Port Truckers End Strike, New Model Unveiled p. 3 Carson Voters About to Pick Six p. 5
Gina’s Picks for Best West Coast BBQ p. 12
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Musician Luke Von Duke on a New Frequency p. 11
Filling in the Blanks Harbor Commissioner Dave Arian leaves nothing unsaid at POLAHS State of the School address By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
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Editor’s Note: Above is a still photo from the film, Niña Quebrada, which tells the story of a young girl forced into prostitution by her boyfriend upon arriving in Los Angeles from Mexico. Though the story in the film is based on fictional characters, the circumstances in which these characters are found are accurate depictions of the travails that many victims of human trafficking face. The accounts reported in this article are true stories that focus on the many aspects of human trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking.
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One is facing life in prison and another is awaiting sentencing. Unfortunately, Mary’s story is not unusual. In 2014, the Vice Investigations detail handled 24 cases, made 26 arrests and rescued 29 minors from modern slavery, otherwise known as human trafficking. According to a 2007 United Nations report, human trafficking generates about $9.5 billion in the United States, annually. There is no official estimate of the total number of human trafficking victims in the United States, but estimates show that about 100,000 children are involved in the sex trade industry in the country each year. The Attorney General’s office states that between mid-2010 and mid-2012, California law enforcement officials identified 1,277 victims and arrested 1,798 people. Los Angeles is among three of the FBI’s highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation, according to a 2009 [See Trafficking, page 7]
May 14 - 27, 2015
ary didn’t have the best home life when she met a man who pulled down the stars and the moon for her, promising everlasting love. But the illusion of a better life soon turned into a nightmare. The man forced her to have sex with other men for money, threatened her and even tattooed his street name on her face. Alone, trapped and forced into prostitution, Mary feared for her life and the lives of her family members. “They had tortured, sexually abused her; it was horrible,” said Lt. Dan Pratt of the Long Beach Police Department’s Vice Investigations detail, whose group handled the case. “She didn’t have the wherewithal to seek help. She was just afraid. She didn’t know what she should do and she believed everything he said. He manipulated the heck out of her.” Pratt said it was satisfying to put her perpetrators in jail.
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By Zamná Ávila, Assistant Editor
n four minutes and some change, Harbor Commission member Dave Arian spoke clearly and directly about a new place the Port of Los Angeles High School finds itself. The former head of the ILWU International and Local 13 began his remarks by cracking a joke. “I’m a little different from the other speakers,” he remarked during the State of the School address May 6. “Not too many people ask me how to get into POLAHS. They just ask me how to get into longshoring.” Before Arian spoke, Principal Tom Scotti and Councilman Joe Buscaino both joked about how parents peppered them with questions and petitions, at restaurants or at their offices, for help in getting into the highly touted school. To be sure, Scotti laid out the school’s successes and the milestones they—the teachers, students, community and board of trustees—were able to reach in 10 years. In fact, three alumni and a current student of the school spoke about the impact the school has had on their lives, and Scotti was able to cite statistics indicating the areas in which the school surpassed both the state and the school district in narrowing the student achievement gap between that of white and Asian American students and that of black and Hispanic students. Arian served as a counterpoint, and was blunt. “I’ve never been a big supporter of charter schools,” he said. “I’ve always been a big proponent of the public schools system. I’ve never been fully won over by the charter concept. And I’m still not.” Arian said he recognized that new examples need to be set about how to educate young people. Scotti, who had been with the school since its beginning when temporary classes were held on Cabrillo Beach, spoke about how in a pro-labor and pro-public school community, POLAHS was viewed with skepticism and had much to prove to naysayers. Scotti’s remarks covered all of the bases. He joked about the emerging, multi-generational student body made up of children of varying class grades from the same family. [See POLAHS, page 2]
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Community Announcements:
Committed to Independent Journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for More Than 30 Years
Harbor Area How to Avoid High Cost of Funerals
The Long Beach Latino Club is co-sponsoring a program to empower seniors with regard to preventing their loved ones from incurring excessive funeral costs. Time: 1 p.m. May 15 Cost: Free Details: (562) 570-3514 Venue: Long Beach Senior Center auditorium, 1150 E. 4th St., Long Beach
Relay for Life San Pedro
Relay for Life events are life-changing cancer fundraising events that help communities across the globe fight back against cancer. Each year, more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives through the Relay for Life movement. San Pedro’s race against the disease is May 16 and May 17. Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Details: (310)502-2978 www.relayforlife.org/sanpedroca Venue: San Pedro High School, 1001 W. 15th St., San Pedro
Strengthening Families Conference
Conference topics include identifying child abuse and neglect, effective interventions for trauma, building emotional competence in children and enhancing father engagement. Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16 Cost: Free Details: (714) 517-1900 ext. 217; http://conta. cc/1xdJ3QX Venue: Long Beach City College — Building E, 4901 Carson St., Long Beach
Free Stroke/Trauma Awareness
May 14 - 27, 2015
Serving the Seven Communities of the Harbor Area
Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center is hosting Stroke/Trauma Awareness seminars focusing on early symptoms of a stroke and the importance of calling 911 for transport to the nearest stroke center for immediate treatment. The lectures include: • Lisa Johnson, stroke care coordinator at St. Mary, explaining “Stroke 101,” the symptoms of stroke • Dr. Andrei Dokukin speaking on “Rehabilitation for Strokes” • Long Beach Fire Ambassadors discussing “Fire Safety 101,” in the home Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. May 18 Cost: Free Details: (888) 4-STMARY Venue: John Parr Health Enhancement Center, 1050 Linden Ave., Long Beach
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Emergency Preparedness Presentation
The Los Angeles Fire Department is presenting a free emergency preparedness seminar during which they will present simple skills that can help you save yourself and your family. Time: 6 p.m. May 20 Cost: Free Venue: Peck Park Auditorium, 560 N. Western Ave., San Pedro
People’s State of the City 2015
Join more than 300 community members to reflect the realities and voices of Long Beach residents with regard to community safety, housing, local jobs, education, economic justice, environmental health and immigrant rights. Time: 5 to 7:30 p.m. May 27 Cost: Free Details: james@bhclongbeach.org Venue: Stephens William Logan Middle School, 1830 W. Columbia St, Long Beach
Having Problems With Your Landlord?
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles provides a free walk-in clinic to help answer tenant/landlord questions. You can visit the foundation at 1:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Bring legal documents and proof of your income. If you cannot make any of those days call from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m Monday through Friday. Time: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Details: (800) 399-4529 Venue: 601 Pacific Ave., Long Beach
[POLAHS, from page 1]
State of POLAHS at 10 Years He also spoke about the coming shift to Common Core and his desire to build on the school’s strengths and to guide student achievement along four pathways of success: maritime industry, environmental studies, digital media and geographical systems. Scotti noted that these pathways would help students aiming to enroll at universities and would also put them on the front doorstep to getting a credential that could lead to an aboveminimum wage job right out of high school. He even alluded to changes that still needed to be decided upon by the board of trustees at next month’s meeting. And, Scotti said it all with hardly a mention of the activism that forced the changes in the first place. Arian was the only one to address directly the campus turmoil that occurred seven months previously—a period that saw Scotti’s resignation, student demonstrations and board meetings packed with upset parents, students and teachers, and ultimately Scotti’s return. Arian cast the campus struggle on a national scale and what it portends for the future. “In this last year, the struggle that took place is the kind of struggle that we should exemplify in America,” Arian said. “Where teachers, students and the community rose up and said ‘No. We don’t like what’s going on. We want to go a different way.’” Arian didn’t weigh in on either the board of trustees or the community side of the conflict, but rather on the necessity that there be a process by which all stakeholders in the school can have a voice and affect change. “It’s either that or Baltimore,” said Arian, referring to the recent social upheaval in the Eastern seaport town. “That’s our choice today because these kids [at POLAHS] are becoming a part of something that’s possible…That community in Baltimore was not given that opportunity in America. “When we look at POLAHS, and what POLAHS has begun to do—not only in San Pedro, but in Wilmington and other areas—these kids were given an option to struggle within the
On May 6, Harbor Commissioner Dave Arian presented a plaque of recognition on behalf of the Port of Los Angeles to Port of Los Angeles High School Principal Tom Scotti. Photo by Erin Loveridge, courtesy of POLAHS.
system against the system for a better system, rather than destroy it because they have no connection to it.” Arian was also the only one to note that the teachers have unionized, something that many local opponents of charter schools didn’t imagine happening 10 years ago. “When it came time to struggle, some of the teachers came to me knowing that I had organizing experience,” Arian said. “I did everything I could to help them organize and get into a union…It’s not just about a contract. It’s about improving the condition of the environment of your profession.” POLAHS Board of Trustee President Jayme Wilson—the other locus of community ire
aside from the school’s former chief executive Jim Cross—was noticeably absent from the proceedings. Wilson has guided the board through this evolution. That has included the hiring of an auditing firm; initiating discussion on how to change the board’s bylaws to make it more inclusive of the parents and community members, and setting up systems and processes that conform to the California Public Records Act. And, he has done so despite vociferous calls for him to step down by parents and students over the past several months. Wilson did not respond to Random Lengths News requests for comment.
Port Truckers’ Strike Ends—
New Model Unveiled After years in the wilderness, clean truck plan model resurfaces in a new form By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
The port truckers’ strike against four companies in late April was bookended by two announced agreements underscoring the overall success of their larger struggle. Before the strike began, plans to strike Green Fleet Systems were dropped, as an agreement was announced. In a joint statement, Green Fleet Systems and the Teamsters stated they had “entered into a comprehensive labor peace agreement designed to ensure that Green Fleet’s drivers have an opportunity to exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act and, if they choose, to select an exclusive representative for purpose of collective bargaining.” But the following Monday, May 4, brought even more startling news: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called a joint press conference to announce the formation of a new company, Eco Flow, which has settled long-running labor disputes incurred by its sister entity TTSI and now fully embraces the employee-based model. As reflected in an agreement announced with Teamsters, Eco Flow recognizes its drivers’ rights to organize and wants to work cooperatively to help meet the long-term health and ecological needs, as well as the economic needs, of a thriving port transportation complex. In business for only one month, Eco Flow now has 80 drivers working for it, with plans to increase to as many
Cartage trucks bringing cargo to Toyota’s Otay Mesa facility, just north of the border, for transfer to Toyota Mexico’s manufacturing plants. That move reportedly caused significant disruption to Toyota’s cross-border operations. Deliveries to numerous other customers were disrupted as well. But with companies’ continuing to illegally charge truck drivers
operating expenses, the strikes were always conceived of as limited actions, part of a much longer struggle. The Eco Flow announcement following their strike served as a shining beacon, pointing the way toward eventual success, while it fed their sense of growing momentum. “Eco Flow is leading the way and becoming [See Truckers, page 6]
as 500 in the coming year. “A year ago I had my first strike, in order to change the industry,” said Alex Paz, a former Total Transportation Services Inc. driver who now works for Eco Flow. “It was a tough fight… Now, it’s hard to believe where we’re at right now in this situation. We’re basically on the doorstep to getting together and negotiating a good contract.” “We must make sure the ports work for the drivers who bring the goods from the docks to your doorstep,” Garcetti said. “The misclassification of port truck drivers is not the gripe of a few drivers but a battle cry of a systemic problem that must be addressed…These professional men and women drivers are just the type of middle class Angelenos we need to support as we build an economy that works for everyone.” Truckers at Intermodal Bridge Transport, Pacer Cartage and Harbor Rail Transport returned to work May 1, after four days on strike, while striking drivers from Pacific 9 Transportation voted to return to work that afternoon, all without visible concessions. But there is a strong sense of having upped the pressure on the companies involved, while building the strength of their movement. For the first time ever, drivers extended their picket lines all the way to the United StatesMexico border, where drivers picketed Pacer
The Local Publication You Actually Read May 14 - 27, 2015
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Registered Nurses Strike 9 California, Illinois Hospitals
May 14 - 27, 2015
Serving the Seven Communities of the Harbor Area
On May 1, dozens of registered nurses celebrated May Day (also known as International Workers’ Day), to protest unsafe staff levels at the Torrance Providence Health hospital. The nurses joined thousands of others in California and Illinois advocating safer working condition and increased hiring to adequately provide for patient care. Picketing took place at the University of Chicago Medical Center in Illinois, Kaiser Permanente’s major Los Angeles Medical Center and at four Sutter Health hospitals in Northern California, as well as the Torrance and Santa Monica Providence Health hospitals. National Nurses United and its California affiliate, the California Nurses Association, called for the strikes. Photo by Slobodan Dimitrov.
