RLn 7-22-21 by Random Lengths News

Illustration by Suzanne Matsumiya

Dennis Kucinich’s fight against privatization and his run to become Cleveland’s mayor again By James Preston Allen, Publisher

[See Kucinich, p. 12]

POLA likely losing millions due to lack of competitive bidding p. 3

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

On July 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order calling on all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15%, and he expanded the regional drought state of emergency to include nine additional counties, for a total of 50 out of 58 counties. “The realities of climate change are nowhere more apparent than in the increasingly frequent and severe drought challenges we face in the West and their devastating impacts on our communities, businesses and ecosystems,” Newsom said.

But, if anything, his actions seem to understate the situation. Over 99% of land across nine Western states is currently abnormally dry, and almost 95% is covered by some category of drought — the worst levels in the 21-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor. And the weather driving it has been otherworldly. In late June a massive record-breaking heatwave in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia pushed temperatures so high they shattered historical records

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Museum of Latin American Art presents Judy Baca: Memorias De Nuestra Tierra, a Retrospective p. 9

Climate Crisis Hits Home

— 112 degrees at Portland’s airport, 117 in Salem, and a nearly unbelievable 121.3 in Lytton, BC (the highest ever in Canada by 8 degrees), which was then destroyed by a wildfire. Such high temperatures in a region totally unprepared for them led to hundreds of premature deaths — over 300 in British Columbia alone — and drew immediate attention from a group of climate scientists. They concluded it “would be virtually impossible without human-caused climate change,” on the order of a oncein-1,000 years event, but it “would occur roughly every 5 to 10 years in that future world with 2°C of global warming” — just 1.4 degrees F higher than today. Yet, the same underlying mechanism — a “heat dome” — was responsible for similar triple-digit records in the Southwest just a few weeks earlier, and just

Where’s the money, Joe? Nonprofit organizations are asking Buscaino to “Make it make sense.” p. 6

California’s Drought Warning —

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ver the July 4th weekend, I interviewed two-time presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich about his latest book, The Division of Light and Power. Though he wrote this memoir as a narrative of events that happened many years earlier in his political career, it almost reads like a John Clancy political thriller centered on his battle to save the publicly-owned municipal light and distribution company in Cleveland. What fascinates me about Kucinich and Cleveland is how similar that city is to the San Pedro Harbor Area. This is a cautionary tale about money, power and the conflicts over public ownership for those running for office and those in politics. The public utility, founded in 1907 by Cleveland’s then-mayor Tom L. Johnson, was known as Municipal Light (or “Muny Light” for short) until 1983. The utility did not, and still doesn’t, have sufficient capacity to compete across the entire greater Cleveland area. Instead, it was formed to create additional capacity to create a benchmark price to prevent rate-gouging by local private utilities. During Kucinich’s time as mayor, the privately-owned Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. — better known as CEI — tried in some rather unscrupulous ways to put the Muny Light, its rival, out of business. A number of banks were heavily invested in CEI and refused to roll over the city’s debt as had previously been customary. The idea was to force the city into default, blame Kucinich, then force him to sell Muny Light. He refused. Though Cleveland’s population is four times that of San Pedro, the forest city shares other similarities with our port town, including having similar ethnic demographics and both trying to revamp our respective waterfronts. In this deeply personal narrative, Kucinich, who is of Croatian ancestry, takes the reader with him on his journey starting

[See Crisis, p. 8]

The unvaccinated account for 99% of all new infections in Los Angeles County See latest COVID-19 Report: https://www.randomlengthsnews.com/notebook/covid-19-updates?v=7516fd43adaa

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Community Announcements:

Harbor Area California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record

The State of California’s Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record or DCVR portal allows Californians to download their COVID-19 vaccination record. In order for you to obtain your record: COVID-19 vaccination information must have been submitted to the California Immunization Registry (CAIR2, SDIR, and RIDE) by your vaccination provider. All the information you enter into the DCVR Portal must match your record in the registry. Details: www./myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

Port Extends Public Comment Period On Draft EIR For SCIG Project

SAN PEDRO – The Port of Los Angeles July 15, extended the public comment period to Aug. 25 to provide opportunity for additional public comment on a revised draft environmental impact report (revised craft EIR) for the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) Project. SCIG is a proposed BNSF intermodal rail yard facility that would be located on an existing industrial site within four miles of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with direct access to the Alameda Rail Corridor. All environmental documents related to the SCIG Project, including the revised craft EIR, are available at www.portoflosangeles.org/environment/environmental-documents Written comments and questions may also be sent via email to ceqacomments@portla.org. Comments sent via email should include “SCIG Project” in the subject line and a valid mailing address in the email. Questions may also be directed to Lisa Ochsner with the Port of Los Angeles Environmental Management Division at 310-7323412.

Toberman Neighborhood Center: Annual School Supplies Drive Toberman Neighborhood Center is accepting donations through Aug. 6. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with drive-thru drop off available 3 to 5 p.m. Venue: Drop off at Toberman Neighborhood Center, 131 N. Grand Ave., San Pedro

Harbor Communities Grant Opportunity

Virtual Webinar on Prop. 19 with Assessor Jeff Prang

The Los Angeles City Council recently voted to support a series of recommendations from Con[See Announcements, p. 5]

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

A recent lawsuit filed by Vopak brings to light a startling reality: The Port of Los Angeles does not normally use competitive bidding to get market value from its long-term leases — its primary source of revenue — resulting in the loss of millions of dollars annually. Vopak operates a marine terminal and storage facility at Berths 186-190 of the Port of LA, where the company handles petroleum products, chemicals and biofuels with 82 tanks and a total capacity of almost 2.4 million barrels. Vopak also has a terminal at the Port of Long Beach, with 55 tanks and a capacity of almost 350,000 barrels. These are just two of 72 terminals it owns worldwide, either in whole or in partnerships. On May 24, Vopak filed suit against its former West Coast sales and marketing manager, Anthony Santich, alleging breach of his employee confidentiality agreement and his separation agreement, interference with a business relationship and a prospective relationship, misappropriation of trade secrets and conspiracy. All these allegations derive from claims that Santich provided information arguing that the Port of LA was significantly undervaluing the 30-year lease it was negotiating with Vopak—which would become apparent if the port opened up the lease to competitive bidding via a request for proposal (RFP). Santich also allegedly provided evidence of discriminatory practices to Joe Gatlin of the San Pedro/Wilmington NAACP. Three days later, Judge Michael P. Vicencia denied Vopak’s application for a temporary restraining order, and on July 13, Santich filed an “anti-SLAPP” motion to dismiss. That motion stated, in part: It is indisputable that the people of Los

Vopak terminal and storage facility in the Port of LA. File photo

Angeles have a “public interest” in the operation of the Port of Los Angeles. That includes, of course, whether operators at the Port have diverse hiring practices. That also includes whether the Port’s operators are conducting business in a manner that benefits the community, or in the alternative, are seeking to extract benefits at the expense of the community. The Port conducting a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) is an excellent way to get at the heart of both such issues, providing a transparent process to assure that these valuable leases on public land are awarded to the operators that serve not just themselves, but the community’s goals as well. Yet, plaintiff Vopak Terminal Los Angeles, Inc.’s (“Plaintiff”) complaint (“Complaint” ) seeks to silence a former employee

for speaking out about these very issues…. This is the essence of a strategic lawsuit to prevent public participation, and it is for such circumstances that California’s AntiSLAPP Statute exists.

However this lawsuit is ultimately settled, the underlying situation is profoundly troubling. The crux of the matter comes through clearly in a Jan. 13 email to Councilman Joe Buscaino’s chief of staff, Jacok Haik, from Daniel Xia, another former Vopak employee, whom the Vopak lawsuit accuses of being a go-between: “I think the main takeaway is that the POLA is likely leaving more than $100M plus on the table with the current Vopak negotiation.... An RFP open bid process of the terminal is the best way for POLA to get their terminal assets’ real value.”

POLA Secretively Shuts Down Air Pollution Monitoring at “Highest Exposure” Site on Pier 300 By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

The volume of cargo ships entering the Port of Los Angeles is at an all-time high, and the port hasn’t been shy about celebrating — a June 10 press release bragged about becoming “the first port in the Western Hemisphere to process 10 million container units in a 12-month period.” But the port didn’t make a peep one month earlier when it was time to measure pollutants, not profits. It’s not that the environmental figures were underpublicized or talked down. Without any explanation at all, the port simply stopped reporting emissions from the Source-Dominated Air Pollution Monitoring Site on Pier 300 — the spot where the port, in more talkative times, has repeatedly said “is expected to have the highest exposure to emissions from Port operations, as it is in direct proximity to terminal operators which use a large number of diesel engine sources.” Andrea Hricko, USC professor emerita of public health, was the lead author of a letter bringing this to the attention of the Harbor Commission, port staff and the two relevant

government oversight agencies, the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. She was joined by representatives of San Pedro & Peninsula Homeowners Coalition, San Pedro Peninsula Homeowners United, Inc., West Long Beach Association, Coalition For A Safe Environment, Earthjustice, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, Sierra Club, Community Dreams Wilmington, NAACP, San Pedro-Wilmington Branch, California Kids IAQ, Wilmington and EMeRGE, Wilmington. Hricko’s efforts to get an explanation from staff have been fruitless, even with a public records act request. “The volume of cargo ships entering the port is at an all-time high,” Hricko noted. “It is definitely of concern that the port has chosen to suspend the monitoring station that is at the ‘center of Port operations’ at exactly the same time when cargo volume and ship calls at the

Port of Los Angeles are at record highs. We note that the Port of Los Angeles has issued six press releases in 2021 alone touting its record cargo volumes.” She went on to note that “A fact sheet by the California Air Resources Board is attached documenting that up to 40 ships at a time have been seen anchoring in the San Pedro Bay Ports, raising concerns about increased pollution.” That fact sheet shows a 47% increase in TEU volume from March 2019 to March 2021. It estimated health disbenefits of 20 excess deaths a year in the South Coast Air Basin. The letter called for the immediate reinstatement of the Source-Dominated station, along with the continued monitoring of black carbon as a marker for diesel emissions at the Wilmington and San Pedro monitoring sites, as well as continued posting on the Clean Air Action Plan website.

