RLn 3-4-21

Proposal Would Cut Red Car Line Likely Gone for Good if POLA Approves

By Hunter Chase, Reporter

A

[See Red Car p. 2]

A rail car from the Red Car Line, which operated in San Pedro from 2003 to 2015. The Port of Los Angeles does not plan to bring the line back. RLN photo archives

California’s Climate Gap

The dark side of Carson’s new developments p. 3

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

The Ash Grove founder, Ed Pearl: A dedicated life p. 9

“The only reason it passed … was actually because the governor passed two really huge executive orders,” he said. But even with that, “We are missing a climate plan.”

He pointed to John Kerry’s recent press conference in contrast.

“It’s very clear that the federal government, that the White House now has a climate plan,” he said. “It’s thinking about how climate can impact every sector and the different decisions that it’s making.”

It’s precisely that kind of whole-of-government, every-facet-of-policy approach that’s needed in California as well.

Locally, State Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell is symptomatic of California’s problem, earning a place on the league five-member “polluter caucus,” the worst of the worst from among the 22 senators and 52 assembly members who take money from oil companies or their political action committees, whose power and influence [See Climate Gap, p. 4]

COVID-19 Deaths in the U.S. as of March 3, 2021: 529,541 • COVID-19 Deaths in California: 52,782 COVID-19 Deaths in LA County: 21,554 • For up-to-date stats: www.randomlengthsnews.com

March 4 - 17, 2021

The mid-February winter storm stretched across most of the continental United States, but hit the state of Texas especially hard. It left more than 4.5 million homes and businesses without power, and more than 70 dead, as the state’s power grid came within minutes of “a catastrophic and complete failure,” according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

The state’s climate denialism, free market deregulation and lack of infrastructure investment all contributed significantly to the singular catastrophe that struck Texas. California, in contrast, is seen as a beacon of climate enlightenment, but that image is highly misleading, according to the just-released “Environmental Scorecard” from the California League of Conservation Voters, and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach vividly illustrate the problems involved.

The state’s overall score was just 74%. “It barely passed this year,” the league’s Political and Organizing Director Mike Young told Random Lengths News.

La Bocca Felice will put a smile on your face p. 10

Port problems are anything but local

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

proposed park will take away the right of way of the rail used for the Waterfront Red Car line — and while this is not done intentionally to displace it, the Port of Los Angeles has no plans to ever bring the Red Car line back, said Mike Galvin, director of the port’s waterfront and commercial real estate.

The park is part of the One San Pedro project by the Housing Authority of Los Angeles, or HACLA, which will redevelop the Rancho San Pedro public housing. This includes the replacement of 425 units and the creation of 975 new ones. While the housing itself will not be on port land, the park next to it will — and its creation will require the removal of the tracks from the rail between 1st and 3rd streets, as well as the surrounding fencing. It will be an expansion of sorts of the Promenade. Galvin said this will provide better connectivity between Rancho San Pedro and the Los Angeles waterfront.

“Right now there’s not really a seamless way to get from one to the other,” Galvin said.

Galvin said the park is not being put there specifically to eliminate the right of way.

“The port has actually [a] dedicated right of way at that location, as well as through the new West Harbor development, and going down all the way to Berth 46 in the outer harbor,” Galvin said. “That’s really something that we’ve done as part of a long-term planning process to provide for future opportunities for port connectivity, whether it be through light rails or through some other type of mode, which could be a rubber tire trolley system.”

The Red Car line ran from 2003 to 2015 as an attraction in San Pedro, but there were plans to expand it to transportation to other parts of Los Angeles. It was closed down as the San Pedro waterfront was developed, so that the port would have

1

Community Announcements:

Harbor Area 5th Annual Alpay Scholarship Exhibition

Art and media students from Southern California colleges and universities are invited to submit new work to be showcased in Palos Verdes Art Center’s Alpay Scholarship Exhibition entitled, Now Trending. One $5,000 cash prize will be awarded.

In addition, the scholarship winner will be considered for inclusion in future PVAC exhibitions. This call is open to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Due to COVID-19 mandates, Now Trending will exhibit exclusively online at pvartcenter.org.

All media will be considered, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, glass, ceramics, fiber art, photography, video, film, VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), installation art, performance art, sound art and mixed media. Submission deadline April 30. Exhibition dates, June 11 through July 10.

Details: Enter through callforentry.org

Ask a Lawyer: Renting During COVID

Join the LA Law Library for a live question and answer session via Zoom about the rights of tenants and landlords during the COVID-19 public health crisis. An experienced landlord/tenant attorney will be available to answer questions about eviction protections for nonpayment of rent due to COVID-19, what landlords can and cannot do during the pandemic, what the outlook might be for renters when the eviction moratorium ends and the new process for collecting past-due rent through small claims court. Information will be emailed to registrants prior to start time.

Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 4 and 18 Cost: Free Details: www.lalawlibrary.org/ask-a-lawyer-rentingduring-covid

Virtual Workshop: Tenants, Property Owners

Join the Los Angeles County Development Authority for their next workshop that will take a look at issues concerning tenants and property owners.

Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m. March 11 Details: HCVWorkshops@lacda.org

LA County Partners with Black Churches to Expand Free COVID-19 Testing

Tax Season Resources

Find out if you are eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Some families are eligible to receive up to $6,660 in refundable tax credits if you file a tax return and claim the credit.

Details: www.tinyurl.com/5d8hgh3e

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

The Los Angeles County Health Services partnered with the Tabernacle Community Development Corp. to launch a program to expand access to free community-based COVID-19 testing in the Black community. The testing expansion is part of the Black Church COVID-19 Testing Partnership, a statewide initiative that will have 35 Black churches across California host pop-up COVID-19 testing. The program goal is to test 150 people at each church daily through June 30.

Testing at these churches is free to the community regardless of health insurance status and will be available through June 30. The new testing sites at the eight churches will not require appointments, reducing barriers that can keep community members from getting tested.

Details: https://www.aacec-cal.org/covid19testing, www.dhs.lacounty.gov

March 4 - 17, 2021

CSULB Students Preparing Tax Returns

2

California State University Long Beach VITA sites are IRS-certified volunteers providing free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing for federal and state tax returns. Preparers can help taxpayers by informing them of special tax credits. Due to COVID-19 protocols, there will not be face-to-face meetings but online and Zoom meetings can be scheduled.

Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays through March 26 Cost: Free to qualifying taxpayers with an income level of $57,000 or less Details: https://tinyurl.com/TaxReturnPreparations

Committed to Independent Journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for More Than 40 Years [Red Car, from p. 1]

Red Car Gone For Good a better idea of how people would move around said waterfront.

“We wanted to take a pause, and allow some of that development to occur, and then to see what the most efficient way would be to move people around the waterfront,” Galvin said.

Even if the park is built, Galvin says the port is maintaining the right of way.

“The project is only required to be in place for 10 years,” Galvin said. “So it is not in any way creating a permanent obstacle to future use of rail in that area or future use of some other mode.”

Galvin said the portion of the right of way that the park will upend is like other portions of the right of way, which are being used for other things. Those purposes include street improvements and parking lot improvements that are being built south of 6th Street.

The Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council and the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council both officially opposed the construction of the Rancho San Pedro park, because of how it would affect the right of way. The Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council took no formal action against it. However, they did oppose the removal of Red Car tracks in November 2017, Coastal President Doug Epperhart said.

“We wanted to preserve the infrastructure for the possibility that the Red Car would come back,” Epperhart said.

The tracks previously used for the Red Car south of 6th Street have already been removed, Galvin said.

“All of that rail has been removed because the likeliness that we will build a rail system that is similar to the Red Car is very low because it’s extremely expensive,” Galvin said.

A likely alternative would be a light rail system, which does need as much security as the Red Car needed. The Red Car needed fencing and a crossing guard system because of its weight, as well as a raised platform. A light rail

is much lighter, as its name suggests, and does not need them.

“It creates a much more open access type of a feel where people can get on and get off,” Galvin said.

If the port were to build a light rail system, it would have to be built from the ground up, as the rail tracks used for the Red Car are not adaptable to light rails.

“The systems are not interchangeable,” Galvin said. “None of that’s been built yet, and the investment in that would be very significant going forward, and it wouldn’t be made until we have a much better idea of how people will move around the waterfront.”

While there were plans at one point to expand the Red Car line to take riders to other parts of Los Angeles, any light rail made by the port would not go that far.

“The Red Car, in the early days, there was much discussion about actually using it as a real transportation system connecting it to other places, extending it out to Cabrillo Beach, stuff like that,” Epperhart said. “That slowly disappeared over the years.”

Epperhart said the port does not have any interest in maintaining that kind of infrastructure, partially because of the cost.

“That plus the fact that, you know, the port is not interested in being in the people moving business,” Epperhart said.

Epperhart said that building and operating rail lines is so expensive, the port would probably never see a return on its investment.

Another possible alternative would be a rubber tire system, which does not use tracks, so it could use the street, or its own dedicated right of way.

The local business improvement district is currently using rubber tire trolleys, and they recently acquired more, Galvin said.

“That is an existing program that we are pulling data out of, to understand where the most

people are getting on and off, where people are going to and from, so we can better understand how to build out future modalities of connectivity that are other than people walking around the waterfront,” Galvin said.

Epperhart said the light rail is probably not necessary yet.

“I don’t think we’re going to have any real … need for it for a while, until we get the cruise terminal down at the other end of town, until we get the amphitheater and some other things,” Epperhart said.

The Rancho San Pedro park has not yet been approved by the port. HACLA is still going through public input, so the project will come before the Board of Harbor Commissioners in two months at the earliest.

There is another proposed park that if approved, will be built on port property. It will be built by the Battleship USS Iowa Museum, and will be next to it. However, this park requires funding from the state of California, and the Iowa is in the process of applying for a grant for it.

This park will be close to the Rancho San Pedro park, but neither are big.

“These parks are not large parks by any means,” Galvin said. “So, I don’t think it’s unnatural within a waterfront area that we have, which is 400 acres of waterfront property along with about 8 miles of coastline, that she would have small open space areas as amenities.”

In addition, the Iowa might move to a different location within the next few years, and if it does, the park might be built at the new location.

Frank Anderson, chair of the Port Relations Committee of the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, said he was disappointed to hear that the port does not plan to bring the Red Car back. He argued that the port would need connectivity to other parts of the city in some way, perhaps through Metro lines.

“I personally would love to see the Red Car come back,” Anderson said. “I’m willing to fight for it and I think there are others that feel the same way.”

Tribute to San Pedro’s Parks The Alice in Wonderland-themed mural, left, on the retaining wall by artist Jules Muck, located on Oliver and Gaffey streets near the Welcome Park, and below, the mural of the Mad Hatter by artist Ricky Hernandez, located at O’Farrell and Gaffey streets, is part of a collaboration with Clean San Pedro and is a tribute to the parks in San Pedro. Photos by Arturo Ayala-Garcia

The Dark Side of Carson’s New Developments

By Iracema Navarro, Editorial Intern

portunity to return to the new development.

“What we do want in closing, like in Imperial Avalon, we made sure they [mobile home owners] get a fair market value and many of them can return to the site once it is developed, that is what we are requiring the developer, Faring Capital,” Davis-Holmes said. “They’ll be buying those coaches, the cheapest coaches will be bought at $86,000 regardless if they only paid the 35 for it.”

Senior citizens, who own and live in the park, voiced their concerns on the streets in front of city hall shortly after the news broke out of the proposed development.

“The park owners are going above and beyond state law to accommodate residents and help find them their next homes. Although not required by state law, ownership has delayed the park closure and is providing early disbursement of funds to help residents with down payments on their future homes,” said Darren Embry, Imperial

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

March 4 - 17, 2021

the council will have the opportunity to establish more affordable housing for low-income families.

Including funds from the federal, state and local levels, Carson Housing Authority provides affordable housing options such as senior housing, multi-family housing and sale housing.

With more than five approved projects, three under review and three housing projects under construction, most of the developments are apartments and condominiums.

