The Argonaut Newspaper — July 16, 2020

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ON THE COVER: 4 Corners 4 Justice (@_4corners4justice) youth leaders Jalen Greenberg and Ty Martinez raise their voices for George Floyd during a memorial-turned-demonstration at First Baptist Church of Venice in June. Photo by Ashley Nash. Design by Arman Olivares.

Local News & Culture

The Westside’s News Source Since 1971 CONTACT US (310) 822-1629 Letters, News, Tips & Event Listings: ccampodonico@timespublications.com EDITORIAL Editor: Christina Campodonico (310) 574-7654 Contributing Editor: Shanee Edwards Contributing Writers: Amy Alkon, Lisa Beebe, Bliss Bowen, Kellie Chudzinski, Shanee Edwards, Jacqueline Fitzgerald, Jason Hill, Danny Karel, Jessica Koslow, Angela Matano, Brian Marks, Colin Newton, Jennifer Pellerito, Matt Rodriguez, Audrey Cleo Yap, Lawrence Yee Editorial Interns: Anthony Torrise, Meera Sastry, Amy Watsky, Lydia You, Dev Jaiswal, Samuel Aftel, Katherine Brubaker and Julia Escobar ART Graphic Designers: Arman Olivares (310) 574-7656 Kate Doll (310) 574-7653

ADVERTISING Display Advertising: Kay Christy (310) 574-7654 Denine Gentilella (310) 574-7651 Classified Advertising: Ann Turrieta (626) 584-8747 aturrietta@timespublications.com BUSINESS Associate Publisher: Rebecca Bermudez (310) 574-7655 rbermudez@timespublications.com WE MOVED! NEWS & SALES OFFICE 161 Pasadena Ave. Suite B, South Pasadena CA 91030 The Argonaut is distributed every Thursday in Del Rey, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice, and Westchester. The Argonaut is available free of charge, limited to one per reader. The Argonaut may be distributed only by authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of The Argonaut, take more than one copy of any issue. The Argonaut is copyrighted 2020 by Times Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means without prior express written permission by the publisher. An adjudicated Newspaper of General Circulation with a distribution of 30,000.

(Continued on page 8)

Staff Photographer: Luis Chavez Contributing Photographers: Mia Duncans, Maria Martin, Shilah Montiel, Ashley Randall, Courtnay Robbins, Jason Ryan, Ted Soqui, Zsuzsi Steiner, Gunnar Kuepper

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L E T T E R S PHOTO BY LUIS CHAVEZ

Out of the Mouths of Babes Re: ‘Kid Power, Broadway Elementary fourth grader organizes peaceful Black Lives Matter Protest,’ June 25, 2020 Unfortunately, kids learn “hate” and “discrimination” at a young age. Compliments to Broadway Elementary fourth graders (their parents & school staff) for encouraging the understanding that WE ALL deserve to, as quoted by Lux, “feel really nice inside and outside.” That’s the best way I could describe, “No Justice, No Peace, Know Justice, Know Peace.” Morgan Stanley Playa del Rey

What Venetians Really Think Re: Opinion: “Reimagining Public Safety,” June 25, 2020 “Reimagining Public Safety” as presented by your guest editorialist Councilman Mike Bonin is a disturbingly dangerous path to an even more crime-infested Los Angeles that could more resemble the fictional Gotham City in the film “Joker” should he have his way! This “bare bones” budget approach is not only dangerous to our community, but a real threat to those men and women brave enough and tough enough to wear the uniform! Rejecting more police officers as a solution to rising crime in Los Angeles is a revealing insight into Mr. Bonin’s true objective which is a financially watered down police department that falls in line with his woefully misguided views on how not to protect neighborhoods like Venice and leave “quality of life” issues in the hands of social workers and government bureaucrats that currently enable versus solve the core concerns of chronic homelessness, gentrification and the elimination of LAPD as a reliable community ally in fighting crime and keeping the peace.

In essence, right is now wrong and wrong is now right when it comes to basic public safety and keeping Los Angeles protected and safe in the eyes of Mike Bonin! For Mr. Bonin has already stated publicly he supports a decrease in police officers and is reluctant to fund new recruits as many men and women of the LAPD retire and resign. It’s worth restating that Bonin wants an actual reduction of “boots on the ground” and officers in the streets! For Mr. Bonin has now adopted a “faster, better cheaper” approach to municipal government and he plans to use LAPD as his new utopian experiment on how to deliver basic policing in a way so untested he wants to redefine law enforcement with political rhetoric rather than real data that will leave our Venice community at risk and even more unprotected than ever before! As usual, Bonin is vague and fails to give definition to “crime” while offering his new agenda of social workers and bureaucrats addressing 911 calls in the streets of Venice. Predictably, Bonin cites some dubious [online survey] he designed to find the results he

seeks to implement here in LA and Venice. For the actual “poll” and its results are not disclosed to The Argonaut or anyone else to analyze because this is a push poll, designed to search for a point-ofview and policy agenda that clearly lacks the support of most Angelenos and specifically Venetians exhausted by Bonin’s Machiavellian gamesmanship! In 2019 the Venice Neighborhood Council, a sanctioned arm of Los Angeles city government, conducted its own Community Survey on what Venetians believed were the issues they really cared about. This poll was completed by some 800 respondents with no political agenda, but rather a pent up need to be heard by elected officials like Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilman Bonin: • 80% of Venetians believe crime is a major issue • 74.15% of Venetians believe crime increased year over year (2018-19) • 61.94% believe the Venice Boardwalk, an internationally known tourist destination, is unsafe • 90% of Venetians believe homelessness is the number one issue facing community with

nearly 66% pointing to crime as unaddressed and out of control But the survey goes deeper and indicates a clear lack of “no confidence” in either Mayor Garcetti or Councilman Bonin: • 17.66% of Venetians are “dissatisfied” and 61.41% are “extremely dissatisfied” with the job Councilman Bonin is doing • 19.13% of Venetians are “dissatisfied” and 59.84% are “extremely dissatisfied” with the job Mayor Garcetti is doing While these results are now close to a year old and pre-COVID-19, based on the data extracted from Venetians, the results could even bode worse for these highly unpopular elected officials. I urge The Argonaut to review in-depth the 2019 Venice Community Survey and see what people actually think in Venice versus this carefully constructed narrative by Mr. Bonin that is laced in political, unreliable and rhetorical imagery and is not what the people of Venice believe by any reasonable standard. Nick Antonicello, Venice Beach The writer is a volunteer member of the Outreach, Parking and Oceanfront Walk Committees of the Venice Neighborhood Council

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N E W S

Corona by the Numbers & Local Updates: COVID-19 cases top 140,000; LAUSD will reopen online

Putting the “No” in “No More Guns” For years the mural on the wall at Centinela and Palms said, “No More Guns.” It made me feel good, secure and peaceful. Then a few months ago the “No” was gone. HELP! Now we have painted the “No” back. Yes, life can be good again! Sincerely, Anne Goldfarb, with the help of Robin Doyno Mar Vista

We Want to Hear from You! Being in print is a lot more meaningful than grouching on Facebook. Send compliments, complaints and insights about local issues to christinac@ argonautnews.com.

Compiled by Christina Campodonico Reported Cases by Neighborhood as of Tuesday, July 14 Culver City: 261; Del Rey: 189; El Segundo: 79; Marina del Rey: 37; Mar Vista: 178; Playa Vista: 70; Playa del Rey: 16; Santa Monica: 521; Venice: 135; Westchester: 236 Total Confirmed Cases in LA County: 140,307 Total Deaths: 4,244 • Citing rising coronavirus numbers, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered on Monday (July 13) the shutdown of fitness centers, non-critical office spaces, hair salons, barbershops, malls and places of worship in Los Angeles County. The closures join a statewide shutdown of indoor operations at restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, card rooms and bars. • Also on Monday, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that the second largest school system in the nation

would begin instruction onlineonly come August 18. Beutner did not set a timetable for reopening LAUSD campuses, according to LAist, but cited surging coronavirus cases as reason for not reopening district schools at this time. “Reopening schools will significantly increase the interaction between children and adults from different families. A 10-year-old student might have a 30-year-old teacher, a 50-yearold bus driver or live with a 70-year-old grandmother,” he said. “All need to be protected. There’s a public health imperative to keep schools from becoming a petri dish.” • L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti warned Monday that the city’s coronavirus threat level was “on the border of going red.” “If we were an independent country, Los Angeles County would have the 20th most cases in the world,” he said. “Put differently, we have more cases in Los Angeles County than all of Canada.” • He urged Angelenos not to host or gather with people

outside their households for outdoor events or parties, saying, “This virus is not taking the summer off and we can’t afford to either.” • The mayor also gave additional details on how Angelenos may apply for rental assistance from the city’s $103 million rental relief program, billed by Garcetti as the “largest rent assistance program in the country.” LA residents, whose househould income is at or below 80% of the area median income and have been impacted financially by COVID-19, may apply at hcidla.lacity.org, regardless of immigration status. • Subsidies, paid directly to landlords, range from $1000 to $2000 per month, per househould. Online applications close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday (July 17). The hours for the application phone hotline are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Friday as well. Call 1-844-944-1868 or use 1-844325-1398 if you are hearing or speech impaired. Applicants will be chosen by lottery.

