Los Angeles Downtown News 07/17/2023

A Tribute to the Sea

Nabrini launches its nauticalinspired summer collection

State of Emergency Mayor Bass signs updated declaration

+ LA county jails’ in-custody deaths

DTNEWS

Updated State of Emergency

Mayor and city’s powers expanded to address homelessness

By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Managing Editor

Mayor Karen Bass signed an updated State of Emergency declaration on housing and homelessness. At the signing, Bass was joined by Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian and President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson as they reiterated their support for Bass’ initiative.

“It’s no secret that Los Angeles is facing an emergency when it comes to homelessness. This is an issue of life and death for the thousands of people who are living in tents and cars. That’s why I signed an updated declaration of emergency and have continued to lock arms with the city council to maintain our momentum toward confronting homelessness and building more affordable housing,” Bass said. “I thank Council President Krekorian, Council President Pro Tempore Harris-Dawson and the entire city council for their continued partnership.”

The new declaration was created after working with LA City Council leadership to allow the city to be more involved in the process. It will also allow Bass to call for emergency service of city employees and the city to expedite contracts for temporary housing acquisitions and building projects.

“The city charter didn’t give us the tools needed to address what is before us today, so it is the work of policymakers like the mayor and the LA City Council to come up with solutions,” Harris-Dawson said. “This

declaration gives the city departments and the Mayor’s Office the tools to confront (this crisis). As we continue to refine our systems, we can develop policies that allow Los Angeles to realize the vision that the mayor put forward — that LA is not a city where people sleep outside in tents. This is a place where everyone is inside, safe.”

Krekorian said the new executive directive was created specifically to provide the mayor with additional tools on an ongo -

Fire at City Hall

ing basis, but also allows for the reporting and ongoing engagement the city council has been pushing for. With the city council more involved, Krekorian said there will be greater accountability to ensure the programs remain effective and cost-efficient.

“I’m pleased that we’re going to be able to move forward with a new emergency declaration that will be able to provide that kind of ongoing cooperation with the council and in transparency for the public.”

Man arrested by LAPD for arson after allegedly igniting blaze

By Morgan Owen

LA Downtown News Managing Editor

The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested a man on suspicion of intentionally setting fire to Los Angeles City Hall. Carlos Tercero-Maradiaga, 36, was arrested in the Downtown area at 6:15 p.m. on July 9, one day following the fire.

According to a news release from the LAPD, “the suspect broke a second-floor window and set fire to an interior office at the Los Angeles City Hall, located at 1st Street and Main Street. The fire was imme -

diately contained, and no injuries were sustained during the incident.”

Published reports said the fire began in Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso’s office, but no other information about the location was forthcoming. By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, automatic sprinklers had been deployed, subduing the blaze.

The fire triggered an arson investigation from LAFD, and the department confirmed the suspect used an accelerant to start the blaze. They also stated there is no indica-

tion this fire is related to any other arson or crimes in the area.

LA City Council President Paul Krekorian responded to the incident with gravity, requesting the suspect be prosecuted to the furthest extent of the law.

“Any attack on this building, any attack on any government official, any attack on any public servant who works for the betterment of the people of Los Angeles every single day, is an attack on democracy,” he said. “It’s an attack on our form of government, and it cannot ever be tolerated.”

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City Of Los Angeles Office Of The Mayor/Submitted

Karen Bass signs the State of Emergency declaration on housing and homelessness.

Covered California will help DTNEWS

By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor

The Los Angeles County jail system, the largest in the world, has been experiencing recent increases in in-custody deaths. Since the start of the year, 25 inmates have died within one of LA’s nine facilities, the most recent being a 55-yearold man who died in his cell at Men’s Central Jail in Downtown on June 28.

According to a report by the LA County Office of Inspector General, 2022 recorded twice as many in-custody deaths as 2016, a year that recorded 20 deaths. This year, seven men died in LA jails in the month of May and another seven in June.

“From 2008 to 2018, the average amount of deaths in the LA county jail system was between the high thirties and the upper teens, so from about 39 and 38 to 19. … It always stayed below 40 deaths per year,” said Nicholas Shapiro, multidisciplinary researcher and assistant profes-

sor at UCLA. “In 2020, we hit the 40 deaths per year barrier, and it’s been increasing. … We’re on track for around 50 deaths per year, which is well above the status quo for the department.”

Out of the 25 deaths this year, five have been labeled with a manner and means of death classification. Two of the deaths were suicides by a 49-year-old male who died of “multiple blunt force injuries” in a hallway at North County Correctional Facility and a 38-year-old male who died of “anoxic encephalopathy” in an intensive care unit at Cedars Sinai Hospital. One of the deaths was an “accident” that killed a 76-year-old male, who died of “complications of cervical spine injury” at Los Angeles County — USC Medical Center (LCMC). The remaining two deaths were classed as “natural,” with a 60-year-old male and 61-year-old male both dying of “multiple organ failure” at LCMC. All of these deaths occurred before the inmate was sentenced.

Jail conditions

Melissa Camacho, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, has attributed the increase in deaths to several main contributing factors relating to the conditions in LA county jails, namely overcrowding, violence and poor health care.

“In general, we can look at overcrowding and a culture of custodial staff who do not have the care for the people in custody there as the focus of their work as two of the biggest contributing causes,” Camacho described. “The director of correctional health services has said in the past that it’s impossible to provide adequate medical healthcare for the sheer number of people who need medical care in custody, so a lot of the natural causes I’d say are, quote unquote, ‘natural.’

“People are perhaps dying from an underlying medical condition, but would that

person still be alive if they had been able to receive treatment in jail? Would that person be alive if somebody responded quickly to a medical emergency instead of waiting minutes or hours? … If a deputy misses security checks or doesn’t do effective security checks overnight, is it really natural causes if somebody is found in their cell dead from a medical condition when, perhaps if they’d been found hours earlier before they were dead, they could have been saved?”

Though several LA county facilities have faced public criticism, Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) in Downtown, one of the oldest jails in California, has been particularly condemned. In 2021, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to form a jail closure implementation team that would develop a plan to depopulate and close MCJ, which has an inmate bed capac-

-Lea Fukutaki

ity of 5,640 inmates. Nine people have died there this year.

“Even the former Sheriff (Alex) Villanueva called Men’s Central Jail a dungeon,” Shapiro said. “It’s widely known that this facility, which has also been known to harbor sheriff’s deputy gangs, especially on the third floor where the 3000 Boys deputy gang has been known to be active, has been a source of violence and death for incarcerated people.

“There’s been a number of fentanyl overdoses that are during a length of stay which would be impossible for them to be overdosing from intake that happened during arrest or prior to arrest, so people come in without a drug history and because of the psychologically jarring situation of living in the jail system and the deputies trying to make some extra money, people will come in clean and get hooked on heroin and maybe fentanyl-laced heroin in jail and die of an overdose. That’s the case of some of the families I’ve talked to where someone goes in on a charge unrelated to drug use and ended up passing away from a potentially new addiction that’s cultivated in jail.”

Camacho described MCJ as a “crumbling facility” the ACLU has targeted with over 700 grievances for either jail conditions or deputy misconduct this year. She named Floor 5000, where two inmates have died this year, as an example of poor design and management.

“The 5000 floor has largely been converted into housing that’s called medium observation housing (MOH) for people who have significant mental illness, but not quite so significant that they need to be in high observation housing (HOH),” Camacho said. “It is completely not suitable for people with significant mental illness. The dorms there are overcrowded and it’s very difficult to supervise adequately. The deputy booths don’t give a real clear line of sight into the dorm, so you have overcrowded dorms that are not effectively supervised full of people who have significant mental illness.

“Tim Belavich (correctional health services director) has gone on record saying that he doesn’t think anybody who has a mental illness should be housed at MCJ, and yet there are hundreds of people currently in those overcrowded dorms, at least two of whom have died in those dorms already this year.”

Camacho added that the mistreatment and neglect of inmates experiencing mental illness in LA county extends beyond MCJ and has also been reported to occur in Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF), the largest mental health facility in the United States.

“We get very consistent reports at the ACLU, and the Sybil Brand Commission has also reported on cells building up with trash,” she said. “I’ve personally seen cells

full of at least a week’s worth of meals trash, where you can see the mold, see the flies and infestation and smell the rotting of the food in people’s cells.

“When their mental health deteriorates, we see people starting to smear walls and windows with feces. That not only exacerbates an obviously already horrific mental health condition, but I’m sure contributes to medical health issues as well.”

Camacho said reports have also stated that despite U.S. Code Title 15 setting the minimum standard of one shower every two days, some TTCF inmates do not shower for weeks and some lack regular access to hot meals.

“In terms of recreation, a necessary element of physical health, in Men’s Central Jail that’s generally limited to three hours a week and usually only on one day a week, and in Twin Towers people in HOH housing really never see the sunlight,” she said. “When they are removed from their cells, they are often just changed to another table and not given the opportunity to exercise, move around, walk around, socialize and have any meaningful interactions with other human beings. I think all of those contribute to both medical issues and sadly to instances where people die by suicide.”

Autopsy examination

Both Shapiro and Camacho noted naming a cause for each death can be difficult and it’s “hard to really know exactly who’s culpable and who’s responsible” due to the current autopsy reviewing process.

“From reviewing the autopsies that were released to us when we asked for nine

Shapiro said he has heard families speak out against characterizations of mental illness from the sheriff’s department toward their loved ones who died in custody, arguing they had no history of mental illness. He also raised the case of 22-year-old Cal State Northridge student Quinten Thomas, who died at TTCF in 2018.

“He died mysteriously, potentially of a seizure, but it’s not clear if there was interaction with the deputies, if the medication was actually getting to him, if they were retaliating with withholding medication because of conflicts he’d had with the deputies,” Shapiro said. “It’s a murky picture.”

Out of the 25 in-custody deaths this year, 20 are still pending a final autopsy report. Shapiro said the examination process is currently experiencing delays in the release of toxicology reports, leaving many autopsy cases open for long periods of time.

“A death that happened on Jan. 11, 2023, is still deferred. It doesn’t say why it’s deferred, but likely it’s because they don’t have the toxicology reports,” he said. “We’re seeing a tremendous amount of deferred cases. … These families are looking for answers about why their loved one has died, and they don’t have any.

years of autopsies of deaths in jail, we were able to see that the medical examiner was not actually doing their due diligence in providing this outside, unbiased perspective, a biomedical perspective on deaths in jail,” Shapiro said. “The picture isn’t as clear as we’d want it to be.”

In the case of an in-custody death, he explained the National Association of Medical Examiners recommends a field investigator is first sent to the scene to take pictures, collect blood samples and speak to witnesses. A medical examiner should then conduct an autopsy at the examiner’s office. Both the field investigator and medical examiner are meant to review all pertinent medical records, including the emergency medical services records and mental health records of the jail.

“We found that in 0% of the cases both parties reviewed all of the documents that were required of them to review,” Shapiro said. “If they’re not getting this information from the medical records, where are they getting it from? They’re getting it from deputies and detectives within the sheriff’s department, so you have medical information filtered through nonmedical personnel with direct conflicts of interest.

“From that, you get the whole narrative being sculpted by the sheriff’s department and without getting the actual medical records. … Did this person actually have a mental health issue? Did this person actually have health issues that were alleged by the sheriff’s deputies? Did this person actually attack the deputies or did the deputies actually attack the incarcerated person? All of these issues get filtered through the perspective of the deputy if the medical examiner isn’t doing their due diligence.”

“I’ve been talking with a family who lost a loved one in the East LA sheriff’s station, in their holding cells there, and they just have no idea what happened. They know that their son was seen intact and without any harm done to him, even during an arrest that was viewed by other people, then he was dead in his cell a few hours later and his mother says his body has evidence of blunt force trauma.”

Shapiro explained that though it is difficult to discern what is trauma and what is not when viewing a dead body, as a lot can happen to it depending on the period of time spent undiscovered and its journey to the medical examiner’s office, many families live in “purgatory” with no access to information on what the final moments of their loved one’s life were like and who could be responsible for their death.

Seeking change

In the wake of a slew of recent in-custody deaths, activists rallied in front of MCJ in March to push for the jail’s closure. Shuttering the facility has remained one of the primary ideas raised by both activists and government officials in addressing inmate fatalities, with Supervisor Hilda Solis calling LA county jails like MCJ “traumatic” institutions.

The Police Chiefs Association has said it opposes the MCJ closure plan, which has no current timeline, while LA County Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall said the board of supervisors’ depopulation motion to “gut part of the criminal justice system without input from stakeholders is dangerous and reckless” and that it would benefit criminals.

Chris Mortenson/Staff

Built in 1963, Men’s Central Jail in Downtown LA is one of the oldest jails in California.

“One of the strategies in moving to close Men’s Central Jail is to get rid of the worst offending facility and provide care for pretrial populations, especially people who are mentally ill where jail is only serving to exacerbate illness, which ultimately causes recidivism,” Camacho said. “LA county continues to use the jails to cage people with mental illnesses instead of providing places for them to receive treatment out of jails pretrial. Even though our numbers of total populations in the LA county jails have gone down a bit since the end of 2022, we’re down to nearly 13,000 from 15,000 in November, the number of people who are in MOH and HOH housing has only increased during that time. We’re not seeing any real reduction on the strain of MOH and HOH housing.”

Shapiro echoed the sentiment of ensuring proper care to inmates experiencing mental illnesses. He said there are public health advantages to deferring inmates to community care instead of a jail system where mental health issues could be compounded. He raised the example of Juan Correa Jr.

“He had acute mental health issues, and for some reason he was moved out of the acute mental health ward in Twin Towers into Men’s Central jail, into a cell with another incarcerated person,” Shapiro described. “There was an altercation between the two of them because he was in the improper housing; he shouldn’t have been

in general population housing. And then deputies came in and pepper sprayed him many times and he ends up dying of a heart attack after being pepper sprayed. I think that’s a very clear pathway from improper mental health treatment to death.”

Camacho emphasized the importance of using treatment to help prevent incarceration and said closing facilities like MCJ would benefit public safety.

“Having there be fewer places to cage mentally ill people, and (instead) provide treatment, that’s ultimately going to make for better public safety,” she said. “The cycles of mental illness that are landing people in jail will actually be broken by supportive housing, by mental health treatment and medication that will actually help people heal instead of just exacerbating the trauma.”

When asked for a statement regarding the recent in-custody deaths and the measures being taken to address them, LASD replied, “We are saddened by any loss of life. Particularly of those in our care and custody. We take our responsibility of providing a constitutional level of care for those in our custody seriously. Various factors contribute to the loss of life and each one requires a prompt investigation including a comprehensive review which includes various entities working in collaboration to identify the manner and means of death.”

Chris Mortenson/Staff

In 2021, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a motion that would develop a plan to depopulate and close Men’s Central Jail, where nine inmates have died this year.

Covered California will help DT CONSIDER THIS

A Seneca Falls Promise

There’s more to July than Independence Day

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist

When I was 8, my mother took me to a garage sale on a bright summer day. The peonies were popping, robins were hopping and all was well in the little prairie town of Huron, South Dakota, in the early 1960s.

Mom gave me a dollar to spend however I wanted. “Why do they call it a garage sale?” I asked. “Because people go through their garages and pull out things they don’t want anymore to sell to neighbors,” she said. We walked around the block to a two-story clapboard house built in the 1890s.

There were tables on the driveway covered in linens with antiques, fancy kerosene lamps, sugar and creamer sets and dressers. The lady, who seemed antique herself, said, “I have some things in my attic that you might be interested in. Would you like to go up?” What could have been the opening scene of a horror film turned into a lifelong love of women’s history.

I made three purchases that day: a toy sewing machine that worked, with Little Red Riding hood decals; a skinny panoramic photograph of thousands of World War I doughboys at an airfield in Belgium; and a delicate, beautifully hand-embroidered white voile dress.

“I wore that to suffrage parades. Now that I am moving to the Twin Cities to live with my daughter, I don’t need these things,” the woman said.

“I only have a dollar,” I said.

“That’s fine,” she responded.

I still have all three of those items.

My mother was four when women won the vote in 1920. My grandmothers both had families before they were “allowed” to vote. I could kick myself for not asking them what it was like to finally be considered a full citizen.

Now, a quick quiz. 1848 is important because, on July 19 and 20, 1848, 200 people — predominantly women — convened the first American women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. It was the beginning of the women’s suffrage movement, suffrage being the fancy word for the right to vote.

It wasn’t until August of 1920 American women won the right to vote, even though many people were still excluded. It’s more accurate to say American women won the right to vote; white wom -

en gained the privilege of voting. Their sisters of color wouldn’t gain access for many more years.

Of the dozens of women who attended the Seneca Falls convention, only one lived long enough to vote. Charlotte Woodward Pierce was a teenager when she hitched a wagon ride to Seneca Falls to witness what then was radical: a gathering of women debating their social, civil and financial rights.

In 1848, European American women had very few rights, and once a woman married, she was effectively her husband’s property. On the other side of the coin, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) women were included and consulted in every aspect of life, from the hearth to war and everything in between. They had no interest in becoming U.S. citizens, where they would lose all agency.

How many of us know Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was aware of the democratic principles espoused by their so-called “savage” neighbors? The Founding Fathers actively ignored their native brothers’ council after Franklin invited Iroquois leaders to Philadelphia. When the Haudenosaunee men walked into Independence Hall, the first thing they asked was, “Where are the women?” They could not fathom a decision-making body excluding women.

Where are the women? It’s a question I always ask and invite you to ask with me. We still do not have equal rights under our constitution, not after Philadelphia and not after Seneca Falls, and not after the ratification of the Equal Rights

Ellen Snortland

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Amendment since it’s still not been signed into law.

And if the right-wing extremists get their way, women will lose even more rights. There are actually contemporary politicians whose campaigns promise to destroy birth control and women’s vote.

I cherish the purchases I made in that attic but especially the dress. I have shared it worldwide while performing my solo show, “Now That She’s Gone.”

To commemorate Seneca Falls, here are some activities I invite you to explore:

• Find out who in your family was the first to vote.

• Subscribe to Ms. Magazine, a publication that continues to provide the most up-to-date news on women’s status in the world.

• Go shopping for women’s rights merch

at www.nationalwomenshistoryalliance. org in preparation for Women’s Equality Day, celebrated annually on Aug. 26. And join the NWHA as a member!

• Specifically celebrate the July 1848 convention by attending in-person or online events hosted by the National Park Service. Check their Facebook page and YouTube channel. Enter Women’s Rights National Historical Park for the July 22 and 23 events.

2023 marks the 30th year that Ellen Snortland has written this column and was one of three winners of the LA Press Club’s Journalist of the Year. She also teaches creative writing online and can be reached at: ellen@beautybitesbeast.com. Her award-winning film “Beauty Bites Beast” is available for download or streaming at vimeo.com/ondemand/beautybitesbeast.

MUSIC

Grandmaster Flash

+ Tierra Whack

With Special Tribute to J Dilla

ladowntownnews.com

Saturday, Aug 26. | 8–11 p.m.

East West Bank Plaza at The Broad

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop with a concert by the legendary Grandmaster Flash fast-rising superstar Tierra Whack DJs Monalisa and Wyldeflower will pay tribute to J Dilla special appearance by his brother Illa J

This concert is presented in conjunction with The Broad’s special exhibition Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody.

Get tickets at thebroad.org and , with a

The influence of hip hop on Haring is evident in his linework, radiant energy, and use of color, and the social commentary found throughout his work parallels ideas expressed in hip hop and rap.

Covered California will help DTFEATURE

Access for All Friends of the Los Angeles River present art, film and education festival

By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Managing Editor

This year will be Friends of the LA River’s second River Fest. Set to take place on Sunday, July 23, at the LA State Historic Park, River Fest will be a free, open-air arts and film festival with community resources celebrating the LA River.

Through a range of storytelling mediums, River Fest will showcase a series of short films on a large outdoor movie screen. The films were selected to display the intersection between nature, climate change, art and health that the LA River demonstrates.

“The LA River runs through so many communities in our region, and this year we’re excited to celebrate that in new ways at River Fest,” said Candice Dickens-Russell, Friends of the LA River chief

executive officer.

“Making River Fest 2023 more interactive and offering community members even more ways to connect with nature through art gets to the heart of our goal of bringing the people to the river and the river to the people.”

Interactivity is what FoLAR has achieved this year. In addition to the film screenings, local artists banded together to create interactive installations and showcase their work. There will be three galleries visitors can participate in: a “use gallery,” a “community art gallery” and a professional art gallery.

Visitors will also be able to witness FoLAR’s “Story Slam.” Presented by 51 Miles, this performance will take the audience through stories about how the LA River is intertwined with local communities and show how different people

interact with it.

“This is the second time we’re hosting a story slam. We’re partnering with students from USC to coordinate our stories,” said Dennis Mabasa, chief operating officer for Friends of the LA River.

“We have six confirmed storytellers that are going to come up on stage and share a little bit about their perspectives of how they see the LA River.

“It’s a really cool opportunity for us as an organization to hand off the microphone to our community members and let them express how they see the river and how it inspires them.”

River Fest also emphasizes education. Present at the event will be FoLAR’s River Rover, a 38-foot mobile visitor and education center to educate visitors about the LA River. In addition, more than 20 of FoLAR’s partner organizations will be

present to help educate people about the river and present their mission and vision.

Friends of the LA River was born in 1986 when poet and activist Lewis MacAdams cut a hole in the chain-link fence guarding the LA River; the act was done in civil disobedience against the notion that Angelenos couldn’t access the river.

For over 30 years, FoLAR has worked to restore community connection to LA’s natural ecology, mobilizing over 50,000 Angelenos in advocacy to create equitable access to the LA River.

River Fest intends to tell stories of community leadership, environmental justice, indigenous perspectives and the challenges faced by the LA River. Because FoLAR is committed to creating a more equitable LA River, they created River Fest to replace their annual fall

Friends of the LA River/Submitted

People gather at Friends of the LA River’s River Fest to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments.

gala with a more accessible community event.

“We decided to remove the ticket price and make it free for everyone,” Mabasa said.

“Galas typically recap the end of a year of an organization and highlight the work that they’re doing. But we really wanted to allow everybody to celebrate with us. Thousands of community members come to River Fest, and we wanted to take a moment to celebrate our local environments with these individuals.”

Friends of the LA River was able to switch to this free festival by obtaining sponsorships rather than asking a select few individuals for donations. Mabasa read off a list of local and national organizations he said have resonated with their mission to a free community event, including Bank of America, Studio City of Long Beach and the LA Department of Water and Power.

River Fest is a free event, but registration is required. Mabasa said last year tickets sold out, and he expects the same for 2023.

General admission covers entrance to the festival, access to films and performances and a complimentary raffle ticket. The raffle will feature FoLAR merchandise and items from FoLAR’s partner organizations, such as Patagonia. Additional raffle tickets are available for

purchase.

A limited number of VIP tickets are also available, which provide VIP Parking, check-in, a gift bag, two drink tickets, five complimentary raffle tickets and a VIP seating area.

Friends of the LA River’s River Fest

WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 23

WHERE: Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles

COST: free

INFO: forlar.org/riverfest

Friends of the LA River/Submitted

Friends of the LA River replaced their fall gala with River Fest so the event could be more accessible.

Covered California will help DT

A Tribute to the Sea

Nabrini launches its nautical-inspired summer collection

By Leah Schwartz LA Downtown News Staff Writer

No matter where he is, Leo Damian is never far from the ocean — the inspiration behind his Downtown Los Angeles-based clothing brand, Nabrini.

“It’s been a strong drive in my life — to be near the sea,” Damian said. “When I design, I’m always driven by that inspiration. … The water makes me feel alive.”

Just as the sea has remained a constant in Damian’s life, so has designing clothes. Over the years, Damian has worn countless hats: flight instructor, cook, actor and model, but “it all eventually tied back into fashion or design,” he said.

The LA native began designing clothes around 20 years ago, making one-off couture pieces and participating in small fashion shows. In 2021, he decided to expand his operation, creating Nabrini, a casual, sustainable clothing line inspired by the vibrant coastlines of California and Italy.

The name “Nabrini” came to Damian in a moment of inspiration and pays homage to his Italian ancestry and his time living in Italy. The phrase conjures an Italian feel without any specific meaning attached to it.

The brand recently launched its summer 2023 collection, which consists of casual men’s and women’s wear and a towel line designed for active water-loving travelers and landlubbers alike.

“(Nabrini) is for all those who love clothing that allows them to connect with the inspiration of the sea,” Damian said.

The lineup of hoodies, tops, T-shirts, dresses, tanks, beanies, deck hoodies and caps reflects the brand’s signature nautical aesthetic with cross-stitching throughout, indicative of the knots on a sailboat. Many pieces in the collection easily shift from daytime casual to evening wear, reflecting a bright summer color palette. The brand is only online.

With its deep connection to water — the foundation of life on Earth — comes Nabrini’s commitment to sustainability.

“Water is the basis of all life, and the oceans make up most of the planet,” Damian remarked. “Our garments not only celebrate this connection but reflect our dedication to sustainable production.”

The brand utilizes fabric from ringspun combed cotton — a natural fiber

Chris Mortenson/Staff

Founder Leo Damian sits in his Nabrini showroom in Downtown LA.

— with long filaments, giving the fabric a soft, breathable feel and durability. Eventually, Damian would like to source the cotton directly from farmers, overseeing the entire textile process from spinning to knitting.

Stateside cotton growers are “making wonderful, sustainable advances in the way we use cotton and the way we protect the soil and our water,” Damian not-

ed. “(The United States) is going to be a world leader in the sustainability of cotton.”

Each garment is cut and sewn in Los Angeles by artisans who apply the brand’s signature decorative stitching by hand.

Damian worked closely with a textile engineer, creating a knit to his exact specifications to give the fabric a “soft,

luxurious and pliable feel,” he explained. Constantly designing, Damian is working on new pieces for the line, including a romper and a more formal dress

inspired by cruise ships. Throughout the design process, Damian aims to help customers feel “a sense of calm and excitement.”

Nabrini

805-229-1061, nabrini.com

Chris Mortenson/Staff

Leo Damian founded his Dowtown-based clothing line, Nabrini, in 2021.

Covered California will help DT

A Season of Change

Walden is reimagining its musical direction

Walden/Submitted

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

For Denver-based indie rockers Walden, 2023 marks a time of change. Since its tour with “bayou soul” artist Marc Broussard, Walden has reimagined its sound and the musicians moved from Nashville to Denver.

“Denver appealed to us for various lifestyle reasons,” said vocalist/pianist Eric Hangartner.

“There has been a lot of change. Re -

cently, we’ve been doing a lot of sonic exploration — the sound, look and feel. We’re trying to hone in on what exactly we want to sound and feel like.”

Walden is returning to LA for its first headline show since its 2021 tour. The Saturday, July 22, concert at Makeout Music is hosted by Mad Lettuce Management.

“We, as a band, have been doing a lot of thinking recently about the direction we want to take from here. … We’re start-

ing to reinvent the way we approach the show and the songs and the project in general,” Hangartner said.

“People at the show are definitely going to hear new music and just get an overall new experience from the band as we start to take things in a new direction.”

Hangartner said the band is taking more risks musically but isn’t quite sure about the direction past that.

“We’re not afraid to follow whatever

excites us,” he added. “I think part of the fun is we don’t know where that is. It’s exciting to follow that path. It’s definitely an exciting time.”

As a sneak peek, Walden released the single “Taking It Slow,” which marks a “new sonic direction” for the band. It started as a collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Richard Becker and drummer/background vocalist Andrew Mendel. (The band also includes bassist Jamie de Lange.)

Walden is bassist Jamie de Lange, vocalist/guitarist Richard Becker, vocalist/pianist Eric Hangartner and drummer/background vocalist Andrew Mendel.

Walden/Submitted

“We had a fun time exploring a new sonic palate for that song,” he added. “It’s something that sounds fresh but very much sounds like a Walden song. We’re very excited about the single and getting on the road to share it.”

Part of that trip includes the LA show. Mad Lettuce Management is the company founded by Walden’s manager Matt Ladis.

“Mad Lettuce is the 27-year manifestation of me as a person,” Ladis said.

“I grew up as a musician but learned in my high school days that I was way better at the people side of things and not the artist side of things. Live music is my religion in a lot of ways. It’s the closest thing to a religious experience. I’ve always had a passion for it, and I find ways to engulf myself in it.”

Walden and Friends

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, July 22

WHERE: Makeout Music, 3751 E. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles

COST: $15 in advance; all ages

INFO: waldentheband.com, bit.ly/madlettucexmakeout

Walden performs Saturday, July 22, in Downtown Los Angeles.

Covered California will help DT

Turning the Corner Dogstar with Keanu Reeves finds a new musical path

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

After a two-decade break, the rock band Dogstar will usher in a new era with a Roxy gig on Tuesday, July 18, followed by a new single “Everything Turns Around.”

“Everything Turns Around,” which hits streaming services on Wednesday, July 19, marks the reunion of guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Rob Mailhouse and bassist Keanu Reeves.

“We needed some kind of a midtempo, luscious, layered song,” Mailhouse said. “We went downstairs and the song just sort of came out, and then Bret added the lyrics. It’s a hopeful song.

“Around where I live in Silverlake, it’s beautiful but you have this weird — I guess all of LA has it — beautiful nature, and palm trees that aren’t really

from here. There are powerlines that go through them.”

Mailhouse said it reminds him of a fictitious person who longs for something different at night.

“That’s the feeling I get from it,” Mailhouse admitted. “The good thing about lyrics is sometimes we all get different interpretations of poetry or lyrics. Keanu comes up with great titles. He’s the ‘title master.’ Sometimes the titles have nothing to do with the song.”

The Roxy show will feature all new music, as Mailhouse said the older material does not seem relevant.

“We’re completely different bands,” he added. “It’s not the same as it was. There’s been a lot of time in between. We tried to go back and work on some of the older material, but I don’t even know who those people were. We’re the same peo -

ple, but everything is new, yet familiar. These songs could be from any decade.”

The common denominator between the two chapters are plenty.

“Most of the songs could be from the ’70s, ’80s,” he said. “There’s no pin on it. It’s not like a trendy tune. They still tell stories. We’re still a post-punk, folky, weird band. It’s hard to put a genre on us. We’re certainly not ’90s grunge.”

The Dogstar reunion was organic, as Mailhouse and Reeves have played to -

gether sporadically over the years. After the pandemic, they felt they had something. The trio locked themselves in a basement for two weeks to create music.

“I don’t know where the songs came from,” he said. “Keanu brings in beautiful bass riffs. Bret will fill in with guitar.

“We’ve been working so hard over the last year-and-a-half writing, doing all sorts of recording and just sitting on the music as well. We’re excited to get it out so everyone can hear it.”

Dogstar

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 18

WHERE: The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood

COST: Tickets start at $50

INFO: dogstarofficial.com, theroxy.com

Brian Bowen Smith/Contributor

Dogstar, featuring actor Keanu Reeves on bass, plays a reunion show at The Roxy Theatre on Tuesday, July 18.

Covered California will help DTDINING

Yogurtland’s Summertime Sensation

Lose your ‘rind’ with watermelon lemonade sorbet

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

Aliya Amin, the product development specialist at Yogurtland, has an enviable job.

“I basically get paid to play around with flavors,” she said.

At Yogurtland in Irvine, California, she’s come up with the newest one, watermelon lemonade sorbet, which is available nationwide through Sunday, Aug. 6. The DTLA store is at 3335 S. Figueroa Street.

“It’s honestly the perfect summertime flavor, in my opinion,” she said. “It combines classic lemonade, sour and sweet notes, and, as an upgrade to that lemonade flavor, is fresh watermelon. So, the sourness is balanced with the fresh, fruity watermelon flavor.”

She said the flavor is vegan, as Yogurtland offers varieties so those on dietary restrictions can enjoy the treats. Amin’s job requires “research.”

“The way we develop flavors is we have a very long discussion with marketing,” she said.

“We discuss flavor trends, what’s in the market, what people are buying. After that, we go out to stores, restaurants — anywhere that might have that flavor — to find what we are trying to create. We don’t want to include our own bias into making a flavor.

“We want a flavor target that’s already enjoyed by the public.”

Amin said she and her colleague tried several types of watermelon lemonade looking for something that didn’t taste too “artificial.”

“It’s such a specific flavor profile,” she said. “We found around 10 examples and we found one that we really liked. That’s the one this flavor is modeled after.

“We wanted to make sure it wasn’t too artificial. It’s great as gum, not as a sorbet, for example. We’re taking into account everything we wanted: sweet without the artificial candied notes. After we decided we liked the sample, we recreated that flavor.”

The three- to four-month process is a lot of trial and error, taste testing and, before it’s released, the group has to approve it.

“We make sure our company likes it before we put it out,” said Amin, who has a master’s in food science from Chapman University in Orange, California.

“We like to stick to those exciting flavors. Lemonade has been done, but watermelon lemonade is the best of both worlds. A lot of people don’t like that strong lemon flavor, but if you balance it with a fruity flavor, it makes it more palatable.”

Watermelon lemonade sorbet is available at Yogurtland through Sunday, Aug. 6.

Covered California will help DTHEALTH

A Comprehensive Approach

The Midnight Mission helps the homeless through health and wellness

By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Managing Editor

Mind, body, spirit — so long as those three things are being treated, Matt Scharf, the director of recovery programs at the Midnight Mission, said he is confident his residents will improve.

Serving the Skid Row area since 1914, the Midnight Mission takes a comprehensive approach to homelessness, working with residents on their health and wellness as it supports them in their journey to finding housing. For Scharf, this means giving residents opportunities to experience their bodies in new and positive ways.

“It’s important because I think that there is a stigma,” Scharf said. “There’s a stigma attached to people experiencing homelessness that’s not exactly fair. And I think the reason that we focus on providing programming that’s geared toward health and wellness at the Midnight Mission is because I am committed to giving people a new experience of themselves. … I really think that is essential.”

Along with yoga, meditation and tai chi, Scharf gave some examples of programming the mission encourages residents to participate in. One program is the Midnight Runners, a group that trains for marathons with the Skid Row Running Club; it’s a way to improve residents’ health and provide mentorship opportunities.

The Midnight Runners has been particularly successful, Scharf said, because former residents remain involved in the club even years later. That continuous commitment to health and wellness is something Scharf hopes to foster in residents at the Midnight Mission.

“One of the main things I believe in — and that we talk about a lot — is what life looks like when you’re not at the Midnight Mission,” Scharf said. “We are building a really strong alumni program. People feel inclined to come back to our 12-step program meetings, and in coming back, then we’re able to still engage with people.”

On the medical side of health and wellness, the Midnight Mission provides primary health care and assistance with issues commonly associated with homelessness, such as malnutrition, parasitic infections, degenerative joint disease

and periodontal disease. They also provide support to patients who may not feel comfortable navigating the medical system, said Scharf, including accompanying residents to medical appointments.

Another component of recovery and health for Scharf is education as a way to improve the mind. He tries to ensure everyone who goes through the Midnight Mission’s recovery program has a GED; if they already have a high school diploma, he said he tries to direct them to higher education resources.

“I think I think if you’re — if you’re using mind, body and spirit as the overall guide for what’s going to guide us as an organization, in terms of our programming and getting people on the pathway to self-sufficiency, all of those little pieces that you put into place, that’s part of the bigger puzzle that’s going to be somebody’s life,” Scharf said.

The

The Midnight Mission/Submitted

In addition to promoting physical activity, the Midnight Mission encourages residents to eat healthy.

Covered California will help DTHEALTH

The ‘Zombie Drug’

Officials warn about rising popularity of xylazine

By Morgan Owen LA Downtown News Managing Editor

In April, three people were found dead inside a building in the Skid Row area. Law enforcement stated their initial impressions were the deaths were drug-related, and they began investigating if fentanyl or other illicit substances were involved.

In 2021, 2,741 people in LA County overdosed in fentanyl-related incidents, according to a report by Substance Abuse Prevention Control. In response to these rising numbers, cities and nonprofits across the country, including in Los Angeles, have launched awareness campaigns about the dangers of fentanyl. But on the heels of fentanyl is another drug authorities say could be coming to Los Angeles: xylazine.

Also known as “tranq” or “tranq dope,” the LA Department of Public Health says xylazine has emerged as a new way for illicit drug manufacturers to dilute their products, and that “xylazine is now likely present in the drug supply in Los Angeles.”

Typically paired with fentanyl, xylazine is a horse tranquilizer chosen by manufacturers because its effects are similar to fentanyl and can prolong or even intensify the opioid high, said Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicologist, co-medical director and interim executive director of the National Capital Poison Center.

In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that found the percentage of opioid fatalities involving xylazine rose by 276% from 2019 to 2022. Johnson-Arbor said she has witnessed the rising trend firsthand.

“Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in the amount of drugs that were tested that were found to contain xylazine. I can’t say that it has actually peaked at this point, but its trend is certainly one of an increase,” Johnson-Arbor said.

Xylazine is not an opioid, but Johnson-Arbor explained it has similar effects on the body, such as restricted blood flow and decreased rate of breathing. It can’t be treated with Narcan the same way fentanyl can, “but that doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t give Narcan if they suspect that somebody’s overdosed on xylazine,” Johnson-Arbor said.

“I always worry when somebody writes that Narcan won’t help in an overdose. You don’t know that. There is no quality control of the street drug industry, and you don’t know for sure the person who used xylazine didn’t use something else, like fentanyl.”

In February, the Los Angeles County Health Alert Network distributed a health advisory to health care professionals, warning them about xylazine. The alert warned about the rising popularity of the drug, provided background about how it can be consumed and outlined recommended actions for health care providers if they suspect they are dealing with the drug.

In case of a suspected xylazine overdose, the advisory advises health care providers to administer Narcan to neutralize any opioid that may have been in the drug’s formulation. But treating someone who has taken xylazine is more than just administering Narcan and discharging them, said Johnson-Arbor; there are serious long-term effects the drug can have on the body.

The most common side-effect of xylazine is the open wounds long-term consumption can create, earning it the moniker “Zombie Drug.” These wounds occur because xylazine restricts blood flow throughout the body, which can lead to sores all over the body and not just at the injection site — and they are difficult to treat, said Johnson-Arbor.

“In many cases, the wounds are necrotic and require long-term antibiotics. Sometimes patients require surgical intervention like a skin graft, reconstructive surgery or even amputation. So these are not things that are going to be able to be easily addressed in a single encounter. These patients do need to have long-term follow-up,” Johnson-Arbor said.

Following the deaths in Skid Row, the LA County Sheriff’s Department began tracking the popularity of xylazine. When the department tests confiscated drugs, they must confirm and document if that substance contains the tranquilizer. There is no indication of what the impacts of the LA County Sheriff’s new study might have.

Johnson-Arbor said she encourages anyone who may be experiencing ill effects from xylazine, or any other drug, to contact poison control.

“People may not realize that poison control is not a government agency. We’re not going to report people using drugs. We’re here to help, and we’re not judgmental,” she said. “We do want people to seek assistance. If they are using xylazine and experiencing skin wounds or any other manifestation of illness from the drug use, there are people out there who can help them in the hospital setting.”

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Summer Safety Tips

Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and never leave children unattended this season

By Dignity Health

Due to the extremely cooler temperatures, private and public pools along with beach swimming numbers are way below average.

Drownings are one of the most frequented ER visits mostly due to lack of swim schools, most of which were closed during COVID-19. All ER physicians and family practice doctors agree if you own a pool, you must be CPR certified. Those minutes under CPR supervision will make a difference between life and breath.

Other suggestions include:

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

• Protect your skin. Apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 and reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.

• Take care of your eyes. Wear sunglasses that offer UV protection to shield your eyes from harmful rays.

• Practice proper food safety. When picnicking or barbecuing, ensure food is stored and cooked at appropriate temperatures.

• Prioritize mental health. Summer can be a time for relaxation, but it’s essential to also prioritize your mental well-being. Take breaks, engage in activities you enjoy and spend time with loved ones to promote a healthy mindset.

• Bring a first aid kit. A basic first aid kit should include sunscreen, bug spray, aloe vera (to soothe a sunburn), soft gauze, tape and antibiotic ointment, Band-Aids, an ACE wrap, hydrocortisone cream (to ease irritation from bug bites or poison ivy), acetaminophen and ibuprofen (and children’s formulations if

you have kids), Benadryl and an Epi-pen if you have severe allergies. Duct tape is also great to have handy as it has many practical applications if you have limited access to help.

• Practice firework safety. Parades, barbecues and firework displays all go hand in hand and can result in plenty of emergency room visits, especially during the month of July. Fireworks should be handled by the experts or at the least by a responsible adult.

• Choosing the appropriate clothing. Beach attire is different than hiking or mountain biking attire. Generally, you may want to wear more layers as conditions change and you can remove and add as needed. Many manufacturers offer UPF ratings on their clothing which provides additional protection from the sunlight. Light-colored and lightweight clothing can reflect the sun and keep you cool.

• Be constantly vigilant about water safety. Drowning kills about 4,000 people each year in the United States. Drowning is the leading cause of death for toddler children ages 1 to 4 years old. Adults should always be mindful and practice touch supervision (being within arm’s length around toddlers and young children.) If at a party, assign a nondrinking adult to be the designated “water-watcher.” And never rely on “floaties” as a main source of water safety.

• Never leave your children and pets unattended in a car. It can take only about 15 minutes for the inside of your car to reach up to lethal levels for children and pets on a summer day. The number of child hot car deaths for 2022 was 33. So far in 2023, eight deaths have been reported. On average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle.

Covered California will help DTHEALTH

Avoid Summer Tragedies

Drowning remains a serious risk for children at both beaches and pools

By Dignity Health

Summer is here and people are heading to the beach and pools for fun and relief from the heat. However, the water poses many risks, especially drowning.

Dr. Reginald Jones, an emergency and trauma services and critical care physician at California Hospital Medical Center, encourages parents to be hypervigilant, especially this time of year when water activities are encouraged for fun and health.

Sadly, many children will jump into the water unprepared or with lack of qualified supervision, often resulting in disastrous outcomes.

“A child can drown in as little as 20 seconds,” Jones said.

“The biggest drowning threat facing families with toddlers is unexpected, unsupervised access to water: swimming pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, natural bodies of water such as ponds and standing water in homes. In fact, children have been known to drown in a pet’s water bowl.”

Each year, about 4,000 people drown in the United States, and drowning kills more children ages 1 to 4 years than any other death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, for children ages 5 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.

“The main factors for drowning risk are lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers to prevent unsupervised water access, lack of supervision while swimming, failure to wear life jackets and not knowing what drowning looks like,” Jones said.

“Barriers, such as pool fencing, can prevent young children from gaining ac -

cess to the pool area without caregivers’ awareness, and a four-sided isolation fence separating the pool area from the house and yard reduces a child’s risk of drowning 83% compared to three-sided property-line fencing.”

One of July’s biggest missteps will be that after months of cooler and overcast weather conditions, for many this will be their first jump into water this year. Whether it be a pool, a beach or lake, excitement often jumps first over safety. And many flotation devices aren’t designed to handle all scenarios of water safety for all children.

“Children should not wear arm floatation devices in lieu of safe swimming,” Jones said.

“Parents are often lulled into a false sense of security with these, and children will often take on more water than those learning to swim with basic swimming practices. If you practice water safety, pay close attention to your kids after swimming and get them checked out if you notice any signs of trouble breathing.”

For every child under 18 who dies from drowning, another seven receive emergency department care for nonfatal drowning. More than 40% of drowning victims treated in emergency departments will require hospitalization or transfer for further care. These nonfatal drowning injuries can also cause severe brain damage that may result in longterm disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning.

Jones encourages all parents, guardians and caretakers to know basic CPR care and wherever water is present, be vigilant

and watchful. It only takes a few moments for an accident to occur.

“If you have a pool, all home or condo

owners or renters must be CPR certified. It increases the odds during an emergency for a better outcome for all,” he said.

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Family Ties

Soccer success is twice as nice for father, ex-baseball star

By Jeff Moeller

LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

Denny Hocking earned a paycheck from the Twins. Denny Hocking knows all about twins.

A native of Torrance, the former El Camino College standout enjoyed a 13year big league playing career. He spent the bulk of his time with the Minnesota Twins, highlighted by a trip to the postseason in 2002. Unfortunately for Hocking, his dream trip to the World Series ended that October as Minnesota fell to the Angels in the American League Championship Series.

The organization Hocking grew up rooting for some 30 miles away — where he and high school buddies would seek out tickets in the stadium parking lot — earned its first world championship then, with Hocking physically inactive. More on that later.

And it was also during Hocking’s time as a baseball player that his future sports world would change. Times two. In 1999, his wife, Venetta, gave birth to Penelope and Iliana, a set of fraternal twins. Those ladies are carving out their own path in pro sports, and dad could not be any prouder.

“One of my daughters was asked to go back to the draft in Philadelphia. My wife went with her. She was in the auditorium, anticipating her name being called pretty high. I saw on TV that selection.

“In the later rounds, my other daughter was playing solitaire on her phone with her back to the TV. When the person came on and said ‘With the 44th pick, Gotham FC chooses … ’ she turned around and screamed at the television. So exciting.

“It was just a bizarre, bizarre day. We were so happy for both of them, and they each have had their own story of success to get this far.”

It might be a small footnote in the Minnesota baseball record book, but Hocking is the first father of a set of twins in Twins history. This past January, however, more Hocking history was made when his twins became the first set of sisters to be drafted in the same year in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history.

The Chicago Red Stars selected Penelope Hocking, a forward, with the seventh overall selection. Gotham FC selected defender Iliana Hocking in the fourth round.

Both selections bested dad the 53-year-old Denny was chosen in the

52nd round … a round that does not exist anymore at the annual MLB Draft.

“I told my daughters, ‘You guys only beat me by about 48 rounds — congratulations.’”

Growing up in Anaheim, Penelope played at USC for four years. She grabbed a number of honors including Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2018, and in 2021 she earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors for the third time at USC.

For her fifth year, she joined the team at Penn State University.

Sister Iliana also went out of state, playing all five seasons at the University of Arizona. Like her sister, she was a former prep standout at Canyon High School, which is about 10 miles from Angel Stadi-

um, where their dad played all those years as a visitor.

Play in front of 40,000 fans? No problem. Watch your daughters compete against each other, well …

“It was absolutely the worst day of the year for me,” said Hocking when USC would play against Arizona. “I didn’t like it, and in the four years that they played, USC beat Arizona each time. Again, it was by far and away the worst day of the year for us.”

The girls started playing soccer in an Orange County rec league when they were 5. Dad coached them. But when the girls started displaying talent beyond their peers, it was time to “go out of our little fishbowl up here in Anaheim Hills.”

Fast forward ahead and they are playing in a game in front of 30 college scouts.

Penelope and Iliana are taking off in their soccer cleats while Hocking’s baseball life comes full circle. His spikes in a closet, Hocking wears a suit, working as a broadcaster for Angels games on Bally Sports West. A few years ago, Hocking served as a manager and coach in the Angels minor league system.

A regular at The Big A, Hocking said he holds no grudge against the ’02 Halos. Another factor in that series is he didn’t even get a chance to compete after a freak injury.

“I catch the final ball in the ALDS, and I run out and jump on the dog pile. I’m lying there for a second, and I go to just get up, and my finger had gotten stepped on; a spike went right through my right middle finger. It’s almost like a reaction of pulling your finger out when you slam it into a car door or drawer.

“It was just gushing blood. You go from the best moment in your baseball life to walking into the clubhouse, clenching my right hand. Everybody’s popping champagne. I’m on a training table.”

The affable Hocking isn’t one to dwell on negatives. He has too much fun.

At work, he follows every move made by Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

“There are times when I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do TV. I love talking about how an organization works. After games, after a tough loss, I can help relay what’s going on in the clubhouse to a broadcast.”

Away from pro baseball, his focus is on the soccer pitch, even though his girls love baseball, too.

“When I played with the Twins, they liked Minnesota, but for the most part they’ve grown up Angels fans — heavy, heavy Angels fans. One of my daughters literally watches every game on her laptop. One game this year the Angels beat the Rockies 25-1. She couldn’t believe it herself.”

Self belief is what helped Hocking reach his goals. Rookies Penelope and Iliana are trying to realize their full potential.

One more Hocking could end up being drafted. First round? Fourth round? 52nd round?

“Our son Jarrod is a rising sophomore on the UCLA baseball team. Hopefully, hopefully my son fits in somewhere in-between them and me in the future.”

Hocking Family/Submitted

Penelope, left, and Iliana Hocking are twin sisters blazing their own trail in pro sports wearing soccer cleats, unlike their dad, Denny, a former baseball standout and current Angels broadcaster on Bally Sports West.

Covered California will help DTSPORTS

Dodgers History

Orel Hershiser celebrates 1988 season anniversary

By Jeff Moeller

LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

It was a season for the ages. Even if it looks like Orel Hershiser hasn’t aged in 35 years.

As the Dodgers enjoy the anniversary of their 1988 season a campaign 35 years ago in which Hershiser broke records, won awards and was standing on the mound when the final World Series out was recorded in winning fashion the Bulldog is still a daily fixture at Dodgers games as a club broadcaster.

And the lore of the Bulldog still lives on in infamy at his home. Sort of.

“When my wife and I are in a discussion, she says, ‘Don’t bring the Bulldog out.’ And I’m like, ‘Don’t make me take the trash out.’”

Yes, even World Series MVPs have to take out the garbage.

The World Series MVP was just one of the many high-profile trophies accumulated by Hershiser, famously nicknamed Bulldog by manager Tommy Lasorda. He won the Cy Young Award, the NLCS Award and he even earned that year’s Gold Glove Award.

But for Orel Leonard Hershiser IV, it was all about the team.

“It was a great team that never said die. We were a team of misfits. Fred Claire made a great move before the ’88 season. We got Kirk Gibson in second look free agency. We traded Bobby Welch to get Alfredo Griffin. (We) added Jay Howell and it was a feisty team. Add guys like Mickey Hatcher and Rick Dempsey and all Fred — who was getting beat up in the media — wanted to do

was bring back guys who were tough and wanted to win.”

Bulldog was the nickname Lasorda bestowed on Hershiser. He told the modest right-hander with boyish looks, glasses and a mild-mannered personality to fight like a bulldog, to attack hitters like a bulldog.

Furthermore, Lasorda told him he didn’t like the name Orel. But the affable skipper loved how the 1988 National League Champions and winner of 94 games completed the regular season, with Hershiser leading the way.

Topping the senior circuit in wins with 23, the New York native made a lot of history for Los Angeles’ team in the process.

On Sept. 28 of that season, he broke Don Drysdale’s remarkable record of 59 consecutive innings of not allowing an earned run. The record dated back to 1968, and ironically Drysdale called the streak as the team’s radio announcer.

As Hershiser’s historic regular season came to an end, he carried that momentum and success into the playoffs. In Game 1 of the NCLS, he started and pitched eight more scoreless innings against the mighty New York Mets.

The series went all seven games. Hershiser was the MVP, excelling as a starter and reliever — even garnering a save — and was on the mound for the final out in his inspirational Game 7 shutout at Dodger Stadium.

“Hershiser did something that we may never see again in our lifetime,” said Lasorda in a past interview on Spectrum Sports-

Andrew D. Bernstein/Contributor

net LA.

“First of all, to break Don Drysdale’s record, which I always thought was unreachable, (and) then to see what he did from the middle of August through the playoffs, through the World Series where he pitched a total of 109 innings, and 105 of them were scoreless.”

As the Dodgers were winning playoff games, their high-profile acquisition from the previous offseason was hobbling. Hershiser of course won league’s top individual award in the pitching category, but Gibson the eventual winner of the league’s MVP that same year was battling a left hamstring injury and a right knee injury.

Down by a run in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series, Gibson was a last second, surprise pinch-hitter. Oh, the drama at Chavez Ravine.

After Gibson lifted Dennis Eckersley’s infamous 3-2 backdoor slider into the right field pavilion, Lasorda called it the most memorable moment of his life.

“It was one of the great moments in the history of the Dodgers, no question about it,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, who retired last season after calling 64 years of Dodgers Baseball.

“In 1988 then, he was not supposed to play. He was hurt but he came through in the ninth inning that helped give the World Series to the Dodgers.”

It was Gibson’s lone at-bat in the Fall Classic.

The workhorse Hershiser meanwhile was on the mound for the final out, pitching in the ninth inning of Game 5 at Oakland. It was a major upset en route to the franchise’s sixth championship.

Though he won more than 200 games

in the big leagues and went on to pitch for three other teams beyond Dodgers blue before finishing his playing career with the team in 2000, part of Hershiser’s popularity has always been his humbleness.

One of the game’s great stars of his generation — the ’88 campaign was the second of a three-year stretch in which he was named to the All-Star team each season — Hershiser was a late (17th round) draft pick who weighed 190 pounds.

He has always come across approachable, like he would be sitting in the outfield stands where Gibson’s ball landed. Spend time around Hershiser and you witness his grand sense of humor. Geez, just watch the local TV car commercials he appears in where he, um, dances.

At a recent fundraising event honoring local sports legends in Pasadena, he mingled with baseball fans and shared stories of his career. During the evening, a series of photos taken by Dodgers team photographers Jon SooHoo and Andy Bernstein chronicling his career allowed him to reflect back.

“Athletes are concentrating so much. We don’t really know what it going on around us.

“You go back, and you see great photos and see our emotions and see our intensity and see the fans and see your parents and see Tommy (Lasorda) in the background cheering,” said Hershiser, who turns 65 years old in September.

“When you win it is hard to even lose the focus then. You think there is still one more pitch. Then you look at the photos and you realize what it was really like, what the emotion really was. You feel the moment, you appreciate it, and you love it.”

Revered for his bulldog-mentality, Orel Hershiser has called Dodgers games on TV since 2014, and he was featured recently at an event promoted by Legends of Sport to help raise money for South Pasadena Arts Council (SPARC).

Andrew D. Bernstein/Contributor

Groomed as a reliever in the minors, Orel Hershiser broke out as an elite starting pitcher at the bigleague level and made an indelible mark in the team’s record books.

Covered California will help DTSPORTS

‘We Have a Brother Bond’

Trailblazers Pete Demers, Gary Vitti reconnect, share stories

By Jeff Moeller

LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

Purple and gold. For 32 years, Gary Vitti was a staple for the Lakers before Staples Center was built. On the bench. On the road. In the trainer’s room. A recipient of eight rings as a world champion, Vitti’s fondest on-the-job memories are the epic champagne and cigar parties and the parades in Downtown Los Angeles.

It was purple and gold for Pete Demers, too, before it was silver and black with the arrival of Wayne Gretzky to Hockeywood. A true ironman, Demers worked the Kings bench for 2,632 consecutive games. He has a plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Neither scored a goal on the ice. Neither hit a shot on the court. Both were trailblazers in their chosen profession, however, bringing stability and professionalism to the position. And as athletic trainers, they were two of the very best.

The pair recently reconnected at Vitti’s home, just a few miles from the Forum in Inglewood, where they spent countless hours on the job before the two teams moved Downtown. They shared stories reflecting the brotherhood which came from the jobs they cherished and are retired from now.

“Gary and I hit it off right away,” said Demers of an initial meeting between the duo nearly 40 years ago. “As athletic trainers, it goes without saying, we have a brother bond. I have always found him to be a top professional — knowledgeable and articulate. For many years, we shared a common area in the Forum. Gary is great guy and we have remained close friends.”

Vitti added, “When I first met Pete he had already been around for a while, and it was like meeting one of the godfathers of athletic training. We had shared areas but as far as I was concerned, even though the Lakers were Showtime, it was Pete’s building, and I was his guest and I showed him that respect.”

While Vitti worked closely with Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant among many other stars, the spotlight started to shine on the Kings in 1988 when the club shocked the sports world by trading for Gretzky.

The Kings and Demers were thrust into a spotlight Vitti and his Lakers were so familiar with being one of the world’s most iconic sports brands.

“Getting Wayne Gretzky was a very excit-

ing time for our organization,” recalled Demers, who started with the Kings in 1972.

“I fondly remember how proud I was to bring Wayne’s first jersey to the press conference. Southern California was finally in the spotlight of hockey. After many years of crowds of 8,000 people in the Forum, it all changed. The Forum was packed. The celebrities came out of the woodwork. Everyone wanted to be a part of it.”

For years the Lakers and Kings were owned by Jack Kent Cooke. Both clubs were run separately, but Demers was actually one of the first people to learn Johnson would be coming west.

“Mr. Cooke wanted me to work on his sore back. While on the table, he said, ‘We are going to sign Magic Johnson.’ I said, ‘That’s great Mr. Cooke.’”

There was one problem.

“Me being only a hockey guy, I didn’t know who Magic Johnson was.”

Said Vitti: “My most fond memories in terms of the Lakers/Kings relationship were when the Kings had Gretzky and Marty McSorley. Marty was a character and as tough as he was on the ice, off it, he was the nicest guy in the world.

“As for Wayne, on occasion we would be in the Forum at the same time and he would mosey on over to my training room. The Lakers were a championship team, so he would ask me questions about what I thought were the components of making a champion. I marveled that he was asking me these questions. I’m saying to myself, ‘You’re Wayne Gretzky, the great one, and you’re asking me?’”

Johnson had been with the Lakers for five years when Vitti arrived. That 1984 season was the first of 32 seasons for Vitti as an LA Lakers fixture. He swiftly handled all the responsibilities of the job and then some (many).

In less than 12 months in his new position, Vitti was part of a winner. In all he had the best seat for eight NBA championships and 12 NBA Finals.

“I reflect on my career,” Vitti said, “with great gratitude for the opportunity to have worked and learned from the champions I was surrounded by to the point that it was the theme of my book, ‘32 Years of Titles and Tears from the Best Seat in the House.’

“The subtitle is what I learned about happiness, greatness, leadership and the evolution of sports science. The book isn’t about me, it’s about the great champions I worked with and what I learned from

them.”

Vitti’s entire tenure was under the ownership of the Buss family. Meanwhile Demers, as he put it, was “able to survive 34 years” as the Kings’ head athletic trainer. He worked under 14 head coaches, seven general managers and multiple ownership groups.

“I believe in guardian angels, and I am positive I had one watching over me.”

Athletic trainers carry out rehabilitation programs for injured athletes. They specialize in preventing, diagnosing and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.

They are also a jack-of-all-trades, and these two witnessed tremendous change as pro sports morphed into the mega business it is today.

“The job changed drastically over the years. I started as a one-man show,” Vitti said. “From a sports medicine standpoint, technology changed everything from diagnostics with MRI and diagnostic ultrasound to surgical techniques to evidence-based physical therapy and athletic training practices.”

Demers added, “The trainer wore many hats. In Los Angeles when I came into the league, it was a two-man show but the head trainer was completely responsible

for all aspects of the players’ care plus staff and families. One head athletic trainer and one assistant. That was it. Day and night we multitasked. I still loved it.”

The present day sees Demers much less concerned about directing player health and performance, an assistant athletic trainer, two strength coaches, massage therapist, dietitian, team chef and five equipment staff members, and a gamenight staff of physicians that would fill a minibus.

The Rhode Island native probably has a fishing pole in hand. Vitti, who is originally from Connecticut, recently rescued a dog and was packing for a vacation to Europe.

Both proud grandfathers now, they made their names in LA sports under the purple and gold umbrella treating the black and blue in the medical room.

They share a unique bond to this day, both personally and professionally.

“Pete used to joke that he was going to become an NBA athletic trainer when he retired so he could take it easy.”

Demers said, “For players, the optimal philosophy had to be ‘talent and attitude.’ As athletic trainers, we live by ‘loyalty and trust.’”

Pete Demers/Submitted

For decades, Pete Demers, left, and Gary Vitti served as head athletic trainer for the Kings and Lakers, respectively. Legends in their industry, both now enjoy retirement after incredible careers treating some of the biggest names in sports history.

Publication Date: August 14, 2023

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