RLn 12-22-22

J6 Committee Calls It Conspiracy

Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Conspiracy to Defraud the United States; Conspiracy to Make a False Statement and “Incite,” “Assist” or “Aid and Comfort” an Insurrection

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

As the House Jan. 6 Committee prepared to release its final report, it’s become clearer than ever that the threat to American democracy is much bigger than former president Donald Trump, and will persist no matter what happens to him. Still, it’s crucially important that the committee made four criminal referrals to the Department of Justice for Trump: Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Conspiracy to Defraud the United States; Conspiracy to Make a False Statement and “Incite,” “Assist” or “Aid and Comfort” an Insurrection. Attorney John Eastman — who provided a bogus legal theory that Trump relied on — was also referred to on the first three of them.

As committee member Jaime Raskin noted introducing the referrals, a U.S. federal judge has already ruled that Trump and Eastman “likely violated two criminal statutes. This is the starting point to our analysis today.”

In addition, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and three other GOP congress members were referred for sanction by the House Ethics Committee for failure to comply with subpoenas in the investigation.

The week before, Raskin, who also served as lead impeachment

ILWU and IBU Rally at Harbor Commission to Save Jobs p. 4

LA County Hate Crimes Report p. 6

Making a Show of It: Ron Linden has Actively Championed Artists for over Two Decades p. 11

Magma Sauce: An Eruption of Flavor p. 12

McOsker is Sworn-in

Gets to work on healing divisions, and getting things done

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

I said before that the problem with candidate Tim McOsker wasn’t that he was not qualified enough or that he didn’t have the skill sets and relationships. It’s clear that he does. The problem is that in the 113-year history of this district, the only voices that counted were those connected to money and power, whether connected to downtown Los Angeles or the Port of Los Angeles. But now that he is the councilman, many of us hope that he’ll put his skill sets, experience and relationships to use in lifting up the entire district.

His speech at the Dec. 10 swearing-in ceremony went a long way in addressing those hopes and fears. Our new city councilman used the swearing-in ceremony as an opportunity to heal the divides in CD15 after a divisive campaign, while also thanking his predecessor, Councilman Joe Buscaino and influential people, such as former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn and Supervisor Janice Hahn, who played significant roles in his political maturation and getting to the council seat.

In the days following the Dec. 4 Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade, there were anecdotal reports of parade attendees booing the Wilmington cheerleaders and band members from the Harry Bridges SPAN School. The reports were significant enough for former city council can-

Graphic by Suzanne Matsumiya and Terelle Jerricks

New City Councilman Tim McOsker, right, is sworn in by James Hahn. Photo by Chris Villanueva

Community Announcements: Harbor Area

Free COVID-19 Tests

With the holidays approaching, ensure that you’re safe from COVID-19. USPS can ship four free COVID-19 tests to your household. Orders will start shipping out this week. Keep in mind that you are limited to one order per residential address.

Details: https://special.usps.com/testkits

Winter Shelter to Open in East Long Beach

The Long Beach Winter Shelter, which shields people experiencing homelessness from inclement weather and provides shelter, food, safety and services, is expected to open this week at Community Hospital. The facility will operate in partnership with nonprofit First to Serve Outreach Ministries and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

Details: 562-570-4500; https://tinyurl.com/ winter-shelter

AltaSea Seeks Volunteers

AltaSea is seeking volunteers of all ages and abilities to help with:

•Receptionist and administrative on site support

• Research and communications

• Event support and community outreach

• Education and field trips

• Tech and audio

• Interpretive docent and site visit support

Details: dcardenas@altasea.org.

Join the AltaSea Science & Engineering Internship Program

The Nautilus Science and Engineering Internship Program or SEIP aims to train and provide real-world experience for community college, undergraduate and graduate students studying ocean sciences, technology, engineering, and video in the at-sea environment. Intern

Committed to Independent Journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for More Than 40 Years

NW SPNC to Test Hybrid Virtual, In-Person Meetings

By Hunter Chase, Community News Reporter

The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council has agreed to be a guinea pig in the City of Los Angeles’ new experiment — hybrid in-person and electronic meetings. The council voted 5-1 on Dec. 12 to test out the pilot program proposed by the EmpowerLA virtual governance working group, or EVG. Board member John DiMeglio was the sole no vote, but board members Melanie Labrecque, John Barbera and Vic Christensen abstained, and board president Ray Regalado recused himself. However, whether the council ever actually uses the program depends on if the Los Angeles City Council is willing to fund it.

Josh Nadel, co-chair of the EmpowerLA Virtual Governance working group, said that the group has been meeting for a year and a half to come up with the program. They chose 14 neighborhood councils to be used as the first testers of the pilot.

Nadel said the program should cost $10,000 to $15,000 for each set of equipment. He argued it would be unfair for neighborhood councils to come up with that money for the pilot, since if it doesn’t work out, the councils would never use the equipment again.

“As far as the pilot program is concerned, from the workgroup, from the department perspective … none of us were keen on asking

NCs to participate right now paying,” Nadel said. “We’re going to be asking the city council sometime soon for this money.”

Labrecque, who is also a member of the working group, said the pilot program will not happen if the city council doesn’t fund it. Specifically, she said that Raquel Beltran, general manager of the Department of Neighborhood

Festival of Lights

Empowerment, promised that the NCs would not have to pay for the equipment.

Nadel spoke about Assembly bill 2449, which changes the rules for public meetings when it goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The state of emergency allowing public meetings to happen virtually will end in February 2023, unless it

On Dec. 19, the second night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, Chabad of S. Pedro lit a 6-foot Hanukkah menorah at Point Fermin Park. Attendees were greeted with traditional offerings of potato latkes and donuts and live music. Chabad S. Pedro offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations.

Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala

ILWU & IBU Rally at Harbor Commission to Save Jobs

By Mark Friedman, Contributor

picket lines at UCLA and UC San Diego as an act of solidarity. They have also been out to Moreno Valley to support the organizing drive of the Amazon Labor Union at the giant warehouses there.

“We’re going to fight for those

jobs, even though the company will probably close the door on us, because these guys worked during the pandemic and they worked here for years,” John Skow, the regional director of the In landboatmen’s Union, told the protest ers. “There’s a lot of experience here

and they just want to throw them out into the street like a piece of garbage.”

Skow went on to say that the union wants their jobs back or for the company to find jobs for them at its other facilities.

“We are in for a fight because it is also about the pension plans,” Skow said.

Newly elected LA city councilman for the 15th District, Tim McOsker, voiced concern at the commission hearing.

“We need the port commission to enforce all the rules and to hang onto these great jobs and we stick with working families and the contracts that you have signed,” McO-

McOsker

didate Danielle Sandoval to release a statement that called out the disre spect paid to the students and called for more leaders to do the same.

Sandoval said she was disheart ened and appalled at the treatment of Harry Bridges marching band staff, coaches, and most of all the children who participated in the pa rade. The students and staff endured obscene comments and thrown pro jectiles during their performance as they marched down Pacific Avenue.

“It’s disgusting and those in volved should be ashamed of them selves,” she said.

The next day, the board of di rectors of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce released a statement condemning the reported incidents of abuse and reported that it had apologized to the school administration and band director for the reported incidents and said it would apologize in person to the band and cheer team at a scheduled meeting.

McOsker made special note that though he won two-thirds of the vote throughout the district, he had to be mindful that there were still 35% of voters who didn’t want him to be their next council member.

A breakdown of the statement of votes cast shows that McOsker got 56% of the vote to Sandoval’s 31%.

In all five communities, 10% to 15% of ballots cast included a vote for no one. This could be the result of voters choosing not to cast a ballot for either candidate or reflects spoilage from ballot marking mistakes.

Nevertheless, in communities where McOsker was weakest, such as Watts, Wilmington and Harbor Gateway, he more than made up the ground and won four of the five communities in CD15.

In fact, McOsker won by a couple of percentage points in Watts and

lost by a couple of percentage points in Wilmington, while coming away with strong wins in Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, and by far, San Pedro, where he really did get twothirds of the vote to Sandoval’s 23%.

Still, if McOsker’s swearing-in ceremony speech were a jazz composition, he hit all the right notes. He expressed concern for equity and fairness in the delivery of services; charter reform to increase representation, prevent corruption and make government more transparent; do all in his power to address housing, from Section 8 voucher holders being more successfully paired with landlords, to achieving environmental justice and keeping good jobs; and pushing for better public safety and more sworn officers who are well trained and responsive.

In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 election, I told him my concerns about what his potential victory would mean. In reply, he told me to watch him and judge him by the work that he does. He’s not fully settled into office yet, but he’s off to a decent start.

Scores of union members rallying in front of the Harbor Commission on Dec. 15, were joined by a dozen strikers of the University of California Los Angeles United Auto Workers. Inland Boatmen’s Union members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been on the

[continued on following page]

Members of the ILWU and the Inlandboatmen’s Union protest in front of the Harbor Commission. Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala

New City Councilman Tim McOsker gives a speech at his swearing-in ceremony. Photo by Chris Villanueva

[McOsker, from p. 1]

sker said.

Cris Sogliuzzo, a member of the Inland boatman’s Union, and an employee at Westoil Marine/Centerline Logistics, spoke on the union’s last communication with the employer.

“Westoil has now informed us that its other last customer is leaving the LA market,” Sogliuzzo said. “I believe that Leo Marine initially attempted to unlawfully recognize and assist a competing union that the employees there did not choose themselves, to service the customer base that was taken from us in early 2021 which we, the ‘Westoil’ IBU unit, have historically serviced for [the last] 25 years.”

Last year, Saltchuk Marine and Centerline Logistics, two large national marine transportation corporations, exchanged assets. The exchange upended scores of contracts worked by IBU, the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, and the Sailors Union of the Pacific maritime workers while weakening the Southwest Marine Pension Trust.

The maritime unions charge that Saltchuk and Centerline used the asset exchange as an opportunity to replace longstanding contracts with the IBU and the MM&P with a substandard agreement with the company-friendly Seafarers International Union that undermines the standards for fair wages and benefits previously set by the IBU and MM&P collective bargaining agreements.

In December 2020, Saltchuk Marine announced that it acquired eight ship assist tugs owned by Centerline Logistics and operated in the Pacific Northwest and California. Centerline Logistics, in turn, purchased six bunker barges

[See IBU, p. 19]

LA County Hate Crimes Rise

Hate crimes have grown 105% since hitting an all-time low in 2013

By Melina Paris, Assistant Editor

In 2021, Los Angeles County hate crimes reached the highest level in 19 years.