July 22 - August 4, 2021

311 Call Center

Lack of competitive bidding likely costs POLA millions annually, new lawsuit reveals

Overwhelmed by recent news of Prop 19? This law brings tax savings to California residents when inheriting a home. Learn the detailed steps necessary to prepare a transfer of your primary home to your children or grandchildren. Take advantage of this one-on-one time with Assessor Prang. In addition to answering your questions, he will explain the parent-child exclusion, requirements for qualification, and the difference between a will and a trust; plus provide the formula to calculate the specifics. Time: 2 p.m. July 28 Details: RSVP 626-403-5445; ecsforseniors.org/ prop19

Short-Changed!

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The Harbor Community Benefit Foundation, in collaboration with the TraPac Appellants, has announced the solicitation of applications for round two of the Healthy Harbor Communities Initiative Grant Program. Launched in 2020, the purpose of this grant program is to address and mitigate the impacts of Port of Los Angeles and port-related activity on the health and well-being of San Pedro and Wilmington residents. HCBF intends to distribute up to a total of $350,000 in grant awards. It anticipates awarding funds for three proposals, with $250,000 available for one large grant, and the remaining $100,000 available for two grants of $50,000 each. Details: www.harbor-communities-initiative-grantprogram

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

Mobile Home Park Residents Rally Against the Domino Effect By Iracema Navarro, Reporter

On July 15, the residents of Imperial Avalon Mobile Estates and their supporters rallied in front of Carson City Hall to protest the announced closure of the facility, which would leave more than 445 residents to fend for themselves in the wilds of an unaffordable housing market. Three more mobile home parks are slated for closure after the Imperial Avalon Mobile Estates, bringing worry and uncertainty to the city’s remaining park residents. Most residents of the mobile home park live on fixed incomes, are senior citizens, veterans and disabled people who had expected to live their golden years in the parks.

Eighteen-year Imperial Avalon resident, Peggy Apodaca, warned other Carsonites at the Thursday afternoon rally: “It can happen to you if you have a mobile home.” The dark side of Carson’s new developments have been discovered, but residents of mobile home parks are still looking for a fair shake. Some residents have taken one of three offers made by the city from three options: Option A would help residents relocate to another park, option B would give owners a lump sum of money, and option C would relocate residents to interim housing and guarantee an occupancy at a Faring Capital development, the new owner of

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Protestors in front of the 32,000 sq.ft. apartment building, Union South Bay. Mobile home park residents face displacement due to such large, expensive developments. Photo by Iracema Navarro.

the Imperial Avalon Mobile Estates. For the time being, Apodaca is going with her own option — waiting it out and to see what really is going to happen. “They were supposed to give us interim housing, but they can’t find any interim housing because it’s closed up,” Apodaca said. Apodaca noted that the problem is rooted in supply and demand. She said she looked online and the cheapest rent she found was $2,250, not including utilities. She didn’t mention its location or its number of bedrooms. “I pay $412 for my particular space and they’re all about the same, give or take $20,” Apodaca said. Apodaca observed that some mobile home dwellers took one of the three options offering money. For others, the park owners are allowing residents to rent the mobile home space for around $2,000 or so. Apodaca said the park owner is now making more money renting these spaces at the mobile home park. “They [park owner] tried to call me the other day,” Apodaca said. “I didn’t even pick up my phone, because I thought, ‘Oh, they’re going to just try to intimidate me and get me to go in there and put my house in escrow.’” Marcela Steiman and her husband Jeff Steiman, the new Imperial Avalon Mobile Estates Homeowner Association president, bought their home in 2015 and are worried about the mortgage they are continuing to pay. “Rents are too high, we can’t afford the rent of over $2,000. I can’t afford that,” Marcela said. [See Carson, p. 15]

Community Announcements:

Harbor Area

[Announcements, from p. 3]

troller Ron Galperin’s March 2021 report on the city’s 311 program — a call center established in 2002 to provide residents with easier access to government services and improve civic engagement by bringing city hall directly to them. Controller Galperin found that 311 isn’t functioning as well in LA as in other large cities that employ a similar program and proposed that the city reimagine 311 guided by a customer-first approach. Details: www.lacontroller.org/audits-and-reports/311

City Creates Website for Queen Mary Updates

LONG BEACH — On June 4 for the first time in over 40 years, the City of Long Beach regained full control of the Queen Mary and surrounding properties. In an effort to communicate with the public about the process for reopening the ship to visitors and guests, the city has developed a webpage on the Economic Development Department webpage, www.longbeach.gov/QueenMary

#Joints4JabsLBC Free Pot for Vaccines

LONG BEACH — Community-based organizations with the Healthy Long Beach campaign in partnership with the Long Beach Collective Association or LBCA will lawfully distribute tokens redeemable for one free pre-rolled joint on July 24 to Long Beach residents 21 and over who get vaccinated at the one-day pop-up clinic at Houghton Park. This has been dubbed “Joints for Jabs LBC.” The community effort aims to encourage equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and promote safe practices for Long Beach residents to light up this summer. Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 24 Details: www.lbforward.org/healthylb. Location: Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach

Parks And Recreation Summer Snacks

The LA County Parks Summer Lunch and Snack Program is here. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 12 to 1 p.m. and snacks are served from 3 to 4 p.m. Anyone 18 or younger can pick up a free meal and snack at participating locations. Details: parks.lacounty.gov/summerlunch

On July 8, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order asking Californians to reduce their water usage by 15%. Newsom had previously declared a state of emergency in 41 counties, and added nine more on the same day. In the order, Newsom listed several ways to save water. • Irrigate lawns more efficiently, by watering one less day per week, not watering during or after rainfall, watering during a cooler part of the day and using a weather-based irrigation system that uses less water. • Run dishwashers and laundry machines only when full. • Find and fix leaks. • Install more efficient showerheads and take shorter showers, preferably under five minutes. • Use a shut-off nozzle on hoses and take cars to car washes that recycle water. Details: https://tinyurl.com/Newsom-water

thousands of people, particularly on weekends.” Epperhart said he wants the plan to consider these parts of the waterfront, as well as how it will impact nearby residential areas, including 22nd Street and Pacific Avenue. “Anybody there can tell you about the amount of traffic that moves there,” Epperhart said. San Pedro resident Jason Herring asked if the presence of the rubber tire trolley would eliminate the possibility of bringing in a railbased street car, as a modern version of the Red Car. Not necessarily, said Cham. “I put in a rubber tire trolley because that’s what we use right now,” Cham said. “And of course, I am not going to predetermine anything that’s within the plan ultimately as it comes out, because we don’t have a consultant on board, we haven’t done our outreach yet.” Frank Anderson, former board member of

July 22 - August 4, 2021

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health, with support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, launched the COVID-19 Community Ambassador Program to visibly represent, capture the support, and actively engage the broader community in best practices to further prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County. To become a COVID-19 Community Ambassador, residents view a 30-minute training video, which provides helpful insights on COVID-19 prevention and infection control. This program is available to all Los Angeles County residents and without age restriction. Details: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/CommunityAmbassadorProgram

The Port of Los Angeles is putting together a planning document, and many San Pedro residents want to make sure community input is taken seriously. On July 14, Michael Cham, property manager at the port, gave a presentation on the San Pedro Waterfront Connectivity Plan at the joint Planning and Land Use committee of all three San Pedro neighborhood councils. The plan will build upon existing public access and private development objectives and guide the future of the waterfront. In addition, it will lay out how each project will be connected to the others using bikes, scooters, pedestrian walkways, sidewalks and crosswalks, as well as public transport, and potentially a rubber tire trolley. It will also include travel on water, such as water taxis. “It’s going to be periodically updated as things change, as new things come on board,” Cham said. The plan does not necessarily bind the port to any future actions. While the port will put its actual plans in the plan itself, it is free to change them at any time. The port estimates the plan will take about a year to create. The port is doing this now because of coming private developments, and to include and consider projects and buildings that were different in 2009, when the port released the San Pedro waterfront environmental impact report. These include progress at West Harbor and AltaSea. “This connectivity plan is important to do now because it provides … a significant messaging and marketing opportunity,” Cham said. The port will send out a request for proposal, or RFP, for a consulting company to help. The port estimates this will cost $250,000 to $500,000. “This is an effort that the port is in the initial stages of,” Cham said. “This is an invitation to the neighborhood councils, as well as other stakeholders to participate in the process with us.” San Pedro resident Pat Nave suggested the port select people from the neighborhood councils and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce for a working group to advise the port on the project. “There have been events where the port has gone forward on its own without really any attempt to really work with the community,” Pat Nave said. “And it’s been disastrous. This is too important for that to happen again.” Cham said that the port is reluctant to choose people for a working group but encouraged the neighborhood councils to choose their own people for it. Diana Nave, chair of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council’s planning and land use committee, said that tenants near the waterfront should be part of the working group. “I think the working group probably should be set up sooner rather than later,” Diana Nave said. “As you’re developing, finalizing the RFP, that group ought to be involved.” Doug Epperhart, president of Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council, said the scope of this project is important. “The port tends to think that the waterfront ends at ports o’ call,” Epperhart said. “As we all know, it doesn’t. Cabrillo Marina, possible new cruise ship terminal … Cabrillo Beach, the aquarium. These are things that draw tens of

County Offers COVID-19 Community Ambassador Program

By Hunter Chase, Community News Reporter

the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, was also concerned about using a rail-based system. He cited new developments and improvements to San Pedro, and how they could bring a lot more people, including a revamped cruise line, the upcoming West Harbor Project. “We really have to focus on a transit or connectivity plan to get these people in and out,” Anderson said. Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council board member Gwen Henry said she liked the plan but criticized its lack of attention to preserving the natural habitat of indigenous species. “This plan is sorely lacking in bringing back rainbirds, creating sample wetlands, marshlands and interfaces between the freshwater and marine water,” Henry said. “This is an incredible opportunity to bring schools out to see marine creatures and birds in their own habitat and create those places within those connectivity areas.” She compared it to the Aquarium of the Pacific, which is very industrialized with ships and private marinas, but you can still see local wildlife. “You can see a blue herring hunting on the rocks over there,” Henry said. “I don’t see any of this incorporated [in the connectivity plan].”

