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JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 3
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Happy New Year, San Pedro! Show of hands, how many of you recall when San Pedro was a “Whale of a Town?” I’m betting most of you reading this do. When I was a kid in the ‘80s, that’s the only bumper sticker I remember; a graphic of a cartoon whale coupled with that phrase. Like many of you, I remember seeing that bumper sticker all over town. In an era with no internet or smartphones, that slogan caught on fast and defined a generation of San Pedrans (even if the slogan itself didn’t make much sense). For such a beloved slogan, and in a town that has a love/hate relationship with change, I’m surprised it fell out of fashion so long ago. Last summer, San Pedro’s Business Improvement District (PBID) debuted the town’s new logo and slogan: the words “Discover San Pedro” and “Downtown Waterfront – Est. 1888” in front of a turquoise anchor. I personally love this slogan because not only does it make sense, but it’s also very
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factual. There is a ton to discover here. As Downtown San Pedro continues to go through some growing pains this year with new buildings, residents, and businesses, “Discover San Pedro” simply works. For our cover story this month, our resident historian, Angela Romero, looks at the many changes afoot in 2022 as Old San Pedro shifts to this New San Pedro currently being developed, and how this may affect our town’s charm and authenticity. Her new slogan, “Keep San Pedro Cozy,” meant more for residents than the tourism industry, is intended to be “a guiding principle and a call to action.” As she puts it, “… our ‘charm and authenticity’ have been attracting people for years. Our job as San Pedrans is to fight for the San Pedro that we want to have — the actual things that make us want to live here.” I urge all of you to read it and let us know what you think. Send your thoughts to contact@sanpedrotoday. com. spt
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JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 5
JANUARY 2022
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ADVERTISING:
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Patricia Roberts (562) 964-8166 | patricia@sanpedrotoday.com
Joshua J. Stecker Lori Garrett
General Inquiries: ads@sanpedrotoday.com
ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Joseph A. Castañeda
AT-LARGE CONTRIBUTORS
Mike Harper, Peter Hazdovac, Sanam Lamborn, Ricky Magana, Steve Marconi, Jennifer Marquez, Nadia Nizetich, Anthony Pirozzi, Jr., Sophie Schoenfeld, Lee Williams
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CONTACT INFO:
Phone: (424) 224-9063 Email: contact@sanpedrotoday.com San Pedro Today P.O. Box 1168 San Pedro, CA 90733
EMPIRE22 MEDIA LLC OWNER/PUBLISHER Joshua J. Stecker
San Pedro Today publishes the last Thursday of every month and is produced monthly by Empire22 Media LLC. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without written permission by Empire22 Media. 25,000 copies are delivered to San Pedro and portions of Rancho Palos Verdes. San Pedro Today is a product of Empire22 Media LLC. Empire22 Media LLC, their subsidiaries and affiliates are released from all liability that may involve the publication of San Pedro Today. Copyright 2009-2022, Empire22 Media LLC.
VOLUME 13 | NUMBER 12 ON THE COVER: The recently finished L.A. Waterfront promenade. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
6 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2022
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EVENTS
COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the rapidly changing nature of public health guidance for in-person events, information may change. Please plan accordingly.
JANUARY 2022 CHRIS GETHARD AT THE SARDINE
January 15 (Sat) – CHRIS GETHARD "AMERICA'S LOOSEST CANNON" at The Sardine (1101 S. Pacific Ave.), 8p. – Comedian, actor, author, and podcaster, Chris Gethard brings his confessional style of comedy to San Pedro! In addition to stand-up, Gethard currently hosts the popular podcasts Beautiful/Anonymous and New Jersey is the World, and is the founder of Planet Scum, an online comedy venue for the country’s best underground comedians. The former host of The Chris Gethard Show, he wrote and starred in the HBO special Career Suicide. In June 2021, Comedy Dynamics released Chris’s new comedy special, Chris Gethard: Half My Life, a tour documentary and standup special shot in a variety of DIY spaces and independent venues all over the country in 2019. For ages 21 and over. Tickets $17 adv / $19 day of show. For tickets and more info, visit sardinepedro.com. For more info on Chris Gethard, visit chrisgeth.com.
Every Friday – SAN PEDRO FARMERS MARKET AT LITTLE ITALY (638 S. Beacon St.), 11a-3p. – Pick up essential fruits and vegetables from certified, small family farms. Get a head start on weekend meals with so many delicious and fresh options. Please note social distancing of six feet between groups and people is required. Masks must be worn at all times, and a hand washing station is provided for your convenience. For more info, visit sanpedrochamber. com/san-pedro-farmers-market. Every Tuesday & Every Saturday – BELMONT SHORE RAILROAD CLUB at Angels Gate Park (3600 S. Gaffey St.,
Building 824), Tuesdays 7-10p & Saturdays 12-4p. – The best kept secret in San Pedro! The Belmont Shore Railroad Club is the oldest and largest N scale club and offers clinics on modeling and an opportunity to explore a new hobby. Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more info, call (310) 831-6262 or visit belmontshorerr.com. 6 (Thurs) – FIRST THURSDAY in Downtown San Pedro, 6p. – The popular First Thursday ArtWalk is back in the historic core of Downtown San Pedro. The redesigned First Thursday will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining, and live music
on the corner of 6th and Mesa streets. 6 (Thurs) – RIBBON CUTTING: HEARTS RESPOND at Hearts Respond Studio (333 W. 7th St.), 5:30p. – Join us on First Thursday for a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring live music, food, refreshments, and portrait sketches. FREE admission. For more info, text (310) 897-5043. 12 (Wed) – YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK: COFFEE HOUR at Sirens Java & Tea, Dining Platform (402 W. 7th St.), 8-9a. The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network Coffee Hour is a place to learn, grow, and collaborate with other young professionals in the business community. Hosted by Chris Mitchell of CM Marketing and Ryan Blaney of Bolimini International. This event is FREE to attend. Please arrive early to support Sirens with a coffee or food purchase. To register, visit sanpedrochamber.com. 13 (Thurs) – GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING: DR. ZO, DC at the Wellness Shores Center (1609 W. 25th St.), 4:30p. – Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of Dr. Zo's practice at the Wellness Shores Center. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, raffle prizes, refreshments, meet & greet, and facility tours. 20 thru Feb 6 – PICK OF THE VINE at Little Fish Theatre (777 S. Centre St.). An exciting night of entertainment awaits you in these seven short plays handpicked by Little Fish Theatre from authors across the country. Our 2022 selections are The Senior Discount by Lou Clyde, Those Wishing by James Anthony Tyler, Run Out of Sky by Leslie Bramm, Ordained by Mark Harvey Levine, Available Light by Conor LaRocque, Antigone by Marie
Mayingi, and Gil & Bill by John J. Kelly. Runs Thursday through Sunday at various times. Tickets $20-30. For more info, call (310) 512-6030 (voicemail only), text (424) 203-4707 (box office only), or visit littlefishtheatre.org. 22 (Sat) – GRAND VISION PRESENTS HARD DAY’S NIGHT at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th St.), 8p. – Southern California’s #1 Beatles tribute show comes to San Pedro! Proceeds benefit Grand Vision’s Meet the Music program and Love the Lobby, the campaign to restore the Theatre’s main lobby. The Hard Day’s Night band has been thrilling audiences around the world with tight harmonies and flawless renditions of Beatles hits. Their custom-tailored costumes, vintage instruments, and precise attention to every detail recreates the Beatle’s music, wit, and wisdom. VIP pre-concert reception: 6-7p with appetizers, one complimentary drink, and access to private no-host bar before concert (for VIP ticket holders only). For tickets and more info, visit grandvision.org. 27 (Thurs) – NONPROFIT COLLABORATIVE: BREAKING THROUGH THE COVID-19 BURNOUT at The Grand Annex (434 W. 6th St.), 8:3011a. – Burnout has long been a distinguishing characteristic of the nonprofit sector, but never more so than during the past two years. Beyond damaging your organization's bottom line and quality of service delivery, burnout has very real impacts on staff turnover, equity, and morale. Come find inspiration from other organizations about how best to support your staff — and yourself. Presented by Amber Sheikh, Sheikh Impact. $30 for members and $40 for non-members. To register, call (310) 832-7272 or for more info, visit sanpedrochamber.com. spt
Email events@sanpedrotoday.com to place a listing for a nominal fee. Deadline for the February 2022 issue is Friday, January 14. Find more events at sanpedrotoday.com.
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BOOKS BRING THE BUCKS
POINT FERMIN ELEMENTARY RAISES $38,000 WITH THEIR GOBBLE GOBBLE READ-A-THON by Nadia Nizetich
Second graders partner with kindergarteners during Point Fermin Elementary's Gobble Gobble Read-A-Thon. (photo: Kris Garard/Point Fermin Elementary)
Principal Jennie Wong has yet to figure out what went right at Point Fermin Elementary School. In just three weeks, the school raised $38,000 during November’s Gobble Gobble Read-A-Thon Fundraiser, making it their most successful fundraising event in school history. “I really can’t say why it was so successful,” reflects Wong, “but I know it has to do with our passionate students and families. And Kris knows a lot of people!” She’s referring to Kris Garard, president of Point Fermin Elementary’s Parent Teacher Organization. Garard and the PTO designed the fundraiser, intending for the event to be both profitable and educational. They felt that typical fundraisers, like those
that require students to sell gift wrap, miss an opportunity to educate kids in their quests for profit. “We wanted the goal of the fundraiser to be for kids to read as much as possible. It was about raising money, but it was also about reading.” Out of their efforts came the Gobble Gobble Read-A-Thon, a three-week event where students read while donors sponsored them through contributions. Though the success stumps Principal Wong, Garard believes a perfect storm of factors allowed them to surpass their goals. The school used FundHub, an online school fundraising platform that allowed students to track their donations and reading minutes. Teachers and parents logged reading minutes online,
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and patrons contributed directly on the website. The platform also allowed parents to share the event on social media, tapping into a worldwide network of donors. “We had donations coming in from all over the world,” beams Garard, “and teachers were using that to teach geography in their classrooms.” The platform is only part of the picture. The PTO also created bingo cards that encouraged kids to read and raise in many ways. Squares were filled with activities like “read to a grandparent” and “read near a water source.” To blot out the top left box, students and their parents had to send five emails announcing the event. The cards proved to be wildly popular with students even as the fundraiser continued into Thanksgiving break. “Kids were bringing in their tattered cards with turkey stuffing on the edges,” laughs Garard. A slew of prizes incentivized students to fill in their bingo squares. Kids could take home an emoji keychain by simply registering on FundHub, a task that occupied the card’s center box. Raising certain amounts of money or reading a specific number of minutes also guaranteed a prize, and the goodies got bigger as students read or raised more. On the line for the top four fundraisers were tickets to Disneyland and a Nintendo Switch, and leading readers were honored with a medal ceremony. The strategy certainly worked — the top
fundraiser raised nearly $2,000 and read 14,000 minutes. Collectively, students read nearly 200,000 minutes. Most of the money will support enrichment activities and campus improvement projects. Potential beneficiaries include the school’s cheerleading team and the STEAM center. Annual field trips, such as the fourth grade’s excursion on tall ships, may also secure another few years of funding. What is certain is that teachers will receive ten percent of what their class raised to improve their classrooms. Keeping student interests at heart, the school also sent out a survey asking kids where they’d like the funds to go. Though the results have yet to come in, Principal Wong suspects that classic student grievances will resurface. “They always seem to want a longer recess and lunch!” Perhaps the biggest impact of the event can’t be measured in minutes or dollars. Garard noticed a change in her third-grade daughter, who began waking up early before breakfast to read and voraciously finished a book in two days. Teachers reported similar phenomena, telling Garard that they’ve never seen kids so motivated to read. Principal Wong thinks the success sends a message. “At this age, kids don’t necessarily think they can make a difference, but we’re a school of only 290 students. This shows that they can.” spt
JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 9
VOICES
THE PAST COMES TO MY DOORSTEP, RANDOMLY SPEAKING by Steve Marconi One of the many things that makes San Pedro distinct is its interconnectedness. Either through blood, marriage, friendship, school, church, work, or fraternal organization, most longtime San Pedrans are within the proverbial six degrees of separation. I know because I’ve run into it many times myself, and I’ve written about it often. For instance, when I first met fellow longshoreman Mike Siverson (San Pedro High ‘79) and found out about his San Pedro roots, we got into a discussion about family histories, which in both of our cases go back a
ways. That’s how we found out that we’re related: We’re both descended from John Billington, who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. (It’s not a lot to be proud of — Billington is infamous for being America’s first murderer and was hanged in 1630.) Just how uncanny can it get? I had three experiences this year that even took me aback. They all occurred at work on the docks, where my job has me interacting with different people, like Siverson, almost every day. Back in March, I was talking with San Pedran Vince DiMeglio, who spends most of his days driving at the China terminal. I asked if he was related to the three DiMeglios who were in my W’69 class at San Pedro High, twins Pam and Karen and Isador, and
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found out Vince is related to the twins. Somewhere I mentioned that my birthday was coming up, and he said so was his. Now I’m not very good at telling ages (I had Vince pegged for late 50s, early 60s), but the biggest surprise wasn’t just that we shared the same birth month and year, but that we were born on the same day. It’s bad enough he looks years younger than me, but my first thought was how had we avoided meeting before? The answer, of course, was obvious: He attended parochial schools, graduating from Fermin Lasuen at the same time I was graduating from SPHS. If I thought that meeting a birthday buddy for the first time after 70 years in the same town — where we both ended up working for years at the same time as casuals before becoming registered longshoremen — was eerie, read on. A few months after that talk with Vince, I was working under a crane with John Baran, who graduated from SPHS in 2000. He said he had gone to Taper Avenue Elementary, and I mentioned I, too, had gone to Taper Avenue, not long after it opened in the early ‘60s. I told him about our weekly visits to Jack Place, where our new home was being built in the second phase of the Rolling Hills Highlands development. And he said his family had lived on Jack Place. When I told him my house was 2222 Jack Place (Dad always loved the four deuces and a Jack address), he said that was his house. My folks sold Jack Place in 1968 and moved near Dodson Junior High. The Barans bought Jack Place around 1979 and completely remodeled it (adding a second story) before selling it in 1995. John had the same bedroom I slept in for seven years. What were the chances? A few months after that conversation, I was working with a casual dockworker named Amanda, another San Pedran, under the same
crane at APL. We had some time to talk, and she off-handedly mentioned her great-grandfather started San Pedro’s bus lines. It’s a subject I’m well versed in because of my own family’s involvement with the San Pedro bus lines when they were privately run, almost all owned by Italian Americans. Amanda’s great-grandfather turned out to be Vincent Grant, whose father, Tony (who Anglicized the family name from Grandoni when he was naturalized), was indeed a pioneer in the San Pedro bus business along with my family. Vincent, who took over the business with his brother, Sam, after their father’s death, was much more than a bus owner/driver; however, he also was a contractor of some note, and in 1956, built the home I purchased in 1999. There’s more. When I told Amanda (Bailey) Grant my name, she asked if I had a son who taught at Dodson Middle School in the early 2000s. And, yes, Amanda turns out to have been one of my son’s students. Only in San Pedro. BUT WAIT… As if running into two people weeks apart at the same location intimately involved in two of my San Pedro homes wasn’t strange enough, I opened a Christmas card from my paper delivery person just as I was finishing this column. I had to do a double-take when I saw the return address: She lives in the 1700 block of Grand Avenue — directly across the street from the house I lived in during the mid-‘50s, the first home I remember. Thomas Wolfe was right in the nonliteral sense when he said you can’t go home again. But when you live and work in the same place where you, and your father before you, were born, you really can go home again — and again and again. spt Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com.
JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 11
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Looking forward provides an optimistic view of what is possible. Looking forward also provides hope of improving and enjoying all of the things in life we have been given. Looking forward also provides us the opportunity to adjust along the way and make the necessary changes in one’s life, in our community, and even nationally to make a difference. Learning from the past is just as important; living in the past, not so much. Living in the past can stifle innovation and progress, but learning from the past will make us, hopefully, not repeat the mistakes of the past. So what does this all mean? For each of us, it may mean different things, as each one of us lives a different life and is impacted positively or negatively by different conditions of life. Our life’s lenses are different. Together, though, we must find common ground. Common ground for the betterment of society, betterment of our communities, and betterment of this thing called life. Common ground brings us together, especially when we feel we have been heard. Common ground does not mean I win, you lose, but rather taking the best of all ideas, agreeing to disagree along the way, and arriving at a common solution. This does not come at a “win at all costs” approach. We all love to win regardless of what it is, but when it comes at the detriment of someone else, it can leave us with a sense of disbelief or a sense of, “Was it worth it?” In many cases, we see this every day, whether it’s being cut off by someone while driving, someone gaming the system, or someone stating something that is just not true. The question though is, if you believe what you are saying, even though it’s not truly accurate, is it a lie? For example, when we watch the news or read the newspaper, there is an approach, as the saying goes: fire first, aim second. In other words, just get the story out there and we will get to the truth and
details later. That’s why you hear words such as “allegedly” used a lot in news broadcasts. It doesn’t mean it “is,” rather it means it “could” be true. In the end, the story is still out there, and whether damaging a person or not, the subtleties of the word “allegedly” are lost and misunderstood as truth. What is your truth? We all have our belief and truth barometer and know when it tilts. When it comes to politics in the news, social media, tweets, or YouTube, and even in conversation amongst friends, where is your truth barometer? Is the conversation based on talking points that are fed to you? Have you read beyond the headline and deep into the details, looked across multiple points of view, or have you prescribed to just one news channel, one media source, and that video from someone in their car that talks as if what they are saying is factual? Is this ringing true? Which side of truth are you on? As we continue to move through the politics that seem to be in front of us at every turn, if there is one New Year’s resolution to hold onto, it’s truth. Not someone’s political talking points they want us to regurgitate, not sharing a social media video that we know is untruthful or seems so far out there that it does not agree with your personal truth, or not voting for someone because they have the letter next to their name that you have next to yours. Rather, look at the living condition in your community, the impacts of political decisions on our wallets and our way of life. Stand for truth in conversations with others, and don’t let the rhetoric about poor decisions of a past administration ring loud when in fact, the current administration is doing the very same thing. Don’t lose your truth or integrity because you are on the same team as the decision-makers. It’s time to take our country back based on truth, work together for the greater good, not sacrifice our integrity just to win, and elect those who are about truth. God bless America. spt Anthony Pirozzi, Jr. is a Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner. He can be reached at apirozzi@yahoo.com.
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VOICES
SAN PEDRO MEALS ON WHEELS SAVES A LIFE by Jennifer Marquez This holiday season is extra special for Pat Hannah and her family. She might not be here to celebrate this year if it wasn’t for the quick thinking of a Meals on Wheels volunteer last November. “I got a call from Meals on Wheels that my sister Pat did not answer her door when the volunteer arrived to drop off her meal,” explains Mona Sutton, owner of the Omelette and Waffle Shop. “I went to check on her, and she was unresponsive. She had fallen, hit her head, and was rushed to the hospital by paramedics. Pat had surgery for a heart issue but survived because Meals on Wheels alerted me to check on her.” “Meals on Wheels saved my life,” states Hannah, who is a widow of a Vietnam veteran. She explains how she always opens her door at 10 a.m. and waits for her food delivery. The volunteers get to know the people they deliver meals to and their habits. Sometimes the volunteers are the only people the seniors might see in a day. There is hidden hunger amongst
Pat Hannah and Bella. (photo: Mona Sutton)
the aging population. Circumstances contributing to this issue include a decline in health, no longer driving, lack of family in the area, or not wanting to bother the family even if they have that support. It is not uncommon for a Meals on Wheels client to have vision issues, financial barriers, and limited technology skills to be able to order food online. “We lived next to a woman in San Pedro who always looked nice and had a lovely home. We were friendly with her and waved and smiled,” shares Susan McKenna, the newly elected board president of San Pedro Meals on Wheels. “One day, the paramedics were called, and they took her to the hospital. It was then we learned she only had scraps of food, some of it
rotten, in her house. We felt so bad and only wish we would have known there was a problem. Now she lives in a nursing home. I had been volunteering with Meals on Wheels for years, but after this happened with our neighbor, I wanted to be more involved.” McKenna is grateful to the 160 volunteers at San Pedro Meals on Wheels who are on the frontline serving our community’s senior citizens, many of whom are homebound. McKenna hopes to expand and improve the services this year with the help of the many volunteers and donors. If enough funds are raised, Meals on Wheels would like to provide a weekend food package to their clients since they do not deliver food over the weekend. Another goal is to have more
eco-friendly packaging and volunteer bakers to expand on the bread items they deliver. San Pedro Meals on Wheels delivers approximately 100 meals daily Monday through Friday in San Pedro and Wilmington. Each delivery costs the client $7.50 and consists of two meals, one hot and a sandwich that can be eaten for dinner. They also provide meals at no cost to people in financial need and rely 100 percent on donations to not charge any fees. While Meals on Wheels has not raised their prices in years, with the rising cost of food, they may have to increase the price slightly unless they can offset the costs by donations. Meals on Wheels also delivers little gifts to their clients, especially during the holidays when groups like The Garden Club and Scouts donate them. “I just received a beautiful ornament; it is hanging on my tree. I love the food and all the sweet people who volunteer at Meals on Wheels,” says Hannah. “It is the most fabulous organization.” To donate, volunteer, or learn more about Meals on Wheels, call (310) 8327335 or visit sanpedromealsonwheels. org. Volunteers, drivers, and bakers are needed. People who can work on short-term projects with policy or HR experience are also needed. In addition to cash donations, Meals on Wheels would appreciate donations of canned vegetables (especially tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and mushrooms), beans, chicken broth, dry pasta, and fresh vegetables to help offset food costs. spt Jennifer Marquez can be reached at jennifertmarquez@yahoo.com and @jenntmqz on Twitter and Instagram.
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VOICES
WHERE ARE ALL THE WORKERS? by Lee Williams
While some folks are busy making resolutions, others are making much larger, life-changing decisions. If nothing else, the COVID-19 pandemic has led a lot of people to take a step back and really evaluate their jobs, connections with their families, and where they want to live. The news is constantly talking about job openings and wages, but I think the discussion is much bigger than that. Many of the folks making a change fall into three categories:
those who are stepping up, those who are stepping out, and those who are trying something new. I’m not saying wage isn’t a factor — it is. However, when we look at housing cost as a proportion of wage, I would argue that affordable housing is an even bigger factor than income. Anytime housing expenses exceed 30 percent, you are going to see poverty, homelessness, and people struggling to survive. In Los Angeles, it is not unusual to find households paying 50-80 percent of their income in rent. This makes it tougher for families to weather hardship, health issues, and loss. There are a number of reasons
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people have left the workforce: layoffs, health uncertainties, childcare needs, being overworked in understaffed environments, and simply not making enough to live on. According to the Labor Department, almost 40 million workers quit their jobs in 2021, with an average of four million a month in the last six months. Many are simply switching jobs, finding bonuses and higher wage growth outside their current employer. Younger or “prime-age” workers are more flexible in starting over than they were pre-pandemic. Workers over 55 years old are considered “non-prime age.” They are motivated by health and safety in the age of COVID. Many have been reluctant to return to public-facing jobs where they can catch COVID or have to deal with the politics of mandates and pushback from the public. Another factor for this group has been soaring stock prices and rapid real estate appreciation, creating windfalls that allow them to move to cheaper housing markets while increasing their quality of life. A third factor is time at home, which has led many to start their own small businesses. There has been a flood of folks looking to be their own boss, work from home, and follow up on that business idea they have always considered but didn’t have the guts to pursue. Childcare cost, having to stay home with Zoom schooling children, and wanting to spend more time with rapidly growing offspring are other factors. Waitlists for childcare are having a dramatic impact on whether workers think it is better to stay in their job with the majority of their wages going to childcare or to quit and be a stay-at-home parent. It may be cheaper to stay home. The Build Back Better bill being argued in Congress is supposed to address the cost of childcare, but who knows whether that will happen and how
soon resources can be put in place to create the impact necessary to lower childcare costs. So, what are the short-term effects? As I mentioned above, employers are beginning to increase wages and offer bonuses and perks to attract workers. Wage elasticity of demand only goes so far in bringing in more workers. Here in San Pedro, there are a number of high-paying restaurants, retail, and hospitality jobs going unfilled due to the COVID risk and public response to restrictions. Life-work balance, flexibility in hours, location, and certainty are also important factors contributing to job satisfaction. In the long term, San Pedro workers will need to meet the growing demand in the construction trades, leisure and hospitality, nursing and healthcare, professional and business services, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. Supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in San Pedro is part of who we are and helps us keep our money local. Time will tell how many people will leave the workforce to retire, start small businesses, or get into real estate, only to return to work as employees. I’m confident that workers exploring other work opportunities will lead to a closer connection with family, a better understanding of our values, and a more well-rounded workforce. Couple that with businesses providing a livable wage, more time off, closing the gap between the highest-paid executives and the lowest-paid workers, and most importantly, a real plan to address the cost of housing — then we can return to something more sustainable. spt Lee Williams leads the Williams Group at Keller Williams Realty and is a member of the Board of Directors for the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the Boys and Girls Club for L.A. Harbor.
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JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 17
NEW SAN PEDRO: The recently finished L.A. Waterfront promenade.
(photo: John Mattera Photography)
Keep San Pedro Cozy by Angela Romero
San Pedro is changing? San Pedro IS changing. SAN PEDRO IS CHANGING! Eleven years ago, I felt this unfamiliar shift in the air. I didn’t know what it was, and it felt kind of good, so I started a walking tour company. I may have jumped the gun a bit, but every year since, the shift has intensified. First, it progressed into chatter, then a rumble, and now it’s absolutely seismic in magnitude. San Pedro is definitely changing. This isn’t normal time-passing kind of change. San Pedro is moving into a new era, and this year it will feel as if we are straddling the old world and the new. Old San Pedro is the community that was created by and for the laborers in and around the Port of Los Angeles. For those of us that are multi-generational, it is the town that our families built. While the city of San Pedro may have been founded in 1888, this Old San Pedro that I am referring to didn’t really begin to flourish until the 1920s.
That is why centenary celebrations are about to become more common. This year alone, groups like Temple Beth El, the Rotary Club, and the Lions Club will be celebrating 100 years. Old San Pedro has matured and now has the gravitas needed to transition from old into historic. 2022 is a crucial year for New San Pedro. Politically, we will be choosing a new city council representative and a new mayor who will ultimately usher in a new regime at the Harbor Commission. Then, barring anything out of the ordinary, the Port should be handing over the land to developers this year so real progress on the new waterfront can begin.
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AS OLD SAN PEDRO MAKES WAY FOR NEW SAN PEDRO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE TOWN'S CHARM AND AUTHENTICITY?
Old San Pedro is authentic and charming. New San Pedro is fresh and exciting. Old San Pedro is single-family residences in neighborhoods, while New San Pedro is downtown waterfront condos. Old San Pedro was built for San Pedrans working in the port; New San Pedro is being built for people who don’t mind that San Pedro is a working port and might even think that’s kind of cool. For a while, we’ll have something for everyone until you can’t afford to live here. Have I mentioned that San Pedro is changing? Now look, I’m not asking you to choose sides here. I have a very com-
Old San Pedro has matured and now has the gravitas needed to transition from old into historic.
plicated relationship with development, and some of my best friends are actual developers, so I would like to build a bridge between the two San Pedros that allows us to have the best of both worlds. I am going to put myself out there and put a name to the thing that millions of dollars in marketing research have failed to brand. San Pedro has a vibe that we all love. It’s why people wear it on their clothes, ink it on their skin, and get vanity plates. A vibe that has made people move here after a single visit. San Pedro is special because San Pedro is cozy. It’s comfortable and neighborly. It gets under your skin in both good and frustrating ways, but you’ll never give up on it. San Pedro is a forever home — no matter where you go, you can always come back. This is how we bridge the two San Pedros; we work to keep San Pedro cozy. Keep San Pedro Cozy is both a guiding principle and a call to action. Let’s
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Wayne Ratkovich (center), founder and CEO of The Ratkovich Company, with Eric (left) and Alan Johnson of Jerico Development in a 2013 file photo. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
Clockwise from top left: The cornerstone laying ceremony for the San Pedro Municipal building on Beacon and 7th streets, Feb. 1928; A still from the film Chinatown, featuring Walker's Cafe and Point Fermin Park; Artist rendition of an aerial view of the upcoming West Harbor; Nothing captures "Pedro Pride" better than a t-shirt. (This one is by Renzwear from 2012.) (photos: San Pedro Bay Historical Society, Paramount, Studio One Eleven, John Mattera Photography)
all be clear: People are finally seeing San Pedro for the hidden gem it has always been. Our “charm and authenticity” have been attracting people for years. Our job as San Pedrans is to fight for the San Pedro that we want to have — the actual things that make us want to live here. Progress is marching right towards us, and it’s our job to be really neighborly and hand developers, prospectors, and new businesses a list of Keep San Pedro Cozy guidelines. Nothing has ever worked in spite of San Pedrans. Keeping San Pedro cozy is just good for business. And what of the throngs of new San Pedrans coming to fill these downtown waterfront condos and snatch up longtime family homes? We keep San Pedro cozy and welcome them to the club. My favorite thing about New San Pedro is leaving this nativist prerequisite in the past where it belongs. New San Pedrans have always bought into the dream that is San Pedro, and we will need their energy in the constant battle to keep San Pedro cozy.
Let me share a prime example of Keep San Pedro Cozy already in action. Last month I met Emma Rault, a woman who moved to San Pedro during the pandemic. In the short time that people have enjoyed venturing out into the community again, Emma fell in love with Walker’s Café. For Emma, Walker’s is the epitome of San Pedro’s coziness. A scenic and comfortable place where people from all walks of life could enjoy a burger, a beer, and a good conversation. When the café suddenly closed with no explanation, Emma jumped into action to save Walker’s. She believes that Walker’s Café is an important part
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of San Pedro life and should remain for future generations to enjoy. Emma didn’t worry about her status as a recent transplant to organize an effort to get Walker’s Café historical recognition. Navigating L.A. bureaucracy is a tough gauntlet to run, and Emma has spent weeks researching the history and amassing an impressive report to save this gem from becoming another stack of condos. Keeping San Pedro cozy takes work, but it doesn’t have to all be herculean, like Emma’s effort to save Walker’s Café. You’d be surprised how far saying hi to people on the street goes for new San Pedrans. I mention
New San Pedrans have always bought into the dream that is San Pedro, and we will need their energy in the constant battle to keep San Pedro cozy.
movements like Save Walker’s Café because I know big change makes people nervous, and a lot of you are scared that we’re going to lose ourselves, especially when we see beautiful iconic Spanish colonial homes get razed for condos. Keep San Pedro Cozy is a way to give us the power to define who we are and what is important to us as a community. Organizing has always been a strong San Pedro suit, and I look forward to keeping San Pedro cozy with you and all of our future San Pedrans. spt To learn more about the effort to Save Walker’s Café and to sign the petition, please visit savewalkerscafe.com. Angela Romero is the president of the San Pedro Heritage Museum. She can be reached at angela@sanpedroheritage.org. For more info, visit sanpedroheritage.org.
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JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 21
A TRADITION OF SERVICE
THE PORTHOLE DELI & PIZZERIA BRINGS HEARTFELT FOOD TO SAN PEDRO by Nadia Nizetich
The skeletons seated near the door eye me, their bony hands clutching golden spyglasses. Far from feeling unwelcome, I’m enticed — it’s clearly a pirate’s life for owners Antonio and Aracely Scerra at The Porthole Deli and Pizzeria. “What’s the skeletons’ favorite thing on the menu?” I joke to Tony, who furrows his brow in consideration. “Well, Pirate’s Booty!” he happily concludes. “That’s one of our pizzas.” The skeletons, or “permanent customers” as Tony calls them, are one of many whimsical elements of The Porthole. The tables are barrels, and the dining area is adorned with a floor-toceiling mural depicting a ship sailing past San Pedro landmarks. Aracely is the mastermind behind the theme. She wanted the decor to represent San Pedro and pay homage to her spouse, who served for 11 years in the U.S. Coast Guard but has since assumed reserve duties. “Tony loves the ocean, and I wanted to still give him his boat.” Giving is a way of life for the pair. Tony discovered a love for food and service while working at his family’s bakery, Buscemi’s, in high school. “I realized I loved my customers’ reactions with the product we’d made. I loved being able to serve.” The same sentiment spurred him to enlist in the Coast Guard after graduating from San Pedro High School, where he and Aracely were teenage sweethearts. Altruistic in her own right, Aracely works as a nurse and quality improvement manager for Harbor Community Health Centers. Were there any values they learned in their respective careers that apply to running a restaurant? “Dedication. Devotion,” declares Tony. Aracely chimes
The Scerra family, owners of The Porthole Deli & Pizzeria. (photo: John Mattera Photography)
in. “Discipline. And customer service.” Despite demanding jobs, the pair agrees that running The Porthole is one of their most difficult undertakings. The restaurant opened in February of 2020 and was soon strained by the pandemic. In the fall of 2021, staffing issues forced the Scerras to reduce their hours. Aracely was coming in after work, and Tony was at the restaurant all day. “It was stressful. We knew that opening a restaurant wasn’t going to be easy,” reflects Tony, “but it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done!” Yet quitting is out of the question. Service comes in many forms, and the pair views running The Porthole as another way to give back to their hometown. “One of the reasons we opened a shop in San Pedro is because we wanted to serve our community,” says Aracely. “Any time we consider doing something else, we say no.” Tony agrees. “It’s not just a job. The food we’re making isn’t just to bring a dollar in. It’s to bring to our family, our friends, our neighbors. That’s who we’re serving.” I got to experience that generosity firsthand. Halfway through our chat at the restaurant, Tony discovers I haven’t tried Pirate’s Booty, the permanent customers’ favorite pizza. He raises his eyebrows, wide-eyed and astonished. “Do you want one?” Did I. Aracely quickly excuses herself to the kitchen. She returns moments later, and Tony continues. “It’s got mustard,
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chicken, pesto, marinara, pastrami, and mozzarella. After it’s cooked, we finish it with spicy brown mustard.” It’s the altruism of the couple that strikes me most as we continue speaking. They exude it. It’s clear that lives of others — their struggles, their triumphs — govern Tony and Aracely’s philosophy, and it reflects in the way they manage The Porthole. “Our crew is important,” says Aracely. “They’re providing the service, and we want to make sure they’re okay with it.” “Anytime we’re considering a new menu item, I ask the crew what they think,” adds Tony. “If they’re content, so are our customers.” The Pirate’s Booty pizza exemplifies this collaborative spirit. It began with a customer requesting a pastrami pizza, and though it wasn’t on the menu, the crew strove to deliver. The product was good, and with a few tweaks, it became a restaurant staple. The Porthole’s menu is exciting and innovative but narrow enough to remain focused and executable. Most dishes are inspired by recipes from Tony’s stepdad. It’s got the classics (would it really be a deli without a roast beef sandwich?), but it also has a few novelties. One such example is the chipotle chicken sandwich, which has shredded chicken marinated in Mexican spices. Texturally akin to pulled pork and with a robust spiciness, it balances flavor with heat. Fans can thank Aracely’s mother, who easily convinced the pair to add her recipe to the menu.
For items that are more standard than ingenious, each element is carefully crafted to ensure that classic doesn’t equal bland. Tony handmakes the meatballs on the meatball sub, and the marinara sauce on the pizzas is herby and rich. Surprisingly, for anyone visiting the restaurant for the first time, Aracely advises sticking to the basics. “Try the cheese,” she suggests, “our sauce is amazing!” Freshness is the menu’s common thread. A freezer is nowhere to be found at The Porthole, and Aracely and Tony intend to keep it that way. And the proof is in the pizza: The Captain’s Favorite boasts bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions that are delightfully crisp. The care put into the fare is obvious. As the interview comes to an end, my pizza is ready. Tony opens the box and details the finished product like an artist at an exhibition. He calls special attention to the mustard drizzled in a spiral around the pie. He shuts the box when his eyes light up again — this is something I’d gotten used to by now — and offers me some cheesecake to go with my meal. When I get home, I greedily crack open my spoils. Mustard and all, the pizza is downright delicious. I can see why it’s Tony’s favorite. spt The Porthole Deli & Pizzeria is located at 2223 S. Pacific Ave. For more info or to place an order, call (310) 548-6809 or visit theportholedeliandpizzeria.com.
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JANUARY 2022 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I 23
FOOD
EAT IN SAN PEDRO:
KEEPING WARM WITH SOUPS by Sanam Lamborn During the cooler months, I often eat homemade soup for dinner. I like to experiment with different recipes and store the soup in mason jars so that I can easily microwave them. Consequently, when dining out, I like to order soups that I don’t usually cook at home. Fortunately, there are many choices in town, but here are my favorites. When I was dating my husband, he showed up at my doorstep with a container of wor wonton soup from Nim Chan’s Kitchen (2418 S. Western Ave.) on a day when I was sick. I was a bit skeptical about his choice at first, but the combination of light broth, soft stuffed wontons, chicken, barbequed pork, shrimp, bok choy, snow peas, and green onions won me over right away. There is something very comforting and soothing about this soup; it’s light yet nourishing, and it has become my go-to when I feel under the weather. A visit here cannot be complete without an order, or two, of their easily
its lemony scent from lemongrass. The tom kha soup has the same broth with the addition of coconut milk; it is rich yet light, with a hint of tartness yet sweet-tasting and incredibly fragrant from the kaffir leaf in it. This is definitely a favorite and pairs really well with chicken. During my last visit, the friendly server rightfully cautioned me about not mistaking the tom yum noodle soup with the tom yum soup as they are completely different dishes. The tom yum noodle soup is enriched by many layers of flavors that come together beautifully. The clear broth is light, subtly sour with a hint of lemongrass, and is served mild, medium, or spicy. The rice noodles are topped with ground chicken, shrimp, fish balls, sprouts, peanuts, green onion, and cilantro. It’s a delicious experience. I recently asked the Eat in San Pedro Clockwise from top left: garlic bomb ramen from Ko Ryu Ramen; tom yum noodle soup from Facebook group members to name Baramee Thai Restaurant; Maria’s Mexican Restaurant's chicken soup; and wor wonton soup their favorite soup in town. Maria’s from Nim Chan’s Kitchen. (photos: Sanam Lamborn) Mexican Restaurant’s (28643 S. Western Ave.) chicken soup was mentioned by a few people. Since I am already fond of the restaurant, I had recognizable eggrolls. They are very Japanese hot miso, Korean hot pepper, to try it. The broth is deeply flavorful celery-forward and perfect. and habaneros for a delightfully fiery with just the right amount of spiciness. I was ecstatic when Ko Ryu Ramen experience. Nevertheless, the ramen The soup, enriched with Spanish rice, (362 W. 6th St.) opened its doors here is rich, velvety, and flavorful. because I didn’t have to leave town for Please note, due to recent dine and dash generous amounts of shredded chicken, ramen anymore. I find myself rotating episodes, outside tables are asked to pay fresh onion, tomatoes, and cilantro, is the epitome of comfort. Truly, this soup through choices here because I have a for their meal upon ordering. warms your body and soul. A close few favorites. I alternate between the Given my deep love of rice noodlekoi ramen, topped with pork slices and based soups and all things duck, I really second is their pozole, which is flavored with tender pieces of pork and hominy hard-boiled egg, and the garlic bomb like the duck noodle soup at Baramee in a deep red chili-based broth, served ramen. Some days I order the miso Thai Restaurant (354 W. 6th St.). It’s base, others the soy sauce-based shoyu simply served with sprouts and cilantro with fresh onion, cilantro, lemon, dried oregano, chili, and tortillas. spt broth. Truth be told, the garlic bomb as toppings, but it’s certainly tasty. is probably my favorite. I just avoid The traditional Thai tom yum soup is Sanam Lamborn created the having it if I am visiting with polite an enjoyable combination of hot and Eat in San Pedro Facebook group company later because the wonderful sour served with straw mushrooms; it and Instagram account in April scent of fried and fresh garlic lingers. is particularly good with shrimp. The 2020 to entice people to patronize Occasionally, I indulge in the Kobroth derives its tartness from vinegar, San Pedro’s eateries. Ryu spicy ramen, which combines its subtle heat from chili paste, and
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FITNESS
SPEED & PATIENCE by Ricky Magana
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We’ve just completed one year and stand at the precipice of another. How has the last year gone for you? Over the course of the last 52 weeks, you’ve been thrust into certain circumstances. And amidst those circumstances, you made a series of decisions that led you to this point. Are you happy with where you’ve landed? Do you find yourself gratified or disappointed with how it unfolded? What worked? What didn’t? What would you change if you could do it over? What were the most valuable lessons you’ll take into 2022? What will you do differently? These are all questions I’d like you to ask yourself before you step into the new year. Why? Because most of us, myself included, can get so caught up in just moving from one day to the next without ever stopping to look up and see if we’re moving in the direction we intended. We get fooled into thinking we have all the time in the world, and suddenly, a year has passed us by. Time moves fast and slow. In the day-to-day, it feels like the seconds crawl. The days feel long, and so we waste them. We dillydally. We spend hours on Instagram and Facebook. We squander time like it’s infinite. But suddenly, a month has come and gone. Then a year. Then a decade. And you’re left scratching your head: How did that go so fast? Hopefully, you’re exactly where you want to be. But far too often, we find ourselves regretting how we spent so much time on trivial things. It reminds me of one of my favorite movie quotes from Confessions of a Dangerous Mind: When you’re young, your potential is infinite. You might do anything really. You might be Einstein. You might be DiMaggio. Then you get to an age when, what you might be, gives way to what you have been. You weren’t Einstein. You weren’t DiMaggio. You weren’t anything. That’s a bad moment. That line gets me every time. It encapsulates the regret we can experience when we look back on another year (or decade) and find that due to procrastination, distraction, and indecision, we wasted it.
So in the hopes of helping each other make this year count, here is an insight I learned from entrepreneur GaryVee that I’d like you to keep in mind: As you pursue your goals this year, aim to develop two virtues — speed and patience. Speed is understanding the importance of something and taking action on it immediately and consistently. It’s your velocity of execution. Patience is the ability to do said actions without seeing the payoff for long periods of time. I meet so many people who have been thinking about getting back into their fitness routine for six months. They keep meaning to find the time but haven’t yet. They talk, they ruminate, they mull it over into oblivion. They’re sitting on the fence yet somehow never miss an episode of Yellowstone. They delay as if they have all the time in the world. And it’s often these same people who will do something for two weeks and complain that results aren’t happening fast enough. Why? Because they lack urgency and patience. Honestly, it’s not completely their fault. It’s how society/culture/technology is training your lizard brain to be. It’s literally the business model of social media; harvest your attention for ad dollars by keeping your eyeballs glued to a screen. I read the other day that the goal of one popular social platform is to get teenagers to use the app for four hours a day. FOUR HOURS. So when we drink from a river of dance videos and half-naked influencers, our expectations get all out of whack. Here’s a very uncomfortable truth I’d like you to embrace this year: Everything worthwhile will take longer than you think. Whatever goal you have, understand that it might take two to three times longer than you planned for. This is normal. Expect it. Make peace with it. But at the same time, stop farting around. Just because the process takes a while doesn’t mean you should. Focus your effort. Have a plan. Start now. Do that, and this time next year, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish. spt Ricky Magana is co-owner of Heyday Elite Fitness. For more info, visit heydaytraining.com.
MENTAL HEALTH
TOXIC ENVY by Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT We hear a lot about boundaries As we approach the new year and reflect on holidays past, one may contemplate not only materialistic resolutions for 2022, but also on one’s internal evolution for the greater good, for it is the changes we make within that ensure our better future. It is in the way that we relate to one another that determines the quality of our life experience. When discussing toxic relationships, popular psychology frequently explores the psychopathology of psychopathy. We provide lists of signs and symptoms to help people recognize narcissistic, sociopathic, and borderline behaviors in others. These diagnostic terms have become a shorthand for most when describing unpleasant experiences with others. While it is important to provide tools for recognizing signs of abusive relational dynamics, statistically, only one percent of the U.S. population is actually psychopathic. Yet relational toxicity frequently occurs at different levels of intensity. Destructiveness is an integral part of human nature. Painful experiences with others are universal. In the words of Jean-Paul Sartre, the founding father of existentialism, “Hell is other people.” Considering most of us are well-meaning and capable of empathy, it seems that perhaps we frequently lack the ability to self-reflect, thus missing more commonplace feelings
within ourselves that lead to damaging behaviors. Not every person that hurts us is a psychopath, yet every person is capable of being hurtful. Unaware, we become unconsciously malicious. Envy is an example of such integral darkness in our nature, which I wish to discuss in the name of collective betterment. The subject of envy takes center stage in Shakespeare’s Othello. Here, Iago goes to great lengths to destroy Othello’s love by making him jealous of Desdemona and causing him to murder the love of his life. Iago doesn’t try to get Desdemona; he simply cannot tolerate Othello’s successes. Othello’s very existence is a torment to Iago. In Dante’s The Divine Comedy, envy is described as “non-sight,” eyelids sewn tight with leaden wire, suggesting that envy leads to a form of blindness. In the biblical narrative, envy is one of the seven deadly sins, and in the Old Testament, it is envy that causes Cain to murder his brother Abel. Nelson W. Aldrich, Jr. describes envy as “the almost frantic sense of emptiness inside oneself.” Envy is so archaic and ingrained in the human psyche that from the beginning of time, scholars, poets, and philosophers wrote about it. One of the leading psychoanalytic theorists, Melanie Klein, believed envy played an integral role in early child development. She describes it as a manifestation of primary destructiveness that causes psychological splits between good versus bad. An envious person sees all good or all bad, unable to integrate the
(photo: ArtHouse Studio/Pexels)
two into one. He or she then seeks to destroy one in an attempt to preserve the other. We all have felt pangs of envy, yet so shameful is this feeling that we rarely admit it to ourselves, and it is in this subconscious darkness that envy, like a serpent, lies dormant and quiet, gaining its destructive powers. Have you felt a knot in your stomach when hearing someone got a promotion? Or you notice your crush flirting with another? Cutthroat office politics, malicious gossip, sabotage, underhanded comments, and backstabbing are all symptoms of toxic envy. Have you seen a child break a friend’s toy they couldn’t have? Or destroy another’s artwork because it was better than theirs? The distinction between jealousy and envy is an important one to understand. Both jealousy and envy are rooted in competition, but jealousy doesn’t seek to destroy the competitor. Jealousy seeks to surpass the competitor. Jealousy can inspire one to achieve their best, to test one’s limits, and to reach new heights. It doesn’t prevent admiration, love, and appreciation.
Envy, however, has no space for such things; it takes its roots in a deep sense of disparity. An envious person does not seek to replicate or surpass the competitor. He feels he has no resources to do so; therefore, he only seeks to eliminate and destroy the source. When we feel small, these difficult feelings can easily rear their ugly head. If you see something beautiful, intelligent, successful, bright, and interesting, and you find yourself tormented, try to be honest with yourself. Ask yourself: How do these feelings serve you? How do they elevate your soul? How do they make the world a better place? Envy is irrational. It draws its energy from senseless comparison, it tends to present the subject in black and white, and it is primitive in that it lacks integration and usually is not an adequate reflection of truth. In acknowledging envy, we temper the darkness within, not to mention, as Joseph Epstein wrote, “Of the seven deadly sins, only envy is no fun at all.” spt Sophie Schoenfeld, MFT is a local marriage and family therapist. For more info, visit sophiemft.com.
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REAL ESTATE
2021 REAL ESTATE MARKET: YEAR IN REVIEW by Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac Where does the time go? It’s been nearly four years since writing our first column for San Pedro Today, and we would like to express our gratitude to a great community that has supported our efforts. Our goal was very straightforward with this column: provide relevant real estate information while relating it to our local communities. We are grateful for the opportunity and just want to thank our readers. Another year has elapsed, and boy, what a whirlwind year it was in our local real estate markets. The year began strong and ended even stronger, as we continued to emerge post-pandemic with “limited housing inventory and historically low mortgage rates” continuing to be the primary drivers. This was a year in which multiple offer scenarios became the norm, vaulting housing prices to record highs that had never been seen before in our nearly 20 years in the business. To give a little perspective, let’s look back to 2020 vs. 2019 and how the local real estate markets performed during the pandemic, which hit in March of 2020. According to local MLS statistics (2020 vs. 2019), there were 355 singlefamily residences sold in San Pedro (+13%) with an average sales price of $781,000 (+9%) and average days on market (DOM) of 32 days (-12%). In neighboring Rancho Palos Verdes, there were 399 SFRs sold (+8%) with an average sales price of $1,664MM (+11%) and average DOM of 38 days (-21%). Overall, there were 3,964 SFRs sold (-4%) in the Greater South Bay with an average sales price of $1,339MM (+13%) and average DOM of 31 days (-18%). The overall trend across the Greater South Bay was a slight decrease in sales volume, higher prices, and fewer days on market. As reported last year, the 2021 Housing Market Forecast published by the California Association of Realtors® projected that SFR home sales volume would increase by 3.3%, with the me28 I SAN PEDRO TODAY I JANUARY 2022
dian home price in California up 1.5%. The average 30-year, fixed mortgage interest rates were projected to decrease slightly to 3.1%. How did this forecast play out in the Greater South Bay during 2021? Through mid-December of 2021, there were 379 SFR homes sold in San Pedro. This was up 13% from the 332 homes sold during the same period in 2020. The average sales price of $934,000 was up a whopping 18%, and the average DOM for homes sold went from 33 days down to 21 days (-44%). In Rancho Palos Verdes, 458 SFR homes sold (+21%) with an average sales price of $1,983MM (+17%) and average DOM of 21 days (-58%). In the Greater South Bay as a whole, there were 4,585 SFR homes sold (+22%) with an average sales price of $1,560MM (+15%) and average DOM of 21 days (-38%). We clearly exceeded the projections in sales volume and price for California in our area, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate being in line with projections at 3.2%. So what’s the outlook for 2022? The California Association of Realtors® projects that supply constraints and higher home prices will bring California home sales down slightly in 2022, but transactions will still post their secondhighest level in the past five years. The California median home price is forecast to rise 5.2% to $834,400 in 2022, following a projected 20.3% increase to $793,100 in 2021 from $659,400 in 2020. An imbalance in demand and supply will continue to put upward pressure on prices, but higher interest rates and partial normalization of the mix of sales will likely curb median price growth. Additionally, a shift in housing demand to more affordable areas, as the trend of remote working continues, will also keep prices in check and prevent the statewide median price from rising too fast in 2022. We look forward to a great 2022 and all that the New Year may bring. spt Mike Harper and Peter Hazdovac are both licensed Realtors® with Keller Williams Realty. For more info, visit harperhazdovac.com.
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THE BACK PAGE
TWO FOR '22: A double rainbow appears above San Pedro on December 24, 2021. (There's a very faint second rainbow towards the top of the photo.) (photo: John Mattera Photography)
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