That’s what the LA County Commission on Human Relations or LACCHR found in its annual hate crime report released Dec. 7. A few of the report’s significant findings include the following:

• Hate crimes have grown 105% since hitting an all-time low in 2013.

• Transgender victims experienced the highest rate of violence (93%), followed by homophobic (89%), racial (78%), and religious crimes (53%). Anti-transgender hate crimes rose 24% from 33 to 41.

• The 23% increase in hate crime was largely due to a 17% spike in racial crimes.

• As in past years, Black people were grossly over-represented. Although Black people constitute only 9% of county residents, they comprised 46% of racial crime victims. Anti-Black crimes jumped 30% from 169 to 219.

• Latino/as comprised 25% of racial victims and anti-Latino/a crimes rose 10% from 106 to 117.

In response, the LA County Board of Supervisors directed LACCHR to build a campaign to respond to acts of hate in the county, which resulted in the LA vs Hate initiative. Its three components include a community-driven marketing campaign to encourage residents and organizations to unite against and report acts of hate, a government hotline (via 211) for reporting all acts of hate — both incidents and crimes — and providing free assistance to all victims; and a network of community agencies that provide rapid response, support, healing, advocacy and hate prevention services.

Random Lengths News spoke to local com-

munity leaders and activists about the LACCHR report to get their thoughts on the report and on what more could be done, or what has not been considered — in addition to the LA vs Hate initiative — on the part of the county,

Community

Harbor Area

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Applications are now being accepted for ocean science, ROV engineering, and video engineering internships for the 2023 expedition season.

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Free Hot Spots and Computers are Available

Long Beach residents who don’t have access to Wi-Fi or a computing device can call Cenro CHA to see if you’re eligible to receive a free Chromebook and hot spot.

Details: 562-612-4180 and ask about the digital inclusion program.

Civic Classes

Centro Cha of Long Beach has partnered with Cerritos College to help you prepare you for citizenship by offering civic classes.

Details: 562-26-4371 or 562- 285-7414

city and others to address this rising issue.

Award-winning journalist and political strategist, Jasmyne Cannick, reacted to the report by noting that its bullet points have not changed from last year, the year before or the year before that.

“Black people, the LGBTQ community and Jewish folk are always at the top of the list,” said Cannick.

Cannick’s chief complaint was the lack of intersectionality within the report. She noted these are only the numbers that were reported. Often, people do not report hate crimes.

“What’s lost when these reports come out is that intersection of Black queer folks,” Cannick said. “I’m a Black lesbian but Black trans women, for example, are at the top of the list for hate crimes. That intersection is not talked about

[Hybrid, from p. 3]

Hybrid Meetings

is extended. AB2449 allows hybrid meetings to happen even after the state of emergency is over. However, it requires that board members only be allowed to remotely participate in three meetings per year. Nadel would like to change this to allow more.

“An effort is being made to try to make changes in Sacramento to this,” Nadel said. “The NC system is the only system that is affected like this. And we want to try to make sure that Sacramento is perfectly aware that we’re asking for specific changes that will only affect the NC system.”

In addition, AB2449 requires that a majority of the board be physically present at the meeting in order to reach quorum.

“We need to think of it from the stakeholders’ point of view,” Nadel said. “Imagine, if you’re showing up to a meeting, and it’s in person and it’s on Zoom, and there’s a board of 20 people, and one person shows up. And it’s 19 people on Zoom.”

Nadel said that stakeholders might not feel as comfortable presenting to people who are not physically in front of them. The board members that participate remotely must also have their cameras turned on.

Labrecque pointed out a big obstacle to the hybrid model working for her council — the lack of internet access. Before the pandemic,

— it’s Black and queer but not Black/queer [people]. We need to look more at the intersectionality of these situations because when you look at the number and you look at who the trans people are, the trans women in particular who are being attacked, you will find that the majority of them are Black. When you have Black and queer folks as your [numbers] one and two, in terms of the highest incidents of hate crimes, clearly there’s going to be some crossover.

“All the queer folks on the list are white. (LGBTQ hate crime victims listed in the report’s bullet points are not identified by race). The majority of them are people of color when you look at the hate crimes statistics against queer folks. It is not hate crimes against white folks. It is usually against someone Black or Latino. That’s really important to me.”

She also said it starts with leadership.

“When you have leaders in the City of LA who are racist, that does not send a message to others not to be racist,” she said. “I’m speaking about the Nury Martinez, Kevin de León, Gil Cedillo scandal.”

It comes down to how we are raising our children, our young adults, what values we are instilling in them, Cannick said.

“Whatever our families look like, we need to be having those conversations with our kids and our young adults. I especially think we need to be having these conversations in our schools as well. A lot of this is learned behavior and these are young people who then turn into adults with the same mindset. We should be doing more to work with young people before they’re adults out here committing hate crimes.”

The executive director of the LGBTQ Center Long Beach, Carlos Torres, reacted to the report by expressing hope for the county’s LA vs Hate

the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council held its meetings at Peck Park, in a room that is not wi-fi accessible.

“We may have to move somewhere else,” Labrecque said. “Now, the other challenge is whether or not we can get that meeting place for free like we are at Peck Park, or whether or not we’re going to have to pay, or whether we have the funds to pay.”

Labrecque suggested they could use a hot spot, but wasn’t sure if it would work.

Laurie Jacobs, former vice president of Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council, said that the council had already tried using a hot spot, but it was spotty because of the type of the building the meeting is held in.

Nadel said that the equipment needed for internet access would be covered by the city council, at least under his working group’s proposal.

“Part of the package that we’re considering including for NCs would include mobile hot spots,” Nadel said. “And it may even include more than one mobile hot spot, because we understand that there are a handful of NCs that have some sorts of physical challenges.”

Northwest’s difficulty with Wi-Fi is part of the reason the working group chose it, as it was looking for NCs with challenges, so that they can be worked out.

“We’re going to be rolling this out to 99 NCs,” Nadel said. “If we picked a bunch of easy NCs to do the pilot program, the easiest 14 picks and easiest seven back-ups, if we do the program it will look fantastic. And then the second we roll

initiative, particularly when it comes to representation.

“There are a couple things at play here,” said Torres. “For many decades our community has been advocating for visibility and inclusion. That means when someone reports a hate crime, particularly a transgender person, that we are not included by the gender that we were assigned at birth. It has taken a lot of years and advocacy to make sure that information is reflected accurately. Now we’re at a point where those data collection mechanisms and systems are in fact included in our information accurately.

“The second piece is that although violence has continued to increase against LGBTQ individuals, now we have a system like LA vs Hate that is specifically dedicated to account for our stories and our incidence as legitimate. While the numbers look high, it’s a combination of violence still being perpetrated against our community — particularly against people of color and transgender women of color more are targeted — but also now, we have programs and systems that do reflect that data accurately. In the past it was being under reported or misreported because we were categorized as male female, rather than transgender, or non-binary or gender nonconforming. So, having those specific designations, I think, brings new attention to the issues.”

Torres highlighted that rather than using the traditional law enforcement mechanisms, LA vs Hate allows the community room to tell their stories in a manner that is not traumatizing or retraumatizing. Communities of color have had difficult relationships with law enforcement. Having the opportunity to make reports to a nonlaw-enforcement entity helps identify resources and ensures that individuals impacted by the violence are connected with the services that they need. Torres said this allows for resources for funding, for programming, for interventions to be designed specifically to serve the needs of the LGBTQ community.

“Why?’ he asked rhetorically. “Because our

it out to 99 NCs we’re going to have a disaster.”

Nadel said he wants the city council to pay for the entire program, beyond just the pilot. If the city council wants the NCs to help pay for the equipment, Nadel said the working group had several suggestions. One of them was that the city offers the NCs a loan with 0% interest, that they could pay back $1,000 per year.

“I’m on an NC too,” Nadel said. “If you told me it was $1,000 for all this, I would still be upset, but I mean you’re not murdering my NC’s budget at $1,000. That would be literally the limit of what I would tolerate.”

Doug Epperhart, president of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council and a member of the working group, said that not all NCs will necessarily get their own set of equipment.

“One of the things we’ve all talked about is the idea that there may be equipment pools, where four or five or more neighborhood councils might share a single set of equipment as a way of cost-saving, for example, so that you’re not buying all this expensive equipment to use it one day a month,” Epperhart said.

Epperhart said there will probably be costs to the NCs, such as potentially needing a stronger wireless connection, or having someone operate a camera.

“Hybrid’s going to change the way we do things,” Epperhart said. “But as I told everybody, this is an ideal in which we’re not trading the folks who are not technically savvy or capable for the folks who can’t show up in person. This is the way we hit everybody.”

Jasmyne Cannick, award-winning journalist and political activist. Photo courtesy of Jasmyne Cannick

LAMI Receives Outdoor Equity Grant from California State Parks

By Johanna Cervantes, OEP Coordinator, Special to Random Lengths News

Los Angeles Maritime Institute or LAMI has received a major grant from California State Parks for its new program, Maritime Youth Ambassadors of Wilmington.

This is a brand-new, ongoing program inviting groups of students and youth 14 to 16 years of age, every other month who reside or attend school in Wilmington. The program is six days total within the course of one year. There are three, one-day sails and activities taking place and a three-day voyage to Catalina. This is open to 25 students and adult family members.

Activity #1 is an introduction to sailing a tall ship. Students and their family members learn how to set sails, climb up the rigging, learn to navigate the ship and other introductions to being on a sailing ship.

Activity #2 teaches students and their families topics involving marine ecology. There will be science stations covering marine biology, water chemistry, marine pollution, human impacts and the upstream ecological connection that exists in the watershed.

Activity #3 is a marine career paths activity, where many guest speakers will talk to the youth and their families. Participants will learn about and get to ask questions regarding career paths in the maritime industry, science, education, recreation and conservation.

The Weekend Voyage is a three day and twonight trip; 28 students and parents will sail to

Catalina Island and experience a natural area trip. The group will be introduced to water activities like hiking, kayaking and snorkeling. They will sleep onboard the ship, assisting with cooking, cleaning and conducting night watches. All meals will be provided.

The grant allows LAMI to include more under-resourced students in order to achieve the organization’s vision of a thriving community, where all youth have the opportunity and the resources available to access science, technology and mathematics programs that could potentially inspire them to pursue a STEM related career and develop an understanding of the importance of environmental sustainability and ocean conservation. Students will learn how to sail, explore marine ecology topics and meet local guest speakers involved in maritime careers, all through a multi-day skill building program culminating in a weekend voyage on the tall ships to Catalina Island.

Contact LAMI if you know a Wilmington youth, between 14 to 16 who would like to participate, 310-833-6055.

LAMI, celebrating its 30th anniversary year, is a nonprofit organization. Its mission is to empower youth to discover their greater potential through extraordinary at-sea experiences aboard educational sailing vessels built to train and equip young people with 21st-century leadership skills and inspire maritime and STEM career paths.

National Amnesia and Other Mistakes of the Media

By James Preston Allen, Publisher

Lately, in regard to the investigation of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, pundits and reporters in the mainstream press have called the likely prosecution of a former U.S. president, “unprecedented.” This public hand-wringing by prominent media commentators and politicians is due to a misunderstanding of the American Civil War’s aftermath. While most high school history books have a section on this nation’s bloodiest conflict, it usually ends with Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the panel’s Republican vice chairwoman, said during her opening remarks on Dec. 19 when the Jan. 6 Committee issued its final report, noted that every president in American history has defended the orderly transfer of power, “except one.” This is technically true but only if you exclude Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America.

When you look at the timeline of the Civil War, Lincoln was elected to become the 16th president of the United States in 1860 and was inaugurated in 1861. His election was a sectional victory, winning none of the southern states. This

was the final straw for many Southerners, as they feared that his presidency would result in ending of their way of life based on slavery.

On Dec. 20, 1860, six weeks after Lincoln’s election as president, South Carolina’s leaders met in the banquet and concert hall of the St. Andrew’s Society and voted to secede from the United States. President James Buchanan declared the act illegal, as did President-elect Lincoln, but it did not quell the tide. Mississippi was next to secede, on Jan. 9, 1861, followed the next day by Florida and by Alabama the day after that. By Feb. 1, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas had all seceded. But the states of the upper south remained in the Union, with Virginians voting two-to-one against secession just eight days before the bombardment of Fort Sumter.

And for the next five years, Americans fought and killed each other, resulting in 750,000 dead. Yet in the end, after the South surrendered there was just one leader of that

insurrection who was arrested and charged with treason — CSA president Jeff Davis.

When the Confederacy was defeated in 1865, Davis was captured, accused of treason, and imprisoned at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. A famous Boston lawyer, Richard Henry Dana Jr. (the same one from Two Years Before the Mast), was called in to prosecute him, but he was never actually tried and was released after two years. The problem then, as it is now, was that the country was divided and this was “unprecedented.” Treason in those days would have been dealt with by hanging or firing squad.

Yet, Davis’ legacy is intertwined with his role as president of the Confederacy.

Immediately after the war, he was often blamed for the Confederacy’s loss much as Donald Trump is being blamed for the recent midterm election losses. After he was released, he was seen as a man who suffered unjustly for his commitment to the South, becoming a hero of the pseudo-historical Lost Cause of the Confederacy during the post-Reconstruction era. If some of this begins to sound like the lost cause of the “stolen election” of 2020 and the perpetual victimization Trump claims, then you’re right.

Also during the aftermath of the war another insurrectionist, Nathan Bedford Forrest, a prominent Confederate Army general, became the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan, with Forrest at the lead, suppressed voting rights of Black people in the South through violence and intimidation during the elections of 1868. In 1869, Forrest expressed disillusionment with the lack of discipline in the white supremacist terrorist group across the South and yet his legacy and statues persisted until recently.

Clearly, the inability of the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute both Davis and Forrest for insurrection or treason for their actions during the Civil War had long lasting effects — effects that continue to haunt this nation to this very day. As we all witnessed on Jan. 6, 2021, there were many Confederate battle flags flown next to the Trump ones and this stands as the unique moment in which the inheritors of the Confederacy actually invaded the U.S. Capitol and threatened the Union. This cannot stand unindicted this

time. Donald J. Trump lost the election and conspired to overthrow the government by fraud, deceit and dereliction, inspiring if not orchestrating violent insurrection.

There should be no apprehension of bringing charges against him and his co-conspirators expeditiously. We should have no doubt that if justice can not be meted out now that this will be the precedent for the future.

What is one of the most prescient quotes from this era is surprisingly by 18th President Ulysses S. , who reflected:

If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and

Dixon’s but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jefferson Davis’ legacy as the Confederate president leader was celebrated and memorialized across the South, as were other Confederate leaders. In the 21st century, however, he is frequently criticized as a supporter of slavery and racism, and a number of the memorials created in his honor throughout the country have been removed. No such legacy should ever be afforded Trump except for a residency in federal prison and the American media who report on this should go back and read the history.

After a Year Like 2022, Maybe It Wasn’t So Bad After All

By Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn

In 2022, we saw the war in Ukraine, the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, record inflation, innocent lives lost in mass shootings at a LGBTQ+ nightclub, grocery stores, and an elementary school, hate crimes on the rise including here in LA County, the leak of a secretly recorded racist conversation between Los Angeles City councilmembers, and weeks of protests that have debilitated city hall.

Was there anything that happened in 2022 that gives us reason to hope?

I thought about it and ended up coming up with a longer list than I expected. Here are a few of them worth mentioning:

Righting a 100-year-old Wrong

I will remember 2022 as the year that Los Angeles County was able to return Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce — marking the first time in our nation’s history that a government returned land unjustly taken from a Black family. In the weeks and months since, I have heard from other government officials who want to use what we did with Bruce’s Beach as a model to return stolen land in their own jurisdictions and I’ve gotten stopped by people across the county who thank me. I have no doubt that returning Bruce’s Beach

“When the last man who remembers the horrors of the last great war dies, the next great war becomes inevitable.”

— Arnold Toynbee, English historian and philosopher of history

Re: Spiny Lobster Story

(RLn, 12-8-22)

As a diving instructor back in the 70s, lobster was cheaper for me and my three kids than hamburger while they were growing up. So was abalone

Richard Pawlowski formerly of San Pedro, now in Oregon

Student Letters

Editor’s note: Random Lengths News received a batch of Letters to the Editor from the students of San Pedro High School English teacher Michael Kurdyla. Students commented on stories published over the past few months. The students did an admirable job following their teacher’s instruction to read and critique stories that piqued their interest. In the interest of space, we will select a few of the letters for print, while posting the remainder online.

Re: Billboard at End of 110 Fwy

In the Random Lengths article

(RLn, 9-1-22) “Billboard at End

of 110 Fwy” editor Hunter Chase talks about the debating factors of the famous billboard off the 110 Fwy and the city’s thoughts and feelings about its history. The reason I decided to choose this article was because of the severity of the impact it has on the view people have of my hometown San Pedro. Some people are embarrassed by what the billboard has to say sometimes and the messages that are being put up to show, and I don’t think it’s fair that when some people first come into our town for the first time they see an embarrassing ad. Some of the residents don’t appreciate the views they see and also the thoughts on why they feel a certain way. It was also brought up to the city council about just not doing anything to the billboard because of certain circumstances.

Graffiti, unpleasant messages, and the town’s opinion are some of these circumstances. Having graffiti on the sign is a huge problem since a vandalized sign is a waste. It’s an unpleasant sight not just for the towns viewing but the people who come to see San Pedro.

Reasons to Hope

will be the most important thing I did over the course of my career.

A Better Response to Mental Health Crises

2022 was also the year we launched 9-8-8 here in LA County. For decades, we have relied on 9-1-1 as our only emergency line for people to call in times of trouble. But during a mental health crisis, calling 9-1-1 hasn’t led to the outcomes we’ve wanted. Having armed law enforcement respond to a person in a mental health crisis usually ends in an arrest and sometimes ends in a tragic loss of life. We now have 9-8-8, a number that anyone can call if they are experiencing or witnessing a mental health crisis.

Unarmed mental health professionals will be available to respond, de-escalating the situation, and more importantly, getting a person in crisis the long-term help they need so they don’t end up in our jails. This should give hope to so many family members who have been afraid to call for help.

A New Sheriff in Town

This November, voters overwhelmingly elected a new sheriff for Los Angeles County. The last four years, you have seen headline after headline about “feuds” between the Board of Supervisors and the sheriff. I know you were sick of hearing about them (and I was sick of being in them). Sheriff Robert Luna ran on a platform of bringing transparency and accountability back to the department and building back the trust that has been lost with the public. We may have disagreements going forward, but at least we will be pulling in the same direction: making public safety a priority in our neighborhoods through a lens of justice and fairness.

Historic New Leadership in Los Angeles

And for the first time in the City of Los Angeles’ long history, we elected a woman to be our mayor.

Karen Bass’ election, a record number of women serving on the city council, and an allwomen board of supervisors, means that Los Angeles County is being run by women. And if that doesn’t give you hope, I don’t know what does.

In addition, the city council met to discuss the complaints and issues surrounding the billboard, and I found that in Hunter Chase’s article one of the council members agrees “straight up embarrassing”, it was a feeling that many people shared. In 2011 there was an advertisement for the San Pedro Medic Clinic that shows a woman advertising her body in a bikini which concerns a lot of the residents. CBC says after about six weeks of the ad being up people asked the city council to take it down. Although it was making people uncomfortable there was nothing the city could do because the property was privately owned. So after the clinic had been aware, they decided to take it down.

It is a matter that isn’t as big as a crime but can cause well if we made a little change in our community such as this change. It makes the community less embarrassed and more sure that it won’t happen again. I wanted to highlight this article because I feel like the area around San Pedro should be more valued because we are a big part of LA and should be represented more as professionally as possible.

Dahlia Davila

Last week, I joined Mayor Bass as she signed an order declaring homelessness an emergency, promising to marshal city resources to finally treat this tragedy with the urgency it demands –no different than if thousands of people were displaced from their homes due to a flood, an earthquake, or a fire. It’s a mindset I have thought has been missing for too long. As the chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, I stand ready to be a partner with the new mayor in this effort and I have put forward my own proposal to ensure that county resources can be brought to bear to match the city’s new efforts.

I don’t think this emergency declaration is a silver bullet that will magically solve the homelessness crisis. I know that her goals are ambitious, but the energy and attitude Mayor Bass has brought to this fight gives me hope. This is a crisis that demands all our cooperation and resources from the city, the county, the state, and the federal government — and Mayor Bass has come in committed to linking arms rather than pointing fingers.

New Homes for Veterans in San Pedro

Lastly, I am grateful that, in the coming weeks veterans who have struggled with homelessness are moving into the new 60-room veterans interim housing site that I have been working to open in the closed Best Western hotel on 1st and Gaffey streets in San Pedro. There will be round-the-clock security and all the veterans will get the supportive services they need and help getting new jobs and permanent housing.

I have been so moved by the overwhelming support we received for this project from neighbors with homes near the hotel, the neighborhood councils, and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. This community’s support made all the difference in getting this project done quickly. You all are the reason these veterans will have a home. That gives me hope that we can replicate this all over the county.

As many in our community celebrate Hanukkah, I think it is important we all remember the power of just a small amount of light to transform the darkness and give us all hope.

Janice Kay Hahn is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district since 2016 and chair of Los Angeles County since 2022.

San Pedro High School

Re: “Banned Books in the Crosshairs”

In the article “Banned Books in the Crosshairs” (RLn, 9-15-22), editor Terelle Jerricks discusses the apparent targeting and crackdown on books and education that contains content of LGBTQ+ identities and topical social issues.

As a student of San Pedro High School, I believe that we should be well informed and educated of topical social issues so that we as students can have open discussions of certain topics and form our own opinions.

As a student and citizen of a diverse city and community such as San Pedro, it is important to have an open platform and environment for anyone to publish their works and messages so that we can be more well educated and informed

about topical issues so we can form our own opinions, have more open discussions of certain issues and topics, and have more opportunities to get a better understanding of others and ourselves.

If policies and legislations such as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill are to be enforced and exercised here in San Pedro, it will directly affect San Pedro’s communities, publishers and educational institutions by restricting any material that contains talks of topical issues or LGBTQ+ material. Ignoring this trend of targeting certain material will inevitably result in the direct undermining of our freedom of expression that was guaranteed by us in the first amendment written in the constitution.

John Ray-Take San Pedro High School

Community Alert

LA City Council Approves Motion to Name Street after Joe Buscaino

On Dec. 9, the newly seated LA City Council introduced a motion rename a part of Harbor Boulevard from 8th Street to 22nd Street in San Pedro as “Buscaino Way.”

The council requested that the Board of Harbor Commissioners act on this motion and take all necessary actions to make it happen, including transmitting an application to the Bureau of Engineering, pursuant to the requirements Los Angeles Municipal Code 18.09. This motion did not come out of any committee and the council did not solicit any public or Neighborhood Council comments.

Barragán Talks 2022 Successes

On Dec. 17, Rep. Nanette Barragán (D, CA-44) greeted constituents at El Torito restaruant in Long Beach. The top three takeaways from the briefing were the Inflation Reduction Act; the Infrastructure Bill; and the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which includes $4 million to build a brand new Boys and Girls Club in Harbor Gateway — a bill Barragán hopes gets signed before the new year starts and the congressional gridlock starts anew under the Republican House majority. Top photo courtesy of Barragán’s office, photo left by Fabiola Esqueda

Making A Show Of It

Ron Linden has actively championed artists for over two decades

By Bondo Wyszpolski, Contributor

When the gallery director resigned from Los Angeles Harbor College, Jay McCafferty knew who to ask to take over her position. “And I said sure,” Ron Linden recalls. “I’d had limited experience when I was fresh out of grad school, taking my turn as the gallery director at Bradley University in the middle of Illinois.

“So I took it on, and I enjoyed it.” That was in 2000. “Taking that job and then founding the Warshaw Gallery on Sixth Street in San Pedro, collaborating with Ray and Arnée (Carofano) here at Gallery 478, and then the TransVagrant Projects, I just felt — given the opportunity — that not to do it would be tantamount to a criminal act.

“Because,” Linden continues, “if I can present works by people that I believe in, then that would be fulfilling an obligation that I felt. Plus I enjoy curating, selecting and collaborating with various artists. There’s been quite a variety and offerings from the political to the romantic to the distant kind of formalist abstraction that takes a trained eye to see that there’s anything there whatsoever.

“So I’ve had a good time. I’ve introduced young people (to a wider audience), which I feel also is part of the responsibility. As an educator, I’ve gotten a real kick out of seeing them move on to good undergraduate programs and some of them to graduate programs in fine arts.”

The current show at Gallery 478, where I met with Linden on a recent Saturday to talk of matters past and present, is titled Craig Keith Antrim: Selected Works. It’s on view through Dec. 30. Antrim, who was born in Pasadena in 1942, had lived for some years in San Pedro. He died this past September. In his press release for the exhibition, Linden wrote that “Antrim wedded spirituality with the sensual in his work, much of it influenced by his understanding of philosophy, Jungian psychology, and the philosophy of Joseph Campbell.” In 1986, Antrim was included in the prestigious LACMA show, The Spiritual in Art: Abstract Painting 1890-1985.

The work at Gallery 478 includes pieces from each decade of Antrim’s career from the 1970s onward. But, says Linden, “it wasn’t selected based on a calendar of any sort. I was just looking for paintings that I found arresting and fetching to my eye.” Ultimately, though, “I don’t look at (the show) as a requiem or anything other than a real pared-down survey of an artist friend who was dedicated to what he was doing and has passed recently.”

Que será, Seurat?

If you dig into it, the artists he’s promoted and the shows he’s curated, Ron Linden has done as much for local San Pedro artists as anyone. He’s also had some success as a visual artist in his own right, both in group shows and solo shows. But where did he come from and how did he come by all the credentials that he’s stacked up over the years?

It all begins in Chicago, where he was born in 1940.

“I went to the Art Institute of Chicago when I was in high school,” Linden says. “I went to classes there for a couple of years and then I enrolled at the University of Illinois in architecture. My father was a consummate engineer, a good conceptual guy and designer, and architectural students were required at that time to take free-hand drawing, free-hand perspective, and beginning painting where you’re working from still lifes and so forth.” These classes took place “in this great old building on the U of I campus which just reeked of art. You could smell the oil paint downstairs all the way to the third floor. It was amazing.

“I found that much more interesting than the mechanical aspects of architecture. When I explained to my father that I had changed my major he was quite disappointed in me. I don’t think he ever forgave me.”

When asked which paintings or painters grabbed his attention in those early days, Linden mentions two very different works, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884-1886) by Georges Seurat and Excavation (1950) by Willem de Kooning. Both pictures were in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and Linden would walk by them almost weekly. He says of the Seurat that “as I matured, the way I saw the painting changed.” Seurat and Paul Signac are the best known propagators of Pointillism, a technique that, as Linden notes, “if you put a dot of yellow next to a dot of blue it’s going to give you a visual green when you step back and they merge. So that one taught me there was a lot more going on there than just this idyllic Sunday afternoon with well-off Parisians.”

When it came to de Kooning, “I couldn’t figure it out to save my ass.” And then, perhaps subconsciously, “the first abstract painting that I made was like a version of a de Kooning — amateurish, of course. I tell friends it took me my entire undergraduate career to fully understand de Kooning, and I still marvel at (his work) all these years later, more than any of the other abstract painters.”

Artist, curator, and educator Ron Linden. Photo by Bondo Wyszpolski

Installation view of an exhibition curated by Ron Linden in the former TransVagrant@Warshaw Gallery at the corner of 6th Street and Pacific Avenue. Photo by Ray Carofano

sauce called magma made its debut at Thanksgiving dinner in 2022. As they passed the magma around the table, the revelers quickly noticed its power and utility. The crimson emulsion was like a second gravy for the turkey. Its sweet pungency enhanced the stuffing, which sounds impossible but it’s true. The potatoes, dressed in red, became all the more delectable, and the Midwestern casserole became downright edible. Someone at the table dubbed it red mayonnaise because it improved everything it touched. After the meal, there were so many leftovers that the hosts handed out full takeout containers to the departing guests. But they kept the scant remains of the magma in a takeout container for themselves.

Like its namesake, magma sauce comes from the earth, but the surface rather than the depths like true molten lava. Forged from roasted red peppers and baked squash, magma imparts the sweetness of both, with a near-piquant undertone that makes you cringe like you’re about to get slapped, but it doesn’t deliver. Instead, you get kissed, with possibly a lipstick red mark left on your face. There are a few extra seasonings, but the peppers and squash dominate, and there is no need to complicate matters.

We owe the existence of magma sauce to an arrangement my kids have with a local farmer. They sell his excess produce in a roadside stand and split the money. This year, after bringing home a literal truckload of squash and peppers, winter came unseasonably early. The icy conditions made it impossible to put the stand out. After six weeks of waiting for autumn to regress from the clutches of winter, we threw in the towel and donated the produce to the local homeless shelter in time for Thanksgiving. I hung onto a couple of boxes of each for personal use.

On Thanksgiving morning, while my son made an angel food cake, I roasted red and yellow peppers and baked an orange kabocha squash that goes by the name sunshine. I peeled the blistered peppers and scooped the squash flesh and combined these two ingredients in the blender

An Eruption of Flavor

By Ari LeVaux, Flash In the Pan Columnist

with olive oil, garlic, salt and some thyme.

The resulting puree was thick, and after some time in the fridge grew downright stiff. It turns out that both squash and peppers contain pectin, a carbohydrate that jam makers use to thicken their product. Jeopardizing my precious Thanksgiving belly-space, I began eating my creation, heavily garnished with cilantro and green onions. I spooned it down like soup, not at all regretting the turkey I was forsaking. It was like eating a salad in a bowl of thick dressing, so tangy from the bell peppers that it didn’t need acid.

The day after Thanksgiving I made another batch, this time with some hot peppers. I spooned this red mayo upon scrambled eggs, where it looked and tasted like salsa, despite having no tomatoes. I tried some on pasta, where it was like a creamy marinara.

Since we had some leftover yolks from my son’s angel food cake I made mayonnaise, and

folded in some magma. Although it was now a true red mayo, it had less charm than the original. The oil and yolks dulled the raw, vegetal flavors. And the original version was thick enough, thanks to the pectin. After an hour in the fridge the magma is even thicker, so solid you can’t even pour it. You have to scoop it like pudding. And unlike its namesake, magma sauce stays red, even when cool.

Magma Sauce

The quantities listed here will make about a quart of magma. As a soup it serves four. As a sauce, a few more.

A 3-lb kabocha squash (or similar starchy winter squash)

8 bell peppers, red or yellow (the flavor is good with both, but the color is better with red)

Optional: some hot peppers if you want more fire in the Magma

4 large garlic cloves

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon thyme or oregano

1 teaspoon salt; more to taste

Preheat the oven to 375º. Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and lay the halves down on a baking pan. Cook until soft enough to squeeze from the outside, about 45 minutes. In a separate pan roast the peppers, turning once or twice so they blister on both sides. Remove them after about 30 minutes, or when they are completely blistered and collapsed. At the same time, roast the garlic in the olive oil in a small oven-safe dish until soft — about 30 minutes.

Allow the roasted ingredients to cool. Peel the peppers as best you can, it’s OK if some bits of skin remain, and scrape out the seeds. Scoop out the flesh from the squash skin. Add the squash, peppers, garlic and olive oil, salt and thyme to a blender. Puree. Season with more salt if necessary. Puree again.

Your Magma sauce is now ready. Let the eruption of flavors begin.

The Egyptian Lover Plays JDC Records’ Holiday Event

By Melina Paris, Assistant Editor

Get ready to Lose Control Dec. 30 when The Egyptian Lover again graces JDC Records in San Pedro for its annual holiday event.

Lose Control (Vocoder Jam) is the name of Greg Broussard, aka The Egyptian Lover’s latest EP from Egyptian Empire Records and he has a “new toy” he’s bringing to the world. The two tracks on the EP are Lose Control (long version at just under eight minutes) and Vocoder Jam on side B.

Broussard received a large part of his music initiation through Los Angeles-based hip hop crew Uncle Jamm’s Army, where he was quickly promoted to main disc jockey. The outfit also included Ice T, Dr. Dre and Kid Frost; it played at The Penthouse in LA, the shuttered Playpen in Carson, Alpine Village, Veterans’ Auditorium in Culver City and hotel parties at The Holiday Inn in

Magma sauce, which is made from red peppers and baked squash. Photos by Ari LeVaux

Egyptian Lover

downtown Long Beach, to Pomona Fairgrounds. As the ‘80s began, hip hop was still new and Uncle Jamm’s Army’s popularity progressed so fast that a bigger venue was needed to house their parties. Alpine Village became the site of the groups “breakout dances,” which garnered attendance that got them dubbed the number one dance promoters in LA.

The artist takes pride in playing and making it a party for the people. The last time Random Lengths News caught his show at JDC Records, it was a festive block party inside the record store. The music was bumping, the crowd, notably young and older — many who brought their kids along — couldn’t get enough and The Egyptian Lover delivered.

At that time Broussard brought his Roland 808 drum machine from the 1980s. The 808 attracted a cult following among underground

musicians with their idiosyncratic sounds, particularly its deep, booming bass drum, making it a centerpiece of the emerging electronic, dance, and hip hop scenes. Eventually, the 808 was used on more hit records than any other drum machine. Its popularity with hip hop in particular has made it one of the most influential inventions in popular music.

All this is to say, there’s no doubt The Egyptian Lover’s new toy should be nothing short of amazing. In fact, on the back of Lose

ANNIVERSARY

Control, The Egyptian Lover says it best. “Egyptian lover brings his new toy to the world. Knowing that music can heal, he plays his beats. The evil non-partiers try to pull the plug. Egypt turns the cowbell up and blows them away. Another win for the old school.” Time: 7 p.m. Dec., 30 Cost: Free Details: 424-264-5335; jdcrecords.com Venue: JDC Record Store, 447 W. 6th St., San Pedro

FIRST THURSDAY ART WALK

ART GALLERIES OPEN STUDIOS LATE DINING LIVE MUSIC

TransVagrant + Gallery 478

Palos Verdes Art Center

TED TWINE: DEEP FLAT THEORY

Details: 562-4000544; www.michaelstearnsstudio.com

Time: 1 to 5 p.m., Saturdays or by appointment

Influences as varied as Tantric art, the cut-outs of late-stage Matisse and historic Japanese painting and woodblock prints have found their way into Ted Twine’s art. Flatness of backgrounds and shapes allows the shape itself to be assertive. Shape is made apparent by its color. Depth is suggested within a relatively flat field with lines branching along the surface, suggesting perpendicular space. See ing both possibilities at the same time is the key to “deep flat” vision.

print on paper, 19 x 14 in Orbits, 2012, acrylic, charcoal

Craig Antrim (1942 - 2022) wedded spirituality with the sensual in his work. Much of his work was influenced by his understanding of philosophy, Jungian psychology and the philosophy of Joseph Campbell. Spiritual iconography appears, evolves, disappears, and reappears in a variety of reductive abstract guises – paint often revealing embedded forms, symbols, and fragments evocative of mandalas.

Craig Keith Antrim: Selected Works runs through Dec. 30.

Details: 310-600-4873

Venue: TransVagrant + Gallery 478, 478 W. 7th St., San Pedro.

Deep Flat Theory runs through Jan. 7, 2023. Details: 310-541-2479; www.pvartcenter.org

Epiphany Framing

Come visit our frame shop and get your project started. Your art deserves the best. 1,000 frame samples to choose from or custom build your own. Check out some local art and understand the important details behind framing and your investment.

Details: 310-600-8881

Venue: Epiphany Framing, 343 W. 7th St. San Pedro

Real People, Real News, Really Effective December 22, 2022January 4, 2023

by JJ Geary

CRAIG KEITH ANTRIM: SELECTED WORKS

on canvas, 30” X 30”

Michael Stearns Studio @The Loft congratulates the San Pedro Arts District on celebrating 25 years of great art in the Harbor Area. Works by Michael Stearns is included in The Winter Show, a memebers juried exhibition at Palos Verdes Art Center through Jan. 7, 2023.

Michael Stearns Studio

THE COLORS OF LIFE — MICHAEL STEARNS

Leavings #2, 2020, mixed media

Venue: Michael Stearns Studio@The Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro.

Venue: Palos Verdes Art Center / Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes

Holiday Happenings

Dec. 22

Handel’s Messiah

Regardless of your belief system, Messiah is filled with important reminders of humans highest values. Goodwill toward others, hope for a better life, comfort for those in distress: these are the impulses that build character. For the 15th consecutive year, Handel’s Messiah will be shown Dec. 22. Joining the chorus on stage will be the Long Beach Symphony, as well as four stellar professional soloists. A preconcert talk begins at 6:30 p.m. Time: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 22

Cost: $40 and up

Details: https://tinyurl.com/ mukahrnx

Venue: Beverly O’Neill Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

Aquarium Holidays

Aquarium of the Pacific features festive décor, shopping, snowfall in the great hall and appearances by Santa Diver. On weekends through Dec. 18, the aquarium will have photo opportunities with Santa and a real snow play area on the front lawn.

Time: Dec. 22 to 23

Cost: $26.95 to $36.95

Details: https://www.

aquariumofpacific.org/visit/tickets

Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach Dec. 24

LA County Holiday Celebration

The 63rd annual LA County Holiday Celebration returns live to The Music Center and offers Angelenos of all ages the opportunity to experience and honor the dynamic, rich cultures of the county. Enjoy a diverse lineup of LA-based artists with performances by choral groups, dance troupes and local artists. Attend in person or watch PBS SoCal or on pbssocal.org.

Time: 3 to 6 p.m., Dec. 24 Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/ LAC-holiday-celebration

Venue: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles Dec.

Details: https://www.pvld.org

Venue:

Dec. 31

Night Dive

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Dec. 31

Cost: Free

Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 31 Cost: $54.95 to $59.95 Details: 562-590-3100; https://tinyurl.com/night-dive

Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve Korean Friendship Bell-ringing Join in celebrating in person. Say goodbye to 2022 and ring in the new year 2023.

Time: 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Dec. 31 Cost: Free Details: 310-548-7705; https://tinyurl.com/3bcpd9vm

Venue: Angels Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro

New Year’s Eve at Shoreline Village 2022 Ring in the New Year with an unforgettable night at Shoreline Village featuring two DJs, a local live band, Hula Hoop dancers, a children’s countdown and two of the best fireworks shows in Southern California.

Time: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Dec. 31 Cost: Free Details: Venue: Shoreline Village, 330 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach

MUSIC Dec. 23

Abba LA

ABBA LA is a Los Angeles-based tribute band that celebrates the timeless music of ABBA. The band is comprised of top-notch national and international musicians, who all have one thing in common: their love for ABBA and their intricate music. Put your dancing shoes on and come celebrate ABBA’s amazing and unforgettable music with ABBA LA.

Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 23 Cost: $25 Details: https://tinyurl.com/abbala

Venue: Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Dec. 31

Andy and Renee

South Bay’s favorite folk-rockers return to the Annex to ring in the new year. Celebrate on the dance floor while the band delivers hits

Editor’s Note: Due to the current COVID-19 surge in the Los Angeles area, please be advised to check ahead to confirm if events will still be happening before purchasing tickets.

from across the decades. Your ticket includes late-night pizza, party favors and a champagne toast to welcome in 2023.

Time: 8:30 p.m., Dec. 31 Cost: $40 and up

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Andyand-Renee

Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Jan. 6

First Fridays at First

Join to see Belgian pianist Steven Van Hauwaert and Canadian violinist Corey Cerovsek in part one of a recital in two parts.

Time: 12 p.m., Jan. 6

Cost: Free Details: 310-316-5574; www.palosverdes.com/classicalcrossroads

Venue: First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance

Sweet Caroline

In 2018, singer/songwriter Neil Diamond announced that he would be retiring from the stage due to health reasons. This show was conceived in response to the news, with Jay White paying tribute by performing the legend’s hits from over his 50-year career.

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 6 Cost: $40 to $65

Details: cerritoscenter.com; 562-916-8500

Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

Jan. 7

Celebrating the Music of Tom Petty

Driven by a deep love and admiration for Petty’s music, Devitt Feeley assembled a cast of top flight Los Angeles tribute musicians to faithfully and respectfully perform Tom Petty’s classics with great attention to detail and a heartfelt

love of the music.

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 7 Cost: $20 Details: https://tinyurl.com/pettyparty Venue: Alva’s Showroom 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

Jan. 15

2023 Southern California Slack

Key Festival

Join the 16th annual celebration of ki ho’alu guitar in Redondo Beach. It’s the biggest Hawaiian music event of the year. Kala Koa Entertainment celebrates 16 years of bringing the biggest and brightest names in Hawaiian music to the mainland.

Time: 2 p.m., Jan. 15 Cost: $20 to $65. Details: https://www.slackkeyfest. com

Venue: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach

Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins

Mike Keneally (Zappa, Satriani, Vai) and his band Beer For Dolphins, along with renowned rock fusion trio Travis Larson Band, present an evening of musicianship, from artful rock to progressive rock to jazz rock fusion to avant-garde fusion. Time: 4 p.m., Jan. 15 Cost: $30

Details: https://tinyurl.com/MikeKeneally Venue: Alva’s Showroom,1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

THEATER Dec. 22

A Moment

It’s Christmas eve and cynical Milo finds himself in his local dive bar, certain life couldn’t get any worse. He’s ready to give up on everything until the chatty, cheery bartender Lucy engages him in conversation. What begins as an awkward exchange slowly transforms into a night that will change the course of both of their lives. Time: 8 p.m., . 22, 23 Cost: $20 to $30

Details: https://tinyurl.com/shakespeare-a-moment Venue: Little Fish Theatre, 777 S. Centre St., San Pedro

Jan. 7

Garrison Keillor Tonight

Join an evening of stand-up, storytelling, audience song and poetry. One man, one microphone. There are sung sonnets, limericks and musical jokes, and the thread that runs through it is the beauty of growing old.

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 7 Cost: $40 and up Details: 310-781-7171; www.torrancearts.org/garrisonkeillor-tonight Venue: Torrance Cultural Arts, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance

ART Dec. 22

The Gravura Collective Show

An exhibition consisting of 13 Brazilian artists, showcasing a vast array of Brazilian art such as sculptures, photography and paintings. Immerse yourself in the rich Brazilian culture. Several Brazilian artists and gallerists will be present at the show. The exhibition runs to Dec. 31.

Time: 2 to 6 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday Cost: Free Details: www.msartgallery.com Venue: Menduina Schneider Art Gallery, 366 W. 7th St., San Pedro

Little Boxes

Want to get the conversation started (or ended) at the family holiday dinner? Bring along a gift box from the Little Boxes exhibit by Long Beach artist Kay Erickson. Using an assortment of Cuban cigar boxes and display boxes, she provocatively and cleverly frames some villainous vignettes of the horrors currently haunting America, along with some calmer, more surreal scenes. The works will be on display and available for purchase through January 2023.

Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday Cost: Free Details: 562-588-7075

Venue: Page Against The Machine, 2714 E. 4th St., Long Beach

Ted Twine: Deep Flat Theory

Having lived and worked in the Port of Los Angeles community of San Pedro since the 1980s, Twine has found that the contrast between the industrial environment of the harbor, the rugged coastline, the hills of the town and peninsula behind it, makes for a stimulating place to live and do creative work.

Time: Dec. 22 to Jan. 7 Cost: Free Details: https://pvartcenter.org Venue: PVAC, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes

Jan. 5

San Pedro FirstThursday ArtWalk

The ArtWalk showcases all arts disciplines throughout the community. The guided ArtWalk Tour will be on hiatus until March 2023.

Time: 5:30 to 9 p.m., Jan. 5 Cost: Free Details: https://sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com

Location: Between Pacific Ave, Harbor Boulevard, 4th and 9th streets

FILM Dec. 23

It’s A Wonderful Life

Join a screening at the historic Warner Grand Theatre for this holiday classic presented by San Pedro Film Festival. It’s a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas family fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra.

Time: 7 p.m., Dec. 23

Cost: $15

Details: https://spiffest-wonderfullife.bpt.me

Venue: The Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro

COMMUNITY Dec. 23

Tidepool Walks

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators will lead this hike to see animals in their natural habitat. There will be a brief informative

tidepool-walks

Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro

Dec. 29

Salt Marsh Open House

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators will teach about the Salinas de San Pedro wetlands habitat at Cabrillo Beach. Guests will use binoculars and microscopes to observe live animals. Visitors will learn about the birds of the marsh, native plants and observe the changes in the tides.

Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 29, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 30, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 31

Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/CMASalt-Marsh Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro

Jan. 7

Outdoor Volunteer Day: Agua Amarga Reserve

Volunteers can help prepare a Palos Verdes blue butterfly habitat by raking and removing invasive weeds. The event will be outdoors, so wear a mask, closedtoed shoes, bug spray, sun protection and bring drinking water and a snack.

Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Jan. 7 Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/volunteer-Agua-Amarga

Venue: 6937 Kings Harbor Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

George

F.

Canyon Guided Nature Preserve Walk

You will be guided by a trained naturalist to discover a unique variety of wildlife in a canyon habitat with amazing views of the LA Basin. Meet outside on the back deck of the George F. Canyon Nature Center. Park in the preserve lot. Rain cancels the walk.

Time: 10:30 a.m., Jan. 7 Cost: Free

Details: No RSVP required

Venue: George F. Canyon Nature Center, 27305 Palos Verdes Dr. East, Rolling Hills Estates

Jan. 8

South Coast Cactus and Succulent Society

Dylan Hannon, a curator of conservatory collections at The Huntington Botanical Gardens since 2003, will speak about the succulent Othonna. Hannon will discuss the cultivation requirements of Othonna, which can be used in a rock garden or as an indoor houseplant.

Time: 1 p.m., Jan. 8

Cost: Free for members of the club and their guests

Details: https://tinyurl.com/SCCSS-Othonna

Venue: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula

Ongoing

Open Garden at Feed and Be Fed

San Pedro’s own urban farm opens its downtown garden every Tuesday and Friday morning and on First Thursday evenings. Organic produce is for sale at farmers’ market, corner of 6th and Mesa, Fridays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Share nature’s bounty and beauty, get your hands in the dirt as a volunteer, get expert advice or just relax.

Time: Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and First Thursday evenings Cost: Free

Details: feedandbefed.org

Venue: Feed and Be Fed Farm, 429 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Peninsula Center Library Community Room, 701 Silver Spur Rd., Rolling Hills Estates

Dive into 2023 at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s New Year’s Eve Night Dive. Start the new year with the fish as you boogie to the tunes of a live band playing in the great hall and DJs spinning in the galleries — all leading up to the confetti countdown at midnight.

After receiving his BFA from the University of Illinois, Linden continued on to grad school, although by this time he was married and had two children. In addition to being a teaching assistant he worked nights and weekends fixing cars. Presumably he wasn’t too creative with the repairs.

With his MFA, Linden scored a job as an assistant professor of art at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. “That was in the late ‘60s,” he says, “and there was NEA money around.” Having been a teaching assistant in lithography while in grad school, he founded a lithography workshop at Bradley.

The school treated him well, even sending him and other faculty members to a college art association conference in San Francisco. A couple of people he’d known from the Midwest were instrumental in helping him land a summer teaching job at USC, “where,” he says, breaking out into a wide grin, “I encountered the most boring, undermotivated students that I could ever fucking imagine.”

That aside, however, Linden made up his mind to stay in California, and in Old Town Pasadena he found, serendipitously, he adds, an 8,000 square foot studio for $400 a month. The area was run down at that time, with “junkies and drunks and thrift stores and dive bars and a porn theater,” but, he continues, “a lot of great stuff went on there, too. I was a block away from Bruce Nauman, Peter Plagens, Walter Gabrielson, Karen Carson…”

Linden was in Pasadena for most of the ‘70s. “Then when the urban renewal began all the artists got priced out, and I moved downtown.”

He spent the ‘80s in downtown Los Angeles, “which was exactly the right time to be there because after 6 o’clock at night it was artists, musicians, and bums, and that was it. You kind of felt like you owned the city, and there were a number of bars (Al’s Bar, for example) and eateries that were just legendary.

“And then gentrification hit downtown L.A.” Meanwhile, Linden had made some trips south to San Pedro, helping out friends who were refurbishing half of Ted Twine’s building and putting in an art studio. “In doing so I looked around San Pedro and was taken aback by how beautiful it was.” He’d told his wife that if they ever got booted from downtown LA they were going to seriously consider a move to the Harbor Area.

Which then happened, and soon Linden was meeting with many of the artists and the gallerists who’ve played a key role in his life ever since. Some have moved on, of course, and some have passed away. “Now chaos reigns, as usual,” he says. “Just when you think life was going to get easier it gets more complicated.”

Why, do you think this area’s going to get too gentrified?

“Yeah, I do,” Linden replies. “And this terrifies me. There’s no overall plan.” He then points out that although the galleries and the artists have given downtown San Pedro a cachet, he feels that their best interests aren’t being properly safeguarded. Artist enclaves are too easily steamrolled over by profit-minded developers. Linden again emphasizes the richness of the local art scene and the talent residing therein, while also pointing out that it’s often been overlooked in the context of art across Greater LA. He specifically mentions the city-wide Pacific Standard Time (PST) series of exhibitions that took place 10 years ago. “My response to Pa-

cific Standard Time, where they totally missed the South Bay, was to do a show called, instead of PST, PSST: Art in San Pedro 2000-2012.” That was his rebuttal, one might say, to the notion that art radiating from the Harbor Area was marginal.

Worthy of our attention

I don’t really mean to, but I sort of put Linden on the spot when I ask if he’d like to say a few words about any specific artists, in particular those he hadn’t already spoken about. It’s not a good question to ask, because invariably someone important or influential gets passed over. Nonetheless, the question is out.

Linden mentions Merwin Belin, one of his favorite iconoclasts, whom he’s known since the ‘70s, “who makes collages and eccentric objects, always deliberately beneath the radar.” Jay McCafferty’s name has surfaced a few times, including in the very first line of this nice, long article. McCafferty has work in the Getty’s permanent collection, and this writer, who knew him briefly but as someone noble and sincere, was deeply saddened upon learning of his passing. “I believe in his work in the long run, for sure,” Linden says. He mentions a few more, including Eric Johnson, “who’s technically one of the finest craftsmen that you’ll ever see, bar none. And we have painters like Marie Thibeault, we have sculptors like Ann Weber.

“The list goes on,” Linden says, and he mentions Ted Twine, “who I think is a very good painter,” and in fact right now, at this moment, Twine has a solo exhibition running through Jan. 7 at the Palos Verdes Art Center. Craig Antrim’s name again comes up, fondly of course, as having been someone who, as a teacher, was

“open, accessible; as a friend, jovial, hospitable, generous of spirit,” but who apparently maintained a low profile “and just kept on doing his work, and I think always searching for a resolution, spiritually — not in a religious sense.”

Linden pauses and continues. “Peggy Reavey and Yong Sin are outstanding, and they fly mostly beneath the radar, too.” He praises their intensity, commitment, and, a point he stresses, their authenticity. “Peggy doesn’t fuck around and neither does Yong, and both of them work all the time.”

Inevitably, of course, it comes full circle to where we’re sitting, in Ray and Arnée Carofano’s Gallery 478. In some way, because the gallery (and photo studio) is often a gathering point during the San Pedro First Thursday Art Walks, the Carofanos have been a key figure of the local art scene, and Ray’s fine art photography has been widely acclaimed (his hardcover book, Faces of Pedro, was profiled in these pages).

“I will do that as long as I can,” he says, “to try and present artworks by significant artists. And I try all the time to never talk down to the audience. Often there are little docent groups that will come in and look at a show, and I don’t sugarcoat or soft-pedal it. I feel that part of the mission is to elevate the public and get rid of misapprehension. A lot of people feel a sense of alienation like it’s an insider world when it really isn’t. What could be more open than laying your life out there on a — no matter what it is — a musical score, a written manuscript, a painting?” And then he sums it all up. “I’m just trying to carry on, you know?”

Related shows: Craig Keith Antrim: Selected Works, through Dec. 30 at TransVagrant+Gallery 478, 478 W. 7th St, San Pedro; Ted Twine: Deep Flat Theory, through Jan. 7 at the Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes.

Conspiracy, Obstruction, Incitement

manager, explained his thinking in bringing charges: We need to have clearly abundant evidence, evidence even more than sufficient evidence to believe that this crime was committed, we want to be identifying key players in the operation, we want to make sure nobody falls through the cracks, and we want to make sure that the crimes that we’re addressing have sufficient magnitude and gravity that the Congress of the United States needs to pronounce upon them.

In addition to the charges referred to, the executive summary of the committee’s final report cites two conspiracy statutes that Trump could be charged with, depending on evidence developed by the Department of Justice. Convictions of Oathkeepers and others have already been obtained.

While Republicans have tried to either ignore or discredit the committee investigation, the overwhelming majority of witnesses — including all the central ones — were Republicans. The full list of witnesses called live or presented on video included 59 Republicans, one Democrat and 26 “others” including six police officers and eight insurrectionists. Here is a recap of what they have found.

A Trail of Testimony

Beginning with its first hearing this year, on June 9 — which provided an overview of everything to come — the committee showed that Trump was repeatedly told by his closest advisers that there was no fraud and that he lost. “I made it clear I did not agree with the idea of saying the election was stolen and putting out this stuff, which I told the president was bullshit,” Trump’s Attorney General Bill Barr said in a taped depo-

sition. And Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, said that Barr’s statement “affected my perspective,” adding, “I respect Attorney General Barr. So I accepted what he was saying.”

A parade of other witnesses from Trump’s administration and campaign made similar statements in depositions aired across various hearings, particularly the second hearing, on June 13, which made this a central focus. In particular, Barr said that he repeatedly told Trump “how crazy some of these allegations were,” that they were unfounded, but that there was “never an indication of interest in what the actual facts are.”

Taped testimony from Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien told a similar story, pitting Stepien and other professionals on “Team Normal” vs. Rudy Giuliani, a seeming inexhaustible source of wild-eyed accusations. Two other witnesses shot down specific examples: U.S. Attorney B.J. Pak in Georgia, where Giuliani played a brief snippet of a security tape, falsely claiming it to be a ‘smoking gun’ proving voting fraud,

and Al Schmidt, the only Republican member of Philadelphia’s three-member city commission, who rebuked Giuliani’s claim that 8,000 dead people had voted in Pennsylvania. “Not only was there not evidence of 8,000 dead voters voting in Pennsylvania, there wasn’t evidence of eight,” Schmidt told the committee.

Eventually, in the Oct. 13 hearing, Cassidy Hutchinson, top aide to Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff, confirmed that Trump himself knew he’d lost. In her taped testimony she said, “The president said … something to the effect of, ‘I don’t want people to know we lost, Mark.”

The third hearing, on June 16, focused on the effort to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to derail the process of counting the electoral votes. Multiple taped witnesses testified that Trump had repeatedly been told that this, too, had no merit, while two witnesses who advised Pence testified live: his former Pence attorney Greg Jacob and retired Republican judge J. Michael Luttig, perhaps the most esteemed conservative judge outside the Supreme Court.

“There was no support whatsoever in either the Constitution of the United States nor the laws of the United States” for what Trump was asking Pence to do, Luttig said, and he “would have laid my body across the road” before letting Pence illegally overturn the election.

The fourth hearing, on June 21, focused on Trump’s efforts to pressure GOP state officials to help overturn the election, featuring live testimony from three such officials: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, his deputy Gabe Sterling and Arizona House of Representatives Speaker Rusty Bowers.

“I do not want to be a winner by cheating. I will not play with laws I swore allegiance to,” Bowers testified. In addition to recounting these efforts and their resistance, there was also testimony about threats. Bowers was subject to intense vilification. On Saturdays, he said, “We have various groups come by and they have had video panel trucks with videos of me proclaiming me to be a pedophile and a pervert and a corrupt politician and blaring loudspeakers in my neighborhood and leaving literature both on my

property, and — but arguing and threatening with neighbors and with myself,” including at least one incident with armed man vocally threatening a neighbor.

As for Georgia, they played tape of Trump’s call to Raffensperger saying, “So, look, all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.” And Raffensperger testified, “There were no votes to find. That was an accurate count that had been certified.”

The pressure on Raffensperger and Sterling is the subject of a criminal investigation by Fulton County DA Fani Willis, which could lead to state charges against Trump, regardless of any federal charges the Department of Justice might bring.

They also heard riveting testimony from Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss, two Black election workers who Trump repeatedly falsely attacked, and whose lives had been severely disrupted.

The fifth hearing, on June 23, focused on Trump’s far-flung efforts to strong-arm the DOJ into overturning the election, with live testimony from three key figures: Richard Donoghue, former acting U.S. deputy attorney general; Jeff Rosen, former acting attorney general; and Steven A. Engel, former assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel. They all testified that DOJ lawyers repeatedly told Trump he had the facts and the law wrong, but that he repeatedly tried all kinds of nutty gambits, including an effort to install an unqualified lawyer, Jeffrey Clark, to do his bidding. Only the threat of a mass resignation — reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” that turned public opinion against him — stopped Trump from appointing Clark.

The sixth hearing, on June 28, featured testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, who provided damning evidence that Trump was not only aware of the potential for violence when he riled up his supporters in his public speech to them, but that he also wanted to lead them at the Capitol and physically assaulted his driver when the driver refused to take him there, because of security concerns. Trump knew there were armed crowd members being kept outside of where he was speaking, because they couldn’t pass through the metal detectors (aka “mags”).

“I overheard the president say something to the effect of, you know, I - - I don’t effing care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me,” Hutchinson testified. “Take those effing mags away. Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here. Let the people in. Take the effing mags away.”

She was told that later in the day by Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato (an account he ini-

tially disputed in press accounts, but declined to dispute under oath). She’d also been told of Trump’s plans two days in advance by Guiliani.

The seventh hearing, July 12, focused on connections between Trump and the violent extremist groups who spearheaded the invasion of the Capitol (including Roger Stone’s role as a gobetween), with live testimony from a former Oath Keepers spokesperson and a repentant participant in the riot, as well as an abundance of damning communications from Trump associates, extremists and others who bridged both worlds.

The eighth hearing, July 23, concluded the live hearing series with a big-picture review overview adding new evidence about Trump’s failure to act during the riot, with live testimony from two former Trump aides who resigned over the attacks. Matthew Pottinger was deputy national security advisor to the president. Trump’s tweet attacking Mike Pence was the breaking point for him. “I was disturbed and worried to see that the president was attacking Vice President Pence for doing his constitutional duty. So the tweet looked to me like the opposite of what we really needed at that moment, which was a de-escalation. And that’s why I had said earlier that it looked like fuel being poured on the fire,” he said. “So that was the moment that I decided that I was going to resign.”

Finally, in their Oct. 13 business meeting, the committee summarized its ironclad case that Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection, and added significant new information that had come to light since July. And it concluded by issuing a subpoena for Trump to testify, having made perfectly clear precisely what he has to answer for. But no one seriously expected Trump to respond.

Where Things Now Stand

Instead, Trump was out campaigning for his election-denying candidates. But their disastrous performance on Nov. 8, losing almost every high-profile race, has changed the tone of politics considerably. While Trump’s leadership of the party seems shakier than ever — reflected in a series of post-election polls — his most prominent potential challenger, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, is seeking to outflank him on the right by doubling down on anti-vax conspiracism.

“Most leading Republicans right now — from Mitch McConnell to Mike Pence to Ron DeSantis to Mike Pompeo — they actually want DOJ to get Donald Trump and they want the Jan. 6 Committee to get Donald Trump because they don’t have the courage to do it themselves,” former GOP Congressman David Jolly said on MSNBC on Saturday. “They want somebody else to knock out Donald Trump and clear the path for them and then pretend that none of this ever happened.”

The DOJ’s decision on whether to charge Trump will lie first with Special Counsel Jack Smith, a war crimes prosecutor appointed to his post by Attorney General Merrick Garland on Nov. 18. Smith is overseeing both the DOJ’s investigations of Trump related to Jan. 6 as well as Trump’s theft and mishandling of over 11,000 government documents, some classified “top secret” or higher — a case that seemed to come out of nowhere with an Aug. 8 FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The document case is seen as much more straight-forward, which leads many to expect a decision on it first.

But failure to act on the Jan. 6 coup attempt referrals would be seen by historians and other democracies as an invitation to another coup. It’s a pattern that’s been seen repeatedly since Germany in the 1920s and Japan in the 1930s. There’s no reason to think the U.S. is exempt.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, head of the House Jan. 6 Committee.

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RLNews is looking for freelance food and music writers who are knowledgeable about Harbor Area restaurants, culture and music scenes. Committment to writing to deadline is a must. Having a strong social media following and bi-lingual skills is a plus. Submit inquiries and any links to your writing to editor@randomlengthsnews. com or call 310-519-1442 weekdays.

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File

No. 2022237192

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: SIMPLYRE, 1377 W. 7TH ST, SAN PEDRO CA 90731

County of LOS ANGELES Registered owner(s): RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, 1377 W. 7TH ST, SAN PEDRO CA 90731 90275

State of Incorporation: CA This business is conducted by an Individual. The registrant(s) started doing business on N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to

exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).

S/ MANUEL GUILLERMO VILLAGRAN, SECRETARY

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 10/31/2022.

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 expires 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. Effective January 1, 2014, the Fictitious Business

Name Statement must be accompanied by the Affidavit of Identity form. 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 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). 11/23/22 , 12/01/22, 12/08/22, 12/21/22

Public Notary Services available at

1300 S. Pacific Ave. San Pedro 310-510-1442

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the City of Long Beach, California, acting by and through the City’s Board of Harbor Commissioners (“City”) will receive, before the Bid Deadline established below, Bids for the following Work:

ON-CALL CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT RENTAL AND FENCING SERVICE AND INSTALLATION PORT-WIDE LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA AS DESCRIBED IN SPECIFICATION NO. HD-S3172

LEGAL NOTICES

ments, must be submitted no later than January 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. Questions received after the pre-Bid question deadline will not be accepted.

Questions must be submitted electronically through the PB System. Emails, phone calls, and faxes will not be accepted. Questions submitted to City staff will not be addressed and Bidder will be directed to the PB System.

NIB -3 Pre-Bid Meeting and Site Visit. There will not be a pre-bid meeting or site visit for this project. The City makes no guarantee that

Bid Deadline: Prior to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

Bids shall be submitted electronically via the Port of Long Beach PlanetBids (PB) System prior to 2:00 p.m.

Bid Opening: Electronic Bid (eBid) results shall be viewable online in the PB System immediately after the Bid Deadline.

Contract Documents Available:

Download Contract Documents from the Port of Long Beach PB System Vendor Portal: www.polb.com/sbe Click on the POLB Vendor Portal

Register and Log In

Click “Bid Opportunities”

Double-click on respective bid Project Title

Click on Document/Attachments tab

Double-Click on Title of Electronic Attachment

Click “Download Now”

Repeat for each attachment For assistance in downloading these documents please contact Port of Long Beach Plans and Specs Desk at 562-283-7353.

Pre-Bid Meeting: None.

Project Contact Person:

Sunny Zia, sunny.zia@polb.com

Please refer to the Port of Long Beach PB System for the most current information.

NIB -1 Contract Documents. Contract Documents may be downloaded, at no cost, from the Port of Long Beach PB System Vendor Portal website. Bidders must first register as a vendor on the Port of Long Beach PB System website in order to view and download the Contract Documents, to be added to the prospective bidders list, and to receive addendum notifications when issued.

For the link to the Port of Long Beach PB System and for information on this Project and other upcoming Port projects, you may view the Port website at www.polb.com/business/ business-opportunities

Copies of all Port insurance endorsement forms, SBE/ VSBE Program forms, Harbor Development Permit Applications and other Port forms are available at www.polb.com/ business/permits.

NIB -2 Pre-Bid Questions. All questions, including requests for interpretation or correction, or comments regarding the Contract Docu-

existing construction and site conditions matches construction depicted on record reference documents. It shall be the Bidder’s responsibility to identify existing conditions. Note that downloading all available documents can be used to satisfy a portion of a Bidder’s good faith efforts to meet the SBE/VSBE participation goals listed below.

NIB -4 Summary Description of the Work. The Work required by this Contract includes, but is not limited to: furnishing, on an on-call rental basis, fully-maintained, fueled, and insured construction equipment with qualified operators, laborers, and supervision for construction and maintenance of general public works including utilities, street and roads, and earthwork; and furnishing and installing chain-link fencing, k-rail and fence gates (including in ballast areas), including post assemblies; soil testing, characterizing and disposal of non-hazardous waste.

NIB -5 Contract Time and Liquidated Damages. The

Contractor shall achieve Affidavit of Final Completion of the Project within two (2) years as provided in Paragraph SC - 6.1 of the Special Conditions, from a date specified in a written “Notice to Proceed” issued by the City and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.2 of the General Conditions. FAILURE OF THE CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE THE WORK WITHIN THE CONTRACT TIME AND OTHER MILESTONES SET FORTH IN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THE ENGINEER’S APPROVAL OF AFFIDAVIT OF FINAL COMPLETION, WILL RESULT IN ASSESSMENT OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNTS ESTABLISHED IN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS.

NIB -6 Contractor’s License. The Bidder shall hold a current and valid Class “A”, California Contractor’s License to construct this project.

NIB -7 Contractor Performed Work. The Contractor shall perform, with its own employees, Contract Work amounting to at least 30% of the Contract Price, except that any designated “Specialty Items” may be performed by subcontract. The amount of any such “Specialty Items” so performed may be deducted from the Contract Price before computing the amount required to be performed by the Contractor with its own employees. “Specialty Items” will be identified by the City on the Schedule of Bid Items. The bid price of any materials or equipment rental costs from vendors who are solely furnishing materials or rental equipment and are not performing Work as a licensed subcontractor on this project shall also be deducted from the Contract Price before computing the amount required to be performed by the Contractor with its own employees.

NIB -8 SBE/VSBE. This project is subject to the Port of Long Beach (POLB) Small Business Enterprises (SBE)/ Very Small Business Enterprises (VSBE) Program.

The combined SBE/VSBE participation goal for this Project is twenty percent (20%) of total bid value. The combined SBE/VSBE participation goal shall include a minimum zero percent (0%) of total bid value as VSBE.

POLB expects all Bidders to achieve the combined SBE/VSBE participation goal. Award of the Contract will be conditioned on the Bidder submitting an SBE-2C Commitment Plan demonstrating the Bidder’s intent to meet the combined SBE/VSBE participation goal. If the Bidder’s Commitment Plan does not demonstrate intent to meet the combined goal, the Bidder shall demonstrate that it made an adequate good faith effort to do so, as specified in the Instructions to Bidders. The Port’s SBE Program staff is available to provide information on the program requirements, including SBE certification assistance. Please contact the SBE Office at (562) 283-7598 or sbeprogram@polb.com You may also view the Port’s SBE program requirements at

www.polb.com/sbe.

NIB -9 Prevailing Wage Requirements per Department of Industrial Relations. This Project is a public work Contract as defined in Labor Code Section 1720.

The Contractor receiving award of the Contract and Subcontractors of any tier shall pay not less than the prevailing wage rates to all workers employed in execution of the Contract. The Director of Industrial Relations of the State of California has determined the general prevailing rates of wages in the locality in which the Work is to be performed. The rate schedules are available on the internet at http://www.dir. ca.gov/dlsr/DPreWageDetermination.htm and on file at the City, available upon request. Bidders are directed to Article 15 of the General Conditions for requirements concerning payment of prevailing wages, payroll records, hours of work and employment of apprentices.

This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations. No Contractor or Subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5 (with limited exceptions from this requirement for bid purposes only under Labor Code Section 1771.1(a)). No Contractor or Subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5.

In addition to providing Certified Payroll Records (CPRs) and labor compliance documentation to the Port of Long Beach, Contractors and Subcontractors must furnish electronic CPRs to the Labor Commissioner’s Office.

NIB -10 Project Labor Agreement. This project is not covered by a PLA.

NIB -11 Trade Names and Substitution of Equals. With the exception of any sole source determination that may be identified in this paragraph, a written request for an Or Equal Substitution using the form included in Appendix A together with data substantiating that the non-specified item is of equal quality to the item specified, may be submitted after Conditional Award and no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after City’s issuance of Notice to Proceed (NTP). Authorization of a substitution is solely within the discretion of the City.

NIB -12 Not Used.

NIB -13 Bid Security, Signed Contract, Insurance and Bonds. Each Bid shall be accompanied by a satisfactory Bidder’s Bond or other acceptable Bid Security in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid as a guarantee that the Bidder will, if Conditionally Awarded a Contract by the Board, within thirty (30) calendar days after the Contract is conditionally awarded to the Contractor by the City,

execute and deliver such Contract to the Chief Harbor Engineer together with all required documents including insurance forms, a Payment Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and a Performance Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. All Bonds shall be on forms provided by the City.

NIB -14 Conditional Award of Contract and Reservation of Rights. The Board, acting through the Executive Director, reserves the right at any time before the execution of the Contract by the City, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informality or irregularity. The Conditional Award of the Contract, if any, will be to the responsible Bidder submitting the lowest responsive and responsible Bid. If the lowest responsive responsible Bidder fails to submit the

required documents including insurance forms, bonds and signed Contract within thirty (30) calendar days after Conditional Award of Contract, the Board reserves the right to rescind the Conditional Award and Conditionally Award the Contract to the next lowest responsive and responsible Bidder.

NIB -15 Period of Bid Irrevocability. Bids shall remain open and valid and Bidder’s Bonds and other acceptable Bid Security shall be guaranteed and valid for ninety (90) calendar days after the Bid Deadline or until the Executive Director executes a Contract, whichever occurs first.

NIB -16 Substitution of Securities. Substitution of Securities for retainage is permitted in accordance with Section 22300 of the Public Contract Code.

NIB -17 Iran Contracting Act of 2010. In accordance with Public Contract Code sections 2200-2208, every person who submits a bid or proposal for entering into or renewing contracts with the City for goods or services estimated at $1,000,000 or more are required to complete, sign, and submit the “Iran Contracting Act of 2010 Compliance Affidavit.”

Issued at Long Beach, California, this 24th day of October 2022.

Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Harbor Department, City of Long Beach, California

Note: For project updates after Bid Opening, please contact plans.specs@polb. com

IBU Rally

operated in California from Foss Maritime, a subsidiary of Saltchuk. A bunker barge is like a floating petrol station. The bunker barge pumps fuel oil into the ship’s storage (bunker) tanks.

The effect of this deal had an immediate impact on mariners from Los Angeles and Long Beach to San Francisco. In Los Angeles and Long Beach Foss Maritime terminated 21 employees who worked on its bunker barges. The collective bargaining agreement with MM&P, who represented the mariners, was voided as were contributions to the Southwest Marine Pension Trust. In San Francisco, roughly the same number of employees represented by the Sailors Union of the Pacific also lost their jobs when Foss Maritime stopped its operations.

In March 2021, the National Labor Relations Board decided that Centerline Logistics, parent company of Leo Marine, illegally recognized the SIU. The IBU and the MMP were competing over jurisdiction for the Leo Marine employees.

Additionally, the National Labor Relations Board issued a consolidated complaint based on several charges in violation of the National Labor Relations Act when Centerline Logistics transferred work away from IBU-represented Westoil Marine Inc. to the new company Leo Marine. Charges include bargaining in bad faith and repudiation of contract.

Sogliuzzo said he is asking the Harbor Commission to conduct an investigation into the labor law charges pending at the NLRB and investigate Westoil’s intent to close operations as it relates to the lease permit 882.

“If the commission finds that wrongdo-

ing has occurred, I would like to see the Harbor Commission and city attorney take affirmative action on our behalf against the parties in violation and make those of us injured by such acts whole for all damages,” Sogliuzzo said. “If possible, I would also like to see injunctive relief … so that ‘Westoil’ is not allowed to close its doors on us while the other affiliates are allowed to continue to operate at this location performing our historical work despite being challenged before the NLRB.”

needs are unique and specific and in many cases cannot be provided by traditional service providers.”

He noted accurate reflection or representation of real numbers allow those who provide services to demand more resources, because the data point to that.

As Torres noted, people of color and transgender women of color more are targeted. When asked about the issue of the reported numbers not reflecting the intersection of Black/ queer folks, Torres said he agreed that the numbers are “probably underrepresented.”

“There’s still more work to do,” he said. “But representation matters and

for Black/queer individuals, we certainly need to do a better job. But it’s also making sure that they are aware that LA vs Hate exists, which is not a law enforcement body but can make sure that resources are provided and referrals and whatever else a person may need to ensure that the community gets everything that it needs to be healed.”

Torres added that The Center Long Beach is partnered with the LA vs Hate initiative.

“We’re happy to report that this effort is inclusive of all parts of the county, not just concentrated in LA proper,” Torres said. “It’s more than just the City of Los Angeles. It’s also making sure that people in our community in Long Beach have access to the same resources as those who live in the City of LA.” Details:

Real People, Real News, Really Effective December 22, 2022January 4, 2023