere. Lamphere was connected to a failed land deal that cost two private investors hundreds of thousands of dollars. That ultimately led to his conviction of fraud and a prison stint in September 2016.

Two years later, Nelson One plans are still there. But it’s now called Johnson Towers, named for the latest developer to take on the project, Johnson Teh — the co-founder of Black Swan Equity. The firm has offices in China, Singapore and Australia.

Teh presents a colorful character in his social media profiles, describing himself as a hybrid between a ship and wolf who believes he’s a bear.

In his LinkedIn profile, the investment banker turned global fund manager says many of his friends, and a few of his foes, say that he has a capitalist mind and a true communist heart — or vice versa when he’s in China.

7

Speculating on Gentrification The unintended consequences

By James Preston Allen, Publisher

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

I ran into Thom and Jerry at the bank recently — not the cartoon characters, both a local realtor and a businessman. Both wanted to know what was happening with the Rancho San Pedro public housing development, the homeless crisis and as they say, “What can we do about how bad it’s gotten?” Both blame “government” for how long it’s taking to build anything and both have the same scapegoat for failing to solve the homeless crisis.

I understand their angst. Here’s what I told them.

The current move to gentrify San Pedro (or any other part of Los Angeles) is a double-edged sword.

Yes, it creates some jobs in the building trades, but most of these workers aren’t going to be able to afford living in the places they build. The rather slow rush into neighborhoods in the Harbor Area has spawned a speculation bubble that’s been raising all real estate prices, which only now seem to have hit a ceiling. The average worker can’t afford to buy a modest condo in this market and rising rents have forced out many tenants. Some move to even cheaper areas and some move into their cars — like the guy who lives in his across the street from me or the people living near the post office on Beacon Street.

Bobby Nizich, the lawyer with an office above the Beacon Street post office, calls them “Urban Campers,” while Doug Epperhart, Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council president, has adopted the term “unsheltered neighbors.” Both are accurate. Gentrification is not a cure for homelessness, as it’s kind of a curse for those who can’t afford even a modest room down at the Hotel Royal that is now asking $1,300 a month for what use to go for $600.

To an extent, Thom and Jerry are right to blame City Hall. The City of Los Angeles can’t get out of it’s own way fast enough to address the problem of too little housing or the homeless crisis. In fact, the response to the Malibu firestorm and the sheltering of those victims has been much faster than the response to the “crisis” of our chronically unsheltered neighbors. I mean seriously, if the homeless crisis were really a crisis, the mayor would have declared a state of emergency, Gov. Jerry Brown or any prior administration, would have brought in the National Guard with tents and sanitation facilities, and the County Supervisors would have set up 20 to 30 refugee type camps on public property all across Los Angeles County. That would be an emergency response — unlike what we’re

seeing now.

A crisis would necessitate an all-handson-deck response like what we see with the wildfires, but what the city doesn’t get is that the whole gentrification cycle will not work unless we take care of the most needy first! This is because the speculation and development model is going to displace as many lowincome people as it will create units for those who can afford them.

One of the pieces to this puzzle that is little noticed is that in places like Central San Pedro, the current stats show that some 84 percent of the residents are renters. Home ownership is way below what would be “average” but this is the trend.

We are living in a town of people who aren’t invested in ownership and mostly feel as though they don’t have a “real” stake in the consequences or a voice in community affairs. You can see this by who shows up at the usual Economic Affairs meetings at the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. There’s very little diversity.

What we have seen over the past 30 years is a flat line on wages in the non-union private sector, which lost 30,000 middle class jobs locally during the Reagan Administration. Those jobs were exported and never came back to our shores.

The rise of global trade at our twin harbors has only benefited a few unionized workers while many others — like the port truckers and others without union contracts — have been left behind.

The gig economy has only served to provide people with a second or third jobs to pay their rent. Forget getting qualified for a mortgage to buy a condo or house.

Let’s not forget home ownership is that critical step to acquiring that ever-elusive “American Dream” and upward social mobility.

The demise of the middle class and the growing homeless crisis can be traced to the decline in homeownership, income stagnation and the social dislocation that comes with gentrification.

The cure for this mess has to be a focus on creating home ownership opportunities during the development cycle. There’s got to be a mix of affordable and low income housing along with market rate housing. This can be done with tax breaks, bridge loans and incentives for developers that look a lot like the plan for the Rancho San Pedro housing project, but that’s going to take at least a decade. The homeless crisis can’t wait.

If we as a community, a city and nation do not address the immediacy of the unsheltered problem now, all of the great ideas of redeveloping the

November 15 - 28, 2018

Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com

8

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. XXXIX : No. 23 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

L.A. waterfront will fall flat. Building ever-higher buildings in the urban core of places like San Pedro and pretending that development projects will somehow solve housing affordability and homelessness is close to delusional. Housing and homelessness have to be addressed simultaneously as one complex interdependent problem that we

actually are capable of solving.

But for right now give me two acres of public land and 200 Red Cross tents and sanitation facilities and Mr. Nizich’s Urban Campers would be off the sidewalk, and Thom and Jerry could go back to telling me how much they like Donald Trump’s tax plan and trade tariffs.

2017 Ports’ Air Emissions Update Ships remain the top contributor to most harmful air pollutants

By Richard Havenick, RLN Contributing Writer The Port of Long Beach recently posted the Emissions Inventories numbers for 2017 showing that air pollution from the ports has been reduced between 18 percent and 98 percent for the seven emission categories, while container throughput increased 12 percent at POLB and 25 percent for Port of Los Angeles. Don’t take a deep breath just yet. Pollution is slightly up for the most recent year-over-year period for all air pollutants except nitrogen oxides.

The big reductions were the result of regulations requiring cleaner fuels and technologies such as the California Air Resources Board rule requiring low sulfur fuel in ships within 24 miles of our coast in 2008 and the 2015 Environmental Protection Agency rule requiring even lower sulfur fuel in ships within the expanded 200 miles of North America. As shipping is expected to grow about two percent per year, our Ports’ strategies such as the Clean Air Action Plan become even more critically important to public health.

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For context, remember that in 2006, the California Air Resources Board estimated in 2006 that per-year the toll on California residents’ health resulting from freight transport to be about 2,400 premature deaths, 2,830 hospital admissions, 360,000 missed workdays, and 1,100,000 missed days of school, for a combined health cost total of $200 billion over 15 years. Exceeds by several magnitudes the cost of converting port operations to zero emission power sources and ships to cleaner technology.

Try sharing the emissions updates with folks suffering cancer or other ailments from port emissions or the folks living near diesel truck routes.

The Emissions Inventories are the result of coordination with the US EPA, CARB, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to provide the data for determining the percent contribution from each port source for each of seven air pollutants. Ships remain the top [See Emmissions, p. 9]

Random Lengths News editorial office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731.

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What the Dem House Should Do Next

RANDOMLetters Post Election Letters: We May Miss Sessions

Sessions’ perjury during Senate confirmation is particularly relevant now in compelling Mr. Magoo’s sworn testimony in all investigations, whether in the House Special Counsel, or US Courts. Sessions’ sharing his knowledge of meetings prior to the President’s 2016 election may offer no redemption, though he can plea bargain before returning to his home state that proposes fetal personhood, more fitting for his sensibilities than the Trump Tower minefield of mischief he leaves behind. Call on our Representatives to subpoena Sessions.

Richard Havenick San Pedro [Emissions from p. 8]

Emmission

contributor by large margin of possibly the most harmful pollutants to public health locally, particulate matter (PM10), smaller particulate matter (PM2.5), and diesel particulate matter (DPM), which are the causes of cancer, asthma, and cardio-pulmonary disease. Harborcraft and trains each emit roughly less than half the ships’ contribution, and yard equipment and trucks emit even less — between three and eight percent each of the total PM10, PM2.5 and DPM emissions.

For greenhouse gases, CO2e [including gases like methane as well as CO2], POLA recorded a 2.2 percent rise and POLB a more significant 5.4

The Caravan

Is it just me, or does anybody else notice the abrupt disappearance of “The Caravan”, that group of migrants coming north through Mexico and headed for the US? Two weeks ago it was receiving 24/7 coverage and the President warned us not to take it lightly. Last week he changed its name to an “Invasion” and ordered U.S. troops to the Mexican border to ensure our safety. Come Wednesday morning, shizam!

Gone! Where’d it go? Not a single mention of it in his press conference. Ditto for the media.

In fact, nobody seems to even remember it. Tell me, this wasn’t an American ruse was it?

Steve Varalyay Torrance

percent increase. Trucks are the top contributor to CO2e at POLA at 43 percent,with ships next at 23 percent. Long Beach CO2e contributions from trucks and ships are roughly 36 percent each.

Of the ship emissions, about half the PM10, PM2.5, and DPM emissions result from auxiliary engines used at berth/anchor. But POLB total emissions from auxiliary engines are about one-third greater than POLA, and POLB auxiliary boiler emissions of PM are about 40 percent greater than POLA. Long Beach ship emissions of other air pollutants are greater as well.

Los Angeles reports ships’ Shore Power usage at 44 percent where POLB reports 39 percent and recorded

1. Let Mueller investigation proceed, do NOT waste time on more investigations or impeachment.

2. Pass a House bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 and restore Trump-repealed rules protecting overtime pay.

Working class Americans voted for Dems on these issues, the Repub Senate must pass it, or lose more supporters.