“We don’t have a lot of housing that is being built, we have a lot of apartments but I’m looking for more single-family homes to be built and we have to partner with the right developer,” Hilton said.

The city council has no say in the selling of mobile home parks because they are privately Imperial Avalon Mobile Home Estates from Avalon Boulevard in Carson. Photo

by Iracema Navarro owned.

The city council of Carson is changing the dynamic and losing the Carson and the mayor decide what developers root to homeownership. Private owners are selling come to the city after a presentation is done by their land to developers to build tenant-occupied the community development managers that have an interest in building in Carson. structures.

Now residents and future residents drive the Low-income and affordable housing are at streets of Carson amazed by the already estabstake with the new developments.

Patricia Gray, an Imperial Avalon mobile lished apartment buildings, anxious to see in place home owner emailed the Carson Planning Com- the under construction developments, but dismissing the abandoned one level mobile home parks. mission, voicing her fear if the park closes.

The proposed project to consider the reloca“Just in case the rest of you are unaware of rent comps, I will not be able to rent anything; I tion impact report related to the closure of Park don’t make the basic required move-in fee of three Avalon Mobile Estates park was adjourned to times that of my monthly income,” Gray said. “So April 13, 2021.

Park Avalon Mobile Estates has more than 100 by moving from the house that is fully paid for, in the community where I have bonded with my mobile home residents who are awaiting the decifictive kin for 27 years, I will be lonely and home- sion if they will have to look for another mobile home park, sell their home or look for another less.”

Although single-family homes are real estate place to live.

With mobile home parks closing in Carson, investments, families also need access to lowercost structures. With the cost of living ranging in such as Imperial Avalon Mobile Estates set to ofthe minimum limit of $1,500 a month for a one- ficially close in 2022, residents will have an option bedroom condominium, seniors and low income to return after three to four years, once the senior village is built. families are in fear.

“They have the option of coming back with Carson’s Councilman Jawane Hilton said mobile homes and mobile home parks are a necessity the same amount of money that they are paying right now, if it is $600 or $400, they can come for the city.

“We are definitely looking at the mobile home back and live in them,” Davis-Holmes said.

Imperial Avalon Mobile Estates has more than parks, there’s new legislation that we are trying to follow in line with,” Hilton said. “We want to 400 seniors who live on a fixed income but now make sure that [mobile homeowners] are safe and have less than 12 months to relocate after real estate company Faring Capital bought the land to protected.”

The protections for residents discussed by the build a mixed-use development.

The decision to close the park was made shortcity and developers are for financial and relocation assistance along with prioritizing seniors in ly before the State Assembly Bill 2782 passed.

The bill, also known as Mobile Home Rent Conaffordable housing.

“That is what we are asking our developers trol, changes the Mobile Home Residency Law that are coming to the city, to allocate a certain from giving homeowners at least 15 days’ written percentage for affordable workforce housing,” notice to 60 days, allowing rent control on leases that are more than one year long and more protecCarson’s Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said.

Seven existing affordable housing sites are all tions for residents.

With requirements established in the proposal, rental types and mostly provided only for seniors.

With the economic potential of attracting devel- the city is affirming new buyers in assisting moopers in the City of Carson, voted members in bile home residents in relocation fees and the opWith the continued developments in Carson, mobile home park residents are on the edge of uncertainty. Within a mile from each other, mobile home parks are overshadowed by the 32,000-square-feet apartment building of Union South Bay.

Avalon Community Development Director. “Over 30 households and counting have already taken advantage of the direct benefits being provided to them. The relocation benefits package provided to residents is over $22 million, making it one of the largest — if not the largest —benefits package ever paid for a private closure in California history.”

With the Imperial Carson Mobile Homes park set to close, a submitted application for Carson Lofts of two, three-story apartment buildings of 19 units are under review and an approved 300 multi-family residential units of Evolve South Bay/MBK Homes Apartments is set to begin construction.

Two months after the purchase, Faring Capital hired an appraiser to appraise each mobile home.

Claire Condon Anderson, mobile home owner since 1983, expressed the insult she felt about the appraisal in a 2020 letter to the city.

“To add insult to injury, he and his associate grossly undervalued my home at $37,000 when I have records of similar homes selling recently for $150,000 to $200,000 locally and some were even in this same park,” Condon Anderson said.

“If this park must be closed, we want the fair market value for our homes and not just the value of a scrap pile.”

3

[Climate Gap, from p. 1]

LA Waterfront Town Square and Promenade on Schedule for Completion this Summer

SAN PEDRO— Progress continues on the San Pedro Town Square and Promenade project. The $36 million development on the LA Waterfront, funded by the Port of Los Angeles, will create a new central gathering space, as well as a promenade connecting attractions and points of interest along the harbor’s main channel.

The project is on track and on budget, with completion expected by the end of July 2021.

Construction on the project began Jan. 2020.

The development will feature a new nearly onemile public promenade running parallel to the main channel, which will connect to the new fouracre town square at 6th Street, just east of Harbor Boulevard. The project will include amenities such as public restrooms, parking for 90 cars, public seating, a commercial boat landing, 600 linear feet of recreational vessel berthing, hardscaping, landscaping, architectural finishes and lighting.

The 30-foot-wide promenade will connect to the planned West Harbor development, a 42-acre commercial development that will feature restaurants, shopping, fresh markets, office space and an open-air amphitheater for live entertainment.

Details: www.youtube.com/watch/waterfronttown-square

COVID-19 Testing Kiosk Opens at USS Iowa

SAN PEDRO — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced on Feb. 23 that a new site for testing COVID-19 opened next to the USS Iowa. The site was launched in a partnership between Los Angeles County and Fulgent Genomics Laboratories. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is able to do 500 polymerase chain reaction nasal swab tests per day. No insurance is required, and both walkins and appointments are accepted. Results are available within 24 to 48 hours.

Details: la.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment

POLA Cargo Volume Starts 2021 Strong

March 4 - 17, 2021

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles processed 835,516 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in January, an increase of 3.6% compared to January 2020. It was the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year increases as U.S. consumer spending continues to drive demand for goods.

“However, U.S. exports continue to lag, down 25 of the last 27 months,” said Port of Los Angeles Director Gene Seroka. “What we’re experiencing is one-way trade, which has created challenges for the entire supply chain.”

January 2021 loaded imports reached 437,609 TEUs compared to January 2020.

Loaded exports decreased 19.5% to 119,327 TEUs. Empty containers, heavily in demand in Asia, increased 14.5% compared to January 2020 reaching 278,580 TEUs. A total of 87 cargo vessels arrived in January, including eight extra loaders. There were no canceled sailings.

Details: www.youtube.com/watch?media briefing

4

Shooting Death Investigation In Carson

CARSON — On Feb. 28, about 2:30 a.m., in Carson, near Fiesta Lane, deputies responded to a gunshot victim call. Upon arrival, they found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the upper body.

The victim, male Hispanic in his mid-30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. There’s no suspect. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, call “Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-8477.

[See Briefs, p. 5]

State’s Climate Gap significantly cripple California’s climate and environmental justice policies. This past April, he circulated a sign-on letter to Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, calling for it to halt its regulatory rulemaking process because of COVID-19.

“It’s in those moments of crises where you depend on your elected leaders,” Young said, “And, it was clear that he was deciding to serve the interests of industry, as opposed to the health of his constituents.”

The problem isn’t limited to climate change alone.

“When it comes to air pollution, California has been operating in a state of denial about its failure to meet state and federal air quality standards,” said Joe Lyou, president and CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air. “The plans to achieve these standards rely on investing billions of dollars per year in clean vehicles and equipment with no viable means of raising that kind of money.”

Thus, neither climate policy (involving carbon dioxide and methane, primarily) nor air quality policy (ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide and volatile organic compounds) are comprehensively addressed, much less is there an integrated plan dealing with both. Zeroemissions technology addresses both of them — when combined with renewable energy generation and grid development — but is commercially less advanced. Near-zero reduces air pollutants dramatically, but may pose climate risks due to methane. The clock is ticking on both, but in different timeframes. Coordination is essential — and lacking.

Lyou is ideally situated to explain California’s faltering policies, combining local, regional and statewide experience. Statewide, he serves as a member of California Transportation Commission, and locally he’s a member of the ports’ Sustainable Freight Advisory Committee, where stakeholder representatives for business, labor, the community and the environment develop consensus recommendations to advance the ports’ Clean Air Action Plan, known as CAAP — recommendations “the ports have basically ignored,” Lyou stated. He also served 12 years on the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

“The port truck situation is a tragedy in the making,” Lyou said. “In 2023, California regulations will require all trucks to have 2010 or newer engines. Approximately 4,685 (36%) of the trucks in service at the ports will have to be replaced,” he explained. “The ports are allowing them to be replaced with 2014 or newer trucks and completely missing out on the opportunity to reduce emissions by 90% or more by requiring all replacements to be either zero or near-zero emission vehicles. Once those 2014 trucks get into the registry, they’ll be used for many years.

It’s a huge issue that will have real public health consequences and no one seems to care about.”

As to why, “I think it’s part and parcel of a bigger problem at the ports in terms of accountability and with regard to air pollution,” Lyou said. “I think that the ports believe that they’ve done a lot, which they have done a lot, but they haven’t done enough.” At the same time, public pressure has waned, “in part because there are other issues and crises to deal with, in part because of turnover, in part because of a lack of institutional memory.”

The Port of Los Angeles disputes this

Joe Lyou at the Port of Los Angeles. File photo

“There is a consensus that the people breathing smog and diesel particulate matter that lead to everything from asthma attacks to heart attacks to premature death all want cleaner trucks. The port is using the debate over zero and near-zero emissions to do nothing. … They know that it would be impossible to replace all of those pre-2010 trucks with zero emission trucks by 2023” — Joe Lyou, president and CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air characterization.

“The 4,600 San Pedro Bay drayage trucks that remain pre-2010 technology have the focus of the ports and regional and state agencies,” POLA spokesman Arley Baker told Random Lengths.

However, he went on to say, “There is currently no consensus regarding how to incentivize the transition of these trucks to cleaner technologies.

Some would like to see them transition to low NOx [nitrogen oxide] trucks right away, while others would rather see them make the transition to ZE [zero emission] trucks when they start to become available in the next three to five years.”

But, “There is a consensus that the people breathing smog and diesel particulate matter that lead to everything from asthma attacks to heart attacks to premature death all want cleaner trucks,” Lyou responded. “The port is using the debate over zero and near-zero emissions to do nothing, which leaves us with dirty diesel trucks moving freight in and out of the port. They know that it would be impossible to replace all of those pre-2010 trucks with zero emission trucks by 2023. They should replace as many as they can with zero emission but the rest should be nearzero emission.”

In June 2017, the advisory committee Lyou sits on advised that “‘front loading’ the deployment of zero and near-zero emission trucks as part of the Clean Truck Program will provide significant air quality and public health benefits,” but that “it will be important that this transition be implemented in an even and measured manner between the commencement of the new Clean Truck Program (expected in 2018) and the July 1, 2023 target date.” This would “allow for the establishment of program milestones and measurement in order to best ensure the success of the program,” and provide greater certainty for all parties involved. Significantly, the 2023 federal ozone deadline will rely on a 2022 date,

so “significant deployments of zero and near — zero emission technology must occur in the years leading up to 2022.”

None of that has happened. Take the simple matter of a contained fee to help fund the transition. This could help supply some of the more than $1 billion in incentive funding needed for California to meet its federal air quality targets, AQMD spokesperson Nahal Mogharabi noted. “However, the ports have not yet implemented this fee,” even though it was approved in principle early last year.

POLA is still working to finalize a contract with the rate collection vendor, and hopes to bring it to the board within the next month or two, spokesman Phillip Sanfield said. After that, “It will take six months to set up the collection system.” So 2022 — the year federal air quality data is to be collected — will be the first full year in which fees are collected to help fund a transition that should have been planned as a five-year process.

The situation with ships and rail is even more daunting.

