RLn 9-16-21

New San Pedro development approved, despite community complaints p. 2 POLA pledges to restore air pollution monitoring p. 2 Muhammad Ali covers dramatic arc of a man and his country p. 9 The whole enchilada: Celebrating Mexican Independence p. 10

Mitoma Returns

The eldest candidate in Carson’s special election believes he still has what it takes to serve Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

T

[See Mitoma, p. 4]

Recall Rejected At Polls

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

Michael Mitoma chats on his candidacy for city council.

Photo by Fabiola Esqueda

hirty years ago, Michael Mitoma ran for the council seat left vacant by Councilman Walter J. Egan, who was convicted of receiving cash payments and political contributions from convicted political corruption figure, W. Patrick Moriarty, in exchange for supporting a plan to build a mobile home park in Carson. Mitoma won handily to finish the remaining 13 months of Egan’s term.

Mitoma was re-elected and he served a full term in 1988, then was re-elected a second time in 1992, and then became the city’s first directly elected mayor in 1994. He’s now back running in this year’s special election in Carson, to address the same problems he fixed then: year-after-year budget deficits and protect the bedroom community quality of Carson residents living in single family unit homes.

In the late 1980s it’s safe to say Mitoma wasn’t a mobile home park resident ally. Case and point — when the owners of the Imperial Avalon tried to close the park, the conservative faction of the board, who were in the minority, skipped the vote leaving a 3-0 council majority to block the sale.

When Mitoma’s term ended in 1998, he ran for city council a couple more times but failed. He turned his attention away from politics for a while and pursued various business ventures and got married. He started getting back into the thick of things when he joined the planning commission in 2018.

Still, in 1980s Carson, the political divisions of Democrat and Re-

Biden Visit Delivers Final Punch

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

[See Recall, p. 8]

September 16 - 29, 2021

global warming, and defending women and workers, while attacking Elder as “a clone of Donald Trump.”

“You either keep Gavin Newsom as your governor or you’ll get Donald Trump,” Biden said.

“It’s not a joke. A Republican governor blocking progress on COVID-19 who is also anti-woman, anti-worker, a climate [change] denier who doesn’t believe in choice ... The choice should be absolutely clear — Gavin Newsom. You have a governor who has the courage to lead.”

Newsom himself had a similar message.

“We may have defeated Donald Trump, but we have not defeated Trumpism,” he warned. “Trumpism is still on the ballot in California.”

Elder’s premature, evidence-free voter fraud claim only

President Joe Biden arrives at Long Beach Airport to attend a rally for Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photo by Raphael Richardson

After a serious mid-summer scare, Gov. Gavin Newsom handily survived only the second gubernatorial recall election in California history, with a margin so resounding that his Trumpian lead opponent, Larry Elder, conceded the election 26 hours in advance — claiming the election was stolen — of course! Networks called the results barely 30 minutes after the polls had closed. The recall was getting shellacking by almost 64% as of press time, Wednesday morning.

The scare came via a trio of polls — two showing the recall virtually tied, one showing it well ahead — but it seemed to be just what was needed to wake Democrats up, as epitomized by an election eve rally at Long Beach City College, headlined by President Joe Biden, who praised Newsom for his leadership in fighting COVID, fighting

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Community Announcements:

Harbor Area Workshops for Neighborhood Council Policy Change

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, or DONE, will be hosting a series of workshops explaining proposed amendments to its code of conduct policy. The proposed changes will allow DONE to suspend any neighborhood council board member or committee member for 90 days based on an allegation of misconduct. DONE will have final say on the suspension, the suspended person cannot appeal it.

Time: 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 22, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19, 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 Details: https://tinyurl.com/NCPolicyChange

Community Grants Program Funds Solar Projects The Port of Long Beach Community Grants Program is accepting proposals for solar power generation or solar water heater projects at facilities serving children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.

Public and private agencies are eligible to apply. To view project guidelines and workshop presentations, go to www.polb.com/grantopportunities.

Concept papers must be submitted online and are due by 4 p.m. Nov. 9.

The Community Grants Program was created to help those in the community who are most vulnerable to port-related impacts. Combined with a previous program started in 2009, the Port of Long Beach has set aside more than $65 million, making it the largest voluntary port mitigation initiative in the country.

Details: www.polb.com/grants.

Port Seeks Parks and Open Space Projects

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

The Port of Long Beach is accepting concept papers for parks projects that would buffer the area surrounding the port from sources of port-related air quality, water quality and noise impacts.

Prospective applicants should describe proposed projects at a high level and allow program staff to determine project and applicant eligibility.

Eligibility for this solicitation is defined by the community infrastructure guidelines.

To view project guidelines and the pre-solicitation workshop, go to www.polb.com/grantopportunities.

Concept papers, which must be submitted online, are due by 4 p.m. Oct. 15.

Details: www.polb.com/grants.

September Webinars for Landlords and Tenants

The Los Angeles Housing Department or LAHD invites you to attend free 2021 webinars. During September, meetings will focus on the 2021 COVID-19 City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program or ERAP. The webinars will provide an update on the program and the city’s new partnership with the State of California to provide more rental assistance. Sessions will be via Zoom.

Register to attend.

Time: 3 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29 Details: 213-928-9075; www.docs.google.com/webinar-sign-in

September 16 - 29, 2021

Los Angeles And Long Beach Emergency Housing Vouchers Available

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Through the American Rescue Plan or ARP, 6,806 Emergency Housing Vouchers or EHVs are available to local public housing agencies throughout the city and County of Los Angeles and in the City of Long Beach.

The vouchers are tenant-based rental assistance designed to assist individuals who are homeless; at risk of homelessness; fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; or were recently homeless or have a high risk of housing instability.

Details: lahsa.org

Long Beach Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Emergency rental assistance program has been reopened for qualified tenants and landlords to apply for pandemic-related assistance. The reopening is due to the recent [See Announcements, p. 5]

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

New San Pedro Development Approved, Despite Community Complaints

By Hunter Chase, Community News Reporter

By a 6-1 vote, the City Planning Commission has approved development of a 100-unit apartment complex in San Pedro that is controversial because it will be taller and denser with a larger floor-area ratio and 41 fewer parking spaces than are allowed by local building codes. But when the question was called on Sept. 9, Karen Mack was the only commissioner to vote against the project envisioned at 2111-2139 South Pacific Ave. “My challenge with this project is that it has such a big community voice against it,” said Mack.

“Our ability to respond to that is very limited. So, what I really want to address in my remarks is this imbalance of power in the deliberation process. Neighborhood councils get three minutes, I don’t understand why there is that limitation when there is no limitation for the [city] council office to speak.”

Objections to the project largely come from San Pedro residents. Robin Rudisill, chairwoman of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council’s Planning and Transportation Committee, pointed out that the planning commission’s decision was just the first step in approvals. A document called a determination, which outlines the decision, will be released in the next week or so, after which the community can appeal the decision. Rudisill said the appeal will first be heard by the Los Angeles City Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee, and then by the city council itself.

The development will have 100 units, including 11 affordable units. It will be 45 feet and 5 inches tall and have 1,800 square feet of ground retail space.

The property is owned by RKD 2111 Pacific, LLC. It is represented by Burns & Bouchard, Inc., which also represented the development at 13091331 South Pacific Ave., a project approved by the city council in June, despite strong objections by local residents.

Parking was the issue that generated some of the biggest complaints at the Sept. 9 planning commission hearing on the new development.

Plans allot only 80 spaces for the project’s 100 units — 67% of the 120 slots required in the building code. Interestingly, there will be 75 permanent parking spaces for bikes.

“I’ve reviewed hundreds of projects in my career,” said Denis Bilodeau, a licensed civil and traffic engineer. “And I must tell you this is the most under-parked project I have ever seen considered by a public body.”

San Pedro resident Danial Nord argued that the parking, which includes tandem parking spaces, violates municipal parking codes.

“To qualify for tandem parking, one parking stall per dwelling must be individually and easily accessible,” Nord said. “There are 100 units, and only 59 stalls are individually accessible.”

Floyd Bryan, who lives two blocks away from the project, questioned the safety of the parking arrangements.

“How would you like to have to walk a block or two in the dark?” Bryan said. “That’s not uncommon for people who already live here. Not in my unit, but the people that live around here are

Top: Pacific Avenue near the proposed development. Bottom: Rendering of the proposed development at 2111-2139 S. Pacific Avenue. Photo courtesy of The Ketter Group

walking two to three blocks because there is absolutely no parking.”

As for the bicycle parking, Bryan argued that anyone who can afford to live in the project’s market-rate housing will not be able to ride bikes to work; they will need to drive.

Rudisill said that the commissioners did not

address the parking and that there was a reason for this.

“I’ve been to enough of these hearings to feel that when an item is especially egregious, is when none of the commissioners even respond,” Rudisill said. “The commissioners made no mention of [See Development, p. 5]

POLA Pledges to Restore Air Pollution Monitoring

By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

In a stunning reversal, Port of Los Angeles staff has pledged to restore air pollution monitoring at all four stations, and to seek board approval to buy all new equipment — a dramatic turnaround from the cost-cutting mindset that led to the unannounced shutdown of the SourceDominated Air Pollution Monitoring Site on Pier 300 in May. “We’re going to buy all new equipment for all four stations,” POLA’s director of environmental management, Chris Cannon, said on a Sept. 2 conference call.

“Sounds great!” said Andrea Hricko, USC professor emerita of public health, who first brought the shutdown to public attention.

Just two days earlier, Hricko and a dozen other signatories representing community and environmental justice organizations had sent Cannon a letter sharply objecting to his most recent testimony to POLA’s board, when he told them that his division was reviewing “whether we really need to spend the money to operate all these stations – and if they are all necessary scientifically.”

In the call, in contrast, there was nothing but talk about investing in new equipment, with higher maintenance and replacement standards to ensure against degraded performance and reliability in the future.

In a followup letter the next day, Hricko and USC professor Ed Avol expressed appreciation for the change in direction. “We appreciate your commitment to ensure that all four stations will

continue to operate into the future,” they wrote.