3. Pass a “GI Bill” for workers displaced by the global economy and automation. The U.S. has a million jobs with no trained citizens to fill them. Take care of our own. Here’s a thought: change the tax break for corporations to a deduction for money spent training workers. They get a break, U.S. workers get education and training.

significantly greater emissions than POLA from tanker visits (which use auxiliary boilers), possibly a large cause of the greater LB ship emissions.

We’re already benefiting from CARB’s January 2017 rule requiring all container, passenger, and refrigerated cargo ships auxiliary engine generation be reduced by 70 percent, then 80 percent as of January 2020. The CARB may expand the at-berth/anchor emission control requiring 80 percent reductions as of January 2021 to include general cargo and dry bulk ships, January 2025 for all auto carriers, and as of either January 2025 or 2031 for all tankers, to include the tanker auxiliary boilers.

As the Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan goals for reduction in DPM and sulfur oxides by

4. Fix the Affordable Care Act’s weaknesses and repair the Trump damage to it. Again, working folk have seen health benefits cut and costs rise 20 percent or more. I know my family has, and we expect the Dems to fix this.

5. Restore the Voting Rights Act, stop Repub voter suppression.

Illegal voting is near non-existent, voter suppression is widespread and real.

6. Pass a real Infrastructure bill, simple and without pork, which puts hard hats to work.

Again, let the Repubs vote it down if they dare.

7. Hold employers, not immigrants, responsible and fine them for hiring undocumented workers. Repubs talk big about their wall, but corporations big and small continue to lure workers.

2023 are already achieved and reduction in greenhouse gas gains media attention, consider that the options to achieve reductions in the different emissions are often distinct.

The Ports’ successful Vessel Speed Reduction incentive program reduced NOx though resulted in little decrease to DPM for example. Natural gas will reduce DPM but can increase methane, contributing to greenhouse gas. Further, reliance on incentives rather

Then pass a sensible path for the “Dreamers.”

John Mattson San Pedro

Now, Accountability

I was looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you about Tuesday’s historic elections, but with the chaotic news coming out of the White House, I need to talk to you about the immediate threat to our democracy: President Trump has forced Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, and has appointed as Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. This has enormous implications for Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. We have to act right away.

Matthew Whitaker has previously been publicly critical of the Special Counsel, despite his appropriate and successful

than regulations denies the lesson learned from POLA’s Ship Low Sulfur Fuel incentive, where we can be grateful to CARB and eventually the EPA for regulatory action that resulted in the greatest emissions reductions where incentives failed.

We must ask, will the State Lands Commission and the executive administrations of Long Beach and Los Angeles heed the increasing air pollution results? Will they consider

investigation which has obtained numerous guilty pleas and convictions. He has called it a witch hunt, said Mueller should have never been appointed and suggested ways in which he could be privately neutered. There’s little doubt why Trump would want him in the job — so that he can interfere and obstruct Mueller’s investigation.

We need to act to ensure Trump does not succeed in undermining the Special Counsel’s investigation, and fast. We need to demand that Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation be protected. Matthew Whitaker must not be allowed to oversee the Russia probe. Will you add your name to protect Mueller before it’s too late?

Winning the House will make a huge difference in our ability to [See Letters, p. 19]

promoting cleaner, higher technology industries such as those suggested by AltaSea? Will they consider even slightly the tragic irony in expecting the public to pay with public taxes the cost to reduce deaths and illnesses resulting from the profit-making shipping industry? Will they understand the simple numeric fact that the cost of implementing clean technology is a fraction of the health costs otherwise forced onto the public?

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

November 15 - 28, 2018

9

Blue Wave Hits Orange County — Hard

[News Briefs from p. 5]

the Department of Homeland Security.

In September 2018, the Trump Administration, through DHS and Health and Human Services, proposed rules relating to detention of immigrant children in an attempt to undo the protections of the FSA through the federal rulemaking process.

Instead of being consistent with the terms of the FSA, as required, the proposed rules dispense wholesale with the FSA’s most critical protections, in favor of a new detention policy for which defendants identify no supportable justification.

Port of Los Angeles Statement on Container Incident

SAN PEDRO — On Oct. 30, a 40-foot shipping container exploded at the Port of Los Angeles inside the Evergreen Terminal when a combustible substance ignited, according to a statement from the port. The port was evacuated and there were no injuries.

The container in question came to the port from a nearby recycling facility with 11 other containers bound for Taiwan, all of which have been cleared as safe.

Preliminary analysis by the Los Angeles Port Police Hazardous Materials Unit, Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Squad, and United States Coast Guard indicates that a form of combustible fuel or other compound was ignited in the sealed container.

Procedures at the recycling facility will be reviewed by the Los Angeles Port Police, and the Coast Guard will review their Facility Security Plan.

The results of this investigation and recommendations will be reported back to the Board of Harbor Commissioners and the public.

Bridge Project Places the Last Piles

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

LONG BEACH — As the Bridge Project heads toward completion in 2019, the construction team will finish a significant milestone: placing the last of the 352 underground piles on top of which the superstructure of the new bridge has been built.

Piles are built in precise clusters to support the bridge columns and two towers. Connecting most of the more than 100 columns to their pile clusters requires construction of pile caps. These large reinforced concrete slabs are built atop the pile cluster to evenly distribute the weight of a column into the piles.

These final columns are being constructed in the space created by the demolition of the old northbound 710 connector ramp. They will support a new off-ramp from the eastbound decline into the city via Ocean Boulevard or Port terminals via Pico Avenue.

Details: www.newgdbridge.com

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

Right-wing wacko Dana Rohrabacher was finally whacked out of the House by Orange County voters on Nov. 6 — after three decades, not three terms, as he had promised when he first ran for office as a proponent of terms limits. The end came slowly for Putin’s favorite congressman. His opponent, first-time Democratic candidate Harley Rouda, led by 2,682 votes on election night, then by 3,602 on Nov. 7, by 4,756 on Nov. 8, and 7,328 on Nov. 9, before Rouda finally claimed victory the next

Representative-elect Harley Rouda ousted Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher from office. File photo [Gains from p. 5]

Former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was jokingly said to be on Vladimir Putin’s payroll by a Republican colleague.

morning.

“After careful consideration of the data provided by the fantastic team at the Orange County Registrar, my staff and I are now confident that we have won the congressional race in California’s 48th District,” Rouda announced via Twitter.

“This victory has been powered by voters across the political spectrum, hailing from all corners, and all communities, of the 48th district. I am deeply humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve in Congress.”

Associated Press called the race shortly after. It was a model race, according to Louise Larsen, media chair for the 72nd Assembly District Alliance, who said it “set the bar” for all other races in her area.

But Rohrabacher’s defeat in CA-48 was only part of the story of how the nationwide Blue Wave hit Orange County.

In CA-49, covering southern Orange County and northern San Diego County, Democrat Mike Levin handily beat Republican Diane Harkey to replace Darrell Issa, who saw the writing on the wall and retired. The other two Orange County congressional races first appeared to

November 15 - 28, 2018

Brooklyn. Staten Island had only had one Democratic representative she could remember.

When Swing Left considered adding the district to its list, “I told them it would be (the) hardest race to win, but it could be done,” she said. She was right. It was the first “Rep favored” seat to go blue on the New York Time’s House Election List of 80 races.

But it doesn’t take a megalopolis. In Kansas 3, where Sharice Davids won, Alan Sunkel and his wife read about Swing Left in the New Yorker in January 2017, and helped start the group there.

“We had a pretty committed group of volunteers here who formed the steering committee,” he said. Plus, they had support from outside the district, just across the river in Missouri.

Because it had been theoretically possible for Democrats to win as many as 50 seats or more, many pundits initially downplayed the accomplishment in the House, or strangely echoed Donald Trump’s bizarre morning-after press conference claim that, “To be honest — I’ll be honest, I thought it was a — I thought it was a very close to complete victory [for Republicans].”

Meanwhile, back in the real world, voters passed a number of initiatives that underscored

[See Hit Hard, p. 20]

how significantly pragmatic bipartisan support equates with so-called “hard left” policy ideas that progressives have been pushing for years, if not decades.

Three deep-red states – Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah – voted for Medicaid expansion; two other red states – Arkansas and Missouri – substantially raised the minimum wage; and two of the five – Utah and Missouri – voted to legalize medical marijuana, while Michigan fully legalized marijuana. Massachusetts passed transgender anti-discrimination protections – the first in the nation – while Washington state tightened gun control laws.

On voting-rights, Florida passed the historic Amendment 4, restoring the voting rights of convicted felons who have completed the full terms of their sentences. A whopping 1.4 million Floridians had their voting rights restored. Nevada and Michigan passed automatic voter registration laws, bringing the total to 15 states, plus Washington, D.C., Maryland and Michigan both passed sameday registration. And the voters of Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah passed anti-gerrymandering initiatives, removing politicians from drawing their own districts.

“The Blue Wave didn’t save us; each and every volunteer did,” Whitehill said. “But there’s still so much more to do. This is just the beginning. We promise to keep working.

We hope everyone else will, too.”

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Democrats Gain

favor Republicans, but by Nov. 13, Mimi Waters fell behind her challenger, consumer protection attorney Katie Porter, by 261 votes in CA-45, while Republican Young Kim’s lead in CA-39 over Democrat Gil Cisneros fell to just 711 votes.

