For more than a generation, risk in America has been shifted from large institutions best able to handle it—such as Wall Street Banks—and onto the backs of families and individuals. Romney’s VP pick would push this process into overdrive. By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor Originally published in Al Jazeera English
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Graphic: Mathew Highland
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Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate will have profound implications for the upcoming election—as well as what happens afterwards. But the broad nature of those implications is largely dependent on what President Barack Obama decides to make of them. He could take Ryan’s claim-tofame budget plans seriously as a further indication of the direction that Romney wants to take the United States—a direction that would leave the country virtually without a federal government by 2050, except for healthcare, Social Security and military spending according to Congressional Budget Office analyses in 2011 and 2012. Attacking Romney or Ryan on these terms would turn this election into a grand referendum on what sort of country we want the United States to be—a broadly inclusive one, or a country of the 1 percent. Or, Obama could take the cheap-and-easy way out, highlighting Ryan’s role as a loyal Republican foot-soldier during the Bush years, turning rare budget surpluses under Clinton into towering mountains of debt, even before the Great Recession hit. The later choice deeply appeals to Obama’s desire to make conservative arguments his own. How much fun to attack the GOP vice president nominee as the budget-busting big spender his congressional record so clearly shows him to be? Yet, winning the election on those terms would leave Obama with no real room to maneuver if he really wants to get the United States back on track for the long haul. Winning on a message of “I’m a better conservative than you” leaves Obama where he spent
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Shifting Rish to the Middle Class/ to p. 23
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ILWU Joins Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Fights Children’s Cancer
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
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On Aug. 11, Warehouse 52-57, in San Pedro, was filled with classic cars, inflatable jumpers, carnival games and face painting. The event included a stage for live music performances as well as food and lemonade stands. Like dozens of similar events across the country, between late July and August, this event was in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a nonprofit organization committed to raising money for childhood cancer research. This was also the ILWU’s first of what will be an annual “Walk the Coast” fundraiser for the anti-cancer nonprofit organization. The pediatric cancer charity was named for Alexandra Scott, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer only days before reaching her first birthday. Alex was afflicted with neural blastoma, a common infant cancer because it grows out of immature nerves. More than 90 percent of those diagnosed with the cancer are younger than 5. Alex never went into remission despite going from one treatment to the next from chemotherapy to radiation therapy and experimental treatments. When she was 4 years old, Alex and her mother, Liz Scott, decided they wanted to do something for children in similar situations. So she they up a lemonade stand in the front yard of their home to raise money. Her first stand raised $2,000. Word of Alex’s efforts spread quickly and exponentially by word of mouth. “She would do this every year, before long people started launching their own lemonade stands and sending money to Alex,” Scott explained. “By the time she died, she raised $1 million for a cure for all types of pediatric cancer and not just for her type of cancer.” Since that time, the Scotts have been able to grow the event with the help of community organizations nationwide and union families, raising $65 million, funding more than 250 research projects. This event marked the 8th anniversary since Alex’s death. “I would tell somebody to come and they would tell someone,” Scott said. “Then, someone would call the newspaper to come and there would be a story in the paper. It would become a viral story before there was such thing as going viral.” This past year, the ILWU International formed a committee and reached out to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to contribute to the fight against pediatric cancer. “They were looking to support something for children and pediatric cancer and they really hoped to partner with us,” Scott said. Scott credits the union “for doing 99 percent if not a 100 percent of the work.” The ILWU Chairman of the Walk the Coast Committee, Dan Imbagliazzo explained that the effort was an expression of the union’s desire to help the community.
Top, Local 13 ILWU member and chairman of the Walk the Coast Committee Dan Imbagliazzo (center) and his wife Esther (left) with Liz Scott (right), mother of the late Alexandra Scott, founder of Alex’s Lemonade Stand with members of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Above, the Tiger Squadron, a crew of fighter pilots that specialize in aerial maneuvers, showed off their prowess at the fundraiser event in San Pedro. Photos: Terelle Jerricks.
“We wanted to do something good and we wanted to do something good with the community for other people,” Imbagliazzo said. To that end, the union formed a committee and decided to organize an event at multiple ports on the same day with the union acting together. “The longshoreman got together in what is called a caucus, a meeting of the Longshoreman division,” Imbagliazzo explained. “In that meeting, the committee decided that in its first year, we would hold event in Tacoma, Wash. and they would work for pancreatic cancer, because there was a serious need there.” Lemonade/ to p. 27
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August 24 - September 6, 2012
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Community Advances Alternative 710 Expansion Plan By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
Silverado Park in West Long Beach was the site of a too-rare sort of “demonstration.” The demonstration took place, on Aug. 8, outside of the public hearing on the 710 expansion draft environmental impact report. None of the freeway-widening alternatives have gained the support of a coalition of community groups stretching from the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma at one end of the proposed expansion, to East Yard Communities for Economic Justice at the other end. A dedicated container truck corridor—possibly electrified and possibly tolled—defines the limited range of alternatives being studied by Caltrans. Community groups claim it is a far too limited range. What’s needed is not just zero-emission freight movement, but transit alternatives from bikes to buses, improvements to the environment—notably the Los Angeles River—and more. And so they demonstrated, not by carrying signs and marching around, but by offering people a taste of what the planners inside were missing. “Our alternative is Community Alternative Seven,” said Angelo Logan, executive director of East Yard Communities for Economic Justice. “It’s not one of the alternatives that’s been studied by Caltrans, but we’re promoting it outside, here, outside of the public hearing... We’re encouraging people to live our alternative with activities that are happening here—bike repair, yoga, zumba, other environmental health and justice activities—and to participate in the hearings and to articulate their need and their want
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and desire for a community alternative, to serve the community, not to burden the community.” Bike repair, sure. But face-painting? “The project has an impact on community cohesion and it separates communities,” Logan explained, “whereas face-painting and other activities actually help to build the community. People get to know one another and show a unified message and voice.” The testimony that followed inside largely proved Logan’s point. Students, mothers, grandmothers, retirees, even elected officials echoed similar themes about dirty air, unfair burdens, the struggle for healthier lifestyles and the need for a zero-emissions future. And a surprising number of them echoed the call that came from Evangelina Ramirez, who lives near the 710 in Long Beach, and has a daughter with asthma. “You are missing one alternative,” she said through an interpreter. “You are missing Alternative Number Seven, which is the one we are asking for.” “In Long Beach, we’re starting to eat better, do exercise, so we can get healthier,” said resident Blanca Galvez. “We have a lot of kids with asthma... We want benefits from this, also.... We want improvements on the LA River. We want improvements on schools, and on parks. We want more trees.” “We are in favor of true zero emissions,” said Bell Councilwoman Ana Marie Quintera. “Two items that are very important are the bicycle and pedestrian issues. Our communities are walking communities... In complement to the 710 we’d like to see the expansion of bicycle and pedescontinued on following page
San Pedro Draft Community Plan Released By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
On Aug. 10, the Los Angeles City Planning Department released the draft of its new community plan for San Pedro, the first comprehensive update since 1999. Following years in the planning process, it is now open for general public comment through Sept. 24. (See “Community Alerts”, p. 9). “We have had several meetings with various community stakeholders since the plan update process started in 2006,” said Debbie Lawrence, planner for the San Pedro Community Plan. “We drafted a vision for the San Pedro Community Plan based on the input we received... We believe we’ve crafted a draft plan that reflects the community’s key priorities…such as protecting distinctive residential neighborhoods, revitalizing Downtown San Pedro, enhancing connections between the Port and the Downtown and providing new design guidelines for development.” “This community plan update is our opportunity to turn the community’s vision into official city policy,” said Sue Castillo, chair of the Land Use and Planning Committee for the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council. “We’re in the final stages of completing the update and trying to make sure that all significant community desires are incorporated. However, this is still a good time for anyone yet unacquainted with the document to participate in a community meeting to learn what’s in it and to gain an understanding of its purpose.”
“The Community Plan provides a framework for some of the key battles we are having in San Pedro regarding traffic and mitigation measures (Ponte Vista), safety (Rancho LPG tanks and skateboarders), port/city cooperation and state mandated lessening of good planning,” said John Greenwood, who has the same office for the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council. “It doesn’t solve these problems, just outlines the rules. In commenting on the plan we are working to make sure the rules benefit the residents of our community.” Northwest President Diana Nave highlighted some of the outstanding concerns. “Overall the plan is a good document,” Nave said. “However, I am disappointed that they did not incorporate more of our suggestions, particularly the language we proposed with regard to Ponte Vista…I am also concerned that while the plan projects a population growth from 2005 to 2030 of just over 1,100, it projects nearly 5,000 additional housing units not including Ponte Vista.” Lawrence echoed the activists in encouraging members of the public to get involved. “We really hope that many in the community will read the plan, and also attend our open house, which will be scheduled in the fall,” she told Random Lengths. “We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to see the plan, especially those whom we may not yet have heard from.”
