December 11, 2020 | Vol. XLII No. 51

SIGNAL TRIBUNE Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill

VOL. XLII NO. 51

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

SIGNAL HILL CITY COUNCIL

Contextualizing the surge: the 556% increase that has health officials concerned

see page 2

COMMUNITY

Hood Santa and the Local Hearts Foundation bring holiday joy to child with leukemia

Staff Photo | City of Signal Hill

Anita W. Harris

December 11, 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Edward Wilson takes place as new mayor New council takes shape as members appoint new mayor and vice mayor

www.signaltribune.com

Senior Writer

During its Tuesday, Dec. 8 meeting, the Signal Hill City Council rotated its mayor and vice-mayor positions as it does annually, after swearing-in three members who had been re-elected to the council on Nov. 3.

Edward Wilson will serve as mayor for a year with Keir Jones as vice mayor. The five-member council voted 3-2 for each amid much discussion about rotation schedules and fairness.

Councilmember Robert Copeland, who had been see SH MAYOR page 7

COMMUNITY Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Sophie Hawker holds a green Care Bear gifted to her by the Local Hearts Foundation. A family friend contacted the foundation about helping Sophie, who is four years old and has already fought two different types of cancers.

Lissette Mendoza Managing Editor

C Kristen Farrah Naeem | Signal Tribune

Cristina Aviles (center) organized a pop-up sale featuring small businesses to raise money for her organization Compassion Project, with the goal of helping the community access yoga and mental health care.

“Yoga is for everybody” Compassion Project hosts pop-up fundraiser for mental health

Kristen Farrah Naeem Staff Writer

People gathered in North Long Beach on Sunday, Dec. 6, to practice a type of yoga few would recognize in the US. No one was stretching, and attendees relaxed on the grass eating cupcakes and charcuterie.

The small business vendors who participated in the pop up sale had agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds to Compassion Project, a new organization that aims to provide access to yoga and mental health care at low to no cost. This in itself is karma yoga, the act of doing good deeds and right actions. see COMPASSION PROJECT page 5

hristmas came early for a local 4-year-old fighting leukemia as the Local Hearts Foundation’s own Hood Santa teamed up with Kiddos Oldtown Shack and Bad Boyz Car Club to bring Sophie Hawker some holiday joy.

Sophie was born with a genetic disorder, specifically a p53 mutation which according to the family’s GoFundMe, means her genes can’t fight off cancer and there is currently no cure for it. Sophie has already had two different cancers in her four years. Currently, she is fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

After a family friend reached out to the Local Hearts Foundation, within hours, Tito Rodriguez, also known as the Hood Santa, had set up a christmas tree and toy drop-off for Sophie and her parents Christian Hawker and

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Daniella Guerra.

This is one of numerous stops for Rodriguez and the Local Hearts Foundation, who have been driving around to different areas of LA County in recent days, delivering Christmas trees to those in need.

Rodriguez also gave the family a $1,000 check on behalf of Lester and Monica Singer from The Cupcake Factory.

A GoFundMe has also been set up

by Sophie’s parents with their goal being “to give Sophie the best life possible, full of memories because she will be continuously dealing with cancer for the rest of her life” and can be found under the title “Sophie’s Happiness.”

The Local Hearts Foundation will be hosting their 10th annual Diamond Christmas Toy Drive at MacArthur Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19.

Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Sophie Hawker, 4, (below) holds a toy gifted to her by the Local Hearts Foundation.

The family also received a Christmas tree (above) on behalf of the foundation.

CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AS SOON AS WE’RE ABLE TO REOPEN.

2

NEWS

Signal Tribune

December 11, 2020

COVID-19

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Long Beach’s second COVID-19 surge is record-breaking across all metrics, including daily average case counts.

The current surge represents a 556% increase in daily case averages.

CONTEXTUALIZING THE SURGE The 556% increase that has health officials concerned

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During their Tuesday, Dec. 8 meeting, the Long Beach City Council received a behemoth of a report from the Health Department. In their multi-hour discussion on the report, councilmembers bumped heads about the best course of action for reducing the spread of COVID-19.

One thing was certain. Across all metrics—case counts, hospitalizations, positivity rate and intensive care unit capacity— the situation is worsening. “This pandemic is not getting better, it’s getting worse across the United States. And that is also the case in Long Beach and in the State of California,� Mayor Robert Garcia said. “Every day in this country, we are seeing 9/11-level events when it relates to deaths. 9/11 is repeating itself every single day in this country due to this pandemic.� “That is horrifying and it should be alarming to all of us,� he continued. “Especially when cases continue to skyrocket and when the numbers are going in the wrong direction.�

Second surge more substantial than first

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Long Beach Health Department has tracked seven-day averages in case counts. They use these metrics to identify surges, pockets of time with substantial case numbers.

The first surge represented a 183% increase over a seven-day average.

In the current surge, from Nov. 5 to Dec. 5, cases have increased 556% in overall cases, from a daily case count of 39 cases to 285 cases.

The virus has an incubation period of two to 14 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today is the fourteenth day of that incubation period. The full extent of Thanksgiving transmission and subsequent infections has not yet come to fruition.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, both city health officials and city council members voiced concern that the surge will continue into 2021. “We have not reached the twoweek mark since Thanksgiving, and Christmas is coming,� Councilmember Rex Richardson said. “I’m afraid of what the new few weeks will continue to hold. I thank heaven that we have a local public health agency that’s able to coordinate a local response.�

Richardson’s district consistently ranks as one of the most impacted by

COVID-19. North and west Long Beach consistently rank highest, particularly in zip codes 90805, 90806 and 90813.

