Bulletin060717

TheBulletin WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2, 2017 2012 WEDNESDAY, JUNE

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SERVING COMPTON THE INGLEWOOD TRIBUNE, AND THE INGLEWOOD TRIBUNE, CARSON BULLETIN, CARSON BULLETIN, WILMINGTON WILMINGTON BEACON, THE CALIFORNIAN, BEACON, THE CALIFORNIANTHE WEEKENDER, VOICE & THE SOUTHTHE SOUTH L.A. L.A. VOICE VOLUMEVOLUME 42, No. 18 • 50 54, No. 45 CENTS • 50 CENTS

City holds Council approves fee increases Local first-grader wins

closed, several issues were brought up, including monies from Measure P that will be incorporated, as well as plans to do a fee increase.

“And what is the timing The proposed resolution adds an additional placing too many upon the residents,” Lynn chise agreement for utility. forward the fee

By Chris Frost on the bringing $140,000 to the general fund.

Council members opposed fees affecting resiBoone said. “Maybe someone should go over Bulletin Staff Writer schedule?” asked Mayor Aja “The city has been subsidizing or covering these.” dents, including a $50 jump in block party perBrown.

“This is something curb fee increase to $150 for Utility companies are exempt from any fee in- mits, and a handicap COMPTON—The City Council unanimously street permit issuance and administration costs,” been then underway about installation, a $20 charge approved street work fee increases at its April 17 interim Public Works Director John Strickland creases because of a lawsuit between Edison and the pole sign andthat’s 18 months, or two years.” annually. Residential refuse bins were scheduled meeting, moving them beyond their current 1989 said. “The present fee schedule does not address Alhambra California in 2011.

“We$40 plan to have that “The utility company had a franchise agree- to increase from $5 and many types of street work permits issued and adfor small and large levels. completed within the next 90 ment, and the city adopted an ordinance concur- bins, to $25 and $75, respectively.

The city based its increase on inspection and ministered.” and Assistant rentDarlene with theLofgren agreement,” City Attorney Craig City“I Manager Public comments about the increases drew By am against gouging because of the administrative costs it traditionally did not days,” residents responded Assistant Lawrence Adams.

“This said. is the first of found two, that “The court praise from residents hoping for increased rev- Cornwell city’s negligence,”City Councilwoman Janna Zurita. interfering charge, then compared rates with other cities.

Manager Adams.

McKay informed Council three, agreement workshops” to ask for more with the condiwith the franchise is unconstitutional. ” “It is hard “We compared our rates with Gardenia, Lyn- enue, but the group stood against raising fees af- possibly “So money fee increases are that the “estimated revenues said Compton City Manager Cornwell and Edison representatives created nwood and Torrance,” interim Public Works Di- fecting residents. not in this budget?” asked were the from » See FEES, 9A “I know there should be increases, but you are Cecil Rhambo on May that 23rdpreserves language in the agreement fran- property taxes; Councilperson rector John Strickland said.

EmmaPage Sharif. at the budget workshop sales taxes; utility users tax; Adams told her that preceding the regular city other taxes; license and “all revenues are estimated permits, fines, forfeitures revenues. We believe, based council meeting.

“Today,” he said, “is and penalties; revenue from on the work that’s already agencies; charges been done, that we can make about the general fund” for other the upcoming a reasonable 2017-2018 fiscal “All revenues are estimated and practical year, the fiscal year estimate of one revenues. We believe, based on the million dollars beginning July 1, 2017. in the master work that’s already been done, The city fee schedule manager went on that we can make a reasonable increases.” to list the budget He said the and practical estimate of one priorities as “the number based on presentation and million dollars in the master fee the data they have adoption of a is actually three schedule increases.” balanced budget; million, so using maximum effort one million is a good estimate to retain general funded from current services; and of increased revenue. permanent staff; invest in other revenue - for a total of Zurita verified that the infrastructure improvements $55,844,860.” short fall “in the old budget is The city manager spoke covered in the new?” to repair Compton’s streets

By Chris that Frost will and road conditions; of extra expenses “We’ve actually projected Writer fund Staff in the strengthen fiscal controls, hit the general Bulletin expenditures and revenue program compliance, fiscal year 2017-18 budget: in next year’s budget,” Courtesy photo COMPTON—The Council moved anaudit said City audit completion and $700,000 for previous Juan Santos Barboza, the Foster ES 1st grader officially received his McKay, “so there’s other step forward in the city manager search no on more April on 27, accountability; plan for the work; $2,700,000 writing award from the PBS Writers Contest at an awards ceremony Tuesday, as Council members Willie shortfall being carried or hosted at Mark Taper Library in Los Angeles. $646,000 future with a budget reserve the sheriff contract; Jones, Janna Zurita and Yvonne Arceneaux inprojected.” including policy; invest in human for contingencies terviewed five candidates during a special Adams went onmeetto The PBS Kids Writers Contest was Peter Burnett. “Juan listened and was resources through staff cost of living raises; ing. $750,630 report “as an administrative open to students from throughout the rewarded for his writing skills. He’s additional training, proper classification for reserve; and anMayor Eric J.policy, Perrodin not things attendCity the onedid of the TV station’s viewership area, which an awesome all around scholar that because of a conflict involving current a total extra and cost of living adjustments; $1,210,000 - formeeting Manager Rhambo put into is much of Southern California. Juan deserves to be awarded. I’m so proud interim City Manager Bryan Batiste and Counwill stress and to continue sheriff service of $5,006,530 “that place when he came in as city won 2nd Place in the First Grader of him and his achievement.”

Janna Zurita. the general fundcilwoman more than levels despite cost increases.” manager was what we call for former interim Citya Category.

Juan’s parents (pictured), Salvador year,” took he over Seated at a table opposite we did this currentBatiste soft freeze.

We actually have Manager Lamont Ewell on Jan. 25. “‘Just try’ are the words I shared and Jennifer Barboza accompanied Council were City Controller reported. vacancies in “City Managerapproximately Bryan Batiste 52 wrote a memo with my students,” said Juan’s teacher Juan to the award ceremony.

However, when the city budget, overall, at this Nita McKay, Triphenia to City Attorney Craig Cornwell requesting that Bulletin photos Chris Frost Janna Zurita Zurita Simmons, budget officer in byCouncilperson Councilperson recuse herself from the intime.”

The Sibrie Park Braves practice throwing skills on Saturday, April 29. gap could be ” Perrodin the city manager’s office, asked how that terview process, said in a written stateHe explained that some of ment. “I will notthe participate Council vacanciesuntil “havethe temporary receives a writtenemployees...but opinion from Cornwell someabout of the disagreement.them ” are true vacancies...

Zurita said Batiste is only holding the position between the difference in until the Councilsofinds a permanent city manwhat was budgeted for those ager. costs,that andeveryone the actualisexpenses, LOS ANGELES—Law enforcement officers across the Southland are “The accusations making believe that on high alert Wednesday after a safety bulletin issued by the Los Angeles have no validity we to them, and thethere’ll Councilmost will a washcandidate, on our” continueofsearching for abequalified LOS ANGELES—An appellate kidnapping and possession a likely County Sheriff’s Department to its deputies and other area agencies revealed she said. “He knew goingshortages.” in this was only temrevenue panel Tuesday upheld the conviction firearm by a felon. a gang-related threat against them. porary. ” “What is projected,” of a felon who fired on Inglewood Warsaw has a 1989 conviction Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives learned of the threat two weeks ago Cornwell said he cannot make Zurita“seems recuse said the controller police and holed up inside a home for voluntary manslaughter in Los while investigating the fatal shooting of a stolen-vehicle suspect by South herself. reasonable and conservative.” with his off-and- on girlfriend and her Angeles County.

Gate police officers at the end of a vehicle chase, according to the sheriff’s “Every Council member to parFurtherhas the right discussion 14-year-old daughter for more than Neighbors called 911ticipate on Nov. department. in 27, properly noticed City Council matBy Chris Frost involved the mayor’s question eightWriter hours, raping the teen during 2013, after hearing piercing screams “During the course of an officer-involved shooting investigation, theBulletin Staff ters,” he said. “According to the charter, the city as the to will “what is Council our current the standoff. from the girl, who ran outside when Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau was made manager serves at of the and rate,”ofbut The three-justice from Warsaw returned to the nothing home with aware of information regarding a potential threat by criminal street gangs COMPTON—The shorta of hotel a legallyoccupancy defined conflict inSibrie Parkpanel Braves are continuing their data was notthe available at California’s District after told him that against Southern California on-duty law enforcement officers,” according to2011 success terest, a situation that precludes member in 2012 as2nd the team has wonCourt four of gun its first fivehis girlfriend had the time of the meeting. fromAttorney attending, or a belief the he or she cannot games. of Appeal rejected the defense’s to leave, Deputy District a sheriff’s department statement.

Zuritacomplying asked for open-minded exists, withmore Mr. collected a forfeit AprilMary 28, as Murray their contention that a on LosSaturday, Angeles said. Thebeteenage girl “This threat was not specific as to the law enforcement agency or agencies The squad wishes has no legal support.tickets, ” the Blue Jays, did erred not show up for the was game. detail on parking but Superior Court judge in denying seen being draggedBatiste’s

by Warsaw that might be targeted, or as to the individual or individuals who may beopponents, Zuritatosaid will information not step awaywas from thenot inFormer San Francisco Giant and current Assistant also Christopher Dewayne Warsaw’s backCoach into the house, according theshethat involved.” terviews, and thanked Cornwell addressing led thetoteam through practice and available at that for moment. request replace hisa spirited appointed prosecutor.

The officer-involved shooting occurred on May 15 in the area of CherryJesse Brew theInglewood issue. the team’sLudlow fast start.

“Next presentation,” B. Creary II, before Warsaw opened fire on Avenue and Artesia Boulevard in Long Beach after Omar Benitez, 22, ofpraisedattorney, Councilwoman “They have surprised me so far,” he said. “I am especially Arceneaux asked“we Cornwell said the mayor, need his trial, along with the claim that his police when they responded to the 911 Compton led police on a chase in a van that had been reported stolen. pleased by our play at shortstop and pitcher.” for a written legal opinion directed to Council to see the line items in provided ineffective assistance call, with one officer being shot in the “The intention of the officer safety bulletin issued was to advise local Brewlawyer coaches the defensive portion of the game and sticks members, and he said he will prepare one. the budget.”

She also process wanted fato of counsel. barrage of gunfire—his lifePublic was saved agencies and officers of the existence of the threat,” according to the sheriff’sto the fundamentals. comments on the selection see a breakdown on expenses Inyour thehands 18-page the at by bulletproof vest—and department. “Law enforcement personnel should always exercise diligence “You keep voredanother Batiste. in front,ruling, step and aim thehis chest of would appellate court justices officer and situational awareness. a good job,” separate resident Council Carolyn the person you are throwing to,” he said.noted “We have soundhurt after falling. “The man doeswhich from other all elected official said.

“If you fire Batiste of you have to but Ievidence know the of team can do better.” Officers returned fire,Stokes that “the defendant’s but no one The purpose of this bulletin is to reinforce the need for law enforcementfundamentals, deal with me. Notexpenses; just one of you, allthe of you. ” of the cornerstones of team successand is positive atti“itemize costs.” was overwhelming” inside the home was struck. officers to be continuously alert and active in assessing their surroundings. One guilt She asked if theyasked understood he deals with problems Brown for hera that said, the and uncontroverted evidenceimmediately.

Warsaw barricaded himself insidethe Council The information upon which this bulletin is based, as well as any newtudes, Brew twice, and Arceneaux acknowledged her.

“I am not a babysitter and do not tolerate hardheads, ” he demonstrated that Warsaw raped the home with the woman and her workshop to deal with that information obtained, will continue to be evaluated and investigated by the said. “This Lorraine Cervantes conserious, and am teaching them baseball.with ” breakdown of expressed figures and to the isteenage girl I “under threat ofabout daughter, the standoffResident resulting Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.” cern about the publicity the meeting received.

The team is turning the corner offensively, Brew said, bestart “strategic planning.” in the evacuation of surrounding The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, thecause ofdeath.”

“You guys kept this meeting quiet,” she said. diligent, hard work.

The city manager spoke He was convicted in March 2016 homes union that represents the LAPD rand-and-file, issued a statement Tuesday “They started “That is more why no one is here tonight, and it is not in the batting cage, but live pitching im- until he surrendered of the survey they had been of hitters’ nine counts each of attempted than 8 1/2 hours later. saying the threat is an example of why the union has pushed against earlyproves the on television.” timing,” he said. “We play small ball (scorasked to murder of a peace officer and assault The teenager informed her release programs and for increased patrols.

City Clerk Alita Godwin fill and out, Zuritaand boththat reing runs with singles and doubles instead of home runs). If wasthealso passed out met to the onfocused, a peace officer a semithat she had “Los Angeles police officers risk their lives every day patrolling ourthey stay and said meeting notice the those groundwith ball hits will turnstepmother into line 11 days latersponded, automatic firearm, two counts of been raped, and DNA evidence that neighborhoods,” according to the statement.

“Recently, criminals have The Sibrie Park Braves take advantage of a forfeit on Saturday, See BRAVES, 5A linked Warsaw to the » See MANAGER, Page 9A false imprisonment of a » hostage wasPage collected become emboldened and brazenpractice. in assaulting and murdering officers Aprilmore 28, and hold an additional and one count each of forcible rape, attack, according to the prosecutor. for just wearing a uniform. » See BUDGET, Pg 3

PBS writing award

first budget workshop

Council interviews candidates for city manager

Braves enjoy early-season success

Police on alert after threat intercepted

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Man’s conviction upheld for opening fire on Inglewood Police, other charges

Inside Around Town

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News

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In My View

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Crossword

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Classifieds

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TV

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RODNEY KING LOOKS BACK PAGE 6A

SEE NEWS » Page 3

2 THE BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017

News LA City Council approves $5k settlement in police assault LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved a $500,000 settlement of a lawsuit filed by a man who was repeatedly kicked and punched by a police officer in an arrest captured on surveillance video.

Officer Richard Garcia pleaded no contest last year to a felony assault charge for his actions during the October 2014 arrest of Clinton Alford in South Los Angeles. After Garcia completed the terms of his plea agreement, the charge was reduced to a

misdemeanor last week, with the officer never serving any jail time.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck said in 2015 that he was “shocked by the content of the video” showing the arrest of the 22-year- old Alford near 55th Street and South Avalon Boulevard and encouraged the District Attorney’s Office to file criminal charges against Garcia.

Alford’s attorney, Caree Harper, criticized the handling of the criminal case, calling Garcia’s ultimate

punishment a “slap on the wrist.”

In response to the lawsuit settlement approved Wednesday, Harper told City News Service: “This brings closure to a troubling incident that hopefully won’t be repeated in L.A. County and hopefully that officer won’t be on patrol any more.”

Officers said they arrested Alford because he matched the description of a robbery suspect.

After running from police, Alford surrendered but Garcia assaulted him

while the suspect was on the ground. Surveillance video from a nearby business shows Alford was on the ground being restrained by other officers when Garcia kicked and stomped on him, then repeatedly struck him in the head and body.

Garcia is still employed by the LAPD, though he has remained at home, away from work, pending a disciplinary hearing.

The council on Wednesday also approved a $500,000 settlement of a lawsuit brought by Sergio Pina, who was shot multiple times by an LAPD officer on Feb. 2, 2013.

Alleged coin-theft kingpins collared EL SEGUNDO—A man and woman suspected of stealing coins from laundry machines at apartment complexes in El Segundo were arrested before dawn Tuesday.

An officer stopped a car about 4:20 a.m. near Washington Street and Maple Avenue and learned that the driver was on post-release community supervision, according to El Segundo police, who did not specify the reason for the traffic stop.

“Further investigation revealed that inside of the car were numerous screwdrivers (commonly used by thieves to pry open things), wrenches wrapped in black tape and over $200 worth of quarters,” according to a police statement “Officers checked nearby apartment complex laundry rooms as they are often targeted by thieves who want to steal the money inside of coin-operated washers/ dryers.”

Inside one of the complexes, they found someone had pried open a laundry room washing machine and taken coins from it while in two other laundry rooms it appeared someone tried unsuccessfully to pry open machines, police said.

“Based upon the totality of the circumstances the driver and his female passenger were arrested on the suspicion of committing numerous theft related crimes,” police said.

Crossword ACROSS 1. Smart ____ 6. Titanic’s last call?

9. *TV’s man named Brady 13. Lychee, alt. sp.

14. Romanian money 15. Red Cross supply 16. 1970s big dos 17. To do this is human?

18. Render harmless 19. *Father of geometry 21. *Ed O’Neill’s TV character 23. “Game, ____, match!”

24. Not what it seems to be 25. *What Jane Fonda’s dad Henry did 28. Presidential “No!” 30. 1 1/2 calorie breath mint 35. Pastoral sounds 37. Feline line 39. Sol-fa-sol-fa-sol-fa, e.g.

40. The Fonz: “Sit ____ ____!”

41. Caterpillar hairs 43. Dwarf buffalo 44. Ski bump 46. Type of ballistic missile, acr.

47. *Homer Simpson’s Duff 48. Pellet-stuffed 1990s craze 50. Trim a movie 52. Pose a question 53. Talk like a drunk 55. “____, the Beloved Country” 57. *Kiefer’s and Barron’s dads 61. Without purpose 64. Blind alternative 65. American chant 67. i____ 69. Albert/Gabor’s Green ones 70. Mentally quick 71. Convex molding 72. Tibetan oxen 73. ____-di-dah 74. Broadway’s news boy DOWN 1. C.S.A. state 2. Milton Bradley’s “The Game of ____”

3. Shade of beige 4. Chocolates, for short 5. Hanukkah month 6. *Musher’s transport 7. “___ the ramparts...”

8. Chapter of Quran 9. Waiter’s handout 10. Armenia’s neighbor 11. Kurdistan native 12. TV prize 15. Hand over, formally 20. Things 22. Latissimus dorsi, for short 24. Dirtier than Dick Van Dyke in “Mary Poppins” 25. *J. Robert Oppenheimer’s project 26. Dugout vessel 27. Boreal forest 29. Overwhelm like bees 31. Mr. Eugene Krabs, e.g.

32. Fungal skin infection 33. Medicinal plants 34. *Head of the Griswold clan 36. Flabbergast 38. *Mr. Cleaver

42. Give a boot 45. Finely-spun cotton, pl.

49. Old age, archaic 51. *Little Mermaid’s royal father 54. Bar order, with “the” 56. AOL’s “____ Got Mail” 57. June 6, 1944 58. Shamu, e.g.

59. Police informer 60. Cornelius and friends 61. Solemn promise 62. *Ned Stark’s bastard 63. Unagi, pl.

66. Baden-Baden, e.g.

68. Tofu ingredient LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I was kind of robbed of a lot for five years.

It’s almost like, what do they call that?

Reparations. That’s how I look at it. If this is what they’re offering, I’m going to go ahead and use the services.”

— Andre Shavers, cannabis entrepreneur

Filipino hoops sensation Kobe Paras seeks fresh start in LA

By Beth Harris LOS ANGELES—Kobe Paras is back in Los Angeles looking for a fresh start.

The guard who is a celebrity in his native Philippines is hoping he finds it at Cal State Northridge after a false start at UCLA and a single season at Creighton.

Paras was welcomed to campus on Wednesday by Matadors coach Reggie Theus, who presented him with his No. 21 jersey.

As a transfer, Paras will have to sit out the upcoming season because of NCAA rules.

“It’s a new beginning and it’s very humbling for me,” Paras said.

He played at Cathedral High in Los Angeles before transferring to Middlebrooks Academy for his senior year.

Paras was a highly touted recruit, having shown off his skills in several elite showcases and with the Compton Magic, his AAU traveling team.

Theus tried recruiting Paras back then, but he committed to UCLA under coach Steve Alford. Last June, the school said he had failed to meet academic requirements.

“It’s been hard for me the last couple years,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot of adversity and my head’s still high.”

Looking for another opportunity, Paras headed to Omaha, Nebraska. “I just took a chance,” he said.

It didn’t work out at Creighton.

Woman stabbed, boyfriend arrested COMPTON—A woman was stabbed to death in Compton Monday and her ex- boyfriend—the alleged assailant—was later arrested in Ventura following a traffic crash.

Sheriff’s deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez in Compton said the violent attack was reported about 9:30 a.m.

Monday in the 1600 block of East Palmer Street.

Deputies responded to an “assault with a deadly weapon” call and found a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds, said another deputy, Kelvin Moody. Investigators later learned the woman was involved in an argument with her ex-boyfriend and during that fight the ex-boyfriend allegedly stabbed her.

The ex-boyfriend was being held in Ventura and was listed as a “person of interest” pending interviews by detectives, Moody continued.

The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Navarro-Suarez said. Her name was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Deputies anyone with information on this homicide to call the sheriff’s homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. All tips can be made anonymously.

SODOKU SOLUTION

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017 THE BULLETIN 3

News Growing pot industry offers breaks to entice minorities

By Janie Har and Bob Salsberg OAKLAND—Andre Shavers was sentenced to five years on felony probation after authorities burst into the house where he was living in one of Oakland’s most heavily policed neighborhoods and found a quarter ounce of marijuana.

After the 2007 raid, Shavers couldn’t leave the state without permission. He was subject to police searches at any time. He walked to the corner store one night for maple syrup and came back in a police car. Officers wanted to search his home again.

All the while, cannabis storefronts flourished elsewhere in a state where medical marijuana was authorized in 1996.

Now Oakland and other cities and states with legal pot are trying to make up for the toll marijuana enforcement

took on minorities by giving them a better shot at joining the growing marijuana industry. African-Americans made up 83 percent of cannabis arrests in Oakland in the year Shavers was arrested.

“I was kind of robbed of a lot for five years,” Shavers said. “It’s almost like, what do they call that? Reparations.

That’s how I look at it. If this is what they’re offering, I’m going to go ahead and use the services.”

The efforts’ supporters say legalization is enriching white people but not brown and black people who have been arrested for cannabis crimes at far greater rates than whites.

Recreational pot is legal in eight states and the nation’s capital. California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada approved ballot questions in November. They join Colorado, Washington,

BUDGET Continued from page 1

audience. He wanted their input on budget priorities.

As for Measure P, the extra one cent/one percent sales tax now going to Compton, he said this fiscal year it result in over four million, and next fiscal year it was projected to bring in “close to nine million.”

One alternative use of the Measure Pfunds, said Rhambo, was that “10% go to the general fund reserve, 25% be set aside for law enforcement, 55% for roads and street repair, and 10% for recreation city facilities and equipment.”

Zurita complimented the group who produced the budget proposal document, characterizing it as “beautiful.”

The layout was also highly praised by the mayor.

Brown also stated appreciation “for all the work that went on to get us to this point” and expressed confidence in “the baseline” “How is the budget put together?” asked Sharif.

“The controller’s office and the city manager’s budget officer...start off by having meetings, one on one, with each department head,” replied Rhambo.

“After they go over those meetings, they come back and go over

those meetings in discussion with me. “I sat in on some of those meetings but in terms of putting all this together, we spent the last couple of weeks with as much precious time as I could allow to go over details with them. The overall direction I give kind of sets the tone...Yes, we participate as a team, as well as department heads looking at future projections based upon the revenues that we anticipate.”

Sharif spoke of her desire that they are ALL at the table. She also expressed appreciation for the work on the budget to date.

The mayor said the charter approaches the process from two different perspectives, the controller putting together the projected revenues, and the city manager presenting the council’s desired expenditures. She expressed the idea that “no matter who sits” on council, a protocol be set and she would be talking with the city attorney on such a procedure and bring it back to council.

For more information on the budget, so far, and/or to take the survey and offer input on the budget’s priorities, go to the www.comptoncity. org, then to departments/city manager/budget.

The Bulletin 322 W. Compton Blvd., Ste. 100B Compton, CA 90221 PHONE: 310-635-6776 www.thebulletinweekly.com news@thecomptonbulletin.com

Photo by Eric Risberg Andre Shavers, who runs a marijuana delivery business, walks up a street in Oakland, Calif.

Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia, which acted earlier.

Twentynine states permit medical marijuana.

Massachusetts’ ballot initiative was the first to insert specific language encouraging participation in the industry by those “disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.” The law does not specify how that would be accomplished.

In Ohio, a 2016 medical pot law included setting aside 15 percent of marijuanarelated licenses for minority businesses. In Pennsylvania, applicants for cultivation and dispensing permits must spell out how they will achieve racial equity.

Florida lawmakers agreed last year to reserve one of three future cultivation licenses for a member of the Florida Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association.

There have been setbacks as well. The Maryland General Assembly adjourned last month without acting on a bill to guarantee a place for minority-owned businesses that were not awarded any of the state’s initial 15 medical marijuana cultivation licenses.

There’s no solid data on how many minorities own U.S. cannabis businesses or how many seek a foothold in the industry. But diversity advocates say the industry is overwhelmingly white.

The lack of diversity, they say, can be traced to multiple factors: rules that disqualify people with prior convictions from operating legal cannabis businesses; lack of access to banking services and capital to finance startup costs; and state licensing systems that tend to favor established or politically connected applicants.

“It’s a problem that

has been recognized but has proven to be relatively intractable,” said Sam Kamin, a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law who studies marijuana regulation.

In 2010, blacks constituted 14 percent of the U.S. population but made up more than 36 percent of all arrests for pot possession, according to an American Civil Liberties Union study released in 2013.

The report found AfricanAmericans were nearly four times more likely than whites to be arrested for cannabis possession.

That study did not report Latino arrests because the FBI data on which it was based did not track Hispanics.

But a 2016 study by the ACLU of California and the Drug Policy Alliance found Latinos were cited at 1.4 times the rate of white people for marijuana infractions in Los Angeles and 1.7 percent the

rate in Fresno.

The Minority Cannabis Business Association has drafted model legislation for states considering new or revised marijuana laws, including language to expunge pot-related convictions and to encourage racial and gender diversity among cannabis businesses.

“The people who got locked up should not get locked out of this industry,” said Tito Jackson, a Boston city councilman and mayoral candidate.

He suggests Massachusetts give licensing preference to groups that include at least one person with a marijuana conviction.

The Oakland City Council in April voted to set aside half of medical cannabis licenses for people who have been convicted of a marijuana crime or who lived in one of 21 police districts with disproportionately high marijuana arrests. Candidates must meet income restrictions.

Complicating matters is that marijuana remains illegal under federal law—a fact seen as unlikely to change under President Donald Trump.

That makes most banks reluctant to lend money to startup cannabis businesses, which often must rely instead on personal wealth.

An Oakland-based nonprofit known as The Hood Incubator provides training and mentoring to minority cannabis entrepreneurs.

“Maybe they lack the money to get into the industry or they might have, you know, gotten arrested in the past for oh, what do you know? Selling weed.

And now they can’t actually get into the legal industry,” said Ebele Ifedigbo, one of the group’s three cofounders.

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THE BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017

Opinion Moving forward for children in California and nationally

By Marian Wright Edelman Alameda County in California straddles the San Francisco Bay area and stretches from Silicon Valley north to Oakland and Berkeley. A major branch of the San Andreas Fault lies beneath the most densely populated part of the county.

That’s where Betty lives. She was hard at work full time in the health care field, with her own catering and massage therapy business on the side, raising four children as a single mother when a series of health crises created an earthquake that shattered her life. After three surgeries on her spine she could not work, struggled, and slid into homelessness with her two youngest children. Living in shelters and transitional housing, it took three years before they could find affordable housing through a federal housing assistance program.

Fortunately the federal safety net has been there to catch Betty and her now 8-year-old and 13-yearold children. Medicaid and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, have also been lifelines in their lives.

Last year, Betty was finally able to go back to work parttime and received a nearly $4,000.00 refund from the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) combined, with the help of free tax assistance from United Way Bay Area. To her, it was a huge support after hard times. For the first time in three years she says, “We did stuff that was normal, and I was able to put money in the bank, buy a phone and pay off my bills.” She felt again the dignity and self-respect she’d felt when working full time and supporting her family without government assistance.

She’s ready to go back full time to her career in the health care field just as another giant earthquake is looming that could be catastrophic, not only for Betty and her children, but also for the millions of children in America in families struggling to stay afloat. The draconian Trump budget is an all-out war against poor children and their families. First it attacks both Betty and her children’s health care by slashing $1.4 trillion out of Medicaid just to give Betty’s rich neighbors, the millionaires and billionaires in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, huge tax breaks they don’t need or deserve. Betty could lose her monthly health visits that control her chronic condition and with it her ability to work. Her children, already buffeted by bad times, might lose their health care and dental care too. They could lose the roof over their heads with cuts in federal housing assistance programs at a time when the median home value in Alameda County is $773,000. And if the President’s proposal to slash SNAP is enacted, these cascading assaults mean the family could once again face hunger and homelessness without health care.

States like California, where more than one in eight of our nation’s poor children and nearly one in six poor children of color reside, have the opportunity and responsibility to reweave some of the holes that already exist in our federal safety net in the face of these looming immoral budget assaults on their most vulnerable children.

Some already have been at work and are continuing their efforts. In

2015, we applauded California leaders when they created a new state Earned Income Tax Credit that builds on the federal EITC to provide an income boost to some lowincome working families.

That gave Betty’s children hope for a better future.

California policy leaders are now crafting a state budget that has a chance to expand the state EITC so more working poor families like Betty’s can benefit and to offer new help for parents and their young children benefitting from CalWORKs, the state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program.

And final decisions are close at hand. The state Assembly has adopted a proposal to expand the state EITC to reach working families earning up to $22,000 per year, including self-employed workers who are currently excluded from the credit. Research shows the EITC has long-lasting benefits for children, families, and communities. It is one of the most effective programs to lift families out of poverty.

Children receiving the EITC have higher test scores and are more likely to graduate high school and attend college.

The benefits of the EITC extend to the next generation by increasing earnings when children reach adulthood.

The Assembly also approved a new voluntary early home visiting program to improve outcomes for some of California’s most vulnerable children and families — pregnant women and parents of children age two and under in CalWORKs. Quality home visiting programs too have documented benefits for both children and parents.

California leaders have

had strong rhetoric about their commitment to protect vulnerable children and families in light of federal threats. There is now a test for California’s Governor and legislative leaders. Expanding the California EITC and creating a new early home visiting program to support vulnerable families would help the state make progress towards ending child poverty.

We’ll hopefully be able to report back on gains for children and families in California and want to hear of important gains in other states too.

But we must not lose sight of the fact that states alone cannot make up for what must also be a federal commitment to let no child in our country be denied health care, go hungry, be left without a safe place to live or have their special needs unmet. There must be continued pressure at the federal level to prevent the shredding of core safety net programs that for millions of children can mean life or death or hope or despair.

We must be vigilant and make sure our political leaders on all sides of the political aisle hear us loud and clear as major policy and budget decisions are made at the state and national levels which will have a huge impact on millions of our children who are America’s future.

Although President Trump’s Budget would not pass the test of any great faith or standard of fairness and may be dead on arrival, we must resist. Many of its proposals will likely resurface in the House of Representatives and so we must stay vigilant and ensure they are resoundingly rejected.

Mark Zuckerberg’s ‘universal basic income’ would herald the end of capitalism

By Robert Romano Since 1997 labor participation among working age adults —16 to 64 — peaked and has been steadily dropping, accounting for roughly 9 million Americans who did not enter the labor force but would have had participation remained at the same rate, according to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Overall, the number of 16 to 64 year olds not in the labor force increased 16.5 million in that time, to 55.2 million.

During that same period, the U.S. economy has dramatically slowed down. It has not grown above 4 percent since 2000, and not above 3 percent since 2005.

The issue is not a matter of virtue. Americans did not suddenly become lazy. Most of the decline occurred after the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, which eliminated millions of jobs. What followed was the worst recovery in American history, with fewer jobs now available per capita. But it could get worse, as some observers see this as a long-term trend.

Factors such as increased automation plus globalization and outsourcing loom large as leading the decline, and raise the prospect that as economies reach their advanced stages, individuals in the U.S., Japan and Europe will simply be working a lot less in the future.

If so, then how will Americans increasingly make a living? For most Americans not born into luxury, almost everything families take for granted — housing, food, clothing, transportation, etc. — all depend primarily on a steady, stable source of income.

So, what to do, if not work?

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg had an answer for Harvard graduates at the 2017 commencement address on May 25: “We should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure that everyone has a cushion to try new ideas.”

The idea is that the federal government would just cut checks, say, starting at $10,000 as proposed by the American Enterprise Institute’s Charles Murray, for every single American. To be fair, Murray calls for such a system to replace the current system of government programs including those for the elderly like Social Security and Medicare.

Zuckerberg, however, made no such distinction. The implication, then, with his broad, vague call for “universal basic income” is as a sort of add-on for the already existing structure of hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer-subsidized supplemental income and retirement programs.

Say, the $10,000 figure was applied to 254 million Americans over the age of 16. That would cost an extra $2.5 trillion a year. Think that might put a little strain on all the other government programs, particularly those directed at seniors? The national debt, already $20 trillion, would double in about 6 years.

Which, if the economy does not get moving — the last 10 years were the slowest average annual growth recorded in U.S. history, even worse than the Great Depression — may ultimately be the future that awaits the American people, whether they like it or not.

A future, that is, where jobs become rare and the calls for guaranteed income grow, for once an entitlement is granted, after a century of experience, it will never be rescinded.

Never mind the fact that the idea simply defies human nature for individuals to take care of their own families.

Or that the American people, including millions of Millennials who Zuckerberg pretends to represent, just voted, not for welfare, but for jobs in 2016 under the platform of President Donald Trump, who promised to bring work by to the U.S. Or that no level of automation could truly replace the need for individuals to work.

Or to the extent that as universal income gradually replaces a significant percent work, to the extent that individuals wind up making less than if they had been working, it would reduce consumer expenditures — becoming a net drag on the economy.

It would truly be the nanny state, forevermore, with declining standards of living.

Then, elections would revolve around not how to best grow the economy or create jobs in the private sector, but how much everyone’s annual stipend should be increased. Both businesses and individuals would clamor for more, since then more goods and services could be bought and sold — a vicious cycle of ever-increasing dependency.

Ultimately, individual welfare will become corporate welfare, affirming the end of capitalism as we know it and confirming that the American system is no longer one of innovation, but of subsidy.

Zuckerberg joked at the Harvard commencement address that Millennials do not need to find their purpose, that they try do that instinctively. He believes that a little extra income would create room for innovation, and incentivize individuals to become producers. But just the opposite would occur.

Instead, guaranteed income would crowd out other potential opportunities in the economy, disincentivize risk-taking and reward complacency — wrecking individuals’ sense of purpose. Individuals, working less, would transition to simply being consumers.

After all, why take risks and try to invent something when the government will take care of you for free and you can sit around watching streaming movies, playing games, or worse? Surely, such a system would create more opportunities for leisure activity. Yet, necessity is the mother of all invention. Remove need and what remains?

Again, there are already 55.2 million 16 to 64 year olds not in the labor force, an increase of 16.5 million since 1997 as labor participation declined. How many more would join those ranks under Zuckerberg’s plan?

Ultimately, like utopianists of the years past, Zuckerberg’s political program of “universal basic income,” if implemented, will be judged by what it led to. If his vision leads to even less growth, fewer jobs per capita and lower incomes, combined with declining living standards and more debt, it will end up on the same ash heap of history as other failed ideologies that couldn’t keep their promises.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017 THE BULLETIN 5

Opinion Kathy Griffin popularizes political violence, endangers the liberty of all

By Natalia Castro Kathy Griffin’s imaginary execution of President Donald Trump was “only a joke” but the fear it incited in 11-yearold Barron Trump was anything but funny. As both sides of the aisle condemn Griffin’s actions, this incident serves as a reminder that political violence cannot be accepted — for, in order for liberty to prosper, it becomes a civil duty to reject it when it is popularized in this manner.

Although it might incite a Secret Service investigation, Griffin’s joking beheading of President Trump was likely not illegal. It is well within her First Amendment rights to make such an offensive

joke. But her freedoms should not allow society to socially embrace this action, as the implications of political violence are far too great — and dangerous.

Throughout history it is clear that when society begins to accept violence against political opponents as the norm, not just rejecting others opinions but their lives entirely, undemocratic regimes are easily able to gain control.

During the French Revolution, political violence was seen as a necessity to dismantle oppressive power structures, but consistently, rulers attaining power through violent means were

‘And the award goes to…

Dr. James L. Snyder Rare is the time when I actually am all caught up with my schedule. Whenever I think I am caught up, something happens that takes that and throws it out the window.

Such was the case this past week. I was very much happy with the fact that I was on schedule and I had everything in hand. Nothing makes me feel better.

Of course, this is mostly delusional, at least for me. If there ever was an award for being delusional, I am quite certain I would be at the top of the list. The amazing thing about being delusional is that you never think you are.

As I was wallowing in my delusion and enjoying every moment of it, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came and said rather sharply, “Are you ready to go?”

At the moment, I had no idea what she was talking about. And so I responded, “Huh?” I’m not sure if that is really a word or not, but it accurately described my delusional moment at that time. I had no idea what she was talking about.

“You haven’t,” she said,

“forgotten what day it is, have you?”

I was tempted to say, “Of course not. It’s Tuesday.”

Fortunately, I did not yield to that temptation and just responded with another, “Huh?” With a disdaining look she said, “You would forget your head if it wasn’t attached.”

I wouldn’t tell her, but I probably would not miss my head if I would forget it. After all, I don’t wear a hat.

“Today,” she said in a very serene voice, “the two grandchildren are getting awards at school.”

I’m not quite sure if I forgot or if I was not listening when the instructions came my way. At this point, I was not going to let anybody know, particularly my wife.

“Oh, yes,” I said getting up from my chair, “I’m all ready to go. Let’s go.”

She gave me one of her classic sarcastic grins and we headed for the door.

Our one granddaughter was graduating from the third grade and the other from the fifth grade. Unfortunately, one was at 8:30 in the morning and the other was it 1 o’clock in the afternoon. It would make sense to have them all

subject to the same violence.

As historian David Andress explained at the a keynote to the conference, ‘Living in Violent Times’, University of Warwick in 2013, “The revolutionaries of the 1790s were convinced that they were working against violence. Even Jean-Paul Marat, the journalist whose unambiguous calls for the execution of traitors alienated almost every other political leader, always framed those calls in the context of an active threat of counter-revolution, plotting to restore tyranny by force, and as a prophylactic against greater massacre — hundreds of heads should fall, to save tens of thousands.”

British philosopher, Edmund Burke, theorized in 1790 that the reckless revolution in France would ultimately lead to tyranny.

France experienced over a decade of public rioting, political executions, and popular discontent. The country did not have a stable leader until 1799 when a military coup d’etat abolished the executive leaders appointed by parliament and thrust Napoleon Bonaparte into power.

Thus, through the normalization of political violence, France allowed unfettered freedom to dehumanize opposition parties and thus experienced

at once, but what has sense to do in our world today?

I did not want to complain, after all, it is our grandchildren, but I think the planning could have been just a little bit better than that. After all, sitting in the school cafeteria listening to the award ceremony is about as exciting as it can get.

The chairs that we had to sit on were uncomfortable, which was very fortunate for me because I was not tempted to fall asleep during the ceremony. I believe that was done on purpose.

Imagine getting an award for completing the third grade!

I cannot remember any such thing when I was going to grade school. Our great award was leaving school and going home in the afternoon.

It just doesn’t get any better than that.

We live in a different world today where everybody gets an award for something or sometimes for nothing.

Then I remembered my cell phone in my shirt pocket.

It is times like this that God had in mind when he invented this cell phone technology. I pulled out my cell phone and started checking my email.

Then I felt a sharp pain in my right ribs (thanks Eve) and

I heard a voice saying, “Put that away and pay attention.”

Slowly and reluctantly, I returned my cell phone to my shirt pocket and tried to pay attention but I didn’t have enough quarters.

Paying attention can be very expensive when you’re in situations like this.

The problem is that the grade school, particularly the third grade, had more children than my grandchildren. They were trying to give awards and recognition to all the children and I was only interested in one, my granddaughter.

I was musing on this for a while and then my companion said, “Look, there she is.”

When she said that, out came her cell phone and she began taking pictures of our granddaughter walking up to the stage to get an award.

I can’t use my cell phone, but she’s at liberty to use her cell phone. Where’s the fairness in that?

Taking a hint from my wife, I reached for my cell phone only to realize that I was too late and the moment was gone. I glanced over at my wife and all I could see was the big smile on her face and her saying, “I got her picture.”

All I could do was return her smile and congratulate her on getting the picture.

a tumble of increasingly radicalized leaders.As Burke warned, “what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.”

In a more recent example of normalized political violence, the Russian Revolution, Mao’s Cultural Revolution and even the Roman civil wars of antiquity all stand out as other prominent, historical examples of how the destruction of political opponents ultimately resulted in tyranny.

The German and Italian fascists of the early 20th century dehumanized their enemy as well. Germany experienced a period of increased political violence from 1918 to 1933, when the public was left discontent after the first World War. In a similar effort to promote revolution in the nation, German citizens began attacking opposition leaders and holding political rallies that nearly always broke out into violent brawls. The result was eventually a banning of all opposition political parties and the establishment of a Nazi totalitarian state.

In Italy, Fascist violence was used to break the threat of socialism. “Blackshirts” traveled to small towns throughout the Italy and forced political opponents to drink castor oil, before stripping them naked and beating them.

This political violence was justified because the opponent’s ideas made them less than human and therefore, able to be destroyed. Micheal Ebner of Slate Media notes, “Through illegal violence, rather than elections, Fascists controlled government administration and destroyed the offices, newspapers, and cultural and social organizations of the Socialists, trade unions, and peasant leagues. Mussolini occasionally decried the illegal activities…but they operated as the motor that

drove his government along the road to dictatorship.”

Even in our own country nearly 100 years later, we must remember the threat of such revolutionary violence.

The most prominent current example is inherent in the Islamist, terrorist message in the United States, following the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, domestic terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan requested to be a full citizen of the terrorist organization Islamic State, claiming he believed in the establishment of a Muslim caliphate government ruled by fundamentalists.

This sentiment has been mirrored from the Orlando Pulse Night Club shooting to San Bernardino, violence to pursue a political objective is alive and well in the United States. As radical jihadists pursue their own political agenda, American lives are increasingly being placed at risk. These may seem like extreme examples, but similar sentiment is seeping into the political mainstream. Just this past April, a clash between pro-Trump and anti-Trump protestors led to 21 arrests, 11 injuries, and seven hospital transports for students at Berkley University. A political rally, that quickly turned to political violence — and serve as a warning that it can always get worse.

Kathy Griffin has been fired from CNN and publicly apologized, but her statement calling for the beheading of President Trump was not merely deplorable — it represents a threat to liberty and the constitutional rule of law.

So far, in most domestic cases of political violence public authorities have responded adequately. But as a civil society we must remember that Griffin’s act is not a joke when public beheadings are a trend for Islamic State already overseas. The rejection of political violence is integral to preserving that civil society, and protecting our democracy against tyranny.

6

THE BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017

Eye on Entertainment

Cosby accuser calm and focused as trial nears, friends say NORRISTOWN, Pa.—When Andrea Constand takes the stand in the coming days to break her decade-long silence about Bill Cosby, jurors will hear from a free spirit who devotes her life to family, her French poodle, and her work treating cancer patients and others as a massage therapist.

Constand will be the star witness when the comedian dubbed America’s Dad goes on trial Monday in suburban Philadelphia on charges he drugged and sexually assaulted her. Cosby, 79, could get 10 years in prison if convicted.

When they last met, in 2004, Constand was wrapping up a life in basketball that had taken her from the Toronto suburbs to a national title with the University of Arizona to a pro league in Europe and finally a job on the coaching staff at Temple University in Philadelphia, Cosby’s alma mater.

Constand, now 44, has never spoken publicly about the TV star under the terms of a confidential settlement they negotiated in 2006.

And her deposition from that lawsuit remains sealed. Yet friends say she is ready to face Cosby and the crush of media in the courtroom.

“Andrea is not focused on the outcome. She is not emotional.

She’s the opposite. She is so centered and focused. She does yoga, she meditates,” said Donna Motsinger, 75, a fellow Cosby accuser who has become close to Constand since the Canadian woman reached out to her two years ago. “She lives a beautiful life.”

Constand, an athletic six-footer

with colorful arm tattoos and a wild mane of brown curly hair, is the only Cosby accuser whose complaint has led to criminal charges. About 60 women have accused him of similar conduct, most of them coming forward in Constand’s wake.

“She’s the only one who found the fortitude to press charges against him within the statute of limitations.

I think that’s not a coincidence. She’s so strong and courageous,” said Lili Bernard, who said Cosby sexually assaulted her before giving her a one-time role on “The Cosby Show” in 1992, the eighth and final season of the top-ranked sitcom.

Constand has visited Motsinger during trips to the Southwest, an area she loves from her college days in Arizona. They hike, talk about their spiritual journeys and share the occasional margarita. One thing they don’t talk about is Cosby, the older woman said. Constand also visited Bernard in Los Angeles last year, where they happened upon his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while taking in the sights. They kept walking, Bernard said.

Cosby, Temple’s most famous booster and trustee, first spied Constand from across the school gym in 2002. He had a friend introduce them. When she mentioned having back pain, he led her into the locker room to engage in a back-to-back, two-person stretch.

They became friendly over the next two years, discussing sports, health tips and Constand’s career.

Cosby, according to his deposition in her lawsuit, once invited her to a dinner with local college presidents

Bill Maher apologizes for using racial slur during HBO show

By Anthony McCartney LOS ANGELES—Bill Maher apologized Saturday for using a racial slur to describe himself as a house slave during a live segment for his HBO talk show.

Maher’s comment during his discussion with Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, was quickly and broadly criticized after it aired on the comedian’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” show Friday night.

HBO said the remark was “completely inexcusable and tasteless” and the segment would not be re-aired.

“Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show,” Maher said in a statement Saturday. “Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.”

During Maher’s discussion with Sasse, the senator joked that he would like to have Maher visit Nebraska and work in the fields. The comedian responded by using a slur in a joke that he was a house slave.

The comedian immediately waved off audience groans. “It’s a joke,” he said on the show.

Activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton quickly criticized Maher, and it remained a top-ranked topic on Twitter on Saturday.

“Just because Bill Maher is a liberal and our friend, you don’t give him a pass,” Sharpton said on his radio show Saturday. “It’s wrong and we’re calling him out on it. You cannot allow folk to act like there’s anything funny in that context about using that word.”

Sasse wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning that he wished he’d challenged Maher for his use of the slur immediately.

“I’m a 1st Amendment absolutist. Comedians get latitude to cross hard lines,” Sasse wrote in a series of posts. “But free speech comes with a responsibility to speak up when folks use that word.

Me just cringing last night wasn’t good enough.

Here’s what I wish I’d been quick enough to say in the moment: ‘Hold up, why would you think it’s OK to use that word?”’

and also took her to Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut to talk career options with an executive.

Cosby called some of their time together “romantic,” describing a few occasions when he said he made advances toward her or lay next to her on his bed during the 2003 casino trip. He insists the encounter at the heart of the criminal case was consensual.

Constand’s lawyer, Dolores Troiani, considers that ludicrous, since the 30-year-old Constand was dating a woman at the time.

The Associated Press does not usually identify people who say they are the victims of sexual assault, but Constand’s lawyer has said her name can be used.

On the night in question, in early 2004, Cosby summoned her to his gated estate near Philadelphia to discuss her job search. In his deposition, he said he gave her three unidentified pills to ease her stress.

She said she thought it was an herbal remedy. Cosby, 36 years her senior, then put his hand down her pants, according to his deposition.

She later told police she was drifting in and out of consciousness, unable to fend him off.

Constand left Temple when the basketball season ended, returning home to become a massage therapist like her father. During her training, she learned about the professional boundaries involving touch and started having nightmares, according to court documents.

She told her mother in 2005 that something had happened. They went to the police.

Prosecutors in Pennsylvania at the time deemed the case too weak to prosecute.

Constand then filed the first sexual battery lawsuit against the Hollywood star, a case he settled for an undisclosed sum after giving four days of lurid testimony about his sexual conduct with Constand and other young women. He acknowledged giving some of them pills and alcohol and at least one

woman quaaludes.

After that testimony became public in 2015, more women came forward and a new set of prosecutors took another look at the case and arrested Cosby. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.

“Andrea was a basketball player. She would prepare for a championship game like no other,” Motsinger said. “That’s what she’s done here.”

Unflappable 12-year-old wins Spelling Bee OXON HILL, Md.— Ananya Vinay never looked all that impressed by any of the words she was given in the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 12-year-old from Fresno, California, showed little emotion and didn’t take much time as she plowed through word after word.

Sometimes she would blurt out questions, with little intonation—“Part of speech?”

“Language of origin?”—and sometimes she didn’t even bother.

Unflappable to the end, Ananya seized the opportunity when her steely opponent, Rohan Rajeev, flubbed a simple-looking but obscure Scandinavianderived word, “marram,” which means a beach grass.

She calmly nailed two words in a row, ending on “marocain,” which means a type of dress fabric of ribbed crepe, to win the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday.

“I knew them all,” Ananya said.

Ananya barely cracked a smile even when her parents and younger brother stormed onto the stage to embrace her as the confetti fell. And she took time to console Rohan, who remained in his seat, wiping tears from his eyes.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Ananya said. “I’m so happy right now.”

Later, she flashed a broad and toothy grin as she lingered on stage accepting congratulations. She will take home more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.

It was the first time since 2013 that the bee declared a sole champion. After three straight years of ties, the bee added a tiebreaker test

this year, and it looked like it might come into play as Ananya and Rohan dueled for 21 of the allotted 25 championship rounds.

Ananya was on the radar of some veteran bee watchers but didn’t come in with a high profile. Her score on the written spelling and vocabulary test would have been high enough to make the top 50 last year, but she missed a relatively easy word, “multivalent,” on stage.

“She panicked. It was not a hard word,” said her father, Vinay Sreekumar. “I think she learned from that and she consciously worked on it, how you shouldn’t panic, just focus on the word.”

As a sixth-grader, she could have come back for two more years, had she fallen short. Now, she’ll return only in a ceremonial role to help present the trophy to next year’s winner. And she’ll have to find time to watch her beloved Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals while enjoying the champion’s whirlwind media tour.

For Rohan, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Edmond, Oklahoma, it was his first and only time on the national stage, but he’s competed for years in other bees and he sought tutelage from another Oklahoman, Cole Shafer-Ray, who finished third two years ago. Rohan’s close call was even more heartbreaking.

Ananya is the 13th consecutive Indian-American to win the bee and the 18th of the past 22 winners with Indian heritage, a run that began in 1999 with Nupur Lala’s victory, which was featured in the documentary “Spellbound.” Like most of her predecessors, she honed

her craft in highly competitive national bees that are limited to Indian-Americans, the North South Foundation and the South Asian Spelling Bee, although she did not win either.

Mira Dedhia, trying to become the first offspring of a past competitor to win, finished third. Her mother, Lekshmi Nair, competed from 1988-1990 but never came close to the title.

Before Ananya and Rohan began their lengthy duel, the primetime finals were marked by surprising eliminations of better-known spellers. Shourav Dasari, a past winner of both minorleague bees, was described as

the consensus favorite as the ESPN broadcast began. He had the most swagger of the finalists, at one point spelling the word “Mogollon” as soon as he heard it and turning around to return to his seat.

He was felled in fourth place by a killer word, “Struldbrug,” that was coined

by Jonathan Swift in his novel “Gulliver’s Travels” and had no recognizable roots or language patterns to fall back on.

“I was honestly, absolutely shocked. It was stunning,” former speller Jacob Williamson said. “Shourav is one of the greatest spellers of all time and he’s probably the best speller that never won.”

Black Eyed Peas are still Fergalicious: Fergie didn’t leave

NEW YORK—Boom Boom Pow: Fergie is still a member of the Black Eyed Peas.

A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the songstress has not left the group, even though a magazine reported Thursday that will.i.am said she was no longer in the group.

Fergie’s representative said Friday she is “concentrating on her new album and can’t wait for fans to hear it.” Because of her album commitments, Fergie will not perform with the Black Eyed Peas at two events this weekend: Saturday’s opening ceremony for the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff, Wales, and Sunday’s charity concert in Manchester, England, alongside Ariana Grande.

Will.i.am’s interview with Ahlan! magazine caused a frenzy online Thursday with the suggestion that Fergie was no longer a member of the pop group. A day later, will.i.am said in a statement: “Fergie is family and will always be a Pea. She is focused on her solo album which we fully support.”

In the interview, will.i.am said that “nobody is replacing Fergie” and that the Black Eyed Peas are working on a new project. He said former Pussycat Doll leader Nicole Scherzinger would be featured on the project but didn’t say how much involvement she would have (Scherzinger was offered a spot in the Peas before Fergie).

The Black Eyed Peas released its debut in 1998 as an eclectic hip-hop trio with will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo. Fergie first appeared on the group’s third album, 2003’s “Elephunk,” helping them achieve mainstream success.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017 THE BULLETIN 7

Legal Advertising PUBLIC NOTICE BUDGET HEARINGS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMPTON WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2017/2018 BUDGET ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 AND JUNE 27, 2017 (if necessary) at 5:35 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE COMPTON CITY HALL. ALL CITIZENS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH WRITTEN AND/OR ORAL COMMENTS AND ASK QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CITY’S PROPOSED BUDGET. THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2017/2018 BUDGET CAN BE INSPECTED

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AdId:22556

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ROSE VALDEZ CASE NO. 17STPB04204 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of ROSE VALDEZ. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ANN PIMENTEL in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on June 12, 2017 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 99 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that ANN PIMENTEL be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

MICHAEL W BROWN ESQ

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act . (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

NO 115

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 06/14/17 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner PAUL HORN, ESQ. - SBN 243227 THE PAUL GROUP, PC

HORN

LAW

11404 SOUTH STREET CERRITOS CA 90703 5/24, 5/31, 6/7/17 CNS-3011677# THE COMPTON BULLETIN SchId:67811 CustId:64

AdId:22571

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF EDNA F. JACKSON Case No. 17STPB04220 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of EDNA F. JACKSON A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Lorraine M. Joseph in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Lorraine M. Joseph be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very

SBN 093574 22632 GOLDEN SPRINGS DR

DIAMOND BAR CA 91765 CN937686 JACKSON May 24,31, Jun 7, 2017 SchId:67831 CustId:65

AdId:22579

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF CELESTE A. RACHAL aka CELESTE A. GRIFFIN Case No. 17STPB04225 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of CELESTE A. RACHAL aka CELESTE A. GRIFFIN A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Tanya L. Griffin in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Tanya L. Griffin be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on June 12, 2017 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 99 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: DIANE BUTLER ESQ SBN 245 531 LAW OFFICES OF DIANE BUTLER 13252 HAWTHORNE BLVD STE 103 HAWTHORNE CA 90250 CN937674 RACHAL 24,31, Jun 7, 2017

May

SchId:67834 CustId:65

AdId:22580

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARCELINO RODRIGUEZ AYALA CASE NO. 17STPB03996 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MARCELINO RODRIGUEZ AYALA. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MS. SONIA RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MS. SONIA RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act . (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 06/08/17 at 8:30AM in Dept. 11 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner RODNEY W. WICKERS SBN 74062 CHRISTINA M. WICKERS SBN 284613 LAW OFFICE OF RODNEY W. WICKERS 21515 HAWTHORNE BLVD

Compton, CA 90221 A.P.N.: 7302-002-016 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. Notice To Potential Bidders: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien.

If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. Notice To Property Owner: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (877) 440-4460 or visit this Internet Web site www.mkconsultantsinc.com, using the file number assigned to this case 170208034. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: 5/11/2017 Total Lender Solutions, Inc. 10855 Sorrento Valley Road, Ste 102 San Diego, CA 92121 Phone: (866)535-3736 Sale Line: (877) 440-4460 By: /s/ Naomi Finkelstein, Trustee Sale Officer

less than 100 percent of the total amount of the bid price named in the contract. The Payment Bond shall be not less than 100 percent of the total amount of the bid price named in the contract. The AGENCY reserves the right to reject any bond if, in the opinion of the AGENCY Attorney, the Surety’s acknowledgment is not in the form included in the contract documents or in another form substantially as prescribed by law.

SchId:67851 CustId:621

PUBLISH:May 31, 2017

AdId:22588

--------------------------------------SECTION A. NOTICE INVITING SEALED BIDS CITY OF COMPTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT “NOTICE INVITING BIDS” SEALED BIDS will be received at the office of the City Clerk, City of Compton, 205 South Willowbrook Avenue, Compton, CA 90220 on or before June 21, 2017 at 3:00 PM, opened and read in the City Clerk’s Office, 205 South Willowbrook Avenue, Compton, CA 90220. The bid package will be available online at www.comptoncity.org on May 31, 2017.

All Bids shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to: City Clerk, City of Compton

TORRANCE CA 90503

205 South Willowbrook Avenue

5/24, 5/31, 6/7/17

Compton CA 90220

CNS-3013451#

And marked outside with:

THE COMPTON BULLETIN

“Request for Bids Proposal For Street Pavement and Concrete Maintenance Services”

SchId:67840 CustId:61

AdId:22582

--------------------------------------T.S. No.: 170208034 Notice Of Trustee’s Sale Loan No.: 160601A2 Order No. 95516476 APN: 7302002-016 You Are In Default Under A Deed Of Trust Dated 6/6/2016. Unless You Take Action To Protect Your Property, It May Be Sold At A Public Sale. If You Need An Explanation Of The Nature Of The Proceeding Against You, You Should Contact A Lawyer. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale.

Trustor: Premiere Diamond Investments, LLC Duly Appointed Trustee: Total Lender Solutions, Inc. Recorded 6/20/2016 as Instrument No. 20160707524 in book , page of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, Date of Sale: 6/14/2017 at 11:00 AM Place of Sale: Behind the fountain located in Civic Center Plaza, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $83,591.45 Street Address or other common designation of real property: 1804 E. Alondra Blvd

The proposed work shall be performed in accordance with the contract specifications and other contract documents as specified herein and shall consist of the following general work descriptions: to provide Street Pavement and Concrete Maintenance Services in the City of Compton.

If you need additional information, please contact Glen W. C. Kau, at (310) 605-5505.

The Agency reserves the right, after opening bids, to reject any or all bids, or to make award to the lowest responsible bidder and reject all other bids; to waive any informality in the bidding; and to accept any bid or portion thereof; and to take all bids under advisement for a period of Ninety (90) calendar days. Bids will be compared on the basis of the engineer’s estimate of the quantities of the several items of work as shown on the Bid Sheets. Only such plans, specifications, and items of work as are appropriate shall apply to the work as bid.

At the time of contract award, the contractor shall possess a Class A Contractor’s License or a combination of Specialty Contractor’s License(s) adequate to perform the work herein described. All subcontractors shall have equivalent licenses for their specific trades. The contractor and all subcontractors shall have a valid City of Compton business license prior to commencing work.

Each bid must conform and be responsive to this notice and shall be made on the official forms furnished in the Instructions to Bidders. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified or cashier’s check, or by a corporate surety bond on the form furnished by the AGENCY, as a guarantee that the bidder will, if an award is made to him in accordance with the terms of their bid, promptly secure workmen’s compensation insurance and liability insurance, execute a contract in the required form, and furnish satisfactory bonds for the faithful performance of the contract and for the payment of claims of material and laborers thereunder.

Said check or bidder’s bond shall be in an amount not less than 10 percent of the amount of the bid. The Performance Bond shall be not

Minimum wage rates for this project have been predetermined by the Secretary of Labor. If there is a difference between the minimum wage rates predetermined by the Secretary of Labor and the prevailing wage rates as determined by the State for similar classifications of labor, the Contractor and their subcontractors shall pay not less than the higher wage rate.

In accordance with provisions of Section 1773.2 (amended 1977) of the California Labor Code copies of the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the State Director of Industrial Relations and are available at the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Internet web site at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/ PWD. Future effective general prevailing wage rates, which have been predetermined and are on file with the California Department of Industrial Relations are referenced but not printed. Copies of the prevailing wage rates are on file with the City and available upon request.

The City of Compton hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business and Women’s Business Enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, creed, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Contract Documents call for monthly progress payments based upon the Engineer’s estimate of the percentage of work completed. The AGENCY will retain 5 percent of each progress payment as security for completion of the balance of the work. At the request and expense of the successful bidder, the City will pay the amounts so retained upon compliance with the requirements of Government Code Section 4590 and the provisions of the Contract Documents pertaining to the Substitution of Securities.

Alita Godwin City Clerk

June 7, 2017 June 14, 2017 SchId:67854 CustId:314

AdId:22590

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF TIMOTHY N. VARNEY Case No. 17STPB04573 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of TIMOTHY N. VARNEY A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Ann Breceda in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Ann Breceda be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate.

The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on June 22, 2017 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 79 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:

PATRICK C STACKER ESQ SBN 72783 STACKER & ASSOCIATES 3030 OLD RANCH PARKWAY NO 170 SEAL BEACH CA 90740 CN937913 VARNEY May 31, Jun 1,7, 2017 SchId:67858 CustId:65

AdId:22591

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE File No. File No. 7870.21084 Title Order No. 8665698 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 05/22/2009.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER.A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in §5102 to the Financial code and authorized to do business in this state, will be held by duly appointed trustee. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to satisfy the obligation secured by said Deed of Trust. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or other common designation, if any, shown herein.

Trustor(s): Fred L. Benavidez, An Unmarried Man Recorded: 05/29/2009, as Instrument No. 20090798445, of Official Records of Los Angeles County, California. Date of Sale: 09/25/2017 at 11:30 AM Place of Sale: In the main dining room of the Pomona Masonic Temple, located at 395 South Thomas Street, Pomona, CA The purported property address is: 3261 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806 Assessors Parcel No. 7203-010-011 The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $348,781.90. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid, plus interest.

The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the beneficiary, the Trustor or the trustee. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien.

If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale.

If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 877-484-9942 or visit this Internet Web site www.USAForeclosure.com or www.Auction.com using the file number assigned to this case 7870.21084. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: May 26, 2017 NORTHWEST TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC., as Trustee Candice Yoo, Authorized Signatory 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 110, Irvine, CA 92606 866387-6987 Sale Info website: www.USAForeclosure.com or www.Auction.com Automated Sales Line: 877-484-9942 or 800-280-2832 Reinstatement and PayOff Requests: (866) 387-NWTS THIS OFFICE IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Benavidez, Fred L. ORDER # 7870.21084: 05/31 /2017,06/07/2017,06/14/2017 SchId:67872 CustId:635

AdId:22596

--------------------------------------NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE File No. 7042.15009 Title Order No. NXCA-0168286 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 06/02/2004. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER.A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in §5102 to the Financial code and authorized to do business in this state, will be held by duly appointed trustee. The sale will be made, but without covenant or war-

ranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to satisfy the obligation secured by said Deed of Trust. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or other common designation, if any, shown herein. Trustor(s): Victor R Bejarano and Teresa O Bejarano, Husband and Wife as Joint Tenants Recorded: 06/10/2004, as Instrument No. 04 1484793, of Official Records of LOS ANGELES County, California. Date of Sale: 07/06/17 at 11:30 AM Place of Sale: In the main dining room of the Pomona Masonic Temple, located at 395 South Thomas Street, Pomona, CA The purported property address is: 1508 STANLEY AVENUE, LONG BEACH, CA 90804 Assessors Parcel No. 7260-011-027 The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $241,017.13. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid, plus interest. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the beneficiary, the Trustor or the trustee.

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 877484-9942 or visit this Internet Web site www.USAForeclosure.com or www.Auction.com using the file number assigned to this case 7042.15009. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: May 26, 2017 NORTHWEST TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC., as Trustee Candice Yoo, Authorized Signatory 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 110, Irvine, CA 92606 866-387-6987 Sale Info website: www.USAForeclosure.com or www.Auction.com Automated Sales Line: 877484-9942 or 800-280-2832 Reinstatement and PayOff Requests: (866) 387-NWTS THIS OFFICE IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Bejarano, Victor R. and Teresa O. ORDER # 7042.15009: 05/31 /2017,06/07/2017,06/14/2017 SchId:67875 CustId:635

AdId:22597

--------------------------------------T.S. No.: 9550-4205 TSG Order No.: 8673564 A.P.N.: 7116-006-088 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 07/28/2006. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NBS Default Services, LLC, as the duly appointed Trustee, under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust Recorded 08/03/2006 as Document No.: 06 1722060, of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, executed by: EDDIE MCCLENDON, AN UNMARRIED MAN, as Trustor, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH (payable in full at time of sale by cash, a cashier’s check drawn by a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state). All right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and state, and as more fully described in the attached legal description.

Sale Date & Time: 06/28/2017 at 10:00 AM Sale Location: Behind the fountain located in Civic Center Plaza, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona CA The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 1645 E 68TH ST #11, LONG BEACH, CA 908051697 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein.

Said sale will be made in an “AS IS” condition, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of the

Deed of Trust, estimated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, towit: $344,145.96 (Estimated). Accrued interest and additional advances, if any, will increase this figure prior to sale. It is possible that at the time of sale the opening bid may be less than the total indebtedness due.

NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself.

Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien.

If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information.

If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call, 916-939-0772 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this Internet Web site, www.nationwideposting.com, for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case, T.S.# 9550-4205. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. NBS Default Services, LLC 301 E. Ocean Blvd. Suite 1720 Long Beach, CA 90802 800-766-7751 For Trustee Sale Information Log On To: www.nationwideposting.com or Call: 916-939-0772. NBS Default Services, LLC, Nicole Rodriguez, Foreclosure Associate This communication is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. However, if you have received a discharge of the debt referenced herein in a bankruptcy proceeding, this is not an attempt to impose personal liability upon you for payment of that debt. In the event you have received a bankruptcy discharge, any action to enforce the debt will be taken against the property only. LEGAL DESCRIPTION PARCEL 1: AN UNDIVIDED 1/36TH INTEREST IN AND TO ALL THAT PORTION OF LOT 1 OF TRACT NO. 48707 AS SHOWN ON A MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 1173, PAGES 33 TO 35, INCLUSIVE, OF MAPS, RECORDS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, SHOWN AND DEFINED AS “COMMON AREA” ON THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN RECORDED MAY 8, 1991 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 91669637 OF OFFICIAL RECORDS OF SAID COUNTY. EXCEPT THEREFROM UNITS 1 THROUGH 36 INCLUSIVE, AS DEFINED AND DELINEATED ON THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN RECORDED MAY 8, 1991 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 669637, OFFICIAL RECORDS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY. PARCEL 2: UNIT 11, AS SHOWN ON THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN REFERRED TO IN PARCEL 1 ABOVE. PARCEL 3: A NONEXCLUSIVE EASEMENT APPURTENANT TO UNIT 11 FOR INGRESS, EGRESS AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE COMMON AREA AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 1. “EASEMENTS RESERVED TO OWNERS” OF ARTICLE XX ENTITLED “COMMON AREA EASEMENTS” OF THAT CERTAIN DECLARATION OF COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS OF 68TH STREET CONDOMINIUMS RECORDED ON MAY 8, 1991 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 91-669638 OF OFFICIAL RECORDS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. PARCEL 4: ONE CLASS A MEMBERSHIP IN 68TH STREET CONDOMINIUMS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT MUTUAL BENEFIT CORPORATION, HEREINAFTER CALLED THE “ASSOCIATION”.

NPP0309132 To: LONG BEACH CALIFORNIAN 06/07/2017, 06/14/2017, 06/21/2017 SchId:67887 CustId:68

AdId:22602

--------------------------------------Request for Proposals For Emergency Board Ups and Weed Abatement Services June 01, 2017 The City of Compton Building and Safety Department is soliciting a Request for Proposals (RFPs) from qualified cleanup and removal service contractors to perform emergency board ups, weed abatements, removal and haul away services on an “as needed” basis citywide.

The RFP describes the proposal format, submittal requirements, preliminary scope of services, the minimum information that must be included in the proposal, and the selection process.

Request For Proposals can be obtained from the City’s website at www.comptoncity. org or by calling 310-6055509. Failure to submit the Proposal in accordance with the procedures outlined maybe cause for disqualification.

In order to be considered in the selection process, interested parties shall submit five (5) copies of their proposal no later than 3:00 PM, June 20th 2017 to: City of Compton City Clerk’s Office 205 South Willowbrook Avenue Compton, CA 90220 Late proposals will not be accepted.

The City of Compton thanks you for your interest.

Sincerely, Alita Goodwin City Clerk Publish Dates: June 7th 2017 June 14th 2017 SchId:67893 CustId:314

AdId:22604

--------------------------------------Request for Proposals For Plan Check and Inspection Services June 01, 2017 The City of Compton Building and Safety Department is soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified contractors to perform plan check and inspection services on an “as needed” basis.

The RFP describes the proposal format, submittal requirements, preliminary scope of services, the minimum information that must be included in the proposal, and the selection process.

Request For Proposals can be obtained from the City’s website at www.comptoncity. org or by calling 310-6055509. Failure to submit the Proposal in accordance with the procedures outlined may be cause for disqualification.

In order to be considered in the selection process, interested parties shall submit five (5) copies of their proposal no later than 3:00 PM, June 20th, 2017 to: City of Compton City Clerk’s Office 205 South Willowbrook Avenue Compton, CA 90220 Late proposals will not be accepted.

The City of Compton thanks you for your interest.

Sincerely, Alita Goodwin City Clerk Publish Dates: June 7th 2017 June 14th 2017

SchId:67895 AdId:22605 CustId:314 --------------------------------------Escrow No. 17-75335-TD NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE (Division 6 of the Commercial Code) (1) Notice is hereby given to creditors of the within named seller(s) that a bulk sale is about to be made on personal property hereinafter described.

(2) The name and business address of the seller are: KWIK CUTTING & GRINDING, INC., a California Corporation, 15410 So. Avalon Blvd., Compton, CA 902203203 (3) The location in California of the chief executive office of the seller is: 15410 So. Avalon Blvd., Compton, CA 902203203 (4) The name(s) and business address of the buyer(s) are: HERITAGE ALLOYS CORP., a California Corporation, 15410 So. Avalon Blvd., Compton, CA 90220-3203 (5) The location and general description of the assets to be sold are: all tangible personal property, furnishings, fixtures, equipment, machinery, parts, accessories, inventory of stock in trade, contracts, agreements, equipment lease, warranties and other rights or agreements, of that certain business located at: 15410 So. Avalon Blvd., Compton, CA 90220-3203 (6) The business name used by the seller at said location is: KWIK CUTTING & GRINDING. (7) The anticipated date of the bulk sale is June 23, 2017 at the office of COMMERCE ESCROW, 1055 Wlshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90017, Escrow No. 17-75335TD, Escrow Officer: TINA DE BOW (8) Claims may be filed with Same as ``7`` above.

(9) The last date for filing claims is June 22, 2017 (10) This Bulk Sale is subject to Section 6106.2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

(11) As listed by the seller, all other business names and addresses used by the seller within three years before the date such list was sent or delivered to the buyer are (if ``none``, so state): NONE Dated: May 24, 2017 Transferees: HERITAGE ALLOYS CORP., a California Corporation, By: Jana Christine Wenger, President CN938617 17-75335-TD Jun 7, 2017 SchId:67903 CustId:65

AdId:22608

8

THE BULLETIN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017

Focus on Pets

Prepare

YOUR PET FOR SUMMER Photo courtesy of Getty Images

F

FAMILY FEATURES

rom making plans to buying new clothes to filling your time with exhilarating (or relaxing) hobbies, gearing up for summer can be a fun and exciting exercise. With hotter months ahead, don’t forget that your pets need certain preparation in advance of summer also.

With increased dangers like infectious bugs, poisonous plants and more time around water, plus the threat of heat itself, summer is an important time to make sure your pets are ready. Start with a few simple tips that can help ensure safety throughout the summer months.

Keep them hydrated. Dehydration and heatstroke can be fatal to pets, so access to a clean water bowl both inside and outside is critical during summertime. While you’re on the go, be sure to bring water for your pet in a suitable drinking container.

Protect against bugs. Ticks and other pesky bugs can cause headaches when the weather warms and you and your furry friends spend more time outside. Help keep those bugs away with preventative treatments, and be sure to check your pets closely for ticks after you’ve spent time outdoors.

Groom regularly. One of the best ways to keep a dog’s coat healthy and help prevent matting and summertime skin irritation is regular grooming.

The right grooming tool can dramatically reduce shedding by removing the undercoat and loose hair without sacrificing the healthy top coat.

Provide skin protection. Just like humans, dogs can experience sunburn and even skin cancer. To prevent sunburn, apply a sunscreen where hair is thin and skin lacks pigment (nose, ears and sensitive areas) every time your dog is outside.

Clean the yard. Before letting dogs, cats or other pets out into the yard to play, check for hazards that can be removed or prevented. Search the yard for poisonous plants, ensure that fences are sturdy and whole, watch the area for possible predators if you own smaller pets and monitor your pet’s outdoor activity.

Check screens. When the temperature is just right, many people love to throw open doors and windows to allow fresh air to rush through screen doors. However, those screens should be checked to ensure that pets can’t push them out or squeeze through a small hole.

Add ID. Whether your pets play outside often or not, it’s a smart investment to add an identification tag to their collars. If they were to ever make a dash for an open gate or find a way outside without attention, an ID can help significantly increase the chances they are returned home safely.

Teach them to swim. Many people increase their time around water during the summer, whether it’s a neighborhood pool, a local pond or a lake.

If you plan to bring along a pet, make sure that he or she is comfortable around water and able to swim before partaking in an activity that could potentially frighten your pet.

Make a vacation checklist. Before hitting the road for a fun family getaway, add important pet items to your checklist. Remember that while on a trip, your pet will need food and water, of course, but also may require specific bedding, toys, treats and more.

Summer can provide a great opportunity to spend ample time bonding with pets, but preparing in advance for some of the pitfalls of all of the excitement can ensure that your pet enjoys it just as much as you do. Find more tips and tricks for pet owners at eLivingToday.com.

3 Tips to Help Pets in Need F or pet owners, their dogs, cats and other pets play an important role in bringing added happiness to their lives. As not every dog and cat is as fortunate, you may be looking for ways to help pets in need.

As many as 6-8 million pets enter shelters every year across North America, according to The Humane Society of the United States. There are numerous ways you can help pets in need, starting with these tips.

Volunteer at Your Local Animal Welfare Organization

Almost every community has at least one animal shelter or rescue group that needs help. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at shelters and rescue organizations, from office duties and community outreach and education to training, feeding and socializing, so people with every skillset are often able to lend a hand.

Donate Supplies

While pets await adoption, they need access to food, making pet food a significant operating expense for animal welfare organizations. Through PetSmart’s Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program, for every bag of dog or cat food purchased online and at its more than 1,500

stores across North America through the end of the year, the leading pet specialty retailer will donate a meal to a pet in need served by animal welfare organizations and food banks.

“To celebrate 30 years of commitment to helping pets in need, and as a trusted partner to pet parents everywhere, we want to celebrate by giving back even more,” said Eran Cohen, chief customer experience officer at PetSmart. “Throughout 2017, every time pet parents purchase any bag of dog or cat food in our stores or online, they can rest assured they are also helping feed pets in need. When their pets eat, pets in need eat, too.”

Foster or Adopt a Pet

As many animal welfare organizations have dogs or cats not suited for living in a shelter atmosphere, fostering a pet in your home is a simple way to give back without the long-term commitment of pet ownership. Of course, adopting from a rescue or shelter can not only save that pet, but also open a spot in the facility and potentially save another animal as well.

Find more ways to get involved at your local shelter or rescue group, and learn more about the Buy a Bag, Give a Meal program at Petsmart.com/giveameal.