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710 Expansion Alternative
trian modes,” as well as alternative transportation modes including buses and light rail. “A lot of people’s comments have been ‘don’t build it,’” Cesar Avila pointed out. “So, I don’t think it’s more the comments they’re looking for it’s more ‘We’ve already lost the battle. What are the terms of the surrender?’” But despite almost universal disappointment, few others seemed to share his despair. “This project is better than what was proposed years before,” Long Beach Councilman James Johnson pointed out. “We’re looking at moving away from diesel trucks in the future.”
But the main reason for that has been fierce, prolonged community opposition. No one exemplifies that more than Ben Rockwell, a perennial figure at West Long Beach public comment meetings. “I live less than half a mile from the 710 Freeway,” Rockwell began. “I have less than 50 percent of normal lung capacity... I’m concerned about the dust that may be coming from this project. Dust that’s going to cause pollution. It’s going to make it more difficult for me to breathe.” Rockwell is the living, breathing embodiment of the staggering, but abstract statistics cited by Susan Nakamura, project manager for the South Coast Air Quality Management District. “Despite much progress, this region still has the dirtiest air in the country, with substantial health impacts, including thousands of premature deaths each year,” Nakamura said, by way of introduction. “The health risk along the I-710 represents some of the highest health risks in the
region, primarily due to diesel trucks. “This is a one-time opportunity to get it right—for the environment, for the health of many residents that live near this freeway,” she said. “The AQMD staff supports a zero-emissions freight corridor component to the proposed project. This region will need a broad-based deployment of zero- and near-zero emission technologies, particularly for heavy-duty diesel trucks” to attain federal ozone standards. Nakamura went on to stress that Caltrans needed to “provide greater specificity” in order to “send a clear market signal to the developers, so zero-emission trucks will be available at the commencement of this project.” Yet, ordinary citizens like Rockwell remain justifiably skeptical. “We were promised 20 years ago that the Alameda Corridor was going to take off a good, large percentage of trucks off the 710 Freeway,” Rockwell reminded Caltrans and those assembled. “We all know that that never happened, that indeed the traffic of the trucks have increased.” Jesse Marquez, executive director of Communities for a Safe Environment, expanded on Rockwell’s point, highlighting the expenditure of public money, and the failure to deliver what was promised. “For over 5 years now, it has operated at only 30 to 35 percent capacity,” Marquez pointed out.
San Pedro Democratic Club Meeting
The San Pedro Democratic Club meeting, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Aug. 27, at the Whale & Ale. The guest speaker will be councilwoman and mayoral candidate Jan Perry. Everyone is welcome. Venue: The Whale & Ale Location: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro
PortTechExpo
PortTechLA will host its third annual PortTechExpo, Sept 5 and 6, at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in San Pedro. The conference and competition will focus on exploring and helping to fund the most innovative environmental, energy, transportation and security technologies for the maritime industry. The expo attracts businesses, community leaders, venture capitalists, maritime experts, and technology entrepreneurs from around the region. A pre-event evening session will include entrepreneur competition. Details: http://tinyurl.com/d2zeklh Venue: DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Location: 2800 Via Cabrillo Marina, San Pedro
Annual Harbor Labor Day March & Rally
Join the Annual Harbor Labor Day March and Rally in Wilmington. Meet and assemble for the march at Broad and “E” St. at 9 a.m. Sept. 3. The march to Banning Park begins 10 a.m. ending with a rally that includes speakers, music, and food. Details: (510) 665-8523; http://lalbharborlabor.org Venue: Banning Park Location: Broad Avenue at “E” St., Wilmington.
Community Alternative Plan/ to p. 7
The Local Publication You Actually Read August 24 - September 6, 2012
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Harry Bridges Span School Opens By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
Wilmington residents, the ILWU, elected officials, and the family of Labor icon Harry Bridges celebrated his life on July 28 with the grand opening of the Harry Bridges Span School. The children, grandchildren, and great-grand children of Harry Bridges were in attendance. Because Bridges’ children were born decades apart from one another, people initially confused who his granddaughter and daughter were, since they have similar ages. Marie Shell, Harry Bridges’ granddaughter performed a Woodie Guthrie labor song that recounted the labor leader’s exploits, with the some of the audience singing along. Vice President of the International ILWU,
Ray Familiathe came in place of ILWU President Robert McEllrath, served as co-master of ceremonies. Following a clip from the film From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy spoke on the values that Bridges stood for. “From health care for all, to a living wage, to retirement, and free speech and the professional courage it took to stand up for those values,” Deasy said. The school’s path, like the road for labor rights was long and difficult. The K through 8 Harry Bridges Span school was built to relieve overcrowding at Wilmington Middle School, Gulf Elementary and Fries. After breaking ground two
and a half years ago, the campus feature performing arts classrooms, a library, a multi-purpose room, a gymnasium, a food service and lunch shelter space, a central administration building, playfields and a parking structure. But getting to this point was something of a struggle. “It has not been easy to build a school in the area, particularly in an area where you have to have some community input,” said Harry Bridges Span School Principal Lou Mardesich, obliquely recalling the environmental and public comment hurdles the school district had to surmount. Finding a location was an ordeal in itself, requiring Los Angeles Unified School District to take the property on which the school sits continued on following page
Harbor Commissioner Dave Arian poses next to bust of labor icon, Harry Bridges. The sculpture was designed by renowned local artist Eugene Daub. Photos: Robin Doyno.
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
A large contingent of the Bridges Family pose with Los Angeles Unified School District District 7 Board Member Richard Vladovic, at the dedication of the Harry Bridges Span School in Wilmington.
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from p. 4
through eminent domain. Seventy-two acres in size and comprised at one time of 10 residential units and 11 businesses that included a shopping center, this was site was settled on after the consideration of several other sites and short-lived community opposition. Mardesich noted that there was always feeling the Wilmington often gets short changed when it came to developments that benefit the city, but assured that the community was not short-changed this time. Former Local 13 and International president of the ILWU, David Arian, spoke to Random Lengths News about the ILWU and Harry Bridges Project’s role instilling a sense of history and labor in the new school. “You can see by the displays here (that) this is a part of the education for the people in the school here,” Arian said. “And, the ILWU and the Harry Bridges Institute has been a supporter in various ways... Naturally we’re not just talking about labor and the unions, but we’re also talking about pointing kids to jobs where they might not go to college.” Arian noted the labor shortage of workers. “We’re not just talking about Longshoremen, we’re talking about electricians, we’re talking about plumbers and so there is nothing wrong going down that path and educating kids about that possibility. So I think that’s something we can start here at a young age.” Arian explained that the Harry Bridges Institute is looking at a collaboration between schools like the span school and the USS Iowa with a machine shop and welding place as a means to educate children that there are other options aside from going to college. It’s not just one thing. You have to have the right combination of things, he said.
Community Alternative Plan The pattern was being repeated, he argued: The cost of dedicated truck lanes would be $125 million per mile, whereas “Maglev trains cost $20 million per mile,” a much cheaper alternative that was being ignored. Lest this seem utopian, Luis Cabrales of the Coalition for Clean Air added a dash of reality. “In Europe and in Asia, electric trucks and trains have been in use since the year 1992,” Cabrales pointed out. “Unfortunately, we have not had the political will to make sure that those technologies are available in the areas where they are needed the most, here in Southern California—especially those areas mostly impacted by air pollution.” Although Cabrales did not say so, those areas are primarily minority and low-income, as reflected in the majority of those testifying. But the exception proved the rule in a big way, when Marcy Weyman spoke. “I don’t live near the 710. I live in Belmont Heights,” she explained. “And, you know, the more privileged folks in those areas, we’re just starting to get wind of what’s happening. “My son, asthmatic, hospitalized, almost died four years ago. Air quality is something that affects all of us. Electric has been around for a long time. This is inexcusable.... Are only the privileged class are deserving of cleaner air? I mean, I don’t understand it. Let’s call out the elephant in the room. This is racism and classism. Don’t surrender!” The room bust out in applause before she continued.
