RLn 3-31-22

LA Unified’s BSAP:

A Tide to Lift All Boats Resource Fair at Dana Middle School to Feature Jobs Training, Mental Health

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

From left to right: Robert Daniels, founder of The Do Good Daniels Family Foundation, Gregory Sims, school climate advisor for Dana Middle School and Assistant Principal Jewel Brown. All three participate in the school’s Black Student Achievement Program. Photo by Raphael Richardson

Walker’s Cafe sold to buyer who intends to change nothing p. 2

The Good Life: A quiet place filled by loud food p. 10

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

Carnival Cruise Lines recently celebrated its 50th anniversary of presenting itself as an affordable, carefree kind of experience for the masses. But Jim Walker, a former cruise line defense attorney — who switched sides to represent cruise ship crime victims (including 125 rape/sexual assault victims) after being asked to defend against a rape lawsuit — sees a much darker legacy. He sees Carnival as more like a pirate ship line, deliberately intended to evade the law as much as humanly possible — be it U.S. labor law, or tax law, criminal protections for victims of rape, sexual assault or molestation, or environmental law protecting the seas it travels. Its corporate parent, Carnival corporation, owns nine cruise lines — all of which “committed criminal environmental violations from 2017-2021” according to Friends of the Earth’s 2021 “Cruise Ship Report Card” — with nearly 100

ships. One line, Princess, sails out of the Port of Los Angeles, while Carnival sails out of Long Beach, home to the Queen Mary, retired from the Cunard line, also now Carnival-owned. Random Lengths News interviewed Walker to shed light on Carnival’s record of lawlessness, from how it started to where it stands today.

Ted Arison, father of the current chairman, Micky Arison, started Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972. “He had a vision of having what I characterize as like a Walmart on the seas, a mass, family-oriented, funship. They’re still using the funship mantra in their marketing,” Walker said.

“To do so he was the first to perfect the model of basing their companies in foreign ports, foreign incorporation,” he explained. “Carnival Cruise Lines is not an American-based company. It’s registered and incorporated in Panama. Why Panama? Because it lets Car-

nival do whatever they want to do. It’s not a country that cares about minimum wage or overtime laws, or the issue of pollution, employment rights or safety and security. So he created a cruise corporation, in the eyes of a businessman, without any of the limitations of the American government that has wage and labor laws.”

It also avoided U.S. income taxes, “Which is considerable, considering that Carnival in the first year before COVID-19, collected over $20 billion and had profits of over $3 billion,” Walker added.

But there’s more involved than just saving Carnival money. “It’s always considered itself its own entity and its own government, so to speak. When a crime occurs there’s no U.S. police forces on the ships,” Walker said. As a law firm that only handles [See Carnival, p. 8]

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Gatekeeper of Philippine culture: Linda NietesLittle to receive Banaag Award p. 9

Carefree Cruise or Pirate Ship?

Carnival Celebrates 50 Years…of What, Exactly?

[See BSAP, p. 4]

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

On April 2, there will be a resource fair hosted at Richard Henry Dana Middle School, hosted by that campus’ Black Student Union Center which houses the Black Student Achievement Plan program.

The fair is intended to connect students and their families to needed resources addressing job training and food insecurity, but primarily mental health services. Essentially, this fair is intended to address issues affecting the student’s home life, and not just the student.

“We want to get the parents something, we want to get the kids something, and at the same time,” explained Gregory Sims, the school climate advisor. He creates a rapport with students, helping inspire them to reach academic and personal goals.

To Sims, the objective of the resource fair was to help the students’ home life. He noted that a lot of resources and money are directed at the student via school and after-school programs, but if the students’ family struggles are front and center every time they go home, those resources are rendered ineffective.

“If the parents at home are still struggling, it’s kind of hard to really change the environment for the student because he has to go back to that,” Sims said. “So we have resources for the student, [and] we have resources for the parents.”

Sims was particularly happy with the Port of Los Angeles which will have a booth at the fair, especially after announcing this past January it was building a Goods Movement Training Campus. In a released statement, Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said the campus will train those with the aptitude to work in a fully automated goods movement future and retrain the current workforce by seniority.

Assistant Principal Jewel Brown says this will be the first time the nearly century-old middle school has hosted a fair of this kind.

Brown explained that the resource fair is intended to shed light on mental health, which she believes is impacting students more than it’s credited for.

“We’re not having enough conversations about the mental health of kids and we’re addressing it,” Brown said. “Like in the Olympics with Simone Biles and other athletes coming out and being honest about [their struggles].”

Brown, who is in her sixth year as one of Dana Middle School’s assistant principals, explained that the fair is also intended to open its doors to the community to be more

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Community Announcements:

Harbor Area Aquarium Earth Day Art Contest

The Aquarium of the Pacific is accepting images via JPEG format to be juried for its upcoming Earth Day Celebration. The theme is our connection with our ocean planet and may include artwork about the ocean, marine life or protecting the ocean and our planet.

There will be three winners selected to exhibit their artwork during the aquarium’s Earth Day celebration on April 23 and 24. From those, one grand prize winner will be selected. Each winner will receive $500 and his or her winning artwork will be displayed at the festival. The grand prize winner will receive an additional $250.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/yckzu2p2

RFQ for LA Recreation and Parks Facilities

The Department of Cultural Affairs or DCA is seeking to establish a pre-qualified roster of artists for upcoming Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks or RAP projects. Artists and artist teams selected through this Request for Qualifications or RFQ will be eligible to develop proposals for permanent public art commissions to be sited at new and expanded RAP facilities.

Budgets for RAP public art projects will range from $32,000 to $100,000. Deadline is May 9.

Details: https://culturela.org/calls/rap-facilitiesrfp

Zone In: City Core Virtual Open House

Long Beach Development Services will be hosting a series of open house events as part of the Zone In: City Core (ACZIP) effort. Zone In: City Core is a joint effort between the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach community to update zoning regulations in the area bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, 10th Street, Magnolia and Ximeno avenues.

The plan will create a community where residents, businesses, jobs and shopping are located near each other with a more pedestrianfriendly design.

Times: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., April 2, RSVP online https://tinyurl.com/mryycdxn 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., April 6, RSVP online https://tinyurl.com/nyfa6d75 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., April 13, RSVP online https://tinyurl.com/2p99rt5w Details: longbeach.gov/lbds/aczip.

Guaranteed Income Program Coming to LA County Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

LA County’s new guaranteed income program — Breathe — is one of the biggest in the nation.

It will distribute $1,000/month to 1,000 select eligible LA County residents for 3 years.

Applications open March 31.

Details: www.breathe.lacounty.gov.

LB Small Business and Nonprofit Relief Grants Applications Open

The City of Long Beach is now accepting applications for the Long Beach Recovery Act Small Business and Nonprofit Relief grants, a new recovery program to help small businesses and nonprofits that have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now until 8 p.m. May 15, 2022, eligible small businesses and nonprofits can apply to receive working capital to help pay for a variety of business expenses. Applications can be submitted through LiveStories, the city’s vendor application portal. The city will begin to review and award grant applications as early as April 15.

Details: longbeach.gov/smallbizgrants.

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Prioritizing Neighborhood Needs for HUD Federal Grants

2

The City of Long Beach will be hosting two virtual community meetings for residents to learn about and provide input on its fiveyear consolidated plan to help determine the activities that should be prioritized and funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula grants.

The federal funding will provide opportunities for qualified areas of the city to participate in or be eligible for various projects such as affordable housing, youth programs, park improvements and neighborhood clean-ups.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/mrpc8tye

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

Walker’s Cafe Sold to Buyer Who Intends to Change Nothing

By Hunter Chase, Community News Reporter

In late March, Prospect sary health and safety updates that Group officially closed the it needs to be a functional café deal on purchasing Walker’s again,” Harapetian said. “That’s Cafe, a beloved San Pedro something that I think is going to diner that closed in October take some time. Hopefully, we can 2021. Silva Harapetian, a repexpedite the process.” resentative of Prospect Group, When asked for more details says that her organization inabout which health and safety pertends to keep the café running mits are needed, Harapetian said the same as it was before. she did not know, but that this was Harapetian said the deal because her organization had just has been in the works for purchased the property. some time.

“We’ve been in conversation “There was a lot of moving with Emma,” Harapetian said. parts because it’s a commercial “And we’ve participated in meetproperty,” Harapetian said. ings, and with the anticipation of On March 17, prior to being the owners, but you never Prospect purchasing it, the can plan any of this stuff until the Cultural Heritage Commisink is dry.” sion of the City of Los AngeHarapetian said that Prospect les voted unanimously that the Walker’s Cafe, which was designated a historic cultural monument was purchased by Group had people look at the founcity council should consider Prospect Group, who intends to keep it unchanged. File photo dation, the plumbing and the electhe café’s monument status trical. This is part of the process of and recommended that the council declare it a Harapetian said her organization has been buying it, but she said they are already getting bids monument. participating in the meetings to declare the café a to do repairs.

The next step in the process is for the city’s historical monument.

On Feb. 10, two members of the Cultural Planning and Land Use Management Committee “We look forward to working with the city Heritage Commission visited the property for a to consider it. The committee will then make a and the planning department to do the neces[See Walker’s Cafe, p. 3] recommendation to the full city council, which will have the final say.

“Walker’s Cafe meets the criteria to become a historic cultural monument in the City of Los Angeles because it is associated with the social, cultural and commercial history of both San Pedro and Los Angeles as a whole,” said Emma Rault, a community advocate, and a member of By Hunter Chase, Community News Reporter the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council, The South Bay Auxiliary of Harbor Interfaith “Last year was unusual,” Siegel said. “We’re who has been leading the movement to make the Services is hosting a fundraiser for the charity’s certainly striving for as much as possible. The café a historical monument.

Children’s Center from April 25 to 29. It will be years prior to that we were [at] $100,000.”

The café was founded in 1944 by Bessie Mae held using a silent auction Petersen and Ray Walker. While Walker died online, with more than 70 in 1953, Petersen continued to operate the café prizes up for bid. until her death in 1996. It then passed into the The auxiliary normally possession of Richard Brummett, Petersen’s son. holds an in-person fundraisRichard Brummett’s son, Derek Brummett, is the er every year, but because trustee of the café, and said that his 89-year-old of the pandemic, this year’s father is in poor health and unable to run the café event will be virtual, as was any longer, he said when he spoke at a previous last year’s. hearing for the café on Jan. 20.

The fundraiser is just for Even though the deal is final, Harapetian said the general operation of the she doesn’t know how much Prospect Group center, said Nancy Roebuck, paid for the café. president of the auxiliary.