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Candidate Round-up:
Reasons to Vote By Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter
Carson voters will choose one of six candidates during a special election June 2 to fill the seat left vacant when Mike Gipson was elected to the state assembly last fall. The six candidates—Rita Boggs, Jesus-Alex Cainglet, Joseph Gordon, Jawane Hilton, Emmanuel Chuma Obiora, and Stephen Randle—are profiled below. The candidates were asked 10 questions about their experience, campaign finances and support, their appeal to voters and their opinion on two of Carson’s major issues: fracking and a football stadium. They all stated their campaigns are primarily self-funded and emphasized their residency in Carson. Rita Boggs is a repeat candidate, city commissioner, and retired chemist who regularly attends council meetings. • If elected, her primary issue will be, “making an intersection [at Carson and Avalon] you can get through,” despite ongoing major residential and commercial developments. Rita Boggs is a former Carson city • She lives a block commissioner. She is a repeat candidate for Carson city council. Photo from the proposed NFL courtesy of Rita Boggs. stadium and is concerned about traffic, noise and the site’s toxicity. “Traffic flow will be monumental,” she argues, especially with the Stub Hub Center and several new high-density apartments nearby. • She’s focusing on concerns of mobile home residents. • She opposes fracking but says a ban on oil drilling “won’t work.” Contact: (310) 835-9318
• If an NFL stadium is built, she wants the city to be guaranteed revenue, and for teams to shoulder additional costs of policing and traffic. • Beyond Carson’s Filipino-American community, he’s gathering support particularly from Asian-Americans, Hispanics and mobile home residents. Contact: (310) 961-8355; alexcainglet1@gmail.com Joseph Gordon ran for council in 2013. He is an Army veteran. He earned a masters in business administration from Regis University, works for DHL as the regional human resources manager. • As A sitting planning commissioner, he cannot state his position on fracking, but, he said, “Let’s do the environmental reviews, let’s hear from the public and stakeholders…understand all the legal risks.” • He supports the Mobile Home Rent Ordinance to protect seniors and those on fixed incomes. • On the NFL stadium: “[A]s a planning commissioner and property owner, I have to look beyond the excitement…The environmental issues must be addressed.” Contact: (310) 864-3071; j.joseph162@ gmail.com Jawane Hilton placed just behind the winners in the March council election, so he’s again urging voters to, “Give new leadership a try.” • He served several years on
human relations and public safety commissions. • He is the director of public policy for the Center for Community and Family, a Carson nonprofit. • He’s Pastor at City on the Hill Church. • His primary goals include more transparency in city government, and more assistance for seniors and youth. • On the issue of banning all fracking or even drilling, he says he’d have to study any project’s environmental impact reports before deciding. • He supports building an NFL stadium because it will drive the economy, increase home values, and provide employment. Contact: (310) 740-9363; www. jawanehilton.com
Stephen John Randle serves Carson as a pastor and commissioner. He graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills. He has worked as an analyst for the Port of Long Beach and as an eligibility worker for Los Angeles County. • He opposes all fracking for environmental reasons. • He supports efforts to build a professional football stadium, provided that local residents will be given priority for jobs. • His first priority, should he be elected, will be to bring down Carson’s unemployment rate. Contact: randlecarsoncitycouncil2015@ yahoo.com
Emmanuel Chuma Obiora is running for city council for the first time. He’s been a state services employee for 31 years. He earned a masters in public administration from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. He also is a realtor and tax consultant. • If elected, he would work primarily on improving the city budget, and also provide assistance for the homeless. • He opposes fracking. • He would not support Carson schools breaking away from LAUSD. • He will support building a major stadium if residents want one. Contact: e-mail ecobiora@cc.rr. com or phone 310-908-5813.
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May 14 - 27, 2015
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Jesus-Alex Cainglet is an insurance agent whose volunteer community service includes being the first vice president of the Philippine Independence Day Foundation. • Her service on city commissions includes fine arts, public relations, and the Utility Users Tax. • Her priorities: to address the city budget, bring new revenue and new economic development. • She opposes fracking because, “We have to be concerned for the safety” and would oppose any and all oil drilling rather than compromise on safety.
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[Truckers, from page 3]
Port and City Attorney’s Office Cracks Down on Retail Sale of Wholesale Fish
SAN PEDRO— On the first weekend of May, locals who regularly bought fish at wholesale prices at the Municipal Fish Market at Ports O’Call were shocked to find the place shut down by the Port of Los Angeles and City Attorney Janet Karkanen. Rumors flew that the port was removing the fish docks and replacing it with green space. Random Lengths queried POLA spokesman Phillip Sanfield. In an email he said the Harbor Department was enforcing the terms of the Municipal Fish Market permits by requiring tenants to engage in wholesale only and not retail sales of fish and seafood. Karkanen and the city attorney’s office are assisting the Harbor Department in this matter. The Harbor Department is enforcing this requirement because the building is an industrial site that is not appropriate for access by the general public and. Also, retail sales of fish and seafood require compliance with certain health and safety code requirements that are difficult to comply with in that environment. Sanfield noted that it wasn’t until they noticed the large volume of customers at the fish market that the Harbor Department became aware that sales had expanded to include retail sales As for the idea that the port is trying to turn the fishing docks next to the fish market into parkland: no plans whatsoever. So while the wholesale of fish will continue, sales to locals at wholesale prices will not. The port plans to enforce this measure by forcing tenants to require that buyers provide a copy of a resale certificate, a business tax registration certificate (business license), or some equivalent documentation that shows the buyer is in the business of resale of seafood or uses these products for some commercial purpose.
AltaSea CEO Steps Down After Year on the Job
May 14 - 27, 2015
Serving the Seven Communities of the Harbor Area
SAN PEDRO—On April 28, AltaSea’s chairwoman of the board, Camilla Townsend, announced in a released statement that Chief Executive Officer Rachel Etherington was stepping down to pursue opportunities in the private sector. The board appointed AltaSea Chief Finance and Operating Officer Jenny Krusoe as the senior executive in charge. Townsend said Krusoe played a crucial leadership role in the development of AltaSea from its initial conception. “The board is confident in Jenny’s ability to maintain AltaSea’s momentum and to bring the project to fruition. AltaSea will launch a search for a new CEO immediately.” With undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard and Stanford universities, Krusoe brings 13-plus years of experience in the nonprofit sector. This included a fiveyear stint as executive director at the Center for the Arts, nearly four years as director of development at Legacy L.A.—a communitybased non-profit organization focused on youth development and seven years as a freelance nonprofit management and fund development consultant. Krusoe is also among the candidates that the Port of Los Angeles High School board of trustees is considering for its board.
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Homelessness Increased by 12 Percent Since 2013
LOS ANGELES—On May 11, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority finally released the results of its biennial Los Angeles Homeless Count conducted in January. This year’s survey found a 12 percent increase in the county’s homeless population, which translates into an increase of 4,898 [See News Briefs, page 7]
New Clean Trucks Model a model for the future of goods movement in Southern California—and soon, the rest of the nation as well,” Garcetti added. “We have a big-picture, long-term view of what it takes to revolutionize the port drayage industry into a more efficient, innovative, productive industry that has good jobs for drivers where they’re not victims of wage theft,” Teamsters Port Campaign Director Nick Weiner explained. “This strike demonstrated that the concerns of drivers are not isolated to a handful of companies.... In particular, the drivers from Intermodal Bridge Transport decided they wanted to participate, got excited and I think demonstrated to their employers and the industry that their concerns should be taken seriously,” he said. Drivers also continued gaining support from broader sections of the community, Weiner said, pointing specifically to the role of faith leaders and the Long Beach Wage Theft Coalition, as well as the growing responsiveness of elected leaders. “Mayor Garcia in Long Beach is also interested,” noted Weiner, in addition to Garcetti’s leadership with the Eco Flow agreement. With growing responses like these, Wiener said, “Drivers are going to continue to demand change for the whole industry, until it happens.” The announced “Port Solutions Agreement” between Eco Flow and the Teamsters is the result of confidential discussions brokered by Garcetti between the Teamsters Port Division and Saybrook Logistics, which owns both Total Transportation Services Inc. and Eco Flow. Key
elements of the agreement that have been made public include: • Eco Flow is a 100 percent employee driver company designed to maximize efficient utilization of truck assets in order to reduce congestion and diesel emissions. • The company has a neutral position regarding the choice of its employees to unionization to ensure labor peace. • Representing the drivers, the Teamsters and Total Transportation Services Inc. resolved outstanding legal issues between them and settled litigation at the National Labor Relations Board and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. • Eco Flow is an innovator in the utilization of “free flow” cargo, which can help move cargo out of terminals more rapidly and increase the velocity of Port of Los Angeles terminals. • The Teamsters and Eco Flow Transportation have agreed to aggressively promote the “port solutions” agreement. “More and more companies are coming around and seeing that there needs to be a new model for the drayage industry, and an employee-based model has much more potential in terms of efficiency and productivity for the industry and for the companies, so that they can be more profitable,” Weiner said. “And that certainly is a better model for drivers.” But that doesn’t mean the industry is [See Truckers, page 19]
Contemplating a Zero-Emissions Future By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
On March 23, California took a significant step forward on the path toward a zero- or nearzero emission future for its freight industry. What once seemed like an environmentalist’s fantasy moved one step closer to reality as the California Air Resources Board approved a discussion draft document, “Sustainable Freight: Pathways to Zero and Near-Zero Emissions. According to the plan, “to meet our public health mandates, climate goals, and economic needs, the transition to a less-polluting, more efficient, modern freight transport system is a preeminent policy objective for the state of California.” The scope of the enterprise is vast, given that freight-dependent industries comprise almost a third of the state’s economy. A final document is expected to be approved in the first half of next year. “This is really a watershed moment here in our work on freight,” said CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols, as CARB’s board took up the matter. Activists on hand from the California Cleaner Freight Coalition applauded the effort—even as they noted continued shortcomings. “I’m glad we moved from the question of if we need to transform this industry to zero tailpipe technologies everywhere we can, to how and when,” said Adrian Martinez, a lawyer with Earthjustice, a California Cleaner Freight Coalition member. “I think that’s a significant change in the discussion that’s happened over the last year-and-a-half.” CARB alone won’t get the job done; it must work with other state agencies, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and partners in industry as well as regional air quality boards over a period stretching decades into the future. But its role in helping drive the change is clear, and the first steps are already at hand. Consequently, Nichols said, the plan presentation “does not represent our view of where we’re going to end up. It certainly isn’t complete as far as all the work that will be done and is ongoing. But it does represent the air resources board’s piece of this particular puzzle, what we bring to the table in terms of our demands and our expertise as well.” “As you have recognized, the broader freight strategy that we all know is needed is still in the future,” said Bill Magavern of the Coalition for Clean Air, another CCFC member. “So, it’s disappointing to us that that is once again being delayed, but we agree with both ARB and the other agency speakers that that requires a coordinated effort of all the agencies within the administration. So we understand the necessity of the delay, despite being disappointed by it.” “To achieve our public health air quality and climate change goals, a system transformation is necessary,” said CARB staffer Sydney Vergis, who made the staff presentation. “This means a move towards a sustainable freight transport system that relies on equipment with zero tailpipe emissions everywhere possible and near-zero technologies with renewable fuels everywhere else.” The plan includes direct adoption of zeroemission technologies, as well low-emission [See Emissions, following page]
Human Trafficking—Modern Slavery [Trafficking, from page 1]
Department of Justice report. The victims of human trafficking are hiding in plain sight, while being controlled and held captive. They are people waiting at the bus stop as you drive by on your way to work. They might be your neighbor’s housekeepers, or the workers who made your child’s toy. “Human trafficking essentially is a continuum of exploitation,” said Kay Buck, executive director of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, also known as CAST, a direct service provider to survivors of human trafficking in the Los Angeles region. She further defined the crime: “It is when a person is forced through physical force, fraud or coercion to remain in a situation of exploitation.” CAST helps survivors escape and provides shelter, case management, legal services, and advocacy. It works collaboratively with more than 90 organizations. In 2014, it served more than 350 survivors and their family members. Sola, a domestic slave from Africa, is one of the human trafficking survivors CAST helped rescue. Seemingly employed as a nanny, she was in the United States with a family—her captors—were on an extended vacation. They were staying at a hotel. Sola managed to get the hotline number for CAST at the African embassy, when Homeland Security officials interviewed her separately from her traffickers. They gave Sola the CAST hotline number. When the family went out to a theme park, Sola was left alone at the hotel and told not to leave. That’s when she took the opportunity to call. “She hid it there in her bra strap for a whole month before she summoned up the courage to call when the family was out,” Buck recalled. The first day CAST planned the escape with her over the phone, Sola didn’t show. “She didn’t have the courage to leave,” Buck said. “She called back that night and we did the same the following morning. That time, she did have the courage to leave. We were able to help
Above is one of a series of postcards created by artist and educator Jerri Allyn which asks the question, “Which One is Trafficked?” Her postcards are part of the exhibit, Hidden in Plain Site: Creative Referendums to Human Trafficking on view Angels Gate Cultural Center, and an initiative that was inspired by the United States Fund for UNICEF’s End Trafficking campaign. Courtesy of Jerri Allyn.