“This will provide objective data to document air quality in the San Pedro Bay and allow community, port, and policy makers to observe local and longer-term trends in air quality at the nation’s busiest port.”

The letter also raised several issues to ensure they were not forgotten. These included: 1) Maintenance: “There should be appropriate maintenance procedures in place to assure credible instrumentation performance, protect capital investment, and provide a high level of quality performance for each station in the network, regardless of location.”

2) Continuity: “We urge the port to keep the San Pedro and Wilmington stations fully operational during this transitional phase to new instrumentation.”

3) New instruments to measure black carbon: “We are encouraged to hear that you are deploying a new aethalometer to monitor ambient carbon.

We urge you deploy a new aethalometer as soon as possible to the Terminal Island monitoring station and begin collecting timely data.”

4) Continuity: “Continuous operation of the monitoring instrumentation provides documentation of trends in air quality. Units should NOT be turned off in anticipation of construction or other local activities. This defeats the purpose of providing the monitoring capability in the first place.”

No date has yet been given for board action to approve new spending.

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

September 16 - 29, 2021

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[Mitoma, from p. 1]

Mitoma Returns

publican, liberal and conservative meant something a bit different than what they do in today’s hyper-polarized world. The political shorthand of Republican = pro-business, low taxes and fiscal responsibility and Democrat = pro-labor and government muscle in support of egalitarian ideas. At the time Mitoma was considered part of the conservative faction of Carson’s city council, which included Councilwomen Vera DeWitt and Kay Calas — DeWitt is one five candidates running for City Clerk this year.

The biggest difference about his candidacy today is that Mitoma is not running as conservative or a liberal, but as an independent. And as if to make a statement, he has not accepted donations from anyone, unlike his main rivals for the seat Arleen Rojas backed by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dear and Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes respectively.

First foray into politics

September 16 - 29, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Mitoma’s entry into Carson’s politics began when he founded Pacific Business Bank and attempted to get approval to build a Frank Lloyed Wright designed headquarters from the city planning department. Mitoma described the building as ahead of its time in terms of reducing its carbon footprint through use of skylights to light the interior and the use of tall landscaping and low slung roof to keep temperatures inside at a comfortable 72 degrees.

In Mitoma’s recounting of events, when he went to the city planning commission, his plans were rejected. When he asked why, he was told the city plan was to have Carson Street and all its buildings to be Spanish style, just like Newport.

“I said, ‘hey lady, this is Carson, not Newport Beach,’” Mitoma said, recalling the moment. “[The building was] environmentally way ahead of any building in the city. Anyway, Calas said, Well, you’re a bachelor, right? Yeah. Well then if you want change, why don’t you run for city council? And I go, ‘Yeah, right.’ The last thing I wanted was to go into politics.

‘I run a business. It’s called Pacific Business Bank. You’re not very business-friendly the way your planning department is treating people.’

“I thought, if they were treating me this way, there are probably other companies that are being given a hard time.”

Mitoma recounted telling his board about his conversation with Calas and was taken aback by the board when it told him to do just that... Run for office.

Actually, the board said he had to do it.

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From left, Monti Manibog is the first Filipino American who served as councilman and mayor of Monterey Park (1976-1988). Michael Woo served as the first Asian American on the Los Angeles City Council (1985 to 1993). Michael Mitoma served as councilman, mayor pro tem and mayor of Carson. File photo

“You can change the city, make it a business friendly city, instead of the way it’s currently run.”

Mitoma moved and rented an apartment in Carson and the board put up the money for him to run. “I actually enjoy being in politics because you could make the changes that you think are necessary in the city.”

The former mayor of Carson said one of the reasons he is running for city council is because of the half million dollars being spent on the special election.

“They had 40 people apply for the open seat that Davis-Holmes vacated when she became mayor ... She lives in the northern part of the city and they gerrymandered it.”

Mitoma was referring to the odd shape of the 4th district that randomly juts northward to group Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes’ residence with the rest of the district in south Carson. “[The mayor] would have been representing southern Carson if she had not won the mayor’s seat. That irritates the hell out of me,” Mitoma said.

“She gerrymandered it because she didn’t want to run against Hicks and the two AfricanAmerican candidates running, because they all live close to each other. I was the last elected person from southern Carson for 25 years. Southern Carson should be represented by people who live in southern Carson,” Mitoma said.

Mitoma believes the city budget has been a disaster. The former banker noted despite having passed two tax increases, the city still hasn’t balanced the budget.

“During the 10 years I was in office, we bal-

anced our budget every year and we had a surplus. We were probably one of the most financially sound cities in the county because I have a degree in finance,” Mitoma said.

Mitoma pointed to his stewardship as mayor as proof of knowing how to manage the city’s budget. The former mayor accused the recent administrations of Carson of not meeting with department heads on a regular basis to determine whether they are running a deficit.

“They don’t do that anymore,” Mitoma said.

“They’re just handed all the budget and whatever happens happens. They don’t really study the direction of the city or where the money is being spent.”

Developments and unmitigated costs — who pays?

Mitoma was never a fan of the multiple-use sports complex Dignity Health Sports Park (formerly known as the Home Depot Center and StubHub Center located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills).

“No, I wasn’t and I’ll tell you why,” Mitoma said. “I was on the board foundation [for CSUDH after he left office in 1998] when they were going through the approval of this.” He recounted asking his fellow members to understand how much land they were giving away to Anschultz. Mitoma noted that the original lease was only half a million dollars a year.

“Holy cow!” Mitoma said. “That’s the best deal in town. As a university, we never got any of that money. The city would probably get some money because of the sales tax, due to the purchasing of materials given that the point of sale is in Carson so we get sales tax.”

At a minimum, Mitoma believed the city or the school should have asked for 10% of the parking fees, the same deal Los Angeles got with the Staples Center. He recounted the reply he got when he suggested the idea.

“The answer was, ‘No. We don’t want to irritate him.’” Mitoma said. “This is crazy.” He said he left the board as a result. Looking back on it, Mitoma still doesn’t think the city or the school benefitted much from the sports center.

“From a prestige standpoint, it was good when we had two football teams, but the City of Carson doesn’t get anything out of it.”

But the city does bear the cost of such a stadium, just like it bears the unmitigated cost of warehouses and industrial parks with big rig trucks tearing up city streets and increased air pollution.

Mitoma points to the Watson Land Company as the biggest culprit behind the costs.

“They’re the largest warehouse owner and largest landholder in the city,” Mitoma said.

“They have millions of trucks that are pounding on our streets. They pay virtually nothing because they are a land grant. So their property tax is significantly less than everybody else that’s comparable, but yet they’re using more infrastructure than anybody in the city.”

Mitoma noted that the giant landowning company has backed one of his rivals with donations.

“Watson Land Company just gave one of the candidates like $35, $40, almost $60,000,” Mitoma said. “They don’t support me because I don’t play that game. They and another group that has built all these apartments [complexes] and are trying to close down all our mobile home parks, they’ve donated, I think, $50 or 60,000 to Freddie Gomez [Mayor Davis-Holmes’ endorsed candidate].”

Mitoma noted that other major donor money went to Arleen Rojas [Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dear endorsed candidate].

“And you know what?” Mitoma said. “One of the reasons I’m running is that we’ve got to quit having these major companies influence the city council and ask them for favors and pass legislation that’s only in their favor.”

Mitoma noted that while he has been on the planning commission, the commission had been approving the permits for these new apartments because they’re supposed to be affordable housing.

“But when we find out after the fact, is that, guess what? Yeah, in the initial rents, they’re affordable, but they keep raising them up.”

Mitoma offered the Union South Bay apartments, which is across the street from Carson’s City Hall, as an example.

“A studio apartment goes for $3,300 a month.

That’s crazy,” Mitoma said. “Those were supposed to be affordable housing initially. Now they require you to be making like $90,000 a year to be able to afford that kind of rent.” [Editor’s note: A studio apartment rents for $2,200 a month.]

Mitoma says that new developments going forward need to be scrutinized and monitored.

“One of the reasons I’m running is that we need to monitor all these new projects that claim they’re affordable housing,” Mitoma said. “As soon as you give them the permit and they build the thing, they then keep jacking up the rents to where it’s not affordable anymore.”

Mitoma noted that the developer behind the Union South Bay apartments is the same one behind the closing of Imperial Avalon park. “[They] want to build apartment houses there [at Imperial Avalon]. Then he bought three out of four of the major lots at 157 acres to build apartment houses there too,” Mitoma said. “These mobile home park people have no place to go.

You can give them money for what they paid for their mobile home. Blah blah blah, but there’s no place to put them. They’re going to have to go out to the desert in Arizona, but locally, they have no place to live. They’re like you and I. They love living in this area because this is the best place in the world to live climate-wise.”

Mitoma believes the key to affordable housing in Carson is accessory dwelling units (colloquially called “granny units”).

“For the City of Carson, we have got too many apartment houses now. It’s getting to be ridiculous and the apartment houses are not all affordable. They start out to be affordable, but the greedy landowners and the greedy apartment [See Mitoma, p. 15]

[Development, from p. 2]

Development

Community Announcements:

Harbor Area

[Announcements, from p. 2]

On Aug. 27, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission or Commission launched a CRC database on the WeDrawTheLinesCA.org website that includes all public input related to Communities of Interest or COI with maps that has been received through online COI tool submissions (DrawMyCACommunity.org), via email and snail mail. The database is easily accessible on the CRC website and can be found under the ‘data’ tab.

Details: www.WeDrawTheLinesCA.org

September 16 - 29, 2021

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Launches CRC Database

availability of $13.1 million in additional funds the city has received. The program application period had previously closed on July 11, 2021. This time the new application period will remain open until all program funds are exhausted.

The city has partnered with Yardi Systems to establish a hotline for guidance and answering questions about your application, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at: 833-358-5372.

Details: https://longbeach.gov/emergency-rentalassistance-program/

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

the parking issues other than one silly thing about future technologies.”