She said that Prospect Group has experience The center’s budget is berestoring historic properties. tween $450,000 to $500,000 “We see value in restoring it to its heyday,” per year, and a portion of Harapetian said. that comes from the auxilHarapetian said her organization is looking iary’s fundraising. at Harbor Interfaith’s Children Center. Photo courtesy of the the for a restaurateur to operate the café. She said “The Children’s Center Students South Bay Auxiliary of Harbor Interfaith Services the group had already spoken to some potential is supported only by private candidates, including the previous manager of donations,” Roebuck said. “There’s no grant The auxiliary is composed of 15 women, all the café. money from government organizations.” volunteers.

“We are not restaurant operators,” Harapetian At last year’s fundraiser, the auxiliary raised Harbor Interfaith has a variety of services said. “We’re looking for someone who knows about $185,000, said Kathy Siegel, a member of that help homeless people, or people on the brink how to do this. And potentially someone within the auxiliary. This was in part thanks to Kennedy of homelessness. This includes shelter, transithe community who has a vested interest, that Health Services, which donated $100,000, Roe- tional housing and job placement, as well as the wants to keep it exactly the way it was.” buck said.

[See Fundraiser, p. 4]

Harbor Interfaith Holds Annual Fundraiser Online

City of RPV Breaks Ground on Revitalized Walker’s Cafe Ladera Linda Community Park [Wlaker’s Cafe, from p. 2]

site visit, along with other city staff. Rault was present as well.

“It’s mainly for them to kind of observe the conditions on site,” Rault said. “[They can] see the building in person, and see, has anything changed since the presentation.”

Commissioner Richard Barron was there, and he said that while they were not able to get inside, they were able to look through the windows. Rault said this was because the owner lives upstate, and no one had keys.

“They took pictures through the windows,” Rault said. “They looked at the neon sign, and they just asked a few clarifying questions for context in terms of the history of the place.”

Rault said the visit was brief.

“It hasn’t been used in a while,” Barron said at the March 17 meeting of the commission. “It needs some TLC [tender, loving care].”

Barron said he was in support of making the café a monument, but pointed out the limitations of the commission’s power.

“This commission can make the building a monument,” Barron said. “But we don’t make the use a monument. So, we always have this problem … it could turn into a cigar room, or whatever, anything. We don’t protect the use. And it’s been a problem for us, you know, with things like this.”

Richard Brummett could not be reached for comment on this story.

By Melina Paris, Assistant Editor

RANCHO PALOS VERDES — After nearly a decade of planning and community engagement, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes broke ground on an $18.7 million makeover of Ladera Linda Community Park, one of the most significant recreation projects in the city’s history.

City officials and community leaders gathered March 25 at the 11-acre site overlooking the ocean at 32201 Forrestal Drive to celebrate the start of construction on a revitalized community center and park.

Originally home to an elementary school that opened in 1967, following a decline in student enrollment, the site was repurposed as a park and community center in 1982. Ladera Linda Community Park is located next to the Forrestal Reserve, which is part of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, and features a variety of recreational facilities. With the park’s five aging buildings in serious disrepair, the city began a planning process in 2014 to revitalize the park and community center, involving input from a variety of stakeholders.

A master plan for the park was approved by the city council in 2019 and the project was granted entitlements in 2021. Financing and construction agreements were approved in March 2022. The existing nearly 19,000 square feet of buildings will be demolished to make way for a contemporary community center designed by Culver City-based architecture firm Johnson Favaro. The community center will include a di-

Rancho Palos Verdes politicians gather to break ground at Ladera Linda Community Park. From left to right, Councilman Ken Dyda, Councilman John Cruikshank, Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Ferraro, Mayor Dave Bradley, Councilman Eric Alegria and City Manager Ara Mihranian. Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala

vidable multi-purpose room, classrooms, a staff office, a warming kitchen, and a meeting room that will also serve as a “discovery room” displaying exhibits of local native plants and history. The site will also include patio areas, basketball courts, paddle tennis courts, a children’s playground, tiered outdoor seating, a lawn area, walking paths and 54 parking spaces.

The city is paying for the project through a

combination of American Rescue Plan Act funds, Quimby funds, loan financing, and capital infrastructure project reserve funds, with a framework established to replenish the reserves.

Ladera Linda Community Park was closed for construction March 28. The project is expected to be completed in about 15 months.

Details: johnsonfavaro.com/ladera-linda-community-park.

Real People, Real News, Really Effective March 31 - April 13, 2022

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[BSAP, from p. 1]

BSAP at Dana MS

effective in serving students.

“Some of the things like fights or issues of racial transgressions or homelessness or whatever it is, we have to partner with our community,” Brown said. “If we [are] ever really going to address it, eradicate it, or fix it now, so many people have to be involved.”

After two years, Los Angeles Unified School District has had to find ways to educate students outside of the classroom while adjusting to changing realities following the 2020 racial justice demonstrations, this resource fair represents a coming-out party of policies directed at longstanding education deficits.

Since Brown v. Board of Education, when the U.S. Supreme Court declared that segregated schools were unconstitutional, Black students as a demographic have lagged behind nearly every demographic, while being the leading demographic in school absenteeism, dropout rates and suspensions.

In the summer of 2020, Los Angeles Unified cut its police budget by $25 million and redirected that money toward the $36.5 million BSAP program.

The investment appears to be paying off dividends. ABC News ran a story about the successes at Dana this past December, even though at the time it was anecdotal.

BSAP at Dana

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

This marks the fourth year of Sims’ tenure at Dana Middle School. He started as an assistant teacher in the Special Education Department at Dana and assisted teachers in his department and classes in the rest of the school with class control.

He served in the capacity of teacher/authority figure, at times counselor, or big brother as the situation required.

When the school district created BSAP, Sims became the school climate advocate — a role in which his job is to create rapport with students, while helping inspire them to reach academic and personal goals — a role he was already fulfilling but now given the space and resources to go further in this capacity.

Sims, in this capacity, provides socialemotional support for students, and the advocate’s training in conflict resolution helps stop disagreements early, thus reducing the frequency of traditional forms of discipline.

Sims began working at Dana during a period he says the middle school was regularly racked by student fights that are exacerbated

by Black and Latino racial tensions.

“With me being the SCA, the school climate advocate, I actually can get with these students before they have these fights between friends, that kind of escalate,” Sims said. “The BSAP actually gave me [the time and space to build] more relationships and build more rapport with the students. So once I’ve done that, I could speak to both parties.

So now on, you can talk to the Latino kids.

You can talk to the Black kids and you can actually find that common ground. It has stopped the majority of our fights.”

Sims estimates that there were fights at least once a week, or three times a month when he first started working at Dana. Now, there are about two in a semester.

“The discipline rate has gone down. A lot of our kids are struggling with just reading and that’s some of the reasons why they were ditching. Getting to know them through the BSAP program, they can tell me that now.

4 They feel comfortable saying, ‘Mr. Sims I

don’t like doing this because I can’t really read,’ so we can give that student extra tutoring. So now they feel a little more comfortable and they’re trying.

“So those same problems where we were having them ditching, and fighting and escaping the work, now, they actually sit and try. So, discipline rates have gone down, grades and attendance have shot up.

Referrals have [went] down.”

Sims was there when Dana Middle School still had a school police officer. The popular educator called the officer an “amazing and great guy,” but Gregory Sims, school climate advisor for Dana Middle School, and noted the officer had no rapport Assistant Principal Jewel Brown head the BSAP. Photo by Raphael with the students. “As a matter of Richardson fact, when students see him, they automatically Referring to a student she encountered and think, ‘Cop ... trouble ... get away,’” Sims said. provided a mask to on her way to the interview It was while reporters were interviewing with Random Lengths, she discussed the students Sims saw the regard in which they held encounter, explaining that if he had gone into him. class without a mask, he would have been sent to “I heard kids say like they were giving an the administration’s office and his parents called honest opinion on this, and it was my first time to retrieve him, causing him to miss an entire day hearing it, ‘He’s like a father figure ... We can of school. talk to him ...’” Sims said.

“I think our BSU and our BSAP program has “It could be the uniform. It could be that I’m allowed us to just develop relationships that were privy to do more and build that rapport. But it’s very different than probably the ones we were been a drastic change here at Dana.” having before everything was on the surface. And now when you go through the BSAP process, I get to ask all those questions underneath that Assistant principal Brown explained that the surface,” Brown explained. funding of BSAP was the result of the school The important part of the efforts of educators district shifting funding from school policing like Brown and Sims is that they look to collaborate to alternative methods of addressing classroom with potential partners in the surrounding control, truancy, and on-campus fights. She community like Robert Daniels, the founder of explained that it was because of this shifting of The Do Good Daniels Family Foundation. The resources that a budget was created to establish nonprofit addresses food and housing insecurity programs like BSAP. by providing shelter for those in need.

“In light of like what had happened with “We brought in Mr. Daniels onto our team,” George Floyd and what had happened with Brown said. “With each piece, we add to our Breonna Taylor at some point, we have to stop group. It always elevates us and I think that that’s saying that there wasn’t a problem and you powerful and each member becomes a seamless have to start saying that one existed,” Brown component to our entire fabric.” explained.

Daniels recently published a book, Breaking But beyond identifying the problem, Brown the Chains, a guide intended to help parents, explained, we also have to act on the problem. parental figures, educators and teens build Brown wasn’t simply referring to the racism in stronger bonds and lines of communication. policing that contributed to the deaths of the aboveDaniels said he was impressed by the goals mentioned. She was also referring to the very real of the BSAP program and the work Sims and conditions related to Black underachievement Brown have done so far. One of his four sons in education — conditions caused by a variety attends Dana. of factors, including systemic racism, poverty, “I wanted to know how my kid felt it. So under-investment, and simply lack of specific when I talk to him, I learned that Mr. Sims was his data-driven targeting of areas of concern. world and Miss Brown was his world,” Daniels Brown explained that the district identified said. “For my kid to come back and tell me that, Black student populations where they exist in I’m just totally thankful for this program.” the district and scrutinized those populations From that day forward, Daniels aimed to through the district’s Whole Child Integrated engage other parents and see to it that the BSAP Data system, which captures data on all student program has what it needs to be successful. populations in the school district.

A part of that effort is programming like the “In this particular area of San Pedro, we had April 2 resource fair. more students of color at our school than the “We want the community to come out,” neighboring Middle School, Dodson,” Brown Brown explained. “We always are looking at what said. “That’s how the [school district] began to has not been done and what ways of outreach or design this tier level of support. BSAP aimed parent engagement have we not tapped into.” to answer the question, ‘How do we reach that Brown explained the fair began with a population of students?’”

Donuts and Coffee With the Dads session as Dana Middle School is identified as a Tier 1, a way to engage fathers of students attending with a total Black student population numbered Dana. Like a squirrel to a nut, Brown says she 153 in a school of 1,500. aims to chase down any idea that will further Brown, a product of the LAUSD, said she parental involvement. never had a place to belong as a student while Sims noted that KJLH radio station and other growing up. guests will be in attendance at the fair.