her escape and take her to our shelter where she stayed for a year.” A June 2012 International Labor Organization report estimates that globally there are 20.9 million cases of human trafficking, including 5.5 million children. It is the second largest criminal industry in the world after drug dealing. Many victims of trafficking are forced into prostitution, pornography or exotic dancing. But trafficking also occurs in the form of labor exploitation such as domestic servitude, restaurant work, “sweatshop” factory work or migrant agricultural work. Buck explained that modern slavery cases are really an extreme form of labor exploitation, where people are physically threatened or beaten to force them to work. “Many times they are nearly starved to death,” according to Buck. “There is a lot of threats and
[Emissions, from previous page]
needed for rail yard communities…It would be helpful for CARB to identify rail yards sources the agency can regulate, and rail yards.” “The benefits of goods movement really accrue to everyone in this state and throughout most of the country, but the burdens are not proportionately spread out,” Magavern said. “They actually fall disproportionately on lowincome communities of color.” “I want to underscore the importance of the need for this board to take immediate action to reduce pollution from rail yards,” added Taylor Thomas with East Yards Communities for Environmental Justice, another California Cleaner Freight Coalition member. “I’m here for the families who have to keep their windows closed because the trucks and trains are idling a few yard from their homes,” Thomas said. “I’m here for the teachers and playground aids that have to carry inhalers just in case the children have asthma attacks. And, I’m here for the nurses and doctors that see their patients come in with chronic respiratory illnesses, not knowing how to treat them or what to prescribe to them and what could they possibly give them, knowing they’ll return to
[See Emissions, page 19]
Random Lengths News did not use the real names of the human trafficking survivors in this story because the agencies involved are trying to protect the identity, privacy and safety of the survivors, some of whom are minors. For more information about CAST visit www.castla.org. The CAST hotline number is the (888) KEY-2-FREE or (888) 539-2373. Other sources include: Free the Slaves: http://freetheslaves.net Mary Magdalene Project: (818) 988-4970 Gems Uncovered: (562) 275-1698
LA City Attorney Sues Wells Fargo for Double Dipping in Depositors’ Pockets LOS ANGELES—On May 5, City Attorney Mike Feuer filed a civil lawsuit against Wells Fargo, alleging the company victimized consumers by opening customer accounts, and issuing credit cards, without authorization. Additionally, the city attorney accuses the banking giant of failing to inform customers of the misuse of their personal information as well as not refunding the fees generated by the unwanted services. The complaint alleges Wells Fargo’s business model imposed unrealistic sales quotas that, among other things, have driven employees to engage in unlawful activity including opening fee-generating customer accounts and adding unwanted secondary accounts to primary accounts without permission. These practices allegedly have led to significant hardship and financial loss to consumers, including having money withdrawn from customers’ authorized accounts to pay for fees assessed by Wells Fargo on unauthorized accounts and derogatory notes on credit reports when unauthorized fees went unpaid, causing some customers to have to purchase identity theft protection. Feuer is seeking Wells Fargo customers’ help asking them to review their own accounts and answer the following: • Have unauthorized savings and checking accounts been opened in your name? • Have accounts you’ve closed stayed open? • Have you received debit or credit cards you didn’t request? • Has a line of credit been opened that you didn’t ask for? • Have you been charged fees for any of these unauthorized activities? The lawsuit is seeking an injunction against Wells Fargo to prohibit the company and its employees from engaging in the alleged practices relating to the opening and maintaining of bank accounts. Wells Fargo could also be assessed civil penalties of $2,500 for each violation. Wells Fargo customers finding discrepancies can call the city attorney’s dedicated hotline: (213) 978-3393.
May 14 - 27, 2015
transitions, and it applies to every aspect of freight movement: ocean-going vessels, trucks, locomotives, transport refrigeration units, cargo/ industrial/ground service equipment, commercial harbor craft and aircraft. Dramatic improvements in air quality over the past decade have been seen, but there are still 2,000 premature deaths a year due to particulate pollution and federal clean air standards have yet to be met in the South Coast and San Joaquin districts. In addition to port communities, those next to rail yards are particularly hard hit. “The need to accelerate air quality progress for public health is substantial and the scope of emission reductions to meet all of our mandates is vast,” acknowledged CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey, in remarks to the board. “The sustainable freight pathways to zero and nearzero emissions discussion document describes the actions that seek to move the system towards transformation while also providing public health benefits as soon as this year.” But California Cleaner Freight Coalition member comments stressed the need for urgent, focused action. One such voice was Joel Ervice, associate director at Regional Asthma Management and Prevention. “The draft unfortunately does not deliver the type of relief
persons. In Service Planning Area 8, which includes San Pedro, Wilmington, Carson, Harbor City, and Rancho Palos Verdes peninsula among other places, there has been a 39 percent increase in homelessness. However, the Homeless Services Authority noted that despite the increase in the general population, the number of homeless veterans has remained essentially flat since 2013. The Los Angeles count is the largest in the nation, covering every city and community in Los Angeles County except for Glendale, Pasadena and Long Beach. About 5,500 volunteers participated in the 2015 count that provided a snapshot of homelessness in a single day. LAHSA has been conducting homeless counts since 2005. This year’s count was significant in that 89 percent of all census tracts in the county were counted, compared to 72 percent in 2013. Other key results from the 2015 Homeless Count include: · The total number of family members increased 12 percent from 6,678 to 7,505. · The sheltered population was 12,226. · The unsheltered population was 28,948. · The number of tents, makeshift shelters and vehicles seen during the count increased by 85 percent since 2013 .
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Zero-Emissions CARB Goal
coercion that occurs in human trafficking cases that make it different from maybe wage and hour violations that are also labor exploitation, but are not modern slavery cases.” Diego experienced that violence firsthand. He was 15 when local gangs in Central America threatened to rape his sister and kill his mother if he didn’t join their gang. According to Buck, Diego’s family put together some money to send him out of the country. After much hardship, he made it to Mexico, where he was faced once again with more gang violence. Diego watched as a friend who was travelling with him from the same region was shot and then burned in a trash can. He was also forced to carry drugs over the U.S. border. Fortunately, Diego was caught by border patrol officers, who recognized that he was caught up in a trafficking case and called CAST. “You can imagine the trauma that this 15year-old kid endured through that journey of just trying to live a normal life,” Buck said. “Traffickers do swoop in and they do target vulnerable populations.” CAST has helped Diego with legal services and with accessing health care, that included the mental health care the boy was in extreme need of, after his ordeal. Diego is reportedly doing well now, said Buck. In fact, he was recently named a student leader at his school. “It shows that with the right support, survivors of trafficking have so much potential and they go on to live successful lives,” Buck said. “Survivors are not broken people. They have experienced horrific, terrible ordeals with usually unspeakable violence, but with support they can really start to rebuild their lives and become our neighbors in the community.”