Situation worsening across the board

From November 1 to December 7: • 456% increase in average daily cases (from 46 to 256) • 517% increase in local area hospitalizations (29 to 179) • 196% increase in Long Beach residents hospitalized (22 to 98) • 338% increase in rate per 100,000 (9.5 to 41.7) • 133% increase in positivity rate (9.5 to 41.7) • 80% of Area Hospital intensive care unit capacity filled (20% capacity left) • 89% of regional intensive care unit capacity filled (11% capacity left)

“

Stay-at-home orders are the economic medicine to prevent economic heart attacks.

-Rex Rex Richardson,

District 9 Councilmember

�

Infected population is shifting to a younger cohort

Early in the pandemic, most residents infected with COVID-19 were in their forties. Since May, this number has been trending downwards to residents in their thirties.

The median age of someone infected by COVID-19 as of November was 34.

According to City Health Officer Anissa Davis, the main cause of transmission is being in close proximity with infected persons. In her report, she stated that more than 50% of exposures may come from pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. “That is another difficulty when we’re trying to stop COVID-19, is that it’s not just having symptoms that alerts you that you may be contagious and able to spread it to

somebody else,� Davis said.

According to the city’s COVID-19 dashboard, the highest percentage of cases come from residents between the ages of 20 to 29, which make up 23.7% of total cases. They’re followed by residents 30 to 39, who make up 19.5% of cases, and then 40 to 49, who make up 15% of cases.

Hispanic and Latino residents hit hardest by infections

Throughout the pandemic, residents of color have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. As Long Beach braces for the continuing surge, that trend has continued.

Hispanic and Latino residents have a mortality rate of 123 per 100,000 when adjusted for age.

Black residents follow closely after, with a mortality rate of 89 per 100,000.

Asian residents have a mortality rate of 58 per 100,000, while white residents have the lowest mortality rate of 52 per 100,000. “Where people are living is very much related to income, related to access to healthcare, related to overcrowded housing, in the most dense areas of the city and that plays out very clearly on our map,� Director of Health and Human Services Kelly Colopy said.

When will the stay-athome order be lifted?

Under the state’s new health order, Long Beach has been grouped with several other counties in Southern California, representing a region that must increase its ICU capacity before returning to the tiered approach.

Once the region hits the threshold of 15% ICU capacity, cities will return to their county-level categorizations. Long Beach will return to being measured with Los Angeles County, and will likely return to the restrictive purple tier unless case numbers are substantially lowered across the county.

Met with contention about the importance of reopening small businesses, Councilmember Rex Richardson quoted Long Beach’s director of economic research at California State University Long Beach, “The economic cost of restrictive public health orders are much lower than the cost of failing to contain the virus and shutting down our economy again.� “Stay at home orders are the economic medicine to prevent economic heart attacks.�

The next Long Beach city council meeting will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. via teleconference.

COMMENTARY

December 11, 2020

3

Signal Tribune

From Our Online Readers: Letters, Emails, Comments and Statements

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

In response to ‘Long Beach Businessmen Organize March To Save Small Businesses’:

“

PROTEST! MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD! ....This is your livelihood!

Google Maps

Signal Hill resident Michael Boudreau describes Hill Street, West of Cherry Avenue, as “dangerous” due to high car speeds.

“This street is dangerous and is only awaiting a serious accident” To the Editor, To put it frankly, Hill St. just west of Cherry Ave. is a speedway. For years now I’ve been witness to a daily onslaught of HUNDREDS of irresponsible drivers traversing through a PARK, PLAYGROUND, COMMUNITY CENTER, SCHOOL, and RESIDENTAL street. And every time I send in a complaint by using your city’s website, it gets routed to a police representative and nothing happens (other than maybe once a speed monitoring trailer being set for a couple of days). This two lane residential road, with pedestrians, driveways, and parking on both sides is being ignored. The permitted 30 MPH zone on a steep decline with NO enforcement or monitoring is frustrating to witness. The neighborhoods in the Signal Hill/Long Beach have many areas with a 25 MPH speed limit set, even on 4-LANE ROADS (example Stearns St), and yet the 2-lane Hill St. is unchanged and unmonitored, when once again, it is a PARK, PLAYGROUND, COMMUNITY CENTER, SCHOOL, and RESIDENTAL neighborhood.

I’ve seen proposals to “develop” community friendly living up by Mothers Market, and yet those who live right next to an existing park, and the CITY HALL, can barely cross the street without fear of being ran over! Would speed inhibitor(s) bankrupt the city? Would adding a speed inhibitor and reducing the speed limit (and enforcing it regularly) cause unbearable traffic? No. It wouldn’t. So, I ask you, with a footprint of 2.189 mi², why is this street I live off of not a concern to you?

I could go on about how during times when things are “normal” and seeing 20-40 children walking from the elementary school to the park after school program with cars flying by at 40+ MPH, but I hope you have gotten the point. This street is dangerous and is only awaiting a serious accident.

In response to ‘Dreaming of a not-only-white Christmas’:

“

I love this idea it’s about time we had a black Santa and who better to do it [than] Carmen Brooks.

In response to ‘Dreaming of a not-only-white Christmas’:

“

Thank you Ms Harris for your article.

Well done and well said. It’s past time for cities such as ​Signal Hill and Long Beach, which are so diverse, to finally start to represent all of their constituents. Thank you Ms Brooks for stepping up to the plate and encouraging change. I look forward to even more positive changes like this In the near future! Iris Lovelace, formerly 90755 now 90813!

”

– Iris G Lovelace via website comment

P.S. This does not even address the speeding of full on semi-tractor-trailers and other warehouse trucks that also cut through, which again, is absurd for a residential street.

Please consider adding a designation for Hill St. to be not a trucking route.

WANT TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR? SEND US AN EMAIL AT NEWSPAPER@SIGNALTRIBUNE.COM.

GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS ON LOCAL POLITICS, WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGBHORHOOD OR THE PANDEMIC AT LARGE.

MANAGING EDITOR

DIGITAL EDITOR

Karla M. Enriquez

”

– Patricia Blair via website comment

Regards, Michael Boudreau Signal Hill Resident

Lissette Mendoza

”

– Donald Signal Hill via Facebook

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Emma DiMaggio

LEGALS COORDINATOR

Katherine Green

In response to ‘Judge declines to lift outdoor dining ban, but wants evidence from LA County’:

“

Make it fair. The CRA should have to provide proof eating at their establishments is safe and won’t spread COVID at all.

– Rick Kott via Facebook

SENIOR WRITER

Anita W. Harris

STAFF WRITER

Kristen Farrah Naeem

”

COLUMNIST

Claudine Burnett

The Signal Tribune welcomes letters to the editor, which should be signed, dated and include a phone number to verify authenticity. Letters are due by noon on the Wednesday before desired publication date.

The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit ­letters for grammar, language and space requirements. Letters must be 500 words or fewer. The Signal Tribune will publish no more than one “pro” letter and one “con” letter on a particular topic in a single issue. The Signal ­Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other ­publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct ­information when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. We do not run letters to the editor submitted by individuals who have declared their candidacies for public office in upcoming races. This policy was put in place because, to be fair, if we publish one, we would have to publish all letters submitted by all candidates. The volume would no doubt eliminate space for letters submitted by other readers. Instead, we agree to interview candidates and print stories about political races in an objective manner and offer very reasonable advertising rates for those candidates who wish to purchase ads. The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 30,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $50.

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NEWS/COMMUNITY

Signal Tribune

FAMILY

December 11, 2020

LOCAL BUSINESS

Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

A child plays at Jenni Rivera Memorial park on Dec. 18, 2019.

Playgrounds allowed to reopen in Long Beach Staff Report Signal Tribune

P

reviously closed outdoor playgrounds will be allowed to reopen Thursday, Dec. 10 under an updated Health Order by the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. The updates are in line with changes to the State of California’s Regional Stay at Home Order, according to a press release by the City of Long Beach.

Before parents take their children to outdoor playgrounds, they should talk with them about social distancing and ensure they wear a mask. Everyone should be wary of touching their faces after touching playground equipment, and disinfectant should be used after each different activity.

Playgrounds at schools that are open for in-person learning may also stay open, following health guide-

lines. The City released a Health Order limiting most non-essential activities on Dec. 6, in accordance with the State’s Regional Stay at Home Order.

Residents should continue to limit all non-essential contact with people outside of their household. Masks should continue to be worn when outside or around other people, and physical distancing and frequent hand washing should still be practiced. Anyone feeling ill should self isolate.

The updated Health Orders for playgrounds were added by the City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, and in accordance with the Emergency Powers given to the City Manager through the Proclamation of Local Emergency. They go into effect Thursday, Dec. 10 and continue until the Health Officer extends, rescinds or amends them in writing.

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Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Martin Luzanilla, owner of Mexihanas Hibachi Grill in his new storefront location at 1782 Martin Luther King Avenue, is the latest business to open in the 6th District where he grew up in.

Mexihanas Hibachi Grill opens storefront location with a successful grand opening Lissette Mendoza Managing Editor

D

espite what head chef and owner Martin Luzanilla called an “emotional roller coaster,” he was finally able to open a storefront location of his growing business, Mexihanas Hibachi Grill on Friday, December 4.

The family-run business includes the involvement of Luzanilla, his brother Manuel and other close family and friends who have been a part of the business since its inception in July of this year.

“It just took off,” Luzanilla said.

“I would just post food we would cook at home for the kids and people were just like, ‘hey, let us try that’ and here we are,” he said.

With $2,500 and investing in a taco cart, they began serving up their food from their own driveway.

“I went from nothing to where we’re at today, the first day as an official business and it feels great,” Luzanilla said.

As he reflected on his journey, Luzanilla choked up for a moment, “It’s an emotional roller coaster, tears of joy, for sure.”

The Luzanillas grew up in the 6th District, the same area where their storefront is located at 1782 Martin

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Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Mexihanas Hibachi Grill lobster and shrimp on top of garlic noodles and fried rice.

Luther King Avenue, right off of Pacific Coast Highway, in the same historic block where the original V.I.P. Records store was located.

Now Martin is the first one in his family to open up a business, an accomplishment for him as this will begin a path of generational wealth to provide for him, his family and his community.

The success of Mexihanas has also permitted the Luzanillas to give back to the community. Just the month prior they teamed up with the Hood Santa to distribute turkeys and canned goods to those in need.

“To help the community, to help out people that need help, you know what I mean, provide the stuff that I didn’t have, hopefully this can build to bigger and better things and get something going right, not just for my community, for Long Beach and LA in general,” Luzanilla said.

Prior to securing their new location, Mexihanas was serving up their signature plates during weekend pop-ups only out of Jerry’s Place on 4th Street where they would continuously sell out.

This Friday during their grand opening was no exception as Mexihanas sold out within hours.

“I’m stoked, I’m blown away, I’m overexcited,” Luzanilla said.

Their menu consists of different combos of their signature fine meats including rib-eye, new york strip and tuna steak, lobster, chicken or shrimp on top of either fried rice, chicken fried rice, vegetables, garlic noodles, or edamame all cooked hibachi-stye.

“I’m coming at it with a different style, it’s an LBC style,” Luzanilla said.

The inspiration for the hibachi-style, meaning the food is cooked on a high-heat, metal cooking plate came from Luzanilla’s own passion for it and realizing that there wasn’t anything like it in his community. He was also inspired by his cousins who used to own a Chinese-Mexican fusion restaurant

in Pomona.

“When I looked around and saw what was in my city, this wasn’t here, and all you had was high end restaurants that did that,” Luzanilla said. “I wanted to bring something that was the same quality food, at a to-go place.”

“Especially right now, during this pandemic, we have to do that, with the closures and the shutdowns we have to focus on what we can do at the door at the moment and not seating people,” he said.

Prior to owning Mexihanas,

Lissette Mendoza | Signal Tribune

Mexihanas Hibachi Grill steak and chicken on top of chicken fried rice and mixed vegetables.

Martin had worked as a construction worker, one of his last jobs having been knocking down the old Long Beach Courthouse, and working as a AAA tow truck driver for 12 years.

At the end of the interview Luzanilla left off with a quote that his grandfather Francisco Bejarano, who has since passed, told him, “Capitalize on what you want to do, don’t do it halfway, don’t ever do something three quarters of the way or a quarter of the way. Just do something, do it right, and you’ll get everything you want.”

While their set hours of operation are still pending, keep up with their latest updates by following them on their Instagram, @Mexihanashibachigrill.

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NEWS/COMMUNITY

December 11, 2020 CSULB

Cal State Long Beach announces it will not extend alternative grading options for fall semester after student petition circulates Karla M. Enriquez Digital Editor

As the moment approaches where university students will trade long hours behind a computer screen for holiday vacation, concerns over grading have been raised by California State University Long Beach students.

A change.org petition created by CSULB student Carolyn Dao asking the university to extend the alternative grading system that was offered in the spring 2020 semester to fall began making the rounds on social media and quickly garnered over 15,000 signatures as of publication time.

In an email from Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications, Jeff Cook, to the Signal Tribune, it was noted that the credit/ no credit policy was revised during the spring semester to accommodate the academic disruption caused by a sudden transition to remote learning because of the pandemic. The policy allowed a class with a credit grade to satisfy general education, degree, major and minor requirements.

“This pandemic has cause[d] unprecedented stress on students and teachers alike. The loss of in-campus experience has immeasurable influence on student performance with negative impacts,” the petition said in its opening paragraph.

Provost Brian Jersky announced to students on Tuesday, Dec. 8 however that the extension would not be granted.

“After much consideration of the long-term implications to your academic and professional careers, we have determined that the credit/ no-credit policy should not be extended to Fall 2020,” the announcement said.

The concerns listed in the announcement that led to the decision include: •Harm that could be caused to student’s transcripts if few or no letter grades are recorded for multiple semesters.

•Effects on the Standard Academic Progress (SAP). “The spring term grade distribution indicated that a greater number of students received no-credit for courses they typically would have received C or D as passing grades,” the announcement stated before noting this could negatively impact Financial Aid. •Graduate and professional schools not recognizing credit/ no credit grades, especially if they extend over a long period of time.

The announcement said that the university had a chance to prepare for alternative modes of instruction for the fall semester and students knew in advance that the classes they were registering for were likely not taking place in person.

“Knowing that exceptions such as a CR/NC (credit/ no credit) option would no longer be possible, we provided multiple levels of support to faculty and students,” Jersky said.

The announcement, which was sent in an email to students, ends by saying that faculty and staff are committed to student’s academic and personal success and encourages them to reach out to instructors, academic advisers, or department chairs

5

Signal Tribune

Compassion Project continued from page 1 Compassion Project was started by marriage and family therapist Cristina Aviles while completing her studies to becomes a yoga teacher.

She sees mental health care and yoga as going hand in hand, and wants to eliminate any barriers that might keep people from being able to participate.

“I never want money or any kind of accessibility issues to get in the way for anyone,” Aviles told the Signal Tribune.

Indeed, money was never meant to be a barrier to the indigenous practice of the Indian subcontinent.

And many expensive so-called yoga studios across the US are teaching nothing more than calisthenics. Fortunately, the program Aviles attended, Ra University, taught the origins of yoga and required its students to start projects that would benefit the community.

“So yoga literally in Sanskrit is ‘to yoke,’ — ‘to unite,’– and this is literally what I see right here, is this unity, this community together, and it requires that support to be able to just continue to grow that mission.

Compassion to me is love, empathy, kindness, with not having to need a certain socioeconomic status to be

able to access this,” Aviles said.

In a Western world that associates yoga with pricy spandex clothing and bored upper-middle class women getting in shape, hardly anyone remembers what yoga truly is. The stretches that many people think of as yoga are actually just different types of asana. Learning the asanas is literally referred to as the least important part of yoga in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a classic text written hundreds of years before Christ was born which outlines the eight limbs of yoga. Asana is the third limb, with the first two, yama and niyama, involving morals and ethics. Of the 195 sutras (similar to verses) in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, only three talk about asanas.

In the Bhagavad Gita, another ancient text, three different types of yoga are outlined, all of which can be practiced without any sort of stretching: • Karma yoga- The Path of Action, doing good deeds and making morally right actions • Bhakti yoga- The Path of Devotion, love of God • Jnan yoga- The Path of Knowledge, learning new things “We’re literally doing yoga right

volunteers are fellow graduates of Ra University that Aviles met during her studies, including yoga instructor Mari Aceves.

“Compassion Project is a really good representation of the yoga community, different people with different skills wanting to come forth and give to not only the community, but individuals and the collective during a time of need. But aside that, I think it’s a good example that yoga doesn’t have to be in a studio, doesn’t have to be in a particular place, that yoga can be anywhere with anybody. And as long as you’re taking time for your mental health and to learn a new coping skill, it’s going to be a benefit. So even if you’re not doing yoga with Compassion Project, do yoga for yourself,” Aceves said.

Vendors that donated a portion of their proceeds from the pop up sale to Compassion Project include plant seller Sophia Soul, charcuterie arrangers A&I Magical Boards, and Sugar from the Heart Bake Shop.

Compassion Project plans to host more events in the Long Beach and Los Angeles areas in the near future.

To keep up with what they’re doing follow them on Instagram @_compassion_project_.

Instagram | @_compassion_project_

Cristina Aviles founded Compassion Project to provide free yoga and therpay to the community.

now,” Aviles said during the event.

“There are eight limbs to yoga and that has been what has allowed me to bring all of this together because it’s like ‘oh, I’ve been doing yoga this whole time.’ It started with me with, yes, the asanas, the postures, and then opening that door to knowing that I’ve been doing it more and it’s in such alignment. Yoga is meditation, yoga is mindfulness. Yoga is joy, you know, encompassing different things that access joy in our lives. It’s connection. It’s community. It is not an escape. It is to help us be present, to move through the different pains that we will experience in this life.”

Many of Compassion Project’s

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• 1 LARGE PIZZA with 2 toppings • 1 DOZEN CHICKEN WINGS 2 LITER CHOICE SODA

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Deliver Deliver Beer & BeerHOME & ALONE SPECIAL PICK UP SPECIAL Wine • SMALL PERSONAL PIZZA with 1 topping Wine Monday thru Thursday • SMALL DINNER SALAD

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1

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2799 + TAX

+ TAX

BIGEFEB2020VS

Distributed with RetailMeNot Everyday™

SUPER SIZE IT FOR ONLY $3.00 MORE

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NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. LIMITED TIME ONLY.

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PICK UP SPECIAL Monday thru Thursday • MEDIUM PIZZA with 1 topping: $9.99+ TAX • LARGE PIZZA with 1 topping: $12.50+ TAX • XL PIZZA with 1 topping: $14.50+ TAX PICK UP ONLY. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. LIMITED TIME ONLY.

see GRADING page 6

1750

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BIGEFEB2020VS

Distributed with RetailMeNot Everyday™

BIGEFEB2020VS-012820.indd

1

1/13/20

11:22 AM

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Signal Tribune

PUBLIC NOTICES/NEWS TST6337 SUMMONS Case No. CV03-20-02115 IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF BANNOCK

EYE ON CRIME

IDAHO STATE POLICE, by and through Colonel Kendrick R. Willis, Director, Plaintiff, vs.

CRIMES REPORTED BY THE SIGNAL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT

$14,210.00 DOLLARS IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY Defendant, Carnaroli, Rick.

Wednesday, December 2 1:30 p.m., Robbery, 1600 block E. Willow St. 4:22 p.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, Temple Ave./E. Willow St. 7:25 p.m., Assault with a deadly weapon, 3100 block E. PCH Thursday, December 3 3:26 a.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2300 block Molino Ave. 6:44 a.m., Elder abuse, 2500 block Temple Ave. 7:15 a.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2800 block Junipero Ave. 8:10 a.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2300 block Cerritos Ave. Friday, December 4 9:26 a.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 1800 block Obispo Ave. 11:59 a.m., Spousal abuse, 3100 block California Ave. Saturday, December 5 12:32 p.m., Throwing objects at moving vehicles, 2400 block Cherry Ave. 10:50 p.m., Assault with a deadly weapon, 2100 block Gundry Ave. Sunday, December 6 9:44 a.m., Battery, 900 block E. 33rd St. Monday, December 7 5:14 a.m., Auto burglary, 1800 block Molino Ave. 7:58 a.m., Identity theft, 2200 block Junipero Ave. 11:47 a.m., Auto burglary, 1000 block E. 32nd St. 4:02 p.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2200 block E. Willow St. 9:56 p.m., Stolen vehicle – recovered, Freeman Ave. N/O E. PCH Tuesday, December 8 10:09 a.m., Burglary, 3100 block E. PCH 11:31 a.m., Battery, 700 block E. Spring St. 3:09 p.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2600 block E. 28th St. 3:57 p.m., Fire, 3300 block Lewis Ave. Wednesday, December 9 10:35 a.m., Burglary, 1900 block Dawson Ave. 4:54 p.m., Identity theft, 2100 block Ridge View Terrace 8:56 p.m., Grand theft – motor vehicle, 2200 block E. Willow St. LBPD reporting area is too extensive to report here.

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__________ NOTICE: A CIVIL FORFEITURE ACTION HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE ABOVE DES CRIBED PROPERTY BY THE ABOVE-NAMED PLAINTIFF(S). IF YOU FAIL TO FILE AN ANSWER TO ASSERT YOUR RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY WITHIN TWENTY—ONE (21) DAYS OF THE SERVICE OF THIS SUMMONS, OR WITHIN TWENTY—ONE (21) DAYS OF THE LAST PUBLICATION OF THIS SUMMONS, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER, THE COURT MAY ENTER JUDGMENT TERMINATING ANY RIGHT YOU MAY HAVE IN THE DEFENDANT PROPERTY WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. READ THE INFORMATION BELOW. TO: HARRY S. KHLOK You are hereby notified that in order to defend this lawsuit, an appropriate written response must be filed with the Sixth Judicial District County of Bannock, 624 E Center, Room 220, Pocatello, Idaho 83201, within 21 days after service of this Summons on you, or if by mail, within 21 days after the mailing of this Summons. If you fail to so respond the court may enter judgment as demanded by the Plaintiff(s) in the Complaint. A copy of the Complaint is served with this Summons. If you wish to seek the advice or representation by an attorney in this matter, you should do so promptly so that your written response, if any, may be filed in time and other legal rights protected.

An appropriate written response requires compliance with Rule 8(b) and other Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure and shall also include: 1. The title and number of this case; 2. If your response is an Answer to the Complaint, it must contain admissions or denials of the separate allegations of the Complaint and other defenses you may claim, and must be verified; 3. Your signature, mailing address and telephone number, or the signature, mailing address and telephone number of your attorney; 4. Proof of mailing or delivery of a copy of your response to plaintiffs attorney, as designated above.

To determine whether you must pay a filing fee with your response, contact the Clerk of the above-named court.

Published Signal Tribune 11/27, 12/4, 12/11, 12/17 TST6342 Case No. 20LBCP0028 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, GOVERNOR GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, 275 Magnolia, Long Beach, CA 90802 PETITION OF: JAKE TRAVIS MORRIS-TERRY TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioners: JAKE TRAVIS MORRIS-TERRY has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing his name as follows: Present Name: JAKE TRAVIS MORRIS-TERRY to Proposed Name: JAKE TRAVIS MORRIS. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: January 8, 2021; Time: 8:30a.m., Dept. 27. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, November 27, & December 4, 11, 18, 2020.

Mark C. Kim, Judge of the Superior Court Dated November 19, 2020 TST6349/Order No: 8716 Auto Lien Sale On 12/27/2020 at 2121 ROSEMEAD BLVD SOUTH EL MONTE,CA a Lien Sale will be held on a 2015 FORD VIN: 1FTYR1ZM1FKB18947 STATE: CA LIC: 22842B2

TST6347 / 2020 192015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: UNIVERSAL TOUCH, 4000 Long Beach Blvd., Ste. 252, Long Beach, CA 90807.

Registrant: LESLEY ALMER, 4142 Elm Ave. #413, Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Lesley Almer.

The registrant has not begun to use this fictitious business name. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on November 18, 2020. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.

A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. 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 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: December 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020.

TST6348 / 2020 199228 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: ON A WING AND A PRAYER ANIMAL RESCUE, 3559 Rutgers Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808. Registrant: LOIS K. PAIRE, 3559 Rutgers Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Lois K. Paire. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in August, 2020. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on November 25, 2020. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. 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 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: December 4, 11, 18, 25, 2020.

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December 11, 2020

Grading continued from page 5 if they need any assistance.

For Skyler Tomlin, a fourth-year human resources management student, this decision is disappointing.

“I find it ironic how the provost specifies that we were given the CR/NCR option last semester only because of the ‘academic disruption the pandemic caused,’” Tomlin said to the Signal Tribune. “The last time I checked, we’re still dealing with the same pandemic and the same academic disruption since we are still learning remotely.”

She continued, “Online school is not comparable to the experience I’ve had learning in person. I do not feel like the marks I am earning in this online environment are reflective of my studies as a whole.”

Tomlin, who is in her final year at CSULB, noted that postponing her education was not an option.

The credit/ no credit option is typically used by students who want to make sure their GPA is not negatively affected by a letter grade, something that Tomlin acknowledged.

“Essentially, with the CR/NCR option, I am ensuring that my old GPA from in-person learning remains relatively the same,” the student said. “I am not going to fail any of my classes but I feel like I am not absorbing the content and understanding the material at the same rate as in-person classes.”

First-year transfer student Mark Martinez is also concerned about how remote learning is affecting him and his peers and shared the petition on social media over the weekend.

“I’ve managed to talk to a few of my classmates here and there when we’re in private zoom groups to critique our work and a large portion are scared, stressed, have to work, basically every responsibility that adults have,” Martinez said. “Many have really fallen off the horse because of the accumulated stress and their work has suffered.”

He added, “On top of that stress, students are still paying full price for tuition despite being remote and feel that there should be more leniency, given the circumstances.”

Martinez called the transition into remote learning jarring and although he believes he’s maintaining his grades, his motivation has severely drained. He credits his professors as being lenient and understanding during this unprecedented time.

Martinez initially considered dropping his classes this semester until the pandemic was over, but ultimately decided against it.

Both Tomlin and Martinez agree that the credit/no credit option should be available for students who need it, with Tomlin adding that not all students will go to grad school and those who are will probably know better than to opt-in for the grading option. She believes using that as a justification to reject the extension was unfair.

Students have expressed their discontent with the decision on social media and some are ready to mobilize.

The change.org petition now appears under the name “CSULB students united,” for which a website has been created. In it, different links appear: one to email university officials about the alternative grading options as part of an email campaign and another to sign and share the petition. It also links an Instagram and Reddit page, where updates will be provided.

Dao told the Signal Tribune in an email that there are plans to organize a drive through protest on campus to show support for the cause. A date has not yet been announced.

PUBLIC NOTICES/NEWS

December 11, 2020

CITY OF SIGNAL HILL TST6352 NOTICE OF ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION Ordinance No. 2020-12-1517 was introduced by the Signal Hill City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, December 8, 2020. A summary of the ordinance is as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 13.04.150 SUBSECTION C OF THE SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE, BILLS-PAYMENT-DELINQUENCIES, TO COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL 998 REQUIREMENTS The ordinance was introduced by the following vote:

AYES:

MAYOR EDWARD H.J. WILSON, VICE MAYOR KEIR JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ROBERT D. COPELAND, TINA L. HANSEN, LORI Y. WOODS

NOES:

NONE

ABSENT: NONE

ABSTAIN: NONE

A copy of the full text of the ordinance is available in the City Clerk’s Office and on the City’s website: www.cityofsignalhill.org. .

Carmen R. Brooks City Clerk Published in the Signal Tribune newspaper on December 11, 2020.

Posted at City Hall, Discovery Well Park, Reservoir Park, and the Signal Hill Library on or before December 11, 2020.

CITY OF SIGNAL HILL TST6351 NOTICE OF ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION Ordinance No. 2020-12-1516 was introduced by the Signal Hill City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, December 8, 2020. A summary of the ordinance is as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 20-01 REVISING SECTION 20.20.020 OF THE SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE TO CONDITIONALLY PERMIT FULL SERVICE KITCHENS AND FOOD SERVICE IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES WITH TASTING ROOMS IN THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL (CI), LIGHT INDUSTRIAL(LI), AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL (GI) ZONING DISTRICTS The ordinance was introduced by the following vote:

AYES:

MAYOR EDWARD H.J. WILSON, VICE MAYOR KEIR JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS ROBERT D. COPELAND, TINA L. HANSEN, LORI Y. WOODS

NOES:

NONE

ABSENT: NONE

ABSTAIN: NONE

A copy of the full text of the ordinance is available in the City Clerk’s Office and on the City’s website: www.cityofsignalhill.org. .

Carmen R. Brooks City Clerk Published in the Signal Tribune newspaper on December 11, 2020.

Posted at City Hall, Discovery Well Park, Reservoir Park, and the Signal Hill Library on or before December 11, 2020.

CITY OF SIGNAL HILL TST6350 NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION Ordinance No. 2020-11-1515 was introduced by the Signal Hill City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, July 28, 2020 and adopted by the City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, December 8, 2020. A summary of the ordinance is as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 3.13 TO TITLE 3 OF THE SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW THREE QUARTER CENT PER DOLLAR (0.75%) GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE (SALES) TAX The ordinance was adopted by the following vote:

AYES:

MAYOR EDWARD H.J. WILSON, VICE MAYOR KEIR JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ROBERT D. COPELAND, TINA L. HAN- SEN, LORI WOODS

NOES:

NONE

ABSENT: NONE

ABSTAIN: NONE

Pursuant to Signal Hill Charter Section 315, this ordinance shall become effective 30 days from and after the date of its adoption. A certified copy of the full text of the ordinance is available in the City Clerk’s office and on the City’s website: www.cityofsignalhill.org .

Carmen R. Brooks City Clerk Published in the Signal Tribune newspaper on December 11, 2020.

Posted at City Hall, Discovery Well Park, Reservoir Park, and the Signal Hill Library on or before December 11, 2020.

NEED A LEGAL NOTICE POSTED? EMAIL LEGALNOTICES@SIGNALTRIBUNE.COM

Signal Tribune

7

SH Mayor continued from page 1 serving as mayor since March, stepped down after nine months due to the council’s decision to shift its municipal voting date from March to November to align with the statewide voting date.

In what council members hailed as the largest voter turnout for a Signal Hill municipal election, residents re-elected Copeland, Wilson and Councilmember Lori Woods to the council on Nov. 3.

LA County’s election results– officially certified on Nov. 30– show that Woods garnered the most votes at 2,986 with Copeland receiving 2,679 and Wilson 2,415. Challenger Terry Rogers earned 2,284 votes and therefore could not replace one of the three existing members.

Terms of the other two councilmembers– Tina Hansen and Jones– expire in November 2022.

Hansen, who had been serving as vice mayor since March, did not become mayor as per the council’s usual rotation tradition, a decision that followed sometimes heated discussion.

The annual rotation begins with council members nominating one member to be mayor. Jones nominated Wilson and Woods nominated Hansen.

In accepting her nomination, Hansen said she wanted to continue the usual rotation path from vice mayor to mayor, even though there had been some contention following her becoming vice mayor in March since it would have been Wilson’s turn as vice mayor in the council’s usual rotation pattern.

Three residents had written to the council in June contending that overstepping Wilson as vice mayor constituted systemic racism, which Wilson raised for discussion during council meetings in July.

Following those discussions, the council voted not to reorganize the council again to allow Wilson to replace Hansen as vice mayor.

During the Dec. 8 meeting, Hansen said that as mayor, she would like to use her experience to lead the city through the ongoing pandemic and also preside over forthcoming public hearings regarding Signal Hill Petroleum development projects.

Wilson said he has similar experience to Hansen, having also served five times as mayor during his 23 years on the council compared to Hansen’s 26.

Wilson added that the social-equity issues that grew out of Black Lives Matter protests in spring will still be prevalent in 2021, especially with the council’s creation of a new Diversity Coalition Committee (DCC) that he spearheaded.

Wilson also said that controversy over the council’s commissioner appointments when he last served as mayor in 2017-when he didn’t allow other council members to nominate commissioners, in accordance with the City’s charter- has had lasting positive effects in diversifying the three commissions involved.

“People are very happy with our commissioners,” he said. “All of the council members voted for them.”

Wilson added that he would allow

council members to nominate commissioners in the next appointment round in March 2021.

Copeland said that the issue of who among them serves as mayor is almost one of semantics.

“The mayor is a tiny step ahead [of other council members] in representing the city,” he said. Copeland voted for Wilson as mayor to return to the usual rotation order, he said.

Jones and Wilson joined him in that majority vote, with Hansen and Woods voting for Hansen.

As mayor, Wilson then presided over the vice-mayor election. He nominated Jones, Copeland nominated Hansen.

Hansen said that if the council doesn’t elect her as vice mayor, she would likely be left out of the mayor rotation for at least five more years, which she said is “inordinate” and not equitable.

Hansen last served as mayor from March 2018 to March 2019.

Wilson said it should be Jones’s turn to be vice mayor as a new councilmember, elected in March 2019.

“It is important to stick with the rotation,” Wilson said. “There’s no reason not to. I believe that’s fair, […] not putting emphasis on a particular person.”

Wilson said the usual rotation order would have Hansen become vice mayor next year, but Hansen replied that there is no guarantee next year’s council would agree, so she is advocating for herself now.

Hansen added that she has the experience to lead the city through “dark and difficult times.”

In voting on vice mayor, Copeland said it was a difficult decision but chose Jones, as did Jones and Wilson, giving Jones the majority vote. Woods and Hansen voted for Hansen.

“We all have a lot of respect for each other,” Jones said to the other three council members as Hansen temporarily left the virtual meeting, “We’re all in it together and we’ll all continue to work well together.”

Jones added that as a relatively new councilmember, he appreciated that he could learn from the experience of both Hansen and Wilson.

Wilson then read a proclamation honoring outgoing mayor Copeland, noting the latter’s “authenticity, enthusiasm and dedication,” and steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic, which started almost immediately after Copeland’s mayoral term began.

Woods noted that Copeland did not even get to have the usual mayor’s reception upon his election, and nor will Wilson due to the ongoing pandemic.

Returning to the meeting, Hansen commended Copeland for his “calm, cool and collected” demeanor. Jones praised Copeland’s humility in getting the job done during the chaos of the past nine months.

Copeland agreed it has been an unusual year to serve as mayor for the first time.

“I look forward to the next time I get to do it,” Copeland said. “Because I know it will be different.”

LIVES LIVED Arleen Corbet 74 Marlichia Ervin 56 LeticiaYap 85 Joan Muenzer 88 Michael Udoff 65 Agnes King 88 Barbara Boswell 91 Mario Gonzales Vargas 61 Diane Powers 59 Rufus Johnson 86 Edward Siebert 72 Ralph Sanchez 94 Terance Mulllin 72 Madeline Miller 81 Robert Kilpatrick 99 Rodolfo Babadillo 86 James Bell 80 Jesus Palacios 87

The families were assisted

by McKenzie Mortuary.

For more details on service dates and times, contact (562) 961-9301.

Pet of the week:

Clark

Clark was found strolling the streets of Long Beach when he was brought in to the shelter. At his advanced age—10 years old—and his friendly disposition, we’re pretty sure he was someone’s cat.

He’s got to have that job again—he deserves it. Because the shelter is closed to the public, adoption appointments are conducted through email, so contact PetAdopt@longbeach. gov to meet Clark. Ask for ID#A618818.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

8

Signal Tribune

December 11, 2020

ridelbt.com/routes

MOVING

YOU THROUGH

BECAUSE WE’RE GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF EVERYTHING YOU DO. LBT thanks the essential workers placing their trust in us, so they can make the holiday season possible for our community.