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Challengers for the Council District 15 seat state their cases pg. 7 Howard Scott of legendary band WAR on music and transcending barriers. Scott will perform at JDC Records in San Pedro on March 16 pg. 11 Caribbean comfort food lives at Punto Cubano pg. 12
By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
[See Report Card, p. 6]
Course through Civic Center City
The Local Publication You Actually Read
March 7 is the date District 15 voters will grade Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino. Although there are many in the district who believe he should be graded on a passfail basis, he won’t be. Three challengers, two of whom have columns in this edition of Random Lengths News, are critical of Buscaino’s handling of the San Pedro waterfront development, the homeless crisis, the Harbor Division jail and the environment — issues on which he is vulnerable. But the depth of their campaign resources, coupled with their lack of name recognition throughout the council district means their quest to unseat an incumbent will be a tough one. The Los Angeles Times editorial board endorsed the councilman, but described his “performance,” thus far, as only “adequate.” The Times editorial board also laid out the historic and geographic realities that constrain the aspirations of communities such as Harbor Gateway, Harbor City and Wilmington, noting that each of these areas needs its own representatives. “But they will never get one,” the Times board wrote. “Not as long as the city herds all of those areas into a single, mammoth city council district.” Buscaino has repeatedly said that his success as councilman would be determined by how much communities that are historically underserved by the city, like Watts, Harbor Gateway and Wilmington, are improved. At his state of the district luncheon on Feb. 16, the councilman discussed some of the success he has overseen, if not in some way abetted. Buscaino typically highlights the work of residents, community advocates and nonprofits as a way to highlight how the resources and the political weight of his office assist them.
By Zamná Ávila, Assistant Editor
Breaking Ground
Since July 2016, the city has been demolishing the old to make way for the new—the new Long Beach Civic Center, that is.
[See LB Civic Center, p. 4]
March 2 - 15, 2017
an expected facelift to the center of Long Beach civic engagement buildings and recreation areas. The Civic Center will be transformed into a state-of-the-art work, live, and play facility in the coming years. It will house a new city hall, Port of Long Beach headquarters, a new Main Library, a reconfigured Lincoln Park and retail and residential units.
Rendering of the new Long Beach Civic Center on Ocean Boulevard. The complex will house city hall, the Port of Long Beach headquarters, new Main Library, plus residential and commercial units.
These days, driving along Ocean Boulevard in downtown Long Beach is quite a distracting adventure. Head west toward San Pedro and your eyes will unavoidably wander toward a wall of blue-covered fences surrounding City Hall and the Main Library. Turn right on Magnolia, heading north and you might catch a glimpse of a gigantic hole where the Superior Court once stood. Park and walk to either of the government buildings and you might experience a bit of claustrophobia as you pedal through the maze of fences. This traffic trek — in the middle of the rush hour — is
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