[News Briefs, from page 6]
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Connecting the Dots Between the Waterfront, Minimum Wage, Homelessness and Free Trade James Preston Allen, Publisher
May 14 - 27, 2015
Serving the Seven Communities of the Harbor Area
So, one day, this guy walks into the newspaper’s lobby to check out our used books for sale and says off-handedly, “I love reading your newspaper. It’s so quirky.” I stopped what I was doing at my desk and pondered his comment, fixated on his choice of words. Being in the “word” business, I tend to take what people say both seriously and with a grain of salt. English is such an imprecise language, particularly in terms of verbal communication. I thanked him for the perceived compliment. My newspaper has gotten far worse compliments from some local conservatives over the past 35 years. He bought a book and left happy. If quirky means unique, then I think he gets that what we are doing here is different from what the corporate media feeds the public every day. If putting the news in some context or perspective that allows readers to sort out the chaos of infotainment, political punditry and uberconservative slant that is so often pawned off as “fair and balanced,” then I feel we have done our service to humanity, if not our community. Take the battle lines that have been drawn in the debates over raising the minimum wage, homelessness, waterfront development and free trade in Los Angeles and beyond. In one shape or form, these are all connected to local and global economics. Looking back we can see how past free trade agreements have decimated domestic jobs markets and stagnated wages while enhancing other sectors such as the hightech and import industries. The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are prime examples of globalization’s effects. There are many around here who still remember the canneries, shipbuilding, fishing and manufacturing industries that were lost to overseas competition. What few in the Harbor Area seem to remember is that there was a collective job loss of 30,000 jobs during the course of a decade. That’s half of the local job base and there hasn’t been a full recovery of those well-paid middle class jobs since. They called it Reaganomics, trickle-down economic theory that included tax cuts for the wealthy and banking deregulations that collapsed the savings and loan associations. The communities of the Harbor Area were devastated and continue to see the residual effects years later, while virtually nothing has
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replaced those 30,000 jobs. In the interim, with the addition of the USS Iowa, Crafted, the Arts District and other cultural amenities, local civic leaders have pushed to turn Pedro into a tourist destination. This, as the long-awaited Bridge to Breakwater promenade and the redevelopment of Ports O’Call Village is completed. The Port of Los Angeles has shouldered much of this responsibility with little help from the rest of the city. Just recently, at the urging of the neighborhood councils and executed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, the relevant city departments hosted an invitationonly summit meeting to discuss a possible collaboration on redeveloping this waterfront. The neighborhood councils were not invited. Sadly, the same kind of thinking that got us into this decline is the same kind civic leaders are proposing to get us out. The challenge of course, is how to invest in something other than low-wage service jobs or industries that can and will be eventually shipped overseas with a new Trans Pacific Trade Agreement. Two of the best candidates along this spectrum are AltaSea, the proposed marine research collaborative being planned at the foot of 22nd Street in San Pedro, and the new biotech research facility at Harbor-UCLA county hospital just up the 110 Freeway in the Harbor Gateway. Both hold significant promise for creating better and sustainable jobs while suggesting spin-off businesses related to their core mission. Even PortTech, the futuristic thinking creation of the local chamber of commerce and the Port of LA, seems to be on the path forward along with the creation of POLA High School and the partial relocation of Marymount College to this area. However, none of this is as futuristic as Virgin Galactic, that is taking over some of Boeing’s Long Beach Airport manufacturing facilities and is advertising job openings for hybrid propulsion specialists and information technology support technicians right now. My fear is that it will take another decade to create even 10,000 new middle class jobs, which merely amounts to a third of what was lost. Even if we add up all of the good ideas listed above, the global trade industry is racing to automate the good paying jobs we have now out of existence. The future can be seen, I’m told, in ports like Hamburg, Germany, where entire terminals
Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com Assoc. Publisher/Production Coordinator Suzanne Matsumiya Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks “A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it editor@randomlengthsnews.com is, but to make people mad enough to do someSenior Editor Paul Rosenberg thing about it.” —Mark Twain Assistant Editor Vol. XXXVI : No. 10 Zamná Ávila Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area zamna@randomlengthsnews.com communities of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Communications Director Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at Mathew Highland over 350 locations throughout the Harbor Area. reads@randomlengthsnews.com
are run by a handful of workers, not teams of longshoremen. Raising the minimum wage or eventually supplying housing to the homeless as a part of some bigger development plan either here or citywide is actually an admission that our past economic theories were more like failures than a cure in our pursuit of a sustainable economic future. Obviously, the billions in profits made from overseas investments never seemed to “trickle down” or back to those who could most benefit from a few thousand dollars. Tourist dollars only
go so far in supporting enough better jobs and aren’t recession proof. Unfortunately, what we need now is a bigger and bolder vision with a billion dollar budget-– not more excuses as to why what needs to happen can’t get done. It’s as if the same 12 people are recycling the same two answers for the same three problems over the past 20 years—tourism and gentrification. It is far past the time for the leadership of this city and community to connect the dots.
CalAware Sues L.A. Supervisors for Serial Action
By Terry Francke, General Counsel of CalAware Californians Aware today filed a lawsuit seeking a court declaration that the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors violated the Brown Act this past August when its members privately and serially signed letters to the legislature and the governor opposing a bill intended to strengthen… the Brown Act. The petition in Californians Aware v. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also seeks a court order prohibiting the board from using a series of communications, either directly or through intermediaries, to discuss, deliberate, and take action on specific legislation, outside of a noticed and public meeting. CalAware went to court, according to General Counsel Terry Francke, only when the board rejected its demand to publicly renounce the practice of discussing or acting on legislative issues outside of open and public meetings. County Counsel Mark Saladino takes the position that the personal signature gathering, Cartoonists Ann Cleaves, Andy Singer, Matt Wuerker
Columnists/Reporters Lyn Jensen Carson B. Noel Barr Music Dude John Farrell Curtain Call Lori Lynn Hirsch-Stokoe Food Writer Andrea Serna Arts Writer Melina Paris Culture Writer Calendar 14days@randomlengthsnews.com
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accomplished by walking the staff-drafted letter opposing the bill from one supervisor’s office to another, was a mere formality. The board’s opposition, he says, was already approved in two previous ways. First, it acted by its December 2013 adoption of a general policy platform for the 2014 legislative session which authorized staff to oppose any legislation creating an undue burden or cost on county operations, but which mentioned neither the Brown Act nor any legislation concerning it. Second, it acted by receiving with no objection a succession of memos to the board from the executive and lobbying staff, tracking the progress of Assembly Bill 194 and indicating an intention to oppose it “unless otherwise directed.” The memos were never discussed at open meetings of the board, which never saw any mention of AB 194 on their agendas either; instead, the memos were posted on the CEO’s [See Trade, page 9]
Random Lengths News editorial office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, (310) 519-1016. Address correspondence regarding news items and news tips only to Random Lengths News, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733-0731, or email to editor @randomlengthsnews.com. Send Letters to the Editor or requests for subscription information to james @ randomlengthsnews.com. To be considered for publication, all Letters to the Editor should be typewritten, must be signed, with address and phone number included (these will not be published, but for verification only) and be kept to about 250 words. To submit advertising copy email adv@randomelengthsnews.com or reads@ randomlengthsnews.com. Extra copies and back issues are available by mail for $3 per copy while supplies last. Subscriptions are available for $36 per year for 27 issues. Random Lengths News presents issues from an alternative perspective. We welcome articles and opinions from all people in the Harbor Area. While we may not agree with the opinions of contributing writers, we respect and support their 1st Amendment right to express those opinions. Random Lengths News is a member of Standard Rates and Data Reporting Services and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. (ISN #0891-6627). All contents Copyright 2015 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.
RANDOMLetters Response to Homelessness
Homelessness is a growing problem in the South Bay, and I commend Random Lengths News for discussing this issue. Many homeless suffer from mental illness, including veterans struggling with post traumatic stress disorder. Investments in proper treatment then training would tackle a number of issues connected with homelessness. Aside from treating those individuals with mental health concerns, what else can be done to alleviate poverty? Research has revealed that making it easier for people to get a job is better than providing stuff from the state, all paid for by John Q. Public. James Q. Wilson, professor of political science at UCLA, affirmed that individuals can avoid poverty by doing three things: 1. Finish high school; 2. Wait until age 20 before getting married; 3. Get married before having kids. How often are these from previous page
CalAware
Dear Mr. Schaper, Your knee-jerk conservatism is once again blaming liberal Democrats based upon your blind belief that an unregulated marketplace is the cure-all for social and economic blight. Oh, if this were simply true, but it is not. As the Obama administration’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald said at the recent opening of a veteran’s homeless housing facility in Harbor City, “government can’t do this alone and it must involve
the County’s legislative or advocacy efforts with respect to particular bills. This inconspicuous administrative adjustment is no substitute for the statutorily prescribed alternative to litigation— the Board’s publicly undertaken unconditional commitment to cease, desist from, and not repeat the practice of approving, and communicating to the Legislature, the County’s position on a legislative bill without any discussion in an open session of a Board meeting concerning either the bill, its content or the County’s proposed position.
Despite the bill’s allowance for reasonable regulations of citizen speech, the letter sent over the supervisors’ signature warned that its passage would threaten local bodies’ ability to control their meetings. After the supervisors sent a similar letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, he vetoed it. County Counsel Saladino, in rejecting CalAware’s demand for a public commitment not to take action on specific legislation outside public meetings, said that the board’s executive officer had been advised that any personal signature letters on specific legislation should be placed on the agendas of public meetings. Francke responded: You offer, as a compromise in lieu of compliance with our demand, that the CEO has been advised that authorization for fiveIsignature letters should be placed on the Board’s agenda in advance of or during
The problem of handling legislative action by authorizing staff to take specific positions on particular bills “unless otherwise directed,” Francke said, is that : “...it allows the lobbyists to put the County on record as supporting or opposing specific bills without express approval or direction from the board. Consequently, no one in the community trying to track the Board’s legislative posture on specific bills by monitoring its meeting agendas, discussions or minutes is able to do so. Moreover, the backstage memo briefing allows the CEO to quietly cite far-fetched “sky-isfalling” scenarios from the Board’s Executive Office and County Counsel that would, if presented at a public meeting, undoubtedly draw public criticism.”
higher education, while spending on waterfront development. This is going to take the entire village to build a more sustainable city while eradicating homelessness. Blaming liberals once again is like cursing the darkness before you even look for the matches. I’m sure you’ll try to blame Hillary for this one also. Thank you, James Preston Allen, Publisher
Anderson Park Homeless Issue
Anderson Park. They are also getting a free meal from someone obviously with a good intention. There are two of the newest, nicest residential apartment buildings in town looking directly down on this. Another older building full of elderly folks is looking at this from the West. The homeless folks frankly affected fewer people at Antes. They are also obviously following a free service being given to them. Who would take their child to this park? Bill James San Pedro
All of the homeless folks formerly in front of Antes are now filling
May 14 - 27, 2015
of the public based on his or her viewpoint where the comment is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. (2) If a legislative body limits the total amount of time allocated for public testimony on a particular issue or for each individual speaker, the questioning or interrupting of the speaker by the legislative body, its officers or employees, and the speaker’s response to questioning shall not reduce the total time allocated for public testimony on the particular issue or allocated for an individual speaker.