“They’re both a big problem — a lot of emissions, a lot of old technologies,” Lyou said. “It’s very complicated, if not impossible to retrofit the ships, so they need to be built clean to begin.”

And, they’ve built up a huge supply before new international standards went into effect in 2016.

“So that created a problem and that problem will persist for decades, because those ships don’t turn over quickly,” Lyou said.

Rail faces a similar situation, due to the fracking boom.

“The coal industry was the biggest user of locomotives in the United States,” Lyou explained. “When the coal industry started [See Climate, p. 5]

Life After Mother [Briefs, from p. 4]

Honorable Mayor Eunice Sato, 1921-2021

LONG BEACH — Former Long Beach City Councilwoman and Mayor Eunice Sato died at her home on Feb. 12. She served as a council member from the Seventh District from 1975 to 1986. Her mayoral term spanned 1980 to 1982.

At that time, council members were elected city-wide and the mayor was selected by the council. Sato was the first woman and only Asian-American to hold the office of mayor of Long Beach.

Ramzi Awwad Named Director of Public Works

RANCHO PALOS VERDES — On Feb. 17, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes announced the selection of Ramzi Awwad as director of Public Works.

Awwad has served as deputy director of Public Works since September 2020, overseeing the environmental review process for the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project and the scoping of a citywide speeding and traffic safety analysis. He has also implemented new controls for capital projects and identified process improvements for service requests to shorten response times to residents. Awwad’s promotion takes effect immediately.

Prior to joining the city, Awwad was engineering bureau chief in Arlington County, Va. Awwad brings 17 years of experience in planning, engineering, constructing and maintaining public works infrastructure in Virginia, Arizona and Indiana.

Board Approves Improvements to Los Angeles County’s Mental Health Crisis Lines

Newsom Signs Legislative Package for Pandemic Hardship Relief

After my mother locked her caregiver out of the house, I entered a twilight zone, looking after her long-distance. This was no dispute that could be settled easily — my mother just stubbornly refused to let me move in, hire someone or move into a facility. No alternatives loomed.

“Just give the caregiver a key,” a guy mansplained.

I didn’t need that explained. The explanation was, I didn’t have a key and I couldn’t get one — if my mother wouldn’t let me move in, and she would lock a caregiver out, she wasn’t about to hand over a key. Without access to my mother’s funds, I couldn’t afford a caregiver, anyway.

Control over finances and healthcare is complicated enough for a person of sound mind and body. Once dementia or a life-threatening disease sets in, the patient can’t be expected to understand such needs as power of attorney for health care, durable power of attorney for property, a living will, a do-not-resuscitate order, and physician orders for life-sustaining treatment.

There were many possible ways for my mother to put her final wishes on record. Getting

her to stop procrastinating, and sign her name — to anything — was the roadblock. I discussed with her an account of a family’s novel solution to the dilemma of life-sustaining treatment.

If the person didn’t want to be revived when unconscious or in a coma, at the potential cost of broken ribs and the like, then leave the signed DNR paper in plain view. If the person had a change of heart, stick the paper in a drawer.

My mother finally agreed to sign a paper granting me power of attorney for her healthcare, at least, I think because she finally understood the alternative was worse.

She signed a printout from the Internet, an Advance Healthcare Directive California

[Climate, from p. 4]

Climate Gap

Note: Random Lengths News will take a statewide view of the problem as part of its Earth Day coverage in April.

March 4 - 17, 2021

tanking because of the low cost of natural gas, the natural turnover of these locomotives quit happening, and the industry started just relying on what they had in stock and they have a lot of locomotives that aren’t even being used.”

Additional questions remain. Richard Havenick, the first prominent advocate for low-sulfur ship fuel, has raised serious concerns about methane in natural gas. He had been passionate to get ships off diesel and onto natural gas, until he read a 2019 study from the U.S. Maritime Administration, which found that “LNG offers significant benefits within local communities by reducing criteria pollutants and improving health outlook.

However, global impacts are dominated by releases of the short-lived climate pollutant, methane.”

But in California, “We always insist that near-zero trucks be fueled with renewable natural gas,” Lyou notes. “It might not be an ideal situation,” he notes, but “In the end, there are no perfect solutions.”

Jesse Marquez, founder and president of Communities for Safe Environment, points to zero-emission trucks already available that can service the Los Angeles Basin.

“There are a minimum of eight ZE Class VIII Drayage Trucks that can all travel a minimum of 100 miles in a day,” he said.

They can service UP’s ICTF railyard within 5 miles of the port, as well as rail yards in East Los Angeles and Commerce 20 miles north on the I-710. They can’t do everything diesel trucks can do. But they can do much of what needs to be done, if there was a proactive plan to make use of them.

The questions raised by Marquez and Havenick could be answered if California had the kind of leadership and planning approach that the Joe Biden Administration seems to promise.

But that’s simply not the state that the State of California is in.

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom, on Feb. 23, signed into law a comprehensive package of immediate actions that will speed needed relief to individuals, families and businesses suffering the most significant economic hardship due to COVID-19.

The package builds on the initiatives in Newsom’s January state budget proposal to provide cash relief to lower-income Californians, increase aid to small businesses and provide license renewal fee waivers to businesses impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, the action commits additional resources for critical child care services and funds emergency financial aid for community college students.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/NewsomCOVIDRelief, http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

By Lyn Jensen, Columnist

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, on Feb. 23, voted unanimously to approve two proposals by Supervisor Janice Hahn to improve Los Angeles County’s response to calls about threats of suicide and mental health crises.

The first motion directs the county to cosponsor the Miles Hall Lifeline Act — otherwise known as Assembly Bill 988. This motion is coauthored by Hahn and Supervisor Kathryn Barger. AB 988 begins the process of designating “9-8-8” as the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Hotline and will help enable non-law enforcement mental health professional response to mental health crises. The nationwide 9-8-8 system is set to be in place by summer 2022.

The second motion takes action now to prevent suicide in the county. The Didi Hirsch counselors who operate the suicide prevention hotline used in the county are specifically trained to provide emotional support over the phone to people in suicidal crisis. However, they don’t have the ability to dispatch psychiatric mobile response units. The second motion connects Didi Hirsch’s suicide prevention counselors to the LA County Department of Mental Health Help Line to dispatch mobile response teams with trained mental health professionals to assist a person experiencing a mental health crisis in-person.

Prying Out Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney, appointing me as agent for her healthcare decisions, but not “personal” or financial decisions.

After taking the precaution of making a photocopy, I put the original in a bright blue folder and instructed her to leave it on the kitchen table where it might be seen by emergency responders.

She still balked at signing a physician order for life-sustaining treatment, but I put one in the folder, too, thinking we’d return to that subject later. Before I could bring the subject up again, the blue folder and contents disappeared. She denied knowing anything about it.

A year later I found her collapsed on the floor. This time I told the hospital to send her to a dementia-care facility that accepted difficult patients. The care facility insisted on having a power of attorney for healthcare. Figuratively I crossed my fingers and handed over the photocopy.

It was accepted. If it hadn’t been, or hadn’t existed, I don’t even want to think of the alternative.

5

Dystopian Gaslighting

Emerging from the orange fog of false conspiracies

By James Preston Allen, Publisher

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

I actually know some fairly rational citizens who, because of their diet of social media and fake news sources, are still not quite certain that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election 45 days after he was sworn in. My only advice for them is change your diet because you are being gaslighted. It’s ongoing and persistent. That’s the way the “big lie” persists. If you repeat false information often enough, even the liar himself believes the lie. And so it is with the Loser of the Last Election as evidenced by what he said at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference in Florida on Feb. 28. Daily Kos reporter David Neiwert reported on this phenomenon recently.

“If you watched Republicans on the Sunday news talk shows this weekend, you could be forgiven if you experienced a surreal, out-of-body feeling seeing every Republican official invited on for interviews claim, without a scintilla of evidence, that the November presidential election was stolen by Joe Biden. Even worse, they did so with zero pushback from their network hosts.”

The problem is twofold. First, conservative media, like Fox News, and its offspring, including Newsmax and The Epoch Times reiterate the lie of the “stolen election.” This lie picks up momentum when it goes through the echo chamber of social media and then continually referenced by clearly partisan sources. Then the mainstream media, attempting to be “fair” gives Republican defenders of the Lost Cause equal time, with reporters never challenging what they know to be false. This, of course, causes doubt in some people’s minds as to what is and isn’t the truth.

In his analysis, Neiwert explains how conservatives are attempting to whitewash and downplay the Jan. 6 insurrection.

“In those moments, you could see the various strands of right-wing narrative regarding the Jan. 6 insurrection in the U.S. Capitol coming together into a cohesive, up-is-down gas lighting narrative, building an alternative universe that is likely to form the core of Republican politics for the next four years and more. It’s an old rhetorical sleight of hand that has a long history of use by American conservatives: they call it ‘waving the bloody shirt’.”

The problem is that if you thought the Golden Don told some whoppers (close to 30,573 according the Washington Post fact checker) while in office, what he said at the CPAC conference was even worse after his followers raided our national capital attempting to illegally stop the certification of the vote

and to steal the election by force of arms. This will be proven to be the last desperate attempt to throw the election.

We’ve all seen the pictures. Some of you watched it in horror in real time. It’s why the U.S. Congress rushed to impeach a second time as they were right there threatened by the mob, there wasn’t any need to investigate this act of insurrection. The intent of the insurgents was to capture both the Speaker of the House and Vice President Mike Pence, perhaps killing them and thus suspending the certification of the vote.

Let’s just be clear, this was treason against our democracy, our Constitution and the only fraud that amounted to anything was the 60 some odd lawsuits filed by Republicans to change the vote after the November election. That’s just not how it’s done — at least not in America, thankfully.

And yet he continued to boast, “I got more votes — I got more — and which is me — when I say ‘I,’ I’m talking about we. We— we got more votes than any incumbent, any incumbent president in the history of our country, almost 75 million votes.” This, of course, is some convenient B.S. since the former president doesn’t mention the 81,283,361 Biden got.

He lost in the Electoral College vote by the same margins that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 –­ – 306 to 232, and there was no intelligence report of foreign interference in this election. Even the former president’s claims of election fraud were debunked by Christopher Krebs, former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, who has been one of the most vocal government officials debunking baseless claims about election manipulation, particularly addressing a conspiracy theory centered on Dominion Voting Systems machines that Republicans have pushed. Krebs got fired for doing his job right after the election.

Even FBI director, Christopher Wray, who testified in Congress this week, reported that of the 257 people charged with federal offenses to date, 33 allegedly belonged to anti-government militia groups and other far-right groups, according to a new report released by George Washington University’s Program on Extremism.

Wray was asked repeatedly whether the FBI had any evidence that the attack was organized by “fake Trump protesters,” left-wing anti-fascists and anarchists.

“We have not, to date, seen any evidence of anarchist violent extremists or people subscribing to ‘antifa’ in connection with the 6th,” Wray

March 4 - 17, 2021

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

6

Assoc. Publisher/Production Coordinator Suzanne Matsumiya

“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.”

—Mark Twain Vol. XLII : No. 5

Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communities of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at over 300 locations throughout the Harbor Area.

Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks editor@randomlengthsnews.com Senior Editor Paul Rosenberg paul.rosenberg@ randomlengthsnews.com Internship Program Director Zamná Àvila

said. “That doesn’t mean we’re not looking and will continue to look. But at the moment, we have not seen that.”

Still, our nation is suffering a kind of Post Trump Stress Disorder after four years of gaslighting,

fake news and phony conspiracies. And­emerging from the orange fog of delusion will take some time. But unlike the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no vaccine against delusional thinking but the cure against fake news is still the truth!

Republican Hypocrisy is No Reason to Support Neera Tanden

By Norman Solomon

Editor’s note: On March 2, Neera Tanden requested to be withdrawn from consideration for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Even still, Norman Solomon’s critique of Tanden’s nomination and not falling for the sleight-of-hand tactics that allow for anti-progressive picks into important positions of power in the Joe Biden administration is still relevant and important.