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Gov. Newsom asks CA Residents to Reduce Water Use

SP Residents Want a Say in Port’s Connectivity Plan

Disinformation vs. the Pandemic Only now is the strategy being revealed, is it too late to stop it? By James Preston Allen, Publisher

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

The truth seems to always arrive too late these days to actually make a difference. But late is better than never. Back in 2017, The Guardian reporter Tom McCarthy published a story with the headline: How Russia Used Social Media to Divide Americans. The subtitle read: Russian trolls and bots focused on controversial topics in an effort to stoke political confusion. What was published by The Guardian on July 15 only solidifies the evidence reported by McCarthy four years ago: Russian trolls and bots focused on controversial topics in an effort to stoke political division on an enormous scale — and it hasn’t stopped, experts say, reads the latest subhead. So what’s this got to do with the current state of disinformation? It hasn’t stopped. The disinformation programs continue to divide the Americans left, right and center, even to the point that many Americans have shut the news off, preferring ignorance of the facts than confusion. This turn of events is the result of a classic psyops attack, one successful enough to make our own CIA proud if it weren’t executed by our country’s adversaries. As you can see the ex-president and his allies are still propagating the lies about stolen elections, vaccines, masks, critical race theory and transgender rights. In fact, pick a disruptive topic on any given week and the echo chamber of MAGA conspiralists will organize on social media then gather outside a random Korean day spa in Los Angeles to cause confusion and chaos. The cops are called in and arrests are made and then there’s another battle over free speech, police brutality and suppression. All of this disruption is to what end? According to The Guardian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, his spy chiefs and senior ministers all agreed a Trump White House would help secure Moscow’s strategic objectives, among them ‘social turmoil’ in the U.S. and a weakening of the American president’s negotiating position. And currently this all plays to the benefit of Trumlicans, who are intent on blocking any of President Joe Biden’s or the congressional Democrats legislation for infrastructure, expanded voting rights and even the investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building. Yes, that was an insurrection, not a riot, not a parade nor a peaceful demonstration, but an indisputable attempt to overthrow our federal government. Proponents of this disinformation virus

are not unlike those Confederate soldiers and sympathizers who for years, decades even, after the American Civil War never accepted the victory of the North over the South. Seventy years afterwards, whole Southern states were commemorating the “Lost Cause” with statuary for a war that even Gen. Robert E. Lee said was best buried and forgotten. There’s no such humility or circumspection from the anti-vaxxer crowd, MAGA-true believers, Proud Boys acolytes and Three Percenters! Nor should you expect it. These folks are seriously intent on starting the next civil war. If you have any doubts about this perspective, after some 579 people (neoconfederates ) have been charged with crimes and were arrested from the capital insurrection, I would direct you to read the news report on our website titled, Anatomy of an Insurrection: How Military Veterans and Other Rioters Carried Out the Jan. 6 Assault on Democracy (https://tinyurl. com/Anatomy-insurrection). “Every single person charged, at the very least, contributed to the inability of Congress to carry out the certification of our presidential election,” prosecutors wrote in a memorandum filed with the D.C. district court. Under any other circumstance, this would be called treason — a charge with which all who participated in the insurrection should be stuck. Even the orange guy himself should at least be charged with incitement to riot and conspiracy to foment insurrection if not treason for attempting a coup d’état. The evidence is just now beginning to leak out with books like Michael Woff’s Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency; Michael C Bender’s Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost and I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump’s Catastrophic Final Year by Carol Leonning and Philip Rucker. All of this along with Gen. Mark Milley’s assessment of Trump’s intentions to hold on to power regardless of the vote was reported this way. “In the days leading up to Jan. 6,” Leonnig and Rucker write, “Milley was worried about Trump’s call to action. ‘Milley told his staff that he believed Trump was stoking unrest, possibly in hopes of an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act and call out the military.’” Yet, instead of charging these trespassers of our democracy with misdemeanors and minor felony charges like Anna Morgan Lloyd, of Indiana,

“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.” —Mark Twain Vol. XLII : No. 15

Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communities of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at over 350 locations throughout the Harbor Area.

who was ordered by a federal judge to serve three years of probation, perform 120 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution after admitting to entering the Capitol, she easily should be serving 5 to 10 years in prison. She pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge under a deal with prosecutors. The latest one convicted, Michael Curzio, was sentenced to just six months imprisonment. And still from Arizona’s Cyber Ninja recount to Texas’ stalled voter suppression laws and across

this nation in every red state and county as the disinformation flies, vaccination rates stall and the COVID-19 Delta variant spreads the one thing we can be certain of in these times is that the virus may do for the Democrats what legislation can not. The current data shows that the highest rates of infection are occurring in the same counties with the lowest vaccination rates and those just happen to be where Trump won the most votes. Perhaps this is the proof that Charles Darwin was right.

Where’s the Money, Joe?

Nonprofit organizations up and down CD 15 are asking Buscaino to ‘Make it make sense’ By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

Scores of nonprofit organizations applied for the so called “Buscaino Grants,” writing proposals, presenting proposed budgets, asking their supporters for their votes by submitting their information in the councilman’s information portal. Those who ostensibly received the most votes showed up for Councilman Joe Buscaino’s dog and pony show for pictures as they say, “Thanks, Joe.” Only to be told afterwards when the cameras stopped rolling, “It’s going to take a few weeks to receive the money.” Worse still, many were told they would only be reimbursed for half the money spent meaning they’d have to do additional fundraising from donors who’d just been given the false impression

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their needs had already been met. To top it all off, these are grants whose very existence Buscaino had opposed. According to organizations in Watts (they requested I maintain their anonymity for fear of retribution by Buscaino’s office), the winners of which were announced a couple of weeks earlier than everyone else, theystill have not received their monies. None in the Harbor City and Harbor Gateway have received theirs and zero in San Pedro. This alone would not be so problematic if it weren’t for the reports I’ve been hearing that Buscaino’s office has been trying to change the [See Make Sense, p. 7]

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RANDOMLetters On the Buscaino Grants

(RLN, “Joe Announces Winners of ‘Buscaino Grants,’ July 8-21, 2021) I have respected your reporting in the past but in allowing your name to be attached to bogus claims about The Beach Cities Alliance grant, certainly reduces your credibility. You draw attention by suggesting that BCA was in some way behaving in an underhanded manner in their grant application. After setting the stage for the reader to become suspect of this organization you belatedly slip in

Community Alert

Child Tax Credit Monthly Payments Started July 15

The first payments of the Advance Child Tax Credit will be issued on July 15. If you didn’t file taxes in 2019 or 2020, visit the IRS website at irs.gov/ childtaxcredit2021 to provide your information using their “Non-Filer” tool. Details: www.freetaxprepla. unitedwayla.org/en/find-help

“The longtime councilman’s aide explained that Bridge Cities Alliance has had issues with the IRS website reporting their updated status, which the IRS says is due to COVID-19 staffing. The bottom line is that BCA is a qualified nonprofit.” You raised an issue with no “there there” I have no idea if you have animus toward BCA or members of it’s board; but many of us are aware that James [Allen the publisher] uses his paper to attack leaders and board members of nonprofits in town- often with unfounded claims. He has done it before and no doubt will do it again. His problem this time might be Mona Sutton? If so, it is likely because: 1. She is a very successful businesswoman, 2. She is the long standing president of the Harbor PD CAC, and 3. Refuses to advertise in the RLN. Or perhaps 4. Is that she and her wife Leslie Jones, are highly respected in our community for their good works; for which the community has often honored them. When James is unsuccessful in

[Make Sense, from p. 6]

Make Sense

also because your neighborhood council gave them a Neighborhood Purpose Grant which can only go to qualified nonprofits. As for the coverage of the local neighborhood councils and your assertion that the publisher of this newspaper uses it to bully people, I assert that he uses this paper as a bully pulpit, advocating for greater civic engagement, transparency and democracy — a pushback against this town’s tendency to take care of the public business in private spaces under manufactured consent. James Allen’s role is obviously complicated by the fact that he serves on the Central Neighborhood Council even while he exercises his bully pulpit at his discretion. It’s the reason why any particular issues he personally wants to address are relegated to his At Length columns while a reporter focuses on reporting on the Harbor Area’s neighborhood councils to the best of his ability. Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