“You identify the individual teachers that you could connect with, but I never had a full staff that Time: 9 a.m. to 1p.m., April 2 was dedicated to my success,” Brown said. “We’re Location: Dana Middle School, 1501 S. Cabrillo Ave., San Pedro here for the long haul and you have students.”

A Child of the LAUSD

[Fundraiser, from p. 2]

Fundraiser

children’s center. All the children at the center have parents that use Harbor Interfaith’s other services.

“It’s not a separate daycare center that anybody can come into,” Siegel said. “This is really an integral part of the success of parents either getting higher education, [or] going out and securing jobs.”

The center takes in children from six weeks old to school age. It has an infant and toddler care room, and a preschool room with a curriculum. Roebuck said that children graduate from the preschool program ready for kindergarten.

In addition, the center has an after-school kids’ club, and Harbor Interfaith has vans that pick up the children from their schools to take them to the center. The club has tutors that help the children with their homework. The children are allowed to stay there until 6 p.m.

The club accepts children up to 17 years old, but most are from grade school to the beginning of middle school.

The pandemic had a big impact on the operation of the center, especially when schools shut down in 2020.

“The after-school kids, who are in a population that maybe don’t have Wi-Fi at home or internet access, or the hardware, were severely impacted when they couldn’t go to school at all,” Roebuck said. “That space was turned into a classroom, and Harbor Interfaith Services bought computers and headphones and hired a certified elementary school teacher to supervise them.”

The center also has a chef who prepares healthy meals and snacks.

The center is licensed for up to 80 children, but the number of children enrolled fluctuates.

“As people get into housing, it might not be geographically available to them anymore,” Roebuck said.

Roebuck said that the center is in a secure location within a building operated by Harbor Interfaith, and a badge is needed to get in.

“Some of these families are fleeing domestic abuse,” Roebuck said. “There’s custody issues sometimes.”

The auxiliary has existed since 2007, and previously it raised money for Harbor Interfaith in general. It decided to focus its efforts on the Children’s Center about six years ago, when its members learned that the center only operated on privately raised money.

Sometimes the center does not charge for its services.

“The people that have their children there pay only what they can afford,” Roebuck said.

“And sometimes that’s zero. But they try to make sure that if they can afford something, they pay something, just to feel an investment in the place.”

While the 2021 fundraiser was online, the auxiliary did not host a fundraiser in 2020 due to the pandemic.

“That was really challenging,” Siegel said.

“We tried other ways to just generate fundraising.”

This entailed reaching out to people and asking them to donate.

For this year’s fundraiser, all prizes up for auction were donated.

“All of us do our best to reach out to people that we do business with, local businesses, restaurants that we go to,” Siegel said.

The fundraiser is at www.hisauxiliary.org.

Life After Mother —

Three Bedrooms, Just Me

By Lyn Jensen, Columnist

When I moved into my mother’s house, I cleared out the front bedroom that she’d been using the way people use an attic or basement — where unused half-forgotten clutter goes to gather dust. I was still thinking in terms of “my room in her house,” and so I turned that room into something resembling a studio apartment, a suite within the house. I combined my bedroom with my home office, not ideal, but if I squeezed in a microwave and mini-fridge, I’d have a stereotypical starving-writer arrangement.

My office stays in the front bedroom because my huge beautiful L-shaped executive desk, big enough to hold a computer, printer, writing space, file boxes, desk accessories, and enough allowance for leg and elbow room, too, is so large I was only able to get it out of the garage and into the front bedroom when I persuaded a crew that was installing new windows to lift the desk through a window frame. If I move anything to another room, it’d have to be my bed, because I can’t move the desk unless I remove the windows again.

You’d think a three-bedroom house would be enough space for one person and a cat, but mix together several lifetimes’ worth of furniture and personal property, and you’ve got enough possessions to fill a palace. My mother’s bedroom I’ve made into a guest room, but it still contains original furnishings. Her bed makes a handy space to sort laundry, papers and the like, and it’s covered with throw pillows, two (reupholstered) backrests, and a bedspread she made herself. The dresser, closets, nightstands and bookcase-like

headboard are still mostly storage for her things, despite literally dozens of bags being filled and donated to charity, and a few boxes packed and mailed to relatives.

The third bedroom, the one that used to be mine, the smallest but sunniest, my mother used as her home office. By the time she died, procrastination-level order had long since become dementia-level chaos, and the floor was barely visible. Papers, files and office supplies, dating back to the 1980s were piled high. I spent a year, and wore out two shredders, separating the trash from anything important. It’s still a room where, stick your hand out, and you’ll find something to do. It’s become a jack of about six uses but master of none — a combination library, secondary office, file room, storage closet, media room and sewing-crafting station.

To maintain a one-bedroom (or even twobedroom) lifestyle, I’d have to downsize to a single office and a single bedroom. That’s on top of downsizing the kitchen, garage, living room, service porch and storage space. I have to downsize before I can downsize.

Real People, Real News, Really Effective March 31 - April 13, 2022

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What’s In Caruso’s CAN? Los Angeles’ Mayor’s Race

By James Preston Allen, Publisher

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Long before Rick Caruso started dumping a million dollars a week into his campaign to run for mayor of Los Angeles, it looked like it was going to be a battle between Mike Feuer and Joe Buscaino. Feuer, the twice elected city attorney and Buscaino the former Los Angeles Police Department officer turned councilman from the 15th district. Clearly this was an opportunity for both to lead this city but with very divergent approaches.

One with a well thought out set of policies and programs and the other with his anti-homeless no camping ordinances. Buscaino’s gambit was to lean into the outrage of conservatives and let the more liberal factions battle for the majority of the democratic leftwing voters ostensibly splitting the primary vote to get him into the runoff. Now I’m not so sure.

This was before Congresswoman Karen Bass and then billionaire Rick Caruso entered the race.

Now you can’t pick up your cell phone or open your computer without viewing “Caruso Can” ads. He even dropped his first campaign mailer earlier than what some political strategists would consider prudent, but hey, he’s got the money, so why not? The only question that lingers is what Caruso CAN do?

It would seem like this newly minted “Democrat,” who only changed his registration about a month before announcing, has borrowed extensively from policy initiatives that were well formulated by City Attorney Feuer and a growing consensus of liberal democrats on housing, mental health and drug treatment programs. So what makes him so different?

Yet, I have a hard time believing that a guy who just bought an $18.6 million, 7 bedroom, 8.5 bath mansion in Newport Beach, right next door to the one he already owns on Balboa Peninsula has much concern for those living in a tent on skid row or Beacon Street in San Pedro. His massive Brentwood estate could probably house many of our current unsheltered neighbors, but that would really rock the boat up in that tony area. What would the neighbors say if Caruso actually started housing the homeless instead of buying an election or palatial estates for the wealthiest people who will never be homeless? Clearly Los Angeles doesn’t have a shortage of mansions for the wealthy.

You can’t accuse Caruso of not being a real billionaire, unlike the wannabe dictatorgrifter who should be indicted for trying to

6

subvert the 2020 election results. Caruso’s wealth is real and can be calculated by his extensive property holdings, his Fortune 500 listing and his all-American luxury yacht which sold for $100 million. And after four years of corruption both at City Hall and in the White House, is anyone really willing to elect another rich guy who has never been elected to office before?

On the other hand we have Karen Bass, perhaps one of the most overly qualified contenders for mayor in the entire history of this office.

Upon Bass entering the race, the polls immediately showed her approval ratings in the double digits while Buscaino, Feuer and (did I forget to mention Kevin de León?) all with single digits. I have not seen a poll with Caruso listed yet, perhaps he can buy one.

Karen Bass comes with a very long public service resume that includes six terms in the U.S. Congress, many years in the California State Assembly where she became the first Black woman speaker and before that, a social worker and community organizer in South Los Angeles. She grew up in Mid City Los Angeles, which is the same area she represents today in Congress. She is a graduate of Cal State Dominguez Hills, the University of Southern California’s School of Medicine physician assistant program, and the Masters Program in Social Work. She worked as a physician assistant and as a clinical instructor at the USC Keck School of Medicine physician assistant program.

I had the opportunity to do a short interview with her at her recent fundraising event in San Pedro and found her engaging, smart and earnest in her aspiration to come back to LA and fix it. I have no doubt that she, Feuer and de León would make a sincere effort at fixing all that ills Los Angeles. I’m just not convinced that LA, such as it is, can be fixed!

What I mean by this is that the bureaucracies, the overlapping jurisdictions and the top-down management of the city breeds a long established distrust between city departments and the citizens they serve. It operates in both directions — from the city clerk’s office, to the LAPD, to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (which is a misnomer if I’ve ever heard one).

People don’t tend to trust the city, and the city tends not to trust the people, unless you are a “part of the city family.”

And yet, there’s a kind of complacency that is born from this distrust that allows the com-

“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. XLIII : No. 7 Random Lengths News is a publication of

Beacon Light Press, LLC

Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communities of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach.

mon people of Los Angeles to abide the benign neglect that blankets their being disempowered up until the day there’s a drive-by shooting in their rather quiet neighborhood, their trash day is missed or the homeless camp expands to Echo Park Lake where they walk their golden retriever.

Then watch out!

The only one of the top tier candidates that seems to understand this is Mike Feuer, and he may not make it past the primary. But if he does not get elected, whoever does should hire him to implement his plan to untangle LA’s fundamental

dysfunction.

I’m waiting to interview de León to see if he’s the real deal. All I can say at this point, is that we don’t need another billionaire wanting to come in and run the city “like a business.” Such candidates aren’t to be trusted with the keys to the city or the nation.

I don’t even know what Caruso’s CAN might look like but I can only imagine that it’s a gold plated toilet and something the city can’t afford even if he only gets paid a dollar a year.

Jackson Confirmation Hearing Proves GOP Doesn’t Really Care

By Thom Hartmann, National Progressive Political Commentator It’s somewhere between comical and tragic watching the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Lindsey Graham throws his trademark hissy fit and storms out, John Cornyn tries to sound erudite and fails, Marsha Blackburn outs herself as a fanatic, Ted Cruz thinks Black judges should vet children’s books about racism, and Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton just end up making fools of themselves.

But none of them really care. None of the Republicans do.

And I don’t mean that as the frame for a polemic. This is intended as a serious analysis of what’s happened to the GOP over the past 40 years, which informed their behavior in that committee meeting on March 22-23.

In 1976 (Buckley) and 1978 (Bellotti) the Supreme Court legalized political bribery, un-

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leashing a flood of cash for the Ronald Reagan campaign of 1980. Most Democrats at that time were still funded mostly by the unions, so they weren’t paying such attention to the possibility of dark money.

As I lay out in The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America, the Court doubled down on those decisions in 2010, blowing up over 100 federal and state laws that regulated money in politics in Citizens United.