“Do not surrender. The rest of Long Beach is starting to catch on to what’s happening. And we are here, brothers and sisters, and we will support you the whole way.” The degree to which Weyman’s words prove prophetic could well be decisive for the future of the 710 and the communities around it. As Andrea Hricko, professor of preventative medicine at USC pointed out, there are serious factual omissions and contradictions in the EIR. But these are only likely to matter if sufficient political pressure is brought to bear to make them matter. Hricko first drew attention to a 20-year body of near-freeway health-impact literature that is entirely missing from the draft EIR. She
then noted that by her reading, “Alternatives 5a, 6a, b and c would all increase air pollution by 2035… And it appears that the only way we could build this project and not increase pollution would be to not build the extra lanes.” This was entirely consistent with the demonstration going on outside, and the alternative they are promoting. The face-painting wasn’t just about community, Logan continued. “It’s all about children. Like kites, it’s about the air we breathe, kites flying there. It belongs to all of us. It doesn’t just belong to serve the movement of freight through the United States for cheap goods.” How cheap are a child’s lungs? That remains the bottom-line question behind the future of the 710.
Public comments have been extended until September 28. See p. 9 “Community Alerts” for details.
The Local Publication You Actually Read August 24 - September 6, 2012
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Leaping Into the Future Tony Scott’s last leap, Akin’s fall from disgrace and the Conspiracy of Lemmings By James Preston Allen, Publisher
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
The Tony Scott suicide is probably the best bad news attributed to San Pedro in a very long time. We’ve finally become a final destination point! It’s not every day that a Hollywood celebrity leaps to his death off our celebrated Vincent Thomas Bridge. In fact, unlike the Golden Gate Bridge, where jumpers seemingly line up for the opportunity (over 1,200 since 1937), leapers at our bridge spanning the Port of Los Angeles are relatively rare. What is more commonplace about this curious Hollywood suicide, with all the speculations about the motive, has to do with how it was reported. San Pedro was instantly catapulted to world recognition by the Los Angeles media who follow this one dictum—when something good happens in the Harbor Area they call it the Port of Los Angeles but when something bad happens it’s called San Pedro or Wilmington! For local business boosters, after decades of trying to establish San Pedro as a tourist or other “destination,” this incident exposes a serious weakness in the local marketing think-tank initiatives that have been talked about for more than a while as some people in San Pedro attempt to remake its image. Everyone wants to talk about branding and marketing the San Pedro Downtown Waterfront Art District and there have been various and multiple starts and failed attempts. This past year, at my urging, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution to create a coordinated marketing plan. Recently, the Property-based Business Improvement District (PBID), after several misguided attempts to brand its district alone, finally came to the conclusion to hire an expert. And the Chamber, ever so cautious, is moving in baby-steps to round up a group of qualified players to do the same. The San Pedro Arts Culture and Entertainment district (ACE), whose funding from the CRA/LA will end in 2013, is the only entity to give money directly to those like the Golden State Pops Orchestra and Little Fish Theater that have shown expertise in marketing themselves and have collaborated on occasion to promote the district as a whole. But the ACE District has, so far, failed to meet the greater marketing objective. Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles huddles together with the USS Iowa and the Crafted folks in casual closed door meetings
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on the marketing subject, but leaves many of the key players wondering why they weren’t invited. The PBID has, after years of cajoling, finally agreed to pay for certain ACE district marketing that clearly benefits them. Yet there is no consensus on forming a working coordinating marketing council that gets the message right. Left to our own devices, we become known as the town where the world-famous producer jumped off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. Well, at least they didn’t make the Robert DeNiro mistake of calling it the Saint Vincent Thomas Bridge. Vince was a great San Pedro politician, but not a Catholic saint—at least not yet. Does any of this amount to anything other than a footnote in another of Hollywood’s infamous and tragic deaths? Not to the rest of world. But locally, this kind of event exhibits the disconnect that we have with the rest of the great metropolis. We see things looking north to the city and the rest of Los Angeles looks at us as south of the 405 freeway, or worse. Perception is everything in the media. Even when it’s a misconception. But hey, we live in a world of misconceptions disguised as truth or facts. Just look at that right-wing bonehead from Missouri who talked at length about “legitimate rape” and some 17th century theory on the female reproductive response to rape. Does Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) believe that there’s a form of illegitimate rape or should we just send him some leaches to treat Tony Scott’s illusive brain cancer? This just goes to show what happens when you put idiots into office who aren’t qualified and expect them to represent the common folks. What’s truly distressing is that I really believe that this man is earnest in his anti-abortion beliefs. That’s what makes him and those like him so dangerous. They believe they are right. Which brings me to another sore point I have about people believing they’re right–posting disinformation on Facebook. I had to tell one of my Facebook followers today that he had every right to his own opinions, but not to his own facts when he dissed Obama’s record on job creation. Now I believe it’s everyone right to criticize the President. It’s part of the job description that you’ve got to take the heat. But what is happening is that people find the most “out-there-stuff” on the Internet, created by some hired political operatives and post it like they just found the golden tablets Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com
“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.” —Mark Twain Vol. XXXIII : No. 17
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of Mormon. Facebook, no matter how many “friends” you have on this rather questionable social networking platform, dominated by a relative few in every circle holding a not very private conversation with themselves. Outside of the fact that despite all of the marketing hoopla and buzz this biz got to launch its IPO, the Mark Zuckerberg “genius” hasn’t figured out how to make a simple profit on a business that’s valued in the billions by Wall
Congressional Foot Dragging Leaves Women Vulnerable By Sherry Lear
Editor’s note: Sherry Lear is an attorney and resident of San Pedro. She serves on Janice Hahn’s Advisory Council on Women’s Issues and is Los Angeles co-chairwoman of Miss R*EVOLutionaries, a California-based women’s rights group. This grassroots organization was launched with the April 28, 2012 nationwide rallies for “Unite Against the War on Women.” As I write this piece, the U.S. Congress has yet to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The VAWA was first passed in 1994 through bipartisan efforts to provide a comprehensive scheme of federal legislation designed to address the pervasiveness of sex-based violence in our country. Since its original passage, the VAWA has been reauthorized twice through bipartisan efforts of Congress, on each occasion, with new provisions expanding the protections and effectiveness of the act.
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Photographers Terelle Jerricks, Slobodan Dimitrov, Robin Doyno Contributors Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communi- Assistant Editor Cathy Familathe, Arnée Carofano, ties of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Zamná Ávila Sherry Lear, Danny Simon Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at over 350 locations reportersdesk@randomlengthsnews.com Cartoonists throughout the seven cities of the Harbor Area. Senior Editor Paul Rosenberg Ann Cleaves, Andy Singer, www.randomlengthsnews.com Matt Wuerker Managing Editor Terelle Jerricks editor@randomlengthsnews.com
Street Banksters. What we are dealing with here is a lot like jumping off a bridge, except that we’re all doing it together like lemmings. So perception is reality and the truth be damned. Are we all entitled to our own reality at this point or should we allow people like Akin, Romney and his new best friend Paul Ryan to misappropriate that once famous line from Treasure of the Sierra Madre, “Facts? We don’t need no stinking facts!”
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Notably, the Senate has already passed Senate Resolution 1925, a reauthorization of the VAWA, which was carefully and thoughtfully drafted with expanded provisions based upon detailed recommendations by advocates, service professionals and law enforcement. By all accounts, the VAWA has been extremely successful. VAWA-funded programs have improved the response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking; have resulted in more victims coming forward and receiving life-saving services; improved the ability for the criminal justice system to prosecute perpetrators and keep victims safe; and also have resulted in monetary savings across the country. SR1925 builds on this success by including several important changes. Statistical data shows that while members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community suffer from VAWA Foot Dragging/ on p. 10
Random Lengths News editorial office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, (310) 519-1016. Address correspondence regarding news items and news tips only to Random Lengths News, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733-0731, or email to editor @randomlengthsnews.com. Send Letters to the Editor or requests for subscription information to james @ randomlengthsnews.com. To be considered for publication, all Letters to the Editor should be typewritten, must be signed, with address and phone number included (these will not be published, but for verification only) and be kept to about 250 words. To submit advertising copy email adv@randomelengthsnews.com or reads@ randomlengthsnews.com. Extra copies and back issues are available by mail for $3 per copy while supplies last. Subscriptions are available for $35 per year for 27 issues. Random Lengths News presents issues from an alternative perspective. We welcome articles and opinions from all people in the Harbor Area. While we may not agree with the opinions of contributing writers, we respect and support their 1st Amendment right to express those opinions. Random Lengths News is a member of Standard Rates and Data Reporting Services and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. (ISN #08916627). All contents Copyright 2012 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.