And Then More Criticism

I am tracking your ongoing efforts to exploit the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council from within as a method of generating stories for your newspaper. That is a matter of public interest and our stakeholders, including advertisers in your newspaper, have a right to know that and how you do this. I share the broadly held concern that your interest in chairing the Port Committee is primarily to force yourself into port meetings

to berate port officials and, again, to manufacture stories and troll for quotes for your paper. I have not invited you to port meetings because of your extensive history of throwing tantrums there that undermine the council, its efforts, and its official actions. Such behavior reflects poorly on your council and neighborhood. Further, exploiting a government role to join meetings that are closed to the press gives Random Lengths News a level of press access unavailable to other media outlets. It also gives RLN a de facto press exclusive to which meeting participants have not consented. Past President Guzman also refused to send you as council representative to port meetings for your combative and counterproductive tactics, and I witnessed you shout at him, question his integrity, and throw a fit about his decision at a public board and stakeholder meeting. Ironically, that outburst illustrated why Mr. Guzman refused to send you in the first place. Soon after, you fired Mr. Guzman from his reporting job, correct? Or did he quit following your attacks? Be forewarned that as long as you remain on the council, such negative, abusive, bullying, and counterproductive behavior will be exposed and put down. Fight the port on your own time or your paper’s, Mr. Allen, but you will not abuse and manipulate this council into doing your dirty work. Louis Caravella, President, Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council [See Letters, p. 15]

July 22 - August 4, 2021

place if they already had it? It doesn’t make sense, right? Even if Buscaino made good on this promise, how unfair is it to tell nonprofit organizations to purchase something for $15,000, and have the city pay them back with an IOU? What made this so galling, besides the fact that Buscaino Facebook-lived these events and got on television talking about how he gave all of these organizations tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars is that people connected to Joe has, according to my sources, begun reaching out to these organizations’ donors and constituent bases using the information he harvested from the competition. To say these folks feel used is the understatement of all understatements. These organizations depend on individuals donating funds to them. So, when Buscaino gets on television and says he gave these organizations $30,000, $50,000 or $100,000, donors who were previously donating to these organizations would shift their monies to organizations they perceive as more in need. Now there’s talk of going to the city attorney over this. It’s not lost on these organizations that Buscaino opposed the cuts to the police budget that made these grants possible in the first place. These were supposed to address social justice and alternative crime prevention. Not be used to finance acts of patronage to elicit love, adoration and votes in third world countries. To recap, Mayor Eric Garcetti initially proposed a budget that included a budget increase of more than $100 million over the previous year for the Los Angeles Police Department while most other city departments faced budget cuts. After pushback by a coalition of groups organized by Black Lives Matter LA, the mayor altered the budget by shifting $150 million to other budget priorities such as reimagined community safety, universal aid and crisis management and built environment. Buscaino is on record opposing this reordering of priorities. But here we are. Buscaino cheesing in front of the cameras in Black and brown communities, taking credit for money they haven’t received. I gave Buscaino’s office an opportunity to respond to this critique. I did not receive a response before we went to press.

cess was ongoing and no one was willing to publicly “bite the hands” attempting to feed them, they didn’t go on the record. But we did, to the best of our ability, investigate those questions. For us, Bridge Cities Alliance was just one of the questions that emerged. We first reported on the anti-hate organization in 2018 when it organized San Pedro’s first Pride event after rallying against hate following an anti-gay incident. Originally headed by Aiden Sheffeld-Garcia, his partner and other leading civic leaders representing San Pedro’s LGBTQ community (including Mona Sutton and Leslie Jones) and their allies, the organization provided an important contribution to this Harbor town’s civic life. So we paid attention. But a number of the original board members moved away, and the organization’s website ceased being updated and then disappeared entirely. At its inception, Bridge City Alliance was founded as a 501(c) (3). When we heard grumblings that their status was indeterminate, we followed up and found, via www.causeiq.com and irs.gov, that the organization’s 501(c)(3) had been revoked in November 2020. We had also searched Guidstar.org and found no listing at all. This is why we reached out to Councilman Buscaino’s senior aide, Branimir Kvartuc, and asked him. While Kvartuc provided an explanation, the lack of a paper trail of a nonprofit that is supposed to exist has been unsatisfying. Their nonprofit status should be of interest to you

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

rules after the fact. Winners were being told that in order to receive what they had won, they must have “a contract” with the city or form a contract with an entity that does, but at a cost. One nonprofit executive called it an “exquisite form of extortion and racketeering.” Can you just imagine how many nonprofits don’t have contracts with the city but who have been doing the real hard work for years without a city contract? These organizations did what was asked of them, got their supporters to vote, win, take pictures with Joe with the photo op checks, only to have the city council’s field deputies tell them afterwards they won’t be getting this money unless they fulfill some extra requirements. In Watts, one nonprofit leader, one of the scores that won a grant, said there’s a lot of frustration in his community and that it feels like Buscaino had just pulled a “poverty pimping-move.” Accustomed to applying for grants on the city, state and federal level, the nonprofit executive said those grants are generally clear and up front. Those grants are either ones you apply for that supply what is needed or they are grants for which you have to find matching funds, or grants for which you have to show your expenditures in order to get reimbursed. He explained that’s not how Buscaino’s grant process went. Apparently, many of the nonprofits were told that while it would take time to receive their money, they will be reimbursed up to 50% of the grant they won if they keep track of their expenditures. One nonprofit head asked, “How are our nonprofits that don’t have anything supposed to benefit from that?” The nonprofit head posed the hypothetical, “If we’re a nonprofit and we need to buy a vehicle to deliver food because that’s part of what we do — It’s what we wrote the grant for ….We don’t have $15,000 to drop on a truck. How are you going to reimburse us for money that doesn’t exist in the first place? This is why we ask for the grant, so that we can do the work,” he said. Continuing the thought further, he said it would be great if these organizations already had $70,000 for which they could be reimbursed. But why then would they need the $70,000 in the first

his bullying elsewhere, he uses his paper. This disagreeable habit of his has caused many fine people in this community to avoid the Central Neighborhood Council saying they cannot risk his ire being used against their organizations. Others resign from the board not wanting to spend their volunteer time dealing with a bully and his frequent disruption of meetings.. This may sound harsh but actually I am just telling “truth to power” in this case the power is the publisher of your paper. Linda Alexander San Pedro Ms. Alexander, To your first question, no, I don’t have personal animus towards the board of the Bridge Cities Alliance. My rationale for reporting on these grants the way that I did was not only because it was newsworthy, but that it deserved critical attention given the way the councilman conceived, created and executed the grant program. The story was also intended to address questions of fairness and transparency, which were raised prior to my reporting on the winners of the grants (raised by a few of the nonprofits who participated from throughout the district). But because the grant pro-

[Crisis, from p. 1]

Climate Crisis Hits Home

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

nine days later Death Valley registered a world record 130 degrees — the day after Newsom’s announcement. The next week, Western Europe was struck with the worst rainfall and floods in a century, with dozens killed and thousands initially reported missing. Many places reported more rain in one day than normally falls in a month — or even two — at the same time it was announced that a major section of the Amazon Basin had now become a net emitter of greenhouse gases, rather than part of the world’s largest absorber of them, as it has been throughout human history. “These are examples for the context for thinking about drought and climate change — multiple extreme events coinciding around the globe, often breaking records,” environmental

scientist LeRoy Westerling of University of California Merced told Random Lengths. “It’s that broader, global, interlinked pattern that is indicative of climate change.” Global warming doesn’t just mean hotter temperatures, but more extreme weather of all kinds, more variability, with increasing frequency. “Yes we have seen drought in the past, and we will have wet years in the future,” he said, “but climate change is making the west more arid, by: 1) Increasing temperatures — increasing evaporation. 2) Average precipitation is not changing here significantly, so it cannot compensate for the increased evaporation — increasing aridity.

3) Increasing variability of precipitation means more wet and dry extremes within the broad trend towards intensifying aridity as we become more arid, and see more extremes in precipitation and temperature, we will experience with ever increasing frequency what we used to think of as extreme, impactful, but rare drought events. They are no longer rare, and what used to be considered extreme will quickly be eclipsed by even more extreme events.”

a quadruple threat, as the New York Times just reported: Direct loss to wildfire, grapes ruined by smoke, lack of water to irrigate, and loss of insurance. The last is ultimately the most devastating. Random Lengths first reported on the insurance problem of global warming 16 years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The insurance industry depends upon knowing what is normal. But the old normal has been crumbling for decades, and there will be no “new normal.” “The problem is that the climate will contin-

NASA satellite photos of California’s second largest reservoir Lake Oroville in Butte County, show dramatic water level changes from 2019 (top) to the present. The adjacent hydroelectric plant could be forced to operate at reduced capacity.

The wildfire threat could grow even faster, Westerling explained. “Fire needs flammable fuels. Since we still get wet extremes, and still get similar precipitation on average, we still produce lots of new potential fuels,” he said. “The increasing aridity means they are flammable sooner, and for longer. So fire risk continues to increase.” And the landscape itself will change. “As the West becomes increasingly more arid, the kinds of vegetation it can support will change as well,” he explained. “Fire, beetles, and drought related mortality are some of the processes that are quickly rearranging the landscape to better reflect what the new climate can support.” California’s most high-priced agriculture — Napa Valley red wines — already faces ruin from

ue to change for the rest of our lives. So the situation on the ground will also be shifting rapidly,” Westerling warned. “That makes mitigation to moderate future climate change more important than ever, but it also makes adaptation both more important and more difficult.” This only intensifies the need for scientific understanding. “The only way we can get enough information about the future risks we need to plan for in building and protecting infrastructure, homes, and services like agriculture, carbon storage, water supply, habitat, recreation, forestry, etc., is with science-based observation, modeling, simulation and scenario analysis,” he explained. “We are watching as accelerating climate change transforms the world around us in real time.”

by Judy Baca. Phot os by R

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July 22 - August 4, 2021

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[See Judy Baca, p. 11]

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Real People, Real News, Really Effective

minorities” in numerous connected panels. Viewers are immersed with animated scenes of California’s prehistory depicting native wildlife and the creation story of the indigenous Chumash. The projected animation takes the viewer through seminal events of the 20th century, including Chinese labor contributions, the arrival of Jewish refugees (fleeing oppression and the Holocaust) and their contributions to the culture and history of Los Angeles, refugees from the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, the Japanese-American internment of World War II, the Zoot Suit Riots, the Freedom Riders, the disappearance of Rosie the Riveter, gay rights activism, the story of Biddy Mason, deportations of Mexican Americans, the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, and the development of suburbia. “This was done by Latin American animation experts,” Baca explained. “The seamless connection between the projectors is magical … There are seven or eight [projectors] and as [the mural is] project[ed] there’s no seams.” Baca explained the animators recreated an entire sense of the mural, almost at full scale. The projection is 28 minutes in length. Animators took different vignettes of the mural highlighting what Baca and her team had to do to integrate sections within the overall view of the piece. The photographs of the mural came from The Getty, which photographed the most recent restoration in which Baca led a team of 30 painters to renovate the 1976 mural. “We had ... fading and damage over many years,” Baca said. “When it was all up, The Getty came in T he Bir th with a phase one camera and they of th e photographed every inch of the piece so that it could be reproduced at full scale. So if the mural is lost, we could bring it back in full scale print.” When asked how it felt to have an entire retrospective of her work in LA where she grew up, Baca said it’s overwhelming because she’s still digesting it. “I really understand that I am a river rock,” Baca said.