Rudisill was referring to comments by Commissioner Dana Perlman, who expressed concern that specific areas for car sharing and electronic scooters would be useless if other technologies made them obsolete. Perlman made the motion to approve the project, but also to modify the uses of said spaces if future technologies replace them.

Commission President Samantha Millman said the board could only vote on whether the project qualified for an off-menu density bonus and conditional use. An off-menu density bonus means relaxing certain codes because of the affordable housing that the project includes. In this case, this would mean that only 80 parking spaces would be included, instead of the required 121 spaces. In addition, it will also be taller, have a larger floor-area-ratio and be denser than the codes currently allow.

“In order to deny an off-menu density bonus, we either have to make the findings that were alluded to during the neighborhood council presentation, or we have to make a finding that are some measurable, specific, significant impacts and that the only way to address or remediate those impacts is to not build the project,” Millman said.

The conditional use is similar, in that zoning regulations are relaxed if a certain condition is met. In this case, this includes eight additional units, because it includes three additional units of affordable housing. The board could use its own discretion on whether to allow it or not, but if they rejected the conditional use, the project would have 92 units, with only eight units of affordable housing.

However, Rudisill said that the developers do not qualify for the off-menu bonuses.

“If you look at the density bonus law, in a situation like this where you only have 11% affordable units out of a total, but they want a FAR, floor-area-ratio, of a 115% more than the normal code, it should be obvious that they have to look into whether the additional FAR is really needed,” Rudisill said.

Rudisill said that the code requires the commission to approve the project unless they find that the bonuses do not result in cost reduction for the affordable housing cost.

“It’s impossible to make that finding because

there’s no evidence,” Rudisill said. “The applicant isn’t providing the city with anything about the cost of the project and why they need that additional FAR and size for these 11 units.”

The project did have supporters, such as Elise Swanson, president of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, who is also a San Pedro resident living near the project.

“Our board of directors voted to support the project after working with the developers over the course of months to address concerns regarding the project and the parking issue that were raised today,” Swanson said. “Our chamber is on record supporting housing solutions at all income levels for our community.”

Aksel Palacios, planning deputy for Councilman Joe Buscaino, also voiced his support for the project.

“This project addresses the shortage of affordable housing units in the city, as well as addressing the need for housing units for residents at all income levels,” Palacios said.

Palacios said that while many in the community had concerns about the project, it is permitted under the state’s bonus program.

“The point and spirit behind these state density bonus laws is to create incentives for developers in the private sector to create both affordable and market rate housing,” Palacios said.

However, Noel Gould, board member of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council, argued that more market rate housing was not needed.

Gould compared the project to the other project Burns & Bouchard, Inc. represented, 13091331 S. Pacific Avenue, which is about half a mile away.

“Both the 1309-1331 S. Pacific, which you approved, and this 2111 Pacific were projects which the applicant’s business model is to acquire the maximum number of entitlements, and then sell the entitled project to a builder, neither of whom have any stake in the community except to extract massive profits at our expense,” Gould said.

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Trumpism Defeated in the Recall No one expected Newsom could fight

By James Preston Allen, Publisher

actually dead, dead, dead, but we must remain vigilant so that a new variant does not emerge!

Like the one candidate Larry Elder attempted to cook up before the polls even opened when he called this election “a fraud,” mimicking the Big Lie of a stolen 2020 election. Luckily the California legislature won’t be calling in the Cyber Ninjas to do a recount on non-existent voter fraud.

What is most impressive is how the golden boy of California politics, Gavin Newsom, has successfully fought this recall and called it out for what it is “the Republican recall.” What democrats here and perhaps across the nation are surprised by is how well articulated Newsom’s counter attack was and how effective the No Recall campaign surged in the final weeks and made common cause with a variety of Liberal to progressive groups. Have the Democrats finally found their unity or was this the self-defense promulgated by a common enemy?

Newsom’s beating the recall by 65 to 34 percentage points will more than likely stop any serious contenders from coming after him in the 2022 regular election. Or at least give Republicans pause in trying to unseat one of the most popular governors ever.

Still, it’s interesting how the recall movement came about and that it is also being used against LA County District Attorney George Gascon and Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin and others throughout the state. These elected officials are being pelted with many of the same wild-eyed grievances that were lobbed at Newsom. In Newsom’s case, the recall elevated him to the national stage as the defender of liberal Democrats — a kind of Saint George who knows how to slay the dragon of Trumpism.

As COVID-19 surges in many red states, what we may well witness is the far right Trumplicans being defeated more by their own stupidity about the virus than by anything else that Democrats might say or do. We should be so lucky if the rest of the nation follows suit in the midterm elections next year.

September 16 - 29, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Having failed to capture the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and previously failing by 7 million votes to win the 2020 election, and even as Arizona Republicans are still not releasing the results of their Cyber Ninja recount, Trumpism persists. The Trumpsters decided to take on California Gov. Gavin Newsom believing that he was vulnerable and weak. Well, on Sept. 14 this turned out to not be true. Newsom came out swinging and clobbered the pro-recall proponents almost two to one.

RLn predicted months ago in a previous article that, “Trump may have been defeated but Trumpism was still alive.” While the corpse of California’s recall election is fresh, I’d like to pronounce that Trumpism is now dead!

Well, maybe just gasping for oxygen on an ICU ventilator like so many of the anti-vaxxers who are now clogging up our nation’s hospitals — some 95% of the patients and 99% of the recent deaths from the delta variant are unvaccinated.

There’s a correlation between the two.

The virus doesn’t care about your politics, or if you think masks are an infringement on your personal liberties or cultural biases — viruses do what they do to spread and survive. Actually for all of those science deniers (the ones who don’t believe in evolution) the COVID-19 virus is the perfect example of evolution in real time. This disease will keep morphing once every million or so replications, which happens inside just one infected person and then a variant evolves and is passed on to the next. It only stops when a victim dies before they reinfect someone else — thus the mask mandates — or if we vaccinate enough people to create herd immunity. At this point no one really knows how many variants there actually are.

The curious thing is that the coronavirus may do for the Democrats nationally what they appear less likely to do for themselves — defeat the far right Trumplicans.

However, speaking of politics, the Trump variant that infected California has just been defeated with a vaccine called the “Popular Vote.” And I hope that this infection is

6

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

—Mark Twain Vol. XLII : No. 19

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

Broken Ground, Broken Promises:

West Harbor Is Not for San Pedrans

By Nadia Nizetich

Growing up I went to Ports O’ Call Village in San Pedro ritually to wave goodbye to Dad as he headed out to sea on the massive container ships destined for China. Sitting right on the main channel that his ships took on their way out of the harbor. This was the perfect place to say farewell.

Mom would park my brother and I on the saltkissed picnic benches of the pier with a hot lunch from the San Pedro Fish Market, and we’d wait until we saw Dad’s ship creep into view with him on the starboard side. He’d wave and yell, and we’d holler enthusiastically back.

This should be a familiar story to many of the residents of San Pedro — for years, Ports O’ Call was a place for goodbyes and homecomings, for celebrations and vigils. But Ports O’ Call is no longer there, having been torn down in 2017 by the Port of Los Angeles to be replaced by something called West Harbor, a massive entertainment complex developers see as a natural update to its outdated predecessor. West Harbor is sleek and tastefully designed, with a color scheme intended to evoke the nautical flags used by seafarers for generations. The warehouse-like buildings feature industrial blue metal exteriors, and shipping containers will house food stalls, aesthetic features that are nods to San Pedro’s portside heritage. Indeed, San Pedro really does seem to be at the forefront of their planning — West Harbor’s website promises that it “improves the

Columnists/Reporters Publisher/Executive Editor Melina Paris Staff Reporter James Preston Allen Staff Reporter james@randomlengthsnews.com Hunter Chase Send Calendar Items to: Assoc. Publisher/Production 14days@randomlengthsnews.com Coordinator Photographers Suzanne Matsumiya Arturo Garcia-Ayala, Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor Luke Netzley, Raphael Richardson, Terelle Jerricks Chris Villanueva editor@randomlengthsnews.com Contributors Joseph Baroud, Mark Friedman, GregSenior Editor Paul Rosenberg gory Moore, Iracema Navarro, Nadia paul.rosenberg@ Nizetich randomlengthsnews.com Cartoonists Internship Program Director Andy Singer, Jan Sorensen, Zamná Àvila Matt Wuerker

quality of life for the San Pedro community” and “will stimulate the local economy of San Pedro, creating jobs, public spaces, entertainment and possibilities.” Michael Galvin, director of waterfront and commercial real estate at the Port of Los Angeles and one of the many overseers to the project, stated in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that West Harbor is “a once-in-alifetime opportunity to really change these communities.” But now in 2021, with the project set to be completed in just under two years and more information about the businesses that will operate there emerging, I am doubtful of their promises. Who is this change really for?

I spent two years researching tourism in a Croatian town facing development similar to West Harbor. Tourism can be lucrative for locals — if local products are being sold and residents own businesses, profits are funneled back into the community and the local economy. The developers of West Harbor have begun to contract businesses for its 42-acre dining and entertainment complex, and the Los Angeles Times recently reported that seven have signed on in the last two weeks (none of which are based in San Pedro and one of which is owned by mogul Elie Samaha who was charged with fraud in 2004). If this trend continues, what this means is that the jobs created for San Pedrans will be low-skill and [See Profits, p. 7]

Design/Production Suzanne Matsumiya, Brenda Lopez

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Community Alert

IRS Criminal Investigation Sees Surge in Scams Tied to Economic Impact Payments The Internal Revenue Service received a record number of complaints about Economic Impact Payment scams in June and July 2021 not seen in more than a decade.

Phishing scams attempt to mirror legitimate IRS communications with the goal of convincing unsuspecting taxpayers to enter personal information or submit a payment. This information is then exploited by scammers.

Recent scam reports include: • Text messages stating that a taxpayer is eligible for a “stimulus payment” and they must click on a link to complete the necessary information to claim it.

• Phishing emails claiming the IRS has calculated a taxpayer’s “fiscal activity” and they are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment in a specific amount.