Community Alert
San Pedro Community Plan/DEIR Available For Comments
A Draft of the proposed San Pedro Community Plan is now available for public review, along with a corresponding Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). The DEIR analyzes environmental impacts, such as air quality, traffic, cultural resources and other areas. The proposed plan and related materials, including a map of the recommendations by sub-area, and the DEIR can be found on the Planning Department website at: https://sites.google. com/site/sanpedrocommunityplan A hard copy of the DEIR is also available for review at the San Pedro Branch Library on Gaffey Street and the Harbor City-Wilmington Branch Library on Western Avenue. The Planning Department encourages the community and interested stakeholders to provide comments on the new plan and the DEIR. All comments on the DEIR must be received by Sept. 24. However, comments on the plan will be accepted after that date. There will be an open house and public hearing scheduled sometime in the fall. To be included on the notification list for this event and other updates, please email Debbie Lawrence at debbie.lawrence@ lacity.org or call here at (213) 978-1163. Comments may also be e-mailed to her.
710 Corridor Project Draft EIR Released for Public Review
Reader’s Brain on the Republican Brain, The Psychologists’ Guide to the Republican Brain
The words “senior editor” below Paul Rosenberg’s story seem to best describe his comments on the “Republican Brain.” His commentary can only be described as someone having a “senior moment.” Republicans are the liars? Who promised hope and change and delivered neither? Who promised to cut the deficit in half and then increased it by $5 trillion? Who promised to end the alleged civil rights violations of the Homeland Security Act and then decided to keep the Bush administration’s policies intact? And why isn’t the President honoring his pledge to step down if he failed to produce on these promises? Ed Kaufman Wilmington Dear Ed, And at this point you think going back to the voodoo economics of the Reagan era are actually going to help dig our country out of the worse economic crisis since the Great Depression? If you do you are in for a surprising history lesson. By the way “senior” just means that some of us still remember the past. James Preston Allen, Publisher
Wilmington Neighborhood Council and the Legal Drag Strip
Norquist has been doing to stop more taxes as I found that he founded a group called, “Islamic Free Market Institute.” Could it be that his very attempts to cut spending on make work projects and so called “infrastructure repair” were intended to hamper US developmentment and to make the country’s roads and freeways crumble? I wonder what your feelings and your readers’ feelings on this news. Bob Nellison Wilmington This is really interesting Mr. Nellison. Your anti-miscegenation,
anti-Islam and anti-capitalist attitudes has led you to question Grover Norquist’s stance on taxes. Talk about strange bedfellows. What’s next Mr. Nellison? Will we see you marching hand in hand with the supporters of the Loving Day movement* and advocate on behalf of the Occupy Movement. Does this mean your mind’s changed on California’s Prop. 13 and see the Keynesian economic model as superior to Milton Friedman’s? These are some weighty questions you’re wrestling with Mr. Nellison. Weighty indeed. *The landmark civil rights case of Loving v. Virginia that
ruled unconstitutional anti-miscegenation laws that were still on the books in 16 states in 1967. Terelle Jerricks Managing Editor
Residents Feel Hoodwinked by John M. and Muriel Olguin Campus
With the opening of the New High School in San Pedro there have been many lies made to the residents around the school. The Community was promised no school buses would use Alma Street Between 17th and 32nd More Letters/ to p. 25
Kudos to RLn
Well, sometimes thoughts of you are near to my mind ( and sometimes a little farther, but always they are preceded by some kind of superlative! Your pages always gives us the benefit of your sound thinking (well almost always), and we can always count on your in-depth articles to keep us up-to-date on local events and local problems. Another thing I appreciate about you James, is the way you are so personally supportive of every business and every cultural event in this town. It seems so anyway. Wherever I go, there he is.Random Lengths really helps to put this town on the map and we are very grateful for it. Best Wishes for an endless run of the paper. And thanks also to Terelle Jerricks, your managing editor for all his good articles. Margaret Litman San Pedro
Norquist a Muslim Lover and Islamic Capitalist
As a military veteran and a good citizen of these United States, I was quite upset to find that Mr. Grover Norquist, fine man that he is, is married to a Palestinian woman. Sarnah Alrayyes and Norquist were married in 2004. The Christian patriot Michele Bachmann and four other members of congress have charged that Norquist was helping the Muslim Brotherhood while working in the Bush White House. I have began to reassess what
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Cecilia Moreno’s Malpractice in Keeping the Drag Strip Issue off the WNC Agenda The issue of a legal drag strip was, as I understand it, the feature story of your last edition of Random Lengths. The active promoter of that issue came before the WNC’s Joint Committee on Transportation and Land Use planning in as I recall in early June. The two promoters gave an informational presentation at the WNC meeting at its May Monthly Meeting and were at the early June, Joint Committee Meeting because they were referred to it by the WNC Chair, I believe, Cecelia Moreno. Cecilia Moreno did not attend that June Joint Committee Meeting, but her standing colleague, Donna Ethington did, since she was the Transportation Chair and Jack Babbitt, the Land Use and Planning Chair. The two promoters gave, again, their pitch for a letter of support from the WNC by way of motion for the same from the Joint Committee and the Joint Committee were strongly in favor of making the request for a letter of support from the WNC Full board an action item on the July 25, 2012 Agenda, subject to the Executive
Committee approval to do so. The Executive Committee is composed of the existing WNC Board officers. The Chair of both the WNC Board and its Executive Committee that determines the monthly full board meetings agenda is Cecelia Moreno. I attended the July 25, 2012 Executive Neighborhood Council Board meeting, as I had the Joint Committee meeting in early June and was dismayed that the Legal Drag Strip issue was not an action item at all. I had raised the failure with Gary Kern several days before when he read the agenda as per the Brown Act Notices to me and he too was mystified why the issue was not an action item and said he would look into it. At the appropriate time, Gary Kern did speak up and asked Cecelia Moreno for an explanation for its absence. She said that she had not intended to do so but had in fact done so and Gary Kern insisted a second time for an explanation and got nothing plausible in response from Cecelia that all could clearly hear. Roberts Rules and the WNC’s own bylaws were clearly violated by Cecilia’s unilateral action. Donald Compton Wilmington
The Local Publication You Actually Read
Los Angeles—The California Department of Transportation has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate 710 Corridor Project and extended the public comment period through September 28. The project was developed in cooperation with various other agencies. The environmental review involves proposals to improve the Interstate 710 in Los Angeles County between Ocean Boulevard and State Route 60. Major elements include widening the I-710 freeway up to ten general purpose lanes (five lanes in each direction); modernizing and reconfiguring the Interstate 405, State Route 91 and a portion of the Interstate 5 interchanges with the I-710; modernizing and reconfiguring most local arterial interchanges along the I-710; and looking at a provision of a separate four-lane freight corridor to be used by conventional or zeroemission trucks. Written comments may be sent to: Ronald Kosinski, Caltrans District 7, Division of Environmental Planning 100 S. Main St., MS 16A Los Angeles, CA 90012 Or send an e-mail through the project website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/ dist07/resources/envdocs/ docs/710corridor/
RANDOMLetters
9
Disasters In Richmond, Las Vegas Highlight Rancho LPG Dangers
Two recent disasters underscore the danger of the Rancho San Pedro LPG facility, community activists pointed out. An Aug. 6 fire at the Richmond, Calif. Chevron refinery was due to faulty pipes not replaced during a round of maintenance last year, according to federal investigators. Thousands of residents were evacuated. “The pipe released a 600-degree ‘gas-oil’ liquid that created a highly flammable vapor cloud that quickly engulfed Chevron employees who were examining the pipe,” the Contra Costa Times reported. Five workers were injured. “Chevron employees believed it could last another five years before the next mandatory inspection,” investigators told the Times. “Our risk is 100 times worse,” said homeowner activist Janet Gunter, a leader in the struggle to relocate the LPG facility “Reminds me of the Sansinena, where the LA Fire Department and Coast Guard inspected it the morning it blew up but did not discover the corroded fume-gathering deck piping,” said retired Port Attorney Pat Nave. Another disaster began at a North Las Vegas propane plant around 9:20 p.m. on July 28. About 2,000 people were evacuated following a series of explosions. Fires burned for nearly 20 hours.. “Their worst fear was the 30,000 gallon tank (their largest) catching fire,” Gunter pointed out. “We have five 60,000 gallon tanks…300,000 gallons total, with another 25 million gallons of the volatile explosive butane to boot!”