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RETROSPECTIVE

Baca’s Retrospective at 9,880 square feet is the highlight of MOLAA’s grand reopening. The exhibition includes more than 110 works divided across three gallery spaces presenting different aspects of Baca’s artistic production. They include the “Womanist Gallery” [women of color’s term for feminist] focused on Baca’s womanist artworks in a variety of media created throughout her career. It also includes more personal works, many never seen before. “Public Art Survey” includes painted murals to digital works where visitors will be introduced to the breadth of Baca’s projects through SPARC which Baca founded in 1976. The Great Wall of Los Angeles encompasses Baca’s first masterpiece, as viewers participate in an immersive audiovisual experience of the monumental, half mile long piece that occupies the Tujunga wash in the San Fernando Valley. In not exactly postpandemic times, after the plight of essential workers and marginalized populations have been laid bare, Memorias de Nuestra Tierra is emotionally striking. Baca, who led the tour of her retrospective, affirmed this response saying she thought it was just her but “It is emotional, isn’t it? We’re going to have to put little tissue boxes around,” she said. MOLAA turned the Great Wall of Los Angeles into an immersive experience, achieved with light projectors and animation. The experience is one that moves beyond the fourth wall — the space between an audience and subject, bringing viewers into the art and augmenting their reality. The mural is emotionally provocative in its depiction of California’s history “as seen through the eyes of women and

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n time for the 1984 Olympics, Judith Baca, with the help of 400 community youth and artists, completed The Great Wall of Los Angeles. The effort was coordinated by the Social and Public Art Resource Center or SPARC. Measuring at about a half mile long and 13 feet high, the work is credited as the longest hand painted mural in the world. Now, ahead of the 2028 Olympics, Baca will lead the effort to expand the original Great Wall of Los Angeles mural. On July 14, the Museum of Latin American Art celebrated its grand reopening in a most extraordinary way, showing one of America’s leading visual artists, Judy Baca: Memorias de Nuestra Tierra, a Retrospective encompassing nearly two square miles of Baca’s work.

B u dy

La Michoacana

San Pedro’s new paleta shop, La Michoacana Ice Cream, was packed with new customers looking for relief from the summer heat. Not surprising considering the new shop aims to become the first choice for cold snacks and drinks and satiate our cravings whether it’s sweet, salty, cold or hot in the Los Angeles Harbor. There are thousands of such paleterias across the county and more than 20 in Southern California with some variation on the name. The name and myriad variations of it can be found on the labels of paletas in pushcarts, and on boxes in the frozen food aisles of supermarkets from rural Michoacán to Mexico City, Los Angeles to New York, Florida to Texas. “La Michoacana” is shorthand for a paleteria or ice cream shop in much the same way that people use the brand name Kleenex to mean facial tissue. According to an Eater LA column, La Michoacana isn’t an official brand, but a reference to the loosely connected network of mostly family owned ice cream shops.

Culinary News:

New Restaurant Openings By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

La Michoacana Ice Cream Details: 424-264-5556, https://www.facebook. com/LaMichoacanaSanPedro/ Venue: 683 W. 9th St., San Pedro

Spiro’s Under New Ownership

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Spiro’s Burgers was sold in May 2021 to S&R Palatos Inc., which owns and operates Ted’s Place in Harbor City and Ted’s Burgers in Carson. Spiro’s was one of many burger restaurants established by the Spiropoulos brothers, James and Tom in the Los Angeles Harbor Area. Though the new fictitious business name for the restaurant will be Ted’s Place San Pedro, it’s not certain that the name on the nearly five decade old establishment will change. It first opened its doors in the fall of 1972 and has kept its doors open ever since. Specializing in burgers and sandwiches, the restaurant’s menu has expanded over time to

A young patron enjoys ice cream at La Michoacana Ice Cream. Above, the sign of the former Spiro’s Burgers, which was recently sold to S&R Palatos Inc., and has been registered under the fictitious business name Ted’s Place San Pedro. Photos by Arturo Garcia-Ayala

include standard breakfast, lunch and dinner, ranging from burgers, sandwiches and fries to tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Recently, Spiro’s added a teriyaki chicken plate. If there’s comfort food you’re craving, Spiro’s probably has it. Spiro’s Burgers / Ted’s Place San Pedro Details: 310-872-3903 Venue: 240 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro

The Artistry Lounge and Gallery Alan Vallia, from the band Sunken City, has

just opened a new spot in the place formerly occupied by Off the Vine. Vallia, a jack of many trades and a master of most of them, is trying to bring an old world vibe to this tiny corner of San Pedro.

During this past First Thursday, Vallia talked about traveling the world and gaining inspiration from watering holes in such distant places as Australia and hidden nooks and crannies in Europe complete with deep wooded colors and leather. Vallia envisions the Artistry Lounge as a place for artists and art connoisseurs to gather over fine wines, tapas and cutting edge work. The tapas offerings include a variety of salads alongside a variety of meats and cheeses. It’s open only four days a week, but it’s worth the wait if you’re looking for a place to lounge and sip the work week’s worries away. Artistry Lounge Details: 424-570-0935; https://www.theartistry Venue: 491 W. 6th St., Unit# 103, San Pedro

[Judy Baca, from p. 9]

Judy Baca

“All the surges and rages and water running, like the river, I’ve been honed and essentially made smooth, made rounded by all these experiences. And now I’m getting to see it all at once … I’ve never seen it all at once. And now it’s this moving thing from my family’s coming across the border to all that they built and gave. And to this notion of being like a river rock, I watched the LA River turn to concrete. And that influenced me. It influenced The Great Wall production and ... working with these children and all that they suffered and went through.” The retrospective also includes one of her most controversial murals, Baca’s 2005 Danzas Indigenas — public art commissioned by Metro for a station in Baldwin Park. The work was a monument to Toypurina, a Tongva/Kizh medicine woman who opposed colonial rule by Spanish missionaries in California. The monument has several engraved unattributed statements.

Palos Verdes Art Center

THE SUMMER SHOW ANNIE APPEL: THE MEXICO JOURNEYS – CARMELITA DON CROCKER: LOVE OF PLACE

Mike Ishikawa, Shoreline Park, pastels.

Details: Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, 310- 541-2479

ties have a particular responsibility to articulate the conditions of their people and to provide catalysts for change, since the perceptions of us as individuals are tied to the conditions of our communities in a racially unsophisticated society. We can not escape that responsibility even when we choose to try; we are made of the ‘blood and dust’ of our ancestors in a continuing history. Being a catalyst for change will change us also.

With this in mind, the Great Wall of Los Angeles is not yet complete. Baca is set to lead the expansion of her masterpiece until it reaches about a mile in length, portraying not only contemporary times, but also a vision of the future. Judy Baca: Memorias De Nuestra Tierra, A Retrospective Time: July 14 to Jan. 2022 Cost: Free Details: www.molaa.org and www.judybaca.com/artist Venue: Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach

Michael Stearns Studio@The Loft ANNE OLSEN DAUB: RECENT WORK At times the process of creating art directs Anne Olsen Daub and sparks inspiration, other times she is directly inspired by way of a metaphor from external cultural sources that lead her to discover a deeper meaning and understanding. Her recent work in cardboard was inspired by the seven deadly sins and evolved into The Land of Oz. The gallery will be open for the First Thursday Art Walk. Michael Stearns Studio@The Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro. Enter at the loading dock on 4th St. Details: 562-400-0544

Ko-Ryu Ramen 362 W. 6th St. San Pedro 90731 310-935-2886

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

Palos Verdes Art Center / Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education is pleased to announce the reopening of its art galleries with three exhibitions at an opening reception July 24 at 7 p.m. The Summer Show juried by Marisa Caichiolo, Annie Appel: The Mexico Journeys – Carmelita and Don Crocker: Love of Place will be on view at the PVAC galleries through Aug. 21 and will also be online at pvartcenter.org.