community partners.” The mistake of Baltimore was that its leaders believed, like many do elsewhere, that large capital developments alone can solve the problems of blight. The loss of industrial jobs in that city is not unlike what has happened in the greater San Pedro Harbor Area with the loss of some 30,000 blue collar jobs and replacing them even partially with lower paid service jobs in a gentrified, upscale waterfront development isn’t going to solve this problem alone. My point is that there has to be a comprehensive plan to build affordable housing, invest in economic sectors that provide more than minimum wages and access to
The Local Publication You Actually Read
website. AB194 byAssemblymember Nora Campos of San Jose dealt with the various obstacles used by local government bodies to frustrate or impede citizens’ attempts to address them at their meetings. As introduced, the bill would have made it a misdemeanor to deny citizens their right to address the body. As first amended, it would have made such denial a violation for which a court in a civil action could void any action taken. As finally amended, the bill dropped these remedies and instead simply prohibited certain practices used to frustrate citizen comments to the body. Excerpt from AB194 Subject to reasonable regulations promulgated pursuant to subdivision (b), the legislative body of a local agency, or its presiding officer or staff, acting in their official capacity on behalf of the legislative body, shall not prohibit, limit, or otherwise prevent any of the following: (A) Public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs, or services of the agency, or of the acts or omissions of the legislative body or its officers or employees acting in their official capacity. (B) Comment by a member of the public during presentation of an agenda item who has not provided notice of his or her desire to comment prior to consideration of the agenda item by the legislative body. (C) Comment by a member
values promoted today? Now, let’s turn our focus to Baltimore, Maryland, where the latest race riots broke out in the wake of purported police brutality. Matt Wuerker’s inferences in his latest cartoon are commendable, including the failing public schools and the loss of major jobs and trade. It is not enough for the police to beat down criminals and thugs, in a public atmosphere which has exacerbated these problems. However, Wuerker’s cartoon and Allen’s editorials ignore the deeper causes of homelessness in general and Baltimore’s economic and moral malaise in particular. Sixty years of liberalprogressive victimization, racebaiting, redistribution of wealth, and outright waste and fraud turned a beautiful Eastern seaboard city, the scene of American victory over the invading British depicted in the Star Spangled Banner, the home of freedom fighter Frederick Douglas, into a morass of broken homes, bad schools, and cronyism
throughout. Regardless of what the six police officers may or may not have done (keep in mind that half of the indicted officers are black, one of them female), the problems in Baltimore, Maryland had festered for decades, all under Big Government Democratic policies of expanded bureaucracies, rampant welfare abuse, Big Labor bullying, and anti-growth programs, all of which have diminished access to a quality education and rebuffed robust commercial activity. Arthur Christopher Schaper Torrance
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New Harbor Division Commander Visits Hojas Tea House in Wilmington
May 14 - 27, 2015
Serving the Seven Communities of the Harbor Area
On May 6, Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division hosted a meet and greet at Hojas Tea House in Wilmington to introduce the division’s new commander, Capt. Kathryn Meek (left). The new captain follows the short tenure of Capt. Gerald Woodyard, who was reassigned to lead the Southwest Division. A Los Angeles native, Meek joined the LAPD in 1986. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from USC and is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police. As a lieutenant, she worked specialized positions such as the Operations-South Bureau Vice Coordinator, officer-in-charge of the Bomb Detection K9 Section at Los Angeles International Airport, and was detective commanding officer at 77th Street Division. In 2013, she was promoted to the rank of captain at Southwest Patrol Division. Photo by Betty Guevara.
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John Farrell: Tiger of San Pedro’s Theater Reviews Dies at 63
The Random Lengths News family is “We had so much in common,” she said. mourning the death of the paper’s longtime “It was he who brought me back to opera. He theater reviewer, John Farrell. Farrell died May brought me back to a lot of the things I developed 7 at the age of 63. as a child.” The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office Farrell was born on Sept. 19, 1951, in San had yet to determine Farrell’s cause of death as Pedro. His father, John Farrell Sr., was a postal supervisor. His mother Martha of press time. However, he was was a teacher. known to suffer from diabetes. Farrell’s brother, Edward, Known for his eclectic style, two nephews, a niece and a greatwhich included wearing a top grand nephew, survive him. hat, Farrell loved theater in all its A graduate of San Pedro High incarnations. School, Farrell was much less of “He was bigger than life—big a bohemian in his youth than he in size and big in personality,” was in his later years. He always said his younger brother, wanted to be a writer. In fact, he Edward. even started a small newspaper, Farrell, would commute to Edward remembered. He later San Pedro and Long Beach to do attended Harbor College before what he loved the most: attend the theater. Theater reviewer John Farrell in transferring to Cal State Long Beach to study journalism. Charlotte Irons, a longtime his signature top hat. Farrell also was a proud friend with whom he lived, found him at his computer in her Sherman Oaks home member of the Baker Street Irregulars, a literary at about 4 p.m. society established in 1934 that’s dedicated to the “He died at his computer and that’s how it study of Sherlock Holmes. Farrell’s title at the should be,” said Irons about Farrell’s dedication society was “The Tiger of San Pedro.” to his craft. “He really had three lives: Sherlock Holmes, Irons, who met Farrell as a student at Cal State music and theater,” his brother said. Long Beach in the early ‘70s, said Farrell and Farrell will be cremated. No funeral services she shared a love for theater and world cultures. are planned at this time. A celebration of life She remembers how he seemed to carry “100 might be in the plans for the future. In lieu of cameras around his neck” as a photographer for flowers, Farrell’s family is asking friends, readers the Daily 49er, the school’s campus newspaper. and loved ones to attend a show in his memory.
Luke Von Duke talks about the road he’s traveled from Somehow Still Alive to Fr3qu3nc3 By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
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Fr3qu3nc3 band members Chey Espejo, Frank Unzueta, Lucas Valenzuela and Tommy Pintaric.
When Luke and I finally met up at Averill Park, he explained that Fr3qu3nc3 emerged out of a low point, when Somehow Still Alive disbanded. I remembered back in 2009, there was a great deal of excitement that that band was on the verge of making it big and breaking out beyond the confines of San Pedro. “The music I was doing in 2008 and 2009 seemed like it was starting to break through but it was pushed back to the underground,” Luke said. “We were opening for headliners and we were being looked at by labels and that was in ’09. Back then, the music business was a little bit better.” Fr3qu3nc3’s music was inspired by Depeche Mode, an English electronic band that formed in 1980. The band’s original lineup
included Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke. Clarke was replaced by Alan Wilder in 1982. Gahan fronted the band as lead vocalist, while Gore played guitar and keyboards and was main songwriter for much of their first 13 years together. Luke attempted to make a cover of Depeche Mode’s 1990 song, Enjoy the Silence using FL Studio, a music production program. He wasn’t satisfied with the result, explaining that his software didn’t have the right patches to correct some of the bugs in the system, making his effort sound amateurish. “It was as if I used a Playschool beatmaker,” he said.
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
talked to Luke Valenzuela at Alvas Showroom during a Frank Unzueta’s One World concert in November of 2013. I was there on assignment covering Frank Unzueta. I knew he was Luke’s uncle and thought at the time it would be great to interview both musicians together. Luke caught my attention in 2009 as Luke von Duke with his band, Somehow Still Alive. He was different. At the time, he was the only local artist I saw who embraced hip hop and rock music the way he did. When I greeted Luke at Alvas recently he didn’t immediately recognize me. I was just the guy that did the photoshoot of him and his band for the feature. B. Noel Barr wrote the story. His eyes lit with recognition when I said I was from Random Lengths. “Hey man, how you doing?” he said. “Man, I got a new band called Fr3qu3nc3 (pronounced “frequency”), but I’m not ready to talk about it just yet.” “That’s OK—get in touch with me when you are,” I told him. A year-and-a-half later, Luke messaged me on Facebook with links to his music and a query about running a story about him. I told him I’d get in touch the week after next, when Random Lengths wasn’t publishing. He tagged me first. Luke has three songs: “Laugh at Myself,” “Don’t Hold Your Breath” and “I’m Nothing.” They struck me as being strangely familiar. It reminded me of the industrial-sounding, British, pop music from the 1980s. It turned out, I wasn’t far off.
[See True, page 16]
May 14 – 27, 2015 May 14 – 27, 2015
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Attendees and competitors at the West Coast BBQ Classic at the Queen Mary, May 9, 2015. Photos by Phillip Cooke.
Gina’s Choice Awards at the West Coast BBQ Classic
May 14 – 27, 2015
Independent And Free.
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By Gina Ruccione, Cuisine Writer
f you were unable to attend the West Coast BBQ Classic at the Queen Mary May 9, I feel sorry for your loss. What you missed was some of the best barbeque this side of the Mississippi, so allow me to paint a picture for you. Imagine thousands of hungry attendees, 80 certified barbecue judges and 57 eager teams competing for the ultimate prize: a wifi barbecue grill, a check for $10,000 and a chance to hold the state title of Grand Champion. Brought to you by the Kansas City BBQ Society, this was the fourth annual barbeque classic here in Long Beach. And, let me tell you, it was well worth the heartburn I experienced after sampling some of the best meat I’ve ever tasted in my life. Contestants were able to compete in several categories, submitting entries for chicken, ribs, pork and brisket. Judges rated each team’s entry on a scale from one to nine and allocated points for appearance, taste and tenderness. Oh, to have been a judge that day...
I’m horrible at “sampling” anything. If someone hands me an excellent piece of barbecue chicken or a pork rib, there is no way I’m taking just one bite. If it’s out of this world, I’ll happily take the whole thing down (and probably ask for seconds). Naturally, I lasted about two hours before I had to army crawl back to the car just so I could drag myself home and take a nap. From what I was able to try, there were four teams that really stood out above the rest. While they didn’t place [See BBQ, page 17]
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
May 14 – 27, 2015
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Big Nick’s Pizza Tradition, variety and fast delivery; you get it all at Big Nick’s Pizza. The best selection of Italian specialties include hearty calzones, an array of pastas and of course, our amazing selection of signature pizzas, each piled high with the freshest toppings. Like wings or greens? We also offer an excellent selection of appetizers, salads, beer and wine. Call for fast delivery. Hours: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.Thurs., 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Big Nick’s Pizza • 1110 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 732-5800 • www.facebook.com/BigNicks
Independent And Free.
Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria A San Pedro landmark for over 40 years, famous fo r exc e p t i o n a l award-winning pizza baked in brick ovens. Buono’s also offers classic Italian dishes and sauces based on tried-and-true family recipes and hand-selected ingredients that are prepared fresh. You can dine-in or take-out. Delivery and catering are also provided. Additionally, there are two locations in Long Beach. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. • Buono’s Pizzeria • 1432 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 547-0655 • www.buonospizza.com Happy Diner The Happy Diner isn’t your average diner. If you pay attention to its special menu on blackboards, it’s almost a cer tainty you’re going to find something new each week. The cuisine runs the gamut of Italian and Mexican to American continental. The Happy Diner chefs are always creating something new. They believe that if an item is good, its reputation will get around by word of mouth. You can even find items normally found at curbside lunch trucks. You can take your pick of grilled salmon over pasta or tilapia and vegetables, prepared any way you like. Try their chicken enchiladas soup made from scratch. Happy Diner • (310) 241-0917 • 617 S. Centre St., San Pedro Nazelie’s Lebanese Cafe Nazelie’s Lebanese Cafe is a favorite of the neighborhood for the terrific kabobs, beef or chicken shawarma, lamb dishes and falafel. Nazelie’s chicken and rice soup with lemon is like a warm embrace—it takes chicken soup to a whole new level. Nazelie uses a recipe handed
Waterfront Dining
May 14 – 27, 2015
Boardwalk Grill
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Casual waterfront dining at its finest! Famous for slabs of Chicago-style baby back ribs, fish-nchips, rich clam chowder, cold beer on tap and wine. Full lunch menu also includes salads, sandwiches and burgers. Indoor and outdoor patio dining available. Proudly pouring Starbucks coffee. Open 7 days a week. Free Parking. Boardwalk Grill • 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 77, San Pedro • (310) 519-7551
down in her family for generations, starting with homemade chicken broth, and adding a refreshing touch of lemon for taste and nutrients. Nazelie’s Lebanese Café, 1919 S. Pacific Avenue, San Pedro. (310) 519-1919 PHILIE B’S ON SIXTH Owner Philie Buscemi welcomes you to Philie B’s on Sixth, where New York– style pizza, Sicilian rice balls and pizza by-the-slice are the specialties. Fresh hot or cold sandwiches, gourmet pizzas and fresh salads are also served. Try the “white pizza” with smooth ricotta, mozzarella and sharp PecorinoRomano cheeses topped with torn fresh basil. Extended hours accommodate San Pedro’s unique lifestyle and work schedules. Catering and fast, free local delivery ($15 min.) available. Philie B’s On Sixth • 347 W. 6th Street, San Pedro (310) 514-2500 www.philiebsonsixth.com San Pedro Brewing Company A m i c ro b r ewe r y a n d American grill, SPBC features handcraf ted award-winning ales and lagers served with creative pastas, bbq, sandwiches, salads and burgers. A full bar with made-fromscratch margaritas and a martini menu all add fun to the warm and friendly atmosphere. Wi-Fi bar connected for Web surfing and email—bring your laptop. Live music on Saturdays. Hours: From 11:30 a.m., daily. San Pedro Brewing Company • 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro • (310) 831-5663 • www.sanpedrobrewing.com
dinner with fresh egg dishes, omelettes and griddlecakes. Both restaurants have a fine selection of wines and beers that complement the dishes. Sonny’s Bistro • 1420 W. 25th St., San Pedro. Hours: Mon-Fri, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat and Sun. from 4 p.m. • (310) 548-4797. Think Café • 302 W. 5th St., San Pedro • Hours: Mon-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. • (310) 519-3662. Tally’s Sandwiches One of San Pedro’s newest dining spots, Tally’s offers a fresh take on American homemade cuisine. Everything, from the hamburgers, ground in-house, to the macaroni salad is made fresh daily. Open for lunch and dinner; enjoy one of the specials as you dine in this unassuming, centrally located sandwich shop. Feeling adventurous? Try the Thursday Thanksgiving sandwich special with homemade stuffing. Tally’s Sandwiches • Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • 1438 S. Pacific Ave. San Pedro • (310) 974-0728. The Whale & Ale San Pedro’s British gastro pub of fer s comfortable dining in an oak–paneled setting, featuring English fish & chips, roast prime rib, sea bass, rack of lamb, beef Wellington, meat pies, salmon, swordfish & vegetarian dishes. Open for lunch & dinner, 7days/wk; great selection of wines; 14 British tap ales, & full bar. Frequent live music. First Thursdays live band & special fixed price menu. Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri. 11:30 a.m.-midnight Sat. & Sun. 1-10 p.m. Bar open late. The Whale & Ale • 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro • (310) 832-0363 • www.whaleandale.com
Sonny’s Café and Think Bistro Sonny and Carly Ramirez are the husband and wife team behind Sonny’s Bistro and Think Café. They operate both establishments: Sonny works in the kitchens and Carly attends the front of the house. The handson attention to detail makes their restaurants so successful, in both quality of food and service. Sonny’s Bistro’s lunch and dinner menus feature dishes made from locally sourced and hand–selected meats, seafood and seasonal vegetables. Try the $10 lunch menu served Mon. through Friday. Think Café serves breakfast in addition to lunch and PORTS O’ CALL WATERFRONT DINING S i n c e 1 9 61 t h e y ’ v e extended a hear ty welcome to visitors from every corner of the globe. Delight in an awe-inspiring view of the dynamic L.A. Harbor while enjoying exquisite coastal California cuisine and varietals. Relax in the plank bar or outdoor patio for the best happy hour on the waterfront. With the awardwinning Sunday champagne brunch, receive the first Spirit Cruises harbor cruise of the day free. Open 7 days, lunch and dinner. Free Parking. Ports O’Call Waterfront Dining • 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 76, San Pedro • (310) 833-3553 www.Portsocalldining.com
SPIRIT CRUISES
An instant par ty! Complete with all you need to relax and enjoy while the majesty of the harbor slips by. Their three yachts and seasoned staff provide an exquisite excursion every time, and all-inclusive pricing makes party planning easy! Dinner cruise features a three course meal, full bar, unlimited cocktails and starlight dancing. Offering the ultimate excursion for any occasion. Free parking. Spirit Cruises • 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 77, San Pedro • (310) 548-8080, (562) 495-5884 • www.spiritmarine.com
Include Your Restaurant in the Dining Guide In Print & Online • (310) 519-1442
Queen Latifah becomes the legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO biopic, Bessie.
Queen Latifah, Empress of the Blues By Melina Paris, Columnist
If there was ever a question as to which present-day actress would be one of the best choices to portray Bessie Smith, Queen Latifah would certainly be the best answer. Queen Latifah will indeed star in the legendary singer’s biopic, Bessie, which airs on HBO May 16. The film is loosely based on the acclaimed biography Bessie, by journalist Chris Albertson. The book focuses on Smith’s escape from her turbulent personal life to become one of the first major blues stars, earning the distinction “Empress of the Blues.” Smith dealt with many adversities in her life, including racism and the Great Depression. She was also a business woman and one of the most successful recording artists of her time, earning up to $2,000 a week. She lived hard and created some of her own hardships. Smith has been a strong influence on such female vocalists as Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. Queen Latifah has the chops to measure up to Smith’s legacy, and has the voice for the role, having garnered Grammy nominations for her albums as a jazz singer. Latifah has recorded many of Smith’s well-known songs for the film, and a soundtrack release is expected. Producers Richard and Lili Fini Zanuck first approached Queen Latifah for the role when she was only 22. At press conferences, Queen Latifah has said she is glad the film took 22 years to get made. “When the project came my way, I don’t think I had the life journey that went along with it,” she said. “I got to live more of the blues.” The remarkable similarities between the two women make this role a good fit for Queen Latifah. Both are savvy business people, both are beautiful with big voices and curvaceous figures, and both have enormous charisma. In an interview with CBS, Latifah spoke about the first time she was approached for the role. “I didn’t know who Bessie Smith was,” she said. “I had to go do some homework. And I did. When I listened to her music, I was initially intimidated. She had so much power—power in her fist, power in her heart, power in her body, her soul. I do admire her. I mean, I relate to her in a lot of ways. I’ve lived her life in a lot of ways.” The film also stars Mo’Nique as blues legend Ma Rainey, Bryan Greenberg as John Hammond, the Columbia Records executive who signed Smith, as well as Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander, Tory Kittles, Mike Epps, Oliver Platt and Charles S. Dutton.
Angels Gate Examines Human Trafficking A
By Andrea Serna, Arts and Culture Writer
May 15
Dick Weller Trio The Dick Weller Trio performs old, pop classics and standards in a modern jazz format. Its goal is to create an exciting and fun atmosphere for listeners, playing tunes with foot–tapping grooves. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $20 Details: http://alvasshowroom.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro The Good Foot! at Alex’s Bar DJs Dennis and Rodi will be spinning soul, funk and Latin sounds with special guest DJ Misa. Time: $10 p.m. Cost: $7 Venue: Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach Details: www.alexsbar.com
May 16
Tizer Quartet Tizer’s music is driven by an explosive mix of jazz, rock with classical jam band influences and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $20 Details: http://alvasshowroom.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Christopher Alvarez and his artwork. Photo by Slobodan Dimitrov.
[See Exhibition, page 16]
May 17
The Orchestre Surreal Launched in 1997, the Orchestre Surreal came out of composer Ross Wright’s mission to create a project that would strip away the barriers of cultural, generational and artistic divide, and promote the message of open-mindedness through art. Time: 4 p.m. Cost: $20 Details: http://alvasshowroom.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Prism Tats and Fernweh Using guitars, vocals and sparse electronic elements, Prism Tats pulls from various visual and musical inspirations to create a waking dream. Only 21 and older will be admitted. Time: 9 p.m. Cost: $5 Venue: Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach Details: www.alexsbar.com
May 22
Jeff Hamilton Presents Akiko with Graham Dechter Jazz organist Akiko made a name for herself in New York’s Jazz scene. She has played with the likes of Grady Tate, Leonard Smith and Lou Donaldson. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $25 Details: http://alvasshowroom.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
May 23
Grupo Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano Grupo Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano celebrates its 8th anniversary with a concert of folklorico music, costumes and dances from the states of Sinaloa, Baja California, Guerrero, Jalisco and Veracruz. Conjunto Oye! is a preeminent salsa orchestra specializing in classic Nuyorican salsa with exhilarating five-horn harmonies. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $20 to $30 Details: www.grandvision.org Venue: Warner Grand Theatre, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro
May 27
Neutral Milk Hotel Neutral Milk Hotel, featuring Jeff Mangum, Scott Spillane, Julian Koster and Jeremy Barnes, performs. No photography or video recordings will be allowed. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $49 Details: www.walkingwallofwords.com Venue: Warner Grand Theatre, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro
May 29
The Syncopaths From dance floors to concert halls, the Syncopaths spin Scottish, Irish and American folk into a contemporary concert driven by Christa Burch’s warm, vibrant vocals, spirited bodhrán and the fiddling and picking of mandolinist Ashley Broder. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $20 to $30 Venue: Grand Annex Details: www.grandvision.org
May 30
Hydrogen Jukebox On May 30, June 6 and June 7, a massive warehouse at the Port of Los Angeles becomes the departure point for a journey through the American counter-cultural landscape of the 1950s through 1980s, it’s a free-wheeling kaleidoscope of flower power, drugs, rock ’n’ roll, sex, religion and politics. Phillip Glass’ percussive minimalism, combined with Allen Ginsberg’s prophetic text, creates an opera that remains startlingly relevant. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $15 to $160.. Details: www.longbeachopera.org Venue: Crafted at Port of Los Angeles, 112 E. 22nd St., #10, San Pedro
Community/Family May 15
Barley Forge Tap Attack Come have a taste of this new O.C. Brewery. Barley Forge Brewing Co. brews Belgian, West Coast and German-style beers—a blend of traditional, recognized styles and creative twists that draw from the melting pot of cuisines and cultures in Southern California. Must RSVP. Time: 5 p.m. Cost: Free Details: www.alpinevillagecenter.com Venue: Alpine Village, 833 W. Torrance Blvd., Torrance
May 16
Explore Anacapa Island Take an adventure to Anacapa Island and join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators in discovering the wonders of the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary. Watch for marine birds and mammals, join a guided walk and check out nesting gulls and their chicks on Anacapa Island. This trip will depart Oxnard at 9:30 a.m. and return to Oxnard at about 4 p.m. Time: 9:30 a.m.. Cost: $34 to $51 Details: www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org Venue: 3720 Stephen M White Dr., San Pedro Amazing Race: Long Beach in Lincoln Park Friends of Lincoln Park partnered with Back on My Feet, a national nonprofit organization that uses running to help those experiencing homelessness transform their own lives and [See Calendar, page 16]
May 14 – 27, 2015
a form of human bondage,” Alvarez said. A senior, he served a brief stint in jail. The red, black and green flag used in the background represents Rastafarian beliefs. The Rastafari way of life encompasses the spiritual use of cannabis and the rejection of the degenerate society of materialism, oppression and sensual pleasures. “I am showing freedom through confinement, and confinement through freedom. It is the paradoxical nature, where he finds freedom through a drug that really limits your options,” said Alvarez who is pursuing a career in film. A wild figure with bloodshot eyes is depicted in the foreground of his painting, representing the “average pothead.” It is not coincidental that the figure is wearing a jump suit that reads, “L.A. County Jail.” A group of professional artists worked on their own representations of forced labor. Their art installations were placed in and around two cargo containers on the grounds of Angels Gate— representing one method of transportation used to smuggle workers. Professional artists Allyn, Melissa Crandall, Katelyn Dorroh, Leah Laird, Christine Palma, Leah Solo, April Williams and Erich Wise featured their works in the cargo container installation. Solo considers the real cost in the manufacturing of toys such as Barbie dolls, which are assembled using child labor. Viewers are invited to use the objects to meditate on “enslavement” in this interactive installation. Williams takes on the subject of the glorified “cool pimp,” who has worked his way into American pop culture by enslaving young girls into prostitution. Her charcoal series of a girl disappearing from vision, while the pimp lurks behind her, is beautiful and ominous at the same time.
Fartbarf, Kim & The Created Fan favorite Fartbarf and Kim & The Created are going to turn out the bar and the dance floor. Only 21 and older will be admitted. Time: 9 p.m. Cost: $5 Venue: Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach Details: www.alexsbar.com
Alan Pasqua, Peter Erskine, Darek Oles Alan Pasqua is a Steinway piano artist and professor of jazz studies at USC Thornton School of Music; Peter Erskine is a Los Angeles jazz drummer and composer who has recorded and toured with many famous jazz and rock artists the world over they are joined by Darek Oles, a bass player who has worked with the best saxophonists in the game. Time: 8 p.m. Cost: $25 Details: http://alvasshowroom.com Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
lthough Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves 150 years ago, modern forms of slavery are thriving throughout the world. The housekeeper, the quiet young girl working in the nail salon or the teenage boy standing on the street corner could all be victims of human trafficking. Perpetrators profit from the control and exploitation of other human beings. Inspired by their plight, tenth-grader Deandra Blade examined his relationship to freedom and containment, dominance and submission, and power within life in his first work of art. The result was a representation of the Emancipation Proclamation. “The theme I was going for was the feeling of entrapment,” Blade said. “It started out as a tribute to the Americas and the Emancipation Proclamation just appeared…. I was thinking about the way some African-Americans feel entrapped.” Blade was part of a group of students at Angels Gate Continuation High School who were asked to examine those themes during an intensive 18-week art program. The culmination of the program is Hidden in Plain Site: Creative Referendums to Human Trafficking, a powerful exhibition in the main gallery at Angels Gate Cultural Center. There are a half–dozen eye-catching 3-foot by 5-foot, brightly colored acrylic paintings on canvas in the main gallery at Angels Gate Cultural Center. The personal creations portray the lives of the young students who came to reveal their own familiarity with the topic of human trafficking. All but one of the student artists had no previous art training, but they have all produced highly individual, strikingly intimate works. Funded by a grant from the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, artists Jerri Allyn and Inez S. Bush worked with a group of 15 atrisk students. They were asked where they feel dominated, then researched and wrote essays about the subject. “Three-quarters of the students admitted to feeling enslaved by addiction, three-quarters said they had an older sibling that they felt dominated by, and we discussed the potential for being vulnerable to trafficking in their own lives,” Allyn said. “During the course of the class, two students revealed that they believe they may have people in their lives who are victims of trafficking, confirming the ubiquitous nature of this issue.” Walking into the main gallery at Angels Gate, the vibrant canvas paintings block traffic in the gallery. The hanging of the art was deliberate and intended to obstruct movement—reflecting the loss of freedom suffered by trafficking victims. The work of Christopher Alvarez is among the first visitors encounter when they enter the gallery. The theme of his painting is the bondage of drug addiction. “People who are in jail are used for forced labor against their will, to make money off them. That is
Entertainment
15
[Exhibition, from page 15]
[Calendar, from page 15] achieve employment and independent living. The Amazing Race is a scavenger hunt open to the Long Beach community. Post-hunt snacks will be provided by the Friends of Lincoln Park. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Time: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: Free Details: http://la.backonmyfeet.org Venue: Lincoln Park, Pacific Avenue at Broadway, Long Beach Impressions Family Nature, Art Workshop Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and Art to Grow On for a family coastal hike, trail activities and children’s art workshop at Terranea Resort. All ages welcome. Reserve ahead of time. Space is limited. Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost: $25 per family Details: (310) 541-7613; info@pvplc.org Venue: Terranea Resort, 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes Third Annual Tour de Carson Ride on one of two bicycle tours guided by trained cyclists around the city of Carson. Bring a helmet for yourself and your children. Time: 9 a.m. Cost: Free Details: (310) 847-3570; http://recreation.carson. ca.us Venue: Congresswoman Juanita MillenderMcDonald Community Center, 801 E. Carson St., Carson
May 17
5k Lupus Awareness Walk Come walk to help find a cure for lupus. Events are conducted nationwide to raise money for lupus research, increase awareness of lupus and rally public support for those who suffer from its brutal impact. All proceeds go to benefit Lupus LA. Time: 7 a.m. Cost: $15 Details: (310) 830-9992 Venue: Veterans Sports Complex, 22400 Moneta Ave., Carson
Independent And Free.
May 22
POLAHS 4th Annual Green Festival The event includes free giveaway of hundreds of vegetable seedlings, UC Master Gardener representatives fielding all your gardening questions, demonstration lessons in vegan cuisine, children’s activities including a petting zoo, art activities, and more. Time: 12 to 3 p.m. Cost: Free Details: rbruhnke@polahs.net Venue: POLHS, 250 W. 5th St., San Pedro,
May 30
Long Beach Human Library Participants, or “readers,” will be able to “check out” human books—people who have volunteered to share and discuss their unique life experiences, for up to 15 minutes. Readers will be able to ask questions and find out what it’s like to be a mortician, poet, retired police officer, public breastfeeding advocate, Holocaust survivor, disability advocate, and more. Human Libraries combats prejudice and stereotypes by giving people a place to discuss their differences. The Human Library project first began in Denmark in 2000 and has since spread around the world. Time: 11 a.m. to 5p.m. Cost: Free Details: http://on.fb.me/1PDUVah Venue: Orizaba Park, 1435 Orizaba Ave., Long Beach
Theater/Film May 14 – 27, 2015
May 24
16
ICT Presents: ABIGAIL/1702 This imagined sequel to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, takes place in 1702, a decade after The Crucible‘s infamous seductress danced with the devil in Salem. Imagining the destiny of the immortal stage villain who cried “Witch!,” this thrilling next chapter by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Fox’s Glee, Broadway’s Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark) finds Abigail living under an assumed name
in a village far from Salem, trying to start afresh. But now her past is about to catch up with her. The show runs through May 24. Time: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 24 Cost: $34 to $54 Details: (562) 436-4610; www.Internationalcitytheatre.org Venue: International City Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach
Art Long Beach Museum of Art Auction XVI Art Auction XVI is a fundraising exhibition that features more than 150 original works of art by 103 artists from across the country. The exhibition celebrates the creations of some of the most desirable artists working today. The exhibit represents a variety of media: works on paper, oil paintings, ceramics and sculpture. The list of artists includes David Choe, Matt Wedel, Martin Whittfooth, Kenny Harris, F. Scott Hess, Adonna Khare, Patti Warashina, and many more. The free exhibition is open to the public and culminates in an exclusive auction on May 31. During the exhibition, visitors may participate in the silent auction and bid on any of the art works on display. Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through May 31 Cost: Free Details: (562) 439-2119; lbma.org Venue: Long Beach Museum of Art, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art MOLAA presents House of MOLAA: Art + Fashion + Culture, a fashion-themed Gala dinner and program inspired by the Museum’s current exhibition, Mexico: Fantastic Identity. This year’s gala honorees are long-time MOLAA supporters Michael Weber and Frances Spivy-Weber and media sponsor ABC7. A savory cocktail and tequila reception will kick off the evening, followed by the opportunity to bid on amazing luxury items, travel and unique artwork during a silent auction and a live auction of Latin American art. Time: 5:30 p.m. Cost: $350 Details: (562) 437-1689; molaa.org Venue: Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach Visualizations in Art and Science Curated by Margaret Lazzari, Vice Dean of Art at USC’s Roski School of Art and Design, this show incorporates the works of artists and scientists to explore the overlap between the two fields. Lazzari borrowed the concept from Martin Kemp, who wrote numerous articles in the journal Nature, in which he showed that both artists and scientists use visualizations as a way to comprehend concepts beyond their knowledge. Visualizations will have sculpture, painting, digital media and more.The show will include artistic renderings of human organs, seismic readings, and other natural phenomena. The works clarify scientific understanding while imparting a sense of wonder to the viewer. Art and science can be simply defined as human attempts to understand the visible and invisible aspects of their surroundings. Artists and scientists are on an ongoing quest for knowledge about the natural world. While Visualizations is running, South Bay Contemporary will be partnering with Harbor Community Benefit Foundation in an educational art and science program at Cabrillo Avenue Elementary School in San Pedro. Time: Student exhibition May 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Art and Science Symposium is May 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. Cost: Free Details: http://conta.cc/1HLOWfW Venue: South Bay Contemporary at the Loft, 401 S. Mesa St., 3rd floor, San Pedro
Trafficking Exhibition Inspired by a model United Nations program, Hidden in Plain Sight: Creative Referendums to Human Trafficking will run through June 6 at several venues throughout San Pedro. The full schedule of programming at Angels Gate Cultural Center is as follows:
May 16
1 p.m. Tour cargo containers and youth exhibits
[True, from page 11]
Luke Von Duke
But it was during this process that he found the Asian Strings patch and created what became the first line of Fr3qu3nc3’s debut song, “Laugh at Myself.” “I’ve always loved Depeche Mode and The Smiths’ Morrissey and The Cult’s ‘She Sell Sanctuary,’” Luke said. After completing “Laugh at Myself,” Luke gained momentum. Working with a guitar and the melodies inside his head, he started cranking out original music. That’s also when he hooked up with lifelong friend “Tommy Gunn” Pintaric. “That’s my boy; I loved that guy,” Luke said. “I’ve known him for 27 years. I’d take a bullet for him... Well, I’ll take a punch for him, not a bullet.” Charismatic and funny, Luke’s “taking a punch” slaps me as an inside joke that is both funny and real. Luke said he had produced five more songs before he approached Tommy. He had previously reached out to another drummer who ultimately flaked. Luke and Tommy believed Fr3qu3nc3’s sound needed some funk. That’s where Uncle Frank comes in. “Chances are, nine times out of 10, the kids that shred around here were taught by Uncle Frank,” Luke explained. “His guitar playing…to me, he’s one of the most amazing guitar players around. He’s not Frank Unzueta. He’s Uncle Frank around here.” As Luke puts it, Fr3qu3nc3 got real sexy after Frank’s inclusion. His guitar playing reminds Luke of Johnny Mar from The Smiths, one of his all-time favorite guitarists. Sean Herrera from Sifa joined the group, but he parted ways from the band due to scheduling conflicts. Luke and Sean remain close enough that Luke said for Sean, he would also take a slap in the face. Chey Espejo next joined Fr3qu3nc3. Chey was a member of Knucklebuster, who we’ve also featured in these pages, as well as Luke’s late 1990s band, Beer Drinking Weather. “I keep my eye on both of them [Herrera and Espejo] because they are so good,” Luke said. After explaining how he put this current band together, Luke got to the real reason why we was ready for a write-up. He had found some muscle in the industry with 12-time Grammy winning producer and musician, Rafa Sardina. “His playing is just clear and he’s worked with everybody,” Luke said excitedly. “He’s worked with Lady Gaga, He’s worked with Beyonce.” Luke said his production sounds like Jesus recorded them.