Most corporate media outlets have depicted President Joe Biden’s effort to win Senate confirmation of Neera Tanden as a battle to overcome Republican hypocrisy about her “mean tweets,” name-calling and nasty partisanship. But there are very important reasons to prevent Tanden from becoming the Office of Management and Budget director. They have nothing to do with her nasty tweets and everything to do with her political orientation.

Tanden has a record as one of the most anti-progressive operators among Democratic Party movers and shakers. Long enmeshed with corporate elites, she has been vehemently hostile to the Bernie Sanders wing of the party. Progressive activists have ample cause to be alarmed at the prospect of her becoming Office of Management and Budget

Columnists/Reporters Melina Paris Staff Reporter Hunter Chase Staff Reporter Send Calendar Items to: 14days@randomlengthsnews.com Photographers Arturo Garcia-Ayala, Terelle Jerricks, Raphael Richardson, Chris Villanueva Contributors B. Noel Barr, Richard Foss, Mark Friedman, Lyn Jensen, Norman Solomon Cartoonists Andy Singer, Jan Sorensen, Matt Wuerker

director — one of the most powerful and consequential positions in the entire executive branch.

Yet, some leaders of left-leaning groups have bought into spin that carefully ignores Tanden’s fervent embrace of corporate power and touts her as eminently suitable for the Office of Management and Budget job. Media coverage has been a key factor. The newspaper owned by the richest person on the planet, Jeff Bezos, is a good example.

With the Tanden battle intensifying last weekend, the Washington Post launched an opinion spree to defend her while repeatedly expressing alarm and indignation that she might not be confirmed. The day after news broke that Tanden’s nomination was in serious trouble, the newspaper’s barrage started with a piece by right-wing pundit Hugh Hewitt, who urged Senate Republicans “to forgive the small stuff and encourage the recruitment of talent.” That was on a Saturday.

On the following Monday, the Post’s editorial board weighed in, proclaiming the newspaper’s official position: “Yes, Ms. Tanden has been undiplomatic,” but hypocritical GOP senators had approved Donald Trump’s nominees who were [See Tanden, p. 7]

Design/Production Suzanne Matsumiya, Brenda Lopez

Address correspondence regarding news items and tips to Random Lengths News, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733-0731, or email: editor@randomlengthsnews.com.

Advertising Sales Chris Rudd Chris@RandomLengthsNews.com

Send Letters to the Editor to james@randomlengthsnews.com. To be considered for publication, letters must be signed with address and phone number (for verification purposes) and be about 250 words.

Editorial Interns Ruby Cherie Munoz, Iracema Navarro, Julio Tejada Display advertising (310) 519-1442 Classifieds (310) 519-1016 Fax: (310) 832-1000 www.randomlengthsnews.com Random Lengths News office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731

For advertising inquiries or to submit advertising copy, email: rlnsales@randomlengthsnews.com.

Annual subscription is $40 for 27 issues.

Back issues are available for $3/copy while supplies last.

Random Lengths News presents issues from an alternative perspective. We welcome articles and opinions from all people in the Harbor Area. While we may not agree with the opinions of contributing writers, we respect and support their 1st Amendment right. Random Lengths News is a member of Standard Rates and Data Services and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. (ISN #0891-6627).

All contents Copyright 2021 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.

RANDOMLetters In Responses to “Dark Propaganda Strategy”

I would like to respond to a recent Feb. 18 article, “The Dark Propaganda Strategy…” published

by Random Length News about The Epoch Times sample paper.

First of all, The Epoch Times is one of my favorite publications.

The paper includes inspiring articles about health, well-being, and traditional culture. They provide balanced and honest reporting, while highlighting world issues rarely reported in any other newspaper.

I believe their articles are well-researched.

Therefore, labeling The Epoch Times as having a “conspiracy theory” or “propaganda” is unfortunate, especially without facts to back up the claim.

The paper reports truthfully about the Chinese Communist Party, whose tyrannical regime has persecuted millions of Chinese people with torture, death, imprisonment, organ harvesting, and more.

Finally, making statements that The Epoch Times is “fake news” or the “arm of Falun Gong”

[Tanden, from p. 6]

Tanden even nastier, and the Senate should confirm her.

Dafa … As individual practitioners you can support whoever you’d like. That’s how it works.”).

To conclude, I hope you understand that there is a lot more to Falun Gong than its affiliation with The Epoch Times, and that The Epoch Times’ excesses do not justify bias against Falun Gong generally. It is a peaceful spiritual practice that has given purpose, and improved health and well-being, to millions of people around the world. There are a lot of good people who have endured terrible persecution, who have lost loved ones in many cases, and who have been subjected to decades of hateful propaganda in China. They do not deserve constant negative depictions in the US press too.

John Moran Portland, Maine I have no problem with a publication taking an anticommunist stance or one that’s simply opposed the Chinese Communist Party. I have no bias for or against Falun Gong. The movement is relevant because it is connected to The Epoch Times and The Epoch Times and the movement have similar goals. At issue is the nature of reporting on American politics in The Epoch Times. If you’re the sort of person who only reads The Epoch Times to the exclusion of all other mainstream media, particularly traditional media sources i.e. Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, [See Letters, p. 8]

March 4 - 17, 2021

Norman Solomon is the national director of Roots Action.org and the author of many books including War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death. He was a Bernie Sanders delegate from California to the 2016 and 2020 Democratic National Conventions. Solomon is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy.

on the conduct of some of its individual followers is misleading and unfair. I can assure you there are Falun Gong practitioners who disagree with The Epoch Times ’ practices, including pro-Trump activities you mention in the article.

To be clear, support for Trump or “far-right” politics is not part of Falun Gong teachings. To the contrary, Falun Gong’s founder, Li Hongzhi, has consistently taught that Falun Gong (“Dafa”) should have nothing to do with politics, including in some of the practice’s most important texts. (See, e.g., “No Demonstrations When Saving People and Teaching Fa” (from Zhuan Falun Volume II) available at https://en.falundafa.org/eng/ html/zfl2/zfl2.htm#_ftnref2 (“A cultivator will not take an interest in politics, lest he be a politician, not a cultivator”); “Cultivation Practice is Not Political,” (from Essentials for Further Advancement), available at https:// en.falundafa.org/eng/jjyz49.htm (“...We should not get involved in politics… a cultivator will not be interested in politics or political power of any sort; failing this, he absolutely isn’t my disciple.”); (https://en.falundafa.org/eng/ lectures/20030215L-full.html) (“… our Dafa as a whole doesn’t get involved in politics, and we can’t do anything political in the name of Dafa … If an individual practitioner wants to support someone, that’s his personal business and it doesn’t represent

regularity. It is unconscionable that the rare exception to that norm might be based on feelings hurt by imprudent tweets and suggests that senators vote more on egos than substance.”

I contacted Hauser for clarification, since it seemed that he was using the hypocrisy of Senate Republicans to justify support for Tanden’s nomination. In effect, he appeared to be adding some drops of WD-40 to the hinges on the particular revolving door that Tanden is trying to move through.

When I asked Hauser if he supported confirmation of Tanden and whether he considered her to be part of the revolving-door phenomenon, he replied: “We oppose the arguments actually endangering her confirmation, which are from [Sen. Joe] Manchin and [Sen. Susan] Collins and the like and hold that it makes sense to confirm the likes of Richard Grenell and Brett Kavanaugh but not Neera Tanden. But we do not lobby, so we do not formally urge votes one way or another once a person is actually nominated for a job.”

Hauser added: “I don’t think Tanden is ‘revolving door,’ but I stand by the concerns I raised about CAP fundraising in the Washington Post.”

Ironically, the Post news article that Hauser was citing, published in December 2020, scrutinized Tanden’s longtime corporate entanglements via her Center for American Progress and reported: “Founded in 2003 by allies of Bill and Hillary Clinton, the center is widely viewed as a Democratic administration-in-waiting, with a revolving door between the think-tank and the White House.”

At RootsAction, which has been working to defeat Neera Tanden’s nomination, my colleague Jeff Cohen has a very different perspective than what can be heard from Tanden’s enablers: “We’ve opposed Tanden not because of her ‘mean tweets’ but because of her close funding relationships with corporate titans and foreign governments. What’s stunning is the silence from Senate Democrats about the potential conflicts of interest raised by her decade of aggressive fundraising from powerful interests.”

That kind of silence, whether from the U.S. Senate or from big-budget progressive groups, could dangerously help the Biden administration to do its worst instead of its potential best.

Your recent article, “The Dark Propaganda Strategy of Epoch Times,” is inaccurate in certain respects and seems biased against the Falun Gong spiritual practice.

First, you describe Falun Gong as “a controversial spiritual movement which has been banned in China.” It’s true that Falun Gong is banned in China, but your description is so incomplete as to be misleading. Especially given the negative tone of the rest of your article, it implies that Falun Gong practitioners must have done something to deserve being banned. In fact, Falun Gong is an entirely peaceful spiritual practice, which the Chinese government has brutally persecuted just because it perceived Falun Gong’s popularity as a threat to the ruling regime’s authority.

(See generally the Report of the Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China (https:// chinatribunal.com/final-judgmentreport/).

Also, you inaccurately conflate The Epoch Times with Falun Gong generally. I know that the Epoch Times is controversial, and it is true that some Falun Gong followers run The Epoch Times . But it is wrong to attribute the Epoch Times’ words or conduct to Falun Gong generally, as you do by falsely stating that Falun Gong spreads “fake news” and has “link[ed] arms with far-right groups around the world.” Such a guilt-by-association smear against an entire spiritual practice based

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

By then, the national media mold was set, and countless words quickly poured into it — including six more pro-Tanden pieces that the Post published in the next two days. On the next Tuesday, the Tanden defenders were staff columnists Greg Sargent and Karen Tumulty as well as the paper’s chief political correspondent Dan Balz. On Wednesday, staff columnists Dana Milbank and Jennifer Rubin shared the polemical duties with feminist author Jill Filipovic.

The Post’s writers denounced conservative objections to confirming Tanden as director of Office of Management and Budget, which the newspaper has aptly described as “the nerve center of the federal government.” Meanwhile, there was no space for substantive criticism of Tanden; the paper’s opinion section didn’t offer a pixel with a contrary outlook, let alone a progressive critique.

Much of the left has a strong aversion to Tanden.

Days ago, Common Dreams reported on “her history of pushing cuts to Social Security, disparaging Medicare for All and other popular ideas, and raising money from massive corporations.” As president of the Center for American Progress, she sought and received between $1.5 million and $3 million in donations from the United Arab Emirates monarchy; later, the center remained silent about a bipartisan congressional resolution to end the U.S. government’s assistance to the continual Saudi-United Arab Emirates warfare killing huge numbers of Yemeni civilians.

But some progressive organizations have voiced support for Tanden’s nomination, turning a blind eye to such matters as her close fundraising ties with corporate elites, Big Tech, Wall Street, Walmart, health insurers and military contractor Northrop Grumman.

Yet, ties like that would create foreseeable conflicts of interest in the top Office of Management and Budget job, which oversees regulatory processes across the federal government.

It was not a good sign when a usually laudable progressive organizer told CNN viewers that Tanden should be confirmed. And — given Tanden’s record of opposing Medicare for All, opposing a $15 federal minimum wage and advocating for collaboration with Republican leaders in potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — something is seriously amiss when a leading advocate for women’s health rights urges confirmation.

In a tweet last week, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League’s president Ilyse Hogue called Tanden “a committed progressive” and added: “How about assessing her work, competence and vision instead [of] the tone [of] her tweets? Stop sinking good women because they are outspoken.”

Oddly, the director of the excellent Revolving Door Project, Jeff Hauser, publicly defended Tanden days ago, telling the New York Times: “The last decade has seen mediocre or worse cabinet appointments rubber-stamped by the Senate with

appears to be far reaching, to have little grounds for publishing.

Why find fault with a publication like The Epoch Times trying to spread honest news in the world?

Why label it as a company run by Falun Dafa? The Epoch Times is a business. Falun Dafa is a mediation. They are two totally different things.

