Rln 08 07 14 edition

Truckers Ask Port to Stand Up for Justice After Suspending Strike pg. 2 Zackey Force Funk Tinkers with the Funk pg. 11 Bernie Pearl Brings New Blues Fest to Long Beach pg. 14

There’s More to Boxing than Just Boxing

By Joseph Baroud, RLn Contributor

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The Local Publication You Actually Read

he punches fly fast. So fast, you can hardly see them. So fast, you can hear them cut the air as they hit the target.

The target in this case was Christine Rodriguez behind some protective gear. Each time Kira DeMorales threw her gloved fist, it sounded like a baseball being thrown at a 100 miles per hour landing dead smack in the middle of a catcher’s mitt.

The boxing world and the boxers she trains refer to Christine as “Moms.” Christine and Kira conduct their one-on-one training session in the southeast corner of the JackRabbit Boxing Academy in Long Beach.

The gym has one boxing ring. A few heavy bags line the left side of the boxing square in an L-shape and several speed bags surround them. In the ring there’s an older man training a boxer in his 20s. There are a couple of fighters alternating between speed bags, each serving a different function.

The heavy bag is used to practice uppercuts. The 300-pound bag is used to help fighters strengthen their power shots. The double end bag, which moves at you, is used to sharpen a fighter’s defensive reaction.

Fighters practice ducking and evading the slip bag, and also their overall Knock Out/ to p. 4

Sex Scandal Involving Chief’s Daughter Revealed Page 3

August 8 - 21, 2014

Amateur boxer Kira DeMorales plans to make an impact in more ways than one when she breaks into the professional ranks. Photo by Terelle Jerricks.

Allegations Taint Beck’s Bid for Second Term

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Committed to indepedent journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for more than 30 years

Truckers Suspend Strike, Ask Port to Stand Up for Justice But Could Courts Block the Rule of Law?

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

August 8 - 21, 2014

Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area

Port truckers and a broad coalition of supporters forcefully presented their case to a receptive Harbor Commission on July 10, just before both sides agreed to a “cooling off period.”

The agreement would “allow the Harbor Commission time to investigate the serious allegations regarding worker safety, poor working conditions and unfair labor practices,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti, who brokered the agreement. Garcetti also promised that “the City will facilitate a dialog among the parties in the weeks ahead.”

In the days since, things have been outwardly quiet, but at least two of the three companies targeted by the strike have signaled continued hostility, contributing to a potentially explosive situation, while port staff is quietly delving into what sort of actions it might take.

“What’s happened since I’ve been working there is that this company has been constantly breaking the law, and nothing has been done to change that,” said Jose Garcia, who has worked for Total Transportation Services Inc. for almost 14 years, to the commissioners.

Juan Martinez, a Total Transportation Services Inc. co-worker for three-and-a-half years added, “Since we spoke to you last time, they’ve already fired some of our co-workers.”

Truckers have been before the commission repeatedly in recent years, but never with such broad support and such a simple,

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compelling message: to put an end to the illegal misclassification of workers, the resulting wage theft, and the barrage of threats, firings and intimidation that truckers have faced for simply trying to claim what is rightfully theirs.

“We’re going to ask you straight up to ban companies that violate the law,” said Randy Cammack, president of Teamsters Joint Council 42, striking a common theme echoed by dozens who spoke to the commissioners. “Part of the Clean Truck Act [sic] was that companies had to comply with federal, state laws. They’re not doing that.”

“You already know these companies are doing illegal things. You already know all the violations they have, but you haven’t done anything about it,” said Dennis Martinez, a driver with Total Transportation Services Inc. “Enforce the law.

Protect the workers.”

“We see that this misclassification of workers is really another form of wage theft,” said Alex Montansez, of the Coalition to End Wage Theft in Long Beach.

“Some even bring home a negative paycheck,” said Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County AFL-CIO. “Workers are paying companies in a multi-billion dollar industry—in a multi-billion dollar port—to work? If we sit back and allow that to happen, we are sending a message to the companies, that our port is open for business to those that break the law.”

“In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the issues

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Teamsters striking in Wilmington July 11. Photo by Slobodan Dimitrov.

that we speak of today—misclassification, retaliation and wage theft—are called serious sins,” said Rev. William O’Connor, pastor emeritus of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Long Beach. “I know that you are aware that what is happening to our truck drivers is unjust and immoral.... Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome has condemned this type of treatment.”

“When you have a worker who brings home $6 and change after a week of work, that is called slavery,” said Linda Dent, vice president of Service Employees International Union 721.

“This has been going on for 30 years. I’ve lived in Long Beach for 20 years and if I had an idea that this was going on, we would have been out there a long time ago, a part of this. But we are here now, today, to ask you to do the right thing.”

But even beyond the underlying economic injustices, many of the truckers’ most urgent pleas highlighted outright thuggery by the companies involved.

“The company has hired a union-buster and has encouraged co-workers to assault us,” said Moises Cardoza, a Green Fleet Systems driver for four years. “I have been one of those that has been assaulted on the job.”

“I’ve been threatened to be killed, just because I want to join the union,” said Yasser Castillo, another Green Fleet driver. “I’ve been driving for 12 years. Nothing has changed.... I’m putting my family in your hands.”

“We know every day when we go to work, we are going to be assaulted, we are going to be

retaliated against,” said Paco Sanchez, a Green Fleet driver. “I myself have been assaulted and provoked on the job.... The company has also used some co-workers as agents of the company, to provoke us and assault us. They’ve been constantly breaking the law by doing this.”

“Every one of these companies violated the National Labor Relations Act. Every one of these companies is violating [the] National Fair Labor Standards Act,” said Teamsters International Vice President Fred Potter. “ They have misclassified their workers. They have done that repeatedly.... We have to comply by the law when we assemble. We have to comply by the law. Why don’t they?”

The commissioners were broadly sympathetic.

“We want to be known, and we should be taking pride in being known as a port that creates and attracts good jobs, and good companies, not as a port that is a magnet for wage theft, and I do believe that that is not a reputation that we want to have as a port,” said Commissioner Patricia Castellanos. “What is happening is outrageous and, you know, particularly outrageous because I know some of these companies have benefitted from funds that we provided to them to buy these trucks, and here we have drivers saying that they in fact are the ones who are paying for these trucks. And so, I do believe that these companies have a responsibility to us as a port as well, because they do have a contract with us, and because they have benefitted from public funds Truckers: Stand Up for Justice/ to p. 7

Scandal Embroils Chief Beck’s Bid for Second Term

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

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os Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck has been lobbying for a second term since the police commission began taking it under consideration this past May. But Beck’s road to a second term has gotten increasingly rockier, despite record lows in violent crimes in the city and having weathered some serious crises that would have tanked most other police chiefs. For example, the Christopher Dorner episode that terrorized the police department, or the more recent one, in which a detective recounted how he killed a fellow officer and allegedly blackmailed former police Chief Bernard Parks into dropping the discipline hearings against him.

On July 20, the commanding officer of the LAPD’s Criminal Gang-Homicide Division, Peter Whittingham, submitted a letter to the Los Angeles Police Commission that could perhaps completely derail Beck’s chances.

Per the City Charter, the LAPD chief is required to apply to the commission for reappointment at least 180 days prior to the expiration of their first term. The commission must respond to that application, voting either to let him stay for another term or not, no later than 90 days before his first term expires. In this case, that would be Aug. 20.

In full disclosure, Whittingham has filed a lawsuit against the city, but does not address the cause of action in his letter. Whittingham filed a whistleblower suit in April. In that lawsuit, Whittingham alleges that since 2009, of the 58 possible candidates for promotion to captain, only three were African American. He was promoted to captain in 2009, well before he filed

the whistleblower suit.

In his letter, Whittingham goes all-in addressing the allegations of favoritism in the disciplinary process, citing a sex scandal within the department allegedly involving Beck’s daughter Brandi Scimone. Perhaps even more damning, he cites the Review of Investigation Surrounding the Termination of Christopher Dorner that Beck conducted.

Whittingham cites the Dorner case as an example Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, center, has been under fire following of a disciplinary process allegations of a dysfunctional disciplinary system and nepotisms following gone awry. Of those days, the release a police captain’s letter to the Police Commission. File photo.

Whittingham wrote: During those horrible days in February Dorner cited an excessive force incident while 2013, the entire community was united in support he was assigned to the LAPD’s Harbor Division for our efforts to capture Dorner and bring him in which Sgt. Teresa Evans repeatedly kicked a to justice. There was also a collective sigh of suspect in the chest and face while handcuffing relief when it was announced that he died during him. Dorner said he reported the incident, but a shootout with law enforcement personnel. nothing was done.

However, what lingered on beyond his death “In fact, 10 months later on 6/25/08, after were the unanswered questions about corruption already successfully completing probation, in the disciplinary system. In an attempt to put the acquiring a basic Post Certificate and Intermediate public’s fears to rest, the Chief assured everyone Post Certificate, I was relieved of duty by the that he would conduct a fair/objective evaluation LAPD while assigned to patrol at Southwest of the system; he was going to take responsibility Division,” Dorner wrote. for the imperfections and fix them.

Ten months later, the Board of Rights, an internal disciplinary board, fired Dorner, even In his manifesto, which he released online, Discipline Actions in Question/ to p. 6

Community Announcements:

Harbor Area Alma Park Community Cleanup

Help preserve San Pedro’s green spaces.

Participate in the Alma Park Community Cleanup, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10.

Bring a dish and join the potluck, meet neighbors and get information on upcoming events.

Venue: Alma Park Location: Corner of 21st and Meyler streets

Networking Mixer

Join the YWCA of the Harbor Area and South Bay for a networking mixer, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Aug. 14, at the YWCA in San Pedro.

Details: (310) 547-0831 Venue: YWCA of the Harbor Area and South Bay Location: 437 W. 9th St., San Pedro

BDSM Workshop

Explore sensory depravation, starting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14, at The Center Long Beach.

Sensory deprivation and changing or limiting the senses can change the experience. Depriving a sense enhances others. Workshop fee is $15.

Details: (562) 434-4455 Venue: The Center Long Beach Location: 2017 E. 4th St., Long Beach

Essay Contest

Participate in the second annual Maravilla Market essay contest.

Write an essay on the significance of the mural on 1210 Hyatt Ave., in Wilmington. Winners are eligible to win up to $1,000.

Details: (424) 215-4963; www.uwyf.org

LB Planning Commission to Review Medical Marijuana Law

Trade Connect

August 8 - 21, 2014

The Port of Los Angeles and the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency Center at the University of Southern California will host a free “Trade Connect” export workshop, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., Aug. 26, at the Founders Hall within USC’s Galen Center.

The event will focus on providing information, tools and tips for fashion, garment, health and beauty product companies interested in promoting and exporting their products overseas.

The event will include experts from the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., L.A. Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association, Los Angeles World Airports, the California Fashion Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the USC MBDA Bridges to Business Success Program, the Los Angeles Small Business Development Center and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Other supporters include the Los Angeles Regional Export Council, the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation and The Valley Economic Alliance.

Details: http://tinyurl.com/ ExportIntroFashion Venue: Founders Hall at the USC Galen Center Location: 3400 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles

The Local Publication You Actually Read

On Aug. 21, the Long Beach Planning Commission will view a new draft medical marijuana ordinance.

The ordinance would allow a limited number of collectives with zoning to prevent locations from being concentrated in the industrial zones of west, north and central Long Beach.

Commissioners would like to look at placing collectives in industrial areas and if those zones are unavailable, progress to regional-highway districts and then to community-oriented highway districts. This year, the Planning Commission has considered law versions that combine licensing requirements, buffers and other standards to control marijuana operations In April, voters approved a measure allowing Long Beach to tax medical marijuana sales and businesses if the city rescinds its ban and adopts new regulatory rules.

Details: http://longbeach.legistar.com/ Venue: City Hall Location: 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

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Knock Out

August 8 - 21, 2014

Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area

footwork. Last, but not least, the good ol’ fashioned speedbag helps fighters narrow their focus.

Christine was in the southeast corner working with Kira. She had on a body protector and mitts on each hand to absorb Kira’s blows. Kira was working on her footwork and combos, while Christine was checking her flaws.

Kira moved around slowly, side-stepping and throwing a two-punch combo into Christine’s mitts. The pace of the training increased as the exercise continued. The punching combos, which began with two punches, increased to three- then four-punch combos and so on.

Kira’s side-steps turned into a light skipping and her eyes zeroed in on Christine’s mitts before she began throwing out five-, six- and seven-hit combos.

Christine’s body protector became the second target, but her face registers no emotion. Christine absorbed each punch Kira threw as if she were a heavy punching bag hanging from the ceiling.

Christine trains her students like she was taught by her late coach, Bill Slayton. He had such a remarkable impact on Christine, that she decided to mimic his training regimen for her students in the ring and outside of it.

Christine says there’s little difference in the training regimens of amateur, professional and Olympic boxers, except that women train harder and with more intensity than men.

“I was the only woman at Broadway Gym for about five years and I always wanted to do more than the men, more rounds, more weights [for when I shadowbox.] I would use [8-pound weights,] while the guys were using [5-pound

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and tremendously improving her diet.

“Christine is one of the best to me and I’m honored to fight for her,” Kira said.

“A friendship on top of just [a] coach and fighter [relationship].”

Kira was not always on track to become a professional boxer. She was initially a California State University Dominguez Hills student on a basketball scholarship from Hawaii.

She took up boxing during an off season to stay in shape. At the time, Christine was coaching the school’s women’s boxing team.

Christine immediately saw in Kira raw talent and potential, along with natural length and size.

After two years in the basketball program, Kira chose boxing over basketball, believing that her earnings potential would be much higher if she succeeds. Also, she found that she preferred the individualistic nature of boxing, where her success or failure depended on her effort alone in the ring. Of course, that meant losing her scholarship. To help offset the cost, Christine invited Kira to live with her and her son.

Amongst her many jobs, Christine works as a traveling nutritionist to various camps. These camps are where fighters prepare their bodies and minds a few days before their fights. Christine is also a certified massage therapist.

Christine became a trainer after Coach

Kira DeMorales, left, practices in the ring at JackRabbit in Long Beach.

Photo by Terelle Jerricks

weights.]”

Christine fought professionally in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. She regrets entering the professional ranks after only boxing in the amateur ranks for three months—attributing to this her lack of success in her boxing career.

Women boxers still struggle to find good management to represent them.

“We have had many meetings with interested investors and sponsors,” Christine said. “They aren’t willing to be pioneers and sign a female fighter with a female coach. They don’t have any projections for that.”

Still, she feels good about the future of women in the sport.

“The right people will appear when the time is right,” Christine said. “Faith has not failed me yet. Patience, I have learned well.”

Kira credits Christine for sharpening her skills

Slayton died, though it seemed iffy at first. She still wanted to be a champion.

“I didn’t make that choice,” Christine said.

“I didn’t think I’d ever make that choice. What happened was my trainer died and then there was a stable of fighters left. I was the next person in line after he died to be their leader. It was just natural. They looked up to me. I instilled and carried on his morals and values.

“Once you make that transition to coach, it is a very hard transition if you were a boxer because you want to be the fighter.”

For Christine, the path to becoming a professional boxer is a spiritual one that she learned from Coach Slayton. The principles she learned as a boxer are principles she wants to pass on to the boxers she trains.

“It’s about life in general, how to respect each other, help each other…about sacrifice and giving back. That’s how boxing works,” Christine said.

“To boxing, I owe my life, my humility, my faith [and] my wisdom. Everything. I became more heightened spiritually watching Bill die. He did it with grace and dignity. He made me know for certain he was going back home.”

Christine hopes to one day run her own boxing camp, preferably in Big Bear or a similar location.

For now, her home is the JackRabbit in Long Beach and her job is to transfer the lessons that she learned from her trainer to her pupils. She now sees more value in helping fighters reach the best of their abilities.

“It’s not about me being champion, it’s about building many champions in and out of the ring,” Christine said.

Kira will make her professional debut on Aug. 21 after posting a 6-0 record as an amateur. Her fight will be at the Fight Club OC in Costa Mesa.

Robles’ Two Jobs May Be Incompatible

By Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter

Albert Robles works two part-time jobs: one as a member of the Carson City Council, to which he was elected in 2013, and the other with the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, to which he was elected in 1992.

Now, the District Attorney is investigating whether having these two jobs breaks applicable state law.

The question is whether or not the offices are incompatible.

“No law prevents me from doing that­— holding two public offices—the law is against incompatible offices,” Robles said. “So the question is: ‘Is it incompatible?’”

He gave Compton, Long Beach and Torrance as examples of where serving on the council would be incompatible with serving on the Water Replenishment District.

“Carson has no water department and doesn’t purchase water from the Water Replenishment

District,” Robles argued.

He added that in April, the District Attorney made a request for public documents and the city complied. He said that to his knowledge no such request had been made of the Water Replenishment District.

The District Attorney’s Office would only confirm to Random Lengths: “[O]ur office received a complaint re: Albert Robles. I cannot comment beyond that.”

California Government Code 1099 states: “A public officer…shall not simultaneously hold two offices that are incompatible.”

If the two offices are found to be incompatible, the officer is “deemed to have forfeited the first office upon acceding to the second.” That means Robles would be forced out of his Water Replenishment District seat.

One way applicable law determines incompatibility is whether the offices in question

exercise authority over the same geographic area. Water Replenishment District of Southern California manages West Basin groundwater, but does not provide water to Carson. West Basin Municipal Water District provides water to Carson, but manages imported water from the north and the Colorado River, instead of West Basin groundwater.

Geographic overlap may have happened— if it did—when this spring the council looked into possible contamination of West Basin groundwater from oil industry fracking.

About the time the DA requested papers, the council passed a temporary moratorium on oil drilling. The moratorium coincided with Occidental Petroleum attempting to reopen an old oil field in north Carson, although one had no immediate effect on the other.

During a special April 29 council meeting to discuss extending the drilling moratorium, Robles made a lengthy speech in which he accused labor of opposing him.

“I’ve been an elected official more than 20 years and I’ve never been held to the level of pressure on this single vote tonight,” he stated. “Nobody tells me what to do.”

He said that before the meeting some union members told him that if he did not oppose the moratorium, they would find somebody to run against him come 2017. He insisted at the meeting that he was pro-labor and that the unions supporting the Oxy proposal were “not on the right side.” Robles voted to extend the moratorium, but the extension effort failed.

Robles told Random Lengths he plans for this to be his last term with the Water Replenishment District. The reason he hasn’t resigned is because he wants to see a water recycling project he’s worked on for about 15 years to be finished first.

Dr. Ayres (310) 547-0084

LONG BEACH—On July 31, the I-710 Project Committee voted 11-5 to recommend that CalTrans include Community Alternative 7 in its forthcoming environmental analysis of Interstate 710 expansion options, along with CalTrans’ own proposed alternatives.

The I-710 Community Advisory Committee had previously voted in support of Community Alternative 7, which was developed by the Coalition for Environmental Health and Justice, a group comprised of community, public health, environmental justice organizations and others.

The vote was greeted with cheers from the standing-room-only crowd, but the Project Committee vote is only an advisory one. The final decision of what to include in the analysis rests with CalTrans—although a lawsuit could be brought if they fail to include the alternative in their analysis. The I-710 expansion project has been under consideration since the early 2000s. It involves a potential $7 billion project over an 18-mile stretch that runs through 15 cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, from Long Beach northward to the Pomona Freeway (State Road 60). Key elements of the community alternative include: • No widening of the general-purpose lanes.

• A comprehensive public transit element, which reduces individual car use.

• A mandatory zero-emissions corridor to facilitate and promote zero-emissions freight movement.

• A public-private partnership operator of the zero-emissions corridor to create accountability and the assurance that zero-emissions means zero-emissions.

• Los Angeles River Improvements to mitigate past, present and future impacts, such as a green belt, open space and trail developments.

• A comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle element.

• Community benefits, including targeted hiring measures and training programs to benefit low-income residents of the impacted corridor communities.

Caltrans has not announced a time frame for making a decision on the alternatives it will analyze, but the analysis itself is expected to last through 2016.

—Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

Reyes Uranga Runs for Water Replenishment District Seat

LONG BEACH—Former Long Beach City Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga, announced July 24 that she would be running for the Division 3 seat of the Water Replenishment District.

The seat has been left unoccupied since Lillian Kawasaki died in 2013.

Uranga served on the Long Beach City Council since 2002. Since her initial election, Uranga has News Briefs/ to p. 6

The Local Publication You Actually Read

Psychotherapy?

Community Alternative For 710 Expansion Passes Key Vote

August 8 - 21, 2014

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managed the council’s Environmental Committee and represented all the cities in eastern and western Los Angeles County on the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Reyes Uranga also served as a board member of the Coalition for Clean Air.

Garcia Makes Budget Recommendations

LONG BEACH—On July 22, Mayor Robert Garcia released his budget recommendations for fiscal year 2015.

His recommendations for reallocations include an additional $2 million to the $3.7 million surplus into the deficit reserve fund for CalPERS to help with future pension costs.

Garcia proposed creating a new department that will oversee Economic Development in the city. The new department will work with business improvement districts and oversee surplus redevelopment properties.

The newly formed Technology and Innovation Department will partner with the city’s schools and Cal State University Long Beach to facilitate innovation across city government.

As part of this budget, Garcia is proposing a new historic preservation planner to facilitate identifying and preserving important historic sites.

The Arts Council will also receive additional funding to embark on a marketing campaign to create new private-public partnerships.

DA Charges Local Political Figures with Embezzlement of Public Funds

August 8 - 21, 2014

Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area

An advisor to Councilman Curren Price, Rob Katherman, 68, and his wife, Marilyn Katherman, 65, were each charged with two felony counts of misappropriation of public funds by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

Prosecutors say that the Kathermans illegally directed money from the Torrance-based nonprofit, Adopt a Stormdrain Foundation, to cover the personal expenses of board member of the West Basin Municipal Water District Ronald Smith, who was charged last week.

Smith has since pled not guilty to one count of financial conflict of interest, two counts of misappropriation of public funds and four counts of perjury. Prosecutors alleged that Smith pushed for the water district to give Adopt a Stormdrain Foundation multiple paid sponsorships over a threeyear period. The Kathermans, in turn, sent checks from the nonprofit’s account to pay for tuition, tennis lessons and dance classes for Smith’s children. Prosecutors also said checks from the foundation covered rent and repairs to Smith’s boat. In all, the district attorney’s office maintains that about $20,000 was misappropriated.

Katherman reportedly resigned Monday from his $107,000-a-year job advising Price on economic development and has reportedly said he was completely unaware of any funds misspent by Smith.

Katherman, a Rancho Palos Verdes resident, has been active in the region’s politics for decades. A veteran lobbyist of 32 years, Katherman was the primary principal of the Katherman Companies, which produced campaign slate mailers for scores of politicians.

He also serves as an elected board member of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, which manages groundwater for the southern area of Los Angeles County.

Smith was elected to West Basin’s board in 2006. He declared Chapter 13 bankruptcy the following year, according to court records, and was reelected in 2010.

At a special meeting, West Basin’s board voted Tuesday to remove Smith as treasurer, transferring his responsibilities to the agency’s chief financial officer. The board also requested a forensic audit of the agency’s outreach and sponsorship funds.

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Disciplinary Actions In Question

though there was video evidence and a witness.

Even the victim testified, corroborating Dorner’s version of events.

The Inspector General investigated Dorner’s termination proceedings to determine the validity of Dorner’s allegations about the disciplinary process and ultimately found that the board’s decision wasn’t improper. Whittingham noted, however, that the Inspector General also refuted and discredited some of the most significant claims made in Beck’s report and called into question the credibility of the training officer. Whittingham said the Inspector General also pointed out significant discrepancies in Sgt. Evans’ arrest report, her statements to Internal Affairs investigators and her testimony at the Board of Rights hearing.

Whittingham noted that at the time, the general public questioned whether the LAPD could investigate itself. In response, Beck was quoted at the time as saying: “I owe this community answers about how we discipline officers…I recognize the mistakes of the past and I don’t intend to repeat them.”

Whittingham argues that not only did Beck repeat the mistakes of the past, he compounded them by distorting facts including misrepresenting the length of time it took Dorner to report the abuse incident and that the relationship between Dorner’s training officer and Officer Dorner weren’t addressed. And that was just one of the bombshells in Whittingham’s letter.

The other bombshell was an allegation of Beck scuttling a Board of Rights hearing following a sex scandal in the department. Whittingham said that not only was the hearing scuttled, the case was settled by overturning the downgrade of a sergeant, who was charged with inappropriate sexual conduct. It is at this point Whittingham’s letter turns salacious, reading: … this was no ordinary case. In fact, it was not even a settlement, as you may know it. This was more like extortion, blackmail, a highjacking of the disciplinary system.

Whittingham recounts a barebones chain of events in which Internal Affairs investigated a series of allegations against the sergeant—some of which include inappropriate sexual relations with young female officers under his supervision.

Whittingham doesn’t include names of individuals or station divisions.

The allegations were sustained against him, and he was downgraded to the rank of Sergeant I, and directed to a Board of Rights (to be demoted and/or terminated, if found guilty), Whittingham explained.

Whittingham, in recounting the story, explained that as the charges of inappropriate sexual relations were being read during the hearing, the sergeant challenged the charges by saying something to the effect: Well, if you are going to charge me for those three (or four), you might as well charge me for the other one.

The board chair inquired what he meant and the sergeant implicated another female officer who he said was known to Chief Beck and threatened to notify the press. In Whittingham’s recounting, Beck was notified, the Board of Rights proceedings were aborted, and the matter was eventually settled with the sergeant’s rank restored to Sergeant II. Whittingham doesn’t offer a hint as to the nature of the female officer relationship to Beck except to reference the fact that he is the father of two daughters, saying: As a commanding officer (and a parent) with two daughters who could join the department, I

Los Angeles Police Captain Peter Whittingham sparked a firestorm August 1 with the release of his letter to the Police Commission on July 20 outlines alleged instances in which the officers used blackmail to get disciplinary hearings dropped. File photo

shudder to think what would happen if any of my daughters were pressured and/or violated in this manner by their supervisor…I wonder what the Chief would have done had it been his daughter? This was an opportunity for the Chief to show courage and leadership, but for unknown reasons, he gave into the sergeant’s self-serving demands, and in the process, the result was the irreparable damage done to the credibility of the disciplinary system.

Citing a series of Los Angeles Times articles endorsing Beck for another term based on the record low violent crime numbers, Whittingham challenged the police commission and the Times to look beyond the numbers and focus on the culture that is now in place in the department.

In order to evaluate how LAPD has evolved, how the intent of the consent decree has manifested itself in the behavior, attitude, and conduct of its employees, and the cultural shift that has taken place under Beck, the commissioners must look beyond the reported “numbers” and closely examine the “process” of how the numbers were achieved.

The Part 1 Crime, Arrests, and Median Response Time comparison charts as shown in the Times articles, while informative, had very little to do with Beck’s direct involvement or leadership.

On the other hand, he was directly involved in, and responsible for, setting the tone or creating the environment that has reshaped the culture of the department within the past five years. It appears that Beck would prefer that the commissioners (and the mayor) focus their attention on 11 years of crime reduction data, but if they really want to know where the dead bodies are buried in this department, they will

need to take a closer look at the past 5 years of risk-management numbers.

In his nine-page letter, Whittingham included bar graphs comparing the total number of complaints versus sustained complaints—complaints in which an investigation found that the complaint occurred as alleged; use of force incidents that did not result in death or hospitalization versus the number of officer-involved shootings; and the number of employee sick hours covering the last year William Bratton was chief and all five years of Beck’s tenure.

Whittingham said that the numbers tell of a marked change in the police department’s culture under Beck, noting that in the last year of Chief Bratton’s term in 2008, of the 5,826 reported complaints, 1,020, or 17.5percent, were reported as having occurred as alleged.

Those numbers were consistently reduced by half throughout Beck’s tenure.

In the Use of Force graph, the number of incidents of force that did not result in death or hospitalization were consistently greater under Beck’s tenure than under Bratton’s last year—a range of 19 and 41 percent greater than under Bratton’s tenure.

Officer involved shootings under Beck ranged between 63 and 96 incidents per year, a number greater than Bratton’s final year by 61 and 146 percent.

During this same period of time, the city and the Los Angeles Police Protective League representing about 9,900 officers, have been in contract negotiations—negotiations that have been turbulent at best.

The rank and file rejected the city’s current proposed offer in a July 8 through July 11 vote. In a released statement, the Police Protective League noted that the vote was due to “deep-seated frustration and anger among the officers caused by their low pay, working conditions, a disciplinary system that is viewed as biased and unfair, and their perception that management is unreceptive to their problems.”

League went on to say that, “Adding to the frustration [was] the Department’s refusal to revamp a disciplinary system that has lost all credibility because it is viewed as arbitrary and inconsistent.”

While other whistleblowers in Whittingham’s position have resigned or retired before filing such lawsuits, Whittingham stayed with the department, explaining that he loved his job and the people he works with.

He also said he has received a great deal of support from within the department.

“The common thread through all of this is that more people in the department are more supportive than you’ll ever know.”

from p. 2

Truckers: Stand Up for Justice

to keep their operations going.”

“I’ve heard terms today that I never thought I’d hear in 2014,” said Commissioner Anthony Pirrozi. “I’ve heard ‘slavery,’ ‘retribution,’ ‘intimidation,’ ‘breaking the law,’ ‘misclassification of workers,’ and it’s amazing that we haven’t collectively resolved this problem together as one team.... I appreciate what you’re doing, I appreciate your coming here today, and telling us what the truth is. We always have to tell truth to power. So thank you for coming today.”

Commission Vice President David Arian was also sympathetic, recalling that the situation had its roots in the deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980. But in that same spirit he struck a starkly realistic note about what they were up against.

“We have to look at a justice system that is on the side of capital, not on the side of labor, not on the side of working people,” Arian said. “Look at the recent decisions made by the Supreme Court.

So we don’t want to be back in front of them with our program, and we have to ask ourselves, as does the mayor and our legal counsel, what we can and can’t do in this situation.”

The shadow of the American Trucking Association’s lawsuit challenging the Clean Trucks program is clearly impacting—if not crippling—the port’s response. Although it’s not clear that the ruling itself should prevent the port from acting, Arian’s warning about the anti-worker activism of the court is less about the law and more about raw politics. The concession agreement, which all trucking companies have signed, was not invalidated by the courts. It includes the following language: Concessionaire shall when entering and leaving Port Property and while on Port Property, comply with Port of Los Angeles Tariff No. 4 and all applicable federal, state and municipal laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations that govern Concessionaire’s operations, including without limitation, any laws, rules and regulations regulating motor carriers, transportation, hazardous materials, safety,

security, employment, traffic, zoning and land use. [Emphasis added.]

But the courts could decide to effectively gut that language if it comes back to them again— that’s what Arian was warning about.

“While the Harbor Department requires concessionaires to comply with laws, most laws are enforced by various federal, state or local agencies with primary jurisdiction to enforce and impose requirements, penalties, etc,” responded port spokesman Arley Baker, when he was asked why the port was not enforcing this provision already.

However, Baker did note that, “The Port Police does enforce state and municipal laws regarding trucks, including moving violations, overweight violations, parking violations and also cooperates with the California Air Resources Board to enforce state emissions laws and the California Highway Patrol to assist with motor vehicle inspections.”

Baker also pointed out that it was the 9th Circuit (not the Supreme Court), which held that “the Harbor Department is preempted by federal trucking deregulation law (the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act) from taking action to interfere with the relationship between motor carrier employers and their drivers, particularly as it pertains to the Harbor Department’s efforts in the original 2008 concession agreement to address driver labor issues.”

However, the fundamental illegality of the phony “independent contractor” scheme was not part of the argument at the time, as it was not yet established in the case law at the time. Given that state and federal labor laws now clearly forbid this scheme, port action to enforce compliance could hardly be characterized as “interference” in a protected market relationship—except as a matter of raw political power, as in cases like Citizens United or Hobby Lobby, or this past year’s ruling striking down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. “It is true that the ATA case was about federal trucking statute preemption,” added Port of Los

Angeles spokesman Phillip Sanfield, in response to a follow-up question. “But there are many other preemptive laws in which either federal or state authorities have primary jurisdiction to enforce those laws and the Harbor Department does not enforce those laws other than as noted in [our earlier] response.”

Hence, port staff is reputedly trying to find ways to be “creative”—the exact meaning of which is yet to be seen. Even before Garcetti’s announcement, the port’s new Executive Director Gene Seroka pledged in his first official appearance before the Harbor Commission, “We’ll dig into it as soon as we can.”

But the companies involved still appear to adamantly cling to their illegal practices.

On July 14, Gary Mooney of Green Fleet Systems, sent out a memo to its truckers in which he reiterated Green Fleet’s unwillingness to even consider changing its ways.

“We refused to meet with the Teamsters because there is nothing to discuss,” he wrote.

“The overwhelming majority of drivers have spoken for the past 18 months and the answer remains the same—we don’t need the union. I told them I support the majority of our people and therefore, I will not meet with the Teamsters.”

But Mooney’s claim rings hollow in light of the documented pattern of intimidation at Green Fleet. As Random Lengths has previously reported, Green Fleet has been charged with more than 50 serious labor law violations, including a pattern of illegal threats, intimidations and firings.

Meanwhile, after an initial gesture of reconciliation, Total Transportation Services Inc.has issued a new contract for its contract truckers to sign. The contract appears specifically designed to protect Total Transportation Services Inc.’s business as usual, including a Strike Suspended/ to p . 19

The Local Publication You Actually Read August 8 - 21, 2014

7

Chief Beck in the Crossfire Accessing Police Reforms, Leadership and the Contract

By James Preston Allen, Publisher

August 8 - 21, 2014

Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area

It’s never been easy for the average citizen of Los Angeles to know for sure what’s happening behind the badge at the Los Angeles Police Department. For decades, the LAPD’s public image of Sgt. Joe Friday and all the hundreds of other cop shows hid the reality behind the badge.

Rarely does the general public ever get to see the inner workings of the police department until something happens like the Rampart scandal, the Christopher Dorner manhunt or the release of the Rodney King video. We’ve been told repeatedly that all of those things are in the past since the advent of the federal consent decree and the mandated reforms of the past decade.

Currently, there are two issues before the City of Los Angeles, both of which come with significant consequences. One is the reappointment of Chief Charlie Beck for a second five-year term and the other is the contract with the Police Officer’s Union, which was voted down recently by the rank-andfile.

It would seem that these two were separate but equally important decisions—violent crime continues its trend down while the city’s finances are tending to be getting better—but they may not be. The curious part about the recent revelations regarding Beck’s command of LAPD is that in years gone by, the “thin blue line” of silence would have protected Beck or any other officer from outside criticism.

Not so today. Disgruntled officers in the force are willing to risk both position and career advancement to challenge Beck’s leadership, particularly as it relates to real or perceived favoritism in the disciplinary process. LAPD Capt. Peter Whittingham’s letter to the Police Commission, as our front page story notes, is a testament of that willingness.

Most of what has come out in the media was revealed first by Los Angeles journalist-blogger Jasmyne Cannick, who originally posted Whittingham’s letter and then posted other stories not found in the Los Angeles Times.

She has also posted other information even more damning than the next if found to be true, with such headlines as “False and Misleading Statements Regarding ‘My Little Pony-Gate’ (the story of LAPD’s purchase of Chief Beck’s daughter, Brandi Scimone’s, personal horse by way of Los Angeles Police Foundation), “LAPD Captain Arrested for DUI” and “LAPD Officer Pens Anonymous Letter on the State of the Department” and others.

Cannick’s reporting has caused such a

8

storm that Beck angrily lashed out at the reporting on Scimone, saying he’s able to take the criticism, but leave his family out of it. But the real question is will Beck survive this performance review and what damage or goodwill will come to the department because of it?

There’s some speculation amongst LAPD insiders that if there was a simultaneous vote on retaining Beck as chief and a vote on the new contract by the rank and file, Beck would be voted down and the contract would pass. This would seem to put Mayor Eric Garcetti and the rest of the Los Angeles City Council in an awkward position, seeing as how they are politically pro-union and supportive of the city’s “first responders,” yet still needing to balance the city’s budget.

Charges of nepotism have also been leveled at the hiring practices of the Los Angeles Fire Department recently, leading to a leadership change and a hiring freeze. Are we looking at the same scenario with the police?

What concerns me most is that if any of these allegations are true, what does it say about the reforms that both Beck and his predecessor William Bratton promised the City of Los Angeles? Is the LAPD backsliding into a version of its past?

I recently had the pleasure of running into the retired captain of Harbor Division, Bob McVey, who held that post for some 10 years during the late 1980s and early ‘90s. He still lives here and has fond memories of junior officer Joe Buscaino.

When I asked him about his time on the force, he recounted a story about the time Chief Daryl Gates came to San Pedro.

“I told him he may be the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, but I’m the chief of the San Pedro police,” McVey said with a laugh.

McVey said that in the old days it was pretty much true.

To some extent it still is. The Harbor Area, in its agreement to be annexed by the City of Los Angeles, was promised both local police and fire protection along with a local courthouse. Now, as you may recall from my previous columns, the courthouse is closed and may never be reopened because of a lot of mismanagement by the Administrative Office of Justice. We still have a police station, except they don’t have enough officers to man the jail.

This past year, I came across a report detailing the city’s legal settlements on behalf of the LAPD. The total dollar amount of those lawsuits was $200 million. Of those lawsuits, almost Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com Assoc. Publisher/Production Coordinator Suzanne Matsumiya info@graphictouchdesigns.com

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

—Mark Twain Vol. XXXV : No. 16

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

Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks editor@randomlengthsnews.com Assistant Editor Zamná Ávila zamna@randomlengthsnews.com

48 percent were brought by LAPD personnel against the department. This leads me to believe that much of Cannick’s reporting on the unfair and biased actions by the LAPD are true.

Her reports also would lead me to believe that there is some disconnect between the

upper command’s professed zeal to implement “constitutional policing” and the resistance of patrol officers to understand precisely what that actually means. Clearly, the LAPD needs strong and trusted leadership and it’s becoming very unclear whether Charlie Beck is the man for the job.

30 Years Ago Today:

The Day the Middle Class Died

By Michael Moore, originally posted in 2011 on http://www.dailykos.com/ From time to time, someone younger than 30 will ask me, “When did this all begin, America’s downward slide?” They say they’ve heard of a time when working people could raise a family and send the kids to college on just one parent’s income (and that college in states like California and New York was almost free), that anyone who wanted a decent paying job could get one, that people only worked five days a week, eight hours a day, got the whole weekend off and had a paid vacation every summer, that many jobs were union jobs, from baggers at the grocery store to the guy painting your house and this meant that no matter how “lowly” your job was, you had guarantees of a pension, occasional raises, health insurance and someone to stick up for you if you were unfairly treated.

Young people have heard of this mythical time. But it was no myth, it was real. And when they ask, “When did this all end?” I say, “It ended on this day: Aug. 5, 1981.”

Beginning on this date, 30 years ago, Big Business and the Right Wing decided to “go for it” and to see if they could actually destroy the middle class so that they could become richer

Columnists/Reporters Lyn Jensen Carson B. Noel Barr Music Dude John Farrell Curtain Call Lori Lynn Hirsch-Stokoe Food Writer Andrea Serna Arts Writer Malina Paris Culture Writer Calendar 14days@randomlengthsnews.com Photographers Terelle Jerricks, Slobodan Dimitrov, Robin Doyno, Phillilp Cooke Contributors Greggory Moore, Michael Moore, Danny Simon

Cartoonists Ann Cleaves, Andy Singer, Matt Wuerker Advertising Production Mathew Highland, Suzanne Matsumiya Advertising Representative Mathew Highland reads@randomlengthsnews.com adv@randomlengthsnews.com Editorial Intern Joseph Baroud, Justine McCarthy Potter Display advertising (310) 519-1442 Classifieds (310) 519-1016 www.randomlengthsnews.com

themselves.

And they’ve succeeded.

On Aug. 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan fired every member of the air traffic controllers union (PATCO) who’d defied his order to return to work and declared their union illegal. They had been on strike for just two days.

It was a bold and brash move. No one had ever tried it. What made it even bolder was that PATCO was one of only three unions that had endorsed Reagan for president. It sent a shock wave through workers across the country. If he would do this to the people who were with him, what would he do to us?

Reagan had been backed by Wall Street in his run for the White House and they, along with right-wing Christians, wanted to restructure America and turn back the tide that President Franklin D. Roosevelt started—a tide that was intended to make life better for the average working person. The rich hated paying better wages and providing benefits. They hated paying taxes even more. And, they despised unions.

The right-wing Christians hated anything that continued on following page 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 $35 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 2014 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.

RANDOMLetters First Amendment in Jeopardy?

I have long agreed with Voltaire’s maxim, “I may disagree with what you say, but I defend to death your right to say it.”

With this sentiment in mind, I am appalled that any courthouse in Los Angeles County would discourage the distribution of newspapers on its premises, even one whose politics are particularly out of line with what works and what matters. With the rise of electronic media to disseminate information, intellectual or published autarky will be all but impossible. If readers cannot find a copy of Random Lengths News at the courthouse, then at least individual litigants can read what they want, despite legal pleadings of county officials.

From Upton Sinclair’s arrest at Liberty Hill to the Los Angeles Superior Court order to remove newspaper publications from court houses, the First Amendment still faces attacks from many sides.

I agree with Editor Allen that the Framers of the Constitution intended for the five freedoms the First Amendment to have preeminence (speech, religion, press, assembly, petition) not only because those are the first rights which governments attack, but in a free society, those rights are essential to a responsible and limited government which protects our rights, secures our borders, and ensures against the encroachment of the state into every other facet of our lives.

Now, if only the Obama Administration respected the

First Amendment as Allen. From ignoring public records requests to seizing the phone records of AP reporters, Obama seems to disdain rather than honor those five important liberties.

Regarding Wuerker’s political cartoons, I have complimented his work in the past when he lampoons the rampant corruption in Washington. Still, our current political system is working precisely because individual legislators, especially in the Tea Party faction, are not voting with their party but their convictions, as intended by the Framers. Sadly, Wuerker’s last cartoon suggested that the violence perpetrated by Israel is equivalent to Islamic terrorism. While Israel has sought peace through concessions, Islamic factions in the West Bank and Gaza chant: “Death to Israel.”

Arthur C. Schaper Torrance Dear Arthur, Thank you for at least agreeing with me on one thing after all these months of correspondence: The First Amendment.

Now, if you could have only stopped after your second paragraph we might end this exchange on a surprisingly conciliatory note. However, you want to go on one of your antiObama rants and then skewer our cartoonist for expressing his own point of view on Israel vs.

Gaza? OK, I support your right to be disagreeable even, but I’m not going to get dragged into the argument of who is more right or wrong in Israel and Palestine. This is a continuous Hatfield vs. McCoy

from previous page

sounded like socialism or holding out a helping hand to minorities or women.

Reagan promised to end all that. So, when the air traffic controllers went on strike, he seized the moment. In getting rid of every single last one of them and outlawing their union, he sent a clear and strong message: The days of everyone having a comfortable middle class life were over. America, from now on, would be run this way: • The super-rich will make more, much, much more, and the rest of you will scramble for the crumbs that are left.

• Everyone must work: Mom, Dad, the teenagers in the house! Dad, you work a second job! Kids, here’s your latch-key. Your parents

The Andy Lopez Shooting: Conspiracy or Stupidity?

In None Dare Call It Conspiracy, the late John Birch Society theoretician Gary Allen opined that “To think that the scientifically engineered Crash of ‘29 was an accident or the result of stupidity defies all logic. The international bankers who promoted the inflationary policies and pushed the propaganda which pumped up the stock market represented too many generations of accumulated expertise to have blundered into ‘the great depression.’”

The greatest problem with conspiracy theories is that it is very easy to mistake simple incompetence and gross negligence for conspiracies. All too often I find myself arguing with my leftist friends who simply don’t know how police agencies and prosecutors work—or for that matter government and industry in general—that their perception of conspiracy is based on nothing more than post hoc ergo propter hoc thinking. One event is followed by another event in time so the first event must be the causation of the second event.....which does not logically follow because there

might be home in time to put you to bed.

• Fifty million of you must go without health insurance. And, health insurance companies: you go ahead and decide who you want to help—or not.

• Unions are evil! You will not belong to a union! You do not need an advocate! Shut up and get back to work! No, you can’t leave now, we’re not done. Your kids can make their own dinner.

• You want to go to college? No problem— just sign here and be in hock to a bank for the next 20 years.

• What’s “a raise?” Get back to work and shut up!

And so it went. But Reagan could not have pulled this off by himself in 1981. He had some big help. Visit http://tinyurl.com/MichaelMoore30years-ago-today to read the rest of Moore’s piece on the Dailykos.

may be causative factors that one simply is unaware of.

With Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch’s investigation of the shooting of Andy Lopez however, I simply cannot believe that the investigators and expert witnesses involved were so completely inept that (a) they didn’t ask any questions of the witnesses concerning their perceptions of the weight of the replica AK-47 that Andy Lopez was carrying and (b) that they apparently never bothered to conduct a re-enactment of the incident. One caveat: maybe they did these things but those

details are missing from the D.A.’s report and if they did, then it can only be because the results of a reenactment and the answers to those questions would have run counter to the conclusion that the officers shot Andy Lopez legitimately.

The District Attorney’s report (hereinafter “Report”) claims that the investigation was thorough. is there a link to the report?

Jan B. Tucker Torrance

President Obama Visits LA Trade Tech College On Thursday the Los Angeles

Community College District was honored to welcome President Barack Obama to Los Angeles Trade Tech College.

With this visit, President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Los Angeles Trade Tech College. He spoke about the importance of job training in front of a crowd of approximately 2,000.

“This is a school that does good work helping the unemployed retrain for new careers,” President Obama said. “Today, I’m here to focus on the one thing we should be doing which is training more More Letters/ to p. 10

The Local Publication You Actually Read

Middle Class

feud. The only way out of this is, so as to not start World War III, is to have big government, i.e. the United Nations (an organization I know you just love), to intercede and to force a cease fire and impose peace. Otherwise, this conflict will continue to be like the Ebola virus of the Middle East and continue to infect the entire region, if not the world.

James Preston Allen Publisher

August 8 - 21, 2014

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RANDOMLetters from previous page

August 8 - 21, 2014

Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area

Americans to fill the jobs we are creating. Right now, there are more job openings in America than at any time since 2007.”

A strong advocate for community colleges since entering the White House, Obama pointed out that Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, teaches at a community college. Obama also told the story of a woman working as a waitress who enrolled in a community college and, today, is an accountant.

“I’m always impressed by people who have the courage to go back to school, especially later in life,” Obama said.

Three days ago, he signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. “It can help,” he said, “communities update and invest in job training programs like these (at Trade Tech).”

Our strength in the Los Angeles Community College District is our ability to connect business and industry, no matter the sector. Both can bring employers to the table to help develop course curriculum, tell us the skills that are needed in the future, and support internships and work-based learning.

All these elements are in alignment with President Obama’s opportunity agenda.

Late last year, Trade Tech was

10

the recipient of a $19.2 million grant from the Department of Labor that focuses on healthcare and involves all nine LACCD colleges in collaboration with major hospitals and other healthcare providers.

The president’s appearance is a testament to community colleges as places where jobs can happen.

Scott Svonkin President, Los Angeles Community College District Board

L.A. Pot Farmers Market Shuts Down

Yesterday an L.A. County Superior Court judge temporarily shut down the first medical marijuana farmers market in Los Angeles. Vincent Mehdizadeh, medical marijuana pioneer and founder and senior strategist of Medbox, Inc., is the first billionaire to be associated with the marijuana industry and is an advocate of proper rules and regulation for dispensing marijuana.

While the case is awaiting hearing, Mehdizadeh is drawing attention once again to the fact that most dispensaries still don’t have the most accurate inventory system.

This fact is critical as without a regulated system, dispensaries and customers are both in harm’s way.

Medbox uses a patented biometric

safe dispensing method, thus playing a key role in the evolution of the medical marijuana industry.

Mehdizadeh also advises and consults directly with over 400 marijuana-consulting clients and helps businesses open dispensaries.

He has donated over $650k in the past year to marijuana industry advocacy groups including the Drug Policy Alliance, Americans for Safe Access and many others to promote transparency and knowledge for all.

Jarone Ashkenazi Beverly Hills Dear Jarone, The prohibition on pot, not unlike the prohibition on liquor, will not be solved with patch work legislation either on the state or federal level. Congress must remove marijuana from the schedule 1 list of most dangerous drugs, admit that the inclusion of pot in the “war on drugs” was a politically motivated action, not one based on scientific research.

Then Congress must delegate to the states the authority to regulate.

Only then, will there be any reasonable approach to the drug policies that are now in so much conflict. And, while the authorities argue about pot enforcement the meth epidemic flourishes.

James Preston Allen, Publisher

By Melina Paris, Music Columnist

Zackey has a falsetto voice and he definitely tweaks it. “Press Play,” his number one single, is produced and composed by (Mat) XL Middleton, owner of Mo Funk Records. Zackey layered the vocals over the beats. The funk it emanates is reminiscent of Roger and Zapp, with a bumping bass and clap, but it is truly Zackey’s own sound.

Continued on page 16.

August 8 – 21, 2014 August 8 – 21, 2014

“That’s why maybe I’ve got a little bit of fame and people want to put out my records, because they are unique,” he said. “I come from a hip hop background and I used to break dance, do graffiti and stuff like that. That’s how you get by in the hip hop world. Don’t copy, be yourself with your own style. That always stuck with me.”

Roger Troutman of Roger and Zapp was a huge influence on Zackey, who calls him his hero. He includes the bands Cameo as one of his favorites, Con Funk Shun and the more obscure Bobby Nunn.

An experimenter, Zackey always tinkers with new sounds.

His latest music evolution in the works is skate punk. The genre’s sound is raw with high energy elements of hardcore punk and high tempos. Derived from the West Coast hardcore punk scene, it eventually became more melodic.

“Many skate pros live here and many people here skate,” Zackey said. “I’m told this town is the skateboard capital of the world. The bars along 4th Street always play skate videos.

It’s definitely not (he chuckles) funk-inspired. It’s more like skate, rock, punk stuff.”

Making music for money is not his thing. It’s more like his therapy or hobby, how he expresses himself—like most artists do.

“I’m inspired. When I come out here (Long Beach) I just feel like I want to make skate music, or at least, something skaters can skate to,” said Zackey about living in Long Beach.

With his talent for blending genres and true to his hip hop roots, Zackey should find the same success with skate punk sounds.

“I’m taking samples from the 1980s, from France and Germany, something that’s real obscure with high BPM’s and doing the weird vocals over it,” Zackey explains. “Then, I might do something completely different after that.”

Electronic musician, Chris Alfaro (Free the Robots) and owner of The Crosby Restaurant in Santa Ana, asked Zackey to play at a fundraising block party in July. Alfaro’s restaurant shut down as the result of a murder that occurred there and business in the area dropped off afterwards. The Crosby’s live shows were a go-to spot for locals and people from Los Angeles every night. Alfaro is trying to revive his restaurant and the whole block’s popularity. It does not go

ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment ACE • Art, Cuisine, & Entertainment

ackey Force Funk manages to blend 1970s classic funk with electronic music. All the while, he never departs from a distinctly original hip hop sound. As a testament to his skill, he did not use auto-tune on his latest album, Money Green Viper, except for one out of 16 tracks.

The experimental musician just came off an East Coast Tour promoting Money Green Viper. Zackey sold out almost every show in six cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Boston. He was surprised. He was told that the crowds would be a little more reserved.

“It was completely the opposite,” said Zackey, who lives in Long Beach. “They danced all night. It was awesome.”

Zackey, whose style is similar to Parliament Funkadelic, started dabbling with music in 2003. He added lyrics over beats a few years after that.

“It was sample bass stuff and then adding beats over the samples,” he said. “I cannot sing but I wanted to have certain things on the recordings. I didn’t want rap, I didn’t know anyone who could sing so I just tried to find ways to record. I would add reverb or distortion and just tweak my vocals out to where it would just work.”

Throughout the years, that is what’s helped him keep his own style. Not being able to sing, but being able to mix it to where it works, has given him a unique sound.

“People really can’t copy it,” he said. “I got lucky. I tell people all the time, ‘Did you ever see that movie Happy Feet? That’s what I do; I just found my niche and do it, I’m Happy Feet.”

11 11

The Big Nate at Bunz Gourmet burgers. Photo by Terelle Jerricks

Gourmet Burger Joint Opens in San Pedro

By Katrina Guevara, RLn Contributor

W

August 8 – 21, 2014

Independent And Free.

hen picturing the tastiest burgers in Los Angeles, Umami, Father’s Office and Lazy Ox Canteen usually come to mind. Now, foodies and growling bellies alike can appreciate a made-toorder burger in the Harbor Area at newly opened Bunz Gourmet Burgers.

The burger joint has red walls and a yellow countertop—a color combination that signals hunger. There’s also a small outdoor patio with a view of W. 7th Street.

In order to alleviate your hunger, you can use Bunz’ three-step order process: Step 1: Select your bun. There’s a choice of brioche, pretzel, sweet bun, onion and regular wheat.

Step 2: Select your meat. There’s turkey, chicken, veggie or Bunz’ special blend of meats.

Step 3: Select your style. The possibilities are endless from garlic aioli to pepperoni.

Pre-made staples include: “The Pedro” with applewood smoked bacon, smoked gouda cheese, avocado and tomato; “The Big Nate” with double meat, pastrami, sautéed onions and muenster cheese; and “The Longshoreman” with salmon, tartar sauce, capers, muenster cheese, avocado and tomato.

Side dishes include onion rings, fried pickles and the usual fresh-cut fries. For a heftier twist to fries, there’s a pizza, taco and Philly fries variation.

Prices are reasonable. The menu items are labeled with a single dollar sign on Yelp. A side of fries is $2. A children’s meal with a smaller

12

Bunz proprietors Darren Thomas, Marlin Cooper and Nate Groth. Photo by Terelle Jerricks.

gourmet burger, a drink and side order is $5.

A gourmet burger starts at $8.50. It comes to your table or in a take-out box wrapped in redcheckered paper.

Customers are enthusiastic about the newcomer eatery. Bunz has been rated by 42 customers with an overall review of 4 ½ stars.

Bunz is anything but fast food. The family-run restaurant is one of the most recent to open in San Pedro this year.

Bunz Gourmet Burgers is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Details: (310) 514-8773 www.facebook.com/bunzgourmetburgers Location: 655 W. 7th Street., San Pedro

Live Entertainment Every Thursday | First Thursday Artwalk | Second & Third Thursday Live Music

For more information visit www.RandomLengthsNews.com

For more information call The San Pedro Historic Waterfront District at (310) 832-7272

ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment August 8 – 21, 2014

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Entertainment August 8

Jeff Hamilton Trio The Jeff Hamilton Trio will perform, starting at 8 p.m. Aug. 8, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.

Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Chuck Alvarez Band The Chuck Alvarez Band will perform, starting at 8 p.m. Aug. 9, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.

Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

August 9

Bullying Smoke Out Mr. Imperial Leather 2014 Doug Dick, along with he United Waves of Long Beach are presenting the Bullying Smoke Out, from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 9, at The Brit in Long Beach.

Details: www.longbeachimperialcourt.org Venue: The Brit Location: 1744 E. Broadway, Long Beach

August 10

Ken Dance Co “INVISIBLE” Ken Dance Co “INVISIBLE” will perform, starting at 4 p.m. Aug. 10, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.

Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

August 14

The Haden Triplets The Haden Triplets will be performing at 8 p.m., Aug. 14, for a sunset concert at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The Haden Triplets will be performing stripped down, old time country tracks off their debut album. The doors open at 7 p.m. and seating is on a first-come first-served basis.

Admission is free. Parking is $10.

Details: (310) 440-4500 Venue: Skirball Cultural Center Location: 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles Flaco Jiménez, Max Baca, Los Texmaniacs The Skirball Cultural Center’s sunset concerts will feature joint performances by Flaco Jiménez and Max Baca and Los Texmaniacs at 8 p.m., Aug. 14. The doors open at 7 p.m. and seating is on a first-come first-served basis. Admission is free.

Parking is $10.

Details: (310) 440-4500 Venue: Skirball Cultural Center Location: 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles

August 15

Bettman & Halpin Bettman & Halpin will be performing at the Grand Annex in San Pedro at 8 p.m., Aug. 15. The show will feature the artists’ original mix of folk music with blues and jazz strains. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Details: (310) 833-4813 Venue: Grand Annex Location: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro Victor Orlando Victor Orlando performs at 8 p.m. Aug. 15, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.

Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

August 16

Doug Macleod, Denny Croy in Concert Doug Macleod and Denny Croy will be in concert, at 8 p.m. Aug. 16, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.

Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro The Hacks Local artist Steve Shriver will lead The Hacks in their performance at the Grand Annex in San Pedro at 8 p.m., Aug. 16. The danceable band will be performing rock and blues tunes. General admission is $20 first-come, first-serve seating and standing.

Cabaret table seats are $25 in advance.

Details: (310) 833-4813 Venue: Grand Annex Location: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

August 8 – 21, 2014

Independent And Free.

August 17

14

Bluesman Bernie Pearl is hoping to bring the blues back with the New Long Beach Blues Festival August 31.File photo

Manring, Garcia, Ma Trio Manring, Garcia and Ma Trio perform at 4 p.m.

Aug. 17, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro.

Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Remembering the Palladium Days (Part II) The Museum of Latin American Art is paying tribute to the days of one of New York’s most celebrated dance halls, the Palladium, at 4 p.m. Aug. 17. The kings of Afro Caribbean swing, with a live performance featuring Grammy Award-winning vocalist, Herman Olivera and Freddie Crespo’s Mambo Revue Orchestra performing the music of the “Big Three,” Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez.

Considered by critics as one of today’s most representative salsa singers, Herman Olivera began singing professionally with local New York bands at Calendar continued on page 15.

The Blues Keeps On Calling : Bernie Pearl and The New Blues Festival By: B. Noel Barr, Music Writer Dude

Bernie Pearl is considered by some to be the

Godfather of the Los Angeles Blues scene.

On Aug. 31, The Bernie Pearl Blues Band will be one of the main headliners at The New Blues Festival in Long Beach.

This festival is bringing the blues back to Long Beach for a one-day event this Labor Day weekend, with artists as diverse as Scottish singer and songwriter Sandi Thom, and Jami Bess Belushi. Also featured are the vanguard of the local blues scene like Whiteboy James and The Blues Express, Joe Kincaid and the Soul Brothers Band, the Brophy Dale Band (Lee Rockers guitarist), the Mighty Mojo Prophets, Boxcar Seven and the Stoney B. Blues Band. An acoustic stage will highlight San Pedro’s own Sean Lane, Corday, and Little A and The Allnighters. Special guests will be Jim Belushi, Gary Wagner and The Buddhaman.

I recently sat down with one of the founders of the original KLON Long Beach Blues and Gospel Festival, Bernie Pearl in his home in Long Beach to talk about the blues. I asked how he got started playing the blues.

“Whenever I heard traditional black music I have been moved,” Pearl said. “I began playing when I was 14-years-old.”

Pearl said his early influences leading to the

blues were folk musicians.

“I began listening and learning the songs of Pete Seeger, The Weavers and Burl Ives,” he said.

“My sister would hold hootenannies and she would play records of Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly and other folk performers of the time. I would listen to the blues, but it wasn’t something I thought I would be able to do.”

In 1958, Pearl returned to Los Angeles after spending a year in Israel. His brother Ed Pearl had already opened the Ash Grove. The Ash Grove became, for the most part, the center of the folk and blues scene in Los Angeles from the late 50s to the ’70s.

“It was there that I began to get into the blues,” he said. “I began to see Brownie McGhee playing there and had the courage to ask him for a lesson.

I took some lessons from Brownie and became friends with him and Sonny Terry. Then Lightnin’ Hopkins came along, a very dramatic kind of a player, very different. For me to think that one day I would play like that, would be pretty far fetched.

I paid for some lessons from him and over time I became more of a sidekick.”

Pearl would help Hopkins out. He would Continued on following page.

Continued from previous page.

out of town players would come to Los Angeles.

“I would call George and put a band together,” he said. “One thing would lead to another, and I had my own band. We always had a vocalist. Then I began working with Big Harmonica Fats and we worked a lot with Papa John Creach.

Bernie has been on the front line of the Los Angeles Blues scene and will be honored at The New Blues Festival for his life work and contribution of keeping the blues alive for more than 50 years in Southern California.

“I wasn’t starring in my own shows, but I continued playing electric and acoustic. About 15 years ago Harmonica Fats stopped wanting to do a lot of local gigs. I figured I better start learning how to sing and play this material for more than one or two songs per set that I had been doing.”

This was where Pearl’s most recent phase of his performing career began, where he started working arrangements and putting himself front and center for acoustic solo, duo with bass and full band. This brought him to the recording of Take Your Time, a collection of acoustic and semi-acoustic blues songs representing one of his finest collections of blues to date. The CD was recently nominated by bluesblastmagazine.com for best acoustic recording. Voting continues through Sept. 15.

In 1981, Pearl helped to put together The KLON Long Beach Blues and Gospel Festival, which kicked off an annual tradition that became known as the Long Beach Blues Festival. For more than a quarter of a century

this was the second longest running blues festival in California, the other being the San Francisco Blues Festival. Both would fold after the expense of running huge festivals became unsustainable.

This Labor Day that all changes again. Blues is returning to Long Beach for what is hoped to be an annual Labor Day event. The idea being that it is more grassroots and community based, as opposed to the spectacle the festival had become.

With a program that is rich in style, gender and race the New Blues Festival is a embracing what is happening across America outside the major metro areas.

Outside of his performing career, Pearl started his radio show “Nothing But the Blues” and was the first blues radio show on the FM dial which began in 1967 on KPPC. He brought it to KLON (now KJZZ) in the early ’80s, doing it every week for 10 years. The program is now hosted by Gary (The Wag Man) Wagner, who will be making an appearance at The New Blues Festival.

Pearl has been teaching the country style blues guitar alongside his performing and broadcast career since the mid-’60s.

“I have had students who I have not seen in years come up and tell that I taught them at one time” he said.

His students include the late Robert Lucas of Canned Heat, Mark Hanlin of the Signal Hillbased, Bourbon Jones Band, as well as Chap Cooper of The New Blues Revolution, who is playing at the Aug. 31 event.

Bernie has been on the front line of the Los Angeles blues scene and will be honored at the New Blues Festival for his life’s work and contribution of keeping the blues alive for more than 50 years in Southern California.

Details: www.berniepearl.com, www.newbluesfestival.com, www.Facebook.com/newbluesfestival, www.bluesblastmagazine.com

Calendar from page 14. the tender age of 15. He would then be afforded the opportunity to sing lead vocals with Conjunto Libre under the direction of Manny Oquendo and Andy Gonzalez. After two decades with Conjunto Libre, Olivera worked regularly with Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Bobby Rodriguez y La Compañia and The Machito Orchestra. He performs with Eddie Palmieri’s Orchestra and is featured on five of Palmieri’s CDs, including Masterpiece/Obra Maestra with the late, great Tito Puente, which earned two Grammys.

Details: (562) 437-1689; www.molaa.org Venue: MOLAA Location: 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach

August 21

Yiddish Tango Club Gastuvo Bulgach will lead Los Angeles’ Yiddish Tango Club at a performance at the Skirball Cultural Center at 8 p.m., Aug. 21. The doors open at 7 p.m. and seating is on a first-come first-served basis. Admission is free. Parking is $10.

Details: (310) 440-4500 Venue: Skirball Cultural Center Location: 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles

Community/Family August 8

Creation Station: Sculpy Beads Crafted is hosting a Creation Station class from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 8, 9 and 10. The class deals with sculpy beads. Instructors will show people how to roll, shape and form your own sculpy beads. The class is $5.

Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla.com Venue: Port of Los Angeles, Warehouse 10 Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro Read On Till Morning: Summer Reading Series Crafted is hosting Read On Till Morning: A summer reading series from 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 8. The night will have poetry. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour in order to give guests the opportunity to meet others interested in writing and share your own poetry. At 7:30 the featured artist will then share their work.

Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla.com Venue: Port of Los Angeles, Warehouse 10 Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro

August 9

Story Time with Rangers Bring your children to a story time with the White Point Nature Preserve Rangers at 10 a.m., Aug. 9, at the White Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro. The story themes vary.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: White Point Nature Preserve Location: 1600 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro

August 20

Bird Walk Attend a guided bird walk led by Wild Birds Unlimited at 8:30 a.m., Aug. 20, at the White Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: White Point Nature Preserve Location: 1600 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro

ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment

carry his guitar, setting the Texas bluesman’s guitar on stage, all the while practicing and listening to Hopkins’ records. In a short time Hopkins asked Pearl to play with him on stage.

“I did that for about 10 years,” he said.

Pearl never thought of making a living as a bluesman per se, but he would continue to learn more and improve. He gleaned knowledge from everyone he came in contact with, learning different styles and becoming close friends with Mance Lipscomb and Mississippi Fred McDowell. There would be many others who would influence Pearl on his journey “The few times Son House, Mississippi John Hurt and Skip James came to play at the Ashgrove, I was there and got to know them, but I never played with them,” he said. “I also became very friendly with Bukka White.”

Pearl had begun to make a transition in the mid-’60s.

“I began to play the electric guitar, learning from recordings of Lightnin’ Hopkins, and B.B. King,” he said. “In 1966, I went to go play the Newport Folk Festival.”

Newport is where some young white Americans were being introduced to the blues music from the south, as well as the blues hubs like Chicago.

“I went there with Luke ‘Long Gone’ Miles, when I came back to Los Angeles. I was there for the opening of Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton at the Ash Grove,” he said Thornton was the first to record Leiber and Stroller’s song “Hound Dog” in 1952.

“Her guitar player had quit and my brother, Ed, asked if I could back her up. So I brought my guitar and auditioned for her in her dressing room and she said, ‘Sold!’ I played the next couple of nights and stayed on for the next two months. After that I began to play with the electric players and was working with Johnny Shines, J. B. Hutto, and because of Shines, I got to play with Big Walter Horton. This all gave me a lot of experience.”

Pearl began working with George “Harmonica” Smith. He was more constant companion for Pearl as the

Family Nature and Art Workshop Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy at a children’s hike and art workshop at 10 a.m., Aug. 30, at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The activities cost $25 per family. Reservations are required.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: Pelican Cove parking area, Terranea Resort Location: 31300 Palos Verdes Dr. South

August 23

Boxcar 7 will be among those in the New Long Beach Blues Festival lineup on August 31.

Photo by Terelle Jerricks.

Native Plant Sale The White Point Nature Education Center and Preserve is hosting a native plant sale from 12 to 2 p.m., Aug. 23.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: White Point Nature Preserve Location: 1600 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro Calendar continued on page 16.

August 8 – 21, 2014

Ranger Walk Enjoy a the dramatic views at a themed, guided hike through the White Point Nature Preserve’s restored habitat at 10 a.m., Aug. 23. Themes vary each month.

The hike is free.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: White Point Nature Preserve Location: 1600 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro

15

Calendar from page 15.

August 27

Bird Walk The public is invited to a guided bird walk led by Wild Birds Unlimited at 8:30 a.m., Aug. 27, in George F Canyon Preserve and Nature Center in Rolling Hills Estates.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: George F Canyon Preserve and Nature Center Location: 27035 Palos Verdes Dr. East, Rolling Hills Estates

Theater/Film August 8

Guys and Dolls The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro presents a youth musical performance of Guys and Dolls at 8 p.m. Aug. 8, at 2 and 8 p.m. on Aug. 9, and at 4 p.m. Aug. 10. The play revolves around the gamblers and gangsters of the New York underworld. Tickets are $15.

Details: (310) 548-2493 Venue: The Warner Grand Location: 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro Fiddler on the Roof The Long Beach Playhouse is hosting Fiddler on the Roof at 8 p.m., Aug. 8 through 23. This is a story about a poor dairyman who tries to instill in his five daughters the tradition of his tight-knit Jewish community in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Tickets can be bought online and are on sale for $24.

Details: (562) 494-1014; www.lbplayhouse.org Venue: Long Beach Playhouse; Mainstage Location: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach

Independent And Free.

No Exit The Long Beach Playhouse is hosting No Exit at 8 p.m., Aug. 8. through Aug. 23. This is about two women and a man who are locked up together for an eternity in one hideous room in hell. The irony of the hell is that its torture is not of the rack and fire, but of the burning humiliation of each soul as it is stripped of its pretenses by the cruel curiosity of the damned. Tickets can be bought online and are on sale for $24.

Details: (562) 494-1014; www.lbplayhouse.org Venue: Long Beach Playhouse; Studio Theatre Location: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach The Threepenny Opera The Garage Theatre is hosting The Threepenny Opera at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Aug. 8 through 30. This show has a brutal, scandalous, perverted, yet humorous and hummable happy ending. The play by Bertolt Brecht is one of the earliest attempt to introduce jazz into the theater. Admission is $18 and $15 for students.

Details: (562) 433-8337; www.thegaragetheatre. org Venue: The Garage Theatre Location: 251 E. 7th St., Long Beach

August 15

Into the Woods The Troupe will perform a youth production of Into the Woods at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro at 7 p.m. Aug. 15, at 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 16, and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 17. The performance weaves together stories from various childhood tales. Tickets are from $5 to $27.

Details: (310) 548-2493 Venue: The Warner Grand Location: 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro

August 23

August 8 – 21, 2014

Rivers and Tides Film Series The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy welcomes the public for a screening of Rivers

16

and Tides at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 23, at the Palos Verdes Arts Center. The documentary follows sculptor Andy Goldsworthy as he creates works of art from natural materials. Box dinner reservations required.

Details: (310) 541-2479 Venue: Palos Verdes Arts Center Location: 5504 Crestridge Rd., Rancho Palos Verdes

Art August 7

Richard Á López: Yosemite Years Richard Á López: Yosemite Years opens from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7 at Michael Stearns Studio 347 in San Pedro. The exhibit is a lush exhibit of landscape and contemporary abstract work that date back to the artist’s residency in Yosemite National Park.

Details: (562) 434-3175 Venue: Michael Stearns Studio 347 Location: 347 W. 7th St., San Pedro Tall Ships Discovery Los Angeles Maritime Institute is curating an educational art exhibit in celebration of Tall Ships Festival LA 2014. The exhibit will also feature art inspired by sailors, shipwrights and riggers. The exhibit will include photography, knotwork, rigging tools and woodturnings created from the wood cut offs of the brigantines. Net proceeds from the exhibit’s artwork sales will benefit the TopSail Youth Program. Scott Kennedy has built up his reputation as a maritime artist for the last fifty years. His love of ships and the sea, his attention to detail, makes him one of the most accomplished artists known today. “My works in ink are made with my passion for learning of the legendary seafaring skills and the building of wooden vessels from our historical times,” said Kennedy. The exhibit opens on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. at fINdings Art Center as part of downtown San Pedro’s First Thursday Artwalk. The exhibit will also be open on Aug. 21, 6 to 9:00 p.m. and Aug. 23, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tall Ships Discovery will also feature the work of Stan Hicks and other local artists and photographers.

Details: www.lamitopsail.org; 310-422-4146 Venue: Findings Art Center Location: 470 W. 6th St., San Pedro

August 10

All Grades Student Art Competition The San Pedro Art Association presents the All Grades Student Art Competition from 2 to 5 p.m., Aug. 10.

This event gives students an opportunity to exhibit their artwork like: sketches; paintings; drawings. Then, everybody will get the chance to vote on who will win the People’s Choice Award. This is an annual event.

Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla.com Venue: Port of Los Angeles, Warehouse 10 Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro

August 26

Artist Call: The Utility Box Mural Program The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, Los Angeles Council District 15, Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council and Clean San Pedro are calling for artist statements of qualifications and proposals to design and paint murals on selected San Pedro utility boxes. The Utility Box Mural Program is designed to encourage community pride and beautify the neighborhood. Submissions are due Aug. 26.

Details: jblahnik@gmail.com or (310) 832-7272 Gallery 741 Grand Opening Experience the functional elegance of Lenchner Glass, exhibiting through Oct. 4, at Gallery 741 in San Pedro.

This show features exciting new tableware designs, fused glass art and many one-of-a-kind fused glass pieces to add beauty to your décor.

Details: (818) 609-9406; www.1stthursday.com Venue: Gallery 741 Location: 741 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro Myriam Gurba, Denise Rivas Community members are invited to check out the art of Myriam Gurba and Denise Rivas through August at The Center Long Beach.

Details: (562) 434-4455 Venue: The Center Long Beach Location: 2017 E. 4 th St., Long Beach

What sets RLn apart from the rest?

Continued from page 11.

unnoticed by Zackey.

“I’m new to this scene, but I keep hearing that people from Los Angeles don’t come down to Long Beach or OC to go out,” Zackey said. “But Chris had people from LA coming all the way down to Santa Ana to check out the shows.”

Hit and Run wants him to be a full-time touring musician and sign with their booking agencies.

“All this is new to me; it just doesn’t register in my brain that I could actually make a living making music,” he said. “They said I could make a pot full of money, but I have kids, child support, I need stability. I’m just this 40-year-old working on jets.”

He seems to have found his muse in this seaside city.

“I want to get my own residency in town,” he said. “Long Beach seems like they really have roots in music. I want to establish

myself, help the music scene here and bring all the people who love me in Los Angeles down here once a month. I’m here now and I don’t plan on leaving.”

Performing is what works best for Zackey when it comes to promoting music and making a living, “You don’t get paid off of record sales; you have to make money off of shows or publications,” he said. “Next is music merchandise like T-shirts, hats and stickers—anything besides the music. The music is the free part. That’s how this industry works now.”

Publishing pays too. He notes that getting placed in video games, TV shows and ads, and even toys, is where he makes most of his money with music.

“I learned a lot off this last tour about how to make it in this business,” he said. “I’m glad to be in the Long Beach area. Be on the lookout for the Zackey Force Funk residency. I’ll be bringing people down from Los Angeles and all over the country too.”

Details: http://thehitandrun.bandcamp.com/album/ money-green-viper

ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment

August 8 – 21, 2014

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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: 07/10/14, 07/24/14, 08/07/14, 08/21/14

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014204674 The following person is doing business as: Just Fix It, 3538

Mulldae Ave, San Pedro, Ca 90732. Los Angeles County.

Registered owners: Kenneth Henry Kuhn, 3538 Mulldae Ave, San Pedro, Ca 90732. 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

continued on following page

DBA FILINGS from previous page declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Ferenc Hudak, Owner.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 29, 2014. 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: 08/07/14, 08/21/14, 09/04/14, 09/18/14 Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014202683 The following person is doing business as: AAD Services, 1038 S. Walker Ave., #6, San Pedro, Ca 90731. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Ashleigh R. Dark,1038 S. Walker Ave., #6, 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/. Ashleigh Dark, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 28, 2014. 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: 08/07/14, 08/21/14, 09/04/14, 09/18/14

from p. 7

Strike Suspended

requirement that any disputes be handled through mandatory arbitration, with a ban on any form of collective legal action. Initially, drivers at Total Transportation Services Inc. had their trucks taken away from them before the strike in retaliation for organizing got the trucks back and were returned to work. Total Transportation Services Inc. also agreed to pull back their demand that drivers sign away all future rights in new truck leases.

“Despite the company CEOs’ commitment to Mayor Garcetti and the port’s executive director that they will not retaliate against the drivers who went on strike for five days, the companies are already showing that they may not honor their commitments,” said Barbara Maynard, with Justice for Port Drivers, in light of the latest developments, coupled with Green Fleet’s earlier statements.

“The situation is potentially explosive and drivers are ready to strike again if these companies follow through on threats. We urge the mayor and his team to act as quickly as possible to end this lawlessness in the drayage industry once and for all,” Maynard said.

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Fictitious Business Name Filings (DBA) $135 filing and publishing (310) 519-1442 for details Receive $20 off your first print or design order of $100 or more*

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