Delivery with a Mission Not even COVID-19 can stop Westside volunteers from getting food where its needed most
L E T T E R S
Corona Shock Therapy Angelinos should be commended for taking seriously the warnings about the coronavirus epidemic and observing necessary precautions in public... social distancing and now wearing face masks. However there is still a small percentage, usually under 40 years of age, that seem oblivious to the epidemic lulled into
believing corona is just a more severe flu, which kills mainly “old” people. I remember sitting in 101 Psychology at the University of Colorado when the professor lectured on how to change core attitude of adults, who did not want to listen to reason but had to be shocked into changing their behavior. Here is an attempt at a little Corona Shock Therapy. … Many of the deaths are patients who have contracted the disease and have underlying compromising conditions. The top three are cardiovascular, diabetic and respiratory... The American Lung Association has warned that pot smoking injures the lung’s cell lining. California was the first to legalize pot for medical use in [1996] and let’s face it... all you needed to get a medical marijuana card was to see an MD doctor who rubber stamped it for you... this from personal experience. So combine the fact that the virus attacks the lungs and if your lungs are compromised from smoking pot, regardless of age, you are at high risk. By the way, before you brand me as anti-potter, let me just say me and Willie [Nelson] share the
PHOTO BY TATIANA CANTU DE REINECKER
A Birthday to Remember at the Mar Vista Farmers Market My birthday (78th) was on Monday, March 23. Not the best time to celebrate … no family, no friends could come around, or go out. I wanted an artichoke for the special night, so Sunday I went to the Mar Vista Farmers Market. I asked a gentleman if he knew where I could get an artichoke for my birthday tomorrow. ... He turned to the folks and said… “Tomorrow is her birthday!” And they all sang “Happy Birthday” to me! It made my day, my celebration! … And I love telling it to everyone... my family, friends and you! Thank you all for singing, and the good thoughts. And they gave me an artichoke! Anne Goldfarb Mar Vista
same views on legalizing pot nationwide. Dan Wunsch Concerned Citizen Marina del Rey What I Miss About the Beach Re: Argonaut News’ ‘What I Miss About the Beach’ Facebook Letter-writing Challenge What I miss the most are the picnics with my husband, the sunsets and my freedom! Tatiana Cantu de Reinecker, CPCT, M.S. Del Rey The Beach from Chicano Kid’s Point of View Re: Argonaut News’ ‘What I Miss About the Beach’ Facebook Letter-writing Challenge The beach means freedom, a
place to reset, to see and be with people, and the place for my daily walks after teaching a full day, but it means those same things to a lot of people. What it means for me is a dream fulfilled for a MexicanAmerican boy who grew up in southeast LA. Pico Rivera is a landlocked suburb, concrete-hot in the summer, with choked smoggy skies from being in the San Gabriel Valley. My family was lower-middle class, and sometimes worse than that when my father got laid off from his aerospace job. I had frequent bronchitis from the toxic smoke from many local factories, and the only break I really felt I got was when my father loaded us up in the station wagon and we headed to the beach.
The beach was where I could breathe, and I vowed that whatever I did as an adult, I just had to live near the ocean. Twenty-two miles from Pico Rivera to a small rent-controlled cottage in Venice that I’ve lived in for 25 years might not seem like a big triumphant arc for many people. But for me, it’s a promise I kept to that Chicano kid, and I still express gratitude with every fresh breeze that fills my lungs. Now I’m a “vulnerable” older person, and I yearn for my long walks again, but I’ve waited for these shores before. But at night I open my window, and hear the waves crash, and when all the bikers and runners have stopped puffing by, I breathe in that healing salt air. “Where’s the ocean?” I used to hear in a song — to which the singer replied, “The ocean is you.” Tom Cendejas Venice
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insights about local issues to christinac@argonautnews.com.
Meals on Wheels West volunteer Teri Rees is geared up to deliver food safely to homebound seniors in Santa Monica during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Luis Chavez. Design by Arman Olivares.
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Editor: Christina Campodonico (310) 574-7654 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, Audrey Cleo Yap, Lawrence Yee Editorial Interns: Sofia Alfaro, Stephanie Bell, Anthony Torrise ART Graphic Designers: Arman Olivares (310) 574-7656 Kate Doll (310) 574-7653 Contributing Photographers: Mia Duncans, Maria Martin, Shilah Montiel, Ashley Randall, Courtnay Robbins, Jason Ryan, Ted Soqui, Zsuzsi Steiner
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PAGE 2 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 16, 2020
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APRIL 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 3
O P I N I O N
Stay Home, Santa Monica! Now is the time to hunker down… By Kevin McKeown and Rick Cole Kevin McKeown is the mayor of Santa Monica. Rick Cole is Santa Monica’s city manager. Both Governor Newsom and county public health officials have emphasized: This is the time to stay home! We know that the next few weeks are critical to slow the spread of the coronavirus. We are adding our plea to our entire community: Stay home and limit all out-of-home trips! Our top health official Dr. Barbara Ferrer shared last week: “As we expect to see a significant increase in cases over the next few weeks, we are asking that everyone avoid leaving their homes for anything except the most urgent matters. And when you do leave, please make sure to cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering if you will be around others, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from everyone else, and frequently wash your hands.” We all hold the power to fight against this invisible and deadly virus by staying home. While staying indoors runs counter to our normal Santa Monica lifestyle, our ability to come together and rally around such an important call to action, embodies the Santa Monica spirit. Staying at home will save lives and preserve the health care system we all rely on. After all this is over, we will have the luxury of debating exactly what should have been done by whom and when. But there can be no debate about this now: You have the individual power to make a difference by
Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown and City Manager Rick Cole want you to stay home heeding this urgent call! According to the latest information from the LA County Department of Health Services, there are 1,406 hospital beds available countywide with 258 intensive care unit beds able to receive a patient. COVID-19 positive tests countywide now number over 10,000 as of Tuesday and approximately 1,000 new cases are reported every two days. As of press time, there are 360 tragic deaths. We must closely monitor
the capacity of our healthcare system in the context of COVID-19 cases because it demonstrates why public health officials have taken this next step in illness mitigation. It is with this in mind that your council and city management ask that you stay safe and stay home for the next week. Please consider modifying outdoor exercise routines, leaning on delivery systems — we have hundreds of restaurants in Santa
Monica that offer delivery — and continuing to phone vulnerable friends and neighbors whom you can support from afar. Every choice you make to stay home helps protect the 17% of our residents who are over age 65, as well as neighbors with fragile health or who are immuno-compromised. Your city is here for you and will continue to take bold action to protect your health and safety. While you remain indoors, the
“We all hold the power to fight against this invisible and deadly virus by staying home. While staying indoors runs counter to our normal Santa Monica lifestyle, our ability to come together and rally around such an important call to action, embodies the Santa Monica spirit.”
Santa Monica Police and Fire Departments will remain at full capacity. Public Works will collect your trash and recyclables, and deliver high quality water. Our Emergency Operations Center is responding to daily challenges and planning for what’s to come. Our COVID hotline at (310) 458-8400 remains open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer your questions and connect you to resources. COVID-19 is taking a profound toll on all of us. Thousands of families and businesses in our community and across the nation are devastated by forces no one has the ability to control. And we know that the limitations on human connection can make daily life difficult. Please take care. Be kind to yourself and those around you. Continue to reach out to those you love through weekly or daily video chats. If you need support, the LA County Department of Mental Health’s 24/7 call line is available at 1-800-854-7771. And sometimes giving to others delivers back dividends. Virtual volunteerism opportunities are available at santamonica.gov/ coronavirus. Make sure you get the latest local information by signing up at santamonica.gov/newsletter for daily updates direct to your inbox. Get emergency alerts by texting SMCOVID to 888-777. Check santamonica.gov/ coronavirus regularly. Throughout this emergency we’ve asked you to stay calm, stay informed, and stay healthy. Please also stay home.
N E W S
Corona by the Numbers & Local Updates: COVID-19 Cases Top 10,000 in LA County Reported Cases by Neighborhood as of Tuesday, April 14 Culver City: 34; Del Rey: 36; El Segundo: 11; Marina del Rey: 6; Mar Vista: 34; Playa Vista: 10; Playa del Rey: None reported; Santa Monica: 96; Venice: 34; Westchester: 38 Total Confirmed Cases in LA County: 10,047 Total Deaths: 360
• LA County has extended its “Safer at Home” order through May 15 and includes the continued closure of beaches, trails and nonessential businesses. • As of Friday (April 10), essential business workers and Angelenos visiting essential businesses are required to wear face coverings.
PAGE 4 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 16, 2020
• LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner announced Monday (April 13) that district schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year, with summer school conducted remotely and graduation ceremonies planned as virtual “at least for now.” • Low-income LA residents are eligible to apply for free cash debit cards—aka “Angeleno
cards” — ranging from $700 to $1500. Call (213) 252-3040 before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (April 16) to meet the deadline. • LA Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday (April 14) that Angelenos with coronavirus symptoms can now book same-day or next-day testing appointments. Westside and South Bay testing locations
include: Parking Lot 15 at the VA in West Los Angeles (100 Constitution Ave. at the corner of Constitution and Davis) and the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach). Visit lacovidprod.service-now.com/ rrs to learn more.
N E W S
On the Front Lines of COVID-19 Cedars-Sinai ICU nurses use technology and teamwork to care for patients and combat the coronavirus Caring for some of the sickest patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way ICU nurse Lauren Yamashita, RN, and her colleagues at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital approach patient care. Before the pandemic, nurses within each unit at the 133-bed hospital would all work together to get a newly admitted patient settled into a room, Yamashita said in a video diary from the hospital on Monday. Now, in an effort to limit exposure to the virus, they’ve had to limit the number of nurses that can enter a patient’s room. “So, it kind of feels like we’ve got our hands tied behind our back, because the second we get a new patient everyone wants to run in the room and help settle the patient in, but we can’t,” she said. Still, Yamashita said the ICU team has come up with unique ways to work together, including removing full trash bags so that their colleagues on the environmental services team don’t have to make multiple trips into patient rooms, and writing notes on door windows to flag down
RN Lauren Yamashita works in the ICU at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey help or request additional supplies. These steps have been crucial in limiting potential exposure to the virus. “We don’t want to open the doors more than we need to,” she said. A more welcome change in Yamashita’s routine has been the influx of help from fellow nurses. “What’s so inspiring to me is actually in the ICU right now our staff is doubled every day,
pretty much,” Yamashita said, “And it’s inspiring to see so many coworkers willing to come in extra days to help out. That’s definitely something that I think keeps us going, it keeps us feeling like a team.” That extra help gives Yamashita the time she needs to focus on things like connecting with patients’ families, an important task at a time when hospital visitation has been restricted in an effort to slow the virus’ spread. Yamashita says she gives families detailed updates, answers their questions and often relays their messages back to their loved one in the ICU. “I’m hoping that that alleviates some of the stress because I know it’s hard on the family too,” she said. Like Yamashita, Irine Quintas, RN, and her team at CedarsSinai Medical Center have been trying to come up with ways to limit exposure to COVID-19. “We try to cluster our care, so each time we go in a patient’s room, we go there, we stay there for a few minutes, doing everything we can so that we
don’t have to go back in and out all the time,” Quintas shared in her video diary on Monday, still wearing a protective mask. The ICU team has also enlisted the help of technology, using smart devices like Alexa, tablets and smartphones to connect with patients, and to connect patients to their families back home. “We try to provide them with a charger if their cell phones run out of battery, just little things like that,” Quintas said. For patients, those “little
things” add up to a lot. “We’ve discharged some of our patients home and they send us back messages, thanking us for talking to them and encouraging them during a difficult time,” Quintas said. A version of this story originally appeared on Cedars-Sinai News. Visit argonautnews.com to watch video diaries by the nurses featured in this story or visit cedars-sinai.org/newsroom to learn more.
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STAY... • LOCALLY UPDATED • PROPERLY INFORMED • SAFE At a time when the entire world is in an ever-changing state, and health concerns are paramount, you can continue to rely on The Argonaut to keep you informed on how the COVID-19 virus is affecting your local community. We appreciate the trust placed in us as the news and voice of the community. Being good stewards of that trust means we are here for you, especially in difficult times.
ArgonautNews.com APRIL 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 5
C O V E R
S T O R Y
An Army of Helpers Westsiders rise up to get essentials where they’re needed most
PAGE 6 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 16, 2020
Vista Branch, who is leading the club in providing supplemental meals for local youth. “What I’ve seen over the last couple of weeks is people coming together for the betterment of the community. …. It’s not one organization or one person. It’s everyone pulling their weight and making it happen.” To help seniors and those in need of food and other essential services, we’ve compiled the stories of community organizations offering front-door grocery and meal delivery, pharmaceutical pickups, friendly phone calls, and much more. All Together LA Ninety-year-old Eve Berman was active in her Santa Monica community before the Safer at Home order. She frequently took yoga classes and met friends for lunch, but has been scared to go to the grocery store — overwhelmed by the long lines, crowds of people, lack of parking and overall anxiety of going out with the state of things right now. “I’m really afraid to go there right now,” she said, recalling her last visit to the market over two weeks ago. “It was such a madhouse! The atmosphere was not pleasant. “I came home, and I nearly collapsed. I didn’t even want to
Photos by Luis Chavez
By Stephanie Bell and Christina Campodonico Last Wednesday, LA County launched the Critical Delivery Service Program. The temporary program, administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services, offers home delivery of groceries and other essential items to seniors and disabled adults homebound by the county’s Safer at Home order. (Call 888-8637411 to visit wdacs.lacounty.gov to learn more.) But even before the CDS went into effect, local non-profits and grassroots organizations across West LA have been hard at work on initiatives to get food and other essential items on the tables of people who might have trouble or be at risk when going out — seniors, students, disabled people, the immunocompromised and quarantined. While these community organizations serve different demographics, many are providing comfort to those in need by running simple yet heroic errands, lending a listening ear and creating a sense of community even in the midst of social distancing becoming the new normal. “It’s definitely been a community effort,” said J Gonzalez, Senior Branch Director of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s Mar
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unpack my groceries.” But thanks to All Together LA (formerly Santa Monica Helpers), Berman has Jessica Turner to help her get her groceries safely to her door. Turner, a volunteer and the leadership team member for All Together LA, said she hadn’t known much about the seniors in her community before the crisis and is enjoying building relationships
she is to have someone like Turner to help her during this time. “She calls me at the same time to make arrangements and ask me what I need,” said Berman. “She has been so wonderful and so dependable.” The feeling of admiration is mutual, even though interactions are short and from six feet apart. “Being connected to someone who needs your help because
network. The program allows all seniors in Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista and Marina del Rey free access to the benefits of the Westside Pacific Village network. WPV is extending its support to Mar Vista, Del Rey, Culver City, Venice and Ladera Heights as well. “We wanted to reach more seniors who weren’t members of WPV and ensure that they had
Light prepares supplies for Meals on Wheels West’s delivery run
Above: Meals on Wheels West’s Teri Rees and Chris Baca drop off a meal at a client’s door Opposite: Meals on Wheels executive director Chris Baca teamed up with Kate Farms’ Austin Light and John Hommeyer to bring nourishing plant-based shakes to local seniors through volunteering. “You very quickly build a relationship with them, which you wouldn’t in other circumstances because you have to understand who they are, what they need, and how they live,” said Turner, who shops for Eve during her visits to the grocery store. “The first time you deliver to someone, it’s very sweet because they’re incredibly grateful.” Instead of connecting seniors and volunteers through an online platform like Facebook or Nextdoor, All Together LA has a hotline that citizens of Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, and Marina del Rey can call to leave a message with their request. Within 24 hours, the caller will be matched with a volunteer who lives nearby and can meet their needs. “There’s not many seniors on Nextdoor and Facebook, that’s not how they access help in this world,” said Turner. “They need to see a friendly face and to hear someone and feel reassured right now when everything that they’re hearing from the news and the media is terrifying.” Berman expressed how grateful
they don’t have help right now is incredibly rewarding,” said Turner. To access services from All Together LA or volunteer, visit AllTogether.LA or call (323) 310-0411. Westchester Rotary & Westside Pacific Villages With support from Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office, the Rotary Club of Westchester, YMCA Westchester, Culver Palms Meals on Wheels, and many other community organizations have come together to create a senior support coalition to help the elderly during this unprecedented time. Led by the membership-based non-profit group Westside Pacific Villages, the emergency response program is called WPV Cares. It provides services to seniors in the community, including meal delivery, grocery runs, essentialerrand runs, and check-in calls through its Call a Neighbor (CAN) program. Access to WPV usually requires a yearly membership fee, but now they are offering free access to the benefits of the
the resources they need,” said Darlene Fukuji, President of the Westchester Rotary. “For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been donating the lunches that we would eat at the Crown Plaza and delivering them to the seniors in a very careful way. ... We want to make sure that the seniors know about this, and it’s all free for them.” “WPV is thrilled to offer our existing program and service to
the oldest residents in our community for free during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Carol Kitabayashi, Executive Director at WPV. “Now more than ever, we want to help protect and ensure the most vulnerable older adult population continues to get the essentials they need, including staying socially connected (virtually, of course). This has been our mission for nearly 10 years now, and will continue to be after the crisis is over.” To access services from WPV Cares or volunteer, visit theWPV. org, call (310) 695-7030, or email WPVCares@thewpv.org. Westside Friends As soon as Mar Vista resident Annie Bickerton realized that COVID-19 was becoming “something that was going to impact people’s lives,” she teamed up with fellow Westsider Cristin Lim, a freelance designer, to create Westside Friends. Since March, the grassroots
Rees packs up a Meals on Wheels delivery bag
mutual aid organization serving West Los Angeles has been helping match local volunteers with those who need a helping hand. The group’s approximately 400 volunteers have delivered groceries to homebound seniors, picked up much-needed medications for COVID-19 sufferers in quarantine, moved cars for disabled persons and have also arranged friendly check-in phone calls between neighbors, all while following public health recommendations for contactless interactions. “Some people have written to us and said, you know, ‘I’m having surgery in a week. I’d really love just to know that there’s someone I check in with in case I need something or just to make sure I’m doing okay,’” says Bickerton. “In the last couple of weeks, [we’ve] also added a component where people can become apartment or block captains, which basically means that they’re just willing to leave notes in mailboxes or taped to doors for their neighbors with their contact information, introducing themselves and being a point person.” The 33-year-old policy researcher was also inspired to create a grassroots-driven response to COVID-19 after seeing the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in the greater New York City area while she was a grad student. “I couldn’t go to class for three weeks. I had a car with a full tank of gas, which was very hard to come by at the time. I ended up spending a couple of days driving around volunteers to and from the Rockaways, where there were a lot of seniors stranded and people stranded in public housing… who really desperately needed (Continued on page 10)
APRIL 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 7
F I R S T
P E R S O N
To Surf or Stay Home? How this Westsider reckoned with the call of the sea
The beaches are closed, but miles of open ocean still tempt surfers surfers in a state of confusion, fear and desperation. We’re like caged animals, jonesing with the rest of the state’s fanatical fitness culture. Beaches stretch for miles with no one on them, as windswept and forlorn as the Kalahari. Parking lots are taped off like crime scenes. Authorities patrol the best surf breaks in 4x4s. Much of California is in dry-dock with us – climbers staring wistfully at padlocked national parks, gym-rats pacing in cramped living rooms. Sure, we can get our 10,000 steps by walking around the block, dodging exasperated young parents and their scooter-riding charges. But barred from the sea – or the boulders or the yoga studio – we’ve lost part of our identity, our essence. I scratched the sea-air itch by walking to Venice Beach from my Sunset Park home. Authorities had largely buttoned up the shoreline. Ragged homeless encampments still dotted the
PAGE 8 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 16, 2020
boardwalk. Police largely looked away as a smattering of joggers and cyclists zig-zagged on the bike path. A lone foam-boarder lolled in blownout surf at the breakwater, somehow avoiding detection. And then a small south swell came in. After weeks of “Groundhog Day”-like isolation with my wife and stir-crazy son, I needed a break. I needed a surf, rules be damned! On the drive up PCH, I felt the first pangs of guilt, like a Costco shopper deciding if he really needs 16 more rolls of Charmin. I recalled the indignant face of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who accused those who ignore stay-at-home warnings of “spitting in the face of” healthcare workers. Ick. But many surfers do have a stubborn libertarian streak. We are inherently wary of regulation and organized structure. Sean Penn’s portrayal of burnout Valley surfer Jeff Spicoli in “Fast
Times at Ridgemont High” has morphed into meme-ready caricature. But something in his defiant, anti-authoritarian proclamations ring true, especially after obedient weeks of sheltering in place. Many surfers wonder why the ocean is off limits when other public spaces aren’t as tightly regulated? Sweaty teens play five-on-five basketball at Penmar Park. Foodies rub shoulders – literally – at Brentwood farmers market stalls. Not to mention the conflicting guidance across the nation. While drones fly over Hawaiian beaches to enforce that state’s stay-at-home order, the ocean is still technically open, with surfing deemed an “essential” activity. Georgia’s governor is even ordering his state’s mayors to keep the beaches open against their wishes! Public-health edicts have been issued – you don’t need to wear a mask in public, you don’t need to be tested if you’re asymptom-
atic – only to be reversed. Such flip-flops make it hard to decide which rules to follow. A confused Venice surfer might naturally wonder if she is being a patriot or a patsy by abiding stay-at-home orders. It’s often hard to do the right thing in life, especially if you’re not sure it is the right thing. Then the deputies spotted us in the dusty chaparral. Conflicting thoughts pingponged as the officer approached. He can’t give us a ticket, I assured my co-conspirator. We hadn’t broken any laws … yet. The officer approached, sporting a crewcut and utterly flat expression. Strutting toward us, he exuded that cop swagger that can be off-putting. I tensed, girding for confrontation. We looked like a pair of dumb teenagers who’ve been caught throwing dirt clods from a highway overpass. My Butthead to his Beavis. “You guys know the beach is closed, right?” he asked in a soft, childlike voice. I felt myself soften. He stood benignly as we returned boards to SUVs. After a few minutes, he drove off. Back by the car, I fumed. I looked down at three or so surfers who had snuck down and now bobbed at the point, waiting for waves I couldn’t ride. I felt aggrieved. It didn’t seem fair. Then I thought about griefstricken families who can’t hold burial rites for their loved ones at U.S. cemeteries. Or the millions of college seniors who will have to forego in-person graduation ceremonies this spring. Or the dozens of law-enforcement officers on the front line of COVID-19 response that have already been infected or died from the virus. Or the desperate nurses who must craft face masks out of office supplies. Or local foodbanks turning away hungry families, many of them among the millions who have just lost their jobs. It isn’t fair, is it? After the cruiser pulled off, my new bud and I chatted a bit. He had spent the previous day in the O.C., riding uncrowded waves at Trestles. It had been “epic.” We watched the surfers at the point. With a glint in his eye, he asked me what I planned to do now that the deputy had left. “I’m going home,” I said. Illustration by Cristin Lim
By Matthew King Matthew King is the former longtime Communications Director at Heal the Bay. He now writes and teaches about effective public engagement at www. may77.pro. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I spent two Thursdays ago hiding from the cops in Malibu. Against my better judgment, I found myself squatting behind my Honda Element on Pacific Coast Highway, playing cat-andmouse with sheriff deputies enforcing the state’s coronavirusrelated beach-closure policy. I’m a 56-year-old Santa Monica resident and intermediate-level surfer who tries to do the right thing. I wait my turn in line. I pay my fair share of taxes, on time. I’ve never been arrested. But there I was, absurdly crouching in the bushes alongside a fellow surfer parked in front of me — a skinny Gen Z dude with a mischievous grin and multiple neck tattoos. Despite the police cruiser stationed nearby, my accomplice and I plotted how to snake through the heavy brush down to Latigo Point. After weeks of quarantine, the well-hidden point break beckoned with a few set waves and an hour’s reprieve from grinding self-isolation. In these dark days, rational people rightly wonder why anyone would even think about sneaking out for a surf. After all, a leading U.S. atmospheric chemist made headlines the week before last alerting ocean lovers that shorelines could teem with harmful viruses. “I wouldn’t go in the water if you paid me $1 million right now,” warned the Scripps scientist Kim Prather. (Prather later back-tracked after the publication of a new study in the journal Nature and a wave of backlash among surfers, but still urged that “everyone [take] extra precautions” in a follow-up interview with the L.A. Times.) But surfers aren’t rational. We do dumb things, selfish things. If there’s swell, we lie to our bosses. We skip nieces’ kindergarten graduation ceremonies. We drag indignant spouses away from lively dinner parties because we have to get up at first light. And that’s just in normal times. The virtual lockdown of the state’s 800-plus miles of coastline has left California’s multitudes of
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Pizza to the Rescue Westchester’s Tower Pizza fuels local first responders one donated slice at a time Tower Pizza 8351 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester (310) 410-0986 towerpizza.com By Eric Newman Tower Pizza in Westchester has done its small part in giving back to workers fighting to keep society running as best as possible amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the world. A long-time customer Thomas Mescher reached out to the owners of the restaurant and gave them a check for $1,000 with just one caveat: Pay it forward to the people in the community. “In all this unsurety and these ugly times that we’re going through, we’re seeing a lot of beauty in our community,” said Danielle Gulalo, daughter of Tony Seruto who opened Tower Pizza 34 years ago. “The community and everybody coming out and showing support has really been
Danielle Gulalo delivers Tower Pizza pies to health care workers at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital and local first responders keeping my dad going.” beautiful, is that this gentleman the food, but not as excited as she Gulalo delivered free pizzas to (Mescher) was not only helping was to give back to them. the Cedars-Sinai emergency the community, but he’s helping “There’s some fear in everyone department in Marina Del Rey our business, too,” she said. “This right now, and to let them know on March 28. On March 30 she is for everyone who’s working they’re appreciated for putting brought food to the Pacific overtime for us to keep us safe, or themselves on the line was Division police officers, and on healthy if we have to go to the meaningful,” she said. April 1 she delivered pizzas to hospital with everything that’s Tower Pizza, which has been a nearby fire department and going on.” fixture in the Westchester local grocers. Gulalo said the first responders community serving up slices, “What I thought was so were “really excited” to receive burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches
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and a motley of specials known as “Tower Favorites” on game days big and small, shared the photos on its Facebook page. Gulalo said a regular restaurant customer was motivated to buy lunch for a different health care worker because of the efforts, adding that in the current state of the world it’s important for everybody who can do something to help others in need. “I hope our story inspires other people to make an impact in the community, and [think] outside of the box to do something good for others,” she said. Argonaut editorial intern Anthony Torrise contributed reporting; a version of this story originally appeared in Times Media Group’s “Good News” email newsletter. To share a “good news” story, email ccampodonico@ timespublications.com.
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An Army of Helpers (Continued from page 7)
supplies,” she recalls. “It was really horrifying that a city like that didn’t have a response. … And it was just people creating a network and a supply chain to get things and move people around.” Bickerton hopes that Westside Friends can fill in the gaps where more massive bureaucracies or agencies may fall short. “This kind of emergency response is something that government has a hard time doing. And a lot of people look to public officials or large organizations, but they may not be able to adapt as quickly,” she says. “We really need to find positive ways to come together rather than just getting afraid and walling ourselves off.” To access services or volunteer, call (213) 785-2052 or visit westsidefriends.com. The Del Rey Neighborhood Council In the spirit of being neighborly, the Del Rey Neighborhood Council has been pointing people in the direction of city and county resources such as senior meal delivery/pickup services and programs that provide aid with issues of evictions and rent increases. Through Westside Friends, DRNC has also started a network of volunteers in the Del Rey community, who can deliver groceries and pick up prescriptions for anyone in need, with a primary focus on grocery delivery. “We’re here to help anyone in the community who needs anything at all,”
said Matt Wersinger, president of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council. “We have been very active thus far in doing daily deliveries that are going straight to kids that are not getting a meal at school, and also, we’re working with some other partners to get stuff to seniors.” So far, the DRNC has been working with the Mar Vista Gardens housing project to supply hundreds of meals per day to students and seniors there, and all of DRNC’s services are following social distancing procedures. “Everything that is happening is being done safely,” said Wersinger. “We have been doing everything contactless and keeping distance between people.” The majority of the work being done by DRNC is voluntary. “We are always here to serve the community, and we do a tremendous amount on a daily basis in normal times,” said Wersinger, “but I think a time like this calls for all community organizations to step up and do everything they can to help people in need.” To volunteer or receive help from the Del Rey Neighborhood Council, email board@ delreync.org. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica (Mar Vista Branch) The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s Mar Vista Branch is working with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), the Helper
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Westside Pacific Villages and the Rotary Club of Westchester have donated sack lunches to area seniors as part of a senior support coalition to aid the elderly during COVID-19 (Photo courtesy of Westside Pacific Villages) Foundation, the Del Rey Neighborhood Council, and the Gomes Family Food Bank to provide meals to youth, disabled and senior citizens in local communities. The Boys and Girls Clubs provides hot meals and snacks for pickup at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (4901 Marionwood Drive, Culver City) to supplement meals provided by Los Angeles Unified School District at Community Resource Centers in the morning. “We saw that LAUSD was closing shop at about 11 a.m. daily, which left a gap in nutrition and food for our kids in our community after that time,” said J Gonzalez, who directs the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica’s Mar Vista branch. As a community-based organization, the staff at the Boys and Girls Clubs have built strong relationships with many families that come through their doors. Their close bonds helped them find out what families needed most after the Safer at Home order was enacted. “We found out that food was a huge part of that because many of our families were losing their jobs,” said Gonzales. “Now they have their 4 or 5 kids at home to feed everyday. “What motivates us is making sure that high-risk communities have available resources. At the very least, nutrition and food for their families,” added Gonzalez. “In the darkness of everything that’s happening, the light at the end of the tunnel that I’m seeing is everyone coming together to help as much as possible.” The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica plan to provide up to 500 meals a day, and they are currently brainstorming virtual and remote programming for their youth. To access these services visit the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Mar Vista branch at 4901 Marionwood Drive, Culver City or call (310) 397-8290. Meals on Wheels West
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Meals on Wheels West has delivered meals to seniors, vets, the disabled, chronically ill, and anyone homebound who can’t shop or cook for themselves since 1974, but since the Safer at Home order went into effect in mid-March demand for delivered meals has grown considerably. “We’ve seen the number of people we deliver to grow by 25%,” said Meals on Wheels West executive director Chris Baca. “And we’re going to see that continue to grow.”
Demand is so high that the non-profit has had to swap its weekday hot meals for frozen ones, but stepping in to boost Meals on Wheels’ nutrition plan is Kate Farms. The Santa Barbara-based startup, which specializes in plant-based meal replacement shakes for seniors and individuals with gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders, has partnered with Meals on Wheels to deliver 100,000 meals in California. On April 1, the two organizations paired up to distribute Kate Farms’ plant-based shakes to Meals on Wheels West clients in the Santa Monica area. “We’re a for-profit business, but we’re really a non-profit at heart,” said John Hommeyer, Kate Farms’ Chief Experience Officer, citing how the company had donated its product to first responders following fires and hurricanes. The company was founded by two parents determined to save their daughter (now thriving) with cerebral palsy from dire malnutrition. “Right now, seniors are more at risk with COVID-19. You’ve seen the mortality rates for people 70-plus,” said Hommeyer. “That’s concerning. ... We thought about what we could do to help out.” In Meals on Wheels West, they found a community partner to do just that. Since the outbreak of the pandemic locally, Meals on Wheels West has taken precautions to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, clients and deliveries. At the office where volunteers meet to load up meals, “there’s tape on the ground, and you stand six feet apart,” said Baca. Volunteers are given face masks and gloves to wear and must stand six feet back after leaving deliveries on a table or doorknob and knocking on the door. “We’ve instituted a whole new process,” said Baca. But the spirit of Meals on Wheels remains the same, even if volunteers have to stand six feet back and clients can’t quite see their smiles. “It’s about delivering more than a meal,” said Baca. “It’s about alleviating loneliness and isolation. ... We make sure that people still feel connected to the community.” To access these services or volunteer, call (310) 394-5133 ext. 6, email ashely@ mealsonwheelswest.org, or visit mealsonwheelswest.org. If you’re an organization doing good work for the community, email ccampodonico@timespublications.com.
APRIL 16, 2020 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 11
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“This amazing architectural reminds me of my childhood months spent in the Amazon Rainforest. The secluded garden has been 46 years in the making,” says agent Denise Fast. “The loving care and the creative artistry of an imaginative owner has created a sanctuary that anybody would be delighted to come home to. The dramatic entry wall of glass allows you maximum view of this garden. With all the modern conveniences and energy efficient hightech features. Just minutes to Beaches & Harbor.” Offered at $2,799,000 Denise Fast RE/MAX Estate Properties 310.578.5414 “This gorgeous four-bedroom, two and half bath home is on a quiet cul-de-sac,” say agents Kelley & Todd Miller. “Completely refurbished with open design including bright living room with oak hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen with center island & professional grade finishes. All new systems including high-end windows, recessed lights, HVAC, roof, updated plumbing, electrical, and beautiful landscaping with a large grass backyard. Not far to the Marina and the Beach and all tech companies in Silicon Beach.” Offered at $1,495,000 Kelley & Todd Miller KW SANTA MONICA (310) 923-5353
“This two bedroom, two bath unit has floor-to-ceiling windows with ocean and marina views” says agent Eileen McCarthy. “Marina City Club amenities includes 6 tennis courts, 3 swimming pools, racquet ball, paddle tennis, 16,000 sq ft gym space, yoga, Pilates, spinning, aerobics, and more. Full bar and restaurant, room service, cafe, salon, maid service, car wash and 24-hour security. Everything you need for the perfect staycation.” For Lease at $5,500/Month Eileen McCarthy Marina Ocean Properties 310-822-8910
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PAGE 12 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION APRIL 16, 2020
THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE Q&A Forecasting California’s housing market during a pandemic Going into 2020, economists were forecasting a regular business recession. The signs were present in lower growth rates for gross domestic product (GDP) and employment figures. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) was on top of the situation, lowering interest rates in the second half of 2019 in preparation for the coming recession. But we’re now finding ourselves in uncharted territory. The economic fallout from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on top of what was expected to be a normal economic recession—defined as a decline in economic activity lasting at least six months — is throwing rainy day forecasters for a loop. Just what happens to the housing market when we are all forced to remain at home? The transition to virtual tours and remote signings and appraisals is happening quickly. Real estate professionals are seeking to keep the housing market running, even when they and their clients are unable to attend appointments in person. But, even if real estate professionals are able to deal with the challenges of remote buying and selling, with job losses piling on, will homebuyers and sellers still be able to support home sales? COVID-19 as a natural disaster Here in California, most residents have lived through some natural disaster or another, including wildfires, earthquakes, floods and landslides. Personal experience has taught us that the economic impact from such a disaster is usually sharp, but brief. Unlike a full recession, a disaster is abrupt, and once a brief recovery period has passed – usually with the help of some government assistance – the economy may bounce back to normal. However, natural disasters are heavily localized. A fire that rages in southern California doesn’t impact Northern California. In these localized events, outmigration to nearby, unaffected areas is a standard response, particularly in relation to forest fires, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, natural disasters often result in lower home prices.
Over a century ago, the Spanish Flu of 1918 is the closest example to COVID-19 in terms of numbers and global spread. The Spanish Flu infected one-third of the world’s population at the time. Economic data for this period of U.S. history is less reliable, but — like SARS — the effects were overall short term in nature. The impacts continued for the duration of the pandemic and then returned to normal once the pandemic was over, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank. The takeaway from the Federal Reserve study is that the pandemic had lasting implications for individuals, but the economy and society on a broad scale recovered quickly.
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COVID-19’s lasting impact While data is only in for the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, all early indications point to trends similar to past pandemics. Home sales volume in China has plummeted by 90%-98%, while home prices remain flat, according to Zillow. Zillow has termed this pause in activity a “waitand-see” period for homebuyers and sellers. In California, agents are reporting clients agreeing to extensions on their purchase agreements. Ultimately, whether or not COVID-19 has a lasting impact on the economy and home sales will depend on how long social distancing and shelter-in-place measures last. In China, where the quarantine was fairly extreme, daily routines have been mostly restored after a short two-to-three months of quarantine measures. Here in the U.S., we won’t likely reach that point of normalcy for several months, a year or even longer. The good news is that — unlike during the Spanish Flu — most of us are well-equipped to take on the challenges of social distancing while remaining active participants in the economy today.
For real estate, virtual tours, remote appraisals and contract extensions are quickly becoming the norm. As long as most homebuyers and sellers continue to have stable incomes, the demand is still present. Everyone will just need In contrast, COVID-19 has reached every to have a little more patience as all players corner of every nation and state, causing global economic turmoil. Thus, individuals can’t figure out how to close transactions smoothly without in-person meetings. simply relocate to avoid the impacts of the disaster. However, watch unemployment figures and COVID-19 as a modern Spanish Flu or SARS
Comparing the economic effects of COVID-19 to a natural disaster is somewhat useful, but leaves some big gaps — like the impact of what is essentially a global disaster — unanswered. The closest comparison is another global pandemic, but those are, fortunately, few and far between. In Hong Kong, where the SARS outbreak had a significant economic impact, even as home prices remained on-trend, home sales volume decreased by 33%-72%, according to Zillow. Once the outbreak was over (about six to eight months after it began) and social distancing measures were eliminated, home sales volume bounced back immediately.
job numbers closely. The longer the impacts of COVID-19 continue, the more jobs will be lost. The World Economic Forum recently forecasted that if COVID-19 is not eradicated within a few short months, the global economy may not recover until 2022 or 2023.
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION WAS ANSWERED BY
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Industrial Relations. All persons performing the work shall be paid not less than the General Prevailing Wage Determination prepared by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to the State Labor Code. Copies of these wage rates are available at Public Works. The successful bidder must provide full disclosure of False Claims Act violations, labor law/payroll violations, debarments, and civil/criminal legal actions as provided in DEADLINE: the Instructions to Bidders. Failure to complete these forms may Monday at 11am for Thursdays result in a determination that the bidder is nonresponsive and/or CALL ANN: not responsible. The contract, if 626-584-8747 or awarded, will be awarded to a responsible contractor with the lowEMAIL: est responsive bid; however, the Board of Supervisors reserves the ann@argonautnews.com right to reject any and all bids. A responsible contractor is one who has demonstrated the attribute of Bids trustworthiness, as well as quality, fitness, capacity, and experience NOTICE INVITING BIDS to satisfactorily perform the conSealed bids will be received by tract. It is the County's policy to Los Angeles County Public Works, conduct business only with reConstruction Division, for the responsible contractors. The County moval of stumps and trees, tree maintains the Contractor Alert Retrimming, root pruning, planting porting Database (CARD), which trees, and the performance of othis used to track/monitor poorly er incidental and appurtenant performing contractors. When a work under Project ID No. RMDCounty department identifies a JOC6655, Parkway Tree Maintensignificant performance/non-comance, Maintenance District No. 3, pliance issue(s) with a contractor, Group B, in the unincorporated the department will provide notice communities of Maintenance Disto the contractor and will give the trict No. 3 within Los Angeles contractor an opportunity to corCounty. The bids must be submitrect the issue(s). If the contractor ted electronically using Bid Exdoes not take any appropriate press, www.BidExpress.com, besteps to correct the issue(s), the fore 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, County department will enter the 2020. A subscription is required to contractor, along with any other use this service. Registration inrelevant information pertaining to structions and the fee schedule the contractor's performance isare available at the Bid Express sue(s), into CARD. The informawebsite. All fees are directly paytion entered into CARD can be acable to Bid Express. Paper bids cessed by all County departments, will not be accepted. The work and will be used, along with any shall be done in accordance with other relevant information not inthe Contract Documents on file cluded in CARD, in determining and open for inspection at Public bidder responsibility. If a departWorks. The contract price will be ment reviews this information and $750,000 and shall be for one determines that a finding of nonyear or until $750,000 of work orresponsibility should be pursued, d e r s h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e d, the department will adhere to the whichever occurs first. The prime guidelines specified in the Los contractor shall possess a valid Angeles County Code, Chapter California Class C27 or C61 (D49) 2.202 and the County's Implecontractor's license. Prebid quesmentation Procedures for Determtions regarding the Plans and inations of Contractor Non-ReSpecifications shall be submitted sponsibility and Contractor Devia e-mail only to: Ms. Laura Smith barment. The successful bidder at lsmith@pw.lacounty.gov. Inwill be required to fully comply clude "Prebid Questions for RMDwith all applicable State and FedJOC6655" in the subject line of eral reporting requirements relatthe email. Prebid questions will ing to employment reporting for its not be accepted after 5 p.m. on employees and comply with all Monday, April 20, 2020. The bids lawfully served Wage and Earnmust be submitted on the proposings Assignment Orders and Noal forms included in the bidder's tice of Assignment and continue to package of the contract documaintain compliance throughout ments. The contract documents the duration of the contract. Failfor this project may be downure to comply may be cause for loaded free of charge by visiting termination of the contract or initithe following website: ation of debarment proceedings. http://pw.lacounty.gov/general/con The contract is subject to the retracts/opportunities Each bid must quirements of the County of Los be accompanied by a certified Angeles' Defaulted Property Tax check, cashier's check, or surety Reduction Program (Defaulted bond payable to County of Los Ta x Pr o g r a m ) , L o s An g e l es Angeles in an amount equal to at County Code, Chapter 2.206. Bidleast $75,000 to guarantee that ders should carefully read the Dethe bidder will enter into the confaulted Tax Program. The Defaultract if it is so awarded. No conted Tax Program applies to both tractor or subcontractor may be contractors and their subcontractlisted on a bid proposal for a pubors. Bidders will be required to lic works project (submitted on or certify that they are in full compliafter March 1, 2015) unless reance with the provisions of the Degistered with the Department of Infaulted Tax Program and shall dustrial Relations pursuant to maintain compliance during the Labor Code Section 1725.5 [with term of the contract, or shall certilimited exceptions from this refy that they are exempt from the quirement for bid purposes only Defaulted Tax Program by comunder Labor Code Section 1771.1 pleting a certification of compli(a)]. No contractor or subcontractance with the County's Defaulted or may be awarded a contract for Property Tax Reduction Program. public work on a public works In accordance with Los Angeles project (awarded on or after April County Code, Chapter 2.202, fail1, 2015) unless registered with the ure to maintain compliance with Department of Industrial Relathe Defaulted Tax Program or to tions pursuant to Labor Code Seccure defects within the time spetion 1725.5. This project is subcified may be cause for terminaject to compliance monitoring and tion of the contract and/or initienforcement by the Department of ation of debarment proceedings Industrial Relations. All persons against the noncompliant contractperforming the work shall be paid or. Bids that fail to comply with the not less than the General Prevailcertification requirements of the ing Wage Determination prepared Defaulted Tax Program will be by the Director of Industrial Relaconsidered nonresponsive and extions pursuant to the State Labor cluded from further consideration. Code. Copies of these wage rates Services The successful bidder will be rePlumbing are available at Public Works. The quired to submit a faithful performsuccessful bidder must provide full ance bond in the amount of disclosure of False Claims Act vi$750,000 a payment bond in the • Repair olations, labor law/payroll violaamount of $750,000, liability insurtions, debarments, • Faucets & Toiletsand civil/crim- ance, automobile insurance, and inal legal actions as provided in worker’s compensation insurance the Instructions • Drain Cleaningto Bidders. Fail- with the contract. As provided for ure to complete these forms may in Section 22300 of the State Pubresult in aHeaters determination that the lic Contract Code, the contractor • Water bidder is nonresponsive and/or may substitute securities for any Since not responsible. The contract, if monies withheld by Public Works 1978 • Garbage Disposals awarded, will be awarded to a reto ensure performance under the sponsible • Repipecontractor Specialistwith the low- contract, or enter into an escrow est responsive bid; however, the agreement for payment of such Board of Supervisors • Water & Gas Leaksreserves the monies to an escrow agent. Each right to reject any and all bids. A person by submitting a response • Sewer Specialist responsible contractor is one who to this Notice Inviting Bids certihas demonstrated the attributeLicensed-Bonded-Insured of fies that such bidder and each • Tankless WaterasHeaters trustworthiness, well as quality, County lobbyist and County lobbyLic. #799390 ALL Work fitness, capacity, and experience ingGuaranteed firm, as defined by Los Camera Inspections to• satisfactorily perform the11520 con- Jefferson Angeles County Section Blvd., CulverCode, City 90230 tract. It is the County's policy to 2.160.010, retained by the bidder, • Hydro business Jetter only with re-24 hr.is Emergency Service conduct in full compliance with Chapter sponsible contractors. The County 2.160 of the Los Angeles County maintains the Contractor Alert ReCode. Para más información con porting (CARD), which relación noticia, por favor PAGEDatabase 14 THE ARGONAUT APRILa esta 16, 2020 is used to track/monitor poorly llame al (626) 458 3118. Nuestras performing contractors. When a horas de oficina son de 7 a.m. a County department identifies a 5:30 p.m. de lunes a jueves. The
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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 $750,000 a payment bond in the amount of $750,000, 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 más información con relación a esta noticia, por favor llame al (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 March 31, 2020. Celia Zavala Executive Officer of the Board of Supervisors 4/16, 4/23/20 CNS-3358273# THE ARGONAUT
Fic. Business Name FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2020064227 Type of Filing: Original. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: LET'S TALK ABOUT FACE. 13428 Maxella Ave. #340 Marina del Rey, CA 90292. COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 202002110219. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Master Esthetics Training, LLC, 13428 Maxella Ave. #340 Marina del Rey, CA 90292. 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: 01/2020. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. /s/ Kimberly A. Harris. TITLE: Manager, Corp or LLC Name: Master Esthetics Training, LLC. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: March 17, 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: 4/2/20, 4/9/20, 4/16/20, 4/23/20
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LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE “GET MOVING” By PAM AMICK KLAWITTER ACROSS 1 One on a stroll 7 Absolute 13 Some recyclables 19 Louisiana cuisine 20 Gets the old gang together 21 Tapas bar libation 22 LEAP 24 Acts as a selfappointed regulator of 25 Bit of a jam 26 Glitterati groups 27 Film studio VIP 28 Tint 29 Eccentric sort 32 God, in Genoa 33 Accept as true 36 DASH 39 Make anew, as a trench 42 Liquid from a trunk 45 Summoned, in a way 46 Portable Asian shelter 47 Elliott of hip-hop 48 Half a frozen potato brand 49 Keyboards with stops 52 Forensic analysts, briefly 54 Prefix with act or play 55 Readied for impact 57 Figure __ 59 It may be fake 61 Speed Wagon make 62 Some saxes 63 Instrument in a piano trio 65 River craft for early French explorers 67 Husband-andwife creators of Curious George 68 BOLT 71 PC virus check
mems. 74 They may 7 Depleted sea precede bat flips 8 Make a home (in) 76 Bring joy to 77 Chips on the table 9 Cosmonaut’s home 78 Love of Lennon’s 10 Pre-med subject life 11 Strips in a 80 Copy darkroom, briefly 81 DKNY label 12 “Cats” monogram creator 13 New Zealand 83 Wee settler 84 Layer of bricks 14 Blowup: Abbr. 86 Sermon subjects 15 Letters before 88 One carrying a Fridays torch 16 VAULT 91 Turncoat 17 Place 92 Billy Joel’s 18 Postpaid encl. songwriting 21 Word in a “What’s daughter done is done” 93 Thesis: Abbr. proverb 95 Ávila aunts 23 Kitchen prep job 96 EMT destinations 97 Dorm diet staple 27 Teeth: Pref. 98 HOP 30 2/3 of 100? 102 Queued up 31 Online greeting 104 Butte-to-Helena 33 Like a ruined dir. balloon 105 E-flat equivalent 34 White fur 108 More, in Mazatlán 35 Marble 110 URL ending characteristic 111 “Being and 37 Gp. for good Nothingness” drivers author 38 Cry from a sting 113 Drive-__ 40 “Got it” 115 Reach 41 Greek sandwich 118 SKIP 42 Bollywood 121 Sir __, nickname soundtrack strings for the NBA’s 43 Singer with Barkley numbered albums 122 Safer on TV 44 RUN 123 Baum’s good 50 Jodie Foster title witch role 124 Flower features 51 Rural skyline 125 Golf course feature design features 53 Orally report 126 “Gunsmoke” star 56 Barely worth mentioning DOWN 58 Errand runner 1 Hail __ 60 Part of NCAA: 2 Head honcho Abbr. 3 Suisse capital 63 Apple leftovers 4 Call from the back 64 37-Down’s Ernie 5 ’70s supergroup, 65 Tweet creator, at initially times 6 Like many AARP 66 A-apple link
68 Brief sign of status 69 __ hammer 70 Place with pins and balls 72 Rose extract 73 Russian rejections 75 Sábado, on viernes 77 Cherry-flavored brandy 78 “A Jug of Wine ... ” poet 79 Animated queen 81 Word with bread or butter 82 Little helper? 83 Stands for 85 Yoked pair 87 Picking from a mug book 89 Part of LLC: Abbr. 90 Royal headwear 94 Rat Pack leader 98 Sacks 99 Sign up 100 Fixed rate 101 Uses HelloFresh, say 103 Can’t get enough of 106 Cologne’s river 107 Nudges along 108 “Big” fast-food orders 109 Tylenol target 111 Garbage hauler 112 Rob __: cocktails 114 Some, in San Juan 116 Nest egg acronym 117 Bracket shape 118 Early hrs. 119 Franchise-based supermarket chain 120 Photog’s choice
2B OR NOT TO BE This guy recently moved into my apartment building, and we seem to have a spark. I’d like to go out with him. However, because we live in the same building, this might be a bad idea. If it goes badly, things could get really awkward or even horrible. Should I just try to forget about him? — Tempted Let’s just say this has some negative potential — along the lines of throwing back a bottle of pinot noir all by yourself and then deciding to cut your bangs at 1 a.m. Though going for it with this guy could go seriously wrong, there’s also the potential for it to go seriously right. Risk can be a path to reward (whereas avoiding it is unlikely to lead to a shiny new boyfriend suddenly sliding down your chimney, Santa-style). To figure out whether you can afford the risk, apply a concept from economic psychology: “Risk tolerance.” This is a term for how much stomach somebody has for the possible loss of an investment they make — all their dollars leaping out of it and swan-diving en masse into a
toilet, with the final straggling dollar kicking the flusher on its way down. Essential to determining your risk tolerance is figuring out the possible costs if a thing between you and this guy goes all crashy-burn. For example, there could be financial costs if you end up needing to move. You should also factor in your tolerance for drama, like embarrassing public encounters with a Mr. Romantic turned Mr. Should Be In A Jacket With A Lotta Buckles. Also consider your fiscal and emotional fortitude for what psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham called “unknown unknowns”: crazy stuff most of us just wouldn’t imagine happening, like much of the adult world getting grounded by the government. If you decide to give it a go with him, consider taking things slowly. This is generally prudent but especially so when you could have a stalker who doesn’t have to follow you home because he lives there, too. If you’re like me, you love to make an interesting entrance, but that probably doesn’t include getting into your apartment via rope ladder.
LOVE IN THE PAYCHECK REPUBLIC I’m a 20-year-old girl with a big crush on my very cute boy co-worker. Day after day, week after week, I want to invite him out for drinks, but then I chicken out. I ask myself all the usual questions, like,“What if he says no, and work gets embarrassing?” and,“What if he tells the boss, and then I get fired?” — Procrastinating Endlessly You’d be asking him to go for drinks, not asking him to straddle you in the staff restroom. Unless there’s a policy forbidding co-workers from dating, asking this guy out should not lead to you and your job being forced to part company. Surely, you know that. Chances are your goal of asking the guy out is getting tangled up in your groping around for an excuse to avoid doing it. This is understandable. The prospect of failing at a goal — especially a romantic goal — is stressful, but there’s a way to make failed efforts take less of a bite out of you. It turns out that in goal pursuit, there’s safety in numbers — in simultaneously pursuing a flock of goals rather than just one goal at a time. A single bird can get shot down, but it’s hard to shoot down a whole flock at once unless your weapon of choice is an alien death ray.
Consider replacing being goal-oriented with the broader approach: being goal systems-oriented. A goal is simply a result you’re trying for — a single result, like “get Joe Shelfstocker to go out with me.” The singularity is the problem. If Joe turns you down, you’ve failed at your goal. Hard out. Goal systems are more forgiving. While a goal is a lone target — win or lose, all or nothing — a goal system, as explained by social psychologist Arie Kruglanski, is a network of “interconnected goals.” A goal system would be, “Work toward having love in my life.” This goal system would be the home of your goal of getting a date with the guy, but it would take up residence with a bunch of brother, sister, and cousin goals, such as: Work on building up confidence. Get a cuter haircut. Go out more. When you fail at a single goal, if it’s simply one of many in your goal system, you’ve got cushioning. Your failure is just a momentary bummer within a world of to-dos, at least some of which you’ll manage to pull off. Being goal-systemdriven gives you the emotional air bag to go forward all “carpe diem!”— “seize the day!”— instead of downshifting to “cogit, ergo spud”: “I think I’ll act like a potato” (um, loosely translated).
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.
APRIL 16, 2020 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 15
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