It opened a door to the GOP and a handful of Democrats were eager to rush through.

The entire Republican Party has since sold itself out to rightwing billionaires and giant corporations and as long as they have that support — and the billions of dollars to carpet-bomb their states with advertising every election — they don’t give a rat’s ass about the things they’re pre-

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RANDOMLetters The Unhidden Truth: De Facto Segregation In San Pedro

All who were raised in San Pedro love the town and recognize it as a wonderful place to grow up.

Most of us are proud to say, “I am from Peedro. Some say the town was ordained to prove to the world that equality and respect for each other are important to local order.

But like all places, San Pedro is not perfect. It seems that the ugly, hurtful stain of de facto segregation remains in the city (that is separation of persons by fact rather than by legally imposed require-

ment). In the matter of San Pedro Afro-Americans continue to be denied access to apartment rentals south of Sixth Street. More particularly, in the southwest parts of the city.

I was recently informed of two Afro-American persons who applied for rental property in suspected de facto segregated areas of San Pedro. Both, who were outstanding candidates regarding yearly income, secure employment, no criminal histories and they had respect in the community, had submitted applications but reportedly received no responses from apartment representatives.

[Confirmation, from p. 6]

Confirmation

Dear Mr. Gray, You might find this history enlightening.

The California Fair Housing Act of 1963, better known as the Rumford Act (AB 1240) because of its sponsor, Assemblyman William Byron Rumford, was one of the most significant and sweeping laws protecting the rights of blacks and other people of color to purchase housing without being subjected to discrimination during the postWorld War II period.

The Rumford Act called for an end to racial discrimination in all public and private housing in the state and immediately met opposition in the California legislature.

Republican legislators exempted most forms of private and single family housing before the bill was finally passed on September 20, 1963. The new law made illegal discrimination in public housing and in all residential properties with more than five units.

Despite the exclusion of the vast majority of the homes oc-

cupied by Californians, the California Real Estate Association (CREA) immediately launched a repeal campaign. Exploiting the growing hostility toward all liberal social programs and promoting the call for “property owner rights,” the CREA-led effort resulted in the Proposition 14 referendum on Nov. 3, 1964, which saw a 2-to-1 vote in favor of repeal of the Rumford Act. Despite the vote, the Rumford Act was restored in 1966 when the California Supreme Court ruled that Prop. 14 was illegal. A year later, the U.S. Supreme Court strengthened this ruling stating that Prop. 14 violated the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which “prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property.”

This by no means explains how some landlords still get away with discriminating against people of color.

James Preston Allen, Publisher

Read these online exclusives and more at:

RandomLengthsNews.com

Biden’s Unhinged Call for Regime Change in Russia by Norman Solomon Minneapolis Educators Continue Strike by Mark Friedman Recommended Overhaul of Police Oversight Would Leave Long Beach Without Independent Investigations of Complaints by Greggory Moore

March 31 - April 13, 2022

goguery; they don’t care how many red-state teenage girls get pregnant because they never learned about human reproduction or lack access to birth control; they don’t care how many kids will die by gunshot today.

Species going extinct? Wilding weather destroying another thousand homes? Childhood cancers exploding? People crushed by medical bills and losing their homes?

They don’t want to hear about it.

The struggles of average working people are meaningless to them, as are the crises of people struggling with medical or educational debt that literally doesn’t exist in any other developed nation.

Those are all just numbers to them, and they don’t pay much attention to numbers. It doesn’t even matter to them that the fear-laden and hateful version of authoritarian “Christianity” they preach would be rejected by Jesus.

They’re happy to ignore the fact that the United States — apparently on advice from “Beerbong” Brett Kavanaugh when he was working for George W. Bush (the Trump administration refused to release the papers) — tortured and murdered numerous innocent people at Gitmo, some still there.

Their absurd “concern” that white children will be “scarred for life” by discovering that a small minority of white people were once brutal slaveholders is pure theater. As is their proclaimed worry that kids reading about the holocaust or a novel that describes the Black or LGBTQ+ experience in America will twist young minds.

It’s all theater to distract us from their real work of increasing the poisons in our air and water to jack up the profits of their obscene overlords. The more hate they can create among Americans the better: it boosts their social media presence because of algorithms designed to keep us in a state of perpetual outrage.

Seriously. They have no real interest in governing or making America a better place for anybody to live, other than the morbidly rich.

Proof: Name one single piece of legislation since 1980 that has been proposed by Republicans, passed a Republican-controlled Congress, and been signed into law by a Republican President that primarily helps working or poor Americans more than it does fat-cats on Wall Street, polluting industries, or billionaire industrialists.

You can’t do it. I’ve been asking this question for 19 years on my radio/TV show and I can tell you right now: you can’t name a single one.

Sure, they’ll wrap a tiny carrot for average folks inside a big box with a pony for the billionaires, like they did with the Reagan, Bush, and Trump tax cuts.

But primarily benefit America’s working people or the poor, or strengthen our democracy?

Forgetaboutit.

never effective and San Pedro resumed is a generalized standard practice of failing to provide rental property to Afro-Americans.

The big question now is how do we solve the problem? Realtors are between a rock and a very hard place. Some apartment owners’ perceptions of Afro-Americans are that of the 1970s television series, Starsky and Hutch (Thus persona non grata). That all AfroAmericans as drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes. All in all, will there only be a compromise of what is codified law? Does equality and respect matter anymore? Is one to accept Critical San Pedro Theory that de facto segregation is acceptable in a town that glorifies its good race relations.

We know that San Pedro’s politicians shake in fear at the words, “de facto segregation” kind of like E=MC^2 as too hot to handle. Will the new 15th district councilperson address the issue?

We will be waiting.

John Gray Wilmington

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

tending to be so very, very concerned about.

Every one of those Republican senators had two simple goals for the hearings.

The first was to smear the Democratic nominee in a way that will guarantee that — over the next 24-hour news cycle — the name “Judge Jackson” will repeatedly occur in the same headline or sentence as “child porn,” “Critical Race Theory,” or “terrorists from Gitmo.”

The second was to craft a short soundbite of their own performance art that Fox “News” and other hard-right media can play on a loop. White Republicans dressing down a Black woman?

Perfect for conservative hate media.

Even if they make fools of themselves, they all know that the first dictum of public relations — taught to them by Donald Trump himself, who candidly and correctly credited it to PT Barnum — is: “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.

Just spell my name right.”

This is happening because the Republican Party is no longer interested in governing.

They’ve become the mouthpiece for a faction of business and great wealth, and beyond that have no commitment to rebuilding or improving this country in any meaningful way.

There’s a reason the GOP refuses to publish a party platform or legislative agenda: they don’t have one, beyond doing anything they can to increase corporate profits (regardless of the harm to consumers, competition, or the planet) and to keep taxes low on their morbidly rich donors.

And to winning the so-called “culture wars.”

Hell, they’ve been telling us that for years.

“Deregulation, cut taxes, small government” is the GOP mantra. Meanwhile, the culture war keeps their base in a constant state of frothingat-the mouth.

Deregulation and cutting taxes is all they have, and it doesn’t sell today like it did back in the 1980s when they waved it around as a “new idea.”

So they’ve stopped even pretending that they care about actually doing the people’s business.

Of course, there’s all the Sturm und Drang about race, porn, drugs, religion, and gender identity. But that’s just to keep the rubes showing up at the ballot box.

These multimillionaire Republican senators, funded by their billionaire pals, don’t have a second thought for any of those “issues.” As the Republican Study Committee pointed out, “winning” the “culture wars” is the real agenda to get angry white racists to turn out for GOP candidates so they can stay in power and continue to do the bidding of the wealthy.

And in that, they don’t care how many gay or trans kids commit suicide because of their dema-

In the early 1960s, there were many protests regarding de facto segregation in San Pedro and after South Bay Communities, meetings were held, policy changes were suggested and ultimately in 1965, the Jess Unruh Civil Rights act was passed (California Civil Code 51A). The new law was equal for anyone who simply desired access to an apartment or other real property being made available regardless of race or other factors.

The passage of the Unruh Act caused lawsuits in San Pedro and a modicum of change to take place in opening rental property to all.

But unfortunately, rental property providers have found legal methods to sidestep codified law. Thus rental discrimination laws were

7

Carnival Cruise or Pirate Ship? cases against cruise lines, “We see the side of this corporation that does everything it can to insulate itself from legal exposure,” he explained. “Some of the ways it does that are perfectly legal, but they’re on the edge of legality and they really pride themselves in not showing responsibility.

This is a corporate culture that has very little regard for the safety and security of their guests and their passengers.”

How Carnival operates illustrates a larger worldwide problem — certain areas are well governed, but there are cracks where it isn’t.

“This is a corporation that you could say exists in the cracks, it was grown in the cracks. It is not a corporation that values light in the organization. There’s very little sunshine shining on this corporation,” Walker said. Crime occurs, but it’s hidden, of necessity.

“To promote an image of a fun family vacation, you can’t admit the fact that you have a shipboard problem with crime, and in particular, rape and sexual abuse and sexual assaults against the female passengers, and against the children,” Walker noted. But there was no crime reporting before Congress passed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Law of 2010, which “came about through the efforts of many of our clients who testified before Congress.” As a result, “You can actually go online and find which ships in which companies have the worst records as far as shipboard rape.

And you’ll find Carnival at the top of the list.” In fact, “Carnival Cruise Lines has more rapes per capita then half the states in the United States of America, including California, New York, New Jersey and in a dozen or so other states.”

Discovery Princess, the newest ship in Carnival’s Princess line, which arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on March 19. Photo courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles

Of course, crime occurs everywhere, “But a crime on a Carnival Cruise Ship is not going to be solved it’s not going to be prosecuted, because the culture on the ships is to blame the passenger, to blame the woman who gets raped or to suggest that they did something wrong. They drank too much,” Walker says, even though “This is an industry that prides itself in selling many millions and millions of dollars of booze every year.” Carnival sells all-you-can-drink

drink packages, and “There’s a direct correlation between shipboard violence, including rape, and the amount of alcohol.”

Bartenders and bar servers aren’t paid anything by Carnival — they work exclusively for tips and gratuities, which is strictly illegal under U.S. labor law. “So the bartenders and the bar servers push alcohol very aggressively. The statistics show that in many rape cases — in cases of one guest assaulting another guests — both being intoxicated with as many as 15 or 20 drinks. It’s really quite extraordinary,” Walker remarked.

In effect you have one crime — or shouldbe crime — (wage theft) contributing to another (rape or sexual assault). “They’re not violating the law because there are no laws that apply to Carnival Cruise ships,” Walker points out, “even though it sails from the United States.”