with artist team. Bring lunch and picnic on the bluff. 2:30 p.m. Art is Action: Conversation about human trafficking with participants Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through June 6 Cost: Free Details: (310) 519-0936; angelsgateart.org Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro
Indeed, Rafa’s client list reads like a Who’s Who in all the major music magazines from Rolling Stone to The Source with artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Harry Connick Jr, Mariah Carey, Shakira, Dr. Dre, Dru Hill…. the list goes on. Luke sent Rafa an email and amazingly got a response. More importantly, he got an audience with Rafa at which time he listened to Fr3qu3nc3’s music. “I couldn’t believe that this was happening. I almost pinched my own ass to see if I was dreaming,” said Luke jokingly. But he was serious. Rafa apparently liked Luke’s music enough to shop it around to some of his industry contacts—a pretty freaking huge deal. At 34, Luke has been chasing his dreams for more than 20 years. In that time, he’s suffered many disappointments. “It’s a rat race; I feel like everybody is fighting over the same piece of moldy cheese,” he said, reflecting on his years in the game. “When you get a taste of what the music industry is all about, it’s kind of scary.” “They’re not about development anymore,” he said. “You could have great music, but if you don’t have massive social media support, they won’t talk to you.” Pantomiming the typical conversation artists have with music executives before they make it to the big time—if they make it—Luke begins: “Hey, you got the best music in the world. I listen to it every night with my wife. How’s your following? How many Facebook likes do you have? 200. How many YouTube views? 500. Get out of here.” “They don’t want to mess with you,” he said. Luke and his Beer Drinking Weather bandmates thought they had it made when Interscope Records was looking at them. It ultimately didn’t work out. He blames oversaturation of artists as the biggest hurdle, noting that there’s a Fr3qu3nc3 at every corner, a Luke rapping on every stage, and somebody making beats everywhere else. This time, Luke is hiring a public relations agent to help him get his recognition up in social media and beyond. Right now, the stars seems to be coming into alignment and his dreams of financially supporting himself and his parents seems a little bit closer. He intends to stay on his grind, making use of any opportunity, ‘til the wheels fall off.
[BBQ, from page 15]
BBQ Classic
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment May 14 – 27, 2015
in the top five of any category, their entries were so on point, I can only imagine how sensational the winners must have been. Competing for their second year at the West Coast BBQ Classic was Team Woodshed. Based in Orange, the Woodshed is actually a brickand-mortar store, and is well known for their premium firewood. Purchased by husband–and–wife team Mike and Patty Sharpe in 2006, the Woodshed gained notoriety in the restaurant world in Southern California. In 2012 Patty lost her beloved husband to leukemia, but she continues to honor him by continuing to run the business with genuine enthusiasm. I found the team to be incredibly upbeat and eager to please everyone. They didn’t have an arrogant air about them; they were there to have fun. Of course, it’s about the food, but competing as a team that is actually known for providing cooking wood to other contestants, I still thought their entries were quite incredible. The kalua pork was a particularly bold move considering most judges are looking for traditional barbecue fare, but sometimes you need a break between smoky ribs and charred chicken. Served alongside spicy pineapple beans and rice, the kalua pork was the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. Outta Gas BBQ deserves an honorable mention, particularly because they won the People’s Choice Award. Husband–and–wife team Chris and Laura Ades started grilling in the backyard. Their love for exceptional barbecue quickly turned competitive in 2013. Their team, comprised of friends and family and their loving entourage, gave them a competitive advantage. Outta Gas BBQ catered to the hordes of people like a well-oiled machine. Their booth alone was a crowd favorite, giving them an added appeal. Crowds formed in front of their grilling station, which looked like a roadside barbecue shack and waited patiently for their ribs. My personal favorite was their short rib taco with romaine lettuce and cabbage slaw served with a lime wedge. I almost asked for two but instead Laura gave me a generous serving of their special beans cooked with chunks of bacon. I have no problem with bacon; I say put it on everything. But the true showstoppers were the soon– to–be husband–and–wife duo Harry Soo and Donna Fong, who compete as Slap Yo Daddy BBQ and Butcher’s Daughter BBQ. Unlike most of the competing couples I spoke to at the event, Harry and Donna have a whole different dynamic. In fact, they are not a team at all. They travel around competing against each other and the stakes are high. By day Harry is an information technology manager in downtown Los Angeles, but by night he’s a barbecue grill master—a title which he undoubtedly earned. The man has so many barbecue accolades, it’s almost ridiculous. His most incredible win was placing first among 7,000 contestants in a barbecue contest in Kansas where he did it with chicken. Harry is well known in the world of barbecue. He
currently teaches barbecue techniques to eager and willing enthusiasts. Many of his students were competing against him at the Queen Mary. Donna is a quiet, introverted molecular biologist who lives in Northern California. She had her first taste of barbecue several years ago and decided the only way to eat great barbecue all of the time was to become a judge. She started taking barbecue courses from Harry and as they say, one thing led to another. They have since been happily competing against each other for years. I stood between their booths, watching in complete awe as they kept passing me slices of different things to try. My heart went pitter-patter. With expert precision, Donna sliced off a piece of her Wagyu beef brisket from Snake River. For those of you who don’t know, anything from that breed of cattle costs a pretty penny, but my god it is worth every cent. Her brisket melted in my mouth; I’ve never had anything like it. Harry offered up his pork ribs, his famous chicken, both of which were excellent. The chicken, in particular, was so juicy that I forgot I was eating chicken. As I turned to leave, Harry handed me a tender morsel of something that blew my mind. To this day I still have no idea what I put in my mouth but whatever it was, I have a new appreciation and fondness for barbecue. After that bite, the world stopped for a moment. In some respects, it was life–changing. That one piece will forever be my first, my last, and my only (until, of course, next year).
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DBA filings Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2015089654 The following person is doing business as: Top Blue USA, 17899 S. Susana Rd.,Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221., Los Angeles County. Registered owners: SPF Terminals, Inc, 1861 N. Gaffey St. STE E, San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by a corporationl. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Peter Balov, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 3, 2015. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to 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 ficti-
tious 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: 04/16/15, 04/30/14, 05/14/15, 05/28/15 Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2015097941 The following person is doing business as: The Painted Soapery, 1840 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, Ca 90731. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Aixa Renta-Deluca, 1840 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, Ca 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Aixa Renta-Deluca, owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 13,
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[Truckers, from page 6]
Truckers
rushing immediately to follow Eco Flow’s example. “I think the initial reactions by a lot of folks are shock—and then curiosity,” Weiner said. “We’re in the first stages of folks digesting this, but being very curious as to how this is going to work…The Teamsters are working very hard to make sure Eco Flow is a successful company, has the best drivers, and can realize its potential to grow and provide good jobs and be an innovator in the industry.” Also on hand at the press conference was David Pettit, a senior lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council who argued on behalf of a similar approach embodied in the Port of Los Angeles’ Clean Trucks Program. At the time, it was loudly denounced by some
[Emissions, from page 6]
for combining concerns for labor and the environment—a fact that Pettit took note of. “We have supported the employee model at the ports for many years,” Pettit said. “When this struggle began, we were mocked by the media. I have a great editorial by the LA Times that I keep on my wall, where they referred to us and labor as ‘the unholy alliance.’ They just didn’t get it. They didn’t get what this was all about. This is what it’s about. And they didn’t have the vision, other people had the vision, and it’s happening right now.” “My interest, and our interest at NRDC is air quality and public health,” Pettit explained. “The cancer risk, in communities near the ports and along the truck routes, is substantially higher than it is in LA County in general, and that has been our interest all along.
Instead of having ill-running diesel trucks having to be maintained by underpaid so-called independent contractors, the best way to handle that is through an employee model, with a well-capitalized trucking company. That’s what you see today with Eco Flow. This is the future and I’m very happy that it’s happening after all these many years.” “There is light at the end of the truck tunnel,” Paz said. “You stand up and fight for your rights, you’re going to get there. Don’t be scared, don’t be intimidated, with the help of the Teamsters it’s going to happen. So, don’t be scared. We’re open for business. Let’s go for it… let’s change the industry… that’s what Eco Flow is doing right now.”
DBA and legal filings from previous page
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2015109115 The following person is doing business as: San Pedro Health Center, 302 W. 5th Street #101, San Pedro, Ca 90731. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Kromas Chiropractic Inc.1723 Ortega Place, San Pedro, California. This Business is conducted by a corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above:NA. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Kim Kromas, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 23, 2015. Notice-In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to 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: 04/17/15, 04/30/15, 05/14/15, 05/28/15
not only new equipment and fuels, but also new transportation infrastructure, communications, and industry operating practices,” the plan states. “We will need workers trained to build, maintain, and operate the advanced equipment and communications systems. To help fund the whole effort, California’s logistics industry must remain profitable in the face of increasing competition from other North American seaports and supply chains. The ability to readily adapt to changing trends and expand operations is key to improving the competitiveness of the system.” As long as human life and health are excluded from the economic calculus, it’s going to remain quite challenging to reach this goal, while also protecting those communities on whose behalf Taylor Thomas spoke.
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May 14 - 27, 2015
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2015102358 The following person is doing business as: Pacific Yacht Landing, Berth 203 #24, Wilmington, CA 90049. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Perel Marinas Inc., 1001 Casiano Rd., Los Angeles CA 90049, California. This Business is conducted by a corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above:July 13, 2015. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Robert Perel, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 16, 2015. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2015100668 The following person is doing business as: Blue Engravers, 1375 Caspian Ave.,Long Beach, CA 90813. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Midonna Inc.,1375 Caspian Ave.,Long Beach, CA 90813, California. This Business is conducted by a corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above:1987. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Michael Leonard, Chief Executive Officer. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 15, 2015. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to 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: 04/17/15, 04/30/15, 05/14/15, 05/28/15
the air that makes them sick.” “I cannot emphasize enough how incredibly important it is that CARB set a regulatory deadline for the turnover to zero emission trucks for drayage,” said Morgan Wyenn, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council, another CCFC member. She then added, “We desperately need CARB to get more involved in this CEQA process, like my colleague Adrian just mentioned, for large freight projects. Several huge projects are moving forward that lock us into more diesel and air pollution and are frankly missed opportunities to clean out the freight industry. Communities around the state really need CARB to weigh in.” She specifically called for involvement “from the Port of LA plans to build a new rail yard right adjacent to schools, which flies in the face of all of CARB’s work studying and doing guidance about the harms of rail yards on schools, to the expansion of 710,” adding that “CARB has such a significant expertise that we need applied to these projects. Otherwise, they will continue to undermine and undercut all the work that CARB wants to do as laid out in this great freight strategy document.” “A zero-emission freight transport system will demand
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2015. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to 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: 04/17/15, 04/30/15, 05/14/15, 05/28/15
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: 04/17/15, 04/30/15, 05/14/15, 05/28/15
CARB Sets New Emissions Goal The BEST
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May 14 - 27, 2015
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