The IRS does not send unsolicited texts or emails. The IRS does not threaten individuals with jail or lawsuits, nor does it demand tax payments on gift cards or via cryptocurrency.

Taxpayers should be on the lookout for grammatical, capitalization and spelling errors in emails and texts, which serve as fraud indicators. Taxpayers

should also exercise caution when clicking shortened URLs, which can lead to fraudulent web pages.

Taxpayers who receive unsolicited emails or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, should forward the message to phishing@irs.gov. Taxpayers are encouraged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone.

Taxpayers can report fraud or theft of their Economic Impact Payments to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or TIGTA. Reports can be made online at www. treasury.gov/tigta/contact. shtml If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft as a result of a scam, visit the Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft to know what steps to take at, www.irs.gov/newsroom/ taxpayer-guide-to-identity-theft Official IRS information about COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments can be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief page, which is updated frequently.

Details: IRS.gov.

[Profits, from p. 6]

More Than Profits

Chasing the Dream …

Leo Rossi (RLn, Sept. 2-15,

2021) Enlightening article about SP’s “music man” Leo Rossi.

Your readers can hear and see Rossi’s personal account of his “life stories” as one of the original participants of Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow (Vol. I). He’s articulate and entertaining. All stories are at the website www.storieslaharborarea. com under history/videos. Volume III filmed in July to debut October 2021.

Tune in and enjoy Leo Rossi and all the stories, made possible through Los Angeles County grant funding by Supervisor Janice Hahn, and additional sponsorship.

Stephanie Mardesich San Pedro

Abolish ICE

Moe McLeod, age 57 of Washington state.

Was arrested for being racist and so dumb.

Moe harassed and physically assaulted

Alyssa Cuellar at Safeway in Astoria, Oregon.

Just before the assault, Moe’s husband

That says “Abolish ICE” — this means war!

Moe and her hateful husband who is inbred

Need to go to the psych ward’s padded cell.

You don’t like Alyssa’s “Abolish ICE” sticker?

So this couple assaults her? They’re nuts!

Conservative “cancel culture” runs amok!

Right-wingers are the whiniest crybabies,

Because they can’t handle the truth at all.

Like Donald Trump’s desperate downfall.

Trump & his Kool-Aid crew are big losers!

Just like the McLeod couple are boozers.

Republicans are like the American Taliban, Except y’know D.C. ain’t Kabul, my friends.

Anyway, rednecks are way too drunk to pray

On their knees to Allah five-timesa-day.

Don’t you know what would happen to you,

Just like he said about the COVID-19 plague,

If you got in your pickup trucks with AR-15s

So bring it on & come get some, if you dare!

White supremacist alcoholic hillbilly hicks?

Headed for the US Capitol like Jan. 6 again?

The CIA’s drones would blow y’all away, and

Trump will disappear miraculously one day.

Do you want to die for Donald Trump’s hair?

Jake Pickering Arcata, Calif.

Rest assured, the Trumps would die that day!

September 16 - 29, 2021

Nadia Nizetich was born and raised in San Pedro.

She spent two years researching tourism in Komiza, Croatia, as an anthropologist and later worked in special education. She is an avid gardener, musician, and writer.

Called Alyssa the C-word for owning a car

on locals’ behalf while inadvertently working against the well-being of the town. Developers only seem to have realized the economic potential of selling San Pedrans their identity at a fiftypercent markup.

There is still time for West Harbor to right its wrongs. A few restaurant spaces remain and many more retail spots are open. Developers would be wise to contract local businesses for these. Relax the rigid design scheme and partner with local artists to decorate West Harbor with murals and mosaics. Make a better effort to commemorate the cultures that have been here for generations in one of the most diverse communities in Los Angeles — expand the nearby Los Angeles Maritime Museum to encompass exhibits showcasing Mexican, Italian, Croatian, Japanese, Greek and Norwegian cultures that have lived here for over a century. By incorporating real cultural elements, developers would truly showcase local culture and improve the quality of life for the community.

With the project slated to be completed by 2023, I hope it’s not too late for San Pedro. Development is not a boogeyman, but developers must realize that memories are bulldozed along with buildings. My Dad passed not long after those days at Ports O’ Call, and with its removal I’ve only got my stories to tell. And even with the best intentions, development may harm the communities it aims to help. Project leaders at West Harbor need to lengthen the bottom line to include more than profits and treat San Pedro with respect — and respect is more than just an aesthetic.

Vince yelled “F you!” at young Miss Cuellar &

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

likely minimum wage — servers, ticket-takers, concierge — hardly enough to inject substantial profits into San Pedro and stimulate the local economy. Moreover, West Harbor may even deter customers from real local businesses located on the nearby historic 6th and 7th streets, leaving the district open to a similar fate of outside encroachment.

I am not the only San Pedran wary of developer’s promises. In 2017, public outcry over the initial designs of the project sent developers back to the drawing board to rethink their stylistic choices. What was produced was a blue, yellow, and red color scheme and the shipping container aesthetic. The revisions missed the point of the locals’ protests, seeming to make it appear that San Pedro culture is showcased at West Harbor. Their website now states, “Our culture is an eclectic mix of cuisine and camaraderie. We celebrate the culture, history, and diversity of the longshoremen, the fishing industry, craftspeople, and small businesses throughout LA County.” Is celebrating longshoremen accomplished through repurposed shipping containers and a nautical theme? Are craftspeople and small businesses respected by tearing down their shops at Ports O’ Call and replacing them with nonnative restaurants? Paying homage to fishermen, longshoremen, and the working class is not achieved by decorating a retail plaza with nautical flags, and San Pedro culture is not reducible to aesthetic frills. West Harbor’s co-opting of San Pedro is inconsiderate of countless lives that have been lost on the docks and at sea. I applaud developers for rethinking their approach and putting in a good-faith effort to appease locals, but good faith alone is not enough, especially when they speak

RANDOMLetters

7

[Recall, from p. 1]

Recall Rejected

Left, Gov. Gavin Newsom steps off of Air Force One at Long Beach Airport to attend a rally against his recall. Photo by Raphael Richardson. Gov. Newsom was joined by President Joe Biden at Long Beach City College for a rally against the recall. Photo by Richard Vaughn.

Republicans trying to block us from beating this pandemic.”

While Biden naturally drew national attention, it was the whole structure of the rally that embodied what Democrats were fighting to protect against the recall, both including and going beyond the immediate grave threat of COVID. It began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a dreamer from Long Beach and the National Anthem, sung by a critical care nurse from San Diego. It was followed by three labor leaders declaring their readiness to fight. Then

a string of local political leaders leading up to the full slate of statewide elected leaders whose racial and gender diversity epitomized the constituency they represent, and culminating with Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, his appointee, Newsom himself, and President Biden.

Speaking to Newsom on behalf of labor, Ron Herrera, President of the LA County Federation of Labor, set the tone at the start. “We’ve turned out thousands of boots on the ground to fight this antiunion, anti-labor, Republican recall,” Herrera said, “We have your back, just like you have ours.”

Supervisor Janice Hahn kicked off a parade of local political leaders.

“Gov. Newsom has championed more progressive policies than any governor in the history of California,” Hahn said.

Calling the election “A big test for our nation,” State Senator Lena Gonzalez first struck the rally’s dominant theme.

“We defeated Trump in 2020, but we didn’t defeat the extremist rightwing forces that Trump empowered. They’re back at the ballot box tomorrow in California,” she warned. “This Teamster truck driver daughter is going to vote no!”

“This recall is just another attack on our democracy,” Rep. Alan Lowenthal echoed.

On the positive side, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis introduced the statewide officers—three of whom are women, and none of whom — aside from Newsom — are white men.

“You may look up here and see a lot of diversity,” Kounalakis said, “But I will tell you there are many things that we all have in

common: Number one, every single one of your elected statewide officials in the state of California is a Democrat. We all fight for progressive democratic values. We all believe in a woman’s right to choose. We all stand with our brothers and sisters in labor. We all believe that healthcare is a human right.

And we believe climate change is real. And of course we all believe in a science-based approach to dealing with the COVID crisis, unlike every single one of those Republicans who are trying to replace our fantastic governor, Gavin Newsom.”

“We celebrate our diversity in this city.

We celebrate our diversity in this state. And at our best we celebrate our diversity in the United States of America,” Newsom said.

“What makes California great is that we can live together and advance together and prosper together across every conceivable difference. It’s a remarkable thing. It really is.

“And I want you to all know that that issue, the issue of diversity, of pluralism, the issue that defines so much of our politics — it’s all on the ballot tomorrow night. Racial justice is on the ballot tomorrow night. Economic justice is on the ballot tomorrow night. Social justice is on the ballot tomorrow night. Long Beach environmental justice is on the ballot tomorrow night.”

Perhaps most importantly, Newsom reminded us, “The future doesn’t just happen, you have to make it so. It’s our decisions, not our conditions that determine our fate and future.”

September 16 - 29, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

seemed to underscore the Democrats’ argument.

But Newsom also stressed the positive side of what Trumpism threatened.

“We’re also celebrating the fact that we’re in Long Beach, one of the most diverse cities, in the most diverse county, LA County, in the most diverse state, California, in the world’s most diverse democracy, the United States of America.”

While anti-immigrant racism was the fuel that drove the recall — as reflected in both the petitions and the ballot arguments—this was, above all, a COVID election. In the beginning, COVID made it all possible: Newsom’s violation of his own stringent lockdown measures gave signaturegatherers the boost they needed, aided by a 90day extension also due to COVID. But in the end, COVID made it not even close. “[Eighty] percent of the people who vote in California are going to be vaccinated,” Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, David Plouffe, said on MSNBC’s The Last Word. “I think you’re looking at 22... It shows that Democrats can make an appeal — not just to their base... but to independents and Republicans that are vaccinated — that Republicans have been irresponsible, [and that] you cannot trust them.”

And the exit polls bore him out. A plurality thought that Newsom’s COVID policies had been “about right,” while 17% thought they weren’t strict enough. Only about a third — the size of Trump’s base — thought Newsom’s policies were too strict.