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

The Great Pretender

8

Carnival pretends to be American. “For the longest time there were advertisements which showed Carnival Cruise ships with an American flag flying at the stern, going across the TV screen,” but “There are no American flag Carnival cruise ships sailing, whatsoever,” Walker flatly stated. “They create this illusion, this is part of America. Their current CEO coined the term ‘America’s cruise line,’ which is like, ‘What does America have to do with it?’ The only connection to the United States is their executives are living here in waterfront properties in Miami.” Walker estimates, “Maybe 3% of their crew members are U.S. citizens. Those are typically say the cruise director, some of the singers, dancers and entertainers,” but “Most of the fleet consists of crew members from the Philippines, Indonesia, India and what is commonly referred to as Eastern Europe.”

When rapes or other crimes are reported, Carnival routinely lets crew members return to their homelands, thwarting investigations.

“You’ll never see the FBI taking a crew member off the ship and leading them down the gangway with the call ahead to the press telling them that we got a rapist on a cruise ship,” Walker said. It never comes to that.

But rapes and sexual assaults aren’t the only problems. Thefts are also a concern. “The cruise industry fought the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Law Act that I mentioned. They really

fought to limit the types of crimes that needed to be reported. They were successful in limiting the language only to thefts involving over $10,000,” Walker explained.

Carnival also protects itself against civil liability. “All the cruise tickets limit liability for any type of personal items that are left that are lost or stolen on the ship,” Walker explained. “You don’t realize it, it’s in fine print, but most cruise lines, Carnival limits their liability to $100 for anything that is left lying around the cabin, that’s the term they use. So if you have your jewelry, take jewelry off — priceless jewelry that your grandmother gave your wife, some story like that — they’ll give you a check for a hundred bucks.”

Even the high rate of reported rapes is probably an undercount, given the lack of support for victims — rape crisis centers, support groups, etc. Walker cites the example of Laurie Dishman, a client who testified before Congress about her experience. “She was raped by a shipboard security officer, and she was faced with the dilemma of having to report the crime and she initially reported it to what’s called the front desk, where the purser and customer relations are, and they said you have to talk to the security,” Walker explained. “So she was faced with this issue. Do I really want to report a crime involving a member of the security detail to the security department?

It’s like being raped by a police officer and having to go to the police department to report the rape.”

That might be a worst-case scenario, but it’s part of a broader pattern. “Probably of the 125 women that we’ve represented — we also represent parents whose children have been molested on ships — probably 25% of those women don’t report the crime until they get off the ship, come to their senses, gain some stability and support from their family, and then report it,” Walker estimates. “A good portion of the people who are victims of crime decide not to report the crime simply because there’s no vehicle to report it.

The ships of course begin building a case against the victim even before the victim gets off ship.

“So they decided not to solve the problem by making an example of a bad apple, by showing that we take this very seriously and were going to prosecute criminals on our ships. They take the other attitude, they begin attacking the victim and minimizing the victim. So I think that the reporting statistics certainly do not include those women that don’t report the rape on the ship.”

The free flow of alcohol and lack of a supporting environment aren’t the only risk factors involved. “One of the major problems that we’ve seen over the years is that many of the rapes are committed by the cabin attendants,” as well as child molestations. These tend to happen the last day of a cruise, after attendants have ingratiated themselves. “The cabin attendant, typically on the last night of the cruise, after they become familiar with the family, come back into the cabin, see that mom and dad are not there … and there’s a sexual molestation that occurs,” Walker said.

“Cruise lines know it, they absolutely know it.

They could take their key cards away, they could deactivate the key cards outside of business hours. They don’t do that for reasons I don’t quite understand.”

Although Walker’s firm doesn’t deal with it, he calls pollution Carnival’s biggest and most consistent crime. It’s had multiple multi-million dollar fines for long-running violations, but given Carnival’s multi-billion dollar revenues, these are mere slaps on the wrist. “In 2002 Carnival pled guilty to widespread pollution that led to this $18 million fine and they had a five year probation,” Walker said.

[See Carnival, p. 15]

By Melina Paris, Assistant Editor

I

Manila

Linda opened her first bookstore in Manila the same year President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and ruled accordingly for the next nine years. Up until that point, Linda was a 35-year-old operations manager in Merrill Lynch’s Hong Kong offices. When people came to visit her, they saw her book collection and always asked her where she got them. Linda decided it was time to return home and experience what her countrymen were experiencing, rather than read about it from a distance.

At the time, Manila only had two major bookshops, which also sold all kinds of imports. Linda wanted her bookshop to be purely about the Philippines.

She opened Casalinda Bookshop in Manila, but living and working under Marcos’ so-called “constitutional authoritarianism” proved to be a risk.

Linda kept the bookstore open up until the final two years of Marcos’ reign. Military men under Marcos would regularly visit the bookshop. Linda said sometimes men in uniform were book lovers so, at first, she thought they were

Linda Nietes-Little, owner of Philippine Expression Bookshop. Photo

by Arturo GarciaAyala. Graphic by Brenda López

just perusing the books. She was happy when they first started to visit, but soon realized, “of course, they were scrutinizing every shelf.” Linda understood they were there for a purpose.

“They wanted to see if there (were) subversive materials,” she said, “I guess they knew that I was friends with some people with different ideas. It made me think one time, after one of their visits, it’s not safe. Someone could plant materials and I could get called to the military court. It’s very ironic. I opened a bookshop because of martial law and I left the country and my bookshop because of it.”

Linda came to the United States in 1984. She had no further repercussions from the occupation, after reaching the U.S. However, she was extra careful. One of the first things she did upon arriving in the states was to learn martial arts. She never had to use it, but Linda did know she had to stay one step ahead.

[See Nietes-Little, p. 15]

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Young Filipina

Early in life, Linda experienced a tragic event that ultimately shaped her drive to persist and to foster knowledge in younger generations amid war and martial law. She contributed a letter to the Los Angeles

Times’ Readers Remember about her experience during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. She said it was a very sad period in her life.

At the age of seven, she lost both her mother and brother when the Japanese bombed an evacuation shelter in November 1944. Her mother died only a few yards from where she and her siblings sought shelter. In her letter Linda wrote: “The bomb seemed to have been directly aimed at our evacuation shelter. Since Papa was part of the underground guerillas who fought the Japanese it seemed like our family was a target!”

Linda’s father later became a member of the First Congress of The Philippines. Linda said, more than anything, it’s her father who shaped her and her siblings’ experience.

He said in war there are no winners. We’re all losers.

“Some people go to war on instructions,” she said. “They don’t mean to kill but they are part of that group. But we can bear no hatred. That’s very important.”

Upon her college graduation, Linda set out to make Japan the first country she traveled, “to know, what kind of people are they to bring devastation?”

“We suffered,” she said. “So, I was intrigued by the fact that they are nice people, especially the old ones, so immersed in the aesthetics of life; the tea ceremony, their ikebana flower arrangement. You have to see behind the screen of war to be able to really know the people themselves.”

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

n February Linda Nietes-Little, owner of Philippine Expression Bookshop in San Pedro received a remarkable letter from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles informing her she is one of the recipients of the 2021 Banaag Award, as part of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas.

“This award does not belong to me alone,” Nietes said in her announcement. “It also belongs to all members of our Filipino American and Filipino communities all over the U.S. and in the diaspora, who have expressed their appreciation for the work I have been doing through Philippine Expressions Bookshop.”

The Banaag Award is bestowed on Filipino individuals or organizations for their contributions that have significantly benefited a sector of the diaspora, or advanced the cause and interest of overseas Filipino communities. The award is presented by the president during a ceremony at the Presidential Museum and Library, Malacañan Palace in Manila.

While the ceremony and celebration are on hold until the pandemic subsides, the Philippine presidential elections are scheduled for May 9. Linda told Random Lengths News that President Rodrigo Duterte, who is part of that committee, won’t be president. Last October, Duterte said he was going to retire from politics when his term ends.

For 50 years, Linda has been a cultural activist and gatekeeper of Philippine culture. Philippine Expression, which she opened in 2016, is just the latest bookstore she has opened.

Here, she has hosted many literary soirees since opening. Before the pandemic and subsequent closures hit, Linda was hosting poetry readings, book talks and book releases and music events practically every month. Native Philippine gong music and rondalla, an ensemble of plucked string instruments and music genre brought to the islands by Spanish colonizers, was often heard from her shop.

She started her personal collection of books in the 1960s when she graduated from college. She said she never thought that she would end up being a bookshop owner.

Linda, who is 85, said she will retire in December and someone may take over Philippine Expression’s online operation.

But her brain is still immersed in this business.

Linda said she would like to establish small reading rooms in the Philippines — or book nooks.

Her bookshop has virtual assistants, based in the Philippines, and “book scouts” who look for out of print titles for customers. Further, a prominent LA museum is interested in Linda’s indigenous art collection which is on view at Pinta*Dos Philippine Art Gallery, located directly across from her bookshop.

9

N

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

ear the corner of the Pacific Coast Highway and Walnut street in Lomita, stands one of the great Caribbean food joints in the South Bay. The Good Life Cafe stands at 1841 PCH but holds somewhat odd hours for a normal cafe, only open from 5 to 11 p.m. with the exception of Sundays where it’s open from 12 to 5 p.m. according to its website.

I arrived on a Friday at 6:45 p.m. and although the restaurant is large on the outside and considering the time and day, I assumed the place would be bustling with life. Entering the cafe proved a different scene. A large empty space to the right as you enter, and a normal but also empty traditional eating area with tables and a bar to the left are the two main areas of The Good Life Cafe. Three tables were filled on the left side with people waiting for orders and watching March Madness Basketball on three TV monitors perched nearby. Large and various Caribbean flags were draped along the walls of the restaurant, as well as posters of athletes like Manny Pacquiao, LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. With no host or waiter in sight, I sat myself at one of the tables.

After ten minutes, a waiter emerged from

10

The Good Life:

A Quiet Place Filled by Loud Food

By Avery Amaya-Adle, Contributor

the kitchen and took my order.

The strange and odd feeling I felt as I waited for my food was finally realized as I noticed that the only sound in the cafe was of the basketball game being played on the TV. After about 40 minutes of waiting, the food arrived, and with the current vibrations of the room, I was skeptical of the food that was now coming, but to my surprise, the food was worth the rest. For $12, the well-cooked pineapple jerk shrimp was sweet and juicy with jerk sauce on top making the plate worthy of ordering. The pineapple, vegetables, and rice and beans were nothing to really remember. These items were not bad by any means and I did certainly eat all of it, but it did lack any real taste that would be worth remembering.

The jerk chicken main course for $16 was similar in that the chicken was extremely well cooked and had the same Jerk chicken, sweet sauce spread on top of it Amaya-Adle that I’m still fantasizing about today. It also came with the same vegetables and rice and beans that needed more salt or something else to make it stand on par with the meat.