The most controversial inscription read: “It was better before they came.” Another inscription was no better received: “This land was Mexican once, was Indian always and is, and will be again.” SPARC, at the time, reported that, “Save our State with ties to the vigilante Minutemen Border Patrol, erroneously believed that quotes on the monument were racially charged, seditious and anti-American in nature. The residents of Baldwin Park believed otherwise … and quickly mobilized into a group of nearly 1,000 people in a counter protest.” Indeed, Baca’s rise as an artist came out of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium, an anti-war action of the Chicano movement, marking the start of Latino empowerment. Baca cannot be separated from the LA mural movement and its populist underpinnings. Baca reflected on her work in a statement used by MOLAA, saying: Of greatest interest to me is the invention of systems of ‘voice giving’ for those left without public venues in which to speak. Socially responsible artists from marginalized communi-

koryuramen.com Koi Ramen

July 22 - August 4, 2021

MUSIC July 22

Vibe The Vibe is back. Enjoy a new nightlife experience in the heart of downtown Long Beach. Time: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. July 22, 29, and Aug. 5 Cost: Free Details: eventbrite.com Venue: The Harbor, 130 Pine Ave., Long Beach The Salty Suites Come out and listen to the original songs of traditional music of the world, from bluegrass, Depression era and old country, swing, classical and roots with current edge. Time: 7 to 8 p.m. July 22 Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach

July 23

The Winehouse Experience Come see the show everyone has been talking about. The Winehouse Experience, featuring Mia Karter, pays tribute to the late icon Amy Winehouse, known for her distinctive warm vocals, soulful songwriting and signature style. Time: 9 p.m. July 23 Cost: $15 Details: awin1.com Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach Summer Breeze Concert Dru Hill, 112, Next, Jon B, Montell Jordan and Adina Howard will be bringing that ’90s Summer vibe to Carson. Get your tickets before they are sold out. Time: 8 p.m., July 23 Cost: $65 - $145 Details: www.dignityhealthsportspark.com Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, 18400 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson

July 24

Little Miss Nasty Little Miss Nasty is rock ’n’ roll burlesque for the 21st century — good girls gone bad. Time: 9:30 p.m. July 24 Cost: $15 Details: awin1.com Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach

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Summer Love Jam SoCal nightlife returns with a night of classic cars and oldies but goodies music including Rose Royce; Joe Bataan; The Emotions; Blue Magic; Evelyn Champagne King; The Temprees; Sly Slick & Wicked; and Little Willie G. Time: 6:30 p.m., July 24 Cost: $35 -$145 Details: www.dignityhealthsportspark.com Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, 18400 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson

July 22 - August 4, 2021

July 31

Blues For All Join Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and the Long Beach Blues Society for a free community concert, featuring The Disciples, Shy But Flyy and the Long Beach Blues Society Allstars. Time: July 31, Aug. 28 Cost: Free Details: bit.ly/LBBSFORALL Venue: Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave., Long Beach Summer Concert in the Park Enjoy a fun day filled with live

Venue: Coffee World, 3525 W. Carson St., Torrance

music. The event will include inflatable jumpers for the children, food trucks and a beer and wine booth. Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 28 Cost: Free Details: rpvca.gov Venue: Point Vicente Park Civic Center, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes

Aug. 1

Burger Week The Inaugural Long Beach Burger Week is coming Aug. 1 to 8. Organized by Long Beach Food & Beverage, Long Beach Burger Week will pay homage to America’s original culinary sweetheart: the hamburger. Time: Aug. 1 to 8 Details: www.burgerweeklb.com Location: Participating restaurants throughout Long Beach

Aug. 3

Windy Barnes and Friends Collage presents live performances during August, starting with Windy Barnes Farrell performing jazz standards. Time: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3 Cost: $15 Details: 310-351-0070 Venue: Collage, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro

Aug. 7

Summer Swing Nights: Drive-in Edition Celebrate the return of live entertainment with Summer Swing Nights: Drive-In Edition concert series featuring the jazzy vocal stylings of The Swing Tones, accompanied by a live seven-piece big band plus swing dance lessons. Time: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 7 Cost: $50 Details: 323-365-6650; https://tinyurl.com/summer-swing-elcamino Venue: El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance

Aug. 8

South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club Session This is a traditional Jazz Session free to performing musicians, there is room for dancing. Time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 8 Cost: $12 Details: 310-377-2441; alvasshowroom.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

Aug. 14

Long Beach Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Why are women in opera so often depicted as prostitutes, sacrificial victims, or both? Women reframe their own operatic portrayal in this event pairing the most radical monodrama of the last century with one of this century’s most exciting new voices. Time: 8 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15 Cost: $49 to $90 Details: www.longbeachopera. org and www.theford.com Venue: The Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Los Angeles

THEATER July 30

Les Misérables It’s grand and uplifting, and it’s one of the most popular musicals of all time. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Encore presents this sweeping tale of heartbreak, passion and the resilience of the human spirit at the historic Warner Grand Theater with some of the best and brightest young performers. Time: 7:30 p.m. July 30, 31 and 1 to 2 p.m. Aug. 1 Cost: $60 Details: www.Les-Misérabletickets Venue: Warner Grand Theater, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Aug. 13

Love’s Labour’s Lost A young king and his companions vow to swear off worldly pleasures and devote themselves to gaining eternal fame through scholastic pursuits. But a princess and her ladies render their oath difficult to keep in this love letter to love.

Aug. 21

Time: 8 p.m. Aug. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 Cost: Free Details: 310-217-7596; info@ shakespearebythesea.org Venue: Point Fermin Park, 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro

Aug. 21

Dennis Forel and Joe Derry’s Theater of Magic Two veteran magicians, both members of the Magic Castle, present a matinee and evening full of magic, storytelling and humor. Time: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 Cost: $15 Details: 310-351-0070 Venue: 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro

DANCE Aug. 7

Flamenco Dinner Show Forget the airport — the quickest way to get from Long Beach to Spain is an evening of authentic Spanish entertainment and cuisine at Alegria Cocina Latina’s “Ultimate Flamenco Dinner Show Experience.” Time: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 14, 21 Cost: $80 Venue: Alegria Cocina Latina. 115 Pine Ave., Long Beach

ARTS

July 22

Art In The Time Of COVID ESMOA invited artists of all ages to submit artworks created during the period of the shut down for the Art in the Time of COVID-19 Challenge. In summer 2020, a jury panel comprised of artists and cultural producers from El Segundo and Los Angeles reviewed all the submissions and selected the finalists. Now the artworks are finally on view at the El Segundo Public Library until Aug. 31. Time: Library hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday. Cost: Free Details: www.elsegundolibrary. org Venue: El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo Even Sparkles Have Shadows The artworks of Even Sparkles Have Shadows dazzle the viewer with colorful, playful, radiant images — at first glance. However, closer examination reveals a curious undertone of hidden meaning and deeper, sometimes darker stories beneath their glittering veneer. Time: July 22 to Aug. 28 Cost: Free Details: www.torranceartmuseum.com/sparkles Venue: Torrance Art Museum, 3320 Civic Center Drive, Torrance

July 24

PVAC Reopens Palos Verdes Art Center / Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education

announces the reopening of its art galleries with three exhibitions at an opening reception July 24. The Summer Show, Annie Appel: The Mexico Journeys — Carmelita, and Don Crocker: Love of Place will be on view at the PVAC galleries through Aug. 21, and will also be online in their entirety at pvartcenter.org. Time: 7 to 9 p.m. July 24 opening reception. Cost: Free Details: 310-541-2479; pvartcenter.org Venue: PVIC, 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes

July 25

Lida Lowrey Cornelius Projects announces its emergence from pandemic hibernation with an exhibition of paintings by the late Lida Lowrey. Curated by artist Ron Linden, Lowrey was prolific, working in various paint and print media exploring both abstract and representational imagery with conceptual and technical vigor. Time: 3 to 5 p.m. July 25 Cost: Free Details: 310-266-9216; corneliusprojects.com Venue: Cornelius Projects, 1417 South Pacific Ave., San Pedro

July 29

Armchair Artwalk The next Armchair ArtWalk Tour is moving to Last Thursdays and will be held on Zoom. Register in advance to receive a confirmation email containing information. Armchair Artwalk will be live streamed from Facebook at www.anpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict/armchairartwalk . This Armchair ArtWalk Tour will feature Denise Willing Booher, National Watercolor Society, Caroline Brady, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Julianna Ostrovsky. Time: 6 p.m. July 29 Details: www.us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/armchair-artwalk

Aug. 5

First Thursday Art Walk Returns The First Thursday ArtWalk will return Aug. 5, in the historic core of downtown San Pedro. It will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining and live music on the corner of Sixth and Mesa Street stage. Time: 6 to 9 p.m Aug. 5 Cost: Free Location: Downtown San Pedro

FOOD July 24

Coffee World You are about to embark on the journey of coffee from farm to cup with 10 interactive and jaw-dropping installations. This whimsical world of caffeinated wonder is at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. Time: 1 p.m. July 24 Cost: $25 Details: www.coffeeworld.com

Tenth Annual Taste of Brews LB Taste of Brews returns to the Lighthouse Park in August. The 10th annual event infuses dozens of craft beers and select hard ciders, seltzers and kombucha along with SoCal’s premier mobile restaurants, all at an amazing ocean-front venue. Time: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 21 Details: http://tasteofbrews.com Venue: Shoreline Aquatic Park, 200 Aquarium Way, LongBeach

FILM

July 22

Long Beach Movies In The Park Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine invites you to participate in Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) and free movies in the park. Movies and activities will take place throughout the summer. Each movie starts at dusk. Time: July 22, Dora and the Lost City of Gold Location: Drake Park, 951 Maine Ave., Long Beach Details: www.longbeach.gov/ park/recreation-programs/moviesin-the-park Cost: Free

July 30

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party Enjoy the film Dave Chappelle’s Block Party with the irrepressible Chappelle and a slew of legendary artists including Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, The Fugees and more. Plus Compton Centennial High School Marching Band performs live. A percentage of all ticket and concession sales go to My Friends Place; www.myfriendsplace.org Time: 6 p.m. doors open, 8:45 p.m. showtime July 30 Cost: $25 to $45 Details: wl.seetickets.us/event/ DAVE-CHAPPELLESBLOCKPARTY Venue: Exposition Park, 500 Exposition Park Dr., Los Angeles