AFL-CIO President Supports Administrative Relief for Undocumented
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued a press release Aug. 15 stating his support for the administrative relief for undocumented youth, “DREAMers.” “Today we join undocumented youth or DREAMers who came to the United States as children in celebrating the beginning of the process by which they will be able to apply to remain in the U.S., and work with the full exercise of their rights,” Trumka stated. “It is the culmination of years of activism by courageous and creative young people who are American in every sense except on paper.” This initiative will allow young people to work, go to school, and fully contribute to our society, without fear of being deported to an unfamiliar land. While this is only a temporary solution that does not does not provide a roadmap to citizenship, it is an important step that removes many workers from the underground economy.
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News Briefs/ to p 27.
Vote NO on Proposition 32
A Dangerous Loophole for Wall St. and the Super Rich By Cathy Familathe, President of the Southern California District Council, ILWU Nobody likes dealing with politics and politicians, but sometimes there’s an issue on the ballot that’s too dangerous to ignore. A good example is Proposition 32, the measure on our November ballot that is cleverly designed to sound reasonable, but it’s actually designed to hurt workers, unions and retirees – while giving new protection to the super-rich, powerful corporations and Wall Street investors. The funders behind Proposition 32 are themselves super-rich tycoons and corporations who support right-wing and extremist causes. One group behind Prop 32 is the “The Lincoln Club,” a group of corporate executives and millionaires
from Orange County who played a key role in backing the “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision that gutted federal campaign finance reform, and allowed corporations and the superrich to secretly fund political campaigns without telling voters. There’s a fatal flaw in Proposition 32 that would give unlimited rights to “LLC’s” or “limited liability corporations” to pour unlimited amount of money into political campaigns without any limits or restrictions. At the same time, Prop. 32 would severely restrict the right of union members to contribute money to support candidates and issues that benefit working
from p. 8
VAWA Foot Dragging
domestic violence at the same rate as the heterosexual population, this group is under-served, with half of all lesbians being turned away from domestic violence shelters. SR1925 makes it clear that all victims, LGBTQ included, are subject to its protections and can be the beneficiaries of program funds. Similarly, SB1925 addresses the pervasiveness of sex-based violence in Native American communities. Native women living on reservations face 2.5 times the rate of sexual violence than other Americans. Since tribes are sovereign nations, tribal lands are not under the criminal jurisdiction of state courts. Instead, tribes operate their own court systems to prosecute crimes committed by their own members on reservation land. Under the current status of the law, tribes are not allowed to prosecute non-natives or members of different tribes for reservation-based crimes. SR1925 provides for a limited exception so that tribal courts may prosecute all perpetrators of sex-based crimes, while requiring tribal courts provide the same constitutional protections afforded defendants in state criminal courts. This provision is one that has been welcomed by Native communities as it will save lives – mur-
der is the third leading cause of death for Native women. SR1925 also continues protection in place for abused immigrant and undocumented women since the VAWA was originally passed in 1994. SR1925 sounds like a no-brainer. It not only expands protections and effectiveness, but manages to do so with a 20 percent decrease in funding. Unfortunately, in yet another example of partisan gridlock, members of the GOP majority in the House of Representatives decided to present a competing, watered-down version of the VAWA. With the help of 17 GOP members from California, the House passed HR4970, which rolls back existing protection for victims, excludes the LGBTQ community, denies expanded protection for Native women abused by non-Natives and strips away identity protection provisions from undocumented immigrants who report domestic abuse. HR4970 would also further cut funding for important programs. This leaves two competing versions of the VAWA within Congress, only one can be signed into law. In a few short weeks, Congress will go on summer recess, and return briefly in October
people. The people behind Prop. 32 spent a lot of money to design their own ballot measure with a sugar-coating that sounds good – in order to hide the poison inside. After carefully looking at both sides, two highly-respected independent groups have concluded that Proposition 32 should be defeated: The League of Women Voters and the public-interest group, “Common Cause,” are both urging “vote NO on Proposition 32.” Proposition 32 pretends it’s about “stopping special interests” but that’s a lie. It was designed by millionaires with an extreme agenda who oppose Social Security, MediCare, minimum wages and other protections that we can’t afford to lose. We urge you to vote NO on Prop 32 this November, and ask your friends, family and co-workers to do the same. Thanks for your support. before closing out the 2012 legislative session. While we have seen the proposal of hundreds of laws designed to limit access to abortion and contraception, the physical safety and very lives of women should never be a political bargaining chip. It is imperative that the VAWA be reauthorized but not in some watered down version which limits protections for certain classes of victims. As I noted, 17 of the GOP Representatives who want to limit the VAWA are from right here in California, including Darrell Issa, Dan Lungren and Mary Bono Mack, with many from Orange County and the San Diego area as well. While VAWA programs have greatly enhanced systemic changes to meet the needs of victims and have saved countless lives, overwhelming needs remain. In the United States, a woman is beaten every 9 minutes, 3 women die from domestic violence every day and 25 percent of girls and 17 percent of boys are victims of sexual abuse. Lives are at stake. If you agree that this is an outrage and the VAWA needs to be reauthorized immediately, then please contact your representative now, especially if he (and in one case, she) is one of the 17 who voted for HR4970, and even if not, to urge that the House put up SR1925 for an immediate vote and pass it. Details: 4vawa.org
TONI (left) spoke about her single, “All I Want is You,” featuring JXClusive and Killahboy Onwon (right). Photo By Terelle Jerricks.
by: Melina Paris & Terelle Jerricks
Y
Shop Local. Dine Local. Support Your Community. Shop Local. Dine Local. Support Your Community.
ouTube views for unsigned independent music artists are probably a better measure than Nielsan Soundscan in determining the likability of a song. It is the one measure that doesn’t discriminate according to whether you’re signed to a label or have distribution deal. True, there are some variables to consider, such as how many of an artist’s singles are on the YouTube under a single account, the general online virility of the music video itself. In the most recent edition of Random Lengths News ran a feature on Carson R&B singer Tenelle Luafalemana and her debut single “Bulletproof,” which garnered 45,000 views in about a month. Around that same period of time, San Pedro singer-songwriter Toni caught our attention with 35,000 views during the same time period. But when we got ready to interview her for this story, the views on her single, “All I Want Is You,” had rocketed from 35,000 views to 105,000. The change happened in less than a week. Generally speaking, indie artists can’t afford online marketing firms that can achieve instant YouTube views using various online tricks the way City Attorney Carmen Trutanich did during his run for Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. Toni is no exception. “All I Want Is You” has the right ingredients: it’s very catchy and it’s a high energy dance song that quickly builds in layers thanks to the production efforts of Yang Song. The track also features the lyrical flows of rapper Killahboy Onwon, whose raw high energy verses provides a nice contrast to Toni’s vocals, and the lyrical contributions from San Bernandino rapper-songwriter JXClusive. The team assembled is actually a testament to TONI’s resourcefulness. To produce the song, she relied on friends with specialized expertise and hired others she’d found on Craigslist, finding quality people through trial and error. “We just put out posts on Craigslist and looked at everyone’s reels and filtered through to find the best ones. In doing that, you formulate a team, if it works out these are people you’ll work with the rest of TONI to page 18.
August 24 – September 6, 2012 August 24 – September 6, 2012
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Entertainment August 24
DW3 DW3 performs at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at the 7th Street Chophouse in San Pedro. Venue: 7th Street Chophouse Location: 465 W. 7th St., San Pedro Swing Peedro and Off the Vine at People’s Palace People’s Palace features wines from Off the Vine with Los Angeles’ hottest swing band, “The Swing of Things,” featuring Barry Anthony and Silvia Rodriguez, starting at 7:30 p.m. with free lesson all levels (beginners welcome). Then, at 8 p.m. the live music starts. You can dance or just sit and listen. Light refreshments will be available and a no host bar. Pre-register for $15 or register at the door for $20. Reserve a table for 10 and get in for $10. Details: (310) 547-2348 Venue: People’s Yoga Health & Dance Location: 365 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Beach, Brews and Barbecues
August 25
Ryan Serrano and The Tall Si Enjoy a night with the musical talents of Ryan Serrano and The Tall Si, and Fathers and Suns, starting at 7:30 p.m., at Viento y Agua Coffeehouse in Long Beach. Details: www.facebook.com/TheTallSi; www.facebook.com/fathersandsuns Venue: Viento y Agua Coffee House Location: 4007 E. 4th St, Long Beach Josh Nelson Quartet The Josh Nelson Quartet plays at 8 p.m. Aug. 25, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Jazz pianist Josh Nelson maintains a busy schedule as a composer, pianist and recording artist. At 33 years old, he has made a strong impression on the jazz and songwriting scene on the West Coast. Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Sensi Sensi will be playing, at 8 p.m. Aug. 25, at Mai Tai Bar in Long Beach. Details: (562) 435-1200 Venue: Mai Tai Bar Location: 97 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
August 24 – September 6, 2012
ACE>> Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
August 26
12
XDead-HabibX Gothic Death Metal from Orange County will be playing, starting at 5 p.m., at DiPiazza’s in Long Entertainment Calendar Contiued on page 14.
by: Gretchen Williams, Cuisine Writer
B
eachwood Brewing & BBQ in Long Beach is the grown up sibling of tiny Beachwood BBQ on Main Street in Seal Beach. Slow and low is the smoking philosophy of the Beachwood BBQ regime at both locations. On site smoking and the pursuit of the barbecue arts come from the heart of Gabe Gordon, a refugee from fine dining. His background in the white tablecloth world shows in attention to detail at Beachwood. Brilliant brewmaster Julian Shrago presents a variety of craft beers chosen to compliment the creative Beachwood menu. Beachwood Brewing will be all over the state this summer with appearances at the Craft Beer Crawl, San Marcos Brew Fest, Long Beach Funk Festival and Rose Park Bluegrass Festival, among others. Beachwood has made a fine showing at beer tastings in the past and foams the competition. Seal Beach Beachwood is “a party in a box” said one patron, relishing the ribs and brews. The bar was packed at lunchtime with locals enjoying the Olympics on the big screen and savoring artisan suds with the great sandwiches. Board shorts and faded Aloha shirts may be the dress
code, but the quality of the food and drink is black tie. A grid of slate tiles is chalked with the beer selections of the day. Shades of blue bring the ocean into the room. Look out the door to see the pier and the surf line. Long Beach Beachwood is the picnic branch of the barbecue empire, with rolling overhead doors opening the restaurant to the air and sky. Distinction between inside and out disappears. Industrial ducting and edges of rusty steel nod to the downtown area’s former working identity. Light floods the space through modern windowscaping. Premium people watching is possible on the casual patio bordering the Promenade. Downtown locals have taken the Beachwood to heart just like the Seal Beach favorite. Classic Memphis dry smoking brings the pork, beef and lamb to succulent smoky tenderness. Smokers on site in Long Beach and Seal Beach make fragrant work of the long, slow process. Spectacular smoked meats are the standard at Beachwood, but do not miss the subtle smoked elements of the menu like the ling cod and chips or smoked asparagus or smoked fresh mozzarella cheese. Oak, pecan and apple wood are used to create the magic smoke. Barbecue at Beachwood is served sans sauce, with the flavors of the meat allowed to predominate. Sauce is not discouraged, however, and an assortment of house made barbecue sauces called sweet, spicy, mustard and vinegar grace each table. Baby back ribs are the head of a regal menu of choices. Beef short ribs and brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken, sausage and smoked ham are dry rubbed and slow smoked. Salmon and albacore are cold smoked with oak and then finished on the grill for smooth flavor. Appetizers at Beachwood are an amazing variety of snacks destined to be legendary. Fried green tomatoes are a delightful surprise, flavorful and crispy and fun. Coated with Japanese panko crumbs and quickly fried, the old fashioned Southern dish is given a modern West Coast treatment and emerges toned and tanned. Deviled eggs are unusual even on the home front and Beachwood brings your mother’s stand-by into this century. Creamy and smooth, egg yolks are studded with tangy pickled green tomato and mustard seed on an egg white base. Blackened albacore sashimi is lightly cold smoked, then seared for an instant with blackening seasoning, sliced thinly and served with pepper cabbage slaw and zingy chili cream. Smoked buffalo wings are every sports fan’s dream, full of flavor and fun to eat with your fingers. Smothered Steak Fries provides a solid base for serious cerveza comparison, with melted cheddar and bleu cheese on French fries topped with bacon, green onion and spicy buffalo sauce. Should that dish prove too wimpy for the devoted happy hour fan, there is the tater tot casserole, surely a home sick Canadian’s pipe dream snack. The perennial frozen extruded spud product is cooked in duck fat and dusted with dried porcini mushroom dust, then crowned with smoked cheese curds (a sort of cottage cheese) and duck gravy. A quiet favorite is wild mushroom stew, a blend of fresh and dried mushrooms sautéed and served over a bed of Maytag bleu cheese grits. House cured olives and smoked nuts show the real chops of this kitchen. Happy hour is an excellent bargain, with sandwiches of brisket, pulled pork or chicken, spicy sausage or fried green tomatoes Contiued on page 13.
Contiued from page 12.
• Happy Hour • Blu Bar at Crowne Plaza • $4 Drinks and half off appetizers. (310) 519-8200, 601 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro The Chowder Barge • Try the 34oz. captain’s mug! (310) 830-7937, 611 N. Henry Ford, Leeward Bay Marina, Wilmington Godmother’s Saloon • Live jazz from Mike Guerrero Trio: 7 p.m. every Wed. (310) 8331589, 302 W. 7th St., San Pedro
Shop Local. Dine Local. Support Your Community.
for only $5. Appetizers range from Lena’s Famous Fried Pickles for $3.50 to sashimi for $7. Cold smoked ling cod is beer battered and flash fried for the finest fish and chips in history. Served with macho steak fries, this dish is the bacon of the future, crunchy and smoky and satisfying to eat. Grilled and smoked asparagus is another dish not to miss. The smoking and grilling brings new dimension to the grassy vegetable. Late night happy hour is a marvelous concept, rolling back prices from 10 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. One dollar off all house beers and happy hour menu with items from $3.50 to $6 make Beachwood BBQ & Brew downtown the place to be. Beachwood Brewing & BBQ: 210 E. 3rdSt., Long Beach, (562) 436-4020 Beachwood BBQ: 131 ½ Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 493-4500
Iron City Tavern • Happy Hour 1/2-price appetizers & drink specials: 4 to 6 p.m. Mon. to Fri. 589 W. 9th St., San Pedro; (310) 547-4766 Ports o’ Call • Happy Hour: Mon. to Fri., 3 to 8 p.m. Taco Tuesdays. Oyster shooter & bloody mary Wednesdays. (310) 833-3553, Berth 76 Ports O’ Call Village, San Pedro San Pedro Brewing Co. • Happy Hour: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Mon. to Fri. (310) 831-5663, 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro Whale & Ale • Happy Hour: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mon to Fri., 4 to 7 p.m. on Wed. Late Night Happy Hour: 10 p.m. to Midnight, Fri. Only. (310) 832-0363, 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro Happy Hour Listings Are Paid Advertising
August 24 – September 6, 2012
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Entertainment Calendar from page 12. Beach. Details: (562) 498-2461 Venue: DiPiazza Restaurant and Lounge Location: 5205 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach
August 24 – September 6, 2012
ACE>> Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
Goh Kurosawa Goh Kurosawa, performs at 4 p.m. Aug. 26, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Goh is recognized as a dynamic guitar instrumentalist throughout the west coast and Japan. He is often referred to as a musical approach to Western knowledge with the Japanese spirit, or in short a “musical wakonyosai.” Occasionally he strives to be as cool as Nyan-Nyan: his blue eyed white tiger-like cat. Kai is one of the leading figures in tap-style guitar playing as well as modern & traditional bass guitars. He is not only a dark knight on the one of a kind 24-string “Beartrax - Big Mama Bear” instrument which he designed, but also a kitchen ninja of spicy food and vegetarian delights. Groovin’ with the Kurosawa Brothers on drums is Chuck who completes the trio with his exceptionally creative tasteful approach to time, space, and silence. Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Camino Rio Enjoy this concert of Rockin’ Rhumba Flamenca. Karl Frederick Grossman and his Camino Rio (River Road) play fresh melodies, rhythms, and harmonies that feature exciting nylon guitar, latin percussion, palmas, and our special guest, Los Angeles’ own flamenco dancer, Angelita, starting at 5 p.m. at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum in Rancho Dominguez. The songs are born of cool ocean waves and warm Mexican winds. The show is original; the sound is California; the effect is infectious. Bring your blanket, comfortable Entertainment Calendar to page 18.
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Dave Widow & The Line Up Waiting for the World to End by: B. Noel Barr, Music Writer Dude
D
ave Widow is a blues playing singer and songwriter who smokes on the electric guitar. His style is reminiscent of the late Mike Bloomfield (guitarist for The Butterfield Blues Band out of Chicago, and the Electric Flag from San Francisco). His latest CD, Waiting for the World to End has been released to some acclaim already. The CD is an outstanding collection of blues songs, demonstrating first rate production and musicianship. From the opening track “Bluesman” to the last track “Sweet Janine” the disc sounds like an open book about the life and love of Dave Widow. A couple of highlights are songs like “Piss You Off” tells the story of the guy who has to ask after a momentary confrontation, “What did I do to piss you off this time?” The song “I Look for Things Like That” is one that fits with Dave’s personality of looking for the meaningful and positive in others. I first saw Widow performing with Sean Lane and the Hellhounds along with Scott McLean of Seatbelt in a retro rockabilly blues show at the
Grand Annex earlier this summer. At this show, Widow joined two sets during different times in the evening with The Hellhounds playing back up. During a phone interview with the noted singer-guitarist, Widow reflected on the days when he first moved into town 20 years ago by way of Cincinnati, playing at the Lighthouse in Los Angeles and Club Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach. “That was a lot of fun I was playing the Lighthouse on Fridays and Saturdays about once a month,” he noted. “I would also play places like the old Blue Café in Long Beach.” That would have been during the blues explosion over in Long Beach circa 1990s. Widow also used to play at Spanky’s, now the Alano club and played at the Angels Gate Blues Concert in 1990. “We had Bonnie Bramlett (Delaney and Bonnie) [at the Angels Gate Blues Concert],” Widow explained. “It was supposed to be the first of many events, but nothing seemed to happen after that. It was three groups Bonnie Bramlett and my buddy Roger Troy from the Bloomfield band.” Widow noted that he played with those groups as well as his own band. Delaney and Bonnie fronted a band filled with star quality musicians, that band became a touchstone for many other groups. Leon Russell, Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen spun off from Delaney and Bonnie--Eric Clapton and George Harrison played with them, too. “There were three or four hundred people that were that day. Delaney Bramlett was going to produce Waiting for The World to End before he passed away” Widow’s band, the Line Up, had a constantly rotating group of musicians depending on who was available, including the likes of Gary Malabar, who not only is co-producer on Widow’s CD, but has played with artists Steve Miller, Van Morrison, and Bonnie Raitt.
Dave Widow jams with his electric guitar and vocal talents. File Photo.
“Most of the time we have a four piece band going and I have done a lot of gigs with Gary Malabar or James Gadson drums and bassist Gerald Johnson (Dave Mason, Steve Miller, CSN, Les Dudek, and The Pointer Sisters.)” Others who stepped up and have played with Widow before, and are on the CD are A-list players such as keyboardist and vocalist Bill Champlin of the 60s San Francisco band, The Sons of Champlin, bassist Reggie McBride, who has played with Stevie Wonder, Etta James, and Keb Mo’ and keyboardist Mike Finnigan, who’s played with Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills and Nash, and Rod Stewart. Original member of the Electric Flag, Barry Goldberg, has been playing with blues greats since the early 60s, from Muddy Waters to Howlin’ Wolf. Goldberg – a featured member of the Line Up - was a member of Bob Dylan’s electric band at the Newport Folk Festival, the moment when Dylan went electric, changing the course of music history. Drummer James Gadson is also part of The Line Up, Gadson is a veteran rhythm and blues percussionist with credits from people like Ray Charles, Bill Withers, and Quincy Jones. Dave Widow and the Line Up have been nominated as one of the best live music groups of 2012 by The Los Angeles Music Awards. Dave Widow can be found at www.davewidow. com
Big Nick’s Pizza Tradition, variety and fast delivery; you get it all at Big Nick’s Pizza. The best selection of Italian specialties include hear ty calzones, an array of pastas and of course, our amazing selection of signature pizzas, each piled high with the freshest toppings. Like wings or greens? We also offer an excellent selection of appetizers, salads, beer and wine. Call for fast delivery. Hours: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat. 1110 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 732-5800
Fancy Melts “Fancy” barely begins to describe it. Our secret recipe old-world bread has been a San Pedro staple since 1975. Now we use it to create the most amazing grilled sandwiches you’ll ever try. Come taste what everyone has been talking about... Delivered right up to your car window if you wish. Fancy Fever... Catch it! Call your order ahead for made–to–order, no–waiting pick-ups! Hours: Tues–Sat 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. 2331 Alma St., San Pedro • (310) 547-4331
Boardwalk Grill
Iron City features a newly renovated dining room and wonderfully restored bar in a modern setting. The most comfortable gastropub in San Pedro, Iron City offers casual dining for lunch and dinner with food service at the bar. Catch all sporting events on seven 50” screens in surround sound and listen to your favorite tunes on our internet jukebox. (Iron City is a supporter of the Black & Gold.) Iron City features authentic Philly cheese steaks, various hot sandwiches and burgers, calamari steaks and a variety of Italian pasta dishes. Hours:10:30 a.m.-2a.m. 7 days a week. Happy hour from 4-6 p.m. featuring 1/2 priced appetizers and drink specials. Free parking in rear. 589 W. 9th St., San Pedro • (310) 547-4766
C a s u a l waterfront dining at its finest! Famous fo r s l a b s o f Chicago-style baby back ribs, fish-n-chips, rich clam chowder, cold beer on tap and wine. Full lunch menu also includes salads, sandwiches and burgers. Indoor and outdoor patio dining available. Proudly pouring Starbucks coffee. Open 7 days a week. Free Parking. 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 77, San Pedro • (310) 519-7551
The Chowder Barge
NIKO’S PIZZERIA Downtown San Pedro’s newest restaurant features a full Italian menu, as well as pizza, and a beer and wine bar. We carry a wide selection of beers on tap and by the bottle. Watch sporting events on plasma TV screens throughout the restaurant. Delivery service to all of San Pedro, Port locations, and hotels. 399 W. 6th St., San Pedro (at the corner of Mesa and 6th sts.) • (310) 241-1400 PORTS O’CALL WATERFRONT DINING Since 1961 we’ve extended a hear ty welcome to visitors from every corner of the globe. Delight in an awe-inspiring view of the dynamic LA Harbor
(25th and Western) 2420 S. Western Ave. , San Pedro, (310) 832-4471
Los Angeles 110 W. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 527-7323 Gardena 13890 S. Normadie Ave., Gardena, (310) 327-5615
www.prontosmexgrill.com.
San Pedro Brewing Compnay SPBC has an eclectic menu featuring pastas, steaks, seafood, sandwiches, salads, delicious appetizers, and great BBQ. Handcrafted ales and lagers are made on the premises. A full bar with made-from-scratch margaritas and a martini menu all add fun to the warm and friendly atmosphere. WIFI bar connected for Web surfing and e-mail—bring your laptop. Hours: From 11:30 a.m., daily. 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro • (310) 831-5663 www.sanpedrobrewing.com SPIRIT CRUISES An instant party! Complete with all you need to relax and enjoy while the majesty of the harbor slips by. Our three yachts and seasoned staff provide for an exquisite excursion every time, and “all-inclusive” pricing makes party planning easy! Dinner Cruise features a 3-course meal, full bar, unlimited cocktails and starlight dancing. Offering the ultimate excursion for any occasion. Free Parking. 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 77, San Pedro • (310) 548-8080, (562) 495-5884 www.spiritmarine.com
of imported beers. Breakfast at the Café’ runs the gamut from bacon and eggs to eggs Benedict, with a wide variety of dishes to awaken the taste buds. Think Café’s sandwiches are hard to beat. 302 W. 5th St. Suite 105, San Pedro • (310) 519-3662 Trusela’s
Southern Italian & California Cuisine • Bob and Josephine Trusela have been awarded the “Most Promising New Restaurant 2010” award and three stars 2011 and 2012, by the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association. Catering available for all ocassions. Hours: Sun. 5 p.m.–Close, Lunch: Tues–Fri 11:30–2:30, Dinner: Tues–Sat 5 p.m.–Closing. 28158 S. Western Ave., San Pedro • (310) 547–0993 www.truselas.com
The Whale & Ale
San Pedro’s British Gastro Pub offers comfor table dining in oak paneled setting, featuring English fish & chips, roast prime rib, sea bass, rack of lamb, beef Wellington, English pies, venison, salmon, swordfish & vegan/vegetarian dishes. Open for lunch & dinner, 7days/wk; great selection of wines; 14 British tap ales, & full bar. Frequent live Music. First Thursday live band & special fixed price menu. Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri. 11:30 a.m.midnight Sat. & Sun. 1-10 p.m. Bar open late. 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro • (310) 832-0363 www.whaleandale.com
San Pedro’s Best Guide To —Fine Dining—
Brochure Pick Up Your 2012 Copy Today!