Two jerk chicken tacos cost $5 total, and again had delicious meat, exquisite jerk sauce but somewhat forgettable vegetable toppings.

The welcomed addition of some chopped-up

from the Good Life Cafe in Lomita. Photo by Avery

mangos made the tacos even sweeter but not over the top. The shell was fresh but could have been crispier to accentuate the juiciness of the mango. For the price, the tacos are probably the best food option considering what you get.

I was in the mood for comfort food, so I also ordered the seafood mac ‘n’ cheese that came with lobster, crab, shrimp and clams in it for $20. Although I had a hard time distinguishing the tastes between the various sea dwellers, the overall taste was fantastic and decidedly comforting.

Along with all of that, I had ordered the sorrel and the sea moss smoothie, but realized it had never come. I got the attention of the waiter and asked about it, but he said that he probably didn’t have it anymore. After a check in the kitchen, he confirmed this, explaining that he didn’t have the recipe for these drinks since the old chef left. The old chef being Chef Bernard James, who was still on the front cover of the menus. We reached out to the chef but have received no response at the time. This lone waiter then went on to explain that he was the operator, cook and waiter of the establishment for the time being, which of course explained the emptiness or just clear lack of employees in the café. Modern reggae tunes soon filled the air, filling the strange void of silent customers and college basketball being heard from the TV set.

The Good Life Cafe has great food. There is no denying that. And if you are not in a rush, it’s a great place to have food, but even with these setbacks, the cafe manages to maintain excellent and by all accounts authentic Caribbean cuisine.

The Good Life Cafe 1841 Pacific Coast Highway, Lomita 424-263-5408

Culinary News:

New Carson Restaurant Openings

By Fabiola Esqueda, Carson Reporter

SoCal Wings You might have heard of the famous Long Beach SoCal wings. It’s a good thing Carson residents no longer have to worry about a long drive. Located in the center of Carson, right down Avalon, these Asian inspired wings are sure to bring comfort.

An Asian fusion restaurant, owners Leang Lee and Linda Arn are ready to expand their business. The menu has cheesy potato bowls, along with rice bowls, shrimp and mozzarella egg rolls. Along with the diversity of food, the menu contains classic buffalo and spicy lemon pepper wings. Don’t forget the boba tea drinks with some popcorn chicken! Oh, and there’s pasta.

Details: http://www.socal-wings.com Location: 21737 Avalon Blvd., Carson Dot & Dough This donut shop comes with a creative delight. On the menu are donuts stuffed with matcha, mango, taro and Thai tea, while the exteriors are glazed in cereal, chocolate and cookies and cream. If you are interested in drinks, there is a variety of boba milk teas.

Dot & Dough opened its first location in 2019 and is already on the verge of opening five new establishments along the California coast.

With 20k Instagram followers, it is sure to get more traction from sweet goers.

The establishment is now open to the public.

The shop just hosted its grand opening on March 26.

Details: https://www.dotanddough.com/; 310- 872-3403 Location: 552 E. Carson St., Unit 102, Carson Burattino Brick Oven Pizza There is a new pizzeria in Carson that is sure to bring in a lot of new customers. Its 337k followers on Instagram think so. While it is not yet open, it is aiming for April 1 as its opening date.

With a variation of culinary gourmet meats, stretchy cheese, and black garlic-infused marinara, owner Lee Kim makes it clear that this is not a fancy establishment but a neighborhood joint with a gourmet twist. This Korean-owned restaurant is ready to welcome its Carson residents to a new pizzeria experience ready for every season. But if you’re not craving pizza, that’s okay, because Burattino’s signature calzone and hot wings are available to eat.

While you wait for its grand opening in April, you can stop by its San Pedro location.

Details: https://www.burattinopizza.com/ Locations: 29701 S Western Ave #103, Rancho Palos Verdes; 531 E. Carson Street, Carson And get this, all three new establishments are walking distance from each other.

Palos Verdes Art Center

Ko-Ryu Ramen

WATER, EARTH & FIRE 362 W. 6th St. San Pedro 90731 310-935-2886

koryuramen.com Koi Ramen

Details: 310-5412479; www.pvartcenter.org Venue: 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes

Joan Takayama-Ogawa, Bleached Coral Hanging Chandelier, 2018, 36 x 35 inches diameter.

Ceramics, aircraft cable, LED puck lights

MARIE THIBEAULT - DRAWINGS

TransVagrant and Gallery 478 presents Marie Thibeault — Drawings, an exhibition of mixed media works on paper. Thibeault’s drawings are not only investigations into possible architectures for painting, but also reveal a geography of the artist’s imagination. While their shapes and forms echo those in her paintings, these drawings are more abstract and include medieval illustrations, astrological maps and ancient diagrams illustratMarie Thibeault, Cinder, 2022, mixed media on ing serpents, insects paper, 14” x 11” and birds. Whatever its approach, each work embodies a unique consideration of gesture and structure, and a deeply felt understanding of the expressive potential of the graphic mark.The show will be open April 7 First Thursday and runs through April 15.

Details: 310-600-4873 Venue: TransVagrant@Gallery 478, 478 W. 7th St., San Pedro.

March 31 - April 13, 2022

RANDOMLENGTHSNEWS.COM/ART/FIRST-THURSDAY

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

Palos Verdes Art Center presents Water, Earth & Fire, an exhibition celebrating ceramics as a powerful creative force and an expressive mode of communication. The show is organized in two thematic sections: first is the history of the outstanding and progressive instruction of the PVAC ceramics programs.

The second theme is water, a collection of works by invited artists whose innovative work addresses the theme of water in its many manifestations and mythologies. Jo Lauria, guest curator. The show runs through April 16.

TransVagrant @ Gallery 478

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MUSIC April 1

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall See nine-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trumpeter Herb Alpert. With The Tijuana Brass, Alpert was a mainstay on the Top 40 with singles such as The Lonely Bull, Mexican Shuffle, and Spanish Flea. The musician’s namesake foundation, which he co-founded with his wife Lani Hall, promotes youth and arts education, the advancement of music and environmental issues.

Time: 8 p.m., April 1 Cost: $55 to $85 Details: 562-916-8500; www.cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

April 2

Band 3.2 Prog rock strikes back when 3.2 takes the stage at Alvas showroom. This four-man band makes the music personal, combining the classics with its compositions and conversations.

Time: 8 p.m., April 2 Cost: $35 Details: https://alvasshowroom. com/event/3-2-feat-robert-berry/ Venue: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

April 4

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical The musical recounts how the icon became one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history and explores her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Beautiful features an array of songs written by Goffin and King and Mann and Weil, including I Feel The Earth Move, One Fine Day, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and You’ve Got A Friend.

Time: 7 p.m., April 4 Cost: $70 to $110 Details: 562916-8500; cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts,18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

March 31 - April 13, 2022

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

April 9

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Lobate Scarp Lobate Scarp comes to the Alvas showroom. Combining an ’80s pop style with a musical theater styling, this unorthodox band has a style that is certain to leave an impression.

Time: 9 p.m., April 9 Cost: $20 Details: https://alvasshowroom.com/event/lobatescarp/ Venue: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

April 10

Don Felder As former lead guitarist of The Eagles, Felder co-wrote some of the band’s biggest hits, including Hotel California and Victim of Love. The Eagles have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide. The band’s Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) album sold more than 38 million copies and is the top-selling record of all time.

Time: 7 p.m., April 10 Cost: $50 to $85 Details: 562- 916-8500; cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

velop more effective management and conservation approaches.

Reserve a ticket to receive the Zoom link.

Time: 7 p.m., April 1 Cost: Free Details: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/discovery-lecture

April 13

Swing! The Great Big Bands of the Swing Era Get ready for a swingin’ evening as composer Rob Kapilow and the Cal State UN A Band, directed by Tina Raymond, celebrates the great big bands of the swing era by delving into the works of famous bandleaders of the time — Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Artie Shaw.

Time: 7:30 p.m., April 13 Cost: $55 Details: 562-916-8500; cerritoscenter.com Venue: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos

THEATER April 14

A Doll’s House, Part 2 It was shocking for audiences to watch Nora leave her husband and children in A Doll’s House, the 1879 play by Henrik Ibsen. Dive deeper into the reasons behind that choice is Hnath’s bitingly funny. Tony-nominated stand-alone sequel to Ibsen’s revolutionary masterpiece Time: 8 p.m. April 14 Cost: $37 Details: 562-436-3661; www.longbeachcc.com/calendar/ Venue: Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

ART

March 31

Armchair ArtWalk: Color Is A Beautiful Thing The next Armchair ArtWalk Tour draws its inspiration from a Nina Simone song, Color is a Beautiful Thing and will feature multidisciplinary artists Adrienne Wade, Bruce A. Lemon, Floyd Strickland and musician Chad Bishop. Join a discussion of Black artists’ work, as a look back at Black History Month. Armchair ArtWalk Tour will also be live streaming from Facebook, or view the video on YouTube where you can find previous Armchair ArtWalk Tours and project progress videos.

Time: 5:30 p.m., March 31 Cost: Free Details: https://tinyurl.com/yckud53a Venue: Zoom

April 2

April 2

Venue: Michael Stearns Studio @The Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., San Pedro Marie Thibeault — Drawings TransVagrant and Gallery 478 will present an exhibition of mixed media works on paper by Marie Thibeault, a professor emerita of art at California State University, Long Beach, where she teaches painting and color theory. Through April 15.

Time: Open during First Thursday ArtWalk, 6 p.m., April 7 and by appointment Cost: Free Details: 310-732-2150 Venue: TransVagrant at Gallery 478, 478 W. 7th St., San Pedro Black American Portraits Black American Portraits chronicles how Black Americans have used portraiture to envision themselves in their own eyes. This exhibition reframes portraiture to center Black American subjects, sitters and spaces. Spanning over two centuries, this selection of approximately 140 works draws primarily from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s permanent collection. LA County residents receive free general admission after 3 p.m. on weekdays.

Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through April 17 Cost: $10 to $15 Details: 323-857-6010; www.lacma.org Venue: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

FILM

March 31

Painting Long Beach The Long Beach Creative Group is presenting Painting Long Beach, a juried exhibition featuring works that consider the diverse city from a multitude of perspectives. The show features 58 works by 44 artists, selected by Thomas Butler, Kimberly Morris and Lawrence Yun. Photography, watercolor, drawing and mixed media pieces are included in the show.

Time: 2 p.m., April 2. Gallery hours:1 to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through April 30.

Cost: Free Details: www.longbeachcreativegroup.com Venue: Rod Briggs/LBCG Gallery, 2221 E. Broadway, Long Beach

Dance Camera West Film Festival The 20th season of Dance Camera West’s film festival will screen top selections chosen from a record 400 submissions around the world. DCW partnered with LA presenters for screenings and Q&As. Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz will present an exclusive set of North American and European dance films in person.