COMMUNITY Ongoing

Angels Gate Community Classes Community classes at Angels Gate Cultural Center started again, July 19. Classes will be held onsite in Angels Gate classrooms. Details: 310-519.0936; www.angelsgateart.org/classes

July 29

Aquarium of the Pacific Take a journey of discovery through the world’s largest ocean at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Meet 12,000 animals, and see more than 100 exhibits. Time: July 29 Cost: $26.95 to $36.95 Details: 562-590-3100; www.aquariumofpacific.com Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach Colorful Leather Bracelets Turn small pieces of leather into

colorful bracelets. The presenter explains all the tools, leather, materials and techniques needed. Time: 2 p.m. July 29 Cost: Free Details: Facebook - visit: www. library.torranceca.gov/programs/ adult-programs

July 31

Docent Guided Nature Walk Walk the public trail system and enjoy the vistas and summer blooming habitat, plus a guided tour at the Ocean Trails Reserve, lead by the Los Serenos Docents. A multitude of plants bloom and wither depending on the season and time of day. Trails are well marked. Park and meet in the lot at the end of La Rotonda Drive. Banners will be placed along PV Drive near the parking lot. Time: 9 a.m. July 31 Cost: Free Details: 310-544-5375; www.losserenos.org Venue: Ocean Trails Reserve, 1 Trump National Dr., Rancho Palos Verdes

Aug. 1

Fruit Punch: Adult Water Party This 21-plus party includes giant inflatable water slides, an above ground pool, live performances and a DJ. Two full bars and two food trucks will be present as well. Time: 12 to 7 p.m. Aug. 1 Cost: $29 and up Details: https://kahlo.ticketspice. com/fruit-punch Venue: Scottish Rite events center, 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach,

Aug. 15

Wilmington, Here They Come Join CicLAvia in Wilmington with over two miles of streets open just for walking, biking, rolling, dancing and rejoicing. Along the route you’ll see public art dotting the buildings and the massive Port of Long Beach just across the East Basin. In the coming weeks, CicLAvia will be rolling out even more details — stay tuned. Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 15 Cost: Free Details: 213-355-8500; www.ciclavia.org/wilmington21 Location: In Wilmington, a 2.25 mile route connecting Banning Park and Wilmington Waterfront Park.

Aug. 21

Docent Guided Nature Walk Join a tour of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center museum, the native plant garden and a walk along the spectacular bluff top at the Vicente Bluff Reserve followed by a possible tour of the Point Vicente Lighthouse ground hosted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, if open. Free parking will be available. Time: 10 a.m. Aug. 21 Cost: Free Details: 310-544-5260; www.losserenos.org Location: PVIC, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes

Aug. 31

LA Harbor Peace Week 2021 A week of activities in San Pedro as an alternative to the normalization of war during the U.S. military’s “LA Fleet Week.” Instead, we promote the solutions of peace in the world and in our towns. Time: Events will happen from Aug. 31 through Sept. 6. Check the calendar for upcoming peace week events Cost: Free Details: Contact/get Involved; 310-971-8280 sojournerrb@yahoo.com Locations: Various locations in San Pedro Peace Week kick off press conference/MFS

[Kucinich, from p. 1]

Kucinich: Comeback Kid

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

with his election to Cleveland’s city council at the age of 23 to his election as America’s youngest mayor at age 33. Along the way, he takes the reader through corporate espionage, sabotage of Cleveland’s electric system, sabotage of the city’s finances via bank co-conspirators and even a mob directed assassination plot. This is a must read for any young people thinking they want to run for political office. “You know, in writing the book, of course, I documented everything,” Kucinich said. “I saw the utilities that were taken over before the battle over Muny Light and since then privatization is happening all over the country and all over the world.” Kucinich noted that even before the fight over the Muny Light, hundreds of billions of dollars in assets were being transferred from public ownership, which allowed energy rates and taxes to be kept reasonably low, to private ownership where people would pay an arm and a leg for service. At the start of the interview, the two-time presidential candidate issued a stark warning: “When the American Rescue plan-money runs out — and it will — cities are going to be looking for ways of getting more revenue and privatizers will descend like vultures for services to privatize.” The privatization model has been promoted on various levels, particularly starting with the Ronald Reagan administration to defund government. It’s a phenomenon we’ve seen all over the country. But what I wanted to know was about his run to get back into Cleveland’s mayoral seat and what that means. Kucinich ran for the Democratic nomination for the presidency of the United States in 2004 and 2008. He earned his chops young in life as both city councilman in the city of Cleveland and then becoming the youngest mayor of any large city. Now, he is running to become one of the oldest mayors of any large city — a career trajectory reminiscent of California’s former governor Jerry Brown. “Cleveland is a much different city than it was when I was elected mayor 44 years ago,” Kucinich noted. It is about half the population it was then; And of that half, 20% of the people are making $10,000 or less a year. About a third of the city is at or below the poverty line and half of the children are living at or below the poverty line. And there’s a serious problem with crime. Cleveland, Kucinich noted, has one of the highest crime rates in the country and it was tied according to a recent detailed study with other cities for being the most violent city in the country. So there’s a mix of challenges, Kucinich said. The eight-term representative for Ohio’s 10th district said he feels that his years of experience at the local level and the legislative, judicial and executive levels, and having served at state and federal government positions, shows that he has the depth

Hetch Hetchy much to the disadvantage of the people in San Francisco. And of course we know PG&E is famous for being instrumental in burning down Paradise, Calif. Private utilities have their own agenda, which is to improve their stock profile. The financialization of our economy has encouraged them even more to do that and therefore, raise the rates. Kucinich noted the words of legendary muckraking investigative journalist, Lincoln Steffens, on the Cleveland mayor who created Muny Light, Mayor Tom Johnson. Steffens said of him, “he was the best mayor of the best governed city in America.” It was at the turn of the 20th century. Mayor Johnson said: I believe in public ownership of all municipal service monopolies of water works, of electric systems, of parks, of schools. Because if you do not own them, they will, in time, own you. They’ll rule The late Dave Arian, left, former president of the ILWU, speaks with Dennis Kucinich at a 2003 Bloody Thursday commemoration in San your politics; corrupt your institutions; and Pedro. Kucinich was campaigning for the Democratic nomination for finally, destroy your liberties. president of the United States. File photo So The Division of Light and Power was a fight for Democratic of knowledge and experience to address control and democratic tradition. today’s problems in Cleveland. I think these are very wise, cautionary words. Visit www. Kucinich added that he also has the randomlengthsnews.com to see the complete video of our interview willingness to take these challenges on and with Dennis Kucinich. the energy, the enthusiasm and the ability Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks contributed this article. to confront interest groups who just want to pick over whatever’s left of Cleveland and use it for their own narrow concerns. “I’m prepared,” Kucinich said. “The book will inform readers on how much I know about local government [and government’s] ins and outs. When I was mayor from 1977 to ‘79, I was able to run the city on a cash basis. We cut city spending by 18% without reducing city services through the elimination of waste, fraud and abuse. So I run a pretty tight ship. We didn’t borrow any money at all. There’s probably no mayor in America who could have said that then and perhaps not now. So, you know, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve the people of Cleveland again if they decide that’s what they want.” This pragmatism that Kucinich expressed is a hallmark of progressive leaning politicians in this country. Conservatives always want to call us tax-and-spend liberals. But the progressive element, particularly of the Democratic Party in the 20th century, has been one of fiscal conservancy, continued ownership of public utilities and things like that. The City of Los Angeles, long ago, during the Progressive Era took back its water and power system. Kucinich noted that his book has been favorably compared to the film China Town, which was centered on the battle over water rights here in the City of Los Angeles. The Division of Light and Power is a battle over the public’s right to own an electric system, Kucinich said. Look at the Northern California-San Francisco area where PG&E fought to control

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The animals at the Harbor Animal Shelter have ongoing need for used blankets, comforters, pet beds.* Drop off at Harbor Animal Shelter 957 N. Gaffey St.,San Pedro • 888-452-7381, x 143 PLEASE SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PET! *In any condition. We will wash and mend.

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Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021122657 The following person is doing business as: (1) LEXSERVICE, (2) LEXERVICE, 735 Pacific Coast Hwy, Harbor City, CA 90710. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Stephen Haddad, 735 Pacific Coast Hwy, Harbor City, CA 90710. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 09/1994. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Stephen Haddad, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 06/01/21. Notice--In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 06/10/21,

change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 06/24/21, 07/08/21, 07/22/21, 08/05/21

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021149848 The following person is doing business as: (1) CURLEY’S CAFE, (2) WORLD FAMOUS CURLEY’S CAFE, 1999 E Wil-

low Street, Long Beach, CA 90755. This Business is conducted by a Corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 01/2012. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. John Toman, Vice President This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 07/01/21. 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

08/05/21, 08/19/21

“It’s Elemental” — parts of a full set.

06/24/21, 07/08/21, 07/22/21

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021122655 The following person is doing business as: (1) WEEDTIME APPARELL COMPANY, 1419 South Mesa Street, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Filippo Salvato, 1419 South Mesa Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. Stephanie Salvato, 1419 South Mesa Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by a married couple. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Filippo Salvato, Husband. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 02/25/20. Notice--In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any

(b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 07/08/21, 07/22/21,

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JOBS

ACROSS

1 Jazz group 6 Org. that meets in schools 9 Winter Olympics vehicles 14 Without missing ___ 15 Director Howard 16 Campus town bordering Bangor 17 *”Batman & Robin” role for Uma Thurman 19 One making references 20 “Desperate Housewives” actress Hatcher 21 Three ___ match 22 Four, in France 23 *What your remote might have slipped under 26 Cartridge contents 29 Boise-to-Missoula dir. 30 Source of some pressure before photo day? 31 Airline until 1991 33 Treasure hunter’s need 34 ___ California (Mexican state) 38 What each character in the starred theme answers is (comprising a full set from the periodic table) 42 Carries out 43 Participate in crew 44 Word after zinc or iron 45 Used chairs? 46 Utter

48 “___ Tac Dough” (Wink Martindale game show) 49 *Response to “I had no idea” 55 Offers one’s views 56 Roget’s entry: Abbr. 57 Line of symmetry 61 Less than enthusiastic 62 *WWE wrestler and member of the Undisputed Era (and not the chess player) 64 Split second 65 Craft in the tabloids 66 Alphabet quintet 67 “Bellefleur” author Joyce Carol 68 Payroll deduction 69 Command that can also create a PDF

DOWN

1 1st Lieut.’s boss 2 Instrument among the reeds 3 Israeli P.M. Golda 4 Bare-bones 5 Prefix meaning “ear-related” 6 “When Doves Cry” singer 7 Actress Feldshuh who played 3-Down on Broadway 8 Indeterminate number 9 Plague member? 10 “David Copperfield” character Heep 11 Crime boss known as the “Teflon Don” 12 First month in Madrid 13 Tabitha formerly of MTV News

18 It’s definitely a thing 22 Witty remarks 24 “All Eyez ___” (1996 Tupac Shakur album) 25 Policy honcho 26 With 27-Down, Apple portable player from 2005 to 2017 27 See 26-Down 28 ACL’s locale 32 Gore and Green 33 Tiny noise at a bowl? 34 Bike race with hills 35 Kinda 36 “Harvesting the Heart” author Picoult 37 Guinness of “Star Wars” 39 Waiter’s weights 40 Cairn terrier of film 41 Toy with a string attached 45 Stockholm citizens 46 Pricey stadium seating 47 “And ___ Davis as Alice” (“The Brady Bunch” credits closer) 49 ___ voce (softly) 50 “Pagliacci,” e.g. 51 ___ in the bud 52 Preserved for later 53 Uncle Sam’s land, informally 54 Nilla cookie 58 Number not found on a clock 59 “The pressure ___” 60 Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide ___” 62 Nevertheless 63 Talk and talk and talk

RANDOMLetters [Letters, from p. 7]

Mr. Caravella This is the third email from you attacking me personally over issues that are not a matter for our neighborhood council to consider. What should be considered is your continued breach of the Code of Civility with your personal attacks against a member of the council, your open hostility towards me personally and your acquiescence to allowing for the continuation of the “private meetings” with the NC presidents and POLA officials. Which I might add, has no protection from being reported to the general public because you and others often report the items from these meetings in public. These same public relations initiatives by POLA are readily available through other sources. These are all questions I will toss back to you as well as your continued use of your title of president and email signature to appear as though you are speaking on behalf of the CeSPNC board when you are not authorized to speak for the board — a violation of our bylaws. That you are more obsessed with blocking any criticism by me or others of POLA or having someone who has the expertise to ask critical questions only shows how you are more interested in being accepted by the power structure than you are in representing the issues of our constituents to the various power structures of the city. I have to point out that over the course of the last four years there have been more efforts and political maneuvering to limit my influence on the CeSPNC than there has been on actually delivering real representation on the core issues of homelessness, port pollution, critical infrastructure and real quality of life matters. Yours and Ms. Alexander’s continued personal attacks against

me, your unfounded assertions and false claims with no supporting evidence are in fact slander. That many of these same allegations have been repeatedly brought up in the course of official council business only distract from the issues at hand, and I find detrimental to allowing for civil discourse. You, not I, have continued to disrupt meetings by your biased use of the power of the chair, your unfair use of the parliamentary procedures and the thinly veiled animus you direct towards me and any initiatives I bring forth as motions. All of which are clearly documented in the recorded meetings of late. As such your actions are considered personal harassment, conduct unbecoming to an officer of our council and simply petty. Your abuse of power is showing and needs to be curbed. James Preston Allen Publisher

Crackpot Corruptionism

The California Employment Development Department and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (have they ever read the Unruh Act?) are my definition of corruption. Gov. Gavin “CrackpotCorrupt” Newsom paid contractors $236 million dollars to fix the EDD computer system, but not the phone lines. A federal Judge ordered the city’s politicians and lawyers to spend $1.2 billion dollars to fix the County 2% homeless problem. The city Mayor is poised to sign an anti-tenant harassment ordinance that has as many teeth as a newborn baby gumming away. (Relocating to LA, anyone?). Drafted in 2017, it is a piece of cake that has taken officials four years to learn how to copy and paste from other laws. LAMC section 41.33 is lifted almost verbatim, but the final draft removed the state law definition of “harassment” (CCP 527.6).

The ordinance will apply to single family homes, condominiums, and rent controlled units; “an act or omission” (failure to respond to tenant complaints) will be actionable; refusal to accept rent will be harassment; “substantially” interfering with tenant peaceful enjoyment is unlawful; the tenant must give the landlord “reasonable time” to repair ( civil code 1942.4 says 35 days). The city claims tenants made over 40,000 harassment and housing complaints. Maybe this harassment law will solve the city’s homeless, housing, harassment, and employment (EDD) problems all at one fell swoop! For more info, see City clerk file number 14-0268-S13 at website LACityClerkConnect. G. Juan Johnson Los Angeles

Re: Mayor Garcetti’s Nomination as Ambassador to India

Governing a city as magnificent, complex and diverse as Los Angeles is no easy feat, and Mayor Garcetti has done a remarkable tour of duty. For more than two decades of service, he has led with head and heart. I salute him for his notable contributions to Los Angeles — and respect his commitment to continued public service. While a disruption in leadership will bring unanticipated challenges – transition also creates room for ingenuity and opportunity. It is incumbent upon the City Council to lean into this change, and work with collective nimbleness, perseverance, compassion, and the pursuit of justice, to address the myriad of issues facing this city – of which the homelessness crisis and recovery from the pandemic remain front and center. In the end, “It’s all about leadership.” Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas Los Angeles

[Carson, from p. 4]

Carson Protest “If we can’t move the mobile homes, we can’t buy anything with the money that they’re giving us. It’s not good enough for a down payment.” In a moment of cynical reflection of both the city and the park’s developer, Faring Capital, Marcela said greedy people don’t care about seniors and there’s no compassion. “What we want is the same-size house — three bedrooms or two bedrooms —whatever you have,” Marcela said. “To get the same. That’s all we’re asking for.” Having a newer home than others, Marcela’s 2015 mobile home cannot find a space in Carson or Torrance; if space could be found, the rent would be triple. Residents in the three mobile home parks of Park Avalon Mobile Estates, Park Granada Trailer Lodge Mobile and Rancho Dominguez Mobile Estates are witnessing the same process. “Join the fight, join the fight because it’s coming to them,” Marcela Steiman said. Eddie Almeida moved back in with his 72-year-old mother after his father passed away to care for her in the Rancho Dominguez Mobile Estates park. He joined the protesters on that hot Thursday afternoon demanding affordable housing. “I just want what’s fair,” Almeida said. “I want to make sure that the seniors are taken care of because we’re not quite sure what they’re going to offer us yet.” Almeida said when it first started, developers were offering less than what the park residents actually put down as a down payment — $18,000 to $20,000 for a mobile home with a purchasing price of $97,000. “We’re not going to be able to afford anything around here,” Almeida said. “We’re going to have to live further away from our families and everything and it’s stressful just having to move.” The 81-space park community mobile home park was developed in 1962, before Carson was incorporated. The mobile homes are at least 20 years old and contain one to three bedrooms. More than half of the 81 mobile homes

are owner occupied with a quarter of them being tenant occupied. The park owned by Carter-Spencer Enterprises, LLC submitted the application in 2019 to close the park, eight years after the LLC was registered to the state of California. “They’ve been trying to shut us down for a lot of years,” Almeida said. “They scare the people. It’s like a scare tactic to use or is going to get shut down. ‘You guys can’t sell; you guys can’t rent, but we’ll buy it from you,’” Almeida said. “Now it’s to the point where all these other parts are getting shut down and it’s only obvious that not only is it continued but they’re trying to shut down all the low-income housing.” On July 15, the city council held a public hearing on the relocation impact report for the Rancho Dominguez Hills Estates closure. For new Imperial Avalon Homeowner Association president, Jeff Steiman, the fight now is to have a formal process to allow residents time to make a plan. They are taking the lives of all the people that lived in that park, Jeff said. Most of the people who live in that park are in their 80s. They spent at least the last two decades there. So their lives are there. For their lives to go on, they’re going to have to move to Arizona or even with their kids or become a ward of the state. Public run housing is not nice, Jeff said. Carson’s mayor pro tem Jim Dear attended the rally and spoke with the residents. Cognizant that the city’s efforts to protect mobile home residents was coming up short, Dear explained, “The idea behind that is that it will be more neutral and the residents would be more trusting and get reliable, accurate, unbiased information. That’s the idea behind it. Some of the residents have complained that it’s not working out the way they had hoped,” Dear says he is pushing to create a mobile home park zone in Carson so that anyone who wants to buy a park with the intention of closing it (which has been happening over the years) would have to apply for a zone change with the city. This would make it more difficult for developers to flip the mobile home parks. “This will help future crises because this is going to be repeated,” Dear said. “I’m a history teacher. [I know] history [will] repeat itself if we don’t fix it.” Real People, Real News, Really Effective July 22 - August 4, 2021

July 22 - August 4, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

RLn 7-22-21

Articles inside

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