And COVID was the very first thing that Biden focused on in Long Beach.

“There’s too much at stake,” Biden said. “First, voting no will be protecting California from Trump

8

Counter protesters, including supporters of the Proud Boys, demonstrated during the No On Recall rally outside Long Beach City College. Photo by Raphael Richardson

O

n Oct. 2, 1980, my parents took me to the home of family friends who subscribed to OnTV so we could watch 38-year-old Muhammad Ali come out of retirement to fight heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. And like every one of the 2 billion viewers this side of Holmes’ mother, I rooted desperately for Ali as Holmes picked him apart round by round.

Why did a 12-year-old suburban white boy who didn’t really follow boxing and knew nothing about Ali’s heroic stances on race and Vietnam want so badly for him to win? It’s a testament to the spell cast by the man who went from being one of America’s most divisive figures to perhaps the most famous and beloved person on Earth.

Only five months removed from Hemingway, the most recent opus from Ken Burns & co., comes Muhammad Ali, whose life is as epic — in its own way — as Burns’ most sprawling subjects (e.g., the Civil War, the Roosevelts). And although the uninitiated couldn’t ask for a better overview on history’s most transcendent pugilist, those already familiar with him may come away feeling they’ve heard most all of it before.

Round One (each of the docuseries’ four parts is perhaps too quaintly identified as a round), which covers the first 21 years of Ali’s life — when he was known as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. — supplies the least well-known biographical material, including information on Cassius Sr., a charismatic and proud Black man who was at times violently abusive

to young Cassius’ mother; and on the 11 Kentucky businessmen who managed the first two years of Clay’s professional career.

Partly because of benign auspices of the latter, a group of white men who not only took good care of the young fighter’s finances but protected him from the mafia (at the time a cancer in the boxing world), Clay was disinclined to speak out on race matters. But with the rise of the Nation of Islam (for context, we get sidenote bios on Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X, who would shortly become major figures in Ali’s life) watering the soil of a race conscious made so fertile in childhood by his father and various events (e.g., the murder of Emmett Till), by age 22 Clay-cum-Ali was a vociferous embodiment of Black pride almost unheard of in American history.

Covering 1964–’70, Round Two is the most joyous of the four parts, highlighting The Greatest at the height of his powers, when his combination of lightning quick feet/ hands/mind/mouth made him one of the most striking individuals the world had ever seen. Shortly after claiming the heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston — revealed in a short bio to be something of a “hero” (says novelist Walter Mosely) rather than the simple villain of Ali lore — Clay officially becomes Muhammad Ali and “tore the mask off white comfort,” to the point that a 1966 mainstream newspaper article labeled him “the worst influence on people since Adolf Hitler.” The schism of the American public’s love-hate relationship with Ali (he was

nothing but loved abroad) came in 1967, when he refused military induction, a stand on principle that cost him his boxing license, his athletic peak, millions of dollars, and very nearly five years in prison. (Details of the trial proceedings against him reveal that, contrary to popular conception, the Supreme Court ultimately overturned his conviction not because they vindicated his sincere religious objection to the Vietnam war but because of lower-court procedural errors, including one that was the ironic result of the FBI monitoring the phone calls of Elijah Muhammad and Martin Luther King Jr.) At the beginning of Round Three it’s 1970, and Ali the boxer is back in action, a turn of events so terrible to some that Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox called for a day of mourning when Atlanta agreed to host his return match. Although by this time hatred of Ali had generally lost its edge — white America wasn’t quite as panicked about Black power as it once had been, and public opinion had turned severely against the war — Round Three explores the dark side of Ali’s personality. Although he may not have been abusive toward women, Ali was nearly insatiable sexually, and unfaithful in marriage (including a period when he was a bigamist) to the point of hiring prostitutes.

[See Story, p. 11]

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

September 16 - 29, 2021

Muhammad Ali a new documentary

by Ken Burns showcases the life cycle of the legendary boxer, from a young man, to an adult, to an elderly man.

Graphic by Brenda Lopez

9

A

September 16 - 29, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

sk an Angeleno, Latino or not, about their favorite taco truck or tamale guy and they will give you an answer.

Just looking at my pantry, I am able to identify at least three different food items connected to Mexican cuisine. And when I type “Mexican restaurants” into Google Maps for any Los Angeles zip code, more than 20 restaurants pop up. Here we get cuisine without knowing the history between Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence, we just adopt the food.

Those of us who have been of drinking age for more than just a few years can probably recall more than just a few nights of drinking involving Mexican food and liquor. Yet, all of these experiences are as American as a pizza or hamburgers.

With Los Angeles being Los Angeles, we don’t just want the most authentically Mexican cuisine. We want the most authentic Mexican food combined with the most authentically Korean, Thai, Indian or any other of the many communities represented in Los Angeles.

This complete assimilation of Mexican cuisine into the American culinary palate is what’s been on my mind as we close in on Mexico’s 200th Independence Day. I called Gustavo Arellano to make sense of it all. Especially considering that he wrote the book on the subject: Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America.

“All Americans love Mexican food,” Arellanos said. “All of them. Mexican food is so ingrained into our diet that you can hate a Mexican but still eat at a taqueria.”

Living in a giant media market with the diversity of Los Angeles, it feels as if we are at the center of the world.

Arellano called Los Angeles a crossroad of the world, before explaining how he once made a list of the 10 most important cities in the history of Mexican food in the United States.

San Antonio was No. 1 because of the many innovations made there. Los Angeles came in second.

“But in the last 30 years, Los Angeles just whipped the ass of San Antonio,” Arellano said.

10

The Whole Enchilada

Celebrating Mexican Independence How Mexican Cuisine Conquered the USA

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

Japanese-Latino during a time when antimiscegenation laws were in existence. Juanita Foods is Wilmington’s contribution to Mexican food in the United States [and one of the largest employers in the Harbor Area]. The thing for me is people in Wilmington know the story, but the rest of California, let alone the rest of the United States, don’t know the [Juanita Foods] story.”

Arellano quoted Chicano scholar Americo Paredes to define Mexican cuisine and culture as it travels far from its geographic and temporal origins: The influence of Mexico doesn’t cease at the Rio Grande. Wherever there is something even minutely Mexican, whether it’s people, food, language, or rituals even centuries removed from the original mestizo source, it remains Mexican.

I am reminded that even in these polarized times over immigration as newer immigrants bring their customs and foods, and become a part of the patchwork quilt of this nation, we still remain one America, with an ever expanding definition of hyphenated immigrants and their cuisines.

Bonding over a plate of two enchiladas, which originated in Mexico but also are popular in the United States.

File photo.

“Not only do you have more media attention here, because it’s a bigger city, but you have more immigrants coming to Los Angeles, and those immigrants start getting copied by other folks, Korean BBQ tacos by Roy Choi of Kogi, and Oaxacan food and Mexicali has gotten really big … they first get popular in Los Angeles and get a lot of attention so things start to get spread around.”

The most well known example is Juanita Foods of Wilmington, the local Latino food producer. It was founded by George De La Torre Sr. and his nephew, Albert Guerrero, in 1946 — first as a fish canning business, then a menudo canning factory. Juanita Foods products lines have grown significantly. The company was also mentioned in Arellano’s book.

“Juanita Mexican Foods first made their case with menudo,” Arellano explained. “But you can only sell so much menudo, you want to branch out and diversifying into other food stuff.”

Mexican food has also become a part of American comfort food as companies like Maywood-based Tapatio hot sauce, which struck a partnership with FritoLay to make Tapatio flavored Fritos and Tapatio flavored Doritos.

“To me that’s not just capitalism — capitalism meaning you try to make more money for your business,” Arellano explained.

“It’s about knowing that you have a populace that is open to other foods than what they have been buying from you for so long.

“Juanita Foods may not be as big as Frito Lay, but there’s a great [local]story about a

[Story, from p. 9]

Ali’s Story

But it was in his treatment of Joe Frazier, his greatest rival, where Ali’s cruelty is revealed.

For the sake of hype and showmanship, the low road of Ali’s public and relentless demeaning of Frazier — who was kind enough to lend Ali money while Ali was struggling financially during his boxing ban — sank all the way down to racist tropes.

But Round Four is the saddest of all. Upon the resumption of Ali’s career, with his once preternatural ring speed slowed to relatively mortal proportions, Ali “discovered he could take a punch” — a blessing and a curse, noted Ali fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco. Although in the mid ‘70s Ali is rich and almost universally adored, we see a man in his mid 30s already sliding into obvious decline, his speech patterns sluggish shadows of what they were just a few years earlier. By the post-fight press conference after the Holmes debacle, the change is painful to behold.

From here it’s mostly downhill, with a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1985 and Ali’s withdrawal from public life. His lighting of

the torch at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta is recalled here more sadly than I experienced it. Yes, it was shocking to see this most vibrant of souls as a locked-in, quivering mass, but what I remember is loving to see him after so much time, and loving to see the obvious outpouring of love for a onetime hurricane of controversy who was now a national treasure.

This, ultimately, is the story of Muhammad Ali as much as it is about the man himself.

Previous material may cover specific aspects of Ali’s epic journey better than what Team Burns offers (for example, 1996’s When We Were Kings is a far more compelling document of “the Rumble in the Jungle” than the pro forma review we get here), but it’s the arc that makes this eight-hour journey. “It was striking to see this evolution not in Ali,” reflects New Yorker editor David Remnick, “but in us.”

Individuals and societies change, often in unforeseeable ways. The Louisville Lip ended his life in near silence, humble and repentant of his personal foibles. And the world had nothing but love for him. Go figure.

Muhammad Ali premieres Sept. 19 to 22 at 8 to 10 p.m. on PBS.

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

September 16 - 29, 2021

11

MUSIC Sept. 16

John Papadakis Come September, give it to the Greek. Enjoy a night out at the Catalina jazz club where vocalist John Papdakis will be joined by the Lou Forestieri Quartet.

Time: 7:30 p.m. doors open, show at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 Cost: $35 Details: 323-466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com Venue: Catalina Jazz Club, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood JP McDermott & Western Bop at El Dorado Nature Center With a repertoire of rockabilly, ballads and drinking songs, McDermott and his band play a fun, fresh mix of songs by Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Roy Orbison, as well as a bunch of original tunes in the same vein.

Time: 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 16 Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Sept. 17

The Winehouse Experience The Winehouse Experience, featuring Mia Karter, pays tribute to the late icon Amy Winehouse, known for her distinctive warm vocals, soulful songwriting and signature style. All of Winehouse’s greatest hits take center stage in this live concert.

Time: 8 p.m. Sept. 17, 18 Cost: $20 and up Details: www.showclix.com/harvelles/winehouse Venue: Harvelle’s Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach

September 16 - 29, 2021

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

Andy & Renee & Hard Rain Southbay favorite folk-rockers play their cover album Back to Georgia, featuring an colorful array of classic Americana, including Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues and Emmylou Harris’ Till I Take Control Again.

Time: 8 p.m. Sept. 17 Cost: TBA Details: www.grandvision.org/ grand-annex/events.asp Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

12

Sept. 18

Cubensis Acclaimed Grateful Dead revivalists, the band remains loyal to the original music and fans.

Time: 8 p.m. Sept. 18 Cost: $23 and up Details: grandvision.secure. force.com/cubensis Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro Aloke Dasgupta Dasgupta, master musician from India who has toured internationally, will play with a tabla drummer.

Time: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 Cost: $20 Details: www.collageartculture.com Venue: Collage, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro

Sept. 23

Sarah Lee Guthrie Sarah Lee sings originals plus the iconic songs made famous by her father, Arlo, her grandfather, Woody (who wrote This Land is Your Land) and their comrades in music. Ticket holders can join her pre-show sing-along, “What Woody & Pete Had to Say.” 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Sing-along space is limited to 30.

Time: 8 p.m. Sept. 23

Cost: $28 and up Details: grandvision.secure.force. com/sarah-lee-guthrie Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

maquette, then an enlargement, the mold-making process, and finally the pouring of the bronze and welding it all back together again from many pieces – giving a behind-the-scenes view into the creation of monumental sculptures.

Time: Opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 25. Exhibition through Nov. 13 Cost: Free Details: pvartcenter.org Venue: Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes

Sept. 24

Top of The World: A Tribute To The Carpenters The Carpenters, the popular brother/sister duo of the ’70s and early ’80s, created some of the most unforgettable ballads and melodic pop songs of all time.

This eight-piece band brings the most authentic versions of the Carpenters’ music to the stage like: Close To You, We’ve Only Just Begun and Rainy Days and Mondays.

Time: 8 p.m. Sept. 24 Cost: $90 and up Details: www.app.arts-people. com/carpenters-tribute Venue: Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates

Sept. 25

Tongva Storyteller Tina Calderon and Artist Jessica Gudiel Calderon is a culture bearer who tells ancient stories and Gudiel uses Indonesian shadow puppetry. They will discuss their collaboration.

Time: 2 p.m. Sept. 25 Cost: $10 Details: www.collageartculture. com Venue: Collage, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro Ukulele Virtuoso Andrew Molina Andrew Molina is one of the up-and-coming crop of talented young ukulele virtuosos who is always trying to find a way to take the ukulele to the next level. His music can be described as a mix of Hawaiian, pop, rock and a little bit of jazz.

Time: 8 p.m. Sept. 25 Cost: $28 and up Details: 310-833-4813; www. grandvision.com/andrew-molina Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Oct. 1

Latsos Piano Duo Individually, Anna Fedorova from Russia and Giorgi Lats from Tbilisi, Georgia are highly regarded piano virtuosos on the international classical music scene. To safely begin the 2021-2022 season, concerts will be videotaped and streamed-as-live at the scheduled concert time.

Time: 12:15 p.m. Oct. 1 Cost: Free Details: 310-316-5574; www.palosverdes.com/classicalcrossroads Venue: Online Angel City Jazz Festival Double Bill Mark Dresser is a Grammy-nominated, internationally renowned bass player, improviser and composer. At the core of his music is an obsession and commitment to expanding the sonic, musical and expressive possibilities of the contrabass. Jeremy Ledbetter is the driving force behind Caribbean Latin Jazz powerhouse CaneFire and the longtime musical director and producer for calypso superstar David Rudder. Jeremy’s newest project is the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio.

Time: 8:30 p.m. Oct. 1 Cost: $25 Details: www.redcat.org/event/ angel-city-jazz-festival-2 Venue: REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles Graceband Tribute to the King High-energy rock ’n’ roll tribute to Elvis Presley. Hear the big hits with big 12-piece band arrangements.

Time: 8 p.m. Oct. 1 Cost: $23 and up Details: www.grandvision.org/calendar/triute-to-the-king Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Oct. 8

Hubby Jenkins Banjoist, bones player, guitarist and a member of the Grammynominated Carolina Chocolate Drops, Jenkins brings the African American historical experience back into traditional American ragtime, blues, country and the gospel of the rural South.

Time: 8 p.m. Oct. 8 Cost: TBA Details: grandvision.secure.force. com/tickets/hubby-jenkins Venue: Grand Annex, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Oct. 10

Pianist Robert Thies and Friends A favorite on this series, this is Robert’s 16th appearance.

Time: 2 p.m. Oct. 10 Cost: Free Details: www.palosverdes.com/ classicalcrossroads Venue: Online

THEATER Oct. 7

New Original Works Festival The 18th edition of REDCAT’s New Original Works or NOW Festival returns to in-person performances with nine new works

by Los Angeles artists who are redefining the boundaries of contemporary performance and confronting urgent issues in new contemporary dance, theater, music and multimedia performances.

NOW will unfold over three weekends and feature a triple bill of performances. Each program will premiere on Thursday evening and repeat on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Time: Oct. 7 to 9, Oct. 14 to 16, Oct. 21 to 23 Cost: $10 to $20 Details: www.redcat.org/neworiginal-works-festival-2021 Venue: REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles

Oct. 14

Sun & Sea An opera by Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė and Lina Lapelytė, an all-female creative team. Sun & Sea’s Los Angeles premiere transforms The Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art with 13 vocalists and 10 tons of sand. Sunbathing characters offer up a range of seductive harmonies and melodic stories that glide between the mundane, the sinister and the surreal. An exploration of the relationship between people and our planet emerges, captured in one afternoon on a crowded beach.

Time: Thursday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 14 to 16 Cost: $25 Details: 213-633-5351; www.moca.org/exhibition/sun-sea

Venue: The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA,152 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles

Oct. 17

Tape Face Mime with noise, stand-up with no talking — drama with no acting.

Viral sensation Tape Face has to be seen to be believed. Tape Face is a character created by performer Sam Wills. Through simple, clever and charming humour, aimed at satisfying that inner child hunger, this America’s Got Talent finalist gives a wry and hilarious performance.

Time: 7 p.m. Oct. 17 Cost: $30 to $50 Details: www.torrancearts.org/ show/tape-face Venue: Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance

Oct. 20

Blues in the Night Conceived and originally directed

by Sheldon Epps, this Wren T. Brown directed production will begin showing in the fall. With little spoken text, the interweaving stories are defined through glorious songs that cover the range of this indigenous American art form, from Bessie Smith to Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Alberta Hunter, Jimmy Cox and Ida Cox. Come check out the post-show talkback with the cast on Oct. 31.

Time: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday from Oct. 20 to Nov. 7 Cost: $37 to $55 Details: 562-436-4610; ictlongbeach.org Venue: International City Theatre, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach

ART

Sept. 16

Countdown Studio Artists Phoebe Barnum, WS Milner and Lowell Nickel, along with Angels Gate Cultural Center board member Susan Davis, are participating in an online group exhibition titled Countdown at El Camino College Art Gallery.

Countdown is an exhibition addressing global concern regarding the increasing number of animal species threatened with imminent extinction.

Time: Online through Oct. 24 Details: View the online exhibition here, www.elcamino.edu/academics/finearts/countdown Cost: Free

Sept. 25

Eugene Daub: MONUMENTAL Palos Verdes Art Center / Beverly G. Alpay Center for Arts Education is pleased to announce Eugene Daub: MONUMENTAL, a retrospective of the internationally acclaimed sculptor’s large public works sited across the U.S. This exhibition will disclose the many stages that are crossed in the course of developing a monument – the evolution from a sketch to a

Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?

A group show resulting from a galvanizing art challenge based on titles inside of fortune cookies.

For this project, arts writer Bondo Wyszpolski asked artists to challenge themselves by painting based on randomly selected titles.

Time: 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 25 Cost: Free Details: pvartcenter.org Venue: Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes

Oct. 9

When the Color Goes What happens when photographers close their eyes to the colors around them? Twenty-five members of PADA, a Peninsula-based group of photographic and digital artists, explore that question in When the Color Goes, opening in the Malaga Cove Library’s art gallery Oct. 5. Palos Verdes Library District is following LA County Health guidelines, which currently include masks to be worn.

Time: 12 to 4 p.m. Oct. 9 Cost: Free Details: www.pvld.org/artinourlibrary Venue: Malaga Cove Library Art Gallery, 2400 Vía Campesina, Palos Verdes Estates

ONGOING

The Newly Moderne The Long Beach Creative Group is presenting its first solo gallery exhibition, The Newly Moderne, featuring the paintings of Donald Tiscareno. Tiscareno, who is 80 years old, draws inspiration from his first trip to New York City.

There he was introduced to modern American art and the abstract expressionism of the 1940s and 1950s. The experience had a profound impact on his artistic development. You can watch a video interview with Tiscareno on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ painter-donald-tiscareno Time: 1 to 4 p.m Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 17 Details: https://www.facebook. com/LongBeachCreativeGroup.

Venue: LBCG/Rod Briggs Gallery, 2221 E. Broadway, Long Beach

DANCE Sept. 16

Let ‘im Move You: This is a Formation Let ‘im Move You is a series of works choreographed by jumatatu m. poe and Jermone Donte Beacham that stem from their research into J-Sette performance. “J-Sette,” or “Bucking,” is a performance style popular in the Southern United States, practiced widely among majorettes and drill teams at historically Black colleges and universities, and also among teams of primarily queer men who compete at gay clubs and pride festivals.

Time: Sept. 16 to 18 Cost: $13 to $25 Details: www.redcat.org/event/let-im-move-you-formation Venue: REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., Los Angeles

Sept. 19

San Pedro Festival of the Arts Dance Performances on the Lawn Featuring 29 dance companies in performance with a different program each day. Artists featured include Megill & Company, Paso de Oro Dance Company, Freaks With Lines, Fusion Flamenco, Katrina Ji, Selcouth, Megill & Company, Re:borN Dance Interactive, Kairos Dance Company, ShowtimeKatusha and Contemporary West Dance Theatre. A vaccine or negative COVID-19 test and masks are required.

Time: 1 to 4:15 p.m. Sept. 19 Cost: Free Details: 213-458-3066; www.triartsp.com Venue: Anderson Memorial Senior Center, 828 S. Mesa St., San Pedro

FOOD Oct. 2

LAWineFest SoCal’s legendary LAWineFest sets up shop at the Pike Outlets in Long Beach for its 16th year, with its usual vast variety of wine and craft-beer tastings.

Time: 5 p.m. Oct. 2 and 3 Cost: $50 to $75 Details: www.lawinefest.com Venue: Harry Bridges Memorial Park, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach

FILM

Sept. 19

Amazing Grace Torrance Cultural Arts presents this award-winning documentary followed by talk back with Grace Fisher and filmmaker Lynn Montgomery. See how Fisher, a 23-year-old Santa Barbara woman, overcame obstacles from a paralyzing disease. There will be a Q&A with Grace, the Fisher family and filmmaker Lynn Montgomery immediately following the screening.

Time: 2 p.m. Sept. 19 Cost: Free Details: www.eventbrite.com/e/ amazing-grace Venue: James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance

Sept. 30

QFilms Festival The oldest film festival in Long Beach and the second largest LGBTQ cultural event in the city, QFilms Festival features narrative films, documentaries, shorts and special tributes and reaches thousands of community members. This year’s festival will be benefiting The LGBTQ Center Long Beach. ​COVID-19 protocols: Masks will be required at all indoor venues, regardless of vaccination status or recent COVID-19 test.

Time: Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 Cost: $10 to $30 Details: www.qfilmslongbeach. com Venue: Various

COMMUNITY Sept. 17

Night Dive Night Dive is an event for adults only (18+) with local bands performing right next to the fish, DJs spinning, works of art, cocktails and drinks and food trucks on the front plaza. Advance reservations are required.

Time: 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m Sept.

17 Details: 562-590-3100; aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/ night_dive/ Cost: $19.95 to $24.95 Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach

Sept. 18

Family Art Workshop Join a family art workshop inperson at Angels Gate and virtually on Zoom. Join artist-teacher Nancy Woo for September’s workshop. Create greeting cards out of homemade stamps. Learn how to turn regular household objects (rubber bands, bubble wrap and bottle caps) into exciting stamps that you can use to make paintings and stationery. Bring an old T-shirt to use as a smock for paint.

Supplies will be provided to onsite attendees. You will receive the Zoom link prior to the event.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 18 Cost: Free Details: www.eventbrite.com/e/ family-art-workshop-september Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro California Coastal Clean-Up Day You can join the Aquarium of the Pacific in cleaning up Long Beach as part of the statewide Coastal Clean-Up Day. The public is invited to help aquarium staff clean the beach. Help protect our ocean and marine life by picking up trash.

Gloves, bags and a spirit of camaraderie will be provided. Please look for the aquarium booth to check in and receive your cleaning supplies. No RSVP necessary.

Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sept. 18 Cost: Free Details: 562-590-3100; aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/california_coastal_cleanup_day/ Venue: The Peninsula and lot at Ocean and 72nd Place, Long Beach

Sept. 24

Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a three-day, two evening festival, combining world-class racing with a wide variety of activities for the whole family, on the streets of downtown Long Beach.

Fans will see five racing events headlined by the NTT IndyCar series and North America’s top sports cars, drifting, historic race cars and Robby Gordon’s jumping super trucks will be showcased during the weekend. Off the track, the Acura Grand Prix will have the popular lifestyle expo, family fun zone and food trucks.

Time: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sun. Sept. 24 to 26 Cost: $20 and up Details: www.gplb.com/event-info Location: 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach

Sept. 26

California Native Plant Sale Join South Coast California Native Plant Society or NPS for its annual California native plant sale. Thousands of native plants will be available for sale. Online ordering and no contact pick up. All plants are locally sourced and suitable for gardens in the South Bay and beyond. The event is free of charge.

Sale open to the public.

Time: Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 No contact pick-up, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 Details: Online Sales only at: www.sccnps.org Venue: Madrona Marsh Nature Center, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, Torrance

RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL

831-3138

(310)

Lic. #748434

The World Wanted Justice, Not War

In the wake of 9/11, the American people were united, we’re told. Indeed, the whole world was.

But united for what? Gallup International polled people in 37 countries, and found that the vast majority of them in the vast majority of countries wanted the American government to seek extradition and trial of the terrorists — a course of action that would have almost certainly avoided the “war on terrorism,” and its pernicious spill-over effects including refugee crises and the spread of religious hostility, extremism and violence across the globe.

On average citizens of 34 countries — mostly in Europe and Latin America — favored extradition and trial over war by more than 5-to-1: 78.4% to 14.9%. The sole exceptions, with strong majorities (over 70%) favoring a military attack were India and Israel, both engaged in decades-long failed wars against Muslim “terrorists,” and the United States, where a slight majority — 54% — favored military action, compared to 30% favoring extradition and trial, and 16% unsure.

The 46% in the USA who did not favor war had virtually no support in the corporate media. A survey conducted by Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting found 44 op-eds in the New York Times and the Washington Post favoring war in the first three weeks after 9/11, compared to just two op-eds opposed.

— Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

Let’s Talk About Race — The Jigsaw Puzzle We’re all a piece of the jigsaw puzzle of society and this two-hour dialogue with Marymount California University Professor Carlos Royal will highlight concepts and ways we can work together to move forward in reducing prejudice and bias and finishing our puzzle.

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct. 2 Cost: Free Details: www.us02web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/conversationstarter Venue: Virtual

Oct. 30

25th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour This one-of-a-kind living history event provides an amazing opportunity to remember the lesserknown and well-known figures in Long Beach history.

Time: 9 to 3 p.m. Oct. 30 Cost: $1 to $25 Details: 562-424-2220; www.hslb. org/event/25th-cemetery-tour Venue: Sunniside and Municipal Cemeteries, 1095 E. Willow St., Long Beach

Taken in Lynchburg, Virginia after Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by David Duncan

September 16 - 29, 2021

COMPLETE PLUMBING SERVICE

Festa Italiana Join an outdoor street fair dedicated to Italian culture in the Little Italy district in Downtown San Pedro. Local vendors will sell Italian treats, beer and wine. The event includes live performances. This event will be entirely outdoors, to promote a safe environment.

Masks are strongly encouraged.

Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 2 Cost: Free Details: www.facebook.com/festa-italia Location: 6th Street, between Centre and Palos Verdes streets, San Pedro

After 9/11:

QUICK RESPONSE TIME!

Se Habla Español

Sept. 26

Southern California Weaving & Fiber Festival The Southern California Handweavers’ Guild will present its 2021 Weaving & Fiber Festival.

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26 Cost: $1 Details: torranceca.gov Venue: Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. on the Torino Festival Plaza.

Oct. 2

ArtLab Science and Art Workshops Join the marine mammal education team and an Angels Gate artist-teacher to explore each center.

The afternoon will begin with an introduction to the Marine Mammal Care Center and the animals they care for, followed by an art workshop. ArtLab will take place in-person at the Marine Mammal Care Center, as well as virtually on Zoom. COVID-19 safety protocols will be enforced on-site.

Time: 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 2 Cost: Free Details: Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/artlab-workshop-tickets Venue: Marine Mammal Care Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St. San Pedro

Real People, Real News, Really Effective

Moompetam: American Indian Festival In celebration of the local American Indian cultures, the Aquarium of the Pacific will host its 17th annual Moompetam Festival. This celebration will feature traditional cultural crafts demonstrations, storytelling, music and dance celebrating the indigenous California maritime cultures, including Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseno and Kumeyaay. Advance reservations required for everyone.

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 18 to 19 Details: 562-590-3100; aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/moompetam/ Cost: $26.95 to $36.95 and free for children under age 3 and aquarium members Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach

So-Cal Hoedown Join a custom culture music festival coming to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. The hoedown will bring you some of the best local and national outlaw country, ska, rockabilly and punk bands around.

Time: 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 Cost: $54 Details: www.socalhoedown.com Venue: Port of Los Angeles, Berth 46, 3011 Miner St., San Pedro,

13

CLASSIFIED ADS & DBA FILINGS

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

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

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

JOB TRAINING COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-554-4616 (AAN CAN)

HOME & GARDEN

Real People, Real News, Totally Relevant

20 Ft. tall Queen palm tree, 36 inch box. Perfect for landscaping — $225. Also various sizes of Peruvian spiral

FOR RENT

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Green side yard and friendly neighbors. $1,495. Walking distance to downtown shopping and transit. 310561-7811.

LONG DISTANCE MOVING: Call today for a FREE QUOTE from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers.

Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a Relocation Specialist, call 855-9472919 (AAN CAN)

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HEALTH Still paying too much for your MEDICATION? Save up to 90% on RX refill! Order today and receive free shipping on 1st order - prescription required. Call 1-855-750-1612

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

(310) 781-2823

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

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

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

PERSONALS Well-to-do businesswoman seeking good man, 60 to 70.

310-809-0105 PETS

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

310-991-0012.

HughesNet Satellite Internet – Finally, no hard data limits!

Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/ mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-416-7147 (AAN CAN) Cable Price Increase Again?

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

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

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September 16 - 29, 2021

09/30/21, 10/14/21

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14

sion (a) of section 17920.

A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code).

Original filing: 09/02/21, 09/16/21,

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

PLEASE HELP!

FREEDOM. TO BE YOU.

PLEASE SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PET! *In any condition. We will wash and mend.

1-888-887-3816

The animals at the Harbor Animal Shelter have ongoing need for used blankets, comforters, pet beds.* Drop off at Harbor Animal Shelter 957 N. Gaffey St.,San Pedro • 888-452-7381, x 143

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021200124 The following person is doing business as:(1) JOSSEPHINE BARBERY AND SALON, 1216 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Josefina Recio Castaneda, 1216 S Pacific Ave, 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: 03/2018. 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/. Josefina Recio Castaneda, Owner.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los

“Spuh Day” — or is it schwa day?

(AAN CAN)

Bulletin Board Serving the South Bay

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021185542 The following person is doing business as: (1) Long Beach Jestski, 852 West 9th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: John Marshall Grimes II, 852 West 9th Street, 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/. John Marshall Grimes II, owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 08/20/21. Notice-In accordance with subdivi-

© 2021 MATT JONES, Jonesin’ Crosswords

The Happy Diner, in San Pedro is looking for a Line / Fry / Prep Cook. Duties focus on back-of-house cooking, chef or grill kitchen in a high volume family-owned restaurant environment. One to 3 years experience. $17-$18 per hour.

Call Roman at 310-953-7162

San Pedro cactus. Call 310561-7811

For answers go to: www.randomlengthsnews.com

JOB OPPS

PETS

PEDRO PET PALS is the only group that raises funds for the City Animal Shelter and FREE vaccines and spay If you think oxygen therapy means or neuter for our community. slowing down, it’s time for a 310-991-0012. welcome breath of fresh air.

MKT-P0253

1 Raises, as children 6 “___ Paradise” (“Weird Al” Yankovic song) 11 Acad. or univ.

14 Former inmate 15 Expensive drive in Beverly Hills 16 Nail polish target 17 Billy Idol song about Italian ice cream?

19 Gp. with many specialists 20 BLT ingredient 21 Jotted down 23 Manipulates 24 Repair bill item 27 Terrier treaters 28 Part of a desk set 29 1977 American League MVP Rod 30 Personnel group 31 Bits 32 Succeeded at an escape room 33 Commercial photo source that’s only for pasta pics?

37 “Catch-22” author 38 Core 39 Acrylic fiber brand 40 Turn to God? 41 Psychological org.

44 Gas station still available in

Canada 45 “___ do everything myself?”

46 “Back in the ___” (Beatles song) 47 You can’t make a silk purse out of it, it’s said 49 Anti-allergy brand 51 Hex- ender 52 Boxing match with a Dutch philosopher and ethicist?

55 California NBA team, on a scoreboard 56 Lacking fruit on the bottom, e.g.

57 Italy’s largest lake 58 Capital of Liberia?

59 Gossipmonger 60 Actor Williams of “Happy Days”

DOWN

1 Get plenty of sleep 2 Reveal, as a secret 3 Insight 4 Some 20-Acrosses 5 Obnoxious brat 6 Jackie’s husband #2 7 Mid-May honoree 8 Comment from someone who changed their mind after an epiphany 9 Title with a tilde 10 “Joy to the World” songwriter Axton 11 Alaskan Malamute or Boston

Terrier, e.g.

12 What dreams may do 13 Call center equipment 18 On or earlier (than) 22 James Cameron movie that outgrossed “Titanic” 25 “I smell ___!”

26 Closer-than-close friends 29 “Famous Blue Raincoat” singer Leonard 30 Former FBI director James 31 Arctic homes 32 Cocktail with lemon juice and soda 33 Vans may get a deep discount here 34 Kind of pronoun 35 First part of a Shakespeare title 36 Quick doc. signature 40 Fruit banned on Singapore subways 41 Fur-fortune family 42 Fake prefix?

43 Certain inverse trig function 45 Canada’s official tree 46 Rural opposite 48 Notice from afar 50 Baba ___ (witch of folklore) 53 Annual coll. basketball contest 54 Words before whim or dime

[Mitoma, from p. 4]

Mitoma

owners are jacking up the rents to whatever the market will bear. And that’s what they’re getting from people.

Carson is still a bedroom community and I want it to stay that way.”

Despite his issues with the lack of housing affordability amongst the spread of new apartment buildings, he admits to not having a permanent solution to mobile home park closures. He did suggest that the city could build a relocation park for a limited number of mobile home units and there’s still available land to do this.

Mitoma also favored setting strict standards for the new buyers of the mobile home parks.

“Right now, they can go and build huge apartment complexes, just like the one on the corner of Carson and Avalon,” Mitoma said.

“There are a few parcels that if we accumulate the parcels, especially in the industrial areas that we can, we could probably do a relocation park.”

On the assertion that the city is overpaying for county services, Mitoma notes that when it comes to the contract services of the sheriffs and fire department, the city is probably getting the reasonable cost you can have across county services.

“Sheriff and County Fire is still the cheapest by far because we don’t have the pension plans and we don’t have the health insurance and all that. We pay a flat rate.

DBA FILINGS [from p. 14]

10/14/21, 10/28/21

DBAs $ 155 Filing & Publishing

310-519-1442

Remember to renew your DBA every 5 years

Thomas Henry Amalfitano (June 17, 1967 - Aug. 25, 2021) Thomas Henry Amalfitano, age 54, passed away unexpectedly Aug. 25. Amalfitano is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, parents, extended family, and friends. He was born June 17, 1967 in San Pedro, and dedicated his life to working with his father, Tommy Sr. Tommy Jr. started working when he was 6 years old emptying the fish barrels as they came in fresh off the boats, and helping his father weigh the fish. Since then, he has continuously worked to build San Pedro Fish Market into the thriving business it has become.

With an appreciation for handson work and making people happy,

he built relationships with his customers. His true pride and joy was seeing a smile on the customers face.

He was known to have a remarkable personality, and an infectious laugh.

He touched the lives of thousands of people, in great part because Tommy helped out everyone that he could and always put others before himself.

Tommy loved to spend time outdoors and spent time hunting, fishing, camping and water skiing.

He enjoyed many vacations with his family and took time to teach his children and grandchildren about his favorite hobbies. He was a family man and loved his family deeply.

Marion Perkov (May 24, 1946 - Aug. 12, 2021)

Marion Perkov passed away peacefully at home Aug. 12, surrounded by his wife and children.

He came thundering into life on May 24, 1946, born to the late Ante and Mamie (Zankich) Perkov. His great loves in life were his wife Angie (with whom he spent 60 years), his children and grandchildren, the University of Southern California Trojans (‘71) and an inherited fondness for country music.

Marion is remembered for his dapper style as a restaurant owner and his unflinching hospitality.

He served proudly as a U.S. Army Reservist.

He was predeceased by his

parents and brothers, Vincent and Tony, and so many friends. Marion will be missed by his wife Angie, his children Ante, Mia, Danielle, Todd and Stasha and his grandchildren Vaughn, Megan and Donny, along with his nieces and nephews who gave him great comfort.

Those who wish to remember Marion will be well served to enjoy a hot dog, a glass of single malt whiskey or watch The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne in Marion’s honor. Marion fought illness with the same vim and vigor that he has shown since childhood. Marion catered thousands of weddings and funerals during his career. He gets to sit this one out.

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Angeles on 09/08/21. Notice-In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920.

A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920 where it expire 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code).

Original filing: 09/16/21, 09/30/21,

They have to deal with the cost of health plans and pensions. Other cities who have their own police and fire departments don’t know exactly what it’s going to cost them with the pension and the health and all the other costs that they have to absorb,” Mitoma said.

Mitoma agrees that the city’s mounting legal costs are out of control. He says the City Attorney and the law firm upon which the office relies has become rich off the City of Carson.

Mitoma reference a failed attempt to reign in the cost of City Attorney services during his prior time in office “My plan was to have two kinds of attorneys. You have a City Attorney and one for litigation. Totally separate. If the City Attorney makes a bad decision, we have a litigator to correct the problem, or fight the problem.”

Mitoma said his idea never gained traction because of the strong personal relationship between former Mayor Kay Calas and Glenn R. Watson.

“The legal fees now are just outrageous. I mean it’s several millions of dollars because every time you turn around they want to sue somebody or they want to litigate something. There’s no control over litigation costs,” Mitoma said.

“What was once a small firm has now turned into a major firm based on what the city is paying them. Now everyone there is driving a Tesla,” Mitoma quipped.

Mitoma agrees with the city’s decision to settle the lawsuit brought by the Southwest Voting Rights Group over the city’s conversion to districts.

“I think districting is necessary in the city of Carson.

For me to run again in the whole city for a city council seat, you’re talking about big bucks because it’s not cheap to run anymore. Especially when you get companies like Watson Land Company and some of these other companies that are putting in tens of thousands of dollars. So having districts makes it economically more feasible for people to run for office.”

Mitoma noted that the city settling the Southwest Voting Rights Group suit wasn’t a matter of being a good or bad decision. The city just didn’t have a choice. He said if the city hadn’t settled, Carson would have joined a number of other cities that chose litigation and ended up paying millions of dollars in fees and other costs.

Mitoma says he wants to stop the bickering on the council. But he couldn’t accomplish that the last time he was on the city council. He believes his past experience in Carson’s city government and background in finance makes him the best choice for the open seat on the city council. However, his argument that the 4th District seat needs to be filled by an independent is an attractive one.

Freddie Gomez, who leads the money race in this special election, raised $73,000 from five sources. Twentythree-thousand dollars are donations from himself and his mother, Faith Gomez. The other $50,000 are from developers. Arleen Rojas’ $46,000 come from transportation companies, real estate developers and Watson Land Company. When housing affordability, mobile home park closures, quality of life and infrastructure degradation are the primary issues residents are concerned about, a representative not pulled in one direction or the other by monied interests is an attractive option.

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