Time: 8 p.m., March 31 to April 2 Cost: $15 and up Details: 310-286-0553; www.trk.us.com Venue: Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles

Shifting Ground In Mirabel Wigon’s statement on her paintings she says “Through these paintings I explore my place and space, questioning modernist notions of progress and reflecting on the inherent instability in the built and natural landscape.”

Through April 15.

Time: Open during First Thursday ArtWalk, 6 p.m., April 7 and by appointment Cost: Free Details: www.michaelstearnsstudio.com/the-loft-gallery

Tarea Vida International environmental activist, author Helen Yaffe will present her documentary, Tarea Vida.

It is about Cuba’s fight against climate change. After the film, Yaffe will discuss: What is needed in the fight for action on climate change?; How Cuba defeated COVID with their own vaccines and helped the world; Cuba’s international medical teams and why the U.S. blockade of Cuba and 243 sanctions on trade and travel are illegal and inhumane.

Ongoing

April 2

Time: 4:30 to 7 p.m., April 2 Cost: Free Details: ushandsoffcubacommittee.com Venue: McCarty Memorial Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles

FOOD April 6

Midweek Feast: Cooking and Poetry with Nancy Woo Join a monthly virtual writing workshop using recipes and poems as inspiration to cook and write in community (virtually on Zoom).

Attendees will follow a recipe from the anthology Feast: Poetry & Recipes for a Full Seating at Dinner. During the workshop, the facilitator will read the poem associated with the recipe and lead an at-home cooking demonstration and discussion via Zoom.

Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m., April 6 Cost: Free Details: www.eventbrite.com/e/ midweek-feast-tickets Venue: Online

DANCE April 13

Miguel Poveda This is flamenco singer Miguel Poveda’s first Los Angeles appearance. Poveda is one of the most respected flamenco singers in Spain and around the world.

Poveda takes the audience on a tour of the traditional musical forms of flamenco, from the more cheerful malagueñas and alegrías to the more sorrowful seguirillas and soleás, all the while sharing his personal connection to the music.

Time: 8 p.m., April 13 Cost: $35 to $75 Details: 800-595-4849; www.kalakoa.com/flamenco.html Venue: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles

April 29

The Waiting Room What is it that you are waiting for?

What do you do when you are waiting? Are there things in your life that are holding you back from your destiny? Join Anointed Feet Dance as it dances its way down the streets of gold and pushes its way to destiny.

Time: 7 p.m., April 29, 30 Cost: $10 to $25 Details: https://elcaminotickets. universitytickets.com/w/ Venue: Marsee Auditorium, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance

COMMUNITY April 1

Online Discovery Lecture: Turning the Tide for Sharks and Rays Dive into the world of Costa Rica’s sharks and rays and learn about the challenges they face. Dr. Mario Espinoza will discuss how he is combining a variety of research methods to assess the status of threatened shark and ray species, identify critical habitats for sharks and rays in Costa Rica, and de-

LA Sanitation Composting Workshops The popular home composting and urban gardening workshops have resumed with a fourth location. The first half of each workshop will teach you how to turn kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. The second half of the workshop will focus on urban gardening topics taught by Scott Henley and Steve List: April topics: soils, compost and worms.

Time: 9 to 11 a.m., April 2, May 7 June 4, on the first Saturday of each month Cost: Free Details: https://tinyurl. com/2p9aun6n Venue: Gaffey Nature Center, 725 W. Summerland Place, San Pedro

April 3

Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival The Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival is back in person. Join the traditional blessing, parade, performances and more.

Celebrate Cambodian Heritage Month and the Year of the Tiger.

Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 3 Cost: Free Details: 562-980-2632 Venue: MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach See the World With New Eyes Join learning and engagement coordinator Grace Cuffel in a therapeutic nature journaling and meditation session that will allow you to reflect on your relationship with yourself and with the natural world. Use your observation skills to explore the garden and leave with an expanded perspective of the world around you. All materials will be provided. This class will be held outdoors.

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., April 3 Cost: $20 to $25 Details: 424-452-0920; https://tinyurl.com/ymt54kkp Venue: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula

April 6

Playing in the Dirt: Soil Exploration Workshop for Kids This interactive class is geared towards little scientists in Pre-K, engaging different sensory modalities while learning the importance of soil health and biodiversity through puppet play and storytime, as well as meeting the garden’s very own squirm of worms.

All materials will be provided. Parents must be present for the entire class.

Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., April 6 Cost: $30 to $40 Details: 424-452-0920; https://tinyurl.com/2p8b3hsn Venue: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula

April 7

Long Beach Candidate Forum Get to know your next mayor and discuss their views on plant medicine at this event. Decriminalize Nature is a movement sweeping the nation that looks to restore our personal relationship with Mother Nature, cutting out big pharma and tapping into knowledge developed over our collective sacred human evolution.

Time: 7 to 9 p.m., April 7 Cost: Free Details: https://tinyurl.

com/43rcruvw Venue: Work Evolution!, 235 E. Broadway, 8th Floor, Long Beach

April 9

Garden Worming Around: Worm Bin Building Workshop Join a learning and engagement coordinator in an introductory vermiculture class to learn how to process your own household food waste into organic fertilizer by harnessing the decomposing power of worms. You will be building your own worm bin to take home, complete with a squirm of worms. In addition, you will learn worm care, explore soil basics, and learn the natural history of these wonderful invertebrates whose underground activities shape the world around us. All materials are provided along with a worm feeding and cast harvesting guide.

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. April 9 Cost: $90 to $110 Details: 424-452-0920; https:// tinyurl.com/2p83yh4e Venue: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula Whale of a Day Celebration Returns to RPV The 37th annual festival celebrating the migration of the Pacific gray whale will be held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic. The event will feature children’s games and crafts, tours of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center museum, live entertainment and marine-themed vendors and organizations, plus food trucks, a beer and wine garden and a silent auction and raffle.

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 9 Cost: Free Details: www.whaleofaday.com Venue: Point Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Dr. West, Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula Friends of the Library Annual Literary Weekend Rosa Easton, PVLD Trustee, will be talking with Lisa See about her passion for storytelling and her books. Linda Louie from the Bana Tea Company and Yoon Hee with TeaClassics will take part in presenting their tea ceremony traditions and a “Gong-fu tea” demonstration.

Time: 2 to 4 p.m. April 9 Venue: Malaga Cove Library, 2400 Vía Campesina, Palos Verdes Estates On April 10, author Rebecca Frankel will speak with Helen Dennis, syndicated columnist, about her latest book, Into the Forest, a story about the Rabinowitz famiy who narrowly escaped the Nazi ghetto in their Polish town and survived for two years in the woods.

Time: 2 to 3 p.m. April 10 Venue: Online Cost: Admission, $65 Details: Tickets, both days https:// tinyurl.com/4nrsbz3t

April 13

Light My Fire: Aromatherapy Meets Candle Making Workshop Join learning and engagement coordinator Karen to learn the basics behind aromatherapy and essential oils, why plants have evolved to produce essential oils over time, and how to make soy wax candles infused with lavender and eucalyptus essential oils.

All materials will be provided to create a scented candle to take home, along with an aromatherapy guide. This class will be held outdoors.

Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m., April 13 Cost: $35 to $40 Details: 424-452-0920; https://tinyurl.com/2m2ne35p Venue: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula

The Legendary Barbara Morrison Sept. 10, 1949 to March 16, 2022

By Melina Paris, Assistant Editor The music world and Los Angeles have lost Mo. She has performed at the Sea Jazz Festival, the the legendary jazz and blues singer and force of Bern Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival. nature, Barbara Morrison, on March 16.

Morrison also toured Europe with Ray Charles.

The three-time Grammy-nominated performOn the local front, Barbara Morrison was a er and record producer was also an ethnomusi- regular draw at music festivals throughout the recologist — someone who examines music as a gion, such as the Long Beach Jazz Festival where social process in order to understand not only she appeared regularly with Al Williams Jazz Sowhat music is but what it means to its practitio- ciety, the Long Beach Blues Festival, The New ners and audiences.

Blues Festival, the Bayou Festival and Leimert Morrison was committed to fortifying the Park Jazz Festival. The icon graced many jazz venLA music community and nurturing new talent. ues throughout Southern California like The CataHer dedication was given life in the form of the lina Jazz Club, Millennium Biltmore Hotel Gallery Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, which Bar and Pips on La Brea, where Morrison regularly she opened in 2009 in Leimert Park. This was hosted Tuesdays with Barbara and Friends. followed in 2010 by her founding of the CaliIn her career, Morrison has been the recipient fornia Jazz and Blues Museum, also located in of awards including the Living Legend Award Leimert Park cultural hub. Morrison was also from the Living Legend Foundation, Los Angean associate professor of jazz studies at UCLA, les County Museum of Art/LA Jazz Society’s LA where she taught as an ethnomusicologist. Re- Treasures Award and Motown’s Hal Award. cently, the university launched the Barbara MorOn March 26, Morrison’s fans and music rison Scholarship for Jazz. community attended a public viewing service at Born in Ypsilanti, Mich., and raised in Romu- the Congregational Church of Christian Fellowlus, Mich., Morrison recorded her first appearance ship in LA. Afterward, a celebration of the icon’s for radio in Detroit at the age of 10. In the early life was held at the Barbara Morrison Performing 1970s, at 23-years-old, she moved to Los Angeles Arts Center. and sang with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson’s band.

Barbara Morrison is survived by her brother, Between the mid-1970s and early 1990s, she Richard Morrison; two sisters, Pamela Morrisonrecorded several albums with Johnny Otis, and Kersey and Armetta Morrison; and 10 nieces and from the 1980s to 2021, Morrison recorded 22 al- nephews. She was 71-years-old when she died. bums. In her more than 60 year career, Morrison Details: A GoFundMe campaign has been set up has appeared with musicians of renown, including to cover Barbara’s funeral and estate expenses, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, Etta which you can find here, https://www.gofundme.

James, Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Terence com/f/RIP-barbara-morrison---funeral-expenses Blanchard, Nancy Wilson, Mel Tormé and Keb’

"Authentic songs that come straight from the streets and the heart" Apparitions: Ghosts On Pacific Avenue Review by Steven Meloan, Record Collector News, March-April, 2022 “Channeling touches of Woody Guthrie, Tom Waits and acoustic Springsteen, James Preston Allen’s Apparitions: Ghosts On Pacific Avenue (Beacon Light Press) offers tales of San Pedro’s denizens of the street, the walking wounded or insane.” The double-CD collection is envisioned as a concept album, a journalistic/poetic and mythical reporting of people and place — organized like a book, with each song a chapter and telling a given saga.

“These song stories are lifted right off the streets of San Pedro, California, and may resemble people and places either living or gone. Some of the names may have been altered to protect both the guilty and the innocent, some have not.”