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N E W S

Next Showdown in Congress: Protecting Workers vs. Protecting Employers during the Pandemic By Christina Jewett and Melissa Bailey Congressional leaders are squaring off over the next pandemic relief bill in a debate over whom Congress should step up to protect: front-line workers seeking more safeguards from the ravages of COVID-19 or beleaguered employers seeking relief from lawsuits. Democrats want to enact an emergency standard meant to bolster access to protective gear for health care and other workers and to bar employers from retaliating against them for airing safety concerns. Republicans seek immunity for employers from lawsuits related to the pandemic, an effort they say would give businesses the confidence to return to normal. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene later this month. The debate reflects a deepening schism between the major political parties, with Democrats focused on protecting lives and Republicans focused on protecting livelihoods. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed frustration over efforts to pass an emergency worker protection standard, which keeps running into GOP resistance. “They’re saying ‘Let’s give immunity — no liability — for employers,’” Pelosi said. “We’re saying the best protection for the employer is to protect the workers.” Nearly 98,000 health care workers have contracted the novel coronavirus, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data that the agency acknowledges is an undercount. KHN and The Guardian have identified more than 780 who have died and have told the personal stories of 139 of them. In May, the House passed a $3 trillion relief bill that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to put in place an emergency standard that would call on employers to create a plan based, in part, on CDC or OSHA guidance to protect workers from COVID-19. It would cover health care workers and also those “at occupational risk of exposure to COVID19.” The measure would allow workers to bring protective gear “if not provided by the employer.” Similar rules in place

in California health care workers have come under fire for offering little added protection. In action, the new measure would allow OSHA inspectors to request to review an employers’ plan and hold them accountable for following it, said David Michaels, former U.S. assistant secretary of Labor and OSHA administrator, who has called for such a standard. Federal guidance is currently optional, not required. “Many employers want to be law-abiding,” Michaels said, “and they know they risk enforcement and possibly a monetary fine if they don’t attempt to do this.” Top Democrats, including presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden, have called for better worker protections, while GOP leaders have called for stronger employer protections. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has insisted that the next pandemic relief bill include immunity for employers against coronavirus-related lawsuits. “If we do another bill, it will have liability protections in it for doctors, for hospitals, for nurses, for businesses, for universities, for colleges,” McConnell said July 1. “Nobody knew how to deal with the coronavirus,” he said, and unless they’ve committed gross negligence or intentional harm, those parties should be protected from an “epidemic of lawsuits.” He has proposed a five-year period of immunity from December 2019 through 2024. (McConnell’s office declined to comment for this story.) Such a measure could derail lawsuits already filed by grieving family members such as Florence Dotson, the mother of 51-year-old certified nursing assistant Maurice Dotson, who died in April. Her son cared for nursing home residents with COVID-19 in Austin, Texas, and did not have proper personal protective equipment (PPE), her suit alleges. He later died of complications from the virus. Another lawsuit alleges that an anonymous New York nurse requested but was denied proper PPE when she was assigned to care for a patient in intensive care with COVID-19 symptoms but who was tested for the virus only after death. The nurse, who contracted COVID-19 shortly

PAGE 6 THE ARGONAUT JULY 16, 2020

“They’re saying ‘Let’s give immunity — no liability — for employers.’ … We’re saying the best protection for the employer is to protect the workers.” — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. after, is seeking $1 million in damages. U.S. workers in every industry have filed more than 13,300 COVID-related complaints with OSHA, records show, demonstrating widespread concern over their lack of protection at work. Twenty-three complaints reference a fear of retaliation, including among hospital workers who say they were pressured to work while sick. The agency has closed investigations into those complaints but is investigating 6,600 more open complaints. OSHA has so far issued one citation against an employer, a spokesperson confirmed. Employers are also struggling, evidenced by layoffs and an 11% unemployment rate, which the Congressional Budget Office projects will hit 16% in the coming weeks. States have taken some matters in their own hands during months of federal inaction. At least 25 states have created some degree of legal immunity for doctors or facilities, through new laws or executive orders, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Officials in Virginia and Oregon have taken steps to enact their own heightened workerprotection rules related to the virus. The effort to pass an OSHA rule to protect workers from infectious diseases dates to 2010, when regulators saw the need to better protect health care workers after the H1N1 flu pandemic. Michaels, the former OSHA director under President Barack Obama, said the effort has stalled

out under the Trump administration. Trump administration OSHA officials have defended their track record, saying adequate rules are in place to protect workers. But a similar push succeeded in California in 2009. State officials passed a plan requiring health care employers to create a plan to protect health care workers from airborne viruses. The California measure went further, requiring hospitals and nursing homes to stockpile or be prepared to supply workers with an N95 respirator — or an even more protective device — if treating patients with a virus like COVID-19. Workplace safety experts in California, though, said it hasn’t worked as intended. As more than 17,600 health care workers have become sick and 99 have died in the state, it’s become apparent that health care employers did not have plans in place, said Stephen Knight, executive director of Worksafe, a nonprofit focused on workplace safety. “This was just a massive missed opportunity and one that cost people their lives,” Knight said. “People are just dying … with frightening regularity.” California nurses who died after caring for COVID patients without an N95 respirator include Sandra Oldfield, 52, who wore a less-protective surgical mask while caring for a patient who wasn’t initially thought to have the virus. A complaint to OSHA about a lack of N95 respirators that preceded her death put her hospital, Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center, in violation of the state’s standard,

Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. the state labor department confirmed. However, alternative guidance is now in place because of global PPE shortages, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations. Kaiser Permanente, which is not affiliated with KHN, confirmed that the patient was not initially thought to have COVID-19 and that the company has followed state, local and CDC guidance on patient screening and use of PPE. Hospital officials, who have come out against a national OSHA standard, said the plans that were in place did not account for the scope of the current pandemic and global supply chain breakdown. “It is not for a lack of caring or trying to keep our workers safe,” said Gail Blanchard-Saiger, vice president for labor and employment with the California Hospital Association. This story originally appeared on Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Visit khn.org to learn more.

“If we do another bill, it will have liability protections in it for doctors, for hospitals, for nurses, for businesses, for universities, for colleges.” — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.


H E A L T H

&

W E L L N E S S

Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital Staff Show Support for Racial Justice PHOTO BY CEDARS-SINAI

By Cedars-Sinai Newsroom Staff As the U.S. confronts its history of racism and grapples with ongoing racial disparities, CedarsSinai Marina del Rey Hospital staff members gathered to show solidarity with minority communities and support for health equity. One recent afternoon, more than 80 employees were kneeling or standing while observing a moment of silence together. They also listened to remarks from hospital leaders about the impact of racism on the community and what actions they can take. “If there’s any question if systemic racism exists in America, the answer is yes,” said Robert Watkins, MD, chief of staff at Marina del Rey Hospital. He linked the recent protests over the murder of George Floyd to a long history of racism in the country that has created economic and health

Hospital workers take a knee Lives Matter movement disparities for people of color. Watkins hoped that the hospital’s show of solidarity would increase awareness of these issues and help determine a path forward. “We’re such a family here at the Marina and everyone coming out and supporting each other is really what makes working at this hospital so

in solidarity with the Black beautiful,” he said. Racial discrimination and inequity in areas such as housing, employment, criminal justice and education remain a fact of life throughout America. Inequities in healthcare also are widespread, and addressing that imbalance is a focus at Cedars-Sinai, where leaders have been develop-

ing and directing programs aimed at achieving racial equity and erasing health care disparities. For example, Cedars-Sinai is holding open dialogue sessions for staff to learn from each other about experiences of discrimination. The health system also has enacted a number of employee training programs to raise staff members’ awareness about “implicit bias,” the unconscious actions that can result in unfair treatment. Implicit bias can have serious ramifications in healthcare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: • African Americans ages 18 to 49 are two times as likely to die from heart disease as whites. • African Americans ages 35 to 64 are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than whites. Ronald Hurst, MD, chair of Surgery at Marina del Rey Hospital, said that he had prayed about the most effective remarks

he could share with the group of staff members as a Black man and a Black surgeon. He said that those who are affected by racism understand it well, but they cannot bring about change alone. “It’s about the unaffected who choose not to be involved,” Hurst said. “What we’re seeing as the tipping point now is that the unaffected are getting involved. They see, they feel, they care.” The gathering concluded with Joanne Laguna-Kennedy, MSN, RN, vice president of Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer of Marina del Rey Hospital, praising staff for showing their support. “Thank you for participating,” Laguna-Kennedy told the group. “This tells me you want action, too.” A version of this story originally appeared on Cedars-Sinai News. Visit cedars-sinai.org to learn more.

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Sustenance on Wheels Grassroots Neighbors delivers muchneeded meals by bicycle PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRASSROOTS NEIGHBORS

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Volunteers prepare to ride into action to deliver food and supplies to unhoused neighbors By Dev Jaiswal Every Sunday evening, a team of bike-riding volunteers takes to the streets of Venice to donate food to the area’s unhoused. These volunteers are part of Feed the People, a program run by Playa del Rey-based initiative Grassroots Neighbors. “We’re giving people a warm meal on Sunday nights and also emergency supplies, jackets, shoes, jeans, things like that,” Vlad Popescu, president of Grassroots Neighbors, said. Popescu and his team, which includes his wife Stephanie, have been helping feed the streets of Venice since 2013, when Feed the People launched in the spirit of providing immediate assistance to those in need. The warm meals often include mixes of vegetables, fruit and rice, with the occasional granola bar. The food varies and comes primarily from donations, which can be made via Grassroots Neighbors’ website. “We wanted to support good public

policy to help people get off the street,” Stephanie Popescu explained. “[But] while we were doing that work, people were hungry immediately.” Now in the age of the coronavirus, Grassroots Neighbors has expanded their Feed the People program to include a COVID-19 mutual aid program. Vlad explained that his wife Stephanie has really been the “core leader” of the COVID-19 program, which makes grocery deliveries to households in Venice, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey and others in West Los Angeles. “Our grocery deliveries are targeting those who are housed but are struggling,” Stephanie said. “On Sundays, we are bringing food to people who are unhoused.” Coronavirus has made operations slightly more difficult, mainly in that vegetable supplies from the farmers’ market have become limited and that access to a kitchen space provided by Holy Nativity Church is (Continued on page 10


C O V E R

S T O R Y PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ

Taking a Stand Social media fuels the fight for equality on the Westside By Meera Sastry The recent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement catalyzed by the death of George Floyd has utilized social media to mobilize people in momentous ways since Memorial Day. Protests are organized on Instagram, information on bail funds and legal resources are spread around via Twitter, and political education is happening in family Facebook groups. With social media, taking a stand can seem as easy as typing in a hashtag from your couch. But these networks have also inspired concrete action, enabling anyone to find steps to combat racial injustice — or the address of a protest — with the click of an app. Celebrities and public figures have tapped into this shift, many of them devoting their accounts and spheres of influence to aiding today’s civil rights movement. #ShareTheMicNow, a campaign in which Black women took over the Instagram accounts of white women with large followings for a day on June 10, is just one example of this newfound focus on amplifying and centering the voices of Black leaders, activists and speakers. Individually, other celebrities have used their platforms to host ongoing conversations, like pop star Selena Gomez, who had Black leaders including former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams along with civil rights icon and activist Ruby Bridges speak through her Instagram account, which has one of the highest follower counts on the app. Locally, organizations both long-running and newly-founded have adapted to the influx of people wanting to take direct action against racial injustice after seeing the footage of George Floyd’s brutal killing and

the innumerable posts and solidarity statements that went viral in the wake of his death. Through their use of social media and their efforts within their respective communities, these organizations have put real change in motion, inspiring countless others to join in. Although the issues they deal with are by no means new, there is no time like the present to learn from Black and brown community leaders and turn the grief felt on a national scale as a result of the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other victims of police brutality into making a difference closer to home. Save Venice (@savexvenice), an organization with the aim of increasing racial equity and justice in Venice and on the Westside, has been working for years to combat gentrification and systemic inequality. With the current protest movement, Mike Bravo, one of the leaders of Save Venice, describes increased support for the organization and turnout at events, despite Save Venice receiving relatively little attention from the media and community in the past. “A lot of them are very sincere in wanting to know how to get involved,” Bravo says. “From my organizing experience, I know that many times you’ll be lucky to get a small percentage of those people following through, but even within that group, we have more people humbling themselves to listen, which has definitely helped.” One of Save Venice’s biggest projects is the fight to preserve the cultural legacy of Oakwood’s First Baptist Church of Venice, a historically African-American church, which was purchased by Penske Media CEO Jay Penske and his wife Elaine Erwin for $6.3 million in 2017, according to reporting from the Los Angeles

El Segundo for Black Lives has turned the intersection of Imperial and Main into a regular protest spot Times. The ultimate fate of the property is uncertain, but in recent months, the church has become a lightning rod and rallying point for the local Black Lives Matter movement. In June, actor couple Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas attended one of Save Venice’s protests concerning the unofficial community landmark, an example of this new kind of eager — even high-profile — involvement. Bravo is glad that these protests are receiving attention and garnering participation, but emphasizes the need for longterm support and a change in attitude. “A lot of people in Venice are not new to understanding that

there are egregious agents of gentrification and systemic racism here,” Bravo says. “The big problem is the people who are more superficial, and who haven’t acknowledged the kind of racial justice or economic justice work we’ve been doing here for years.” As for the future, Bravo wants to see white allies turn to “sincere reflection”, and to allow the Black and brown people in their communities to speak for themselves as they work together to bring about more inclusive policies. In contrast to Save Venice’s history of activism, 4 Corners 4 Justice (@_4corners4justice), a group that organizes protests, events, and campaigns for Black

and brown communities on the Westside, was founded after its leaders, among the younger generation of activists, attended a protest that they felt was lacking in focus. “In Venice, there are a lot of people [protesting] who don’t have a direction or understand what it’s like to be a person of color,” leader Ty Martinez says. “So, we put a memorial together [for George Floyd] to pay respects to people who have fallen victim to police brutality, and we set up an educational panel to educate people on why we’re fighting.” The efforts of 4 Corners 4 (Continued on page 10

JULY 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 9


Taking a Stand

SITTIN’ ON THE DOCK OF THE BAE I’m a 34-year-old woman, and I’ve been with my boyfriend for about eighteen months. He’s a loving guy but comes up a little short on romance (“butterfly moments,” I guess you’d call them, from being surprised with some big romantic gesture). While I want those, I wonder whether that’s just because society/media/culture have led me to believe they’re the norm? How can I get these “butterfly moments” without asking unreasonable things of him? — In Need Heterosexual relationships would be less upsetting if straight men paired up with each other, starting with one guy hitting on another in a bar with, “Yo, I have somebody who’d like to meet you,” and then just pointing to his crotch. There are sentimental men out there, but men in general (and especially straight men) take a more utilitarian approach to relationships than women: “If it ain’t broke, no need to divert the car payment to the French florist.” There’s too little understanding and acceptance of this difference (ultimately in emotional mindset). Many people make a leap from the legitimate idea that women and men deserve equal rights to the illegitimate assumption that they are psychologically the same — down to their having the exact same needs. This fantasy is taught as fact in women’s studies departments, and it’s made the way into the population as a whole. It’s driven by the unscientific denial of sex differences in male and female emotional makeup (some emerging as early as infancy) and the differences in behavior that come out of them. Granted, men and women are more similar than different. (We all want love, food, shelter, and good dentistry.) But men and women are emotionally different. For example, if a woman forgets her man’s birthday or lets Valentine’s Day slip her mind, it’s the rare man who will punish her with a sex strike and/or three months of resting pout face (“every day is a funeral for me.”) Men’s and women’s differing and sometimes sharply conflicting emotional mindsets seem mysterious and even pointless until you look at them through the lens of evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers notes that having sex results in differing levels of obligatory “investment” for women and men: possible pregnancy plus childrearing for the ladies versus “Here’s my sperm. That was fun. Bye!”

In line with this, research by evolutionary psychologists Martie Haselton and David Buss suggests that women evolved to be “commitment skeptics,” to err on the side of believing a man won’t stick around. Our emotions are our support staff for seeing we meet our evolutionary needs, and female emotions press women to seek signs that a man they have sex with is committed to them. When the signs are scant or absent, women feel bad, which motivates them to press for more commitment or find the undercommitted man’s replacement. In other words, “abandonment issues” seem to be baked into women’s emotional makeup. Ancestral women who vetted a man to see that he’d stick around post-sex to bring home the bison were more likely to have children who survived to pass on their genes. This should tell you that you aren’t wrong to want some romantic extravaganzas any more than you’re wrong to want a sandwich when your stomach starts growling like a wolverine. To get what you need, avoid the thinking too many women make themselves miserable with: “If he loved me, he’d just know what to do.” Reality: If he were a woman, with evolved female emotions, he probably would. When you two are having a sweet moment together, acknowledge that the male mindset on romance is different. Tell him what would make you happy, and ask that he do it. Because a guy can sincerely intend to follow through and then have it slip his mind, you might give him specific targets to hit — your birthday, your anniversary, Valentine’s Day — and suggest he get one of those reminder apps. When he comes through, tell him how much it means to you. That said, it’s also important to be mindful of human fallibility, as in, what it means if a man forgets your birthday. If he shows his love in little daily ways, maybe tell him you’re rescheduling your birthday for the next week to give him another chance. If money is an issue for him, let him know it’s the heartfelt effort that counts, not a reservation at Chez We’ll Need Your Pension Signed Over. Explain ways he can be romantic without going broke or more broke. When you love a man, you can have a magical time while toasting your anniversary over a romantic picnic dinner and then getting arrested together for the public consumption of alcohol: “We’ll always have Paris Bail Bonds!”

GOT A PROBLEM? Write to Amy Alkon at 171 Pier Ave, Ste. 280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email her at AdviceAmy@aol.com. ©2020, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Alkon’s latest book is “Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence.” Follow @amyalkon on Twitter or visit blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon.

PAGE 10 THE ARGONAUT JULY 16, 2020

Justice have paid off, as they have been able to organize around concrete goals after seeing a surge of interest, which include the aforementioned memorial for Floyd at First Baptist Church of Venice in early June, which attracted hundreds. “I feel like people trust us now,” Martinez says. “We’ve been to a lot of protests; we’re building that connection. People are reaching out to us, asking how they can help, instead of just sitting there and waiting for the one person of color to make the decision.” 4 Corners 4 Justice’s next initiative will focus on supporting Black-owned restaurants, but in the meantime, they encourage those compelled by the cause to stay active in the movement through protesting and education. In the South Bay, the recently founded organization El Segundo for Black Lives (@el_segundo_for_black_lives on Instagram; @ESforBlackLives on Twitter) is filling a similar void in a city that the group describes as “historically racist” and “hostile to people of color.” The group has held a number of protest and memorial events since the end of May, rallying a community that has not always been visibly involved in political activism; its members describe how this movement has precipitated a positive change in El Segundo. “Speaking as a Black woman, it really touched me to look to my right and see another mother who’s white with her children shouting ‘Black Lives Matter’,” head of events and education Tanya Taylor told The Argonaut in June. “It was just the most heartwarming thing. Someone who has experienced discrimination and racism can actually feel, in a moment like that, your community coming together.” Like the other organizations, El Segundo for Black Lives plans to continue their work as the Black Lives Matter movement

PHOTO BY LUIS CHAVEZ

(Continued from page 9)

Local Black Lives Matter organizers have noticed more white allies standing in solidarity with the movement extends into the future, specifically through policy demands they are hoping to implement with the cooperation of the El Segundo mayor, city council, and police department. Their agenda includes transformative steps for police, aid for minorityowned businesses and changes in the school district’s curriculum. Save Venice, 4 Corners 4 Justice and El Segundo for Black Lives are just three local organizations doing “the work” on the Westside, but a wealth of resources also exist for the wider Los Angeles movement. The Youth Justice Coalition L.A. (@ youthjusticela) is a great group also run by young activists; The Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter (@blmlosangeles on Instagram; @BLMLA on Twitter) and White People 4 Black Lives (@wp4bl) are also good places to start. For daily updates on protests and other direct actions, @inthistogether_la is comprehensive and reliable. So follow a local activist or two, add a protest to your calendar, and let’s make the Westside a better — and more just — place to be. Argonaut Editor Christina Campodonico contributed to this story.

Sustenance on Wheels (Continued from page 8)

no longer available. But other local businesses have stepped in to help out. Vlad and Stephanie thank real estate developer Legado for providing space for the group to operate out of Playa del Rey, as well as Gumgum Company in Santa Monica for managing an online advertising campaign. Vlad also thanks community members for helping with donations to help get the COVID-19 mutual aid program up and running. “[Coronavirus] allowed other people to plug in, and it gave us completely new opportunities and new ways to help,” Vlad said. Local mothers were one of the first community members to step up, Stephanie explained. Through posts on social media “mommy groups,” word about grocery deliveries spread. Donations by local moms have included freshly baked bread

and face masks. “It was this mommy group that started it, but now it’s just grown and it’s a whole neighborhood coming together to take care of the people that need to be taken care of,” Stephanie said. Vlad was quick to mention how appreciative the unhoused community has been. “They say we are angels and really a lot of wonderful things,” Vlad said. “Everybody blesses me and thanks us.” Stephanie shared the sentiment. “A lot of the folks who are receiving help from us are saying ‘When I get back on my feet again, I want to help too,’” she said. Grassroots Neighbors plans on continuing Feed the People and the COVID-19 mutual aid program as long as there is need. Visit grassrootsneighbors.org to learn more. Got a scoop of good news? Email christinac@argonautnews.com.


A R T S

&

E V E N T S

Journeying to Legacy

Justice Through Faith LA Voice’s online calls to action ground activism in multiple spiritual traditions PHOTO BY BETHANIE HINES

By Meera Sastry The resurgence and expansion of the Black Lives Matter movement has created a moment of national reckoning with racial injustice. In its wake, many are having to figure out how to heal from the trauma of seeing George Floyd’s tragic killing play out on video and how to integrate anti-racism into their daily lives and routines. LA Voice, an organization that unites 57 member congregations of various religious traditions spread throughout the Los Angeles area, has been tackling this issue in its community through the angle of faith. One notable example of this work was “Whirlwind and Fire,” an online “call to action” that took place on Friday, June 12. This event featured faith leaders Rev. angel Kyodo williams and Rev. Dr. William Barber, along with representatives from various other member congregations and faith traditions; a musical performance by artist Jason Taylor; and a reading from poet and teacher Stephen Jamal Leeper. Though the call to action was broadcast over Zoom, there was clear energy and purpose present as the leaders left moments of silence and called on the viewers to respond with affirmations of solidarity. “Whirlwind and Fire,” like the other actions LA Voice hosts, served not only to amplify the calls for justice that have resounded throughout a summer of protests but also to show its audience how they might deal with these feelings of outrage and anger and channel them into action through the mechanisms of conscious faith. The first of the featured speakers, Zen priest Rev. angel Kyodo williams, spoke of the necessity for all of us to widen our collective imagination and free it from the constraints of systemic racism that have traditionally placed the burden of the idea of race on Black and non-white people. “This is our time to take back our sense of community, of safety, of hope, and of possibility, and to dream something bigger,” she said. “We can draw from the ancestors who were never meant to be

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of LA Voice is affirming and comforting. The leaders involved are clear about the pain that Black Americans have faced throughout history and in the present moment, and make no concessions concerning the changes that must be made. Their calls to action are grounded in a wealth of spiritual tradition that — because of the diversity of the member congregations — are accessible to those of almost any background. They appeal to the universality and common humanity that arises out of the shared past of all Americans, and through this, LA Voice creates online events certainly worth watching.

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Updates on LA Voice’s future events can be found on Twitter @LA_Voice or Facebook at facebook.com/lavoicepico. Their next online event is “Gathering 4 Black Lives” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 19. Visit bit.ly/ LAVoiceGathering4BlackLives. JULY 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 11


R E V I E W

Camera Shy ‘Silence Sounds Good’ showcases the all-too-mysterious brilliance of Elliott Erwitt IMAGE BY TASHA VAN ZANDT

IMAGE BY ADRIANA LOPEZ SANFELIU

By Samuel Aftel I would venture to say that countless Americans – perhaps a majority of them – have seen the images of Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt in one context or another without even knowing the man behind the camera. Erwitt has photographed American presidents, popes, Marilyn Monroe, Fidel Castro, segregated spaces of the Jim Crow South, couples in love, dogs, everyday human interaction, his first wife, and so much more. He occupies a rare space in American culture: at once artistically omnipresent and, as an individual, relatively invisible – taking refuge behind the camera as he portrays the disorienting peculiarity, and simplicity, of the human (and canine) experience. A new documentary, “Silence Sounds Good” (directed and narrated by Erwitt’s close confidant and companion Adriana Lopez Sanfeliu), explores the photographer’s life as he endures his eighth decade, and screens via Laemmle’s online virtual cinema platform (laemmle.com) through Friday, July 17. It is likely one of the more intimate examinations of Erwitt’s life and work to date. For anyone interested in a succinct look into Erwitt’s psychology and quotidian disposition, the film gets the job done. At times, though, “Silence Sounds Good,” for all its compelling revelations about the photographer’s life and exquisite cinematic form, disappointingly lives up to its title – remaining quiet on the interior workings of the photographer and discursively bypassing his works’ broader socio-historical context. To be sure, there are numerous attention-grabbing flashes of historical awareness. In one moment, Erwitt discusses his photograph of a segregated water-fountain system in Jim Crow-era North Carolina, lamenting the horrors of the America of his younger years. In another interesting moment, Erwitt reflects on his photograph of a young Black boy, in 1950s America, inexplicably smiling as he holds a handgun to his right temple – an aesthetic paradox Erwitt himself seems perplexed and compelled by. Yet, at other moments, the film

“Silence Sounds Good” captures the quiet creative life of Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt

JR walks audiences through his creative process of creating a San Francisco mural in the companion short “One Thousand Stories”

seems hesitant to motivate Erwitt – and, by extension, the audience – to more deeply contextualize his work. Indeed, in one representative exchange between Erwitt and Sanfeliu (who also serves as interviewer), Erwitt resists answering a question about what makes a photograph “magical.” And in another exchange, Erwitt makes clear that “I hate to give explanations.” The result of this reticence, in these exchanges and beyond, is a documentary that incisively illuminates its subject’s mysteriousness, and not much else. However, it would be a mistake to underestimate the revelatory import of Erwitt’s silence and emotional withholding, and the documentary proves sufficiently fascinating for simply maintaining Elliott’s veil. But the film, consciously or not, still left me frustratingly wanting. Near the beginning, for example, Erwitt contemplates the abbreviated life of Marilyn Monroe, who he photographed before the superstar actress tragically died of a (possibly suicidally motivated) drug overdose at the age of 36 in August 1962. Erwitt points out that if Monroe was still alive, she’d be profoundly old – an inevitability which seems to disorient him. The film also features one of Erwitt’s photographs of Monroe in a seductive pose, tossing back her head. And yet, the horrific nature of the actress’s premature death goes essentially unacknowledged in the film; it would have been genuinely captivating if Erwitt considered why she was denied a long life, and then situated his

cruelty of the Castro regime – its suppression of speech, incarceration of political dissidents, terrorization of queer Cubans – or, say, the role of American imperialism in further brutalizing and impoverishing Cuba, the documentary’s presentation of Erwitt’s grand photography of Castro and everyday Cubans feels context-deficient, if not simplistically utopian. Given their lack of contextualization in the documentary, it would be all too easy for an untutored audience to glance at Erwitt’s Castro photographs and see a benevolent, one-with-thepeople leader, rather than an objectively draconian dictator. Likewise, it would be all too easy for this same audience to regard Erwitt’s capturing of Cuban civilians tending to their pastoral land as evidence of an ecologically paradisiacal Cuba. In reality, of course, Erwitt’s photography is a multilayered reflection of revolutionary authoritarianism and inequitable economic dispossession rooted in both failed domestic policy and international capitalistic exploitation and deprivation; unfortunately, this complexity is often lost in the documentary. Interestingly enough, one of the most engaging elements of the project is the opening short – a prologue of sorts – to the documentary about Erwitt. The short, “One Thousand Stories,” examines the creation of a mural of San Franciscans by the multifaceted street artist JR. Through the construction of the mural, JR seeks to showcase the diversity and beauty of an ever-dynamic modern American

PAGE 12 THE ARGONAUT JULY 16, 2020

strange, beguiling portraits of Monroe within the broader culture of infatuation that may have motivated her self-destruction. This pattern of decontextualization appears at other moments in the film, too. A significant portion of the documentary indulges Erwitt’s long-standing artistic interest in Cuban society and Cuban people, who he describes as both “needy” and kindhearted. Erwitt took stunning photos of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro socializing, conversing, smoking, and pensively lost in thought, and the film displays some of them as evidence of Erwitt’s proximity to uber-important men. Similarly, part of the documentary captures Erwitt’s recent travels to Cuba, where he takes pictures of everyday Cubans, compensating for his past focus on the Cuban ruling class. While “Silence Sounds Good” demonstrates the impoverishment of Cuban life, it fails to position Erwitt’s photography in a broader socioeconomic, political, and macro-historical context. The film briefly flashes photos of Castro and shines a light on rural life on the island, but it essentially lets Castro, as well as U.S. imperialists and privileged Westerners who romanticize the hardships of working-class Cubans, off the hook. Erwitt is never asked to reckon with the ethical consequences of portraying Castro in benign stances – warmheartedly greeting children, for example. Without the vital consideration of the well-documented authoritarian

city. The mural, therefore, is soaked in a commitment to drawing a full sociopolitical picture: the expansiveness of San Francisco’s city life and its urbanites. JR’s mural subjects include the homeless, babies, cops, boys and girls, men and women, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Black people, white people, Latinx people, Asian people, boxers, tattoo artists, dancers, athletes, and so on. The result is a wonderfully fragmented collage of individuals within an inseparable urban collective. In comparing JR’s gregarious rapport with his subjects to Erwitt’s more introverted relationship with the camera, I may be asking too much of Erwitt and “Silence Sounds Good” based on personality alone: perhaps Erwitt is just a near-impossible subject to document with precision, given his instinctually withholding nature. Perhaps, too, Erwitt’s brilliance necessitates ideological and emotional impenetrability. In one telling moment, Sanfeliu observes, “In a way, what we’re doing is helping Elliott share his voice, but it’s not so easy. He’s always been happy to let the work speak for itself.” Erwitt himself even muses on the interestingness of “an interview where nobody speaks.” “It sounds like something Andy Warhol might have done,” he says. Nevertheless, I suspect Erwitt has deep-seated political and intellectual commitments, and I wish “Silence Sounds Good” dug deeper into its subject to find out what they might be.


F O O D

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kitchen.” I had signed up for the pie-making class hoping to improve on my previous pie crust attempts. Tasked with making pies every Thanksgiving, I have lots of experience with making pie from scratch, but no consistency. Making pie crust from scratch can be entirely hit or miss. In the past, my pie crust has turned out tasting nice but with uneven browning, and other times it just doesn’t have enough flake no matter how many different recipes I’ve tried out. What was surprising about my session with Gourmandise was how I was able to pinpoint exactly what I had previously been doing wrong through many of the small pointers that Clémence offered. From different techniques on how to incorporate butter into the flour to create layers, to how to roll out the pie dough without it

becoming a crackly crumbly mess, the pie-making process suddenly became a lot easier than my previous stressful attempts. Butter has to stay cold to create a successful pie crust, so when I accidentally reverted back to my old ways of handling the dough too much with my naturally very warm hands, Clémence gently suggested that I “roll the butter into the flour with the rolling pin” to minimize melty butter and prevent compressed layers. This saved my butter from (literally) melting the layers I so desperately wanted in my pie, creating the thin sheets of cold butter necessary for a successful crust. To finish off the pie and create that golden top crust I was never able to achieve, Clémence watched my pie bake with me, advising me when it was “time to turn the oven down!” as I held my computer in front of the oven to

give Clémence a better view. I had always taught myself how to cook through YouTube videos but having someone watch what I was doing in real time and tell me exactly what I had to tweak took my pie skills to a new level — and saved me from a stressful future of disappointing pie! The flexibility of the recipe was what made this Zoom cooking course stand out. Clémence encouraged us to add some zing to our pies by adding “lemon, ginger…anything. You don’t even have to use blueberries!”, informing us that the same recipe could be easily used for other fruit fillings. Everything from the sugar content of the filling to the type of flour used in the crust was entirely up to the student. Although Gourmandise made a few recommendations, including flour from Pasadena urban flour mill Grist and Toll and California-based Straus Butter, a high butterfat content butter (great for pies!) from the first 100% certified organic creamery in the country. The resulting blueberry pie was one of the most flaky, layer-y pies I have ever made. All of the previous issues I had with pie-making were naturally addressed in the three-hour class, and by the end I was left feeling stress-free, with a beautiful pie that was devoured by the end of the day. For anyone just getting into cooking, or those who already love to cook but need help troubleshooting their technique, pick any class on Gourmandise’s calendar or set up a private session now at gourmandiseschool.com.

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By Amy Watsky Our newfound quarantine comforts, involving anything from 5 p.m. happy hour to morning virtual yoga, have become far more repetitive than we had previously thought back in March. It’s so hard to keep those connections with family, friends and coworkers strong when we’re physically apart, but we all value those relationships as crucial to our mental well-being. With indoor dining forced to close again due to a recent uptick in COVID cases, it’s starting to look like those quarantine essentials will get old — fast. So, let’s switch it up! Try something new with the Gourmandise School’s online cooking courses specially catered toward teambuilding with coworkers or for interactive quality time with family and friends. While the Gourmandise School won’t be able to open their doors in Santa Monica for in-person classes as soon as they’d like, they’ve added many classes to their online calendar to suit anyone from young beginners to veterans looking to try out a new technique. The calendar piques a variety of interests, with special courses for children ages 6 to 17 as well as a “Teen Pro Chef Camp” Monday through Friday series. Specialty courses such as pasta from scratch to a two-day croissant class are perfect for those looking to take on a tough challenge. Or, skip takeout for date night and try a “Thai Tuesdays” or a “Date Night: Tapas” class. The calendar has something for everyone — and if you want something more intimate and personalized with

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JULY 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 13


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THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE Q&A Despite pandemic, values remaining strong for homes in Los Angeles County… for now … Home values are remaining strong in the area as there remains a shortage of new homes available to buyers. When the pandemic first hit prices took about a 5-6% decrease. What we’ve seen since then though is 15-20% decline in the total number of properties being sold, and the short supply of available homes has kept values high and going strong. Prices actually went up a little bit due to the pent up demand, which you’ve no doubt heard by now. The low inventory paired with beefed up unemployment benefits and deferments on mortgages have stemmed things from getting worse for most homeowners. The question is though, is this sustainable and what would happen if there were more homes suddenly available? And what will happen when the relief benefits end? I am urging if you are considering selling in the near future such as a year or two from now, you may want to rearrange your plans. Either prepare to sell your home very soon, or prepare to stay where you are for the next six to seven years. Real estate is a funny thing one minute you think you are certain at getting your price and the next thing you know you’ve missed that opportunity. Like comedy it’s all about the timing. Based on the data that we are seeing it is very likely that an

influx of foreclosures will the real estate market within the next 6-12 months. The increased volume of available homes for sale that are going to be distressed and priced by bankers to sell, will drive down property values. As someone who works with short sales and foreclosures I can tell you honestly that we are seeing significant rising levels of homeowners late on their payments. I am personally receiving alerts of rising delinquent mortgages in our community, all over Los Angeles County in areas you would not expect. Don’t just take my word for it, asset management firms, and colleagues who specialize in the same field, are all saying the same thing. It is a conversation we have often right now in the industry. Most people continue to say that the market is going to continue to be strong for sellers with the low inventory, and in the snapshot of this minute that remains true, but the market is a fluid situation at the moment. And it seems as though things are changing daily. You should be aware that delinquencies on mortgages just spiked up 50.3% in the last 60 days and that 4.13 million people across the country are currently past due on their payments. The number of serious delinquencies, people who are 90 days

PAGE 14 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION JULY 16, 2020

past due but not yet in foreclosure, also rose by more than 50%. It is troubling information and while many people have been able to defer payments in light of the crisis, it appears their ability to defer will expire towards the end of this summer. As the pandemic continues with no end in sight it makes one wonder if it’s just a matter of time before we begin to see a big drops in equity due to a flooding of the market with foreclosed & distressed properties. In LA we are very fortunate that we have one of the strongest real estate markets in the world, but even the best neighborhoods here took a dip during the 2008 and the Great Recession. Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Brentwood, all fell by 25% or more in value at that time. Of course it always comes back, but it takes longer than one would think. Before the recession in 2008, median prices for home sales hit a peak in September of 2007 at $625,000 in Los Angeles County. During the worst of the recession the median home price fell all the way to $248,000. I don’t have to tell you that impacted a lot of people here in Southern California. It took an entire 12 years for the median price in Los Angeles County to get back up to $625,000 as it did in August of 2019.

What’s been happening since then? The median price hit a peak in September of 2019 at $663,00 and has been trending down since that mark. And that was before the pandemic and shutdowns happened. Reporting for the median price of May has shown it’s now down to $546,000. With any luck the pandemic ends soon and you can throw out this information. But we may have to be prepared for a new kind of real estate market, one in which home values here in Los Angeles County are down 20-25% and fewer buyers are able to meet tightened lender qualifications. No one should have to lose their home because of this crisis, but unfortunately that is not the world we live in. I can’t say an exact date but I’m telling you now there will be a foreclosure bubble bursting if the pandemic drags on and it will bring down property values…soon.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION WAS ANSWERED BY

Aris Anagnos exp REALTY

(424) 581-9006 DRE is 01926776


Visit Us Virtually

Visit our website for videos and 3D tours of all our listings

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FIND YOUR PLACE The Stephanie Younger Group 310.499.2020 | DRE 01365696 stephanieyounger.com | @stephanieyoungergroup Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.

JULY 16, 2020 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 15


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Thank You! To all those on the front line keeping our communities safe and to everyone in the community for doing their part to stay safe. The Argonaut has been the trusted source of information for our community for almost 50 years — we’ve been through many challenges in the past and we’ll get through this one together.

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Space Deadline: Aug 3 for Aug 13 issue Call 310-463-0633 PAGE 16 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION JULY 16, 2020

Buying or selling real estate? The Argonaut has you covered.

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Monday, July 27, 2020. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, cashier's check, or surety bond payable to County of Los Angeles in an amount equal to at least $100,000 to guarantee that the bidder will enter into the contract if it is so awarded. No contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public DEADLINE: works project (submitted on Monday at 11am for Thursdays or after March 1, 2015) unless registered with the DeCALL ANN: partment of Industrial Rela626-584-8747 or tions pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5 [with limited EMAIL: exceptions from this requireann@argonautnews.com ment for bid purposes only under Labor Code Section 1771.1 (a)]. No contractor or subcontractor may be awarBid Notices ded a contract for public work on a public works project (awarded on or after April 1, NOTICE INVITING BIDS 2015) unless registered with Sealed bids will be accepted the Department of Industrial by Los Angeles County PubRelations pursuant to Labor lic Works, Construction DiviCode Section 1725.5. This sion, for the reconstruction of project is subject to complicurb and gutter, sidewalk, ance monitoring and enforcedriveways, alley intersecment by the Department of tions, and cross gutter, and Industrial Relations. All perthe performance of other insons performing the work cidental and appurtenant shall be paid not less than work under Project ID No. the General Prevailing Wage RMDJOC6671 Parkway ConDetermination prepared by crete Maintenance, Maintenthe Director of Industrial Reance District No. 3, Group C lations pursuant to the State in various unincorporated Labor Code. Copies of these communities of Maintenance wage rates are available at District No. 3 within Los Public Works. The successAngeles County. The bids ful bidder must provide full must be submitted electronicdisclosure of False Claims ally using Bid Express Act violations, labor www.BidExpress.com, belaw/payroll violations, debarfore 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Auments, and civil/criminal leggust 4, 2020. Registration inal actions as provided in the structions and the fee schedInstructions to Bidders. Failule for Bid Express are inure to complete these forms cluded in the Instructions to may result in a determination Bidders. Paper bids will not that the bidder is nonrebe accepted. The bids will be sponsive and/or not responsopened through a webcast ible. The contract, if awarded, immediately after the spewill be awarded to a responscified closing time. Bidders ible contractor with the lowmay participate in the public est responsive bid; however, bid opening by visiting the the Board of Supervisors reLos Angeles County Public serves the right to reject any Works Business Opportunitand all bids. A responsible ies website, selecting the contractor is one who has project and clicking on the demonstrated the attribute of Microsoft Teams Online Bid trustworthiness, as well as Opening Webcast. The work quality, fitness, capacity, and shall be done in accordance experience to satisfactorily with the Contract Documents perform the contract. It is the on file and open for inspecCounty's policy to conduct tion at Public Works. The business only with responscontract price will be ible contractors. The County $1,000,000 and shall be for maintains the Contractor one year or until $1,000,000 Alert Reporting Database of work orders have been (CARD), which is used to completed, whichever octrack/monitor poorly performcurs first. The prime contracting contractors. When a or shall possess a valid CaliCounty department identifies fornia Class A or C-8 cona s i g n i f i c a n t tractor's license. Prebid quesperformance/non-complitions regarding the Plans and ance issue(s) with a contractSpecifications shall be subor, the department will mitted via e-mail only to: Mr. provide notice to the conJ o h n L u a t tractor and will give the conjolu@pw.lacounty.gov. Prebtractor an opportunity to corid questions will not be acrect the issue(s). If the concepted after 5 p.m. on tractor does not take any apMonday, July 27, 2020. Each propriate steps to correct the bid must be accompanied by issue(s), the County departa certified check, cashier's ment will enter the contractor, check, or surety bond payalong with any other relevant able to County of Los information pertaining to the Angeles in an amount equal contractor's performance isto at least $100,000 to guarsue(s), into CARD. The inantee that the bidder will formation entered into CARD enter into the contract if it is can be accessed by all so awarded. No contractor or County departments, and will subcontractor may be listed be used, along with any othon a bid proposal for a public er relevant information not inworks project (submitted on cluded in CARD, in determinor after March 1, 2015) uning bidder responsibility. If a less registered with the Dedepartment reviews this inpartment of Industrial Relaformation and determines tions pursuant to Labor Code Deadline: that a finding of non responsSection 1725.5 [with limited Monday at 11am ibility should be pursued, the exceptions from this requiredepartment will adhere to the forbid Thursday ment for purposes only guidelines specified in the under Labor Code Section Los Angeles County Code, 1771.1 (a)]. No contractor or Contact: Chapter 2.202 and the subcontractor may be awarAnn Turrietta County's Implementation Proded a contract for public work (626) 584-8747 cedures for Determinations of on a public works project Contractor Non-Responsibil(awarded on or after April 1, ty and Contractor De2015) Email unlessYour registered Ad: with ibarment. The successful bidthe Department of Industrial ann@argonautnews.com der will be required to fully Relations pursuant to Labor comply with all applicable Code Section 1725.5. This State and Federal reporting project is subject to complirequirements relating to emance monitoring and enforceployment reporting for its emment by the Department of ployees and comply with all Industrial Relations. All perlawfully served Wage and sons performing the work argonautnews.com Earnings Assignment Orders shall be paid not less than and Notice of Assignment the General Prevailing Wage PAGE 18 THE ARGONAUT JULY 16, 2020 and continue to maintain Determination prepared by compliance throughout the the Director of Industrial Reduration of the contract. Faillations pursuant to the State

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Classifieds / Legals

CLASSIFIEDS and LEGALS

requirements relating to employment reporting for its employees and comply with all lawfully served Wage and Earnings Assignment Orders and Notice of Assignment and continue to maintain compliance throughout the duration of the contract. Failure to comply may be cause for termination of the contract or initiation of debarment proceedings. The contract is subject to the requirements of the County of Los Angeles' Defaulted Property Tax Reduction Program (Defaulted Tax Program), Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 2.206. Bidders should carefully read the Defaulted Tax Program. The Defaulted Tax Program applies to both contractors and their subcontractors. Bidders will be required to certify that they are in full compliance with the provisions of the Defaulted Tax Program and shall maintain compliance during the term of the contract, or shall certify that they are exempt from the Defaulted Tax Program by completing a certification of compliance with the County's Defaulted Property Tax Reduction Program. In accordance with Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 2.202, failure to maintain compliance with the Defaulted Tax Program or to cure defects within the time specified may be cause for termination of the contract and/or initiation of debarment proceedings against the noncompliant contractor. Bids that fail to comply with the certification requirements of the Defaulted Tax Program will be considered nonresponsive and excluded from further consideration. The successful bidder will be required to submit a faithful performance bond in the amount of $1,000,000, a payment bond in the amount of $1,000,000, liability insurance, automobile insurance, and worker's compensation insurance with the contract. As provided for in Section 22300 of the State Public Contract Code, the contractor may substitute securities for any monies withheld by Public Works to ensure performance under the contract, or enter into an escrow agreement for payment of such monies to an escrow agent. Each person by submitting a response to this Notice Inviting Bids certifies that such bidder and each County lobbyist and County lobbying firm, as defined by Los Angeles County Code, Section 2.160.010, retained by the bidder, is in full compliance with Chapter 2.160 of the Los Angeles County Code. Para mas informacion con relacion a esta noticia, por favor llame a este numero (626) 458 3118. Nuestras horas de oficina son de 7 a.m. a 5:30 p.m. de Lunes a Jueves. The County supports and encourages equal opportunity contracting. By order of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, State of California. Dated July 7, 2020. Celia Zavala, Executive Officer of the Board of Supervisors CN970577 03597 Jul 16,23, 2020

Fic. Business Name FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2020098962 Type of Filing: Original. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ANJAC FASHION BUILDINGS. 850 S. Broadway Penthouse Floor Los Angeles, CA 90014. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Anjac Fashion Buildings, LLC, 850 S. Broadway Penthouse Floor Los Angeles, CA 90014. State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Lim-

90014. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Anjac Fashion Buildings, LLC, 850 S. Broadway Penthouse Floor Los Angeles, CA 90014. State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 02/2015. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/ Steve Needleman. TITLE: Manager, Corp or LLC Name: Anjac Fashion Buildings, LLC. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: June 25, 2020. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 7/2/20, 7/9/20, 7/16/20, 7/23/20 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2020097240 Type of Filing: Original The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: AO APPRAISAL SERVICE; 13488 Maxella Ave., #260 Marina del Rey, CA 90292. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) T i m o t h y A b a k a n , 1 3 4 88 Maxella Ave., #260 Marina del Rey, CA 90292. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or names listed above on: 02/2020. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/: Timothy Abakan. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: June 19, 2020. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., business and professions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 7/9/20, 7/16/20, 7/23/20, 7/30/20

For Classified rates and info, call Ann at 626-584-8747 or ann@argonautnews.com

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2020099151 Type of Filing: Original The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: WINGNUT WIRING; 3525 Sawtelle Blvd., #217 Los Angeles, CA 90066 COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Mark Wallin, 3525 Sawtelle Blvd., #217 Los Angeles, CA 90066. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/: Mark Wallin. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: June 25, 2020. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., business and professions code). Publish: The Argonuat Newspaper. Dates: 7/16/20, 7/23/20, 7/30/20, 8/6/20 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2020100530 Type of Filing: Original The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ONE SPIRIT HEALING; 2001 S. Barrington Ave., Suite 300A Los Angeles, CA 90025. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Candace D. Veach, 2624 3rd Street #6 Santa Monica, CA 90405. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or names listed above on: 01/2020. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/: Candace D. Veach. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: June 30, 2020. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., business and professions code). Publish: The Argonuat Newspaper. Dates: 7/16/20, 7/23/20, 7/30/20, 8/6/20

Employment - PT VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) A Non-Profit Organization serving California Veterans. Needs dedicated Volunteer Drivers to transport Veterans to the West Los Angeles V.A. Hospital Vehicle and Gas is provided For more information please contact Blas Barragán at (310) 268-3344 We are hiring caregivers who would love to help other seniors. Flexible hours! Ideal candidates are compassionate people who want to make a difference! Must be local and willing to drive. Please apply by visiting the Careers page of our website www.inhomecarela.com or by calling our office at (310) 878-2045.

Business/Prof. Services

SAL’S PLUMBING & ROOTER 24/7 SERVICE

• Fast Honest & Reliable • Price Match Guarantee • Gas Leaks & Gas Repairs • All Types of Drains • Repairs & Remodels • Senior Discounts • Family Owned and Operated since 1979 • Lic# 537357 • WWW.SALSPLUMBING.COM

310-782-1978 Handyman

Autos/Parts Special 15% parts discount with ad Lifetime warranty on Brakes,Shocks & Struts 13021 W. Washington Blvd 310-305-7929 Lifetime Warranty on Brake Shocks & Struts 13021 W. Washington Blvd. 310-305-7929 *10% discount on parts with ad.

Items for Sale PLANT SALE Sunday July 19th, 9a.m. to 2p.m. 12473 Louise Ave. bungalow in rear. Bromeliads, Tillandsias, Succulents, 2 Staghorn ferns, garden stuff. Masks and cash only please.

Apartments for Rent

***PALMS***

Interior Designer DA R IO'S CA R PETS Carpet SaleS and ServiCe Carpets • Linoleum Area Rugs • Custom Work Window Coverings

HardWOOd FlOOrS Carpet CleaninG 8330 Lincoln Bl., Westchester (2 blocks N. of Manchester)

(310) 641-2914

www.darioscarpetsla.com darioscarpets@aol.com Lic. #991410

Painting

Painting Best Prices Int/Ex: Houses, Condos, Townhouses, Rentals 25 yrs exp. Free Est.

2 BD & + 2 BA

310-465-3129

3614 FARIS DR. ON-SITE MANAGER (310) 558-8098

Plumbing Services

$2495.00 / MO

4 BD & LOFT + 3 BA $4695.00 / MO 3640 WESTWOOD BLVD.

***MAR VISTA*** 2 BD + 2 BA $2495.00 / MO

Lic. 791862 ins.

Over 30 Years experience

Service & repair • StoppageS Floor & Wall Heat SpecialiSt 10% OFF with ad

310-876-1577

12630 MITCHELL AVE.

3 BD + 3 BA

$3595.00 / MO

12741 MITCHELL AVE. 12736 CASWELL AVE. Gated garage, Intercom entry, Alarm, FP Central air, Dishwasher, Stove/Oven

www.westsideplaces.com

310.391.1076 Look here for jobs.

The Argonaut CLASSIFIEDS 626-584-8747 ann@argonautnews.com

Your newspaper. Your community. Your planet. Please recycle me.


PROFESSIONAL

DIRECTORY AT TO RNE YS

Personal Injury

Law Offices Of Baker & Oring, LLP

Our Legal Staff Includes a Law Professor and Experienced Attorneys with A Proven Record of Success

310.822.3377 DaviD P. Baker

13915 Panay Way, Marina del rey

Recipient of Awards for 35 Years of Community Service to Marina del Rey

Pacific Mariners Yacht club building

www.marinadelreylawyers.com

No one in California should lose their home or go bankrupt because of long term care. Since 1993 you have needed a special Trust to secure your entitlement to long term care insurance under Medi-Cal. Age, health and wealth are not obstacles.

FREE CONSULTATION

• Medi-Cal Planning • estate Planning JOSEPH C. GIRARD, ATTORNEY AT LAW (310) 823-3943 • www.LAElderLaw.com

DE RMATO LO G Y

D ermatology & S kin S urgery

LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE “DOUBLE FEATURES” By DAN SCHOENHOLZ ACROSS 1 Defeat big-time 6 Food chain with a smiley face in its logo 10 Oma’s “Oh, my!” 13 Car company that owns SolarCity 18 __ eclipse 19 Super stars? 21 Wish to do over, perhaps 22 Get on the wagon 23 Two that received Oscar nods in all four acting categories 27 Vietnamese soup 28 Chocolate choice 29 Nile danger 30 Meet activity 31 Homer’s TV neighbor 32 Samoa’s largest export before the blight 33 Lurid material 34 “Just to clarify ... ” 36 Fancy neckwear 39 Duo from the Deep South 44 Reinforce, with “up” 45 “Come again?” 46 Kisser 47 One soaking things up 48 Word with up, mid or down 49 Feudal lord 50 Orca group 52 Olympic sledder 53 Pair for the holidays 58 Versailles VIP 59 Coolidge’s VP 60 Iris ring 61 Retina part 62 Gathers in a condensed layer 65 Disrespects 67 Big game centers 69 Supply orders: Abbr. 70 Big name in pain relief

72 Weasel relative 73 Sigma follower 74 Couple in the 21st century with Best Director Oscar winners 80 More than annoyed 82 Recycle container 83 Band led by the Wilson sisters 84 Mystical old letter 85 Soda shop freebies 87 Game console letters 89 “Relax” 90 Category 91 Two period pieces from across the pond 94 Went sailing, say 95 Have confidence in 96 Go for the passer 97 Innate talent 98 Insignificant amount 100 Bird one hates to eat? 102 Before, to Byron 103 Second 104 Bounty title 107 Pair of divergent tales of the paranormal 112 Tree-lined walkway 113 Actress Longoria 114 “Attack, Rover!” 115 Date component, often 116 Digital units 117 Work with thread 118 Model 119 Bouncing off the walls DOWN 1 Hockey’s __ shot 2 Heinie 3 Not fooled by 4 Scrape, say 5 Happen before 6 “101” course title word

7 Pawn at a shop 8 In vitro supply 9 Defining characteristic 10 Escort’s offering 11 Sticks maintained with chalk 12 Harry Potter’s owl 13 Whom prosecutors represent 14 Canon camera line 15 Equipment shunned by fly fishers 16 Entice 17 Mimicked 20 Happen next 24 Pair with drums 25 In a relevant way 26 Puts a curse on 32 Fujita scale subjects 33 __ fright 35 Jesus of baseball 36 Italian bubbly 37 Tequila order 38 Jerseys, e.g. 39 Gets rid of 40 Sources of fall colors 41 Olympics speed skater Ohno 42 When many walk 43 Set of TV programs 45 One trashing a cab, maybe? 49 Type of weightlifting squat 51 Tending to procrastinate 54 High-card-wins game 55 Zoologist’s subject 56 Metro area, informally 57 ’60s “Sweet!” 61 Snack for Tabby 62 Hopper or Whistler 63 Serious shortage 64 Broad and solidly constructed, in Sussex

65 66 68 71

Act parts Writing tip Fire at work Pulitzer playwright Zoë 72 Big shot in tennis 74 Entrances 75 Nabisco cracker made with cheddar 76 Stacy who played TV’s Mike Hammer 77 Rosemary Clooney, to George 78 Subject opener 79 “__ I say more?” 81 Grab 86 Stable sound 88 Buying time bigtime? 90 Lab order? 92 Fabled underground treasure guardians 93 Capital of France 94 Auction actions 97 The Stones’ “__ Shelter” 98 Bygone Swedish car company 99 No more than 101 Permanent __ 103 Sierra Nevada products 104 Rope source 105 Internet __: viral item 106 Headliner 108 “No kidding” 109 Not even rare 110 Green opening 111 Pop artist Lichtenstein

State-of-the-Art Skin Care with a Personal Touch Skin Cancer Detection & Treatment • Mohs Surgery & Complex Closures and Repairs Cysts, Acne, Warts, Psoriasis, Vitiligo & Rashes • Sclerotherapy • Hair Loss • Chemical & Glycolic Peels Laser Treatments • Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Perlane & Botox/Dysport/Xeomin

B e ach c ities D ermatology m eDical c enter www.beachcitiesderm.com

Culver City (310) 204-3376 3831 Hughes Ave., Suite 504-B Redondo Beach (310) 798-1515 520 N. Prospect Ave., Suite 302 New Office LOcatiON! Seal Beach (562) 431-8554 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 512

William J. Wickwire, M.D. Certified, American Board of Dermatology

Neal m. ammar, M.D.

Certified, American Board of Dermatology

Saturday and Evening Appointments Available

p r o v i d e r

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ADVERTISING IN THE ARGONAUT’S PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY WORKS! No matter what your profession — attract new clients by advertising in The Argonaut’s Professional Directory. Over 40,000 readers could be reading your ad today! Call (310) 822-1629 JULY 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 19


SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Let’s start this fall together!

Earn a Degree or Certificate Online Classes start August 31 smc.edu/fall

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff, Vice Chair; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Barry A. Snell; Joshua Elizondo, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu


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