As a Canadian who believes in our country’s values of rights and freedoms, I wholeheartedly believe this paper is exactly what Canada needs.

Jesse Nuytten Surrey, British Columbia

7

RANDOMLetters

[Letters, from p. 7]

the New York Times, CNN, BBC, or Al Jazeera, then your view of the world is probably warped and is likely as much of a threat to democracy and this republic as the ones who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation’s capitol.

Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

Hit and Run Feb. 20

On Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 at 7:25 p.m., Babie (my dog) and I were walking down Grand Avenue for a regular evening walk when a white vehicle hit us while we were crossing 16th Street. It happened very fast, whoever was driving tried to brake but it was too late. I was hit on my left side causing me to roll onto the hood and windshield as the vehicle came to a complete stop, I was thrown to the pavement. Babie then ran over to help me when the vehicle ran both of us over, killing her and somehow leaving me alive with scrapes and bruises and with tire tracks across my upper body. Again, this happened on Feb. 20 at 7:25 p.m. on 16th Street and Grand. The Vehicle was traveling west, crossing at Grand Avenue towards Gaffey at high speed where I think it turned right. If anyone has any information about this incident, please call 310-982-5402.

Patrick Eldred San Pedro

Death Penalty for the Seditionists?

Thoughts on Returning to In-Person Instruction

The Long Beach Unified School Board is listening to the business community instead of their teachers and the parents they serve in sending teachers and students back into classrooms while the pandemic continues to rage. Although many doctors question the CDC’s decision that teachers don’t need to be vaccinated before going back, there are still questions based on science that the school board ignores.

Scientists now tell us that the number one way the virus is transmitted is by persons who are asymptomatic themselves. That means that all the district’s efforts to take the temperatures of every student and staff member every day with faulty thermometers do nothing in preventing the spread of the virus. Even if teachers got the vaccine (1500 of the more than 25,000 employees have received at least the first dose), there would be nothing to prevent students and teachers from transmitting the virus back to loved ones.

The district has selectively listened to the CDC. They have not mentioned the fact that the CDC has said that teachers who fall into the more dangerous categories (based upon age, lung compromised health, or immune deficiencies) should be given the option to continue virtual teaching from home. Nor has the district dealt with the fact that many schools have inadequate ventilation systems. The staff of my school, Jackie Robinson, had been slated to go to Butler this year so that our ventilation system could be fixed. Now they want us to go back into Robins with its inadequate system with the youngest children

who are least likely to be able to keep their masks on.

Even without the COVID-19 crisis, moving to another school would have been a costly upheaval, costing taxpayers millions of dollars just for bussing students alone. Why didn’t the district take advantage of this time off to have the construction companies, desperate for work, to fix the situation while we were at home most of this year?

When we return, our students will not have practiced a fire drill in over a year. When students leave my classroom, they walk shoulder to shoulder with students from two or three other classrooms through a narrow passage between a fence and our bungalows. There is no way that we could possibly meet the time standards the fire department looks for—especially when you realize that even a reduced sized class of 17 would still be more than 100 feet long if the students were able to maintain 6 feet of distance while walking.

By the time a class is able to line up and go to a restroom, two boys and two girls at a time, half an hour of class time will be wasted (but now I give my students five minutes each hour to quickly use their home restrooms). Each time a student uses a toilet, it will be compromised. Will students be expected to clean the seats after each use themselves?

Much has been said in the last couple years about SEL (Social Emotional Learning). Many students nowadays have suffered from trauma. A nurse in the news recently reported that the most heart-wrenching thing they have witnessed during this pandemic is children apologizing to their dying loved ones for having brought them the disease. Since school will only last 2 1/2 hours, it will be vulnerable grandparents who will often be called upon to pick the children up from school. How will a student’s SEL be affected when they grow up knowing that it was their “I’m done with school today” hug that killed grandma?

Why is it always up to workers to be the grownups in the room? What has happened to “leaders” in this country? What ever happened to an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure?

Editor’s Note: On Feb. 24 Random Lengths News received another letter from Mr. Weeks, below, in regard to teachers in the COVID-19 high-risk category.

Features:

Environmental Coverage

Just wanted to forward this to you. When I noted to my principal that the CDC recommended giving teachers in high risk categories the option of doing virtual teaching, I was sent this. It is a packet that I assume was created long before the pandemic, and does not address those identified as “high risk” during the pandemic.

When I mentioned the fact that older Americans who have contracted COVID have 15 times the mortality rate of younger Americans, I was told that the district could not discriminate based upon age. Really? Protecting older teachers because they are more at risk of dying is discriminating against them? It is time to go public with this.

Bill Weeks, Teacher, Robinson Academy Long Beach Unified School District

The Pedestrian’s Accessing Royal Palms Beach Enter Into Harm’s Way

There is nothing I or anyone else can do. In the matter to convince the Los Angeles Department of Harbors and Beaches (who operate there), we the public must have a 5-foot wide sidewalk adjacent to the roadway. We must get people off the road and onto a safe surface to avoid being struck by motor vehicles.

The once casual and low volume beach playground has become a meeting place for thousands of visitors on weekends. No longer a safe and friendly place, it has become a meeting place for young intoxicated youths who have recklessly driven up the road at high speeds; and a place for young inner-city families with children who have visited the park unsuspectingly the first time; plac(ing) their lives at the hands of speeders! Because there is no sidewalk, no escape from a speeder.

My pleas are for the families, children and older citizens who walk, unsuspecting of the dangers that lurk upon a roadway that (do) not meet Federal or City Safe Road Standards. The county ignores my requests, but these officials obviously have never

Earth Day News & Events

[See Letters, p. 15]

Going Green Options

March 4 - 17, 2021

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

Although I am not a fan of capital punishment, I would make an exception in this case.

Fewer than 45 GOP senators opposed Trump’s impeachment. The 46th President is here, with 50 senators who represent 41 million more people than the other 50 senators. I pray that the Grim Reaper finds himself in a swamp drowning.

Unity with Nazis, skinheads, Proud Boys, KKK, Lincoln Project and Trumpers, is not an aspiration of mine.

The morning after Angela Davis’ 77th birthday... I

want to ask the 700 to 800 folks walking around the Capitol building on Jan. 6, “hanging or shooting?

(Guilt of sedition is the death penalty.)

Murder charges should be realized against all the rioters who barged their way in the Capitol. Guilt of the murder charge should be upon all of the shoulders who reached the doorways by violence.

P.S. Fuck Daniel Bredkenridge. I’m an Okie.

Mark A. Nelson San Pedro

8

SIGN UP TODAY:

310.519.1442

rlnsales@randomlengthsnews.com REAL PEOPLE. REAL NEWS. REALLY EFFECTIVE. CONTACT | RLNSALES@RANDOMLENGTHSNEWS.COM | 310-519-1442 1300 S. PACIFIC AVE., SAN PEDRO, CA 90731 I RANDOMLENGTHSNEWS.COM

By B. Noel Barr, Music Columnist

“If you’re terrified of offending everybody, you usually say nothing.

I never did that from the beginning. I’m not gonna do that now.”

— Ed Pearl the Southland to hear these legendary musicians of folk, country, blues and various ethnic music styles.

Dave Alvin of The Blasters in his song, Ash Grove speaks to the vibration we all got when we went to The Ash Grove, to sit at the feet of these musicians, “To watch them raise ghosts right out of their graves.”

I was one of those kids. In my case, I hitchhiked up to Los Angeles from the Harbor Area to hear the old bluesmen play.

I wasn’t alone, as I learned the first time Ed and I spoke. Dave and Phil Alvin, Katy Segal (actor/singer), Ry Cooder and Linda Ronstadt all did the same thing. We wanted to hear music that was authentic and real. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards would roll in and catch sets of their favorite bluesmen while they resided in the Hollywood Hills. Careers were started at The Ash Grove where various members of one-day popular bands would meet playing folk or blues music.

What I admired about Ed was his bold courage and commitment to the artists he booked. This was music you searched out, The Ash Grove was where you would find it.

Ed would produce a dozen major plays for The San Francisco Mime Troupe (1978-84), The Credibility Gap (Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Gene Chandler singer/ songwriter). The Ash Grove presented an anti-war documentary by Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.

The Ash Grove was home for social-political causes [See Pearl, p. 12]

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

There are some people whose destiny is born in the heart on a path that never strays. Ed Pearl was one such man, I’m glad to have known him, if only briefly. Yet, he had affected three-quarters of my life. The type of work I engage in today is mainly because of Ed Pearl.

Producer, social activist, owner of the iconic Ash Grove performance venues and founder of The Ash Foundation, Ed Pearl died due to complications from COVID-19 and pneumonia on Feb. 7, 2021. (Obituaries RLN 02/18/2021) Edward Morton Pearl grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was in the middle of five children, whose parents fled Russia during a time of Jewish persecution in the early 1900s.

The East Los Angeles neighborhood was ethnically and racially diverse, where sounds and ideas across cultures melted together. Ed’s older sister Bernice presented hootenannies — folk music gatherings — in the family home. Bluesman Brownie Mcghee would be one of the artist guests in the Pearl household.

In my work at Random Lengths News, I had the opportunity to meet and interview the music venue owner.

We talked about the then-upcoming 50th anniversary of The Ash Grove Celebration that took place on the UCLA campus. Ed regaled me with stories of the historic nightclub and the talented artists who were upcoming music talent of the day. Traveling from all over

March 4 - 17, 2021

Ed Pearl, activist and founder of The Ash Grove. Graphic by Brenda Lopez

9

T

March 4 - 17, 2021

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

he sign over the door at La Bocca Felice reads “Dove il mare incontra la terra,” where the sea meets the land, and that’s appropriate for an Italian seafood restaurant in this location. San Pedro was one of the most productive fisheries in the world in the early 20th century with boats that were mainly crewed

by Italians, and that language was once heard more often on these streets than English. Most fish that arrive in San Pedro now are in shipping containers rather than from our own boats, but it’s still a place where land and sea traffic converge.

The food those fishermen ate a hundred years ago was simpler than what you’d get at La Bocca Felice, but has some similarities in flavor because the restaurant’s owner adores Italian tradition.

This may seem unusual since Nima Karimi was born in Iran and grew up in Norway, but the proof is on the plates. Somebody somewhere is probably making Norwegian-Italian fusion cuisine, but it’s not here.

The interior is decorated in classic style, but like everywhere else operating legally, at the moment dining is outside. They have a large space along Centre Street and a few tables along Sixth; I’d recommend the ones on Center that are more level and quieter. The chairs are metal and not particularly comfortable, so bring a pillow if you are not personally well-padded.

Our server brought some light tomato and herb focaccia to snack on while we studied the menu. Make sure you learn about the specials before deciding, because on any given day there are several. The list here isn’t long, but includes a variety of starters, pizzas, pastas and meat and seafood plates. On our first visit we over-ordered because we had heard that portions were on the small side, but if that was ever a problem, it

10

La Bocca Felice Will Put a Smile on Your Face

By Richard Foss, Dining Columnist and Food Critic

La Bocca Felice restaurateur, Nimo Karimi in the doorway of his restaurant shortly before its grand opening this past October 2020. Karimi is also proprietor of Sebastian’s Mediterranean Cuisine. Photo by Arturo Ayala-Garcia

isn’t now. My wife and I accidentally ordered enough for at least three people, but we weren’t complaining when we enjoyed the leftovers the next day.

We started with a daily special of seafood soup, a lightly creamy herbed broth packed with clams, mussels, fish, scallops and shrimp. To say this was a welcome starter on a cold evening is a massive understatement, because it hit every

hearty and warming note. I could have happily had a big bowl as a main course, and I hope they keep this on the menu.

The next item to arrive was a pizza topped with pancetta, Yukon potato slices, rosemary and garlic. The bacon and potatoes made this item reminiscent of an American breakfast on a crust, and a good one. The crust was thin and had a bit of sourdough flavor and a nice rise, and it was substantial enough to be an entrée by itself. We each had a slice while it was hot and fresh, and saved the rest for breakfast because our entrées arrived unexpectedly quick. This may have been an error in the ordering process or kitchen timing, but however it happened it was a disappointment because we had planned to luxuriate in a

leisurely dinner with a few glasses of wine.

Next time, we’ll order each course only after the previous one has arrived or make sure the server understands our preferences. The owner apologized and offered to comp some items, which we appreciated.

We had ordered linguine with shrimp in pesto sauce, short rib pasta and a daily special of roasted local sea bass with baby potatoes and Italian broccoli. Our server highly recommended the seafood items when we asked about specialties, and though we had three of them in the course of one meal each was in a different sauce and preparation. The seabass was a large portion that had been subtly seasoned and cooked to perfect flakiness, then put over creamy, fragrant saffron sauce. The sauce was so good that I almost asked for more focaccia so I could mop up every bit.

The pesto sauce on the linguine was subtle and creamy with enough pepper to give it a slight kick, plus – and this is unusual in some regions of Italy – a sprinkling of cheese. It completely made sense in the context of the flavors, but while Italians in some regions enjoy the combination, others won’t put cheese on seafood items even if customers request it. If you are in the traditionalist faction, let your server know, but you will be missing something excellent.

The pappardelle with short rib ragu was housemade, and the wide, thick noodles were the right vehicle for the thick sauce. There were big chunks of tender meat and the portion was generous, so much of that rich dish went home to be enjoyed later.

La Bocca Felice has a well-chosen and reasonably priced wine list, but while ordering starters we became curious about a pair of cocktails on their list. It may not be traditional to pair Italian food with whiskey-based cocktails, but the Old Pirate and Beacon Street Bourbon were well-balanced and expertly made. With the main courses I asked for a glass of wine that would pair with the seafood, and was surprised when he brought a Trefethen Chardonnay. I had [See Smile, p. 11]

[Smile, from p. 10]

Coco Robot Brings Food and Controversy

Smile

expected a more minerally Italian wine, but the Californian fruity, lightly oaky style wine worked quite well.

For dessert we had crisp cannoli with a filling that accented the cheesiness of the ricotta and had a hint of citron, a perfect finish to the meal.

While we enjoyed dessert I eyed a banner advertising family meals at remarkably low prices, with a full dinner for two starting at only $22. We decided to order their “Premier” family pack, which included a pasta, salad, salmon with roasted potatoes, and dessert for $36. Once again

A pizza topped with pancetta, Yukon potato slices, rosemary and garlic. File photos

the portions were generous, plenty for two people who like to eat. We substituted linguine alfredo for the standard short rib pasta, which may not have been the best choice because alfredo sauce is at its best when fresh from the kitchen. Even after a while in the container it was still quite good, having lost a bit of the silkiness of the sauce as it cooled, but the flavor still was spot on.

The salmon was prepared as deftly as the seabass had been a few days before, and the salad had a housemade dressing that had a lightly sweet

Tradition, variety and fast delivery or takeout—you get it all at Big Nick’s Pizza.

The best selection of Italian specialties include hearty calzones, an array of pastas and our amazing selection of signature pizzas. We are taking all safety precautions to protect our diners and staff.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on new developments. Call for fast delivery or to place a pick up order. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri.Sun. Big Nicks’ Pizza, 1110 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 310-732-5800, www.bignickspizza.com

BUONO’S AUTHENTIC PIZZERIA

Four San Pedro restaurants have started using Coco robots to deliver food, including Sebastian’s Mediterranean Cuisine, La Bocca Felice, San Pedro Brewing Co and A1 Imported Groceries & Deli. Nima Karimi, owner of La Bocca Felice and Sebastian’s, posted a video on Facebook saying that people have come into his restaurants and yelled at him over the robots, and accused him of stealing jobs. Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala

Details: 310-935-2135; bfelice.com

CONRAD’S MEXICAN GRILL

Conrad’s reflects the cuisine of Oaxaca with a focus fresh on local, seasonal ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now Conrad’s features Peruvian dishes, as well as an inventive Mexican vegetarian and vegan menu. Dine outdoors or order online for curbside pick up and delivery. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. S. Conrad’s Mexican Grill, 376.

W. 6th St., San Pedro • 424-264-5452, www.conradsmexicangrill.com

HAPPY DINER #1

Built on the success of Happy Diner #1, Happy Diner #2 offers American favorites like omelets and burgers, fresh salads, plus pasta and Mexican dishes are served. Order online for delivery or call for curbside pickup. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Happy Diner #2, 1931 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 310-935-2933, www.happydinersp.com

HAPPY DELI

The Happy Deli is a small place with a big menu. Food is made-to-order using the freshest ingredients. Breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches include a small coffee. For lunch or dinner select from fresh salads, wraps, buffalo wings, cold and hot sandwiches, burgers and dogs. Order online or call for takeout or delivery.

Hours: Mon. - Sat. 6 am. to 8 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Happy Deli, 530 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 424-364-0319, www.happydelisp.com

SAN PEDRO BREWING COMPANY

A micro brewery and American grill, SPBC features hand-

crafted awardwinning ales and lagers served with creative pastas, BBQ, sandwiches, salads and burgers.

Order your growlers, house drafts and cocktails to go (with food purchase)! Open daily 12 to 8 p.m. for al fresco dining, takeout and delivery through Grubhub, Postmates and Doordash. San Pedro Brewing Company, 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro, 310-831-5663, www.sanpedrobrewing.com

WEST COAST PHILLY’S

Welcome to West Coast Philly’s Cheesesteak and Hoagies where authentic Philly cheesesteaks meet the waterfront in San Pedro. Along with serving the classic cheesesteak, West Coast Philly’s puts its unique twist on its cheesesteaks and hoagies. Also on the menu are subs, burgers, wings and salads. Order online or call for pickup in the rear parking lot or delivery via Postmates, Doordash and Grubhub. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. West Coast Philly’s, 1902 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, 424-264-5322, www.westcoastphillys.com

Support Independent Restaurants • Dining Guide online: www.randomlengthsnews.com/dining-guide [See Calendar, page 16]

March 4 - 17, 2021

The Happy Diner #1 in Downtown San Pedro isn’t your average diner. The selections range from Italian- and Mexicaninfluenced entrées to American Continental. Happy Diner chefs are always creating something new—take your pick of grilled salmon over pasta or tilapia and vegetables prepared any way you like. Dine al fresco or call for takeout. Hours: Mon.-Wed. 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Happy Diner #1, 617 S. Centre St., San Pedro, 310-241-0917, www.happydinersp.com

HAPPY DINER #2

Family owned and operated since 1965, Buono’s is famous for awardwinning brick oven baked pizza. Buono’s also offers classic Italian dishes and sauces based on tried-and-true family recipes and hand-selected fresh ingredients. Takeout, delivery and patio dining. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Buono’s Pizzeria, 222 W. 6th St., San Pedro, 310-547-0655, www.buonospizza.com

and fruity overtone that may have been from balsamic vinegar.

The panna cotta dessert with mango was a highlight, the fruit adding character to a dessert that is often just an excuse to eat gelatinized sweet cream. A wine pairing was offered, and the Ferrari Carano reserve Chardonnay was priced with a markup I’d expect from a liquor store rather than the higher rate typical at restaurants.

San Pedro has been a center for ItalianAmerican dining since the days when squareriggers shared the harbor with steamers and tuna canneries lined the waterfront. With three other Italian restaurants on the same block and more within a short stroll, any new Italian place has to have something special to offer. La Bocca Felice certainly does. The name means “the happy mouth,” and mine was happy indeed after both dining-in and to-go experiences.

La Bocca Felice is at 301 W. 6th St., San Pedro. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday . There is an adjacent parking lot, some vegetarian items. The prices are moderate, between $25 to $35 per person. Reservations accepted for patio dining.

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

BIG NICK’S PIZZA

Pappardelle with short rib ragu, a pasta dish with thick noodles and big chunks of meat.

11

MAR 4 - 17 • 2021 MUSIC March 5

San Pedro Strong Music Video Premiere Join the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Mixer and see the premiere of Grand Vision Foundation’s original music video.

San Pedro Strong is dedicated to “the city by the sea.” Composed, arranged and sung by locals, it brings together the beauty of San Pedro, the challenges of the pandemic and the voices of 16 singers, who sang the song individually at their homes. See the video, hear from some of the producers, do some business networking and get in on the raffle.

Time: 5 p.m. March 5 Cost: Free Details: grandvision.secure.force. com/ticket/san-pedro-strong The Carnival of the Animals Join the Los Angeles Philharmonic to explore composer Saint-Saëns’ colorful creatures, featuring animations, stories from around the world.

Time: 10 a.m. March 5 Price: Free Details: laphil.com/soundstage

March 4 - 17, 2021

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra’s Spring Concert The Fowler and UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music co-present the UCLA Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra’s Spring Concert. Led by renowned jazz musician Arturo O’Farrill, musicians will gather virtually to play compositions by Miguel Blanco, Adam O’Farrill, Guillermo Klein and Jason Lindner, as well as music from HBO Max’s Fandango at the Wall.

12

Time: 6 p.m. March 5 Cost: Free Details: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/141381490845

March 13

Michael Londra at Torrance Cultural Arts Experience Ireland through the sights, sounds and songs with Emmy® nominated, Irish singerproducer, Michael Londra. TOCA will be presenting the streaming event, “Ireland with Michael.” This unique event is part travelogue and part concert.

Time: 7 p.m. March 13 Cost: $25 Details: www.showtix4u.com/ event-details/michael-londra

THEATER March 6

Maestro de Barra Israel Galván is one of the world’s leading flamenco artists, described by The Evening Standard as “achieving the near impossible feat of embodying flamenco’s ‘duende,’ or demon, while avoiding clichés.” Galván will perform Maestro de Barra, a work of pure dance that is stripped of all the accoutrements usually associated with flamenco.

Time: 7 p.m. March 6 Cost: Free Details: https://online.cap.ucla. edu/

ART

March 4

San Pedro Armchair ArtWalk Women’s History Month The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, in collaboration with the

artists who have touched San Pedro with their artistry, announces the next Armchair ArtWalk Tour.

The public is invited to join a onehour virtual, interactive tour with some amazing women artists.

Time: 6 p.m. March 4 Cost: Free Details: https://tinyurl.com/ArmchairArtWalkTour Venue: Zoom

March 11

Conversation with Howardena Pindell Cassel Oliver, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, will speak with Pindell, a prolific artist and professor whose work spans decades. This event is hosted by Grand Central Art Center, CSU Fullerton, Begovich Gallery, and CSU Dominguez Hills.

Time: 5:30 p.m. March 11 Details: Register https://csudh. zoom.us/webinar/register/platform-events

FILM

March 4

Hemingway and Celebrity PBS SoCal and the Los Angeles Times will host a special virtual screening event focused on Hemingway and Celebrity. The hour-long discussion will feature filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick as well as journalist Lesley Blume and author Rachel Kushner in a conversation moderated

by LA Times journalist Patt Morrison for an intimate conversation exploring how celebrity influenced Ernest Hemingway’s art, among other aspects of his life.

Time: 5 p.m. March 4 Details: pbs.org/hemingwayevents

Ongoing

The Real Wāhine Of Hawai’i Pacific Islanders in Communications presents a line-up of films for the new season of its online shorts series, Pacific Pulse, fea-

turing Real Wāhine of Hawai’i.

Produced, filmed, edited and directed entirely by local women filmmakers in Hawai’i, these shorts are small time capsules showing glimpses of old Hawai‘i, local heroes long passed away, clips from favorite TV shows and films, as well as the much younger faces of some well-known local personalities.

Details: All films available on PIC’s YouTube Channel: https:// www.youtube.com/user/piccom1 and the series homepage, here https://www.piccom.org/pages/ pacific-pulse-1

March 10

The Fox Blondes Hollywood Heritage and The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will present a virtual tribute to The Fox Blondes—Alice Faye & Betty Grable. Featuring a CD release party of two forthcoming Sepia Records CDs which will include rare soundtrack songs from their films of the ‘30s and ‘40s.