Apparitions: Ghosts On Pacific Avenue is a two-disc set with a complete lyric book and a special tribute ballad to Charles Bukowski. Available online at: www.randomlengthsnews.com/ product/apparitions Allen’s previous album of original music, Days After the Rains, is also available.

For more information on James Preston Allen’s life and work: www.jamesprestonallen.com

AVAILABLE NOW IN SAN PEDRO AT JDC RECORDS AND THE GRAND EMPORIUM; IN LONG BEACH AT PAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

Real People, Real News, Really Effective March 31 - April 13, 2022

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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 22CMCP00039 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles Petition of: ERIKA MUNOZ TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner ERIKA MUNOZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: ERIKA MUNOZ to ERIKA MOON The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing: Date: 06-02-22, Time: 8:30 am, Dept.: A, Room: 904 The address of the court is 200 West Compton Blvd, Compton, CA 90220 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Daily Journal and RLn. Date March 22, 2022 Thomas D. Long Judge of the Superior Court

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2022052160 The following person is doing business as: GALA GENERAL CONSTRUCTION INC., 332 E. 111th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90061, County of Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation/ or Organization Number: LLC/AI No C4803819

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generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. 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: 03/31/2021,

03/31/2022, 04/14/2022, 04/28/2022,

Don Marshall, MBA, CPA

Specializing in small businesses CPA quality service at very reasonable rates www.donmarshallcpa.com

Registered owners: GALA GENERAL CONSTRUCTION INC., 332 E. 111th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90061. This Business is conducted by an Individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 12/2021. 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 misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one-thousand-dollars ($1,000).) GALA GENERAL CONSTRUCTION INC.S/. Norman Komugai This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 08/25/20. Notice-In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920.

A fictitious name statement

© 2022 MATT JONES, Jonesin’ Crosswords

RLNews is looking for freelance food and music writers who are knowledgeable about San Pedro and Long Beach area restaurants, culture and music scenes. Experienced writers preferred, but will consider aspiring bloggers. We are looking for writers who have a curiosity for a wide range of cuisines or music in the greater LA / Long Beach Harbor Area.

Committment to writing to deadline is a must. Having a strong social media following and bi-lingual skills is a plus.

Submit inquiries and any links to your writing to editor@ randomlengthsnews.com or call 310-519-1442 weekdays.

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JOB OPPS

ACROSS

1.

Fashion mogul von Furstenberg 6. “And Winter Came...” singer 10. Sound-boosting devices 14. “Citizen Kane” director Welles 15. “High” places for pirates 16. “Who Let the Dogs Out?” group ___ Men 17. “Hairspray” director 19. Laugh-and-a-half 20. Like tough push-ups 21. Matriarch 23. Suffix after Insta- or auto26. Groups of quail 27. Arm muscle, informally 30. In addition 32. Uncompressed audio file format 33. Folk singer Phil 34. Flautist Jean-Pierre ___ 36. HRE part 39. “___ is me!”

40. Colorful writing implements 41. “Bill ___ Saves the World” (Netflix series) 42. Abbr. at the bottom of a business letter 43. Birds, formally 44. “Heads up” abbr.

45. ___-One (“Sound of da

Police” musician) 47. “___: Vegas” (rebooted TV series) 48. Actress Tyler of “Archer” 49. Become less intense 52. “Help!” co-star Ringo 54. Memorized perfectly 56. Fasteners that pop into place 60. Sandpaper quality 61. Neither wins nor loses 64. “Blues to the Bone” singer ___ James 65. Market order 66. “Dia de ___” (Shakira song) 67. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author Roald 68. Graded item 69. Extra you may have to ask for at some drive-thrus (due to state laws)

DOWN

1. “Cobra Kai” school 2. Metal that can rust 3. NYC tennis stadium namesake 4. Obscure people 5. Swaddle 6. Yearbook superlatives ender 7. “Born,” in a Wikipedia bio 8. Fabric shop purchase 9. NBA component?

10. Brand used to treat cold sores 11. Big-ticket items 12. Counterfeit 13. Appeases fully

18. CPA’s entry 22. Cat noises at night 24. Underscore alternative 25. What the circled letters represent 27. Former heavyweight champ Riddick 28. Picture that can be dragged 29. Consults 31. “Let’s see what you got!”

34. Minister, for short 35. Ques. response 37. Ancient legend 38. “CHiPS” remake actor Michael 40. Fill the tank 44. Circulatory conduit 46. Apartment, typically 48. Comes to light 49. Having a border 50. Principal artery 51. “Blue Ribbon” beer brand 53. Vessel boarded by pairs 55. Sloth’s hangout 57. Loving or lasting leader?

58. Part of TB 59. Lots of it was created for the Beijing Olympics 62. South African golf legend Ernie 63. ___-newsweekly (paper you might be holding)

[Carnival, from p. 8]

Carnival

During that probation — beginning in 2005, four or five Princess cruise ships began using “magic pipes” used to bypass the ship’s oily water separator and make untreated bilge water “magically disappear.” This came to light in 2013, when a newly-hired engineer on the Caribbean Princess took pictures of the “magic pipe” in use and then when it was removed before a mandatory inspection. A wide-ranging investigation resulted in a record $40 million settlement in 2016.

But it didn’t go far enough. “They stopped short of really tracking it from the shipboard employees, the engineers, to the shoreside managers and then all the way up the chain to the executives,” Walker pointed out. “Certainly the executives knew that no one was incurring any waste disposal expenses at all for a period of time.”

Walker contrasts the $40 million fine with their $20 billion revenue. “So what is $40 million as a percent?” he asks. “Is it like a traffic court fine? A parking violation to you or me? Maybe. It’s just the cost of doing business with them. They don’t care about the water and the air, they don’t care about their employees.” In fact, “They were fined another $20 million in 2019,” for violating their origin settlement agreement with further violations, including the dumping of plastic mixed with food waste in Bahamian waters, as well as deceptively evading compliance provisions, which have been tracked in a series of annual reports. “And the fact is they continued to violate, and a couple months ago in January this year, 2022, they were fined another $1 million.” Combined with fines [Nietes-Little, from p. 9]

Nietes-Little

New and Ancient Culture

she saw them they would have PhDs and some worked in academia. They told her the books reinforced their feelings about being Filipino.

That made it even more interesting to her because she’d like to feel she helped a lot, “in the literal sense,” the education of her people and making them engage in reading, in books and writing. “[When the] Spaniards saw the beautifully tattooed inhabitants of the archipelago — not a republic — that’s why they called the Filipinos Las Pintates or The Painted Ones,” Linda said. “[With] beautiful designs and different colors on their bodies, that only gives you the idea that even before the west came to the Philippines, we already had our sense of culture, our sense of ethics. And of course 350 years of Spanish colonization destroyed all that. Then the Japanese came, then the Americans and now we’re free but not totally free because there are remnants of colonization in the psyche of our people.

“That’s why offering the books for the young people to read, to make them proud of their ancestry, I hope to build their self respect, well being and pride in their culture.”

refused to let them be heard. “It was a real lost opportunity ... for the court to really open the proceeding up, and to get to the bottom of it, and to really try to make real change.”

The final, fifth annual probation report, issued on Feb. 16, credited Carnival with “important work toward building a sustainable compliance culture,” in contrast to its earlier intransigence, but noted “remaining barriers,” such as a “blame culture,” an “anti-learning leadership mindset,” and “prioritizing guest experience and revenue generation over ship operational and compliance needs.”

The blame culture is deeply entrenched, Wright noted. When “magic pipes” were exposed, “They blamed the subordinate crew members, what they called the ‘rogue engineers.’” But “All those activities of storing waste, whether it’s waste oil, sewage, or plastics, and disposing of it,

cost a lot of money — hundreds of thousands of dollars per ship.” When it’s not being done, to cut costs, upper management has to know it — if not bring pressure to cause it in the first place.

As things stand now, “That five year probation that was started in 2016 is scheduled to end next month. Quite frankly, then this is going to be the Wild Wild West again,” Wright lamented.

So what would it take to really make Carnival and other cruise lines change? Judge Seitz had the right idea, but failed to follow through, in Wright’s view. “We’re not going to see any changes until someone from Carnival corporation board of directors, some of the chief executives, maybe the chairman of the board goes to jail,” he said. But then added, “I think quite frankly that the prospects of that are slim and none.”

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

After arriving in the U.S., Linda moved to Westwood. At that time, she frequently rode the bus through the Wilshire corridor full of shops and places for rent — a good location for a bookshop, she thought. Linda had no model to work from. It would be the first Philippine bookshop in the U.S. Linda opened Philippine Expression specifically to help inform young Filipinos of their culture. Of the 4.2 million Filipino Americans in the U.S., more than 500,000 live in Los Angeles as of 2019. She noted a large number of young Filipinos have never been to the Philippines.

In 1984, you could count on one hand the number of Filipino authors. Now there are many. The self-publishing trend too, she said, has helped.

“You must love it with a passion to have a career as a bookseller, otherwise you won’t last,” she said. “I could have had another career in finance … that’s my training. But that’s not really building a community.”

When she was in Westwood, Linda said UCLA students would come in for books — Americans of Philippine ancestry. The next time

on their other subsidiaries, Walker sets their total fines at roughly $82 million.

The 2016 probation was overseen by Judge Patricia Seitz, who at one point seemed to have had enough, according to Walker. “She said this: ‘We have a program [for] recidivist criminals that are likely to commit their crimes again, and it seems to me that Carnival is one of those recidivist criminals. They happen to be a corporation but they’re a corporate felon, they’re likely to do it again.’ She seemed to have a real understanding of what was before her, this mess that was before her, and she said, ‘It seems to me that nothing’s really going to change until I do something more serious, until I either block all Carnival Cruise ships from ever calling in a U.S. port, or we have prison time for their executives and their board of directors.’

And man did Carnival freak out.”

And yet, “The next time they violated the probation, nothing happened. She didn’t call the marshals in. No one left the court in handcuffs.

Micky Arison’s still worth $10 billion. None of this comes out of his pocket. He has his yachts that he lives on. He enjoys his lifestyle, he’s not affected by it.”

Adding insult to injury, the $20 million settlement was entered without hearing from victims. “They found evidence, while Carnival was on probation, that Carnival had dumped 500,000 gallons of trash and plastic items” throughout the Bahamas, Wright said. “There were Bahamian environmental organizations that were affected, and claimed damage due to Carnival’s criminal conduct, who wanted to testify. And there is a federal statute that permits victims of crime to testify regarding the court’s treatment of the criminal that committed the crime,” but Seitz

Philippine Expressions Bookshop 479 W. 6th St., San Pedro Open 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and by appointment.

310-514-9139; www.philippinebookshop.com and info@philippinebookshop.com March 31 - April 13, 2022

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March 31 - April 13, 2022

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant