Civic Leaders Pressures Port to Extend RFP on Land Long Managed by Boy Scouts of America p. 2
p
Nov. 4 Election--Read RL Endorsement Slate p. 8 Film Review of The Snowden Effect p. 11
Resolutions Expose Deep Rift Between Port and Community By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
A
The Local Publication You Actually Read
The Port of Los Angeles welcomed the Mexican Naval training vessel, Cuauhtémoc on Oct. 27. POLA deputy executive director of external relations, Cynthia Ruiz introduced the ship’s commander, Capt. C.G. DEM. Juan Carlos Vera Minjares. Photo by Phillip Cooke.
diametrically opposed to the community, though things are so confused that few seem to realize it. This includes POLA’s top management and board, who bandied about a grossly-inflated Waterfront spending level at the Oct. 21 Harbor Commission meeting, during a discussion of the port’s new strategic plan led by Executive Director Gene Seroka. A slide with a chart titled “CIP [Capital Improvement Program] Prioritization and Sustainability” showed 18 percent devoted to “Public Access/Environment,” but POLA’s current budget (fiscal year 201415) only devotes $6.2 million to Waterfront Development, which is 2.2 percent of the capital budget, a far cry from 18 percent. Drastic Cuts to Waterfront Coming/ to p. 4
Trouble on the Iowa Part III
Casino Politics in Iowa and the Battleship’s Directors By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
I
October 30 - November 12, 2014
round about the same time the sailtraining ship, the Cuauhtémoc docked at the Port of Los Angeles on Oct. 27, a trio of resolutions about waterfront development wound their way through the neighborhood council system. One concerns potentially fatal cutbacks in Red Car service, another the stalled negotiations around Ports O’ Call redevelopment, while the broadest one “urges the Port, the City Council, and the Mayor to immediately follow through with their promises of funding for the already-approved Project elements” in the Waterfront EIR that was certified on Sept. 29, 2009. Specific projects cited include “a pedestrian waterfront promenade, realignment and improvements to Sampson Way and Harbor Boulevard, a downtown plaza at Sixth Street, new parking structures, parks and public use areas, and improved and extended Red Car routes.” The resolution notes that “many of the Project elements had projected completion dates from 2009 to 2015 but in its current Capital Improvement Program, it appears that the PORT has not budgeted nor approved funds for these elements with the exception of the engineering studies for Sampson Way realignment.” The Port of Los Angeles announced that the tall ship would be open for public tours the following three days. If the Red Car extended far enough, Wilmington residents could have taken the trolley to visit the ship. But by the looks of things, that particular community dream may never happen. But the Port of Los Angeles once again seems disconnected from, if not
n the second installment of the Trouble on the Iowa series, Random Lengths recounted both the well documented series of events as well as some of the untold back story that ultimately brought the USS Iowa to San Pedro. In that story, the rival Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square group in Vallejo, Calif., Robert Kent (aka Robert Daniels), Jonathan Williams were the dominant figures, we told their stories against the backdrop that was a perfect storm of political circumstances—a backdrop upon which Kent masterfully created a grassroots movement that brought the USS Iowa to San Pedro. As a result of the story, a number of volunteers, both former and current, reached out to the Casino Politics and the Battleship/ to p. 6
1
Community Announcements:
Harbor Area LADWP’s Power Integrated Resources Plan Workshop Join the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s workshop on power, from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Wilmington Senior Citizen Center. The LADWP is transforming its energy supply by eliminating the use of coal and increasing renewable energy. Details: www.ladwpnews.com/go/ survey/1475/21978 Venue: Wilmington Senior Citizen Center Location: 1371 E. Eubank Ave., Wilmington
Document Shredding and Recycling
District 6 Councilman Dee Andrews will host a document shredding and recycling event, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 8 , at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Long Beach. Items that can be recycled are televisions, computer monitors, computers (CPU’s), laptops, keyboards, printers, computer mice, hard drives, fax machines, microwave ovens, DVD players, VCR’s, cables and cords, telephones, cell phones, radios, shredders, stereo components, power supplies, tape and zip drives, and electronic devices. X-rays and CD’s are not acceptable. The first 5 boxes of shredding documents per car are free, anything beyond will cost a fee of $5 per box. The companies cannot accept: large appliances, toner cartridges, fluorescent bulbs or batteries of any kind. Details: (562) 570-6816 Venue: Martin Luther King Jr. Park Location: 1950 Lemon Ave., Long Beach
Festival Volunteers Needed
About 200 volunteers are needed for The Festival 2014, a craft beer-tasting festival. The event will take place Nov. 8 and 9 at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. The Festival will feature craft brewers from around the world, food and music. Volunteers must be 18 years and older. Details: volunteer@sharefestinc.org, facebook. com/sheltonbrothers Venue: Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles Location: 112 E. 22nd St., #10, San Pedro
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
Long Beach AIDS Ride Adds Family Fun
2
Participate in the second annual Long Beach AIDS Ride on Nov. 15. Funds from the ride will benefit The Center Long Beach and the Comprehensive AIDS Resource and Education, C.A.R.E. Program, at Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center. The ride will begin at 7 a.m. along the shore at Alfredo’s Beach Club. Riders will choose among a 40-mile, 70-mile or a new 8-mile family fun ride. The event is designed to support local Long Beach efforts in the areas of education, prevention and treatment of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and related illnesses. Participants may pre-register for the event by going online at www.longbeachaidsride. org. Same-day registration is also an option. Registration for the 40- and 75-mile rides requires a $250 minimum fundraising commitment. The 8-mile ride costs $40, with a $5 additional charge for each additional family member. Details: www.longbeachaidsride.org, http:// bit.ly/LBAR2014, Venue: Alfredo’s Beach Club Location: 5101 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Happy Hats for Kids Fundraiser
Enjoy an afternoon of a BBQ lunch, family fun activities and raffle. Join founder and executive director of Happy Hats for Kids Sheri Schrier for a family barbeque lunch fundraiser that benefits hospitalized children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, from 12 to 3 p.m. Nov. 16.The fundraiser entry cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 6-12). Admission is free to children ages 5 and younger. Details: (310) 787-0970; info@ happyhatsforkids.org Venue: Happy Hats for Kids Location: 923 Van Ness Ave., Torrance
Committed to independent journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for more than 30 years
Scouting for Free Land:
Port Opens Bids for State Lands Property By Zamná Ávila, Assistant Editor
Responding to a wave of community outrage, the Port of Los Angeles recently extended its request for proposals from entities to lease land at 3000 Shoshonean Road near Fort MacArthur. The Neighborhood Council Port Affairs Committee asked that the proposal be sent immediately to the appropriate people on the on the port committees of each of the Harbor Area neighborhood councils. The Central San Pedro and the Coastal San Pedro neighborhood councils made motion resolutions calling on the port to open the preproposal meeting to the public, asking for a community representative on the evaluation committee who would be selected by the neighborhood councils via the Neighborhood Councils Port Advisory Committee and calling on Councilman Joe Buscaino and the Harbor Commissioner to assist the neighborhood councils in securing port cooperation with a community initiative to make the land more accessible to the public by making it an open facility. The RFP for the site was originally due Nov. 20, but calls from stakeholders to include community input have resulted in the extension of the deadline by at least 30 days. The port opened the bidding process on Oct. 7. The San Pedro beachfront property, which caters to youth, now is up for grabs. “Many in the community have asked the Port of LA for a couple of years to be sure to include the community input for this RFP,” wrote Laurie Jacobs, a community member and a longtime Girl Scout leader who helped organize a meeting Oct. 28 at Peck Park. “We feel we did not get that opportunity.”
History
In 1946, the Los Angeles Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America—a private entity— started providing training for youth at the site under a lease with Fort MacArthur. In 1982, then-Mayor Tom Bradley, city, port, civic and business leaders entered into a 30year lease with the Los Angeles Area council to construct, operate and manage the non-exclusive youth camp. With more than $3.6 million the area council constructed the Cabrillo Beach Youth Center, which was dedicated in 1987, and financed in part by filmmaker Steven Spielberg and several foundations. The facility has an Olympic-size swimming pool, campgrounds, a boat house and a 25,000square-foot Spielberg Center, which houses meeting room and an amphitheater. The lease allowed for the constructions that the area council built to continue being the property of the Boy Scouts of America. In other words, at the end of the lease, the Boy Scouts of America has the option to sell its improvements to the new operator or demolish it.
The RFP
The land is public and has been entrusted to the Port of Los Angeles.
Beachfront view of the former Boy Scout camp. The neighborhood councils want public input in the future of this piece of public land. File photo
The 12.3-acre property has been under the care of the Los Angeles Area Council of the Boys Scouts of America since 1946. The request for proposals may change that. The Los Angeles Area Council’s 30-year lease contract with the Port of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles ended in 2013 and it has been on a month-tomonth lease basis since. Who takes control of the operation and maintenance, and who has access to the public land is a matter of contention. Community
members would like the land to be available to everyone. “This is public property and it should be a public acquisition…equivalent to a public pool or park,” said Bob Gelfand, a community activist. “Our position is extremely clear.” Gelfand believes the port and city elected officials should have been meeting with the local neighborhood councils to work out an agreement for the future of the property. continued on following page
The Mexican Navy’s Tall Ship is in Port The sail-training ship, the Cuauhtémoc docked at the Port of Los Angeles on Oct. 27. Public tours of the ship were scheduled for the three days the Cuauhtémoc was in port. It was scheduled to disembark on Oct. 30. The Cuauhtémoc has been used to trained officers, cadets and sailors in navigation and sailing maneuvers for the Mexican Navy since 1982. The Cuauhtémoc is the last vessel of a series of four windjammers based in locations throughout Latin America. The ship visited the Port of Los Angeles in 2005 as part of Tall Ships Festival LA. Photo by Phillip Cooke.
from previous page
Public Option for State Lands is weighing out the extension of the request for proposals process. Branimir Kvartuc, a spokesman for Buscaino, said the councilman understands that the community would like Recreation and Parks to take over the property. “However, Rec and Parks do not have the necessary funding to take over the property,” Kvartuc said. “He is siding with the community, but as it stands Recs and Parks don’t have the necessary funding. So, it looks Recs
purposed to be public-serving, leaving this parcel in private hands simply made no sense to anyone. The port has repeatedly said in response that there was nothing that could be done until the lease expired. Community members have indicated that they are not willing to just have the property handed over to the Boy Scouts once again without including stakeholders’ input. This is not just a thing that one or two activists are upset about. It came up in numerous different meetings that have taken place in the past decade or so.
Sanfield said that the port is handling the RFP for the site as it has done with its marinas, without precluding the entities such as the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and proactively outreaching to other nonprofits. “Anyone can come in and make a proposal,” Sanfield said. “Now, we’re exploring our options. The RFP is consistent with our land and leasing policies.” The RFP can be viewed at http:// tinyurl.com/POLABSARFP
Progressive Leadership in the House • Protecting American Jobs—Voted against TPP • Introduced Economy in Motion legislation to strengthen America’s freight infrastructure
Alan Lowenthal has worked to improve our community for more than 40 years. He is recognized as an effective problem solver, with a focus on reforming government, improving education and creating jobs that is based on real-world solutions. It is exactly the kind of leadership we need in Washington, D.C.
• Working to strengthen shoreline infrastructure in the face of climate change • Secured $5 million in funding for STEM education in the 47th District
Vote for Alan Lowenthal on Tuesday, Nov. 4 so we can continue the work we’ve started toward a better future for the residents and businesses of the 47th District.
VOTE TUESDAY, NOV. 4 Paid for by Friends of Alan Lowenthal for Congress.
October 30 - November 12, 2014
As a Long Beach city councilman, California state assembly member and state senator, and now as our representative in the United States Congress, Alan Lowenthal has enacted or sponsored legislation to better the quality of life for his constituents in the 47th District and this nation as a whole.
The Local Publication You Actually Read
The RFP does mention public access but it does not delineate the level of public access. The Boy Scouts of America gets to pick and choose the groups to whom it rents its facility. According to a fact sheet that the Boy Scouts distributed at a recent Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting, the youth center served more than 23,000 campers and visitors through a variety of youth campouts, training and activities in the fiscal year 201314. Participating groups included schools, churches, the YMCA and other entities. “It isn’t that it’s bad that the Boy Scouts of America maintains the property, but it could be better,” said Doug Epperhart, a former board member with the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council and community activist. “Most people within the area have not been there or used the facility. The outreach simply isn’t there. “They decide who uses it and who doesn’t. They cater to groups that are not necessarily close to the community, particularly the camping.” But, the community concerns are not about criticizing the Boy Scouts, as much as it is about opening the land up for a much broader use. “When you put public land in the hands of a particular organization with a particular point of view (there is a risk of excluding particular groups or individuals),” Epperhart said. “If it is a public facility run by a public agency, you don’t have to ask the question. There is a difference.” Yet, the entity that leases the land determines who foots the bill for maintenance and operation of the land. “There is significant cost with maintaining and operating the facility,” said Phillip Sanfield, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles. “The port is not looking to maintain a park. We are looking for an operator to come in and maintain it.” In a column at CityWatchLA Gelfand wrote that he believed that the port should not have put out an RFP at all. “There should be a public process regarding what to do with the property, and at the end of that process, perhaps we will see the Port sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Recreation and Parks over administration of the site,” he wrote. “It is possible that some local group could piggyback on that agreement as the operating partner.” Epperhart believes that money is the least of the matter. It is a matter of political will. “If people get behind and idea, the money miraculously follows,” he said, mentioning how there is money for council vehicles, and therefore, there should be money for the benefit of the community. District 15 Councilman Joe Buscaino
and Parks is not going to happen. But Epperhart doesn’t see it that way. “Apparently, the councilman does not see it as his job to make something happen that is good for his constituents,” he said. “No matter what you ask from politicians, the answer, at least initially, is always, ‘no.’” Throughout the entire waterfront development process, the issue of returning this land to public ownership and use has come up repeatedly, with overwhelming public support. Now that the entire area is being re-
3
Drastic Cuts Coming to Waterfront from p. 1
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
This isn’t the first time POLA’s drastic cuts in waterfront development spending have been officially obfuscated. POLA’s press release announcing that budget distracted attention from the cuts by touting “about $38 million” for “a wide range of projects that provide benefits to the community, such as development of the LA Waterfront,” despite the fact that waterfront development accounted for less than one-sixth of the total. But it then went on to say that “$15.6 million is included through properties provided at a discount or gratis”—hypothetical money not
charged to community which might otherwise never have been paid. Almost a week after the meeting, POLA spokesman Phillip Sanfield explained to Random Lengths that the presentation document was a draft. “It was for illustrative purposes to show commissioners an example of what the chart will look like,” Sanfield said. “That 18 percent figure is reflective of how much was spent on public access/environmental projects over the past 10 years.” That means it included many years when new terminal projects were significantly delayed due to flawed environmental review practices. Capital spending has more than tripled since then, as the waterfront share has shrivelled to almost nothing. All that was anything but clear during Seroka’s presentation, however. Instead, the 18 percent figure fed into a narrative of wild over-spending on non-core businesses—itself a convenient distraction from wild over-spending on core businesses, such as the $145 billion cost over-run on the TraPac terminal expansion, a figure that dwarfs even the highest yearly spending levels on waterfront development. Relatedly, one of the big-ticket items in waterfront development itself involves $46 million for cleanup of the Westways site—costs that should have been born by Westways and GATX, the previous tenant, if only POLA had actively enforced its lease contracts. The Red Car resolution notes that budget
projected cuts will have a devastating impact: WHEREAS, the potential cuts in service from 27 hours per week to 10 hours per week means that access by Red Car from the cruise lines to downtown San Pedro will be lost, dinnertime access to downtown and to Ports O’Call will be lost, weekend after-five access to overflow parking at 22nd street will be lost, Friday access for school groups and also special needs children groups will be lost, and rides to and from the water shows in the evening; But that’s probably understating the impact, since only one company has ever bid on operating the Red Car, the resolution notes, and it “seems unlikely that the company will operate it on a reduced schedule, including the only mechanic whose work is vital to the operation of the Red Car.” On Oct. 27, Sanfield told Random Lengths, “There were will be an upcoming item on the Red Car, tentatively slated for the Nov. 20 Harbor Commission meeting,” but the substance of staff’s thinking has yet to be disclosed. The Ports O’ Call resolution was necessarily less exact, given how little information is public. It reaffirms “support for redevelopment of the Ports O’Call area, and for construction of the infrastructure improvements approved in the Los Angeles Waterfront EIR, and urges the Port and Developer to reach an acceptable agreement as quickly as possible.” Meanwhile, the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement between the port and the LA Waterfront Alliance was due to expire before the next regular Harbor Commission meeting. Finally, on Oct. 27, POLA announced a special meeting on Oct. 29 to extend the agreement through January 2015, with two possible 30day extensions at the discretion of the executive director. This decidedly last-minute, ad hoc approach typifies the widening port/community disconnect underlying these three resolutions and other matters such as re-leasing of the Boy Scout Camp (see story p. 2) and the eviction of the San Pedro Arts Association from Ports O’ Call (see sidebar on this page.) As troubling as the subjects of these resolutions may be, the process surrounding them only compounds the problem. Under Mayor James Hahn, these resolutions would have been publicly debated in the Port Community Advisory Committee, and then considered by the Harbor
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Port Disconnects from Community/ to p. 10
4
San Pedro Arts Association Receives Eviction Notice
By Andrea Serna, Arts and Culture Writer The San Pedro Arts Association recently received an eviction notice from the Port of Los Angeles. The association had to vacate the premises by Oct. 31. “The bottom line was that they decided this last August that we needed to pay rent,” association president John Stinson said. “We don’t bring in enough revenue to pay the $800 per month.” The association has made their home at the Ports O’ Call Village for more than 12 years, Stinson said. “We had been there for well over a dozen years on a no-rent basis.” Stinson said. “They took it over in Oct. 2012 and told us that nothing was going to change for the people who were there.” Stinson said there were four non-profits in the Ports O’ Call Village Marketplace. All four of the organizations have now been evicted. The San Pedro Arts Association was established in 1936. With more than 100 members, the group has a long, rich history. The original mission of the association was to expand art in San Pedro and support local artists. Stinson complained that the association was not notified of the meeting on Aug.7, to discuss the decision. With a large vacancy rate, Stinson hoped that they would have an opportunity to remain in the space until a new tenant was found. A major point of contention was that the port had no record of the agreement to allow the non-profit to remain in the location rent free. A statement was requested from the port. “The tenants were never able to produce any evidence to confirm the claim that the space was “gifted,” stated Rachel Campbell, a spokeswoman for POLA. In 2011 the San Pedro Arts Association celebrated its 75th anniversary. They now find themselves without a permanent home, although they have a space at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. They are now hoping to find a long-term solution to their problem. They are discussing options with other local arts organizations to possibly share space. Stinson said they are also expanding their mission from visual arts to include the performing arts.
AD-64 Race:
Gipson vs. Walker By Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter
By Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter
Even a water board election—for the West Basin Municipal Water District—can cause controversy in Carson. Two former council members, Mike Mitoma and Harold Williams, are attempting to revive their political careers by winning the district’s open Division 1 seat come Nov. 4. Mitoma, in particular, is raising controversial issues about his opponent. Williams and Mitoma are two of five candidates, who are campaigning to replace Ron Smith on the district’s board of directors after Smith was convicted of a conflict-of-interest charge in September. It’s likely that the race is between Carson’s former council members. Mitoma served on the council, between 1987 and 1997, including several years as mayor. Williams served on the council, between 2004 and 2009. A third candidate from Carson, Monica Diana Cooper, has no experience in elected office. The remaining two candidates, Anthony Misetich and Carl Southwell, are officials in Palos Verdes cities. Mitoma is making an issue out of a contract Williams made with the district, between 2007 and 2010, and a pension plan and unusual amounts of financial compensation some directors have received. In an exclusive Random Lengths interview, Mitoma questioned why Williams—a civil engineer—received a $100-per-hour contract (without limit) to provide public affairs services. Mitoma found that especially unusual when the district has an in-house public information manager with a six-person support staff. When asked to respond, Williams stated via email, “2007, I responded to a request to submit qualifications for consideration to provide local outreach consulting services to the District. I submitted my qualifications for consideration because the background and requirements called for meshed almost exactly with my own.” Williams admitted he was awarded a
contract with no limit on total dollars or time in January 2008. Julian Burger, who’s working on Williams’ campaign, defended him, saying, “Harold’s the most qualified and he’s as honest as the day is long.” Mitoma said the contract with Williams is just one unusual thing about West Basin finances. He filed a Public Records Act request and found Gloria Gray (Division 2) received more than $75,000 in compensation in 2012, while the late Edward Little (District 4) received more than $64,000. “The numbers don’t add up to be making this kind of money,” said Mitoma. By comparison directors at the Central Basin Municipal Water District make around $29,000 per year, he said. When Random Lengths contacted Cooper in an email exchange, she made some controversial charges about both council members. She brought up Mitoma’s long ago conviction on (relatively minor) tax charges and Williams’ past endorsement of the now-disgraced Smith. “He [Williams] blames the current mayor of Carson [Jim Dear] for forcing him to support Smith,” she said. Cooper, a Carson real estate broker, has no experience with elected office but was appointed by Dear to serve on the Utility Users Tax Citizens Budget Oversight Committee. She’s also a former board director for Comprehensive Child Care Development, a Long Beach-based organization. As for the other candidates, Misetich has
been a Rancho Palos Verdes council member since 2009. “I have been a proven problem solver on the RPV city council and have a record of being a fiscally prudent elected public official,” he commented by email when asked about his candidacy. “I have experience in supporting water conservation efforts and a business background. Southwell is a Rolling Hills Estates planning commissioner. He’s endorsed by some Rolling Hills Estate officials and some conservation groups. He’s heavily slanting his campaign to environmental concerns.
The Local Publication You Actually Read
If not for California’s top-two election system, Carson Councilman Mike Gipson would be running unopposed in the Nov. 4 election for the open Assembly District 64 seat—a district which includes Wilmington, North Long Beach, Carson, Willowbrook, Rancho Dominguez and Watts. Instead Gipson, who has the Democratic party’s official endorsement, must actively campaign against Prophet Walker, a candidate who has no experience in political office but is well-funded and waging an aggressive campaign. Negative mailings from both sides are starting to show up in Carson mailboxes. Walker is accusing Gipson of “voting to allow fracking in Carson” (even though Gipson actually abstained in a controversial vote in April). Mailings from Gipson supporters (not the official campaign) accused Walker of being funded by Republicans. At one recent campaign appearance, Gipson accused Walker of supporting charter schools. Four Democrats ran in the June primary. No other party fielded a candidate. Gipson got 51.1 percent of the vote, while Walker only got 21.4 percent for second place. If Gipson wins this time, he’ll move to the Assembly in January and the city will have a special election in March 2015 to determine who serves in his place for the final two years of his council term. Local Democratic activist Julian Burger warns Gipson supporters against complacency over what originally looked like a comfortable lead. “He’s (Walker) making up the distance. Mike is worried—a lot of people don’t like him,” Burger asserts. Burger believes there may be an anti-Gipson coalition forming around Walker, primarily because of Gipson’s accepting money from the oil industry and then abstaining in April on a council vote to ban or not ban oil drilling. Gipson’s campaign filings do show contributions from Occidental and other oil companies.
Carson Key in Controverisal Water Board Race
October 30 - November 12, 2014
5
from p. 1
Casino Politics and the Battleship newspaper to share their experiences working on the Battleship Iowa. Those experiences also included questions about the khaki pants wearing officers and head honchos steering the ship—management types from somewhere beyond Southern California.
PBC Board and Who Are They?
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
Without question, the Battleship Center’s board chairman and secretary Jeff Lamberti and Becky Beach are the two political heavyweights on this board and also the most instrumental in getting the USS Iowa to San Pedro, but the question remained, “Who are they?” In the Oct. 16 edition, Random Lengths described the circumstance that brought the battleship to San Pedro as a political perfect storm. The previous stories did not address the political and business relationships that connect them all. Generally, a nonprofit organization’s board of directors operates as a brain trust filled with knowledge, political connections and business associations that can give an organization institutional money and access to power. The Pacific Battleship Center is no different. Lamberti and Beach, principals in the political consulting and fundraising firm Riverside Partners, joined the Pacific Battleship Center shortly after Robert Kent formed the nonprofit battleship museum. However, the Battleship Center wasn’t their first foray into the waters of securing decommissioned warships. Merylin Wong, president of the rival Vallejo group pursuing the USS Iowa through the first decade of the 2000s, recalled working with Riverside Partners between 2007 and 2008 and feeling uncomfortable working with them after feeling pressured to hire a particular lobbyist at their behest. “They tried to convince us and they were adamant about it that we had to shell out $25,000 to pay a lobbyist to get the State of Iowa to legislate the money for the ship,” Wong said. “They were adamant about it.” Wong explained that Lamberti and Beach, as Riverside Partners, were raising money from the public in the state of Iowa and using that money to pay this person, and of course, themselves through their commissions to set all of that up. “Why would we want to do that?” asked Wong, rhetorically. “We’re already recognized by your state. Why would we want to pay a third party? Wong recalls Lamberti and Beach telling her that if her group expects to get anything done she had to hire this guy. “The way I looked at it was them just lining their own pockets,” Wong said. “Here, we’re doing it for the passion and the love of the project and all of you people are thinking about is, ‘how are you going to get paid?’” The relationship between Lamberti, Beach and the Pacific Battleship Center is a strange one. To Wong, Riverside Partners were looking to be paid well for their services to her organization. To the Pacific Battleship Center, they appeared to be bending over backwards, but why? The Pacific Battleship Center brought Riverside Partners on board as consultants 6 shortly after they were founded in 2009. Yet,
The USS Iowa in the Port of Los Angeles. Above, Jeff Lamberti, a former Iowa state legislator and current gaming commissioner and Rebecca “Becky” Beach, a conservative Republican activist.
by 2012, according to the Battleship Center’s 990 income tax form, instead of getting paid by the Pacific Battleship Center, they were receiving loan monies from Riverside Partners and Lamberti as an individual in the amount of $800,000. And, Beach used her credit card to help the USS Iowa complete the final leg of its journey to San Pedro, Battleship Center board member Douglas Herman said. Former elected official and political players don’t generally become consultants just to service a good cause. Lamberti, who is a lawyer and heads the law firm Block, Lamberti, & Gocke, served two terms as a state senator in the State of Iowa and as Republican senate leader for one term. Before that, he served two terms in the state house. In the 2006 midterm election, Lamberti was the Republican nominee for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. He lost that race to incumbent Democrat Leonard Boswell. After his defeat, Gov. Terry Branstad nominated Lamberti to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission and was elected its chairman in 2012. Lamberti also is the son of Don Lamberti, founder of Casey’s General Stores in Ankeny, Iowa. This past May, a Des Moines, Iowa newspaper, The Gazette, published a series of stories regarding the Gaming and Casinos commission April 17 vote on whether to grant a proposed Cedar Rapids casino a state gaming license. Lamberti, who voted no with the majority 4-1, against the proposal, has been dogged by conflict of interest allegations ever since. The allegations center on donations made to the Pacific Battleship Center by two casinos that opposed the Cedar Rapids venture. Lamberti has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying that the four commissioners who voted against the proposal as a result of the findings of two independent studies that a Cedar Rapids casino would damage nearby casinos. At the time, Lamberti said that Bill Knapp of Knapp Properties, invested in the proposed Cedar Rapids casino and also donated to the USS IOWA at the same time in the summer of
2013. He further noted that Knapp donated for the same purpose as Riverside Casino & Golf Resort and Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, both opposed the new casino. At that point, the Iowa Legislature had already provided a $3 million grant to the Pacific Battleship Center. Lamberti said he personally guaranteed a $300,000 loan to contribute to the effort of refurbishing the battleship. Lamberti told the Gazette that he pays the interest on the loan, which now amounts to $20,000 to $30,000 per annum so the battleship museum doesn’t have to pay the expense. Lamberti was also quoted as saying that he and Beach agreed to reduce the amount Riverside Partners was owed for consulting, though he said it is unclear if the ship museum will ever be able to pay them. Lamberti told The Gazette, at the time, that any fundraising fees related to contributions from casino interests may go to Beach working on her own, but none have or will go to him, even though they are the principals of Riverside Partners. “We’ve been very careful to make sure that if there are any of those activities (casino contributions), there is a complete wall between me and those funds,” Lamberti said. “And those (casino) funds can never be used to pay Riverside Partners.” According public records, the Williams Knapp Foundation donated $35,000 to the Pacific Battleship Center, while Riverside Casino CEO, Dan Kehl donated $100,000 to the Battleship Center in 2012 through the Kehl Family Foundation. Local news outlets in Iowa at the time reported that Prairie Meadows and Riverside Casino together donated $110,000 just before the April 17 vote. The connection between these monies and the Gaming Casino Commission vote has never been made clear.
Becky Beach Pals Around in Conservative Circles
Rebecca “Becky” Beach, the Pacific Battleship Center’s Board Secretary, is a fundraiser, event planner and consultant, but her political connections run deep and more extensive than Lamberti’s though she has never held public office. Beach served as a personal assistant to former First Lady Barbara Bush since George H.W. Bush began running for the 1980 presidency of
the United States. Though Bush didn’t win that election, Beach went on to become the Ronald Reagan administration’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Energy. After working in the Reagan and Bush administrations, Becky returned to her home state in 1993 and worked in the Iowa Senate from 1995-2007. In 1997 she became administrative assistant to the president of the Iowa Senate— first for Sen. Mary Kramer and then for Sen. Jeff Lamberti. During this same time, Beach worked on George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign for president, handling scheduling and event planning. After 11 years in the Iowa Senate, Beach formed her own company, RSB Associates. The company continues to do political work and has added non-profit clients and issue advocacy groups. Beach is a national advisor with ShePac and has very close ties to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her political action committee, called SarahPac. ShePac was set up to help Republican women get elected to office, as well as, shore up Republican Party’s image to women. SarahPac aims to elect candidates that subscribe to Palin’s shallow brand of conservatism, which promotes a hawkish foreign policy grounded in “American Exceptionalism.” Beach’s current projects include the Puppy Jake Foundation, Terrace Hill Restoration project, On with Life capital campaign, the arena Iowa Barnstormers (arena football team), the Pacific Battleship Center, and Paws and Effect foundation. She is currently on the Finance Committee for the George W. Bush Library Center in Dallas. Beach’s resume is extensive, but it should be understood that she comes from a political family. Beach is the granddaughter of Mary Louis Smith, one of Iowa’s most famous figures—the first woman ever to lead the national Republican establishment. In 1971, Vice President Gerald Ford appointed her to chair the Republican National Committee. During that time as chairwoman, she helped revive an organization that “had been smashed earlier that year with (Richard) Nixon’s resignation in the Watergate scandal,” as the New York Times Magazine would observe after Smith’s death in 1997.
Battleship Politics Onbaord/ to p. 17
TTSI Contract Violations Extend to AQMD Subsidies Officials Still Mum On Taking Action By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
Total Transportation Services Inc., TTSI, is apparently in violation of a contract agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District. SCAQMD provided TTSI with $4.4 million in subsidies toward the purchase of 40 liquified natural gas trucks (at $100,000 each) and another eight clean diesel vehicles (at $50,000 each). This is in addition to contract violations with Port of Los Angles reported in our Oct. 16 edition. Under the terms of Contract 10432, the master contract providing Proposition 1B funds to TTSI, Section 26, “Employees of Contractor” states that TTSI “shall be responsible for the cost of regular pay to its employees, as well as cost of vacation, vacation replacements, sick leave, severance pay and pay for legal holidays.” It also states that TTSI is required “to be in compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations with respect to CONTRACTOR’s [TTSI’s]
employees throughout the term of this contract, including state minimum wage laws and OSHA requirements.” While the contract itself does not explicitly require all drivers to be employees, that is how labor law has been interpreted in every case involving TTSI since that contract was signed. “We’re hoping that these provisions will get enforced,” said Nick Weiner, the Teamster’s Ports Campaign Director, “particularly in light of the fact that every government agency and court so far that has looked at the employment status of port drivers in the last couple of years in California has consistently ruled that these drivers are in fact employees and not independent contractors.” Random Lengths asked AQMD about this and other contract provisions, but the agency had not responded to this issue at press time. “Frankly, drivers are very frustrated that,
given that, it’s taken so long for the rights to actually get realized, because of delays, appeals, that the trucking companies continue to make, and so aggressive enforcement we think is long overdue,” Weiner added. While the violation of this provision is selfevident from court proceedings, there were other provisions that may or may not have been violated. While the contract does allow for TTSI to subcontract the use of its trucks, it requires a specific sign-off from AQMD. Under Section 39, “Approval of Subcontracts,” it states that if TTSI “intends to subcontract a portion of the work under this Contract, written approval of the terms to the proposed subcontract(s) shall be obtained from
AQMD’s Executive Officer or designee prior to execution of the subcontract.” Random Lengths has also asked AQMD if TTSI obtained any such approval, and was told “No, TTSI did not request any subcontractors under their contract,” byAQMD spokesman Sam Atwood. It’s curious, to say the least, that TTSI claims its drivers are independent contractors, but then failed to do the necessary paperwork specified in this section. If TTSI truly believed what it claims, it would certainly have wanted to comply with this aspect of the contract. “Why is there all this language, why are there all these stipulations in these contracts if they can be violated with no consequence?” Weiner asked. “That’s how we look at it. If they can be violated and there’s no consequence, what was AQMD Subsidies Violated/ to . 17
Gaining STEAM at Crafted By Denise Herrera, RLn Contributor
The Local Publication You Actually Read October 30 - November 12, 2014
On the weekend of Oct. 25, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math came together in San Pedro’s first STEAM Carnival. STEAM Carnival was created by Two Bit Circus, a Los Angeles-based entertainment company. The carnival entertains and educates children using the technological skills needed to fit the 21st century. With huge custom built games, like a mega-sized Jenga made out of cardboard Children and their parents played with gadgets at the STEAM carnival hosted boxes and Button Wall (a by Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. modified version of the game Simon), STEAM Carnival was not only programming skills and welding. Hand Tap (a game that measures how fast your tap your fun, but a smart way to entertain children. STEAM is a media and educational buzzword hand on a mouse) required C++ programming, today because it’s an attempt to help address statistics and data visualization skills. These the lack of a technologically skilled workforce cards bridged technological know-how with the through education. STEAM educational programs entertainment experience. The Exhibit Hall contained several handshave launched in schools across the United States on experiences and entertainment as well. The in an effort to address this need. Vikings High School Robotics Team had children Two Bit Circus’ STEAM Carnival engaged and promoted the many opportunities of these catching balls from robots. Several tables were disciplines through tech-infused games and set up with laptops for children to try out the latest software. A section with building materials hands-on workshops to children of all ages. The main hall consisted of three aisles with like cardboard and plastic tubing, allowed a variety of popular games. Main attractions like children and adults to try out their engineering Laser Maze allowed players to crouch, bend, and skills as they figured out ways of building with stretch to avoid being touched by a laser at all the materials around them. Selected high school students had the costs. In Copter Course, players steered a radiocontrolled helicopter through an obstacle course opportunity to showcase their work in a wearable electronics fashion show. of hoops and moving targets. When asked how the STEAM carnival ended Musical chairs received a makeover with flashing lights that made the player aware of up in San Pedro, Jennifer Jodan, Two Bit Chief available chairs. Magic Mirrors located at the end Communications Wrangler said, “We found in of each aisle gave participants the chance to see San Pedro a partner, more than just a venue. From themselves morphed into some of their favorite the team at Crafted and the local community, movie actors and pop stars. Information cards to the politicians and municipality, we were so were interspersed at different games to educate pleased that San Pedro shared our enthusiasm for the player about the skills needed to create the the event. The proximity of San Pedro to OC and Long Beach also opened up those geographies in a interactive experience. Magic Mirrors required computer vision way that a venue in the middle of LA would not.”
7
Solidarity Forever, at Least for Now
Understanding which side of the fence you are on By James Preston Allen, Publisher
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
Over the years, some have questioned my support for the local unions of the Harbor Area. In doing so, they have often questioned the very basis for the continued existence of the unions themselves. They say that unions as a whole are antiquated and a throwback to another time and era in which the lines between management and labor were distinctly drawn. It is said that in this new age of new technologies, those distinctions doesn’t matter. Even some inside the unions have come to believe such narratives. I do not and here’s why: In the past month, the Pacific Maritime Association, which represent the employers on the waterfront, and the TraPac terminal have been pretending that the automation at piers 136-139, for which the Port of Los Angeles paid something north of $150 million, were working just fine. It had just a few IT glitches and a few other kinks that needed to be worked out. What hasn’t been reported anywhere else is that contract negotiations between the International Longshore Warehouse Union and the PMA have been stalled as a result of Local 13, 63, and 94 refusing to work this terminal—an impasse that affects all port operations on the entire West Coast. “For weeks, TraPac and PMA refused to even acknowledge that the automated yard was unsafe, despite at least eleven collisions during this time period. Rather than give the union full disclosure and work with the union to make the automation safe, the employers attempted to bully the union and threatened us with lawsuits and lockouts,” says the ILWU in an Oct. 27 released bulletin. The weeks-long closed door negotiations were never admitted to by the union, PMA, the mayor’s office and only obliquely referred to by the Port of Los Angeles. On Oct. 10, the ILWU locals working with Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office and the port got TraPac to agree that the automated terminal was unsafe and pressured the terminal to hire an independent third party information technology firm to audit the system. According to the bulletin, the third party IT audit firm issued an independent, comprehensive 62-page forensic analysis report on Oct. 20 that confirmed that the union was correct in its assertion that the automated yard was unsafe and mismanaged. On Oct. 24, TraPac and the PMA agreed to all of the union’s demands, which included giving the union the complete “Operating
8
Procedure” for automated operations. The Operating Procedure also included additional safety protocols for ILWU Mechanics, Longshoremen, Marine Clerks and Foremen. The three locals stuck together and attained everything that they were fighting for and returned to work Oct. 29. This is an example, not only of how labor needs to address new technologies that are somehow going to move containers more efficiently, regardless of the safety impacts. This is an example for the rest of the Los Angeles Harbor community of how through working together in solidarity we can address the big issues in dealing with the port, the city or large corporations who wish to bully or intimidate residents. Now I’m not saying that the ILWU is perfect. Our past reporting has shown that they too have their flaws, but at least this new leadership at this time still remembers which side of the fence they are on. At its best, the ILWU fights for the very ideals emblazoned on their wall, “An Injury to one is an injury to all.” At its worst, it gets lost in the petty inside politics of its own hierarchy. It is something that all working people should remember when they go to the polls Nov. 4. You can only have a significant voice against powerful interests with pockets deep enough drown you in political propaganda every two years if you stick together and vote your own true interests. Don’t get stuck arguing over the stupid stuff. My recommendations on the propositions: Yes on 1 and 2. It only makes sense to conserve on water and to create an $8 billion reserve fund. Yes on 45. This proposition places the power to review health care insurance rates on the hands of the elected insurance commissioner like what was passed by Proposition 103 with car insurance. Yes on 46. If bus drivers and longshoremen have to have drug testing why not health care professional? Don’t believe all the negative campaign scare mongering on the increase of medical malpractice. Yes on 47. This common sense restructuring of criminal sentencing reverses the decades long policy that prioritizes incarceration over education and rehabilitation. Prop. 48. I would normally vote against this expansion of casinos. However, this is a one time exception for two particular tribes that has already been approved by both the Governor and the legislature, this time I’ll vote Yes. Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com Assoc. Publisher/Production Coordinator Suzanne Matsumiya info@graphictouchdesigns.com
“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.” —Mark Twain Vol. XXXV : No. 22
Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communities of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at over 350 locations throughout the seven cities of the Harbor Area.
Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks editor@randomlengthsnews.com Assistant Editor Zamná Ávila zamna@randomlengthsnews.com
Random Lengths Elections Slate The editorial board of Random Lengths recommend the re-election of the current class of incumbents running for state and congressional office. Since Gov. Jerry Brown’s return to Sacramento in 2009, California has seen its fortunes turn all the way around. The state’s finances are in order; as a state, we’re not lurching from one crisis to the next and we seem to be on the right track. That is not to say everything is perfect. It is not, as the string of Democratic legislators on the state and local level can attest. But we are still in a much better place than we were through the first decade of the 2000s.
Congress
Elect Ted Lieu for the 33rd Congressional District Re-elect Rep. Janice Hahn for the 44th Congressional District Re-elect Rep. Alan Lowenthal for the 47th Congressional District
State-wide offices
Re-elect Gov. Jerry Brown Re-elect Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Elect Alex Padilla for Secretary of State Elect Betty Yee for State Controller Re-elect State Treasurer John Chiang Re-elect State Attorney General Kamala Harris Re-elect Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones Re-elect Jerome Horton for the State Board of Equalization District 3
State Legislature
Elect Mike Gipson to represent the 64th Assembly District Re-elect Al Muratsuchi to represent the 66th Assembly District
Columnists/Reporters Lyn Jensen Carson B. Noel Barr Music Dude John Farrell Curtain Call Lori Lynn Hirsch-Stokoe Food Writer Andrea Serna Arts Writer Malina Paris Culture Writer Calendar 14days@randomlengthsnews.com Photographers Terelle Jerricks, Slobodan Dimitrov, Betty Guevara, Phillip Cooke Contributors Joseph Baroud, Denise Herrera, Greggory Moore, Danny Simon
Cartoonists Ann Cleaves, Andy Singer, Matt Wuerker Advertising Production Mathew Highland, Suzanne Matsumiya Advertising Representative Mathew Highland reads@randomlengthsnews.com adv@randomlengthsnews.com Editorial Intern David Johnson Display advertising (310) 519-1442 Classifieds (310) 519-1016 www.randomlengthsnews.com
Elect Patrick O’Donnell to represent the 70th Assembly District
Judgeships
Elect Jacqueline Lewis for Judicial Office No. 61 Elect Andrew Stein for Judicial Office No. 87
Los Angeles County Sheriff
Elect Jim McDonnell for Los Angeles County Sheriff
Los Angeles County Assessor
Elect Jeffrey Prang for Los Angeles County Assessor
State Ballot Propositions
California Proposition 1 is a $7.1 billion bond for statewide water system improvements pressing due to the current drought. Spelled out under the docket is a list of how funds would be distributed. Most of it is going toward water storage, recycling, and retention. The largest sums of $1.45 and $2.7 billion would be designated to ecosystem protection projects and the creation of new dams and reservoirs. An additional $425 million will be reallocated from prior water bond acts and general tax revenues will be used to pay off the bond. RL-Yes California Proposition 2 is a proposal to further increase money going into the rainy day fund by 1.5 percent capping at 10 percent. A rainy day fund is government money saved during times of surplus to be redistributed as needed. It is an update to the Budget Stabilization Act, and would require a fiscal emergency for funds continued on following page
Random Lengths News editorial office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, (310) 519-1016. Address correspondence regarding news items and news tips only to Random Lengths News, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733-0731, or email to editor @randomlengthsnews.com. Send Letters to the Editor or requests for subscription information to james @ randomlengthsnews.com. To be considered for publication, all Letters to the Editor should be typewritten, must be signed, with address and phone number included (these will not be published, but for verification only) and be kept to about 250 words. To submit advertising copy email adv@randomelengthsnews.com or reads@ randomlengthsnews.com. Extra copies and back issues are available by mail for $3 per copy while supplies last. Subscriptions are available for $35 per year for 27 issues. Random Lengths News presents issues from an alternative perspective. We welcome articles and opinions from all people in the Harbor Area. While we may not agree with the opinions of contributing writers, we respect and support their 1st Amendment right to express those opinions. Random Lengths News is a member of Standard Rates and Data Reporting Services and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. (ISN #0891-6627). All contents Copyright 2014 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.
RANDOMLetters The IOWA
I have been a Volunteer Tour Guide on the Battleship IOWA since she first opened over two years ago. I now have over 1,800 hours on the ship. I have also lived in the Harbor Area for over 50 years. There were times in the early days when I was frustrated with the ship’s management. It struck me that people running an enterprise that relied so heavily on volunteers didn’t make an effort to get to know the folks who worked for them. I once joked that it might be a fun idea to have a game for management called “Guess my first name?” Volunteers aren’t different than people who are paid. For most of us it isn’t really about the money—it’s about feeling needed and appreciated for your efforts. That was lacking on the IOWA at first. In fairness, it all began to slowly change after Jonathan Williams took over. He eliminated the saluting required by Robert Kent. He also began an effort to stop by at morning Tour Guide meetings,
There were regular potluck lunches and award ceremonies for the crew. He continually talked about having an open-door policy and listened to suggestions. Unfortunately, many of the early mistakes were hard for some folks to forget. Many of the complaints I’ve read about in the paper are actually old news. The situation has been changing for the better for more than a year. The notion that the ship’s management does not care about San Pedro just doesn’t jibe with my own experience, Jonathan approved my request to fly Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club’s flag for their opening day boat parade for the last two years. We also rang the ship’s bell and offered to do the same for L.A. Yacht Club. Williams did an outreach to the Fish Market and even set up a tent in front of the market offering discounted tickets to their customers. It was personally rewarding as a guide to have families from the Fish Market come on board with kids interpreting for their parents as they listened to the Tour Guides. We have donated tickets as raffle
from previous page
Ballot Recommendations
It’s an honor for me to be a part of that effort and an honor to work with fine men like Jonathan Williams and Mike Getscher. Mike Hershman San Pedro
Candidacy of John Goya
Regardless of your political party preference, I think we are generally united in wanting to see More Letters/ to p. 19
compact in September 2013 and the North Fork compact in October 2013. RL-Yes
Local Ballot Propositions
Countywide Measure 1 would continue to levy an annual parcel tax to keep a park and recreation measure going. The cost would $23 per parcel, which would go toward protecting rivers, beaches, water sources and preserving and maintaining natural areas such as zoos. RL-No Position Torrance USD—Torrance Unified School District has two proposals on the ballot. The first is a $144.3 million no-tax bonds to be applied to security improvements, emergency and disaster equipment, and renovations including plumbing and facility repairs. The second is a $50 million dollar proposal using legal interest rates to repair playgrounds and restore them to health and safety standards. RL-No Position
Correction
In the Oct. 16 edition of Random Lengths, in the “At Length” editorial, “Don’t Kill the Messenger,” was mistaken on the duration of the 2002 Pacific Maritime Association lockout of longshore workers. The lockout, in fact, lasted for 10 days. We regret the confusion. Random Lengths continues to strive to bring fair and accurate reporting.
October 30 - November 12, 2014
theft and receiving of stolen property in amounts less $950. It allows for felony charges to be brought against any repeat misdemeanor offenders who have also been convicted of rape, murder, child molestation and sex offense. RL-Yes California Proposition 48 is a referendum vote on Assembly Bill 277. A yes vote would ratify two gaming compacts between California and two Indian tribes, the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe. The referendum vote would also exempt execution of the compacts, certain projects and intergovernmental agreements from the California Environmental Quality Act. In 2005, the two tribes submitted a request to the federal government to purchase land in the Central Valley and put it in trust for the purpose of building a casino. The federal government determined that this would be in the best interest of the tribe and would not hurt the surrounding communities. The California Legislature passed AB 277, which approved the North Fork compact, as well as a compact with the Wiyot Tribe. The Wiyot compact does not allow the tribe to operate a casino, but allows the tribe to receive a portion of the revenue generated by North Fork’s casino. Gov. Brown signed the bill in July 2013. The federal government issued final approval for the Wiyot
area like San Diego—it’s easier for the USS Midway, nor do we have the luxury of being located in Pearl Harbor like our sister ship the USS Missouri. Making the IOWA work in San Pedro is very hard indeed, but it will work.
The Local Publication You Actually Read
to be withdrawn. The update would also establish a public school system fund based on tax revenue. RL-Yes California Proposition 45 seeks to decrease the cost of health care premiums by eliminating pre-determination based on credit history. The intent is to insure more individuals by eliminating higher rates based on background. It requires all changes to insurance rates and to be approved by an insurance commissioner before they take effect, as well making this notice public knowledge. The proposition is aimed at the individual in health care. However, it does not apply to employers with large group health plans. RL-Yes California Proposition 46 would be a major change in health care reform requiring alcohol and drug testing for all California physicians. If approved, it would be the first law in United States to require random drug testing of physicians. It requires negligence to be reported and submitted to a review process, in which physicians would be put on suspension until acquittal or punishment is enacted. The law also would require health care practitioners to consult drug history before issuing certain prescription drugs. RL-Yes California Proposition 47 deals with misdemeanor sentencing for drug possession offenses, forgery, check fraud,
prizes to many local car clubs for their favorite charities including San Pedro’s own L.A Wood. Jonathan is a board member of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and has gone out of his way to promote other attractions in the Harbor including The Maritime Museum, Cabrillo Beach Marine Museum, The Cabrillo Beach Lighthouse, Fort MacArthur and others. Many IOWA volunteers, including me, have visited these other attractions on special tours arranged by IOWA management and recommend them to our visitors. We have wonderful folks from the Easter Seals at Weymouth Corners who are valued members of our crew. I’m sure there are other examples—these are only the ones I have participated in. Mr. Salazar was as guilty as anyone else in management of not getting to know members of the crew. In his defense he was busy trying to make the ship a success— all of the folks in management were. I am very sorry to hear his recent negative comments. Jonathan Williams is a hard taskmaster who demands top effort from his management team—that is exactly what the IOWA needs to survive and succeed. San Pedro is not a convention
9
from p. 4
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
Waterfront Cuts
10
Commission. The whole process would have been quite public, with numerous opportunities for consultation along the way. Under Mayor Villaraigosa, when the PCAC was demoted in the first year, and abolished in the last, at least there remained a communitybased structure for systematic consideration and review. This allowed neighborhood councils— individually or in concert—to amplify their voices and air their concerns to the wider public through a process of public deliberation and refinement. Now, under Mayor Eric Garcetti, that previously broad, open process has narrowed dramatically. “Leadership from the port meets with neighborhood council presidents on a regular basis,” Sanfield said. “Motions are addressed through that process.” In short, commissioners need know nothing about them. Dozens of dedicated activists with decades of collective experience tackling and solving similar and related problems are routinely excluded from this process as a matter of course. And the broader public is far less deeply informed than they had been, far less conscious of what’s at stake. “I think there are real red flags up now,” said June Smith, the PCAC’s last community co-chair. “There are real red warning signs up from the mayor and the commission, and the new executive director, and cutting programs like the Topsail Program, and cutting the services for the Red Car, and allowing the [Ports O’ Call development] agreement with Ratkovitch to lapse before the next commission meeting. I think that these are real warning signs for the community. The Ports O’ Call development may be in trouble.” She paused, then added, “The very abrupt request for proposal for the Boy Scout camp when that has expired for over two years, there was no consultation or warning to the community. That’s another flag.” Hence, there’s little surprise that so much confusion reins around the issues raised by these resolutions. This was clearly visible during the aforementioned discussion of the port’s new strategic plan lead. In public comments following Seroka’s presentation, Pat Nave gave a heads up about the forthcoming resolutions, and attempted to inject a bit of reality into the discussion. “If you look at your CIP there is 1 million-and -half dollars in there for design work on Samson Way,” said Nave, referencing the waterfront listed above. “That’s nice; it’ll keep some employees, some engineers at a consulting firm working for a little while. But for as for all the other things that were supposed to have been constructed by 2014, one in 2015, some old further out, in the CIP this year, there is nothing.” Nave then made an obvious connection to something missing from Seroka’s strategic plan. “One of your metrics on your objective No. 4 [“Strong Relationships with Shareholders”] is number of visitors that come here,” Nave said. “There is no metric in there for how you are complying with furnishing these items that were promised to the community.” Nave’s point is backed up by an examination of POLA’s own documents. Its website still touts its commitment to spending “another projected $1.2 billion investment in the San Pedro Waterfront Project initiative” on what it identifies as a “decade-long improvement project.” But at the rate of spending in the current budget approved
this past June (just $6.2 million) it will take almost two centuries to complete—193.6 years, to be more precise. Even at the much higher rate of spending over the previous four fiscal year budgets, it would take 27.7 years—almost three decades—to complete a $1.2 billion investment. That rate included the highwater fiscal year 2010-2011, when $78 million was budgeted for Waterfront projects, including $54.5 million on Cabrillo Marina Phase II (hardly non-revenue spending) and $22.4 million on the Wilmington Waterfront Park—a project the community has been fighting to get, in some form, for more than a generation. Waterfront development spending represented 33.1 percent of the capital budget that year, but fell dramatically to a 10 percent average throughout the following three years, before plunging further to just 2.2 percent this year. Following Nave, homeowner activist Janet Gunter spoke, first voicing her support for Nave’s remarks and then providing a little history lesson. “I became active in this community in the downtown area business community in 1986, 1987,” she said. “I was chair of the committee to try and get Christmas decorations money for the streets.” That was the first time she had ever dealt with the port. The port has clearly come a long way since then, but it’s largely because of activists like Gunter, who went on to become one of the three original China Shipping Lawsuit plaintiffs, along with Noel Park and Andrew Mardesich. The success of that suit on appeal generated tens of millions of dollars in mitigation spending and transformed how the ports do their environmental impact reports, including how seriously they take their responsibility to mitigate harms—a change the ports now trumpet as part of their core identities. Yet, they continue to shun the outside perspectives, which were key to forging their images. “I just want to say that we do appreciate it,” Gunter said of the port’s spending on the community, but “unfortunately so much of the investment were talking about really stems from a lawsuit that the homeowners generated, the China shipping thing…that money, those millions of dollars were generated by our lawsuit with a knife to the throat of the port to give us something back.” Harbor Commissioner Dave Arian, who has clashed repeatedly with Gunter over the years, was surprisingly open. “I appreciate those comments,” Arian said. “A lot of times I don’t, but I do appreciate these comments, and you know, I do agree that it took the effort of the community to turn this port in a certain direction, and it did take some of these lawsuits, whether we like it or not, around the environment. There’s been a war between the community and this port, they say for 100 years. I think we tried to turn that around and I think under Cynthia [Ruiz]’s leadership, I think the last year, year-and-a-half, we’ve begun to see a synergy developing.” But Ruiz’s role as POLA’s deputy executive director of External Relations, chairing the small semi-private meetings where the resolutions will be discussed, is not regarded so favorably by activists concerned with the loss of community input at the port. The success of big events is appreciated—as Gunter acknowledged—but the process of long-term collaborative planning has virtually disintegrated and there’s no metric at all for counting the cost of that in Seroka’s new strategic plan.
By Cole Smithey aura Poitras’s documentary about the process and aftermath of whistleblower Edward Snowden’s earthshattering revelations is an essential historical filmic document. Citizenfour provides a stark cinema vérité perspective on America’s biggest political scandal in the country’s relatively brief history. In the spring of 2013, under the cryptic username “Citizenfour,” Snowden reached out to political documentarian Poitras and Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald for their journalistic assistance in digesting, prioritizing and disseminating the chilling records of the National Security Agency’s massive surveillance and data harvesting program
that he discovered and exfiltrated while working for Booz Allen Hamilton as an NSA contractor with Top Secret security clearance. Hearing Snowden tell of being able to click on random links to 24/7 drone surveillance of unknown people’s homes from his desktop computer is more than a little unnerving. Citizenfour does a good job of clarifying how the NSA’s invasive methods of mass public and private scrutiny have altered the way Americans travel, speak, think and express themselves. Purchasing a Metrocard in New York City’s subway system links all of your purchases to your exact location, travel points and purchases for law enforcement to paint your character and
Continued on page 16.
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment ACE • Art, Cuisine, & Entertainment
L
behavior with whatever brush they choose. Circumstantial evidence be damned. The film’s disclosure that the NSA has 1.2 million citizens on its “watch list” just twists the knife that much more. The heart of Citizenfour relies on candid conversations and private moments with Snowden during the eight days he spent in Hong Kong’s Mira hotel in early June of 2013 awaiting asylum. It was here that Snowden first met with Greenwald, Poitras, and Guardian intelligence reporter Ewen MacAskill to supply them with the politically explosive records, walk the journalists through the process of deciphering them and keeping them safe. From an insider perspective, this is juicy stuff. Surprisingly, the mood in Snowden’s hotel room remains relatively easy-going in spite of potential threats surrounding the journalists and their daring subject. Watching Snowden calmly introduce himself to Glenn Greenwald to give his rational motivations behind his
October 30 – November 12, 2014 October 30 – November 12, 2014
1111
Entrée News
Coming Soon:
The Happy Diner Two By David Johnson, Contributing Reporter
The Happy Diner’s Carillo brothers Jose (left), Omar (center), and Roman (right), are going to open a second restaurant in San Pedro. File Photo.
O
ct. 25, marked exactly 3 years and 3 months of success for Happy Diner, a local San Pedro restaurant near 6th and Centre streets. Owner Roman Carrillo has been counting. Carillo will open a second location on north Gaffey Street in November. In a hungry town, word of mouth has carried business far. “I have other customers (who) live or work in that area waiting for me to open up the new restaurant,” Carrillo says. Nestled in between shops in an industrial park, the new venue looks to cater to the working man with a leaner lunch break. The new location would be a more accessible copy of the original: same menu, same recipes and more free parking. “People already know the quality and service … they’re ready to add another into their routine,” Roman says. With only tables left to arrive, and a routine health inspection left, the Happy Diner Two expects to be open around mid-November. So far, there has only been one customer complaint: that it wasn’t named “The Happy Diner Too.”
October 30 – November 12, 2014
Independent And Free.
Sirens: Java and Tea
12
You might have seen the signs in bold lettering down by the waterfront, “Do you hear the sirens?” Or spread across the downtown trolley, “The sirens are coming!!” Later this winter the signs will come to rest at a more permanent location: Sirens Java and Tea on west 7th Street. The focus, whether through in-house coffee roasting or local Harbor College culinary students providing pastry tastings, is aimed at one thing; bringing San Pedro home. The name Sirens draws from Regalado’s family history with law enforcement. But the name is dual purpose in that it harkens back to Greek mythology. Sirens, with their beautiful features were attributed with enchanting sailors to shipwreck on their island. Regalado hopes her shop will have a similar — albeit — less sinister effect.
It is a venture under development as Regalado works with her step-daughter Stephanie to bring local organic juice vendors and create a truly local coffee experience. “We want to bring a little San Pedro back into coffee chains,” as Regalado puts it. Sirens hopes to be up and running by late January.
Other Spots
The diner’s opening comes amidst a slew of new restaurants. There’s Krave seafood buffet on S. Pacific Ave., expected to open before the New Year and Jackson’s Place cocktail lounge on 7th Street.in the near future..
Foreclosure of the Pacific Cafe
Sophia Lim routinely flipped through the mail this past month only to stall on the worst letter a small business can receive: Notice of lease termination. No discussion. No agreement change, just a note to vacate the premises. With a restaurant full of inventory, she is now struggling to keep 3 months of back stocked produce fresh. Mostly, she brings it home in the same to go boxes she used to handout to customers. The original lease for the Pacific Café was 3 years. Lim has been there 10 years. Serving simple sandwiches, teriyaki and one of San Pedro’s favorite salad bars. The unit that she rents is one of only a few occupied in that space. It is connected to Topaz building on 6th Street. The building, which has been left mostly vacant, has recently come under new management. Jupiter Holdings LLC, a Newport Beach company, is the private investment firm that has undertaken the task. Lim says she would fight back, but her business is too small. She stayed because the rent was low and she liked the people. They were her neighbors. “My heart is broken,” she says with concealing laugh. “My plan is to retire.”
Art
Openings
|
Fine
Dining
Michael Stearns Studio 347 Colors and Code
|
Live
Music
S p e c i al
P e r fo r ma n c e s
|
F ood
Trucks
National Watercolor Society th 94 Annual Exhibition
The exhibit represents a recent shift in focus and direction for Michael Stearns. The exhibition will be open on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. coinciding with the San Pedro First Thursday Art Walk. Michael Stearns Studio 347 is located at 347 W. 7th St.
|
Opens November 9, 2014 and runs through January 11, 2015. This year’s exhibit is truly an international event with more than 80 original paintings, never before shown in a national exhibition. Regular gallery hours are Thursdays through Sundays, 11am 3pm. Not Open During the November Artwalk. 915 S. Pacific Ave. www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org
The Loft Gallery Connections
R.A. LOPEZ STUDIO
ARCHITECTURE AND ABSTRACTS
Studio Gallery 345
Artists Pat Woolley and Gloria Lee will show original paintings, books, hand knit scarves, and guest artist Steve Lenchner ‘s glass works. Open 6-8 pm on 1st Thursday and by appointment. For more information call Gloria at 310.545.0832 or Pat at 310.374.8055 • 345 W. 7th Street San Pedro
Advertise Here for As Low As
$35
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
The Richard Lopez Studio will be open First Thursday Art Walk for a selected show exhibiting works on Architecture and Abstracts. Richard Lopez documents his observations about life’s constant change and movement. The underlying subject of these paintings is life’s ever-shifting balance of chaos and order. Richard Lopez Studio located at 372 W. 7th St., San Pedro Open during the First Thursday Artwalk, also open by appointment. (562) 682-4334
The work of Sam Arno, Carol Hungerford, Candice Gawne, Jan Govaerts, Muriel Olguin, Daniel Porras, Annemarie Rawlinson, Nancy Towne-Shcultz. Runs through Nov. 29. Open First Thursday 6–9 p.m. Open Saturdays & Sundays 2-5 p.m. • 401 S. Mesa St. • 310.831.5757
per Month!
(310) 519-1442
October 30 – November 12, 2014
13
The Empress of the Blues, Reimagined By: Melina Paris Music Columnist, Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
October 30 – November 12, 2014
Independent And Free.
T
14
Doria Roberts is one of a dozen artists featured on the Bessie Smith tribute album, Empress of the Blues. File photo.
his past September, indie music label Reimagine Music announced they were releasing a CD of Bessie Smith’s hit songs sung by modern day artists. Smith, an extremely popular Ragtime Blues vocalist from the mid-1920s through the Great Depression, became the highest paid entertainer during her brief lifetime. No problem there. The producer of the album, Jim Sampas, selected a dozen independent artists to perform renditions of the songs Smith made famous all those years ago. Those artists included Hailey Bonar, Jenny Owen Youngs, Doria Roberts, Dawn Lanes, Catherine Feeny & Daniel Dixon, Whitney Mongé, Simone White, Holly Golightly, Tift Merrit, Barbara Kessler, Alessi’s Ark & Scott Verbeek and Abigail Washburn. Ranging from folk music to blues, all of these, with the exception of a couple, are independent artists trying to spread their name and their music further afield. No problem here either. Read a little further down in the press release, we see: Bessie was not a woman without controversy. By frequenting live sex shows and orgies, literally beating a rival unconscious, sleeping with a musical director, seducing her female backup dancers (driving one of them to attempt suicide), and having a coterie of drag queens following her on tour she made her own trouble and was proud of it. That was attention grabbing. This was likely lifted from a 2012 essay published on Huffingtonpost.com by author Debra Devi. Devi whose source material came from interviews conducted by Smith’s definitive biographer Chris Albertson with Smith’s niece (by marriage), Ruby Walker.
Albertson had very little source material to work with considering that very little was preserved of Smith that would help a biographer to know her private life. So all that’s left are Walker’s recounting of the legendary singer and the songs Smith composed and performed. Even with only that, it was discernible that Smith carved out space for black women’s-discourse and agency on sex, sexuality (both hetero and homosexual) and relationships without a patriarchal filter. Sampas said that this project’s purpose wasn’t to create an overly reverential tribute. “It was to breathe new life into this incredibly underappreciated artist’s work,” he said. “These new renderings run the gamut of minimal acoustic arrangements, in an effort to help show how the core of Bessie’s songs still stand up.” Sampas said he wanted to introduce a whole new audience to Bessie Smith’s music. Sampas, in an emailed response to our query regarding his artist selection for the album, said he sought artists with similar depth as Bessie. “Because of Bessie’s incredible influence I was able to get the cream of the crop, the most talented young female singer songwriters out there,” Sampas said. “I wanted to introduce Bessie Smith’s revolutionary music to a whole new audience.” Artists such as Fiona Apple and others before her have already been doing what Sampas has. However, Sampas’ artist-selection for this album is curious. Another thing that connects the artists on Empress, is that all of them either credit Joni Mitchell as an influence or their press kits said they sound like her. There isn’t much that connect Smith and Mitchell’s work except that their music created a social space in music for women to engage in a discourse particular to specific generation and context—Mitchell during the women’s rights movement of the 1970s and Smith post-slavery America. Continued on page 16.
Entertainment November 1
Karizma Karizma will perform, at 8 p.m. Nov. 1, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Details: (310) 833-3281, www.alvasshowroom. com Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro A promotional photo for Cleo Valente’s film noir, The Port of San Pedro.
Film Noir Returns to San Pedro By Zamná Ávila, Assistant Editor
T
November 8
Markus Carlton at the Whale & Ale Markus Carlton is a lifelong musician who has worn out many guitars playing gigs, writing, and recording over the years. Now Markus is starting the next chapter in his musical journey, and will entertain you by performing new material, as well as jazz and blues standards from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Details: www.whaleandale.com Venue: The Whale & Ale Location: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro Greg Felden Band Greg Felden Band will perform Nov. 8 at the Grand Annex in San Pedro. Felden’s finely-crafted lyrics find comparison to Dylan or Neil Young. As a band, they captivate their audiences with a simmering energy calling to mind the Jay Hawks and Wilco. General admission is $20 in advance and $25 door. Details: grandvision.org Venue: Grand Annex Location: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro
November 9
Bruce Baker & The Altered Presence Jazz Band Bruce Baker & The Altered Presence Jazz Band will perform, at 4 p.m. Nov. 9, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Details: (310) 833-3281, www.alvasshowroom. com Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
November 14
Kristin Korb Kristin Korb will perform, at 8 p.m. Nov. 14, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Details: (310) 833-3281, www.alvasshowroom. com Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Community/Family October 31
Halloween at the East Village The East Village will host events including trick or treating, face painting, bag decorating, ghost stories and more. There will be costume contests starting at 5 p.m. for children, adults and dogs. Venue: East Village Arts District Location: Near 1 st St., at Linden Ave., Long Beach
November 1
Día De Los Muertos Join in the celebration of San Pedro’s Día de Los Muertos Festival from 5 to 11 p.m. Nov. 1, in downtown San Pedro. The streets come alive with art, culture, cuisine and live entertainment. Venue: Downtown San Pedro Location: Between 6th and Mesa streets, San Pedro
Dia De Los Muertos Crafts Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles is hosting Día De Los Muertos crafts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 1. Participants will paint a decorative Día De Los Muertos skull onto a mason jar. Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla. com Venue: Crafted, Port of Los Angeles Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro
November 4
Teen Game Day The San Pedro library is hosting a teen game day at 4 p.m., Nov. 4. Teens can come to the library to play Xbox and other board games. The library is hosting this every Tuesday of this month and subsequently. Details: (310) 548-7779; www.lapl.org Venue: San Pedro Library Location: 931 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro Baby You are My Religion Marie Cartier will be signing her book Baby You are My Religion: Women, Gay Bars, and Theology before Stonewall behind St. Matthew’s Parish Hall. Women interviewed for the book will be present and signing as well. This event is free and open to all. Details: (562) 439-0931 Venue: St. Matthew’s Church Location: 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach Bottle Cap Crafts Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles will conduct a class on making bottle cap crafts from 1 to 6 p.m., Nov. 7. Learn how to create custom earrings, magnets and more with bottle caps. Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla. com Venue: Crafted, Port of Los Angeles Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro
November 7
JFMC Music Festival Justice for Murdered Children is hosting a three day music festival, Carnival and Car and Bike show from Nov. 7 through Nov. 9. The fun is between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. The weekend will start off with a Cruise Night Peace Ride followed by a candle-light vigil on Nov. 7. Nov. 8 is the barbecue cook off and the Red and Green Chili cook off, followed by music from Paris Escovedo Project, Dh Peligro from Dead Kennedys and SLAMNATION (featuring former Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos guitarists Jon Nelson and Anthony Gallo). The final day, Nov. 9, is the Bike and Car Show. Details: (310) 547-5362, www.ifmc.org or www. socaleventvideos.com Venue: Ports O’ Call Village Location: 77 Berth, San Pedro
November 8
The Festival 2014, by the Shelton Brothers and Brouwerji West Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles is hosting The Festival 2014, by the Shelton Brothers and Brouwerji West from 12 to 9 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9. The festival is a celebration of craft beer, cider and mead makers. Admission is $5 for five tickets, or $20 for 24. A ticket will get you a 2-ounce pour. A portion of the ticket sales Calendar continued on page 16.
October 30 – November 12, 2014
what the godfather does and in the 50s. It’s very daring. No woman was the godfather. It was a man’s job to be the head of illegal activity.” Valente said the port at San Pedro was a perfect setting for her storyline because it is the entry to many seeking fame and fortune, and often a hub of illegal activity. “I wrote it with a lot of humor,” she said. “Everybody is crooked. No one is really what (he or she) seems to be.” Augustine Quintero is one of those characters. “He would do anything for a buck,” Guevara said. “He will always be the friendly guy… He’s a charmer.” Guevara said his character’s motivations are rooted in a rough childhood. “So, he is determined to have a good life,” Guevara said. “Everyone is always serious and he is always having fun…He’s also sleazy and … you know he’s going to pay for it sooner or later.” For the Guevara the character development and film style made the script even more attractive. “It’s an amazing gift,” he said. “It’s going to the basis of cinema, how everything was not so in your face.” That’s the beauty of black and white film noir, Valente said. “It’s real cinema for me… You focus on the character not on the scene,” she said. “So everything is based on the character: facial expression, body languages, noises, shadows on the wall. You are not distracted by anything in color.” But good cinema takes good money. After all, people don’t work for free. She estimates that each episode will cost between $150,000 and $250,000. Networks these day don’t buy a show on spec. She has to produce the pilot before it airs anywhere. With six episodes written, she has already started rehearsals and is fundraising to get the ball rolling. Valente is planning to do a San Pedro preparty, where she wants to cast some extras, provide information and raise funds for the project to make the community part of the process. “I love a good story,” she said. “I’m a storyteller.” Details: avantifilmproductions@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/theportofsanpedro, www. theportofsanpedro.com
November 7
One World One World will perform, at 8 p.m. Nov. 7, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Details: (310) 833-3281, www.alvasshowroom. com Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Free Motion Quilting Techniques Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles is hosting a free motion quilting techniques class from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Nov. 1. This quilting technique is drawing on fabric with a sewing machine needle. The fee to attend the class will be $55. It is required you bring your own sewing machine, but all materials will be provided. Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla. com Venue: Crafted, Port of Los Angeles Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro
ACE: Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
here is something about the old black and white films that not only whisk you into a different era, but also expand your imagination and attention span. Add dark shadows, complex characters and a good crime story, you might find yourself in the middle of an exciting film noir. Film noir movies, or crime dramas focused on corruption, were popular in 40s and 50s, often filmed using dramatic lighting techniques. “It’s all about shadows, working with shadows of the black and white,” said Cleo Valente, a producer and casting director for major television networks who has developed four television shows: Throttle Junkies, Got 2 Go and Cat Fight Club. “It’s a genre also where there are no cursing words, there are no visual scenes of violence, which means people die but you don’t see it. It’s all left to people’s imagination… Right now, everything is in your face, very violent, very sexual. People forget to think.” Filmmaker Cleo Valente is working to bring back the film noir to the Harbor Area. She is writing, producing and directing a series in the film noir spirit called, The Port of San Pedro. The story takes place in 1952 San Pedro. “I love the San Pedro and the history of San Pedro,” Valente said. “I wanted to involve what San Pedro was in the 50s and what LA is today, which multicultural. This is LA. In the 50s, in San Pedro, we had people, a lot of Latino and Asian(s) were here and they were in the canneries. They were working here.” Actor Jesús Guevara likes the diversity of on the set. “It’s really important to have diversity on screen as we see it on the streets,” Guevara said. “We see accents, we see people from all over the world. I love that…. We need to evolve to that because it’s what is happening in the world. We cannot deny it. Guevara plays Augustine Quintero, a morally ambiguous man who stands in the way of an investigation. Undercover detective Nick de Salvo, and corruptible police Capt. Sebastian Montenero team up to investigate the beautiful, and mysterious Luli-May Tang, a Chinese woman running a currency forgery operation in Macau, China. She comes to the port because her uncle is in San Pedro and decides to start another business doing the same thing did she did in Macau. But the rules are different. “I thought a femme fatale from China…. She is beautiful and mysterious and she’s going to attract a lot of interest by men,” Valente said. “She does
November 6
TGIT Thank God it’s Thursday at the San Pedro Artwalk. As always, Thursday events are Free. Special Guest: TJ ROX. Show is from 6 to 9 p.m. Details: http://tjrox.com/ Location: 399 W. 6th St., San Pedro
November 1
1st Annual Horror Ball The Rho Chapter of Delta Lambda Phi presents the first annual Horror Ball, a runway fundraising event for the Trevor Project. Participants are invited to walk the runway for prizes if they come in costume. The event begins at 8 p.m. Venue: California State University, Long Beach Location: 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach
15
Continued from page 14.
Calendar from page 15. will go to the non-profit Sharefest, which is an organization that works on developing youths. Details: (310) 732-1270; www.craftedportla.com Venue: Crafted, Port of Los Angeles Location: 112 E. 22nd St., San Pedro 18th Annual Long Beach Veterans Day Parade and Festival The parade starts at 10 a.m. from the corner of Harding Street at Atlantic Avenue, adjacent to Houghton Park. A festival follows immediately after featuring live music, food and a number of booths showcasing city services and organizations. Location: Corner of Harding St. at Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
November 9
Lynda Arnold at Long Beach Time Exchange Sound Healer and Musician Lynda Arnold will play at the Long Beach Time Exchange. The first part of the session will be a group toning or singing experience with guided imagery that will rejuvenate and balance the body’s energy centers. In the second part of the session, Lynda will play her set of 14 Healing Tibetan Singing Bowls, chimes, tuning forks, flutes, voice and shruti box to help guide everyone in a relaxing music meditation. Venue: Building Healthy Communities Location: 920 Atlantic Ave., Suite 102, Long Beach
Theater/Film November 1
Independent And Free.
Pink Milk The Garage Theatre presents Pink Milk, through Nov. 1, in Long Beach. Pink Milk is about a strange, mathematical man named Alan M. Turing. He dreamed of robots, a boy named Christopher and poisoned apples. It is a magic tragedy, full of beauty, images exploding on stage, and a belief in love and truth above all else. Details: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/553 Venue: Garage Theatre Location: 251 E. 7th St., Long Beach Kidnapped for Christ Art Theatre Long Beach presents Kidnapped for Christ, showing at 9 p.m. Nov. 1, in Long Beach. The film follows a young evangelical filmmaker who is granted unprecedented access into a controversial Christian behavior modification camp for teens. Pre-screening public awareness/press conference at 8 p.m. at The Center Long Beach. Venue: Art Theatre Location: 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach
November 2
SEA Pulse Films SEA Pulse Films will be presented, at 12 p.m. Nov. 2, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. This year, SEA Pulse films will feature a new extraordinary awardwinning documentary film, called A2-B-C: The True Story of Fukushima (directed by Ian Thomas Ash), which focuses on the health effects many children in Fukushima, Japan are experiencing in the aftermath of the radiation exposures from the March 2011 triple nuclear meltdown. The film shows radiation hotspots in school yards, thyroid cysts diagnosis, radiation detectors on children’s backpacks, and government officials and even doctors who do not seem to care. Details: (310) 833-3281; www.alvasshowroom. com Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St. San Pedro
October 30 – November 12, 2014
November 7
16
Sound City (213) Deep in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses, was rock ’n’ roll’s best kept secret: Sound City. America’s greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. It follows former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighter David Grohl as he attempts to resurrect the studio back to former glories. (PG, 1 hr. 46 min.) Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $12 and $10 for students, seniors and military personnel. Details: grandvision.org Venue: Grand Annex Location: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro
November 8
Arms and the Man Enjoy Arms and the Man, Nov. 8 through Dec. 6 at the Long Beach Playhouse. It is 1885, the height of the Serbo-Bulgarian war. An armed soldier breaks into a young woman’s bedroom and demands refuge. These events set in motion a witty look at governmental posturing, infidelity, social structures and the passionate pursuit of chocolate creams. Watch as national and moral borders blur in this brilliant comedy of manners. Details: (562) 494-1014 Venue: Long Beach Playhouse Location: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach
November 16
Big Fish Musical Theatre West is reeling in the West Coast premiere of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Big Fish, a new musical, through Nov. 16, at the Carpenter Performing Center in Long Beach. Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed Columbia Pictures film directed by Tim Burton, the musical adaptation of Big Fish made a splash on Broadway when five-time Tony Award winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman teamed with music and lyrics by Tony nominee Andrew Lippa to develop the new book by esteemed screenwriter John August. Tickets start at $20. Details: (562) 856-1999, ext. 4; www.musical. org Venue: Carpenter Performing Center Location: 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach
Art November 1
Ninth Annual Día de los Muertos Join Gallery Azul for the artist reception and celebration of life, from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 1. DJ Chee-Bo will be spinning his Baile de Los Muertos and there will be two dance performances. Artists exhibiting: Mark Metzner, Fabian Rodriguez, Reidar Schopp, Tony Bozanic, Robyn Feeley, Shannon Mulvaney, Grace Schwab, Cora Ramirez-V, Crystal Karr, Rachel Madrigal, Paulina Clothing, Elaina Soto, Ray Vasquez, Michael Falzone, Melissa Nebrida, and Ricky Hernandez. Venue: Gallery Azul Location: 520 W. 8th St,, San Pedro
November 6
San Pedro Art Walk On the first Thursday of each month art galleries and studios open their doors in downtown San Pedro. Stroll around this unique portside town and enjoy gallery openings, live music and food from many fine local restaurants as well as the popular food trucks. Details: www.spacedistrict.org Venue: Downtown San Pedro Location: 6th and 7th St. between Pacific Ave. and Centre St.
November 8
Fresh, 2014 An artist’s reception for Fresh, 2014 takes place Nov. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. Fresh, 2014 is a contemporary art show of new work by dozens of artists. Most of the artists are from Los Angeles and the South Bay, but some come from as far away as New York and Mississippi. Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, from 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday, from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m., and Sundays, from 12 to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed Mondays. Details: ( 310 ) 4 2 9 - 0 97 3 ; w w w. southbaycontemporary.com Venue: South Bay Contemporary Gallery Location: 550 Deep Valley Dr., # 261, Rolling Hills Estates
November 15
Force of Habit: The Word Makers New York-based writer Jana Martin and San Pedro’s Evelyn McDonnell ― two thirds of the lit girl group, the Fictionaires ― reunite for a special evening. Jana and Evelyn will read new and old material, starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Details: (310) 266-9216; corneliusprojects@ gmail.com Venue: Cornelius Projects Location: 1417 Pacific Ave., San Pedro
Empresss of Blues
The inclusion of Doria Roberts and Whitney Mongé, two African American artists who are lesbian and gender nonconforming give Sampas’ album a degree of legitimacy it wouldn’t otherwise have. That’s not to say that other artists wouldn’t do Smith’s work justice—they do—it’s just that Roberts and Mongé’s speaks directly to the audience Smith spoke to before she made it big with Columbia records. Roberts, explained Smith this way: Bessie Smith lived her life! These weren’t trust fund kids making music as a hobby. This wasn’t church music even though they preached and ministered to a choir of likeminded, downtrodden “kinfolk.” And, you know, this was not just a musical genre, it was a way of life so, in that regard, she was the quintessential blues artist. Empress of the Blues does not disappoint. It delivers on the indie sound Sampas was aiming for and the music was good. The ones that stood out did so because of the composition and the current singers own voice such as, Roberts’ “Poor Man’s Blues.” The fiddles and guitar instantly grab attention with dramatic elegant chords followed by soft agitated finger rubbing on the strings of the guitar
suggesting a rubbing of the singer’s disposition. Right away the sentiment is clear with the lyrics: “Mr. Rich Man, Rich Man open up your heart and mind. Give the poor man a chance and help stop these hard times. While you’re livin in your mansion you don’t know what hard times mean.” Robert’s voice shows tones of the depth and resonance that one would expect in the vein of Bessie Smith. Bringing the message of the song home the number ends with a tense staccato fiddle. “Back Water Blues” was Smith’s finest and best known recording. Simone White’s voice on Empress, along with guitar has a haunting, ethereal sound, with echo’s, an upbeat tempo and rhythmic flamenco style percussion. There are no blues in “Backwater Blues” but this song is a good avantgarde version of the original. Smith’s songs on Empress of the Blues, however, still are able to stand on their own because Smith wrote them and they became popular because Smith breathed life into them. Maybe Sampas should have been a little more reverential towards Smith’s work. She earned it.
Snowden
attempt to deflect the significance of his leaks by attacking his character in typical Nixonian fashion. For once, the spooks got much more than they bargained for. From his claustrophobic hotel room Snowden’s fearlessness comes through when he says, “You’re [the U.S. government] not going to bully me into silence like you have everyone else.” Television reporting of Snowden’s leaks, from news sources such as CNN, defines the exact moment when the Obama administration “lost all credibility” in the eyes of the world. Barack Obama has nothing on Edward Snowden in the realm of reasoned articulateness or ingrained passion for the precepts that America was built upon. Affably smart, direct and serious, with a twinkle of youth in his eye, Snowden never minces his words. He never stammers, not once. Audiences looking for a clearcut answer to the insipid media-propagated question about whether Edward Snowden is a “patriot or a traitor” will detect the fog of obfuscation in that falsely posed query. In spite of the U.S. government’s best efforts to smear, capture, and scare Edward Snowden, he has recently added “student rector” at Glasgow University in Scotland to his list of jobs that includes an appointment to the Freedom of the Press Foundation’s board of directors. Add to that the fact that Snowden’s girlfriend of 10 years, Lindsay Mills, now lives with him in domestic bliss in Russia, and you can glimpse the waters of sea change upon which other whistleblowers will certainly follow. The fight for freedom and equality lies in castrating a global corporatepolitical surveillance system drunk on its own power. Citizenfour is instructive about how that fight is being conducted and preserved. Not Rated. (A-) (Four Stars – out of five / no halves)
Continued from page 11.
whistleblowing, and reveal the scope and implications of his findings, speaks volumes about Snowden’s purity of intention. It also discloses Snowden’s keen intelligence and resolute sense of political pragmatism. Snowden recognized early on that the Barack Obama administration and the media would
from p. 6
Battleship Politics Onboard Smith worked hard to make the GOP more inclusive as it moved to the right by supporting affirmative action and the Equal Rights Amendment. After naming her vice chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission in 1982, Reagan didn’t reappoint her.
The Rest of the Board
From interviews with volunteers from the Battleship Center, there isn’t much interaction between them and the board members. Tom Epperson and Nate Jones are perhaps the most visible of the board members to the volunteers. Epperson, an Orange County resident and McDonnell-Douglas retiree, has 20 years of experience and connections as a vice president of operations for the aerospace manufacturer. In his most recent stint, Epperson headed the company’s Sydney, Australia office as vice president of commercial Marketing, South Pacific Operations. According to a 1996 newswire story, Epperson had worked in government contracts, finance and as program manager for the A-4 Skyhawk project in 30-plus years. With a doctorate in law from Western State University College of Law and bachelor of science in business management from Cal State University Long Beach, Epperson has strong ties to Southern California.
Board Member Nate Jones—Long Beach Grand Prix
Crail-Johnson Foundation board chairman, Craig C. Johnson is also on the Pacific Battleship
Battleship Center board member, Douglas Herman is a veteran political strategist, who runs the West Coast office of the political consulting firm, The Strategy Group, in Los Angeles. Campaigns & Elections Magazine named him one of the top 50 influencers in California. And, just as his bio says, political candidates, progressive organizations and elected leaders in California and across the country rely on Herman’s political expertise to communicate effectively with decision makers, the media and voters to win campaigns. The Strategy Group assisted the Battleship Center’s lobbying efforts on the local, state and federal level. Indeed, Herman was the board member assigned to speak to Random Lengths before the first story in the “Trouble on the Iowa” series was published. According to his biography, the Strategy Group’s website, Herman was one of the chief mail strategists for Obama For America in both the 2008 and 2012 campaigns. For the past two election cycles, Herman has worked with the California Labor Federation, served as a lead advisor to defeat the anti-union ballot Proposition 32. In 2012, he led the winning 2012 statewide campaign to reform term limits in California. A native Iowan, Herman remains deeply engaged in Iowa politics, including serving as an advisor to Rep. Bruce Braley. Herman managed the direct mail for Sen. John Kerry’s come-frombehind victory in the 2004 Iowa presidential caucuses, helping convince thousands of veterans to show up for their first-ever caucus to support fellow veteran John Kerry, boosting him to a victory that helped sew up the Democratic nomination for president. That fall, Herman created direct mail for the Kerry-Edwards ticket in the crucial battlegrounds of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Iowa. Herman lives in La Crescenta, Calif.
Rear Admiral Gerald E. Gneckow is a board member with a deep connection and vested interest in the USS Iowa. Gneckow served as the commanding officer of the USS Iowa from 1984 to 1986 and is former president of the Veterans Association of the USS Iowa. He is still on the Association’s board of directors.
The Veterans Association played an important role in generating local veteran support and the grassroots muscle needed to push local elected officials to get behind the USS Iowa. Gneckow wasn’t the association’s only representative on the board. Dave Canfield, who is serving on the Battleship Center’s executive staff as the vice president of Internet and Technology Security and chief information officer. Gneckow and Moss provided the military credibility it otherwise would have lacked. The volunteers that signed up to work on the USS Iowa, both veteran and non-veterans alike did so out of a deep love for the battleship. But nonprofit organization, dependent on the largess of business and government, operate in a highly political space. In this space, nonprofit organizations, from p. 7
AQMD Subsidies
the point of having these requirements in the first place? Who’s minding the store?” Another provision raising questions was Section 7, “Insurance.” Under it, TTSI was required to furnish evidence to AQMD of workers compensation insurance for each of its employees and of automobile liability insurance. Lack of such insurance is commonplace in the subcontracting system, so Random Lengths also asked AQMD what sort of evidence TTSI produced on this count, as well. AQMD’s initial response was that they had “received certificates of insurance for 47 trucks,: which is all but one of the vehicles. “We also received evidence of workers comp insurance,:
AQMD added, but did not initially provide a number. We continue to seek more detailed information. Random Lengths also continued looking into other truck subsidies TTSI has received. In addition to the LNG subsidies previously reported, TTSI received $20,000 subsidies each for 97 vehicles purchased under the Port of Los Angeles’ “Early Committment Incentive” program. A typical agreement for this program was identified as an “Amended and Restated Incentive Addendum” to the underlying concession agreement, which required a gradual transition to an all-employee workforce—a provision later struck down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Because of that history, it’s still unclear if that contract has also been violated as it would be interpreted in light of that decision.
Board member Vanessa Lewis—Aquarium of the Pacific
Vanessa Lewis is the principal of Reporting Maven, business operations consulting company with particular expertise in ticketing, fundraising, accounting software in the museum and attraction industry. From 2000 to 2008, she was the chief financial officer for the Aquarium of the Pacific. Before that, she was financial analyst for Black and Decker Hardware and Home Improvement, where she worked with a sales team to provide finance support for reporting, analysis, budgeting and strategy. As the email exchanges between Lewis and
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Board Member Craig Johnson—Crail-Johnson Foundation
Board Member Douglas Herman—Pacific Strategy Group
Rear Admiral Gerald Gneckow
particularly ones with no ideological overtones, connects political figures and interest groups across every partisan divide. This is also how in the matrix of money, power and influence nonprofits can get hung up on scandal or the appearance of scandal or the appearance of unethical relationships. The Iowa casino donations, their timing and amounts involved, calls Jeff Lamberti’s role on the Pacific Battleship Center into question. Under scrutiny, both Lamberti and Becky Beach’s role at the Battleship Center look entangled in larger issues in that they contributed a great deal of their own wealth, time and connections to a project that is not even in their home state. Both Beach and Lamberti have extensive involvement with nonprofit organizations in Iowa that serve the public good. But when paired with their more far right political circles and involvements, one can’t help but to wonder if the Pacific Battleship Center is but a piece in a network that materially and ideologically supports right wing agendas. However, without a proven link between the Iowa casinos’ large donations and the personal financial gain of either Beach or Lamberti and the Iowa Gaming Commission, we are left with the appearance of some impropriety and the suspicion that there is something hidden aboard the battleship that has yet to be revealed.
The Local Publication You Actually Read
Nathan Jones, who has a penchant for wearing cowboy attire, was one of the original board members of the Pacific Battleship Center. He is the head of operations of the Long Beach Grand Prix and is one of the original investors that brought the Grand Prix to the city. Jones is noted for his skills ability to efficiently place people and equipment at the right place, at the right time, like a well-oiled machine. The Grand Prix CEO Jim Michaelian was quoted in a profile about Jones that, “Nate really is our jack-of-all trades. If we have an operational problem, he fixes it. He’s responsible for the movement of the cars from the paddock area to the start line. He has to keep track of a million things and he’s great at it.” Jones, a Belmont Shore resident, was involved with bringing the USS Iowa to Southern California since at least 2010, before the ship even arrived. “I got hooked on battleships when I was 10 years-old and went to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard to see the USS Missouri,” said Jones, a Long Beach native. “An officer took us all over the ship. I became a Missouri junkie and got a chance to actually steer the ship years later in the open sea. I was so nervous I froze at the wheel. It was an awesome experience.” Jones, owner Nate Jones Tires in Signal Hill, also has a deep interest in passing along his love of cars and strong work ethic to the younger generation through a nonprofit he has created, “Kids, Hands and Minds Together.” He said he wants “to save hands-on education from extinction. Too many young people don’t know how to use their hands to do things. They’re afraid to get their hands dirty.”
Center. As a donor of $250,000 grant financing the Pacific Battleship Center’s aboard overnight program for students, the foundation fulfills its stated mission of promoting the “wellbeing of children in need, through the effective application of human and financial resources.” The Crail-Johnson Foundation gives millions of dollars every year to scores of nonprofit organizations throughout the Los Angeles Harbor Area. Johnson is also the head of the real estate investment firm, Crail Capital LLC.
Pacific Battleship Center’s vice president of development shows.
17
CLASSIFIED ADS Reach 63,000 Harbor Area Readers
Help WANTED
Multi-Media Account Executive
TYPE OF POSITION: PERMANENT FULL-TIME Random Lengths News is the “go to” source for local news, arts, music and entertainment, is seeking an energetic, outgoing individual for Multi-Media Advertising Account Executive position.
AVON
Earn extra income with a new career! Sell from home, work, online. $15 startup. For information, call: 888-770-1075 (M-F 9-7 & Sat 9-1 central.) (Ind Sls Rep)
The right candidate will be responsible for selling multiplatform advertising solutions including Digital Advertising (email, banner advertising, Text Messaging, Voice Local Network, and Phone Apps), Print advertising, Event Sponsorships, and annual glossy publications to an eclectic and exciting group of clients.
$$$HELP WANTED$$$ Extra Income! Assembling CD cases from Home! No Experience Necessary! Call our Live Operators Now! 1-800405-7619 EXT 2450 http:// www.easywork-greatpay.com
We are looking for connected, social-media savvy, highenergy, hyper-productive individuals who devour advertising media and want to be part of a dynamic sales team. Multi Media Account Executives will be responsible for prospecting leads, making calls and going on appointments to bring in new business.
(AAN CAN)
Africa, Brazil Work/Study! Change the lives of others and create a sustainable future. 1, 6, 9, 18 month programs available. Apply now! www.OneWorldCenter.org 269.591.0518 info@OneWorldCenter.org (AAN CAN)
Requirements: •2+ years of outside and/or inside sales experience preferably in an advertising sales/business development and/or online media environment. •Making minimum of 125 outbound sales calls and securing and completing a minimum of 15 outside appointments per week. •Experience with CRM tools. •Maintain a solid understanding of the online marketing/ advertising industry. •Demonstrate the ability to sell with a consultative approach and an “ask for their business” mindset. •Strong skill set with developing and building business relationships. •Dependable transportation, valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
RLn offers: •Great work environment where creative thinking is encouraged and appreciated •Unlimited earning potential •Base salary + commission + bonus •Cell phone and gas reimbursement •Medical insurance •Paid vacation Must be eligible to work in the US for any employer. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity in the workplace.
Advertise your business or product in alternative papers across the U.S. for just $995/ week. New advertiser discount “Buy 3 Weeks, Get 1 Free” www.altweeklies.com/ ads (AAN CAN) Discover the “Success and Moneymaking Secrets” THEY don’t want you to know about. To get your FREE “Money Making Secrets” CD, please call 1 (800) 470-7545. (AAN CAN)
$50 Walmart Gift Card & 3 Free issues of your favorite magazines! Call 855-7573486 (AAN CAN) Cut your STUDENT LOAN payments in HALF or more Even if Late or in Default. Get Relief FAST Much LOWER payments. Call Student Hotline 1-888-251-5664 (AAN
CAN)
Career Training
PERSONALS
**STAY LOCAL** Hot Jobs, Inc. 646 W. PCH, Long Beach, CA 90806, 562-912-7788. OSHA-approved Forklift Training or same day Re-Certification.
Petite, attractive DWF, semiretired, good shape physically and financially, successful, kind, spiritual seeks similar gentleman age 60-70+. (310) 547-4374.
AIRLINE CAREERS begin here – Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Housing and Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN
CAN)
¿Hablas Español? HOT Latino Chat. Call Fonochat now & in seconds you can be speaking to HOT Hispanic singles in your area. Try FREE! 1-800416-3809 (AAN CAN)
HEALTH VIAGRA 100mg, CIALIS 20mg. 40 Pills + 4 FREE for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement! Discreet Shipping. Save $500. Buy the Blue Pill Now! 1-800-404-1271 (AAN CAN)
LOSE UP TO 30 POUNDS in 60 Days! Once daily appetite suppressant burns fat and boosts energy for healthy weight loss. 60-day supply— $59.95. Call 877-761-2991 (AAN CAN)
Get Fast, Private STD TESTING. Results in 3 DAYS! Now accepting insurance. Call toll free: 855-787-2108 (Daily 6am-10pm CT)
National Testosterone Study - Seeking healthy, active men. Do you know your levels? Get paid to find out! All test materi-
Golden West Realty Serving San Pedro and the entire South Bay since 1980
UPPER SOUTH SHORES
AIRBRUSH MAKEUP ARTIST COURSE For: Ads . TV . Film . Fashion 35% OFF TUITION - SPECIAL $1990 Train & Build Portfolio . One Week Course Details at: AwardMakeupSchool.com 818-980-2119 (AAN CAN)
Bulletin Board
Business Opp Wish Your Car Could Pay You Back? Get paid to help us advertise by helping others do the same. Make up to $4,600 monthly + bonuses. Call Kim 831-238-6448 (AAN CAN)
3 bedrooms, 1 3/4 baths with 2-car attached garage. Spacious living room with fireplace and ocean view. Remodeled kitchen with granite counters.
CATALINA VIEW
October 30 - November 12, 2014
(310) 519-1442
CASH FOR CARS: Any Car/ Truck. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Call For Instant Offer: 1-888-420-3808 www. cash4car.com (AAN CAN)
FOR SALE Contents of Storage Unit Sale
1234 W. Anaheim, Harbor City. Ethan Allen Oak Armoire, coffee & end tables, Loveseat etc. By appointment; Alice, 310 487 0883 arrsales@aol.com KILL ROACHES! Buy Harris Roach Tablets. Eliminate Roaches-Guaranteed. No Mess, Odorless, Long Lasting. Available at ACE Hardware, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN)
Real Estate Investor seeks to purchase commercial or multi-unit residential properties in San Pedro. No Agents please. 310-241-6827
ROOMMATES ROOMMATES.COM. Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps. Find your roommate with a click of the mouse! Visit: http://www. Roommates.com. (AAN CAN)
ADOPTION PREGNANT? THINKING OF ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families Nationwide. LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6293. Void in Illinois/New Mexico/Indiana
Real Estate Agents/Offices advertise up to 4 listings per agent ($72 value) or 10 ($180 value) per office for FREE. Each listing includes up to 6 lines ($3 per additional line). Your listings appear in print to 63,000 readers and online every two weeks!
Email your listing to: adv@randomlengthsnews.com
Don Marshall, MBA, CPA
18
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 V-8 pickup, 4x4. Recently rebuilt engine and transmission, good tires, extra cab bed cover, $2,900 obo, (562) 900-5148.
RPV/San Pedro therapy office space. Hours flexible, utilities included, convenient location, great price. Opportunities for practice expansion. Call Carolyn, (310) 200-4633.
Call (310) 519-1442 for display advertising rates .
Light and bright 1-level, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths on a cul-de-sac. Updated kitchen, 2 fireplaces, vaulted and beam ceilings. Swimming pool and fire pit.
Specializing in small businesses CPA Quality Service at very reasonable rates
Receive a free 6 month subscription to Random Lengths News when you publish a DBA
VEHICLES
Real Estate Lease/Sale
FREE REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING
(310) 833-8977
New DBAs are $135 for filing and publishing Non-expired renewal DBAs are $52
MISC. LQQK! Attention Sports Fans: Call for your FREE Pick today from our expert handicappers. NO Strings Attached! 21+ Call: 888-513-5639
Protect Your Home - ADT Authorized Dealer: Burglary, Fire, and Emergency Alerts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! CALL TODAY, INSTALLED TOMORROW! 888-641-3452 (AAN CAN)
(AAN CAN)
Don Marshall CPA, Inc.
www.donmarshallcpa.com
als included ($150 value). 888-331-7848 (AAN CAN)
10/12
For more information call Golden West Realty
310.548.2881
Please help! The animals at the Harbor Animal Shelter have ongoing need for used blankets, comforters, pet beds.* Drop off at Harbor Animal Shelter, 957 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro. 888-452-7381, x 143 PLEASE SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PET! *In any condition. We will wash and mend.
www.goldenwestsanpedro.com 1 5 1 7 S . G a f f e y S t . • San Pedro, CA 90731
Local Notary Service
ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Access my report at
files.troublefinderatcityhall.org/city.pdf
• Payroll • Income Tax
EARN CASH NOW!
SAMUEL M. SPERLING
FOR DIABETIC TEST STRIPS WE PICK UP!! Call Rowena
310-684-3544
Just Relax Tax Service
870 W. 9th St., Ste. 100A, San Pedro
310.221.0034
1155 W. Newmark Ave. Monterey Park, CA 91754 (626) 576-8396 samuelmsperling@yahoo.com
DBA/LEGAL FILINGS NOTICE Sealed bids will be received by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor at 1200 S. Cabrillo Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731 until Nov. 7, 2014 by 5:00 pm for approximately 550 meals total (supper) to be delivered to three sites (San Pedro Boys & Girls Club, Port of Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club and Wilmington Boys & Girls Club) with milk included for approximately 220 days (school year and summer). On Nov. 10, 2014 at 10:00 am, and promptly thereafter, at the address provided, all bids that have been duly received will be publicly opened and read aloud. Contract will be awarded to the lowest, most responsible and responsive bidder. Note: only sealed bids will be accepted. Please contact Mirella Espinoza at mespinoza@bgclaharbor.org for paperwork. All meals of each type must meet the minimum standards set by the USDA for CACFP and SFSP meals of that type.
NOTICE OF INTENT/NOTICE OF PREPARATION FOR THE BERTHS 226-236 [EVERPORT] CONTAINER TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the City of Los Angeles Harbor Department (Harbor Department) have prepared a joint Notice of Intent (NOI)/Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the Berths 226-236 [Everport] Container Terminal Improvements Project.
A scoping meeting will be held on November 13, 2014, at 6:00 pm in the Board Room at the Harbor Department Administration Building, 425 S. Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. Written comments on the NOI/ NOP can be submitted until November 24, 2014, and should be mailed to both the USACE, Los Angeles District, Regulatory Division, Ventura Field Office, c/o Theresa Stevens, Ph.D., 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite 110, Ventura, California 93001 and Christopher Cannon, Director of Environmental Management, Port of Los Angeles, 425 South Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro CA 9073. Comments sent via e-mail should be addressed to both Theresa.Stevens@usace. army.mil and ceqacomments@ portla.org. Comments sent via email should include the project title in the e-mail’s subject line and a valid mailing address within the email. For additional information, please contact the CEQA Project Manager, James Bahng, at (310) 732-3675. INITIAL STUDY/NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE AVALON FREIGHT SERVICES RELOCATION PROJECT The City of Los Angeles Harbor Department (Harbor Department) has prepared an Initial Study/ Negative Declaration (IS/ND) to address the environmental effects of the Avalon Freight Services Relocation Project (Project). The proposed Project consists of shifting existing Catalina Island freight operations
RANDOMLetters from p. 9
San Pedro as a community which offers: good schools, safe streets and economic opportunities. Toyota Motors in Torrance announced they are leaving California. Approximately 4,000 Employees will affect the livelihood of approximately 20,000
from Berth 184 in Wilmington to Berth 95 in San Pedro. Berth 95 is currently the home of Catalina Express; the passenger ferry service between Catalina Island and San Pedro. The proposed Project is a joint venture between Catalina Express and Harley Marine Services. The proposed Project involves landside and waterside improvements at Berth 95. Landside improvements include the construction of a 20,000 square-foot warehouse/office space in the existing parking lot. Waterside improvements would be made to accommodate one new barge and tug boat, and one new landing craft. The waterside improvements include the installation of approximately 22 pilings to secure three new floats as well as some minor modifications to the existing boat launch ramp. A lease amendment between Avalon Freight Services and the Harbor Department is also part of this project as new parcels will be acquired to accommodate the new warehouse/office space and additional parking needs. Parcels being considered are all within Berth 95 approximately 1,200 feet from the existing Catalina Express terminal. The project site has been identified on the Cortese list (Government Code Section 65962.5). This identification has been disclosed and evaluated in the Draft IS/ND. The IS/ND is being circulated for a period of 30 days for public review and comment. The public has an opportunity to provide written comments on the information contained within the IS/ND. The 30-day public review period starts on October 23, 2014 and ends on November 22, 2014. A copy of the document is available for public review on the Port of Los Angeles’ website at: http:// www.portoflosangeles.org; the Harbor Department Environmental Management Division located at 222 West 6th Street, Suite 900, San Pedro; the Los Angeles City
Library San Pedro Branch at 931 S. Gaffey Street; and at the Los Angeles City Library Wilmington Branch at 1300 North Avalon, Wilmington. Comments on the IS/ND should be submitted in writing prior to the end of the 30-day public review period and must be postmarked by November 22, 2014. Please submit written comments to: Christopher Cannon, Director City of Los Angeles Harbor Department Environmental Management Division 425 S. Palos Verdes Street San Pedro, CA 90731 Written comments may also be sent via email to ceqacomments@portla.org. Comments sent via email should include the project title in the subject line and a valid mailing address in the email. For additional information, please contact Tara Tisopulos with the Harbor Department Environmental Management Division at (310) 732-7713.
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014249347 The following person is doing business as: San Pedro Chiropractic and Posture, 1534 W. 25th Street., San Pedro CA 90732. Los Angeles County. Articles of Incorporation number: 3696302. Registered owners: Ghassemi Chiropractic Corp., APC, 1875 S. Beverly Glenn, Los Angeles, Ca 90025: California. This Business is conducted by a corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 8/15/2014. 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/. Dr. Romina Ghassemi, DC/CEO, Ghassemi Chiropractic Corp. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Sept.
jobs in the area, many residents of San Pedro. Exxon recently announced they will be selling their Torrance Refinery; the difficulty of doing business in California is not worth it for Exxon. Toyota is moving simply because it is economically more efficient to locate to Texas than stay here in California. These are just two local large companies who have announced they are moving out. We know there have been many
4, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 09/18/14, 10/02/14, 10/16/2014, 10/30/2014 Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014260373 The following person is doing business as: (1.)Josephine Trusela Events (2.) JT Events, 1621 W. 25th St #2301., San Pedro CA 90732. Los Angeles County. Articles of Incorporation number: 201422610355.. Registered owners: Le Meow LLC, 1621 W. 25th St #2301., San Pedro CA 90732: California. This Business is conducted by a Limited Liability Corporation. 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/. Josephine Trusela, president of Le Meow LLC.. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Sept. 16, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement
pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 10/02/14, 10/16/2014, 10/30/2014, 11/06/2014 Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014265913 The following person is doing business as: (1.) Mister Marley, 880 W. 18th St., San Pedro CA 90731. Mailing Address:880 W. 18th St., San Pedro CA 90731. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Fred C. Allen, 880 W. 18th St., San Pedro CA 90731: California. 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/. Fred Allen,owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state,
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014296978 The following person is doing business as: Paradise Tinting, 24325 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 109, Torrance, CA 90505, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Ronald Engel, 1051 Golden Rose 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:1-6-10. 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/. Ronald Engel, owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 10/30/14, 11/14/14, 11/28/14, 12//11/14
but vote for the person you want to represent you. Do you like the way things are going in this state? Check out John Goya’s website: http:www.johngoya.com. Consider voting for the best candidate, not the Political Party. California has had a one Party corrupt, anti-business, antitaxpayer legislature for too long. It’s time for a change and the time is Tues, November 4th, 2014! K. Hetzer San Pedro
Free at Last
Great article and photos by Cindy Chang on the Hall of justice in the downtown LA, LA Times. A bittersweet return for Baca.” “For historical reasons a jail cell that once housed cult leader… Charles Manson is left untouched.” For the same reason is there a jail cell available where the min in the Sleepy Lagoon killing were housed? Many of us in East Los Angeles still have a copy of the Times photo of the men wrongly convicted, finally walking free. Besides one in my bedroom, I had a poster-size print made for the wall in my classroom. The date should make the Today in History column in the media. Val Rodriguez Signal Hill
October 30 - November 12, 2014
companies doing the same. We all have friends or know of business owners who have either closed their business or are moving out. We have an election Nov. 4 to elect California 70th Assembly District to represent our San Pedro residents in the California Legislature. The State Assembly is the powerful legislative body which passes all the laws and regulations we need to abide by to live and do business in California. Last year, over 700 new laws were passed which includes the “bathroom bill,” (i.e. boys may use girls’ bathrooms in our schools). The point is the State Legislature has been driving business out of our State and most importantly, our community by their relentless, “anti-business” agenda. John Goya is running as the top Candidate for the California 70th Assembly District. He has a four points to make our lives better: 1. Audit the CA Education Funding to address CA’s poor school ratings. Bring Art, Trade courses and more Sports activities back to ALL schools. Where has all our School money gone? 2. Create an Enterprise Zone for the 70th District to create Jobs, Lower Taxes and protect our Port Business. Also, reduce Workers Compensation Cost and protect Proposition 13. 3. Reenergize the CA Medical system & ensure you can choose your own Doctor. 4. Create a CA collective for NO KILL Animal Shelters. I asked Random Lengths to interview John Goya to allow the readers to make their own decision. Please consider not voting according to your Party dictates,
or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 10/02/14, 10/16/2014, 10/30/2014, 11/06/2014
The Local Publication You Actually Read
The NOI/NOP is available for review at: Port of Los Angeles Environmental Management Division, 222 W 6th Street, Suite 1080, San Pedro, CA 90731;
Los Angeles City Library, Central Branch, 630 West 5th Street, Los Angeles CA 90071; Los Angeles City Library, San Pedro Branch, 931 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731; Los Angeles City Library, Wilmington Branch, 1300 N. Avalon, Wilmington, CA 90744. The NOI/NOP is also available on the Port of Los Angeles’ web site: http://www.portoflosangeles.org under the Environmental tab.
19
20
October 30 - November 12, 2014
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area