But it wasn’t just congress that saw the Blue Wave, either nationally or locally, as noted by Rachel Potucek, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Orange County.

The party saw 65 percent of its endorsed candidates win — a record high.

“It’s very very exciting for us and we have a lot of incredible firsts,” Potucek told Random Lengths News. “Harvey Rouda would be the first Democrat elected to the 48 congressional district. We’re very excited about that,” she said. But there was much more to celebrate.

“We elected our first LGBT Muslim in the United States, with Ahmad Zahra in Fullerton City Council. We elected the first Latinos and

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TROPICALIA FEST We Got Our Money’s Worth

T

in anti-government demonstrations, the government and extremists began to characterize them as traitors. At one point they were jailed for two months and had to seek asylum outside Brazil. In 1972 the movement ended when the military regime instituted crushing force on freedom of expression.

But its legacy resurfaced in Long Beach on Nov. 3 and 4, rather than Brazil allowing for a wider Latino diaspora to take part. Modern rock music and hip hop are also the cultural successors of the original key influences in the Tropicalia movement.

Folks in Southern California were transported to a modernized

Tropicalismo haven and jammed to dynamic, passionate, and soulful music artists while spending $9 on run-of-the-mill taco platters.

Tropicalia Fest encompassed both a rich Latino artistic tradition and a sense of late-capitalistic [See Tropicalia, p. 16]

Mon sin te fer La

ropicalia, a brief, dazzling burst of barrierbreaking art and aesthetics from a halfcentury ago, continues to radiate inspiration to audiences that find its celebration of acceptance just as relevant today.

Tropicalia, also known as Tropicalismo had been simmering in Brazil’s blood for at least the 40 years since its code of cultural cannibalism was proposed by poet Oswaldo de Andrade in 1928, before erupting into widespread public expression in 1967. But it found a timely and vital purpose in 1968, when the release of a namesake album by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil arrived as the antidote to intensifying repression by Brazil’s military regime.

As Tropicalia’s gospel of tolerance spread, opposition also surfaced among the country’s Marxists, who considered its internationalism — especially a Westernism famously epitomized by the Beatles — a threat to the purity of national identity.

As Veloso and Gil continued to play music with anarchist lyrics and participating

By Benjamin Garcia, RLN Reporter

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by Be ropicalia Fest at the Queen Mary. Photo

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

November 15 - 28, 2018

Tropicalia Fest crowd at the Queen Mary. Photo by Benjamin Garcia.

11

W

ide Eyes Open Palms is what you get if you combine a specialty coffee shop run by women who provide seasonal cuisine and politics that promote safe spaces for marginalized people.

WeOP, for short, is a breakfast and lunch cafe on Cherry Avenue in Long Beach that’s been open for about a year and a half.

The food is locally sourced, therefore, farmto-table fresh from Farm Lot 59. If something they want is unavailable they just make something different. That’s why their menu always changes.

Coffee is at the heart of WeOP. They serve an eclectic variety of flavors, including an iced cardamom spiced latte and a rosemary latte with locally sourced organic rosemary that has people coming back. They also provide a nutsand-bolt pour over coffee, which they have been serving since they first did pop-ups. By far, their coffee and bread are the most popular features of WeOP’s menu.

The bread is fresh, crunchy, crispy and warm, just delicious. There are gluten-free options. The vegan grain bowl is one of the most popular dishes loaded with organic grains, hummus, veggies sprouts and legumes. It’s not

Wide Eyes Open Palms:

A Safe Space Builds New Ground

By Melina Paris, Staff Reporter

a bad price at $12 since this item will hold your appetite for most of the day.

Angie loves making shrubs — a sparkling fruitinfused apple cider vinegar soda. The week we spoke it was strawberry, lemon verbena, pear and sage.

The Space

Angie and Kat went to great lengths to ensure that WeOP was a welcoming, safe space for staff and customers.

They even trained the staff not to use gender pronouns.

A sign posted on the front door reads, “This is a safe space. Sexism, racism, fatism, WeOP co-owner Angie Evans prehomophobia, transphobia is pares a beverage at the counter. A not welcome.”

WeOP specialty, eggs en cocotte and Angie noted, “Everyone their delicious fresh bread. File photo needs to feel safe, but it wasn’t simple. They learned circles (like creating very quick [to] use words like ‘folks’ or just a safe space). The saying ‘hello’ and ‘welcome.’ Me personally, partners spent many as a butch woman, I identify as a woman, but years associating when I’m at a restaurant and someone says, with different ‘Hi ladies,’ I don’t feel good. We don’t identify groups — Kat is an with lady. Even Kat; she’s feminine but does not organizer and activist prefer to be called lady.” and Angie was a Their business plan includes all of these woman studies tenets. Their employee manual highlights these major in college philosophies, including being positive in the work space.

Angie explained that this safe space and Angie, who was a barista previously welcoming ideology is the result of being a managed a coffee shop that was a Long Beach spiritual person. It’s also the combination of community hub. being queer and learning that language in certain “Even though it was about coffee, I was able

November 15 - 28, 2018

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

Beginnings

12

to pull together a like-minded community with the help of a lot of other people,” she said.

But in the back of her head, Angie always wanted to create her own space and vision. Kat always worked in well-known kitchens such as Good Girl Dinette and Sqirl in Los Angeles. It was Kat who inspired Angie to frequent farmers’ markets and to eat fresh and sustainably.

They began selling coffee along with an entire coffee experience at the local farmers’

market in 2013. They soon wondered, “What if you could eat organic and sustainable produce and eggs, while you’re at the market?” They began to offer seasonal foods to accompany their specialty coffees.

“We saw that little farmers market coffee booth as a coffee shop and people always commented on that,”

Angie said.

They made it feel like a coffee house by adding music and lights. And Angie built a little wooden bar for their booth that she could fold in half to fit in her van at the end of the day.

Between that and doing pop ups around town, the community got to know them and their specialty coffees.

Angie and Kat also held backyard brunches.

It was a way to bring people together and introduce them to the idea of seasonal foods from their own backyard. They soon considered opening a restaurant focused on specialty coffee and seasonal food. They discussed whether to open in Los Angeles or Long Beach. Angie felt Long Beach needed this kind of business.

[See Sustainable, p. 13]

[Sustainable from p. 12]

Sustainable and Safe

“You can go to a fine dining restaurant, but then maybe you order a coffee after and it’s completely a second thought,” Angie said. “Or, you go to a specialty coffee shop and the focus is coffee, the making of it and the craft and then you’re hungry but the food is an afterthought.

They bring in sandwiches (from elsewhere) or they bring in pastries.”

WeOp has become everything Kat and Angie wanted — “a café where you can get it all.”

Pop Up to Brick and Mortar

Folks who patronize WeOp know they are getting farm-fresh, sustainable, organic and fairtrade options. And that comes at a cost.

“We have to be a little higher than another coffee shop using lower-quality ingredients,” she said. “I could go get cheaper honey, nonorganic eggs, non-organic butter … or use noncompostable products like cups but the intention is to not waste and to serve the best food we can.”

They are located just around the corner from The Gay and Lesbian Center on Fourth Street.

Angie and Kat are very “out” business owners, so they love that the Center patronizes them.

The partners had a goal to actually see where their coffee is grown. They went to

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San Pedro Brewing Company, 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro, (310) 831-5663, www.sanpedrobrewing.com

SONNY’S BISTRO AND THINK CAFE

Sonny and Carly Ramirez are the husband and wife team behind Sonny’s Bistro and Think Café. Their hands-on attention to detail makes the restaurants successful, in both quality and service. Sonny’s Bistro’s lunch and dinner menus feature locally-sourced and handselected meats, seafood and seasonal vegetables. Try the $10 lunch menu served Mon.-Fri. Think Café serves breakfast in addition to lunch and dinner with egg dishes, omelettes and griddle cakes. Both restaurants have a selection of fine wines and beers. Sonny’s Bistro, 1420 W. 25th St., San Pedro. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat. and Sun. from 4 p.m. • (310) 548-4797. Think Cafe, 302 W. 5th St., San Pedro. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. • (310) 519-3662.

TAXCO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

We are proud to serve our community for almost three decades. Generous plates of traditional Mexican fare are the draw at this homey, family-friendly restaurant.

For a limited time: Combos #1-12—buy one, get the second for half off (of equal or lesser value, expires 10-31-18). Catering for every occasion, beer, wine and margaritas to your taste. Tony and Vini Moreno welcome you. Open Sun. and Mon. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Taxco Mexican Restaurant, 29050 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes • (310) 547-4554 www.taxcorestaurantpv.com

THE WHALE & ALE ENGLISH RESTAURANT & PUB The Victorian oak panels & elegant brass fittings will make you feel like you’ve crossed the Atlantic.

Featuring popular pub fare such as Fish &

The Whale & Ale

San Pedro’s standard bearer will be open and serving the Thanksgiving essentials: freshly carved roast turkey with veggies, mashed potatoes, house stuffing, country

[See Thanksgiving, p. 17]

Chips, Shepherd’s Pie & entrées of Choice Steaks, Roast Prime Rib, Beef Wellington & Roast Rack of Lamb. Seafood selections include Chilean Sea Bass, Atlantic Salmon, Jumbo Tiger Shrimp & Sand Dabs. International draft beers & ales, as well as domestic craft beers on tap. Full bar; free, gated parking lot. Happy hour five days a week. Hours: Mon. 5 to 9 p.m., Tues.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 1 to 10 p.m., Sun. 1 to 9 p.m. The Whale & Ale, 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro (310) 832-0363, www.whaleandale.com

November 15 - 28, 2018

Fourth-generation artisanal chorizo and meats. Purchase chorizo by the pound or try our burritos and tacos! Menu specials change weekly.