Time: 7:30 p.m. Mar 10 Cost: $7.50 to 15 Details: www.hollywoodheritage. org/event-details/the-fox-blondes

COMMUNITY March 5

Creative Storytelling Workshops The Los Angeles County Library and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LACMA, are hosting a series of free virtual workshops and programs. Running every other week on Fridays through June, Creative Storytelling Workshops will feature a live story reading by a Los Angeles County Library librarian. The story will then be brought to life through a variety of expressive art activities led by a LACMA teaching artist.

Time: 4 p.m. March 5 Details: LACountyLibrary.org/ LACMAprograms

March 10

Self Help Graphics & Art Virtual Biennial Printmaking Summit Biennial Print Summit returns March 10 through 12. The Print Summit will be a three-day virtual event, highlighting the works of printmaking collectives and their practices with demonstrations. Registration is open through March 7.

Time: 10:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

March 10 Cost: $10 to $15

Details: http://bit.ly/2021-printsummit-registration, www.selfhelpgraphics.com/printmakingsummit

March 14

Chile – Land of the Ancients Gary Dukes, an avid collector of Tylecodons, Dudleyas, and many cacti, will present seven cacti and five succulent genera; including some geologic features and a two-minute unique drone video of a mountainous and a plateau site.

Dukes has more than 1,000 different species in his private collection, which can be viewed on his Instagram at garyduke53.

Time: 1:30 p.m. March 14 Details: southcoastcss.org Lomita Farmers Market Each week at the Lomita City Hall, farmers and vendors feature veggies, herb plants, berries, eggs, honey, strawberries, citrus, craft beer, French pastries, fresh breads, vegan pastries, acai bowls, kettle corn, hummus, tamales, loose leaf tea, fresh juice and more. Adherence to face coverings and social distancing are required.

Time: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Venue: 24300 Narbonne Ave., Lomita Details: www.LomitaFarmersMarket.com

[Pearl, from p. 9]

Pearl

as much it was for divergent music styles.

According to an essay by Carol Wells, “The Ash Grove hosted events and was a social meeting place for people involved in a variety of causes — from the Civil Rights to the Anti-Nuclear and emerging student movements. As the VietNam War deepened, he helped found the Peace & Freedom Party in 1967.”

As one friend told me once, “The Ash Grove was the living room to the left.”

It had its start at UCLA. When the then-blacklisted Pete Seeger was kept from performing on the campus, Ed took the show to the very large Presbyterian Church next door in Westwood. The show was sold out, the seed for The Ash Grove was planted.

From 1958 to its final shows in 1973 at the original location — later at the short-lived Santa Monica Pier location — the spirit of community was ever-present as a music venue as well as the focal point for the left.

“Ed was unabashed about his politics and it created enemies,” Wells said.

In the book Set The Night On Fire by Mike Davis and Jon Wiener, they talk of the fires that eventually lead to the closing of the Ash Grove in the chapter titled “The Ash Grove and The Gusanos” They describe a group of anti-Fidel Castro Cubans who made a clear declaration of war on anyone supporting the Havana regime. More than a

The Ash Grove in Pedro 1998 to 2000: In December 1998, Ed Pearl brought The Ash Grove, by then a nonprofit foundation, to San Pedro for a series of monthly concerts in the arts district. The community welcomed these shows wholeheartedly. Shown above is Big Jay McNeely blowing his sax at a location on Mesa Street. RLN photo archives

dozen sites were bombed in Los Angeles. Five during a single, three-hour period on July 19, 1968.

During this time, The Socialist Workers Party had been attacked by The Gusanos multiple times. The Social Workers Party moved their offices to the Ash Grove building on Melrose.

The Ash Grove burned down three times, in 1969, 1970 and 1973. Twice it came back strong, but by the third fire it was over.

“I dignified people’s culture and I brought ethnic musical heritage and culture to the people in Hollywood,” Ed said later.

He would try once more in Santa Monica, which would only last a year.

Ed kept moving on, eventually building the Ash Grove Foundation that continues to this day.

In all those years, he had

served and started multiple social and political groups.

In 1997, Ed Pearl was the recipient of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics’ “Culture of Liberation” award.

The award title comes from a quote from Amilar Cabral, “Culture contains the seed of opposition becoming the flower of liberation.”

Ed Pearl was a man of strong unshakeable conviction, he lived a life with art, and the possibilities of a better and equal tomorrow for all.

For all that you did brother, thank you.

B. Noel Barr, aka. The Music Writer Dude has covered the LA Harbor and Long Beach music scenes for Random Lengths News since 2011. Under the moniker Buzz Barr, B. Noel Barr has been heard on Kbeach with Kari at The Prime Spot, and later as Bobby The Wheel with Mike Stark’s LA Radio Sessions and Lunch at the Barr on www.hotmix106.com with live and recorded interviews and music.

The arts have an important place in the San Pedro Harbor Area, whether from artists who live and work here, the San Pedro Art walk or the many murals located throughout downtown. Now, it’s once again time for the Harbor Area’s annual celebration of film artistry. On March 18, festival director and founder Stephanie Mardesich announced the launch of the 18th annual LA Harbor International Film Festival, or LAHIFF, in front of epicurean sponsor The Whale & Ale in downtown San Pedro.

In the time of COVID-19, this year’s festival is going virtual.

Mardesich, noted that LAHIFF commemorates the 90th anniversary of the opening of the vintage art deco Warner Grand Theatre in historic downtown San Pedro that has been the main venue for the LAHIFF since 2004. The film festival also continues its partnership with NewFilmmakers Los Angeles featuring a Sunday afternoon matinee of 10 film shorts.

Mardesich also unveiled the official LAHIFF poster titled “Surfing the Cinematic Bridge,” with artistry inspired by LAHIFF’s closing documentary film, Endless Summer.

Virtual features on LAHIFF’s 2021 lineup include three classic films, a webinar and Q&A, all listed below with links.

March 13 Prog. C: New Filmmakers LA lahiff.eventive.org. Preregister at this link to view and for Q&A March 13, 7 p.m.

Prog. D: HNT Phantom Of The Opera, https://www.imdb.com/title/ tt0036261/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_45

Hyper Active, directed by Cory Reede, 6 minutes All his life Cory knew he was different, it just took him a little longer to figure out why. As he faces his recent adult ADHD diagnosis, he embarks on a quest to learn how several friends with disabilities continue to cope and how their journeys might impact his own.

The Disease, directed by Dara Safvatnia & Joan Joan Paül, 9 minutes A couple of siblings meet in front of the Hollywood sign after he has had a terrible audition.

A Burial, directed by Kevan Tucker, 11 minutes A young boy confronts his fears and ventures into the mysterious woods at night to find his lost dog.

Weep Not, directed by Lenore Thomas Douglas, 13 minutes A tale of one woman’s will to heal from an early childhood trauma after the passing of her best friend and confidant, her grandmother. In her attempt to rise above, Journey must make one critical life-altering choice, but can she decide before it’s too late?

Turtle, directed by Matt Kenchington, 10 minutes It was a blistering hot day, and, as a chubby kid on summer break, Bruno’s only goals were to avoid

his chores and stay cool while awaiting the sweet jingle of the ice cream truck.

After emerging victorious in his quest for frozen delights, things didn’t go as planned, and the sugar high only lasted so long. Whether it was the heat, the sugar crash or serendipity, he won’t ever know, but what happened next turned that day into one he could never forget.

Auxiliary Man, directed by Max Roux, 16 minutes An inept hitman has a chance to prove himself on the night of his first big hit, but nothing goes as planned.

Black Moon, directed by Ryan Graff, 8 minutes On her walk home, a young mother is lured into a tunnel, unaware of what has been awoken inside on the night of a

black moon.

The Shabbos Goy, directed

by Talia Osteen, 7 minutes God literally forbids her to turn off a vibrator gone rogue, so an Orthodox Jew sets out on a quest to find someone who can.

Since the programs are being presented virtually, there is no box office ticket charge, but only what fees might be required at online links. Donations to the LAHIFF are welcome.

Time: March 11 to 14 Details: www.laharborfilmfest. com

310-953-4863 WE CAN REPAIR YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET, CONSOLE OR COMPUTER! Visit one of our locations Rancho Palos Verdes 310-953-4863 29621 S. Western Ave. RPV 90275

Carson 310-830-8006 259 E. Carson St. Carson 90745

Torrance 424-305-4004 23812 Crenshaw Blvd.

Torrance 90505

QUICK RESPONSE TIME!

COMPLETE PLUMBING SERVICE RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL

831-3138

(310)

Se Habla Español

Lic. #748434

March 4 - 17, 2021

March 14, 1 p.m. Prog. F DocSunday The Endless Summer, https://www.imdb.com/title/ tt0060371/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

On March 13 Sunday’s matinee features NewFilmmakers Los Angeles or, NFMLA, to showcase a selection of short films made in Los Angeles. Unlock all of the films and filmmaker Q&A at www. watch.eventive.org/lahiff/play/ shorts-program-and-q-a.

Founded in 2007, NFMLA is a strong advocate and gathering place for independent cinema. In addition to fostering the advancement of new filmmakers and its members in Los Angeles County, NFMLA is a vital organization with screenings and events programmed throughout the year fulfilling their objective to promote the economic, educational, social, and cultural advancement of filmmaking, arts and culture in the community.

Selections: Misdirection, directed by Carly Usdin, 14 minutes Camila is your average college freshman with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a big, gay crush on her roommate. After both situations come to a head in a near car crash, Cam is stuck trying to find a distraction. A chance encounter with a street magician teaches her to channel her misguided energy into a new hobby, and to open her heart to new possibilities.

March 14, 1 p.m. Prog. E: DocSunday John Van Hamersveld’s Crazy World Ain’t It, about artist John Van Hamersveld, who grew up in Palos Verdes Peninsula at Lunada Bay, and created the iconic poster for The Endless Summer, https://vimeo. com/480561807 Password: CWAI

By Melina Paris, Editorial Assistant

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

March 11 Prog. A: 10:30 a.m.

Read The Book, See The Movie selection is the classic American novel Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter, and the 1960 Disney film of the same name. LAHIFF will offer a real time webinar presentation at http://bit.ly/ rtbstmpollyanna. RBSM promotes literacy and a more thoughtful way to view a film. It is the most successful motivating aspect of the LAHIFF, nearly 17,000 books have been distributed to students and community members since 2004.

March 12, 7 p.m. Prog. B: Opening Night “Mangia Italiano 4” Il Postino https://www.imdb.com/ title/tt0110877/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The LA Harbor International Film Festival Goes Virtual

13

CLASSIFIED ADS & DBA FILINGS

HOME & GARDEN B AT H R O O M R E N O VA TIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Beautiful new walk-in showers with no slip flooring. Also, grab bars and seated showers available. Call for a free in-home consultation: 844-242-1100.

(AAN CAN)

RLN SEEKING SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Responsibilities include: • Advertising sales— print and digital • Developing and maintaining social media Requirements: • 2-plus years of advertising or marketing experience • Reliable transportation Send resumé to james@randomlengthsnews.com or drop by the office at 1300 S. Pacific Ave. in San Pedro.

FINANCIAL SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowners Relief Line NOW for Help 1-855-439-5853 Mon-Fri

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant

(AAN CAN)

SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year!

Call 844-712-6153! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) (AAN CAN) Do you owe over $10,000 to the IRS or State in back taxes? Our firm works to reduce the tax bill or zero it out completely FAST. Let us help!

Call 855-955-0702. (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

HEALTH

JOBS

Over $10K in debt? Be debt free in 24-48 months. Pay a fraction of what you owe.

A+ BBB rated. Call National Debt Relief 877-590-1202.

HEARING AIDS!! Buy one/ get one FREE! High-quality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Nearly invisible!

45-day money back guarantee! 1-833-585-1117 (AAN CAN) Still paying too much for your MEDICATION? Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order - prescription required. Call 1-855-750-1612 (AAN CAN)

AUTOS

CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too!

Call 866-535-9689 (AAN CAN) DONATE YOUR CAR TO KIDS. Your donation helps fund the search for missing children. Accepting Trucks, Motorcycles & RV’s , too!

Bulletin Board Serving the South Bay

DIVORCE • TRUST BANKRUPTCY $99 Down•Low Cost Attorney Assisted Law

(310) 781-2823

ADULT PULL-UP DIAPERS Xlarge case of 60 $30 VINYL EXAM GLOVES powder-free, small size box of 100 $20

310-719-8884

Don Marshall CPA, Inc. (310) 833-8977

Specializing in small businesses CPA quality service at very reasonable rates

www.donmarshallcpa.com

March 4 - 17, 2021

HughesNet Satellite Internet – Finally, no hard data limits!

Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/ mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-416-7147 (AAN CAN) 4G LTE Home Internet Now Available! Get GotW3 with lightning fast speeds plus take your service with you when you travel! As low as $109.99/mo! 1-888-519-0171 (AAN CAN)

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work…

You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 844-511-1836.

(AAN CAN)

Need IRS Relief $10K $125K+ Get Fresh Start or Forgiveness‎ Call 1-877-2582890 Monday through Friday 7AM-5PM PST (AAN CAN) DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21. 1-855-3802501

PERSONALS Well-to-do lady seeks a good man age 62 to 80 to travel and have a good life with. I’ll pay my own expenses, you pay yours. (310) 684-1448.

PETS

Don Marshall, MBA, CPA

14

MISC.

PLEASE HELP!

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

PEDRO PET PALS is the only group that raises funds for the City Animal Shelter and FREE vaccines and spay or neuter for our community.

310-991-0012.

DBAs $ 140 Filing & Publishing

310-519-1442 Remember to renew your DBA every five years

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021004790 The following person is doing business as: (1) TL On Time Delivery Corp., 452 W. 21st Street, San Pedro, CA 907361-5510, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: TL On Time Delivery Corp., 452 W. 21st Street, San Pedro, CA 907361-551.

This Business is conducted by a corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 03/2020. 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/.

Thomas R. Lassiter, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 01/07/21.

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: 01/21/21, 02/03/21,

which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.)

S/. Simran Arun Mahtani, owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 01/07/21.

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: 01/21/21, 02/03/21, 02/17/21, 03/04/21

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021029353 The following person is doing business as: (1) Magic Plumbing, 1805 S Alma Street Unit A, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County.

Registered owners: Gusa Plumbing, 1805 S Alma Street Unit A, San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business by a corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 01/2021. 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/.

Mladen Gusa, President.

This statement was filed

03/18/21, 04/01/21, 04/15/21

“Cashing In”— a puzzle with some redeeming value.

02/17/21, 03/04/21

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021004783 The following person is doing business as: (1) Thats My Desi Life Shop, 850 E Ocean Blvd., Long Beach Ca 90802. Unit 1204, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: (1) Shiksha Arun Mahtani., 850 E Ocean Blvd., Long Beach Ca 90802. (2) Simran Arun Mahtani, 850 E Ocean Blvd., Long Beach Ca 90802. This Business is conducted by a copartners. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 09/2020. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information

with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Feb. 3, 2021.

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: 03/04/21,

© 2021 MATT JONES, Jonesin’ Crosswords

My wife and I are looking for a house, even if it is a fixer upper. My name is Tom please call or text 714-6970833.

Fast Free Pickup – Running or Not - 24 Hour Response - Maximum Tax Donation – Call 877-266-0681 (AAN CAN)

For answers go to: www.randomlengthsnews.com

REAL ESTATE WANTED

: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Sat: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm(all times Pacific) (AAN CAN)

ACROSS

1 Palindromic title (even with the apostrophe) 5 Dutch-speaking Caribbean island 10 Gum blobs 14 Prefix that means “both” 15 Littlest bits 16 Chain with stacks and syrups 17 “How You Remind Me” rock band 19 Croft of the Tomb Raider games 20 Pointer by another name 21 Place to get drinks before you turn in, maybe 23 “Take This Job and Shove It” singer David Allan ___ 24 “QuÈ ___?” (“How’s it going?”)

27 Area near NYU 28 Dressed like a judge 30 Nocturnal newborn 34 Monopoly token until 2017 39 Language suffix 40 Equal share, often 41 Wall crawlers 42 Apothecary’s container 43 “The King and I” star Brynner 44 Get red in the face and shy away, maybe 46 First “Blue’s Clues” host 48 Willie Nelson’s son who leads the band Promise of the Real

49 An official language of Pakistan 52 Remained on the shelf 53 Drugstore with long receipts 56 Smoked Polish sausage 60 Most Nunavut inhabitants 62 Monty Python member Idle 63 Like bottles and cans, in some states (or what five long Across answers all literally contain) 66 Delany of “China Beach” 67 Hospital figure 68 Luxor river 69 Out in the open 70 Secretly watch 71 Sailed through

DOWN

1 ___ Panic (hair color brand that’s still around) 2 Protein-building acid 3 Start of a popular children’s song 4 (Soon-to-be) former VP name (depending on when this is published) 5 Have a cold, perhaps 6 Shoplift 7 Ogden’s locale 8 Maple go-with, in some recipes 9 Seek permission for 10 Ron Howard fantasy film of 1988 11 Moby-Dick captain 12 Bilingual TV explorer 13 Practice for a boxing match 18 Endorse enthusiastically 22 Website for DIYers with instruc-

tional steps 25 “Steal This Book” author Hoffman 26 Remain’s counterpart in Brexit 28 NFL official 29 It gets boring pretty quickly 31 1970s teen idol Garrett 32 Genesis brother 33 Poker player’s giveaway 34 Motivations 35 High, in Haiti 36 Dakota Fanning’s younger sister 37 “Classic Concentration” puzzle type 38 Tennis star Naomi 42 Initials that may be collecting dust in your TV room 44 “Phineas and ___” 45 Pillowcase material 47 Lt. Tuvok, for one 50 Does sock repair 51 Consume 53 Like 8, 27, and 64 54 Coupe de ___ (old Cadillac model) 55 Chariot horse 56 Canvas shoe brand 57 “Dies ___” (Latin hymn) 58 A, to Germans 59 “It’s worth ___!”

61 Grandma, informally 64 Show stager for GIs 65 Neurotic cartoon chihuahua

Farewell, Ferlinghetti 1919-2021 James Preston Allen, Publisher

So Lawrence is dead The poet of North Beach The light of City Lights Extinguished And the defender of the Beats The defendant of Howl’s censorship With a complicated backstory Bookended by two pandemics Abandoned as a child Reborn in Frisco Tall and lean After a million words After a thousand poems Your obituary Only mentions one Coney Island of the Mind.

There’s a pause On the streets around North Beach In this city of lights.

Will the strippers, bartenders And barkers Stop and mourn?

When we are Surrounded by so Much death It’s hard to notice Just one more Among the grieving What does it matter, That it’s just one more?

Yet it does It always does

RANDOMLetters [Letters, from p. 8]

To someone Everyone.

So Good-bye, Ferlinghetti Farewell, Lawrence of City Lights Your words Transcend all

Of this suffering And yet, the World always stops to Mourn great poets More than just about Anyone else Except religious Martyrs and Great leaders Who are assassinated.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 2012. File photo

150 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE ENJOYING A NEW SHOWER IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

Support for Workers Coops

I’m going to share three quick facts with you: After a 30-year period, the costs of housing rose by 290%, education costs rose by 311%. And there are about 40,000 of our neighbors living on the streets of Los Angeles. Let me explain why I’m telling you this.

To shelter about 75 of our homeless community members, the city government plans to construct a temporary village of tiny homes here in Wilmington. The village will be in a parking lot near the intersection of Figueroa Place and L Street, across from LA Harbor College. The goal is to house people until they get connected with services and housing that will more permanently improve their lives.

To be honest with you, the news of this project brought many thoughts and emotions to my mind. At first I saw this as a cruel and strange juxtaposition: a shanty town of people struggling, next to an institution of bright eyed youths and professors furthering our human knowledge.

But I realized that these two developments being next to each other illustrates a larger problem.

The real problem is our exploitive economic system.

Remember, after 30 years housing and education costs basically tripled. So if it cost

and sisters to put them on a path to permanent housing and other supports. Expanding Project Room Key is a much better short-term solution than temporary housing shelters and villages. In either case, more labor and other resources must be focused on accelerating the completion of supportive housing in our communities.

We also need to make housing more affordable in general. A long-term solution to this end is to decrease the wage and wealth gaps.

We can do this by greatly expanding worker cooperatives. In a worker coop, each worker gets one vote to determine the policies and actions of their business. Instead of a select few executives or boards of directors, the workers decide what to produce, where to produce and how much money the workers get. And I ask you, if you and your coworkers got to determine all your wages, would you allow them to rise only 14%, while housing nearly tripled?

We can encourage the proliferation of worker cooperatives by demanding that our governments give stimulus, bonds, grants and low interest loans to people who want to start worker coops.

In the past our governments have given such benefits to capitalist corporations, and that has gotten us into this mess. The closure of supermarkets run by the Kroger Company just because they don’t want to pay higher wages to at-risk workers, is one concrete example of how corporations exploit our economic system. I assure you that if we start to advocate and demand democracy at our workplaces, we will reduce homelessness in a dignified and respectable way.

This will take time and some very tough conversations, but if we maintain our solidarity, we can make housing and a livable wage a democratic guarantee.

Christian Guzman, San Pedro

SH

Become a Published Author with Dorrance.

We want to read your book!

Trusted by authors for nearly 100 years, Dorrance has made countless authors’ dreams come true.

newshowerdeal.com/random | 833-619-1234 *Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchase. Minimum spend amount applies. Financing subject to third party credit approval. Some financing options cannot be combined with other offers and may require minimum monthly payments. All offers subject to change prior to purchase.

See AmericanStandardShowers.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY: 55431H;NYC:HIC 2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY.

FIVE EASY STEPS TO PUBLICATION: 1. Consultation

4. Distribution

2. Book Production

5. Merchandising and Fulfillment

3. Promotion

Call now to receive your FREE Author’s Guide

855-336-9955

or www.dorranceinfo.com/random

March 4 - 17, 2021

FREE IN-HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION-CALL TODAY

Complete Book Publishing Services

Our staff is made up of writers, just like you. We are dedicated to making publishing dreams come true.

Real News, Real People, Really Effective

N IG W ES D E ER N OW

witnessed the impact upon the human body by a speeding vehicle.

I have. The result to (the) victim was catastrophic. It saddened me to the point I vomited. So please use your rhetorical force. Use your ability at persuasion. Get others to listen.

Bruce Bacon, Harbor City

$10,000 to go to college 30 years ago, it costs $30,000 to go to college now. And if it cost $300,000 to buy a house thirty years ago, it costs $900,000 now.

Meanwhile, the real wages of our workers in the middle class have only risen by 14%. Let me repeat that, housing and education have almost tripled, and wages have not even increased by one fifth. The change in real wages is even worse for our friends and family who are at the bottom 10%.

Black women in this group have seen wages increase by less than a dollar. Latino men have seen their wages go down by a couple of dimes.

So it is not really a surprise that nowadays there will be a college next to a temporary village meant to get people off the streets.

Many middle class workers can’t send children to college and buy a house without going into debt.

And for the bottom 10%, the threat of homelessness is much closer than the dream of owning a house will ever be. This is a shame and a failure.

If you are one of these workers, this is not your fault. You and your family have worked hard, put in overtime or even gotten a second job. Your missing wages, dollars that should be yours, have gone to executives at mega corporations, investment bankers and the more than 600 billionaires in the U.S. This wage and wealth inequality is the underlying cause of homelessness and there are many potential solutions. The tiny home village proposed here is a very small step in the right direction. It’s better than living totally exposed to the streets. But we can do better than that. And we have done better very recently.

There is a program called Project Room Key that temporarily houses formerly homeless people in hotels and motels. On-site service providers work with these brothers

15

16

March 4 - 17, 2021

Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant