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February 14, 2022 I VOL. 51 I #7
‘Heaven After Dark’ Perry Farrell’s new project kicks off at 1926 Room Hoping for a Better LA De Leon’s campaign outlines bold solutions
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De Leon’s campaign outlines bold solutions for a better LA By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer os Angeles enters 2022 facing regional issues of affordability and homelessness amid a global pandemic. Looking ahead to the upcoming mayoral elections in November, the winner will lead Angelenos to solutions, city and countywide. District 14 Councilmember Kevin de Leon said he believes he has the answers to inspire change and lead Los Angeles into a better future. “We’ve dealt with earthquakes, wildfires, civil unrest, severe economic recessions, but we’ve never dealt with a global pandemic that has brought us to our knees economically and has also had such a profound impact on our lives economically and in mortality rates,” de Leon said. “I’ve always been honest with the people of Los Angeles that I’ve wanted to serve in a leadership position during difficult times. This is the moment.” Joining city council in 2020, de Leon sought to address homelessness as one of the largest issues in the city and county. Now, the councilmember turns to proactive approaches to the crisis, for the unhoused and for those facing housing instability due to pandemic-induced financial impacts. Last August, the city passed a de Leon-authored motion that plans to create at least 25,000 housing units by 2025. The plan, “A Way Home,” was created to set timelines that have definitive results. De Leon described the plan as an immediate response that will house unhoused individuals sooner rather than later. “Right now, our first, second and third priority is twofold — provide shelter for the tens of thousands of unhoused individuals living on the streets today to make sure that our streets are clean and
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Councilmember Kevin de Leon, District 14, is running for Los Angeles mayor and places homelessness at the forefront of his campaign. Photo courtesy of Kevin de Leon
safe for everyone. We need to reach out to those living on the streets who are suffering with serious mental health conditions and living with debilitating addictions.” District 14 — which encompasses most of Downtown, moving east to Boyle Heights and stretching north to Eagle Rock — has 7,616 homeless people, making it the largest concentration of unhoused individuals among the city districts, according to a 2020 LAHSA
for the 41,290 unhoused individuals homeless count. “I represent the largest number of un- throughout Los Angeles calls for extenhoused individuals in all of the city,” de sive resource management. De Leon plans to streamline the process of conLeon said. EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero structing “I’ve inherited ground zero. It’s the CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk housing, pulling funding from local, largest concentration in every metropolART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torresstate and federal levels, and leverSTAFFfor PHOTOGRAPHER: LuisYork, Chavez itan city, except three — New LA age unused public space to produce to Myriam Santos meet the goal. County as a CONTRIBUTING whole, andPHOTOGRAPHERS: Chicago. It gives ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb “In the short time that we’ve been you the magnitude of this humanitarian FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris here, we’ve housed more than 2,000 indicrisis.” Managing the goal of creating 25,000 viduals,” he said. “From tiny homes to Project Homekey housing units by 2025 and then some
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and Roomkey, buying hotels and we’re not stopping. “It’s about streamlining the process at city hall to get the permitting, dealing with building and safety requirements, and making sure everyone is safe, but also making sure that it’s much more efficient so we can get as many units online as possible. “We cannot continue to talk and theorize, because it’s time to act. I co-authored 41.18 to make sure we have a way to enforce clean, safe and usable sidewalks for all. As councilmember and mayor, I support combining actions to create as many beds as possible and as fast as possible.” Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18 prohibits sitting, lying, sleeping or storing on a public right of way like sidewalks and underpasses and within 500 feet of decided “sensitive-use” areas voted on by city council, where signs are posted. As of now, sensitive-use areas designated by city council are schools, day cares, public parks and libraries, among facilities providing homeless individuals with shelter, safe parking, sleeping or services where there is a 1,000-foot radial banning. “On this issue of homelessness, the time to address the root causes and the deep and systemic issues that have
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forced so many onto the streets will come,” he said. De Leon draws from his personal and career experiences, utilizing values and implementing them as acting councilmember and, if elected, as mayor. In the California State Assembly and Senate, he led the Senate as president pro tempore in 2014, focusing on the state’s environment and economy. Prior to his political career, he taught English as a second language to immigrants and organized with California Teachers and the National Education associations for funding and infrastructural renewal for public schools. However, de Leon said he believes Los Angeles needs a mayor who connects the councilmembers to issues that Angelenos face daily. “The issues of good jobs, a living wage for working families, and better quality of life for every Angeleno are very personal to me,” he said. “My mother came to this country as an immigrant with her own dreams. I can still remember riding the bus with my mom to homes with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. There, my mother spent the vast majority of her day, if not her life cleaning other people’s homes. She worked her fingers to the bone cleaning the homes of the wealthy.
“Like so many other Angelenos, she worked hard, and sometimes she worked more than one job to give her kids a better future. Her work ethic and the example she set for me is exactly why I want to work hard every day to lift up working people in our community and all of Los Angeles.” De Leon has advocated for working-class families and immigrants, speaking up with councilmembers of other districts for street vending rights. Last fall, De Leon spoke at a rally where street vendors and advocates detailed concerns about a lack of access to health permits, allowing street vendors to operate in a safe, authorized manner, and to address the sentiment of city legislation working against them. The councilmember also presented a motion in August 2021 to expedite federal and state COVID-19 relief funds to Angelenos. “At the current pace, it will take one and a half years to disburse all of the $235 million (in relief funds), clearly an unacceptable pace by any standard. … The slow pace of payouts means the vast majority remain behind on their rent and cannot get their head above water,” the motion reads. “The difference between me and other candidates is that, for me, it’s never been
about being just a good vote. It’s about using my power to make Los Angeles a better place to live,” he said. “There are so many people in Los Angeles who have been overlooked, underappreciated and undervalued. People who work hard, pay their taxes and fight with everything they have to make a better life for themselves and their family, only to see a city around them that doesn’t live up to our idea of what’s possible.” De Leon commented on the recent increase in property and violent crimes, particularly shootings, as reported by 2021 LAPD crime data. Though de Leon did address specific solutions, he identified shifting duties away from city law enforcement, like responding to drug overdoses and mental health-related incidents, allowing officers to respond to crimes faster, as one solution. “Angelenos deserve more. … We have an opportunity before us to reenvision how we utilize resources,” he said. “They deserve a fighter in city hall who will demand a better quality of life for every Angeleno, not just for the wealthy and powerful. That’s why I’m running for mayor, not because of the great challenges ahead of us or the fancy title but because I believe in the power and future of this city.”
Because no question is too personal. The Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health When it comes to your body, we understand it can be hard to ask questions. But at Dignity Health’s Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health—conveniently located in DTLA—our specialists are your partner in health and wellness. So if you have concerns, or if you’re due for a breast or gynecologic checkup, schedule an appointment today. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/LACWH.
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Janet Davis of SHARE! considered people in the Skid Row community as family, sometimes referring to them as her “babies.” Photo courtesy of SHARE!
Advocate Janet Davis celebrated at memorial service By LA Downtown News Staff HARE! honored co-worker Janet Elizabeth Davis by hosting a memorial service for her on Feb. 12. Davis died Dec. 4. For the past eight years, she worked as program coordinator at SHARE! Downtown Los Angeles, supervising peer specialists and building community; inspiring personal growth and change; and connecting people with self-help support groups, housing, jobs and volunteer opportunities. “Janet was an integral part of the Downtown community,” said Ruth Hollman, SHARE! founder and executive director. “(She) worked with her team at SHARE! Downtown to inspire people to leave addiction and homelessness behind and join the recovery community. She was well loved by all and gave great hugs to all who wanted them. She will be sorely missed.” Seconding that was Camille Dennis, SHARE! program manager and Davis’ supervisor. “Janet was not only a co-worker but also a sister in recovery,” Dennis said. “Janet loved the Skid Row communi-
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ty and went the extra mile to get people into self-help support groups for addiction and mental health issues. She made sure that anyone who wanted to get housed found a place immediately in SHARE! Collaborative Housing and got on with their lives. She loved the people in the Skid Row community as family, sometimes referring to them as her ‘babies.’” Adding to the tribute was Maria Gonzalez, program manager of SHARE! Collaborative Housing. “Janet was keen on getting every homeless person housing as soon as they wanted it,” Gonzalez said. “She would call the SHARE! Collaborative Housing homeowners with the person needing housing on the phone, and she would house them on the same day. Then she would keep following up with them to make sure they had the support they needed and were attending their self-help groups. Janet impacted so many lives. We all feel the loss tremendously.” To make an in memoriam donation to SHARE!, visit shareselfhelp.org or call 213-213-0100.
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Eye on Education Follow these 5 tips to ace college entry exams By Family Features ecause most colleges and universities require applicants to submit ACT or SAT results as part of admissions consideration, prepping for the test itself can be a critical component of that process. While it can oftentimes be hard to deal with the anxiety that comes with a rigorous test meant to show your mastery of certain subjects and concepts, such as reading and mathematics, consider these test prep tips to help boost your score while simultaneously lowering stress.
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Register early To allow yourself as much flexibility as possible, taking college entrance exams during your junior year of high school is encouraged. If you don’t get an ideal score, you can refine your approach and retake the exam with a better idea of what to expect. Take a practice test Any test prep plan should start with a
practice SAT or ACT exam. Taking practice tests under realistic conditions can help you gain a better understanding of the content of the test, improve your time management, and help combat test anxiety. You can use your practice test as a baseline to set goals and focus the rest of your prep on areas you would like to improve before the real thing. Sign up for a prep course If you find studying on your own difficult or not as successful as you’d hoped, a prep course can put you through the paces and hold you accountable. Complete with homework and in-class practice, prep classes can range from small groups to larger classes taught by test experts. Some school districts even offer after-school programs dedicated to ACT or SAT prep.
phones aren’t permitted — to make sure you don’t accidentally bring something you’re not allowed to have. Ensure your bag is packed with your admission ticket, valid photo identification, several sharpened pencils with erasers, an approved calculator (with fresh batteries), and a watch, if allowed.
Gather supplies To help reduce test day stress, gather everything you’ll need the night before. Check the list of banned items — cell-
Get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast While it can be tempting to stay up late the night before the test to cram, you’re
Pilgrim School: A unique Koreatown school community By Pilgrim School Pilgrim School has centered around the growth and development of young minds, bodies and spirits since 1958. It supports and encourages students in their personal explorations of all subjects and expressions, while promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) to develop holistic, empathetic, resilient young people. With 400 students and 60 faculty members, Pilgrim forms a community where students feel like they belong. The school’s core values and principles of learning affirm a commitment to positive change. From toddlers to teenagers, the school’s core identity nurtures students in their personal growth to thrive. Pilgrim School is not just any private school in Los Angeles offering kindergarten to 12th grade classes and early education for children ages 2 to 5. Pilgrim is a multicultural school promoting mastery-based learning to engage students. It’s a college-preparatory school with an
The head of school, Patricia Kong, on campus with students. Photo courtesy of Pilgrim School
accomplished list of university graduates from facilities around the world. It boasts a boarding program that encourages students from around the world to learn, contribute and grow. In the heart of Los Angeles, the school has, for more than 60 years, taught generations how to be proactive, lifelong learners. Pilgrim School 213-355-5204 pilgrim-school.org
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likely to perform better with a full night’s sleep. Sleep is important for retention, and eating a balanced breakfast before heading out the door can aid in your ability to focus. To make your morning easier, prep breakfast before bed to keep an early morning from starting even earlier. Remember, the college admissions process involves more than just test scores. Visit eLivingtoday.com for more education tips and information.
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Cal State LA Downtown classrooms include state-of-the art computer and lecture classrooms, spacious lounge areas and study rooms for collaborative study.
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Cal State LA Downtown, located at 8th & Grand. Photo courtesy of Cal State LA Downtown
Photo courtesy of Cal State LA Downtown
Apply to Cal State LA Downtown’s Business Degree Programs By Cal State LA Downtown Business majors develop many valuable skills and areas of knowledge that enable them to make significant contributions to the corporate and not-for-profit worlds. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, business and financial degree programs are, by far, the most popular fields of study among undergraduates, as well as post-secondary students, who are looking for a robust career and career advancement. Cal State LA Downtown (DTLA) offers two business program options to prepare students for globalization and a growing economy. Financial assistance is available for programs. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Apply by March 15. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), Management Option Program, is designed to provide students with the tools, techniques and ethics required to succeed in business and related fields. Students can also advance their careers in sales, finance, retail, manufacturing, human resources, public administration, marketing, management and entrepreneurship. For working adults, courses within this program are conveniently offered in the evenings. Recent BSBA graduate Stephanie Barraza, a first-generation Ameri- Stephanie Barraza, Bachelor of Science in can and the first person in her family Business Administration, 2018 to earn a college degree, chose Cal Photo courtesy of Cal State LA Downtown State LA Downtown because of the strong reputation of the University’s College of Business and Economics, as well as DTLA’s convenient location and intimate setting. “I like to network in and out of the classroom, and being able to both go to a beautiful school and socialize in a transforming downtown was also a plus,” Barraza said. Fully Employed MBA: Register for a live webinar and Apply by May 31. The Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) Program allows stu-
dents to earn their degree in 16 months through a rigorous curriculum that includes Saturday in-person class meetings, and online learning during the week permitting working executives and professionals to build upon their experience. The FEMBA program is ideal for individuals who have earned their undergraduate degrees in the fields of business, marketing, economics, engineering, math/statistics, science, as well as other fields. It is also ideal for mid-career business professionals with three to five years of work experience seeking to advance their careers. Ruben Cardenas Jr., Fully Employed MBA Visit calstatela.edu/DTLA to (FEMBA), 2019 register for a live FEMBA webinar Photo courtesy of Cal State LA Downtown on March 1. As a project manager at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Ruben Cardenas Jr. felt that his current education and years of experience only took him so far. “At Metro, my department is tasked to solve problems in a group,” Cardenas said. “Using what we learned, my FEMBA cohort was also tasked to solve problems in a group. This was exciting because we saw a direct correlation with real world problems and what we learned in the program. As an ‘adult learner’ returning to school, the challenges posed by learning in a group combined with the faculty’s knowledge was exhilarating.” Stay competitive and relevant in the workplace. For additional information on these and all academic and career development programs, visit calstatela.edu/DTLA.
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Changing the Lives of Young People with Social, Learning and Emotional Differences The Help Group’s specialized day schools offer preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, and transition programs for students with learning differences, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and social-emotional challenges. The schools, certified by the California State Department of Education, are located on four campuses in the Los Angeles area, provide prescriptive teaching, small classes, individualized curriculum, and enrichment activities to maximize learning. Round trip transportation is available. What separates their schools from others are an array of unique offerings, such as social skills training, counseling, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, career counseling and vocational education. The Help Group Schools include: Bridgeport School, Bridgeport Vocational Center, North Hills Prep, Sunrise School, Summit View School, STEM3 Academy, Village Glen School, Westview School, and Young Learners Preschool To schedule a tour, contact The Help Group’s admissions office at (877) 943-5747 or admissions@thehelpgroup.org. thehelpgroup.org
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Some of the available degrees teach students animation and graphic design.
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The Los Angeles Film School offers degrees in film production.
Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Film School
Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Film School
LA Film School prepares students for the entertainment industry By Los Angeles Film School The Los Angeles Film School is proud to be one of Hollywood’s leading film and entertainment colleges. The school prepares aspiring filmmakers and artists with the necessary skills they need to succeed in the entertainment industry. Whether students take classes online or on campus in Hollywood, they learn how to work as creative professionals on set and in the studio. Students thrive in an experiential class environment under the instruction of seasoned faculty members, many of whom are still actively involved in the entertainment industry. Each discipline offers curricula designed to provide students with the knowledge, hands-on experience and industry connections necessary to succeed in the rapidly changing landscape of the entertainment business. The Los Angeles Film School offers entertainment-focused Bachelor of Science degrees in animation, audio production, digital filmmaking, entertainment business, film production, graphic design, media communications and writing for film and television. Associate of Science degrees are also available in audio and music production and film. The LA Film School has been an academic leader in the entertainment community since 1999.
Bachelor of Science in animation is a 36-month program designed to teach art, techniques, processes and technology that animators use professionally. Students may also choose between a concentration in visual effects or game art.
Explore our degree programs
Bachelor of Science in audio production is a 36-month program offering advanced training for audio engineering, providing students with technical knowledge of recording and foundational music and production skills.
Bachelor of Science in film production is a 36-month program rooted in visual storytelling. The curriculum allows students to focus on an elected concentration of study in the following disciplines — cinematography, directing, production and producing. Bachelor of Science in digital filmmaking online is a 36-month program that’s delivered 100% online and prepares students for a career in producing, screenwriting, directing, cinematography and editing.
Bachelor of Science in animation online is a 36-month animation program that begins with the fundamentals of computer-generated art and then immerses students in model creation, character animation, digital sculpting and much more. Students may also choose a concentration in visual effects, environmental and character design, or character animation. Bachelor of Science in graphic design online is a 36-month program that teaches students how to create compelling designs through photography, motion graphics, print, website and experience design for the entertainment business. Bachelor of Science in entertainment business is offered online or on campus and gives students a behind-the-scenes look at show business. Learn the business side of the entertainment industry with this 36-month program.
Bachelor of Science in audio production online is a 36-month program that offers advanced training in digital audio production for film, television, music, game engines and more. Students work in their own home studio environment while collaborating with peers and instructors online.
Classes are available in person in Hollywood or online.
Bachelor of Science in music production online is a 38-month program that provides the experience needed to learn on diverse media applications using the latest digital music technology. Students work in their own home studio environment while collaborating with peers and instructors online. Bachelor of Science in writing for film and television online prepares students to script well-structured stories with vivid, compelling characters to create scripts for film, TV and immersive media. This immersive screenwriting program is delivered 100% online over a 36-month period. Bachelor of Science in media communications online is offered for students seeking a program in mass communication, including social media management, digital content production and new media advertising. Students learn how to leverage innovative digital media and apply it to the entertainment industry over a 36-month instruction period. Associate of Science in audio production is an 18-month program that provides students with training in live-sound production, analog and digital recording, and post-production audio. This program is offered both on campus and online. Associate of Science in music production is an accelerated degree program that offers either online (20 months) or on campus (18 months), preparing students for a career in music composition, production and publishing. Associate of Science in film allows students the chance to learn every stage of production in cinematography, directing, production and producing. The associate’s degree is offered on campus over 18 months.
Audio and music production are some of the available degrees at the Los Angeles Film School. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Film School
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PETERS’ OPINION
A thumbs-down to Valentine’s Day — maybe By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist ah, heartbug!” I said. Well, actually, I yelled it at my husband, Ken. He said, “Geez. What’s your deal? I only asked what you wanted for Valentine’s Day.” “I stopped caring about Valentine’s Day in the third grade after Brian Binger pretended to vomit as he saw my valentine,” I said. As you well know, “Bah humbug!” is associated with Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The word “Scrooge” is now synonymous with a stingy, Christmas-hating crabby pants. I have yet to find a similar word for me, a Valentine’s Day disdainer. So, I turned bah into vah and hum into heart, and there you have it: Vah heartbug. “So yes, Ken, Vah, heartbug!” I said, “Let’s just have a nice meal. You know I love you every day, right?” He nodded yes. I am very soft-hearted regarding the people and animals that I love. (Some people, almost all animals). And, according to my inestimable cardiologist Dr. Stephen Soldo, I have a huge heart, and it’s in great shape. I would prefer that we celebrate Black history in February and Women’s history in March with the same degree of hoopla that we do for Valentine’s. Vah heartbug! Although Valentine’s Day doesn’t have the gross commercial lead-up that Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas do, I dream of a day where we can bemoan a similar level of egregious commercialism around Black and Women’s history. “Honey, don’t you hate that we start celebrating the history months right after we’ve packed away Christmas?” “I know — if I see one more Frederick Douglass card
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Ellen Snortland or one more string of Susan B. Anthony lights… ugh! Enough already!” Not likely. For the perfect example of a Black history and women’s history-influenced valentine story, consider the unbelievably romantic, heart-pounding derring-do of Ellen and William Craft. Never heard of them? Shame on us. Both enslaved but living on different plantations, Ellen could pass as white. She hatched a plan with her much darker husband to pose as his enslaver so they could buy tickets and take trains to the North. The problem? It was improper for a lone white woman to travel with an enslaved Black man. Yikes! So Ellen bandaged her face and donned men’s clothes — a crime in and of itself in many states. They stayed in fancy hotels and eventually made their way to freedom. Because of the Fugitive Slave Act, they were still in danger once they got to Boston. They moved to England, started a family, and wrote a book about their getaway. One of the first accounts of slavery before the Civil War, their book is enti-
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Hey you! Speak up! Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us know, or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community. Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.
tled “Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom; Or, The Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery.” It’s still freely available through Project Gutenberg, which digitizes essential books. Hollywood, where are you? You want action, tension, diversity? You want love and romance? This story has it all! After decades of crickets, it looks like a big-time movie version of the Crafts’ astonishing journey will finally appear on HBO Max sometime this year. I once wrote to Jacquie Lawson and asked their designers to create Black history and women’s history greeting cards. No nibbles. They may be digital, but they’re still trapped in old thinking. Me? I would love to send and receive history cards, not just for Valentine’s but also for other commemorations. Why my particular ire about Valentine’s? I see and hear a lot of people suffering because of VD. No, not venereal disease, although the analogy is not far off: They are both itchy, easy to catch and hard to ignore. My heart goes out to all the poor gal-identified folks that have been brainwashed into basing their happiness on “romantic” expectations. Year after year, their fantasies are whipped into a frenzy only to be repeatedly dashed — whether they are in a relationship; out of a relationship; or simply wishing their pet could send a card, flowers and some chocolate.
I also feel terrible for so many guy-identified people who are expected to follow Hallmark traditions, or even worse, magically read their lover’s mind. The insensitive and clueless male stereotype continues to be perpetuated through ads and pop culture. And come on, a heart? A blood-pumping muscle that clogs? In other eras, the liver was thought to be the seat of adoration. What a line of cards that could prompt: “Darling, you are the onions to my liver! I was fried when I first met you! Your love gives me cirrhosis!” Why not a nose? “I sniffed you from the get-go, give that other a heave-ho, they blow! Our love is as obvious as the nose on my face.” So, vah heartbug! OK, celebrate whatever you want. However, please take this advice: have a liver to liver — nope, that just sounds slimy — or a nose to nose… oh, that sounds hostile. OK then, have a heart to heart with your sweetie to see what it is they really want from you. That takes courage or — since this column was slightly obsessed with organs — guts. Ellen Snortland has been writing this column for decades. She also teaches creative writing and can be reached at ellen@ beautybitesbeast.com. Her award-winning film “Beauty Bites Beast” is once again available for download or streaming at https:// vimeo.com/ondemand/beautybitesbeast.
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Library to preserve photographer’s theater shots By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer or four decades, photographer Ed Krieger was the go-to theater guy in the Los Angeles area. Before he died on Dec. 16, 2020, he snapped production stills and headshots for such venues as The Fountain Theatre, Skylight Theatre, Boston Court, El Portal, Laguna Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre, Downey Civic Light Opera, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood Bowl and others. “Ed was a freelance photographer widely known and beloved throughout the theater community in Los Angeles,” said Stephen Sachs, the artistic director and co-founder of The Fountain Theatre. “He took production photos and actor head shots for almost every theater large and small throughout Southern California. Everybody knew and loved Ed. He was so friendly and affable and full of positive goodwill and energy, and he also took damn good pictures and that was important.” That meant there was a huge collection of his work left behind with his two children, Will and Courtnay Krieger. Sachs, who knew him for more than 25 years, didn’t want to see that lifetime of work — both of Krieger’s and of the art he captured in his photos — be lost. So, he reached out to the photographer’s children and asked if he could have
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Ed Krieger.
the photos properly archived. As a result — a little more than a year after his death — his children donated more than 15 boxes of photographs, contact sheets, negatives and CDs going back to 1982 to the Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles, where they will be archived as part of the library’s Photography Special Collections. “Those boxes hold a history of Los Angeles theater,” Sachs said. “That’s why I felt it was essential that the archives were properly housed. All the shows, all the actors, all the productions, the plays, the musicals, some actors famous, some not, in everything from little storefront theaters to the Ahmanson and the Mark Taper Forum. He did it all.” The Central Library is now digitizing the collection so it can be made available to the public. “The Los Angeles Public Library is honored to be chosen as the custodian of Ed Krieger’s photographic archive documenting almost 40 years of local theater,” said Senior Librarian Christina Rice. “This collection will be an incredible supplement to our theater photos from the Herald Examiner newspaper image archive and builds on the incredible wealth of materials in our literature and fiction department, which chronicles Los Angeles theater productions from the late 19th century to the present. We’re excit-
Submitted photo
Los Angeles Public Library senior librarian Christina Rice and archivist Wendy Horowitz pick up 15 boxes of Ed Krieger’s photos, negatives, slides and digital files from the Fountain Theatre.
Submitted photo
ed to be a go-to source for local theater research.” His children are also pleased with the selection of the Central Library and the work they plan to do with his images. “We thank the Los Angeles Public Library for archiving our father’s work,” Will and Courtnay Krieger said in a statement. “We are happy to know that his photography will be preserved for the future and shared with others.” Calling Krieger’s photos a vital public record of LA’s cultural landscape, Sachs said that future research is one of the important reasons that the public needs access to this material. While Los Angeles and Hollywood are known worldwide as a movie and TV town, Sachs said it also has a long and proud history of live theater. “There is and has always been a vibrant, important theater life,” Sachs said. “This material chronicles part of this city’s history, its cultural and artistic life. Theater has played an important part in the history of this city. It is important to me that it be preserved for future generations.” Once the photos are digitized, the Central Library will launch a website for the Ed Krieger Photo Collection. Sachs predicts this will be a few years down the road, but that they will have a launch party for it at the Fountain Theatre. He encouraged people who care about theater to visit the library’s theater collection, either online or in person. “There are places we can go to look and research the history of our city and our art form,” Sachs said. When Krieger began taking photos, the internet wasn’t readily available. Home
computers were rare. Many of the items in the archives are photos that have never been digitized. “Photographs are hugely important,” Sachs said. “They capture the essence of your organization or the life of a play. It’s a crucial tool to any arts organization.” Sachs said that they never did posed shots at the Fountain Theatre for production photos. Instead, Krieger came to a full final dress rehearsal and shoot the play while it was taking place. “Ed had a knack for capturing the magic of a moment,” Sachs said. “(The shoot) had an aliveness to it that you just cannot manufacture. He took many of our iconic images that we’ve used in show posters and press releases through the years.” Others recognized his genius as well. His images appeared in prominent publications. American Theatre magazine highlighted him in 2015 as one of several nationally recognized theater photographers. Many times, Sachs said, of the legion of people it takes to create theater who generate the most publicity are actors, directors, playwrights and designers. Yet, he said, there is also the photographer who drives up in his beat-up old car, with his camera, tripod and light meter in the backseat and then schleps his gear into the theater. “He sets up his lights and takes the photographs,” Sachs said. “That plays an important part of the art we create. Those images that a photographer generates become the visual imprint of the work we do. It’s important that people honor that and understand the importance of their contribution.”
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Musician Perry Farrell, who created the touring festival Lollapalooza, will debut his new project, “Heaven After Dark,” on Thursday, Feb. 17, at the 1926 Room at the Belasco Theatre. Photo by Zane Roessell
Perry Farrell’s new project kicks off at 1926 Room By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor enaissance man Perry Farrell — the brains behind Lollapalooza, Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros — is debuting his new project in DTLA. “Heaven After Dark” kicks off Thursday, Feb. 17, at the 1926 Room at the Belasco Theatre, 1050 S. Hill Street, in DTLA. Cultivated in partnership with his wife, Etty Lau Farrell, “Heaven After Dark” focuses on iconic and emerging musicians, performance artists and varietal acts to showcase alternative music and underground culture. “Heaven After Dark” attendees will ex-
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perience “seven realms of heaven”; “an audio sensory journey that introduces attendees to musicians, dancers, comedians and street performers to narrate and shape the evening’s story”; the Farrells performing as Kind Heaven Orchestra; and DJs and producers playing acid house music. “The first one takes place in a very small theater,” Farrell said during a Zoom call with Etty. “I kind of dig that idea. It’s going to be like the Roaring ’20s. “We found it here in Downtown LA. We want to start germinating the seeds in LA with emerging artists. They are very reminiscent of the groups I played with when I was coming up in LA in the early ’80s. I’m trying to recreate that
vibe. But, of course, you can never go back.” The event will be held monthly, if things go as planned. Farrell said “Heaven After Dark” will serve as a distraction to those suffering from pandemic depression or tired of sitting at home thanks to COVID-19. “We’re parents,” Farrell said. “So, we hear from other parents that there’s so much depression in kids. They just don’t know what to do. You can’t blame them. “Imagine if we would have been stuck in a house for two years as a teenager? And graduations aren’t being held? We’re watching the statistics and the numbers really indicate to us — specifically in LA — that they’re plummeting.
But we still want people to be safe.” The event will require vaccinations, and “I’m going to politely ask everybody to just bring cool things to hold up to their face when they’re close to people,” Farrell said. “I’m going to do it. I think that will help take us out of this dark age of COVID-19.” “Heaven After Dark” is a departure from Lollapalooza, which plays to approximately 385,000 in Chicago each year. “During large events, you get to see something that you didn’t expect,” Farrell said. “To me, it was like, OK, where are we going to get the emerging music from if the music industry isn’t really nurturing it?
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music. Farrell “constantly” makes music with his family in their home. “Me, personally, I’m working on music for an orchestra,” he said. “I’m working on music for Porno for Pyros, working on music for Jane’s and then house music — making great house music as well.” Etty is quick to add, “I think it’s worth mentioning that Jane’s Addiction is coming back for what would have been their 30th anniversary. However, because of COVID-19, we pushed it a year. They’re going to start with Lollapalooza in South America.” Farrell said he’s excited about the reunion. “We’ve had our bouts,” Farrell said with a laugh. “But right now, we’re closer than ever.” Etty added, “I think it’s because you’re older.” “I didn’t want to say that,” Farrell added, laughing. “As you get older, you let go of all of the petty stuff that you thought was important.”
“To me, it was essential that we went back to the original place where we started our music and start to garden it, curate it so that they could grow and one day be on the Lollapalooza stages.” Etty added, “I think it’s nice that when you do big shows, when you’re in a big festival, you do get the production and all the bells and whistles. At the same time, you lose that personal contact with your audience. So you get to sing and perform and look into people’s eyes and then open a dialogue with the audience.” After “Heaven After Dark,” Etty will release the single “He’s No Rebel,” which was chosen by Farrell. “Perry chose the song for me to sing because he thought it suited me because he’s a rebel,” she said as the couple laughed. “We changed the lyrics, so I’m really singing about him.” Farrell added, “I sing about her all the time.” Etty isn’t the only one making new
“Heaven After Dark” WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 WHERE: The Belasco, 1050 S. Hill Street, DTLA COST: Tickets start at $45 INFO: livenation.com
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Perry Farrell is the frontman of the Los Angeles-based rock band Jane’s Addiction. Photo by Zane Roessell
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Covered DININGCalifornia will help
Twin brothers Samer and Samir Akel rebuilt their lives as owners of multiple restaurants after leaving Syria during the height of civil war and ongoing conflict.
Crave Café locations in Pasadena, Woodland Hills and Sherman Oaks offer a variety of menu options and an inspiring story from co-owners and brothers Samer and Samir Akel.
Photo by Chris Mortenson
Photo by Chris Mortenson
Twins share compassionate spirit through deli By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer o the owners of the Orleans and York Deli on Spring Street, projecting an enduring and ambitious spirit in the face of hardship is something familiar. Samer Akel and his twin brother, Samir, operate the Downtown deli among several restaurant businesses open around LA County, mostly under the brand Crave Cafe. The Akel brothers’ daily lives of keeping their businesses afloat during the pandemic, however, is only the latest part in their story as Los Angeles business owners. Samer and Samir moved to the United States from Syria in 2012, when a revolution and ongoing conflict in the region climbed to a death toll of more than 350,209 identified casualties. The United Nations indicated “a minimum verifiable number, and is certainly an undercount,” according to a 2021 statement from UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet. “We had a good life back home,” Samer said, describing his life as “spoiled” before the war. Samer’s father is a business owner in Syria, running multiple restaurants, a night club and an apartment building. After Samir and his brother graduated from a private college with degrees in business management and marketing, the conflict in Syria had escalated dramatically, he said. “When ISIS began getting into the conflict, you either switch your religion to
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be like them or you need to pay them money. If they know that your family has money and you support the government, the Syrian government, you’re going to die,” he said about his family’s situation in 2012. “My dad at that time went to Dubai for a business trip, and he got a phone call from somebody saying, ‘We know your kids are in Damascus right now. Either you pay us money, or we’ll give you their heads,’” Samer said. Samer said he and his brother were in Damascus at the time of the phone call. “That’s when my dad called us that day and he said, ‘Go back home. Wait for me to get back to Syria.’ He literally got back to Syria and just bought us tickets to America.” The plan was for the brothers to use their tourism visa and stay in America for a month, but “that one month became 10 years,” Samer said. A year later, in 2013, their family house was bombed by ISIS and their father’s businesses in the area were taken over. “In the beginning, when we moved out here, I lost one of my best friends that ISIS killed,” he said. “I lost my two grandmas while I was here. That all happened in the first year of being in America.” Samer and Samir arrived in the United States and moved into a family friend’s garage in West LA, taking various jobs at liquor stores, banks and as furniture movers. “There was a lot of hurt. There was a lot of broken pieces. When we moved out here, for the first two years, me and
Samir were depressed. I used to cry every night before I would go to sleep. Losing my best friend and my grandmas; a lot of crazy things happened after I moved here,” Samer said. “We were not moving forward. Me and him had a talk and said, ‘If we’re going to stay like this, this sad, then we’ll never move forward in life.’ I have a screensaver on my phone that I had since then that says, ‘Never give up,’ and from that day we just kept pushing and pushing.” With their father’s help, Samer and Samir obtained their Social Security and work permits and found an apartment in Woodland Hills. Not long after, in 2015, they entered a partnership and opened Orleans and York Deli in Downtown. The twins experienced a steady climb in their career, working to rebuild their lives in the United States, and within two years of Orleans and York Deli co-ownership, they eventually opened a line of restaurants under the brand Crave. Samer and Samir now oversee Crave Café in Woodland Hills, Pasadena and Sherman Oaks, along with Crave Sushi and Pita Kitchen, which is next to their Sherman Oaks location. “At that time, me and my brother had one goal of wanting to build the life that I lost back home. That was our goal,” he said. Samer remembered having one day off a week and deciding if he should use the time to sleep, go on a date or spend time with family. “Up to this day, my life is more work than anything else,” he said. “At the moment, what we do is I leave
in the morning and stop at Woodland Hills location, then I stop by the Sherman Oaks location. My brother wakes up, goes to check the Pasadena location, then goes to the Downtown location, since he’s out there in the area. We do that daily,” he said. Though Samer and Samir primarily manage and oversee the businesses, the omicron variant has presented more challenges, being that the variant is highly transmissible. “I’m a restaurant owner. Every two weeks, one of my employees calls out with COVID-19. A lot of times we have to step in and fill those roles,” he said. Like most local business owners, the brothers feel the impact of COVID-19 in decreased foot traffic and sales but keep a positive outlook on maintaining the restaurant locations and keeping them open. “This all goes back to the way you manage your business, but there are also some things you can’t control, like affording rent and operating expenses. As of now, thank God we’re doing OK,” he said. “If you own a business, you need to know your business from A to Z. Anything from being a dishwasher to a server to a manager, everything in your store. That’s when you can understand what’s going on and you can adapt to the situation. “All of us would like to stay positive. Everybody’s taking a hit from the pandemic, and this will pass. No one knows exactly when, but we just have to keep pushing.”
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Santos brings Asian, Middle Eastern influences to Exchange By Kamala Kirk LA Downtown News Staff Writer reehand Los Angeles recently reopened its destination restaurant and bar, The Exchange, with chef Narita Santos at the helm. Born in the Philippines and raised in Saudi Arabia and Southern California, Santos shares dishes that explore urban LA’s multicultural flavors through an Israeli lens with Filipino and Southeast Asian influences. “Our menu is inspired from an exchange of cultures and flavors from the melting pot of what makes LA so unique and engaging,” Santos said. “When it comes to adding layers of flavor to our dishes, we use ingredients like preserved black beans, dried shrimp, miso paste and shio koji. Seasonal produce is a major key component to building dishes. Something that is sourced just two hours away on your plate will truly shine.” Santos — who previously worked at Bestia, Lucques at the Circle, and Simbal — designed the family-style dinner menu. It is divided into five sections: raw, salatim (salads), large plates, mains and sides. “I’ve always been drawn to family-style format. Food that is shared during a meal is a big point in Philippine culture,” Santos said. “The term ‘kamayan,’ meaning ‘to eat with your hands,’ is a major part of who I am. Also, Filipinos love sour. You can find me finishing dishes with a squeeze of lime or lemon. As for living in the Mid-
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dle East, it has made my palate drawn to a plethora of bold spices and accoutrements and sauces paired with my deals.” Dishes focus on local produce and present a creative fusion of flavors, offering classic dishes such as the salatim platter alongside new menu items including the falafel. “A great way to start is to have our salatim platter, a medley of pickles, marinated olives, hummus, burnt eggplant and butternut squash tahini for the winter season saved with warm pita bread,” Santos said. “Our bold sauces like our salsa macha with dried shrimp and labne Caesar dressing in our charred cabbage dish are definitely something to look forward to. “The bacalhau (salted cod) fried rice has seasonal baby corn, peas, broccolini stems, scallions and our in-house xo sauce. This is a great add-on to any main dish. Our citrus salad is an ode to winter — kohlrabi, oro blanco, car acara, blood orange and pomelo with an orange blossom, aniseed vinaigrette topped with toasted hazelnuts, fleur de sel and ricotta salata. As for desserts, we have a decadent ube cake served with a coconut, vanilla bean sorbet and a honeynut squash Filipino-style flan.” The revamped lunch menu introduces sandwiches ranging from banh mi to braised lamb pita, as well as a noodle salad featuring eggplant and ceviche with local caught seafood and amba aji amarillo. As for Santos, she said her favorite dish depends on what she’s craving. “Each dish we have on the menu is its
Designed to be enjoyed family style, the menu is divided into five sections and presents a creative fusion of flavors with a focus on local produce.
Photo by Dylan + Jeni
Born in the Philippines and raised in Saudi Arabia, chef Narita Santos is the executive chef of The Exchange Restaurant at Freehand LA, located in the former Owl Company Drug store in DTLA.
Photo by Dylan + Jeni
own world of flavors, and when I’m building them, my goal is to balance flavors between savory, a touch of sweet and a pop of brightness, then finishing it off with a fresh component,” she said. According to Santos, the menu will change and introduce new offerings each season. “It will depend on what is available from our local farmers and purveyors,” Santos said. “The weather makes you crave certain things, and I do keep that in mind when I transition the menu and dessert offerings.” Bar Lab’s beverage director, Christine Wiseman, has created a new cocktail menu that showcases fresh ingredients and incorporates fermented syrups and house-pressed juices. The cocktail list pairs with the dishes on the menu, both featuring notes of cardamom, persimmon and pink peppercorn. The Exchange also offers a natural wine
program that showcases wines produced with little intervention and in the most natural way possible with a curated selection by the glass and bottle. Santos is excited to be part of the team at Freehand LA, a place she frequented as a guest years before becoming the chef there. “I remember my experience coming in to dine for lunch then dinner years back before I decided to join the Freehand team,” Santos said. “I absolutely loved the vibe of the space, the ambience and the energy of the team … and, of course, the food. I told myself I wanted to be a part of something that gives me this full cycle of an experience when I dine at an establishment. It is also just as pleasant to be working here with the team as it was when I was a guest years back. A team of individuals who are their own, who keep it lighthearted but how to hustle.”
The Exchange at Freehand LA 416 W. Eighth Street, Los Angeles 213-612-0021, freehandhotels.com
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Museum highlights foundational culture and heritage By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer A Plaza Cocina opened as a dedicated museum for Mexican and Mexican American cuisine, celebrating cultural history and traditional culinary practices through food, exhibitions and a teaching kitchen. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes wanted to split the museum between three spaces — an exhibition room exploring Indigenous ingredients and regional Mexican cuisine; educational programs and events like tastings and hands-on cooking classes; and a store selling cookbooks, handmade artisanal items and culturally relevant kitchenware. The museum’s first exhibition, “Maize: Past, Present and Future,” is a tribute to corn. Curated by Maite Gomez-Rejón and Ximena Martin, “Maize” explores its history with displays of traditional tools and the early process of preparing corn, also known as nixtamalization. The exhibition juxtaposes ancient practices with the modern-day handling process of corn through farming and cultivation, leaving room for visitors to inquire about the future of the global food source. The foremost purpose of LA Plaza Cocina “is to celebrate the contributions of Mexican cuisine to the world. … Maize is important because it’s the foundation of the cuisine,” Martin said. “It’s all full circle. If you think about
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Mesoamerican chinampas, floating manmade islands growing food, these islands fed the Aztec empire. The world is going back to whole foods and learning about Indigenous ingredients and cultivation,” she said mentioning modern-day chinampas and societal shifts to natural ingredients. Masienda is a brand partnering with farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico, which was previously Aztec territory in Mesoamerican period. They continue in traditional, heirloom corn farming, a go-to example of that societal shift to natural production and cultivation for Martin. The brand utilizes a farm-to-table structure, essentially partnering with farmers who prioritize tradition and generationlong techniques of corn cultivation in Oaxaca and highlighting health, qualitative benefits and sustainable benefits of traditional corn handling and nixtamalization, compared to common, genetically modified corn. Martin said Masienda’s mission aligns with LA Plaza Cocina in ways of acknowledging tradition and uplifting and sharing Mexican culture with the world. “The money goes back to the farmers in Mexico, and we plan on using their product to bring awareness. Once you taste a tortilla made with GMO-free corn, it’s really hard to go back,” Martin said. “If you buy corn tortillas today, look at the label. It has a bunch of junk in it and a better tortilla has less; it’s more of a
The grand opening of the LA Plaza Cocina museum exhibits Mexican and Mexican American culture through various aspects of cuisine, highlighting heritage and tradition through hands-on cooking classes and educational exhibits.
Photo courtesy of La Plaza Cocina
whole food.” For Angelenos seeking a traditional, more natural tortilla and an overall insight into Mexican heritage, Martin mentioned Kernel of Truth, a Los Angeles tortilla company elevating tortilla production and consumption by prioritizing natural ingredients and the historic integrity of processing and handling maize. Rejon, co-curator and art and culinary history educator, highlighted the alignment of the museum’s mission and the maize exhibition by mentioning the Mayan creation story, Popol Vuh, and how human beings were literally though to be created out of masa, or corn dough. “This exhibition felt like good karma, the right way to start the beginning of LA Plaza Cocina,” she said. “Seeing one’s food highlighted in such an important manner is such an element of pride. People seeing their food in a space like this, giving the tortilla its own space in a museum, is representation in every aspect. It piques someone’s interest to learn more and take a class or it gives a voice to a chef or vendor. This is a community space,” she said. Angelenos and museum goers can expect to see the maize exhibition for the next six months, with year-round cooking classes and educational events and demonstrations being planned. R ejon will teach and host culinary classes and events in the muse-
um’s kitchen, which features a restaurant-grade cooking space and comal or griddle for hands-on, culturally relevant culinary programs. Classes and culinary experiences apart of LA Plaza Cocina will start at $50. The next planned exhibition, called “Voces de las Abuelas,” or grandmothers’ voices or voices of the grandmothers, will stay true to the mission of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and exemplify underlying aspects of the Mexican and Mexican American identity. “It’s going to more documentary oriented. We’ve interviewed 10 grandmothers of various background, from Indigenous to Mexican American grandmothers. Even though they all share Mexico, they have different life and cooking experiences,” Martin said. “When you cook and use recipes, it’s a replicate, especially as an immigrant. You might make a dish back home in a way and come to another country to make a new home and try to replicate the same recipe with the same meaning; replicating family traditions is a big part in cooking.” Martin championed Los Angeles as being a place where these stories and spaces can be found and achieved. “It’s about telling a story and celebrating those stories. It’s about being proud of the rich history and culture elevating it. The stories in Los Angeles will not be found any other place but right here,” she said.
The “Maize: Past, Present and Future” exhibit presented by LA Plaza Cocina, a museum associated with LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, displays corn’s role in Mexican and Mexican American culture and its global impact. Photo courtesy of La Plaza Cocina
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Jack Jablonski coping and ‘fighting life’ By Jeff Moeller LA Downtown News Contributing Writer ack Jablonski’s arrival at USC as a student was not normal. Nor was his first job, an internship in Downtown Los Angeles. Most freshman arriving on college campus for the first time were not the subject of a major national sports story featuring a game they can no longer play. “My first semester was extreme ly tough,” Jablonski said. “I had always played in team sports growing up and had teammates with identical interests. My first semester at USC … I didn’t have that. It was a tough transition meeting friends, living life without the support system I had back home and learning to become as independent as possible on campus academically all while trying to get good grades at a top 15 university.” That was Jablonski, reflecting on his move from his native Minnesota to Southern California after an on-ice accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. “When I suffered my spinal cord injury at the C5 and C6 vertebrae and severed my spinal cord completely, one of the things I lost was my ability to control my body temperature. Therefore, I am always super cold if it’s anything below 60 to 65 degrees and sunny. “I knew I needed to move to a warmer climate for college after two years of life in a chair enduring the winters of Minnesota. A friend of a friend made us aware of a scholarship that was based at USC called Swim with Mike that gives financial aid to disabled athletes. I flew out and met with them during my senior year of high school, applied and was luckily accepted. Without that scholarship I wouldn’t have gone to USC or be here with the LA Kings.” Jablonski was 16 when he was playing high school hockey. He was checked from behind and went headfirst into the boards on Dec. 30, 2011. The fact Jablonski now works in the NHL — he is a digital media specialist associate for the Kings at Crypto.com Arena, a full-time job he has held since 2020 — is not a surprise. He comes from an area synonymous with puck, and a unique drive establishing a charitable organization as a teenager to advance paralysis recovery. Still, Jablonski aimed for normal college life despite being the subject of an ESPN documentary.
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“My second semester I rushed and pledged/joined a fraternity called Tau Kappa Epsilon, and it was the best decision I made since going to USC, because I found a group of brothers, teammates, who had the same hobbies and interests as I did,” he said. “They supported me for who I was, didn’t treat me any different than one with an able body, and were willing to drop everything on a dime if I needed help. It allowed me to come into my own and grow as a college student and human.” Studying at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism helped enhance his skill set. An internship with the Kings after a tip from a fellow Minnesotan provided invaluable experience. “I first got involved with the Kings through Kelly Cheeseman, the chief operating officer of the Kings. He and I both went to the same high school and played for the same high school hockey coach at Benilde-St. Margaret’s in Minnesota. Our coach connected us when I got out here for college.” Jablonski primarily works now as a podcaster and analyst after getting what he wanted at “SC — that traditional college experience.” “It was everything,” he said about being treated like everyone one. “I left Minnesota in part to get a fresh start from all the attention and pressure I had back home. Being able to enjoy a traditional and social college life was in many ways a time where I could forget about my disability and just enjoy present.” Jablonski was recently back in the spotlight, honored for his advocacy work as the Community Hero of the Game during the NHL Winter Classic at Target Field in Minneapolis on New Year’s Day. In front of nearly 40,000 fans, he was recognized for improving the quality of life for those living with an SCI and for the Jack Jablonski Foundation raising more than $3 million, while enduring the temperature of minus 5.7. “My chair froze, it was so cold.” Eleven years ago, Jablonski was another high schooler. The 10-year anniversary of the accident puts the past decade in perspective. “Where do I begin? I would say, in a few words, that I am grateful, lucky and fortunate. But, also, it has been a nightmare. I have been secluded and dependent on
Jack Jablonski landed a job in social media for the LA Kings. Photo courtesy of the LA Kings
others.” He stressed the importance of channeling energy into what he is most passionate about. “My rehabilitation and my foundation are two things I’m very focused on away from the rink,” he said. “I work out and rehab three times a week for two hours per session where I walk on the treadmill with total assistance in my lower extremities. I stretch, do cardio and weights.” He said he also believes he will walk again. And a message for the doubters: “Do your research. What we are learning about the spinal cord and in spinal cord injury research is expanding an exponential pace, especially in the last five years. “As someone who is behind the scenes in the scientific world with my foundation, recovery is possible. Progress is being made to improve the lives of people living with paralysis. Will people with SCI’s
be walking tomorrow? No. But I truly believe we will be in the future. No matter how long it takes, I’m in it for the long haul both as one who both raises money for the research it will take and the person living with paralysis that wants to benefit from the medical advancements to come. “I’m extremely thankful for everything I’ve been able to overcome and all of the support in every which way that I’ve been given. I can’t thank everyone enough. Looking back, in many ways it feels like yesterday that this happened. But also, it feels like it was so long ago because of everything that I’ve accomplished and experienced since the injury at 16 years old. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support from everyone throughout these last 10 years, especially early on. It helped motivate me and keep me in a positive mindset as I learned how to cope and fight life paralyzed in a wheelchair.”
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Covered SPORTSCalifornia will help
Steve Cherundolo is at ease with LAFC By Jeff Moeller LA Downtown News Contributing Writer AFC head coach Steve Cherundolo feels right at home in his new position. Despite the bulk of his playing and coaching career taking place overseas in Germany, the Southern California native and 2021 inductee into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame enjoys tremendous familiarity with not just the area but the soccer club operations. It helps make him the ideal fit to lead the upstart franchise as it soon begins its fifth Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign. Named to his new post in early January, the transition is expected to be smoother for Cherundolo because he was an internal hire. This past season, the first LAFC did not qualify for MLS postseason play. He worked as the head coach with the club’s primary minor league affiliate. The experience was invaluable.
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“I was able to see firsthand that the fans, city and organization are all very special,” he said of being part of the LAFC Family. “As for the area? “I am a San Diego guy, so I do love the beach. My family lives near Santa Monica, so we enjoy getting out around town and exploring the city and restaurants when we can.” Cherundolo’s relationship with his club’s supporters will be integral. Long before the first LAFC player laced up his cleats and took to the pitch, the organization recognized the need for direct connection to the club. In retrospect it feels like LAFC created the blueprint for how an expansion team creates and then maintains that deep, genuine rapport with its city. “In a short time, I believe this club has become a part of the sports fabric of the city, and we want to continue that. The supporters have played a huge role already in building this club — people want to come to LAFC games because
of the energy and passion those fans bring every game. Probably their biggest strength is they are loud. They give us a home field advantage — opposing teams know the Banc is a difficult place to play, and I think LAFC’s record at home reflects that.” Before the appointment of Cherundolo, one LAFC executive described the search as a “very diligent and rigorous process.” A first-time MLS coach, the San Diego-born Cherundolo returns to Southern California with a diverse coaching portfolio. Affectionately known as Dolo, among the highlights: time as a Bundesliga first-team assistant, youth head coach and an executive position in the German National Team youth development program. And after a season in which LAFC was ravaged by injury, the plan is for Cherundolo to implement a fast-paced, relentless, offense-first game plan which, among other things, will delight the famous 3252 Supporters Section at the
home venue in Exposition Park. “I would have to say their passion,” Cherundolo said when asked what makes 3252 so special. “It is easy to see their commitment to this club, to what it means to be an LAFC supporter. They care so much about this team, the players and the club, and my goal is to make sure we give them an effort every match that they can be proud of.” As part of that inspired style of play, a return to form by Carlos Vela, the league’s MVP in 2019, would be a big boon for the freshman coach. As a standout player, Cherundolo can rely on his own experiences to manage stars such as Vela and Cristian Arango, who is from Columbia. After all, Cherundolo played 87 times for U.S. National Team and was one of just 11 players in U.S. history to be named to three World Cup rosters (2002, 2006 and 2010). He also as a right back played in 415 total matches with Han-
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nover 96, setting a record for the most appearances by an American for one club. And, in a unique twist, one of Cherundolo’s career highlights was playing every minute at right back in the 2010 World Cup, where he was coached by the legendary Bob Bradley. Bradley led LAFC to its memorable Supporters’ Shield in 2019 and appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League final one year later. Cherundolo is the second head coach for the LAFC. At age 42 he is also more than 20 years younger than his predecessor, who left Los Angeles having established a winning culture while also serving as a tremendous ambassador for its brand. “Bob established such a great culture and foundation here. I want to really build on what he started. When I was coaching Las Vegas last year, Bob was great. We got along well and worked very closely together, so I appreciate him and what he has accomplished here, and hopefully we can continue the upward trajectory of LAFC. “I am honored to be named the head coach of LAFC. The foundation is strong, and I am committed to guiding us to success on and off the field. “I can’t wait to get started.” LAFC’s next home game is Saturday, Feb. 19, against the NY Red Bulls at Banc of California Stadium.
As a standout player and current LAFC coach, Steve Cherundolo can rely on his own experiences to manage stars such as Carlos Vela and Cristian Arango, who is from Columbia.
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Joey Logano holds off Kyle Busch to Clash By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service t the end of a transformative NASCAR experience that took the City of Angels by storm, Joey Logano held off hard-charging pole winner Kyle Busch to triumph in Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. Logano got the lead on Lap 116, moments before Kyle Larson retaliated against Justin Haley for earlier contact that was not of Haley’s doing. Larson steered toward the bottom of the track, knocking Haley’s Chevrolet into the concrete Jersey barrier on the frontstretch. In the competitive debut of the Next Gen race car, Logano had control of the race for the restart on Lap 117 and held the top spot to the finish, with Busch frustrated in pursuit on the quarter-mile track built for the NASCAR Cup Series event in iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of NASCAR’s daring foray into Downtown LA.
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“I can’t believe it,” Logano exulted after the race. “We’re here. The LA Coliseum. We got the victory with the old Shell/ Pennzoil Mustang. This is an amazing event. Congratulations, NASCAR. Such a huge step in our industry to be able to do this, put on an amazing race for everybody. “I’m out of breath. I was so excited about this. This is a big win. My wife is having a baby tomorrow, our third one, so a pretty big weekend for us.” It was an exhibition race — but what an exhibition. Rapper Pitbull, who coowns Track house Racing with Justin Marks, warmed up the crowd with a 45-minute set before the green flag. At the halfway break in the 150-lap event, crews changed tires and made adjustments to the Next Gen cars as rapper Ice Cube filled the coliseum with loud, rhythmic music. A pantheon of California sports stars — among them former Southern Cal tail-
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NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of the Civil Code. The undersigned will sell on the 22nd day of February 2022 at 11: 00 A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following: Name of owner: Space number Description of goods Amount Miriam Sheriff U10 Personal effects $673.00 Tanika Vickers T4 Personal effects $415.00 Jovon Mcclain L50 Personal effects $190.00 Malek Said D73 Personal effects $465.00 Evan Taylor H3 Personal effects $636.00 Ray Kahley U104, L56 Personal effects $377.00 Marisha Weikart D70 Personal effects $390.85 Feliberto Garcia L18 Personal effects $1042.00 Michael Colston U92 Personal effects $200.00 Michael Kindberg SS6 Personal effects $187.00 Sergio Monti D14 Personal effects $637.80 Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an “as-is” basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party. Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. Islas / Manager February 11, 2022. PUBLISHED: Los Angeles Downtown News 02/14/22, 02/21/22
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Professional wrestler Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly waves the green flag as Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota, and AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 chevyliners.com Chevrolet, lead qualifying heat for the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6 in Los Angeles. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
back Reggie Bush and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts — joined NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in a corps of grand marshals and shouted the command to start engines. The race itself crystallized into a battle between Logano, Busch, Larson and Austin Dillon. After the final restart, Larson briefly took second from Busch, who regained the spot with more than 20 laps left and charged after Logano. “I was being perfect doing everything I needed to do — keep the tires underneath me,” said Busch, who led a racehigh. “When I got close, I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got to try more and pounce at an opportunity,’ and just overheated the tires and smoked them in three laps and that was it. Disappointing, obviously. “Come out here and win the pole, and lead laps, run up front. The finish goes green and it’s not chaotic and we can’t win, so it sucks. Congratulations to my son (Brexton Busch) — he won yesterday. That’s cool. I was trying to match him. He’s winning more than me these days, so somebody better send him a contract.” Dillon passed Larson to finish third, and Erik Jones ran fourth after overtaking the reigning Cup Series champion in the closing laps. Larson held fifth, as William Byron, Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, AJ Allmendinger and Kevin Harvick completed the top 10. Busch earned the pole position for the main event with a wire-to-wire victory in Sunday’s first heat race, with Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Blaney joining him in the Clash as the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers.
Blaney used his bumper to shove past Denny Hamlin to claim the final transfer spot from the opening heat. In fact, drivers who started first won all four heat races, with no one else leading a lap. Tyler Reddick dominated Heat 2 — winning by a full straightaway — as Chase Briscoe, Dillon and Custer qualified behind him. Driving for Kaulig Racing’s newly minted NASCAR Cup Series team, Haley took the third heat, with Byron, Bell and Chase Elliott joining him in the main event. In Heat 4, Logano and Larson ran 1-2, with defending Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell and Jones taking the final two transfer positions. Hamlin made the Clash by winning the first of two Last Chance Qualifiers, with Harvick and Allmendinger finishing second and third to advance. If the first LCQ was relatively tame by short-track standards, the second was utter chaos. After hitting everything but the lottery, as Fox broadcaster Mike Joy put it, Ty Dillon took the checkered flag but was demoted to the rear for jumping the final restart with three of the 50 laps left. That gave Ryan Preece the race win and the final two transfer spots to Bubba Wallace and Harrison Burton, who was spun while leading on Lap 47. The second LCQ featured seven cautions and saw strong contenders Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman eliminated when their cars sustained irreparable damage. The NASCAR Cup Series will return to action Feb. 15 to Feb. 20 at Daytona International Speedway.
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Veteran DTLA Realtor Randelle Green: ‘Local Experience is Priceless’ By LA Downtown News Staff Since 2005, local Realtor Randelle Green has been servicing Downtown LA buyers and sellers since 2005. That’s more than 15 years of dedicated and committed service to Downtown residences, over 15 years of playing a major role in the continued renaissance of our beloved urban core. From his early days of managing sales teams at the Pan-American Lofts in the Historic Core and South Park’s “Mega-Complex” of Elleven, Luma & Evo, to the financial district’s Roosevelt and the Arts District, Green has been and continues to be a fixture of our booming market. His powerful DTLA boutique brokerage, The Randelle Green Group, has gained national attention since he brought his dream to fruition back in 2015. He alone has sold over $18 million in lofts and condos since 2016 (per the MLS). When asked what makes his company different, Green said the idea of working with a local specialist who lives and breathes the market, works one on one with clients, is accessible and, perhaps most importantly, intimately knows the different districts, buildings and developers throughout the sprawling and constantly emerg-
The RandelleGreen Group PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of Randelle Green
Broker-CEO Randelle Green
PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of Randelle Green
ing downtown area. Green spoke about the early days, before LA Live, Ralphs, CVS & Whole Foods, before The Bloc, The Row and all the trendy restaurants and lounges. A time when the handful of local Downtown Realtors, to which he points out only a few remain, did not have many options for the buyers in DTLA. Oh, but how times have changed, Green said, ADVERTORIAL
“Nowadays it’s different. Downtown buyers must decide if they are new construction, high-rise people leaning toward a South Park condo or soft-loft, historians looking at Mills Act buildings in the Old Bank District, the theater crowd interested in the burgeoning Bunker Hill District or more secluded artists flowing into The Arts District. How fun it has become, facilitating and directing those dreams One thing is for sure, I was there yesterday, and I will be here tomorrow and remember. I put my name on it.”
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Luxury Sky Level apartments have breathtaking views.
Photo courtesy of 255 Grand
255 Grand repairs: No stone unturned By 255 Grand Since the Jan. 24 fire at 255 Grand was contained, crews have been working around the clock to repair the damage, which is far worse than estimated. It appears the earliest tenants can return to their units is in six to eight weeks. The city and related state and local agencies continue working closely with the building’s owner to avoid any unnecessary delays. Some portions of the building may be certified for occupancy sooner than others, and tenants will be advised of those details. Recently, the building’s water was fully restored, and power has returned to the corridors, stairwells, garage, commercial spaces and elevators. In addition, cleanup is finished in the common areas, stairwells and hall-
ways. Portions of the electrical work require parts that are on backorder. Those are being expedited to the building and are expected to arrive next week. In the interim, work on plumbing and HVAC systems is progressing with all HVAC filters replaced and the coils in each of the units cleaned. All tenants are updated daily on these matters via email. Also, information stations have been set up at the Level Hotel on the fourth floor from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Building representatives are available to answer questions and assist with any needs. Most tenants have been temporarily relocated to the Level Hotel / apartments or
1010 Wilshire until it’s safe to return to 255 Grand. These fully furnished units, which are being paid for by the building owner, come with gourmet kitchens, in-unit washers/dryers, secure parking, Wi-Fi, pool and gym, 24hour guest services and other amenities. Other tenants are staying at the Bonaventure or Biltmore hotels, and the landlord is paying for those. Tenants opting to stay with friends/family are receiving compensation from the landlord. The insurance carriers representing the contractors at fault for this incident are on notice and actively engaging in their inspections/investigation. 255 Grand 255grand.com
Outdoor amenities at 255 Grand include a pool deck. Photo courtesy of 255 Grand
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