Open Thurs., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Fri. - Sun., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For catering email: info@thechoriman.com for catering and special orders.

The Chori-Man, 2309 S. Alma St., San Pedro • (424) 287-2414

The Happy Diner isn’t your average diner. It’s the idea of fresh creative dishes in two San Pedro locations, and now a third—the Happy Deli. The selections range from Italianand Mexican-influenced entrées to American Continental. Happy Diner chefs are always creating something new—take your pick of grilled salmon over pasta or tilapia and vegetables prepared any way you like. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner: Happy Diner #1, 617 S. Centre St., San Pedro • (310) 241-0917 • Happy Diner #2, 1931 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 935-2933 • Open for breakfast and lunch: Happy Deli, 530 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, (424) 364-0319

Winston’s Restaurant & Lounge features a diverse menu of traditional favorites served while pianist Scott MacDonald tickles standard tunes from the ivories. Hours of operations are from 12 to 7 p.m. Prices are $74. For reservations call (562) 499-1657.

Parking is $8 with restaurant validation.

A San Pedro landmark for over 44 years, famous for exceptional awardwinning pizza baked in brick ovens. Buono’s also offers classic Italian dishes and sauces based on tried-and-true family recipes and handselected ingredients that are prepared fresh.

Dine-in, take-out and catering. There are two locations in Long Beach. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Buono’s Pizzeria, 1432 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 547-0655 www.buonospizza.com

HAPPY DINER AND HAPPY DELI

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor Preparing Thanksgiving dinner for the People whose Thanksgiving tradition whole family year after year can be a real includes NFL football can catch the televised chore. Not to mention, irritating when distant games with roast turkey and other delicious relatives you never see show up on your favorites at the Observation Bar and Chelsea doorstep with take-home containers.

Chowder House.

Here are a few Harbor Area restaurants No trip to Chelsea’s would be complete Random Lengths News recommends for those without trying one of their signature chowders. who want to shirk this traditional workload.

Hours of operation are from 5 to 10 p.m. Costs are $49 and $19.95 for children 4-11. For details call (562) 499-1685.

Queen Mary The Promenade Cafe’s atmosphere of casual Enjoy first-class dining aboard the and friendly fun does not preclude a classic world-famous Queen Mary and celebrate family Thanksgiving Day dinner overlooking Thanksgiving in style by reserving a table at the Pacific Ocean. Hours of operations are from Sir Winston’s or Chelsea Chowder House.

6:30 to 10p.m. Costs are $49 and $19.95 for Otherwise, walk-ins are welcome at the children 4-11.

Promenade Cafe’s award-winning brunch Details: www.queenmary.com until all tables are full.

Venue: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach The award-winning cuisine at Sir

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Tradition, variety and fast delivery—you get it all at Big Nick’s Pizza. The best selection of Italian specialties include hearty calzones, an array of pastas and our amazing selection of signature pizzas.

We offer a wide selection of appetizers, salads, beer and wine. Call for fast delivery.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Big Nicks’ Pizza, 1110 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 732-5800 www.bignickspizzasp.com

Panama to visit coffee farms before they opened. WeOp doesn’t have a direct relationship with coffee farmers but they choose roasters that do and, Angie emphasized, who have a radical viewpoint.

“That’s intentional. Who we choose, not only for flavor, but knowing they are sourcing responsibly,” Angie said. “We need the farmers and the people working in the countries that are giving us this delicious beverage to be compensated for it.”

That radical viewpoint Angie mentioned is about maintaining adequate compensation for the farmers and their employees. They want to know how their roasters source coffee, so they use only direct trade suppliers.

Sustainable foods, a safe space flowing with positive/feminine energy and prioritizing fair trade practices — these are the catalysts Angie and Kat utilize to create the café they envisioned. And this business model has proven successful for the community in one of the most diverse cities in the nation.

Wide Eyes Open Palms is located at 416 Cherry Ave., Long Beach .

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday Details: (562) 386-2031; www.wideeyesopenpalms.com

Harbor Area Restaurants Give a Cooking Hand

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November 15 - 28, 2018

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

ur planet is bathed in 326 million cubic miles of water. Whether in the throes of the moon’s heady allure, falling from the sky, or mixing it up with pigment and paper, water is always moving — somewhere… something…someone.

Throughout history, artists have leveraged the immediacy, beauty, and translucence of watercolor paint to create images that move people to take urgent action and experience complex feelings. Think about it. Nothing screams ‘run like hell’ like a crudely-depicted predator scrawled across a cave wall. Or whispers ‘mourn this loss’ like a softly-rendered portrait of a once familiar landscape or face.

These days, or at least until Dec. 16, you can experience the power of some of the finest work in contemporary watermedia first-hand and in the comfort of your own hometown at the San Pedro-based National Watercolor Society’s 98th International Open Exhibition. Heads up, we are not talking about the kind of wispy and yet murky watercolor paintings often associated with garage sales or folks with more time than creativity on their hands here.

In fact, competition for inclusion in this prestigious, international, juried exhibition was beyond fierce. Of the nearly 1,000 paintings entered, only 90 were ultimately selected on the basis of a range of objective and subjective criteria. Objective measures included uniqueness, relevance, authenticity, transcendence of medium, design and composition expertise, and technical skill.

“Some pieces [we selected for this show] made us laugh, some made us think, and some were disturbing and controversial,” Carla O’Connor, chairperson of the Jury of Selection,

14

National Watercolor Society:

Tradition and Innovation at 98th International Open Exhibition

By Leslie Belt, Contributing Writer

recalls, summing “We like to think up the subjective of San Pedro as our “feel it factor’ super power,” said that separated the Beatrice Trautman, winners from the vice president of losers in this year’s publicity. “Seriously, high-level clash of light and color are like artistic titans. breath and heartbeat Since its when you work in inception in 1920, watermedia. I’ll put the National the look and feel of Watercolor Society the sun bouncing off has been considered San Pedro’s majestic to be among the coastline, old-world most acclaimed charm in small-town of the numerous drag, funky, street regional, national carnival/cultural mecca and international thing up against that Watercolor Societies Julio Jorge’s National Watercolor Society Purchase gray sky, bouncing off that have followed Award painting illustrates the intricacy and intimacy of gray buildings, where today’s watermedia form. in its footsteps. gray people dressed So how has in black hide inside them look the East Coast the National Watercolor Society managed to Watercolor Societies have going for them. All distinguish itself from these organizations day. Every day.” despite the similarities in name and mission?

Clearly, the National Watercolor Society While it is true that most of the others are gets that it is lucky to be in San Pedro. The smaller, younger and less influential watercolor question is does San Pedro get how lucky it is to societies, they are, nonetheless, watercolor have one of the most venerated and influential societies. powerhouses in watermedia right here on Pacific Avenue? If not, the 98th International Open Exhibition provides a compelling opportunity to get schooled.

New Signature Membership Awards

It’s not easy for artists to become signature members of the National Watercolor Society.

In fact, being chosen for inclusion in the 98th International Open Exhibition was just the first step. Of these, just 19 artists have been subsequently chosen to receive this honor.

The rigour of this process reflects the fact that Signature Members are entitled to add the post-nominal letters NWS to their work. It’s a powerful signal of artistic excellence and significantly increases the value of a painting.

More than $40,000 in purchase awards and cash and merchandise awards have been presented to support the work of many of the artists on exhibit.

As you will see, these are not your grandma’s watercolor paintings. I’m not saying she lacked talent; it’s likely the paint was holding her back. Since the 1990s, evolutions in water-based paint technology have resulted in brighter hues, thicker textures and more stability overall. As well as an array of powerful new water-soluble tools including pencils, crayons, charcoal and ink. Put them all together and you get the kind of eye-popping, media mixing, genre bending experimentation that is transforming watercolor painting into watermedia art.

The National Watercolor Society’s 98th International Open Exhibition offers visitors the very best of the diverse, creativity emerging from the explosive disruption of one of the oldest artforms on the planet.

The NWS Gallery, 915 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro.

Details: (310) 831-1099; www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org

ENTERTAINMENT Nov 16

The Paul Gormley Trio Bassist Paul Gormley brings his trio to The Whale & Ale. These world-class musicians perform a variety of songs made popular

by Frank Sinatra to Dave Brubeck to Miles Davis, as well as Brazilian music by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Time: 7 p.m. Nov. 16 Cost: Free Details: (310) 832-0363 Venue: The Whale & Ale, 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro It’s Comedy Tonight In Old San Pedro Join an evening of adult humor, hosted and MC’d by Mike Muratore.

Time: 7 p.m. Nov. 16 Cost: $5 Details: www. brownpaper tickets.com Venue: Machine Art Studio, 446 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Nov 17

Live Jazz Guitar Live music with Markus Carlton at The Whale & Ale. Markus will be playing a selection of smooth jazz, blues and classic rock.

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (310) 832-0363 Venue: The Whale & Ale, 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

The Boys of Summer The music of The Eagles includes a performance of the entire Hotel California album.

The Boys of Summer will also perform select songs from Joe Walsh and Don Henley’s solo careers.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: $25 Details: www.alvasshowroom. tix.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

ECC Concert Jazz Band Capturing the inspirations of music by Monk to Wonder, El Camino College’s Contemporary Big Band, under the direction of Alan Chan, will present a special program of inventive big band jazz music.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 24 Cost: $15 Details: www.alvasshowroom.tix. com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

Nov 30

Reverend Tall Tree A story of love, sorrow, earthy humor, and finally, redemption, we accompany Reverend Tall Tree as he plies his trade as a street preacher in the dusty small towns of the lower Mississippi valley.

Time: 8 to 11 p.m. Nov. 30 Cost: $20 Details: www.grandvision.org Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

THEATER Nov 16

A Christmas Cactus Comedy, mystery, and romance converge in this charming contemporary Christmas tale where goodwill and justice triumph Time: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday Nov. 25 and Dec. 16 Cost: $23 to $27 Details: (310) 217-7596; www.littlefishtheatre.org Venue: Little Fish Theatre, 777. S. Centre St., San Pedro David Sedaris Sedaris will read from new and unpublished work. With his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, Sedaris has become one of America’s preeminent humor writers. The skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that he is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. A book signing will follow the event.

Time: Nov. 16 Cost: $49 to $99 Details: (310) 825-2101; www.cap.ucla.edu Venue: Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court, Los Angeles

Nov 17

Jerry Lee Lewis The music legend rocks to his all-time hits. Lewis earned a reputation as one of rock’s wildest performers in his heyday. He catapulted to fame with the pianodriven hit Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On. The song shattering the pop, country, and R&B charts, prompting the follow-up hits Great Balls of Fire and Breathless.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: $90 to $115 Details: www.tinyurl.com/wwwtickets-cerritoscenter-com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

Nov 18

Sam Harris Let Me Sing Sam Harris’ career has spanned more than three decades with successes as a singer and songwriter; stage, film, and television actor; and as a writer, producer, and director.

Time: 7 p.m. Nov. 18 Cost: $35 to $75 Details: (562) 856-1999; www.musical.org Venue: Beverly O’Neill Theatre at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

Nov 24

A Christmas to Remember Wendy Katagi, inspirational singer, songwriter returns with original songs and arrangements by herself and Grammy-nominated jazz arranger and keyboardist, Tom Zink and band. The show

Lou Mannick, seated right, brings his musical saw for a return engagement at Alva’s Showroom in San Pedro on Nov. 18. Lou will be joined by special guests Barbara Morrison and Mike McCollum.

Details: www.alvasshowroom.tix.com

will feature special guests Anne Walsh and Inner Vox, women’s jazz vocal ensemble.

Time: 5:30 p.m. Nov. 24 Cost: $15 to $35 Details: (310) 781-7171 Venue: George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance

Nov 30

Elf: The Musical The hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole.

Time: 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 8 and 2 p.m. Saturday Dec. 1, 6, 8, and 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 2, 9 Cost: $20 and up Details: (562) 856-1999; www.musical.org Venue: Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, 6200 E Atherton St, Long Beach

Nov 30

Jake Shimabukuro It’s rare for a young musician to earn comparisons to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. But when a jaw-dropping YouTube clip of Jake Shimabukuro’s performance of While My Guitar Gently Weeps went viral, the ukulele sensation’s career skyrocketed.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 30 Cost: $50 to $85 Details: (562) 916-8500; www.cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

Robin Spielberg’s Holiday Sing-A-Long With an impressive tour schedule and hundreds of thousands of recordings sold, this Steinway artist has been winning listeners hearts around the world with her compelling melodies and sensitive piano techniques since her debut release of original solos, Heal of the Hand.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 30 Cost: $25 to $35 Details: (310) 781-7171; www.torrancearts.org Venue: James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance

ARTS

Nov 15

Uncommon Material Artist Ann Weber is in a threeperson show Uncommon Material with Aubrey Ingmar Manson and Garry Noland. The show runs through Dec. 15.

Time: Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov 15 Cost: Free Details: (310) 243-3334 Venue: University Art Gallery, LaCorte Hall, A-107 at CSUDH, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson

Nov 16

Carla Fernández: Manifesto of Fashion as Resistance Fernández will present a trunk show and weaving demonstration at the forefront of ethical fashion.

Shop and meet Fernández and master weaver Margarita

Lopez Hernandez, who will demonstrate the traditional backstrap loom of Chiapas, Mexico.

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 through Nov. 25 Cost: Free Details: (310) 541-2479; www.pvartcenter.org Venue: Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes Blu Prints Gallery Join Blu Prints Gallery’s grand opening celebration with food and wine, live music, art giveaways and a chance to meet the gallery artists.

Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 16 Cost: Free Details: www.bluprintsgallery. com Venue: Blu Prints Gallery, 300 E. 4th St., No. 104, Long Beach

Nov 17

Open Studio Art Party Local artists will be on site, displaying their works. There will be live entertainment, complimentary beverages and light refreshments.

Time: 4 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: www.aiaart.net Venue: Luna Rising Art Studio, 2102 Clark Ave., Long Beach

[See Calendar, page 16]

November 15 - 28, 2018

Quinta Essentia Brazilian Recorder Quartet The quartet performs everything from classics to contemporary music on a collection of ancient and modern instruments, inspiring audiences worldwide.

Nov 24

Beauty And The Beast This is the classic tale of Belle a woman in a provincial town and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved the curse will end and he will be transformed back into a prince.

Time: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: $22 Details: www.southbay conservatory.com Venue: James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance

Natália Spadini Brazilian Quartet Spadani, who is based in Los Angeles and is from São Paulo, Brazil, began working with music at 14 years old, singing in hotels and private events in the city.

Time: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: $20 Details: (562) 805-7770; www.tinyurl.com/y73njq3a Venue: Casa Arjona 4515 E. Harvey Way, Long Beach

Nov 18

The Gray Caballeros Michael Herzmark’s San Pedrobased classic rock band does some of the best of pop, country and R&B hits that you haven’t heard in years, including; The Monkees, Faron Young, Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Time: 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18 Cost: $20 to $30 Details: www.grandvision.org Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Cameron Carpenter The iconoclastic organist takes on the famed composers’ crushing power chords as a soloist with LA Philharmonic in Poulenc’ Organ Concerto and Saint-Saëns Organ” Symphony.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 16 and 2 p.m.

Nov. 18 Cost: $61 to $204 Details: www.laphil.com/events/ Venue: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

Laurence Juber Two-time Grammy winning guitarist and former bandmate with Paul McCartney’s Wings, Juber fuses folk, jazz, blues, pop and classical styles, for shimmering multi-faceted instrumental performance.

Time: 8 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: $25 to $35 Details: www.grandvision.org Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Time: 3 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (310) 316-5574; www.palosverdes.com/Classical Crossroads/TheInterludes.htm Venue: First Lutheran Church & School, 900 W. Carson St., Torrance

NOV 15 - 28 • 2018 Lou Mannick Saw & Soul

15

[Newspapers from p. 8]

Tropicalia at Queen Mary

[Calendar from p. 15] 13th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Art Exhibit Enjoy a closing reception for this annual group art exhibition of works inspired

by Dia de los Muertos.

Musical performance by Mark Metzner and Ray Vasquez.

Time: 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (562) 225-8535; www.galleryazul.com Venue: Gallery Azul, 520 W. 8th St., San Pedro The Corner Store Loft Artist Carol Hungerford will be showing at the Corner Store with several other local artists. Enjoy the art as well as the holiday boutique featuring handmade items.

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (310) 832-2424; www.cssp.com Venue: The Corner Store, 118 W. 37th St., San Pedro

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

Nov 24 Too Much: A Celebration of Women’s Power, Voices, and Fire This evening is for every woman who has ever been told she was “too much,” and for the community that loves and supports them.

Join an intimate and powerful evening of music, poetry, dance and live painting by female artists. All proceeds will benefit the Long Beach Women’s Shelter. .

Time: 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 24 Cost: $15 suggested donation Details: (562) 435-5232; www.hellada.us Venue: Hellada Gallery, 117 Linden Ave., Long Beach

Nov 29

Faculty Show Works by El Camino College Art Department and Photography Department faculty.

Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 29, gallery talk 1 p.m. Dec. 4.

The show runs through Dec. 12 Cost: $3 Details: (310) 660-3010; www.elcamino.edu Venue: El Camino College Art Gallery, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance

COMMUNITY

November 15 - 28, 2018

Nov 15

16

Dine LBC Kids Holiday Pajama Drive Donate a new, unwrapped pair of kids’ pajamas to a participating Dine LBC restaurant during November and receive a complimentary appetizer, dessert, or special offer. Time: Dine LBC Pajama Drive runs Nov. 1 through 30.

Details: https://www.dinelbc. com/holiday-pajama-drive

NOV 15 - 28 • 2018 Nov 17

Dominguez GAP Volunteer Tree Planting and Dedication Join in to beautify the community in planting trees along the trail at Dominguez GAP. Sponsored

by Conservation Corps of Long Beach Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (562) 597-8071; www.cclb-corps.org Venue: Dominguez GAP Wetlands, Long Beach

The Lore and Legends of Christmas Greens Join Rancho Los Cerritos horticulturalist Marie Barnidge McIntyre for an entertaining and informative discussion of the symbolic resonance and historical evolution of Christmas greens.

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: $8 Details: (562) 206-2040; www.rancholoscerritos Venue: Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 Virginia Rd., Long Beach

Patchwork Show Long Beach Makers Festival Shop handmade and independent goods from 150 local makers and food artisans at Patchwork. Patchwork vendors are strategically selected by a jury.

Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18 Cost: Free Details: www.dearhand madelife.com Venue: Long Beach Marine Stadium, 5255 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach

Festival of Flight 2018 Celebrate with Long Beach Airport the wonders of aircrafts. A day full of family fun featuring food and beer trucks, static aircraft, vehicle displays, and live entertainment.

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 Details: (562) 570-2678, flylbg@longbeach.gov Venue: Long Beach Airport LGB, 4100 Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach

San Pedro Music Jam Bring your instruments and a new unwrapped toy. Picnics welcome.

Time: 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (949) 378-8072; www.worldclassyouthfoundation. org Venue: San Pedro Athletic Complex, 3181 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro Salt Marsh Open House Join educators and coastal park naturalists as they uncover the world of mud and water that is our local wetland.

Time: 2 to 4 p.m. Nov.17 Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro

LBIRC Monthly Hike Join the last hike of the year. In keeping it a little more local this month the hike will be at Griffith Park. Gather at LBIRC office at 7 a.m. and leave at 7:30 a.m.

Time: 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (562) 204-6333; www.lbirc.org Venue: St. Lukes Episcopal Church, 525 E. 7th St., Long Beach Youth Fishing Derby Fishing poles and tackle to catch fish will be provided to children 15 and younger for free. Anyone 16 years or older is required to have a California state fishing license.

Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 17 Cost: Free Details: (562) 570-1771 Venue: El Dorado Regional Park, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair Get into the spirit in a sea of gifts and decoration at the Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild annual holiday fair.

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17, 18 Cost: Free Details: www.TorranceCraftmens guild.org Venue: Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive

Nov 20

Transgender Day of Remembrance Joining with over 100 cities across the world, The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach will hold an event to memorializes the hundreds of transgender people lost to anti-transgender violence over the past year.

Time: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 Cost: Free Details: (562)434-4455; www.centerlb.org Venue: Harvey Milk Promenade Park at 3rd St. and Promenade, Long Beach

Nov 24

Explore the Low Tides Bring family and friends to the aquarium’s John M. Olguin Auditorium for an informative slideshow, followed by a CMA education staff led walk to the nearby Point Fermin tide pools.

Time: 2 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 23, 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 24, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 25 with a Spanish presentation 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium. org Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro

Nov 25

Artisan Market Enjoy refreshments and browse the CMA Gift Shop with collectible ornaments, books, games, art cards, stationary and specially curated oceanthemed gifts. This event is part of Museum Store Sunday, a shopping day where purchases directly benefit the institution.

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 25 Cost: Free Details: (310) 548-7562; www.cabrillomarineaquarium. com Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro

Kali Uchis at Tropicalia Fest on Nov. 4. Photos by Benjamin Garcia

gentrification.

Gary Tovar, the founder of Goldenvoice, may be Latino, but today, Tropicalia remains not Latino-owned.

Last year’s one-day early bird tickets were $75, and this year they were $99. The $9 tacos were all you could eat and free! These prices are offensive to the minority-based audience that the festival sought out. What would you expect from the same company that puts on Coachella?

Day one, electrifying

The environment on the first night was, in a word, magical. All the acts that performed on the “Chalino Stage” seemed larger than life.

Of course Morrissey attracted the largest, loudest and most fanatic crowd. Fans jumped over barriers and climbed onto the stage to hug the legend, only to be promptly thrown off the stage by security.

He was the first night headliner for a number of reasons including his worldwide renown, energetic performance style, unique voice and emotionally vivid lyrics.

Morrissey has always been able to move feelings of soul-crushing heartbreak in his audience. Similar to the emotional peaks in Latin music. Perhaps that is why so many Latinos love him.

Though tone deaf in other ways, Moz is like our drunk uncle.

He has exhibited racist views of black pop music. In 1986 he called reggae “the most racist music in the entire world” because of its “total glorification of black supremacy.” He has also said he dislikes Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.

Considering that African rhythms (and later, blues, soul and funk) are a key influence of Tropicalismo, insulting listeners of black pop music is antithetical to the inclusive nature of the Tropicalia spirit.

Though Morrisey loves his Latin American fans— he once said that they have good hair, skin and teeth, he has voiced anti-immigrant stances in regard to Brexit. He called Britain’s decision to leave the EU “magnificent.”

Morrissey is also an apologist for Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, and blames their victims for the way that men in power systematically exploit people under them, saying “Those people knew exactly what would happen [when they went up to Weinstein’s hotel room], and they played along.”

The Anaheim hip-hop group, Weapons of Mass Creation, was first on the Chalino stage on Nov. 4 and took time out of their 20-minute set to address the people gathering to dance. The band’s vocalist, “Joules,” told the audience that it was imperative for all people to obtain free consent before engaging in sexual activity.

The real star of the night was Kali Uchis, who sounds like bilingual Amy Winehouse and dances like Selena Quintanilla. She was a goddess, full of poise. During her cover of I Feel Love by Donna Summer, she ripped her shiny, translucent pants.

After trying for less than a minute to fix it, she became quite candid and joked, “I’m gonna be honest with you, I ripped my pants. Don’t make fun of me, SpongeBob did it too!” Her confidence was as sexy as her moves.

Due to the historically political nature of the movement that explicitly encourages being fully-inclusive, most of the 75 acts addressed modern political grievances.

Chicano Batman did a call-and-response : “Fuck racism,” “fuck xenophobia,” “fuck sexism,” “fuck homophobia,” “fuck transphobia,” “fuck nationalism,” etc. While Chicano Batman was making these excellent points, Kali Uchis gave a first person account of what it is like to be born poor in Columbia and grow up exploited in the U.S. Uchis explained that she generally resents corporations for getting rich off of the hard work of regular people. She added that immigrants, such as her family, do not have as much agency as other poor people.

Absent artists disappoint fans

Mac Demarco is getting heat for half-assing [See Tropicalia, p. 17]

[Tropicalia from p. 16]

Tropicalia

his way through the second most-attended set on Sunday night.

The charges include: replacing his band with a computer, operating it himself and joking that he has a mortgage to pay; is bold choice of apparel, a turkey suit; he didn’t even play guitar Demarco wasn’t present in the moment, but what was more offensive were the holes in the line-up.

Several big names — Cardi B, Ronnie Spector and The Ronettes and Cuco — were taken off the line-up a mere two days before the festival; and in all too nonchalant of a manner.

Tropicalia tweeted the announcement in the same tweet as the schedule. The second-day headliner, a ‘60s girl band with a cult following and a Chicano teen sensation were missing; they were major selling points for fans and it is unacceptable to receive no reparation and littleto-no explanation.

Not to say that their replacements were less [Thanksgiving from p. 13]

Thanksgiving gravy and cranberry sauce. But there’s also plenty to choose from for anyone who prefers a less-traditional dinner. Expect to see beef Wellington, the Whale & Ale roast prime rib au jus, an 8-ounce choice filet mignon, roast rack of New Zealand lamb, shepherd’s pie, curry, glazed twice-roasted quarter duckling in Cumberland sauce, baked Scottish salmon, and Chilean sea bass. There will be vegetarian options, too. Featured on Thanksgiving evening is a very special wine: Beaujolais Nouveau, which is annually shipped from France on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The Whale & Ale tends to get busy so it’s wise to make a reservation.

Time: 1 to 7 p.m. Nov. 22 Details: (310) 832-0363 Venue: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

555 Restaurant

Alpine Restaurant

illness, and marijuana — relatable subjects.

The twenty-something singer, who closedout Tropicalia, is chiller than Cardi B — at 9 p.m. and after an all-day event, this suited the tired audience who preferred to sway rather than twerk.

SZA’s feel is not the only thing that made her a more appropriate choice for a Sunday night headliner. Tropicalia is all about diversity and SZA is even more diverse than her music lets on.

Despite the internalized prejudices that many minority communities harbor elsewhere, when SZA sang Normal Girl and 20 Something at Tropicalia, everyone felt understood.

However, when she sings about being different, she is not just singing about being a bisexual black woman with anxiety. She is also singing about being raised as an Orthodox Muslim — and being bullied as a hijab-wearing high schooler in post 9/11 America.

This is a radically new perspective to be shared and celebrated at Tropicalia and one can only hope that this progression continues and the rest of the world follows suit.

Lionel Menuhin Rolfe, 1942 - 2018

Lionel Rolfe at Skylight Books.

movements of the times. During this time he also set out looking to work for a small town newspaper.

When the Santa Maria newspaper of that time found out that he had written for People’s World and other “pinko” publications he was blacklisted, which made it very difficult for him to find work. He finally landed a job with Scott Newhall of the Newhall Signal who hired him specifically because he had been blacklisted.

Newhall was also the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle for whom Lionel wrote. Later Lionel wrote for the LA Times, the LA Reader, and numerous other publications including the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, who encouraged him to write an ongoing column about famous writers who had lived and worked in L.A. This encouragement led to his most popular book, Literary L.A., which was subsequently published three times as expanded versions.

From 1974 until 1990, Lionel worked for the B’nai B’rith Messenger as an editor and writer.

He worked for City News Service as a journalist and reporter from 1997 until 2016. He also wrote regularly for the Pasadena Weekly, Random Lengths News and the Huffington Post, among other periodicals. Lionel was a member of the Communications Workers of America.

Lionel was married three times. His first marriage was to musician and songwriter

Dianna Preston, whose daughter Heather Pearce, currently of Arcata, Calif., he adopted. He became a grandfather to her two children, Caspin Hargreaves and Kara Pearce, both also of Arcata.

Lionel and Dianna also had a daughter together, singer and songwriter Hyla Douglas of Topanga Canyon.

In the mid-70s, Lionel married musician and journalist, Nigey Lennon of Los Angeles. They collaborated on numerous articles and books including Bread and Hyacinth: The Rise and Fall of Utopian Los Angeles which they cowrote with Paul Greenstein of Highland Park.

After their divorce in the late 1990s Nigey moved to Northport, New York, where she died in November of 2016.

His third marriage in 2004, was to Bulgarianborn Boryana Vladeva, who currently resides in Los Angeles. Their marriage ended in divorce, but they remained good friends throughout the remainder of his life.

Lionel was the author of several books in addition to Literary L.A., including The Menuhins: A Family Odyssey, The Uncommon Friendship of Yaltah Menuhin and Willa Cather, Last Train North, the Misadventures of Ari Mendelssohn, A Mostly True Memoir of California Journalism among them. He was also anthologized in two major collections: Unknown California, Classics and Contemporary Writing on California Culture, Society and Politics (Macmillan, 1985) and On Bohemia: The Code of the Self Exile (Transaction/Rutgers, 1990). His last book, The Fat Man Returns, the Elusive Hunt for California Bohemia and Other Matters, is a sequel to his 1998 book, Fat Man on the Left, Four Decades in the Underground.

Lionel Menuhin Rolfe is survived by his daughters Hyla Douglas and Heather Peace, grandchildren Caspin Hargreaves and Kara Pearce, brother Robert Rolfe of Virginia, Clara Menuhin Hauser of South Carolina, and Kron Nicholas of Australia as well as numerous good friends, extended family, fellow writers, artists and musicians.

A memorial will be held on Nov. 25.

For details, please contact his daughter Hyla Douglas at lionelrolfememorial@gmail.com.

17 November 15 - 28, 2018

Lionel Menuhin Rolfe died in his sleep of a heart attack on Nov. 6, 2018, at the age of 76.

His death occurred at the Glendale Healthcare Center in Glendale Calif., where he had resided off and on since April following a long illness resulting from a stroke.

Lionel was born on Oct. 21, 1942 in Medford Oregon where his father, Benjamin Rolfe, was stationed during World War II. His mother, Yaltah, was a well known pianist, artist and poet and one of three Menuchin child prodigies who became world famous musicians.

Aunt Hephzibah was an American-Australian pianist, writer, and human rights campaigner.

His Uncle Yehudi was an American-born violinist and conductor, considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. Each settled in London where they were activists and humanists as well as musicians. They believed passionately that musicians have to stand up for what they believe in and were very vocal in their disgust with racism and intolerance in general.

With such a powerful musical heritage, Lionel had been expected to be a musician as well. However, following a recital in which he was dissatisfied with his performance, Lionel withdrew himself from that pursuit.

Eventually, he became a journalist, writer and literary figure of some note. He remained a music lover with very specific opinions about music and a well-educated ear.

Lionel was an avid reader, well-versed in the affairs of the world, politics and history through his family. He attended L.A. City College and later graduated from Cal State L.A. After dropping out for a semester “…to fight for civil rights and anti-Vietnam things.”

He described this experience as a time in which he had “no degree but plenty of experiences and arcane knowledge.”

Lionel became a freelance journalist at the age of 16 when he left his father’s home in West LA and moved downtown. He became involved in the coffee house scene of the early 1960s, writing for the Los Angeles Free Press, also called “The Freep,” which was one of the most widely distributed underground newspapers. His strong political viewpoints found resonance with the revolutionary

Bring the entire family to Alpine Village for a traditional American Thanksgiving meal in the Alpine Restaurant. The menu includes slow roasted turkey, carved ham, roast beef or au jus, sauerbraten, goulash, whipped mashed potatoes, three-cheese potatoes, homemade gravy, fresh fruit tray, cheese tray, assorted rolls, green beans almondine, sauerkraut, beet salad, cole slaw, potato salad, fresh vegetables, pumpkin pie, apple strudel and chocolate eclairs.

Time: 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Nov. 22 Cost: $21.95 Details: (310) 327-4384 ext. 401 Venue: Alpine Restaurant, 833 Torrance Blvd., Torrance

SZA saves second day

Bisexual Icon and Carson native Solàna Imani Rowe (a.k.a. SZA) was real. Upon entering the stage, she explained that she was having an anxiety attack because she was afraid the audience would have rather seen Cardi B. While Cardi B is liked more for her rapping

than her singing voice, SZA’s voice was the absolute clearest out of any artist over the weekend and this allowed the artist’s raps and songs to be appreciated for both their sound and lyrical depth.

Cardi B is relevant to the festival because of her trap-salsa number “I Like It,” which is inspired by the hit Pete Rodriguez song of a similar title.

Tropicalia fans were angry to find out that an a-lister like Cardi B was replaced by SZA; but SZA has made a name for herself and has proven that she is qualified to headline alongside Morrissey and is just as talented as Cardi B. Over the past six years SZA’s career has been a slow crescendo of collaborating with larger artists such as 50 Cent, Schoolboy Q, Khalid and Lorde and writing songs for artists such as Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Beyonce Last year, she was Grammy nominated for new artist, best rap vocal performance, best R&B performance, best R&B song and best urban contemporary album SZA was also featured in the Black Panther soundtrack lead single, All the Stars. She offered an optimistic set and she spoke on men, mental

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

A Long Beach staple, 555 East is offering a prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 8 p.m. Menu highlights include roasted butternut squash soup with crème fraîche, roasted turkey from the Diestel Family Ranch, cornbread stuffing with Andouille sausage, and bourbon pecan pie.

Time: 12 to 8 p.m. Nov. 22 Cost: $19 to $47 Details: 555east.com Venue: 555 Restaurant, 555 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

talented, but for the sake of giving customers exactly what they pay for.

The late schedule disallowed festival goers from having a game plan for the two-day and triple-stage event.

We will never know for certain if Soulsinger Brenton Wood was brought in to replace Cuco, as Tropicalia said, or if he was an alternative to The Ronettes; afterall, the two share a similar aesthetic and fanbase.

Trading Be My Baby for Gimme Little Sign felt fair; though, I might have not bought tickets had I known The Ronettes would not show– I would have been happy to get up early to see them as the first act on the main stage.

Surely others feel the same way about Cardi B being switched out for SZA.

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Graphic Design Digital Marketing Custom & Union Printing 1300 S. Pacific Ave. San Pedro 310.519.1442

Professions code).

Original filing:

11/15/2018,

11/29/2018, 12/6/2018, 12/13/2018

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018280385 The following person is doing business as: (1) Harris Realty, (2) Harris Enterprises, (3) Golden Greek Charters, (4) Golden Greek Leasing, 870 W. 9th Street #200, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: George J. Harris, 870 W. 9th Street #200, San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by a corporation. The date registrant started to trans-

act business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 05/1976. 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/. George J. Harris, President.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Nov. 6, 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 provid-

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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.

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018274532 The following person is doing business as:(1) Barricade Services, 3602 S. Cabrillo, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: David Cheek, 3602 S. Cabrillo, 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: 11/2013. 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/. David Cheek, Owner.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Oct. 30, 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

ed 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: 11/15/2018, 11/29/2018, 12/6/2018, 12/13/2018

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Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2018248079 The following person is doing business as: (1) San Pedro Foursquare Church, (2) Bethany Christian Fellowship, 792 W. 10th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners:International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, 1910 W. Sunset Blvd., STE 200, Los Angeles, CA 90026. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 10/1926. 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/.

Adam Davidson, Secretary.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Sept. 28, 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: 10/04/18, 10/18/18,

For answers go to: www.randomlengthsnews.com

CLASSIFIED ADS

ACROSS

1 Address for a general, sometimes 5 Mythical flyer 11 Zig’s counterpart 14 Both, at the beginning 15 EGOT winner Rita 16 Part of SUV, for short 17 Internet addict, slangily 19 Christmas tree sale site 20 Quirkily creative 21 Mess up 22 Bellybutton lint 23 “___, about that ...”

26 It’s picked in Maui 28 Pacific salmon 31 Irish singer with the albums “O” and “9” 37 Isaac’s older son 38 “I ___ the opinion ...”

39 Email receptacle 40 ___ Soundsystem 41 Publisher within a publisher 43 Martinique, par exemple 44 Weird Al song that states “I don’t care if you’re full” 46 “___ & Roy” (2018 HBO kids’ show from Sesame Workshop) 47 Kingpin 48 Ate (together) 50 E, on a map 51 Cassowary’s kin 52 WWI battle river through

Flanders 54 Bluish green 57 Man-made (abbr.)

60 Hidden loot 64 Vehicle where the driver gets thanked 65 Short horror tales shared on the Internet 68 Mason jar’s topper 69 Petting zoo noise 70 Leaning type (abbr.)

71 Letter from Greece?

72 Atomizer amount 73 “The Godfather” composer ___ Rota

DOWN

1 The middle-sized bear 2 Love, in Latin 3 Border (on) 4 Text to an s.o. while away on a trip, maybe 5 Mischievous one 6 Pigeon sound 7 “Laugh-In” comedian Johnson 8 Hitchcock’s “___ Window” 9 Trumped-up 10 Great Lakes’ ___ Canals 11 One of South Africa’s official languages 12 The whole thing 13 “The Girl From Ipanema” saxophonist 18 Evil ___ 22 Frond-bearing plant

24 Devine of “Pitch Perfect” 25 Laundry container 27 Like a brow, at times 28 Talk show guest, often 29 November follower?

30 Was forced 32 Colin Dexter’s crosswordsolving inspector 33 “Excuse me, but ...”

34 Majorca’s neighbor 35 Fizzy drinks 36 Go all out 41 Couple, to tabloids 42 “Grey Cell Green” band ___ Atomic Dustbin 45 Furniture store to meander through 47 Sure 49 False accusation 53 Zener cards test for it 54 Up to it 55 Back out 56 Abbr. on meat packages 58 Coulrophobia, e.g.

59 Mazar of “Entourage” 61 ___ spumante (sparkling wine) 62 Obsessive fan 63 Xbox series since 2001 65 Network that’s now Les-less 66 “Wheel of Fortune” host Sajak 67 Nickname of a Red Sox Hall-of-Famer

RANDOMLetters [Letters from p. 9]

hold Trump accountable, but this abuse of power shows that we still have a fight ahead of us. As we celebrate our victory, we have no time to waste in protecting our democracy and the rule of law.

Let’s get to work.

Adam Schiff 28th Congressional District

Defend the Free Press

On Wednesday at a postelection press conference, the president of the United States once again attacked the press.

Trump repeatedly insulted and shouted down reporters trying to ask him questions, accusing them of creating “fake news” and being “the enemy of the people.”

Trump characterized questions

about White nationalism from PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor as “racist.” He urged staff to yank microphones away from CNN reporter Jim Acosta, whom he called a “rude, terrible person,” and ordered American Urban Radio Network correspondent April Ryan to “sit down.”1 Hours later, the White House revoked Acosta’s press pass. Administration officials falsely accused the reporter of manhandling an intern and shared

a doctored video of the incident on social media that was produced by the far-right conspiracy site InfoWars.2 While Trump screams at journalists about being “fake news,” his White House is literally pushing out fake news. The attack on Jim Acosta designed to discredit a journalist who has been critical of the administration– and to distract from Trump’s crimes and misdeeds.

We must end these attacks on press freedom and support journalists as they do the essential work of holding the Trump administration accountable.

Let us be clear: These attacks are nothing new for this administration. Trump has been demeaning journalists since the early days of his presidential campaign. And as he rose to power, his attacks became increasingly alarming and dangerous. His lies about so-called fake news and public enemies have resulted in journalists receiving death threats, getting assaulted, and being sent pipe bombs.3 Delegitimizing the press is on page one of the authoritarian playbook.

By discrediting the press in the eyes of his supporters, Trump is doing all he can to call into question any coverage — past, present and future — that challenges his abuse of power.

Stand with journalists and against Trump.

What we’re witnessing inside the White House press room are

the kinds of things you expect to see in a dictatorship, not a democracy. All of us– journalists and non-journalists alike– must stand up against Trump’s assault on the press.

Craig, Heather, Candace freepress.net

Student Letters

Editor’s note: In the past few weeks, Random Lengths News received a slew of Letters to the Editor from the students of San Pedro High School English teacher Michael Kurdyla. Students commented on stories from the past few months. Reading through the letters, the students did an admirable job following their teacher’s instruction to read and critique stories that piqued their interest. The end result was more than 10,000 words from high school students engaging the most topical issues discussed today.

In the interest of space, we will be select a few of the letters for print while posting the remainder online.

RE: LAMI Top Sail’s Jim Gladson

When I was a 7th grader at Dana Middle School. My classmates and I were lucky enough to get the opportunity to go on a Top Sail field trip hosted

by LAMI. When I first heard about LAMI, topsail, and what they were doing with students and all these different field trips I was pretty

interested and wanted to go on one of these field trips. Then when I finally heard that we were going on one I was excited to say the least.

But when the day finally came for the field trip the hype quickly receded. I realized that even though we got to go on a boat the learning activities that the people made us do were not fun like a field trip should be and they were just basic school work, but on a boat. I thought that the field trip should have consisted more student bonding activities then school work in a difficult area to focus. With all that work we had no time to truly look around and see what the port is like from the inside and not the outside for a change.

I think ever since Jim Gladson has passed away these experiences and field trips have lost the magical touch that he used to put into them. These field trips have quickly turned to education and busy work. They are stripping students of being able to have fun on a boat with all of their closest friends.I think a way they could attract more kids and schools into doing this would be by teaching through actually talking to them and not making them do worksheets.

Either way after being able to go on this field trip I am very thankful and I still learned a lot, but I just wish I could’ve learned all of this material through fun and not busy work and stress.

Finley Kircher San Pedro

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

November 15 - 28, 2018

19

[Hit Hard from p. 10]

OC Hit Hard

November 15 - 28, 2018

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

the youngest councilmember ever to Costa Mesa City Council. We elected the first clean energy engineers in Orange County history, two of them.

We elected the first majority-women city council in Costa Mesa, and we elected the first LGBT La Habra city school board member,” Potucek said. “We ran a young, diverse slate of endorsed candidates, and we won a slate of young, diverse elected officials. It was very exciting.”

As Potucek’s list suggests, Costa Mesa was the epitome of the change seen in this election — change that was driven from below by activists, in response to opportunity driven from the top, as laid out by Brandon Love of the Costa Mesa Democratic Club.

“This is all a backlash to Trump, and it trickles down from that top,” Love said. “We don’t just live with the national embarrassment of Trump, we’re stuck with the local congressional embarrassment of the great Dana Rohrabacher, arguably the singular most embarrassing member in a 435-person House.”

This didn’t square with how the district thinks of itself. “You have this gradual trickle down effect that starts with Trump gets down to Dana, but it doesn’t stop there,” Love said. “Our local assembly representative is just as embarrassing as Trump and Rohrabacher. So I think you start adding up these pieces and collectively a lot of people on the left, a lot of people in the center start realizing, like, come on guys we can do a lot better than this.”

It took awhile, but “Once we started having some nominees to coalesce behind, it just gradually snowballed. And the inspiration level

20

started improving and increasing on an hourly and daily basis,” Love enthused. There was one driving demographic force, he noted: middle-age women.

“I bounced around to so many different meetings of so many different groups, and there’s one constant, at every single one of those meetings, every night, every group,” Love said.

“The room is 95 percent female, over age 40 that says, ‘Not anymore, I’ve had enough. I’m going to do something about this.’ And they really just hit a critical mass.” There were some men and some younger activists involved, but experienced middle-age women were the overwhelming activist majority that “got off the couch and got in the game.” The results feel pretty good.

With a Democratic mayor and three Democratic councilmembers, Costa Mesa became just the second city in Orange County with a Democratic majority in control.

“I don’t think it’s the end of anything. It’s the beginning. I think people are empowered there.

[They’re] emboldened. They seen the fruits of their labor and they see how hard work pays off,” Love said. “I think they’re going to get greedy, in the best possible way with this taste of victory, this taste of success. And they’re going to work even harder next time.”

In the 72nd assembly district, Larsen saw a mixed record of success, citing the Rouda campaign as the most successful, with both the outside support of people from across the country and grassroots groups inside the district, especially Indivisible 48 and the Huntington Beach Huddle. Many more local campaigns seemed to struggle with outreach to the Vietnamese community centered in the Little Saigon area of Westminster. Larsen cited improved outreach to them along with outreach

Groups such as Indivisible San Pedro were instrumental in building the blue wave that toppled incumbent Dana Rohrabacher in the 48th District.

to younger voters as two top priorities for Democrats in her part of Orange County.

“I think that kids are starting to wake up, but even as of a year ago there was a lot of apathy,” Larsen said.

Since then, “There is a growing number of younger students that are very motivated by the Parkland shootings,” she said, and she hopes they’ll start making other connections.

“Hopefully they’re paying attention to their older brothers and sisters paying outrageous sums of money for college,” she noted.

Thinking of her own children, Larsen said, “That’s one reason I fought so hard this year. I don’t want my children cursed with debt forever.

For the rest of their lives. So I think kids are coming out more for those reasons, and LGBT issues.”

“You probably can cite a lot of our media superstars — Lady Gaga, people like that who have made it socially acceptable and a moral mandate to be more inclusive. I think there has been a shift of kids waking up to that as well.”

In short, politics is in flux in Orange County, just as it is across the country.

“We do have a lot going for us in Orange County in terms of changing demographics and the incredible rise — it’s been the year of the women and will be even more so: in 2020,” said Steve Pierson, Swing Left’s Southern California co-ordinator during the primaries. “All of that could be a perfect storm of really getting our power back and harnessing this movement,” he said. “But it’s going to take a lot of work and I’m excited. I feel like were right at the beginning of something.”