Think Café
Think Café is giving downtown San Pedro a taste of sophistication for breakfast and lunchtime, and dinner. Located in the hear t of downtown on 5th Street, Think Café’ has been a magnet for local s and business types alike for over 15 years. The special secret of Think Café? Dining outside on the patio. Lovely for latte’ in the morning or soup and salad at midday, the patio is a wonderful rendezvous in the evening, perfect for enjoying a selection from the wine list. The Café’ also boasts a selection
To Advertise in Random Lengths News’ Restaurant Guide for the Harbor Area, Call (310) 519–1442.
August 24 – September 6, 2012
L.A. Harbor’s famous floating restaurant, surrounded by boats in Leeward Bay Marina. Dine inside by our fire place, or outside on our deck . This unique spot ser ves great sandwiches, burgers, fish & chips, wings and of course, the BEST clam chowder anywhere! Try our sourdough bread bowl and daily specials. Wine and beer on tap or by the bottle, featuring our 34oz Captains Mug! The new owners have kept the “funkiness” of the old barge, and stepped it up several notches. Watch the games on our big screen TVs, utilize our WiFi and enjoy our XM tunes. THE place for your next party. Hours: Mon, Tues 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Wed, Thurs 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Fri, Sat, Sun 9 a.m.–8 p.m. 611 N. Henry Ford, (at Anaheim) Leeward Bay Marina, Wilmington • (310) 830-7937 www.ChowderBarge.com
Mishi’s Strudel Bakery Mishi’s is a fragrant landmark on 7th Street, where it is possible to find Nirvana by following your nose. The enticing aroma of baking strudel is impossible to resist, and the darling café is warm and welcoming like your favorite auntie’s house. Aniko and Mishi have expanded the menu to include homemade goulash soup and a variety of sweet and savory Hungarian strudels, crepes and pastas. The best indulgence is taking a frozen strudel home to bake in your own kitchen and create that heavenly aroma at your house. Mishi’s Strudel Bakery and Café, 309 W.7th St., St., San Pedro • (310) 832-6474 www.mishisstrudel.com
PRONTO’S FRESH MEXICAN GRILL & PRONTO’S BURGERS
Shop Local. Dine Local. Support Your Community.
Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria A San Pedro landmark for over 40 years, famous for exceptional awa rd - w i n n i n g pizza baked in brick ovens. Buono’s also o f fe r s c l a s s i c Italian dishes and sauces based on triedand-true family recipes and hand-selected ingredients that are prepared fresh. You can dine-in or take-out. Delivery and catering are also provided. Additionally, there are two locations in Long Beach. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 1432 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 547-0655 www.buonospizza.com
Iron City Tavern
while enjoying exquisite Coastal California Cuisine and Varietals. Relax in the Plank Bar or Outdoor Patio for the best Happy Hour on the Waterfront. With the Award-Winning Sunday Champagne Brunch, receive the first SPIRIT CRUISES Harbor Cruise of the day FREE. Open 7 days, lunch and dinner. Free Parking. 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 76, San Pedro • (310) 833-3553 www.Portsocalldining.com
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San Pedro’s Original ArtWalk— Fine Dining Event • Live Music Special Performances • Food Trucks! Gallery 345
From Within and Beyond Gloria D Lee and Pat Woolley exhibit mixed media and watercolor paintings, books, small works and more. 6-9 pm 1st Thursday, and by appointment. Please call 310 545 0832 or 310 374 8055 for appointments or email artsail@roadrunner. com; www.gloriadlee.com; woolleybear@verizon.net ; www. teddytraveler.com• 345 W. 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731
Lazy Dog Studio
310.833.8500 301 W. 7th St., San Pedro
Retrospection: Featured Artists: Debbie Marr, Tony Podue, Karen Yee & John Chase. Tues – Sat 12-6pm 361 W. 7th St. • 310.293.1332
The Loft Gallery
Portraits: Works by L.A. Assemblage Group Open Studios: Candice Gawne, Carol Hungerford, Sam Arno, Daniel Porras Murial Olguin, Jan Govaerts, Anne Marie Rawlinson, & Nancy Towne Schultz 401 S. Mesa St. • 310.831.5757 • Open 6–9pm & by appt.
Michael Stearns Studio
Currently showing “From the Earth” by Michael Stearns. Current works include paintings, papier mache and mixed media sculptures, reflecting interest in the southwestern landscape, spiritual studies and veteran issues. Open 1st Thursday Art Walk, by appointment, or by chance. 347 W. 7th St. • 562.400.0544 • Michaelstearnsstudio.com
August 24 – September 6, 2012
ACE>> Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
Richard Lopez Studio
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“Cosmic Abstracts and Other Considerations” by Richard Lopez. Topics exploring life’s ever-shifting balance of chaos and order. Art classes by appointment. 372 7th St. • 562.370.7883 • Ralopezart.com
Artist Studios & Galleries
Gallery 381 • 381 West 6th St. • 310-809-5082 Dwelling • 387 West 6th St. • 310-547-4222 Neil Nagy • 408 West 6th St. • 310-617-3459 Mike Rivero Studio • 414 West 6th St. • 310-720-3407 Dekor • 445 West 6th • St. 310-831-1800 fINdings Art Center • 470 West 6th St. • 310-489-1362 Arcade Gallery Ovation • 479 West 6th St. • 267-909-0799 Ancient Arts Stained Glass • 333 West 7th St. • 310-832-7613 Studio 339 • 339 West 7th St. • 310-514-1238 Allyson Vought • 356 West 7th St. 424-210-7475 Human Array Gallery • 357 West 7th St. • 408-475-8867 Nancy Crawford • 360 West 7th St. • 310-732-7922 Gallery Ls • 362 West 7th St. • 310-541-4354 Paul Turang • 364 West 7th St. • 310-547-9771 Gallery Neuartig • 366 West 7th St. • 213-973-8223 Jim Harter • 368 West 7th St. • 310-533-8753 Studio MNX • 370 West 7th St. Meredith Harbuck • 372 West 7th St. • 310-528-7184 Yoon Jin Kim • 374 West 7th St. • 310-514-2143 Julia Strickler • 376 West 7th St. • 310-908-3824 Shannon LaBelle • 378 West 7th St. Hiroko • 382 West 7th St. • 310-514-8881 SP Chamber Board Room Gallery • 390 W 7th St. • 310-832-7272 Gallery at the Vault • 407 West 7th St. • 310-548-6585 Shalla Javid Studio • 407 7th St. Unit 119 A • 918-557-2165 Scott Boren Borenstudios • 412 West 7th St. Yong Sin • 414 West 7th St. • 310-221-0283 Medea Gallery • 445 West 7th St. • 310-833-3831 Gallery 478 • 478 West 7th St. • 310-732-2150 Norm Looney • 318 S. Pacific Ave. • 310-548-6293 Warschaw Gallery • 600 S. Pacific Ave • 310-547-3606
Advertise Here for As Low As
$35
per
Month!
(310) 519-1442
302 W. 7th Street • 310. 833.1589 –Entertainment Calendar– Fri 8/31 Sun 9/2
First
Thurs 9/6 Fri 9/7 Sun 9/9 Sat 9/15 Sun 9/16 Fri 9/21
Hindsight Silver Beat
9pm
Down the Hatch Choyce TJ Rox Rick’s Jamnesia Soul Shot Jay Edward Band
7pm
4pm
9pm 4pm 9pm 4pm 9pm
Karaoke Every Tuesday at 8pm with Amorette Jazz Jam every Wednesday 7 - 11pm
– www.godmotherssaloon.com –
Swimming In Paint by: Andrea Serna the oscillation of color and shape she sought to foster in her creations. Day embraces beauty and the sheer tactile joy of manipulating pigment. In horizontally stacked layers of mostly muted colors
Beach. Among her honors were grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and multiple residency fellowships. A selection of abstract paintings, collages, and drawings will reflect her concern with symbolic language and the structure of “things unseen.” Day, who died this past year, exhibited and lectured across the United States. During her relatively brief career. She was recently featured in “PSST: Art in San Pedro 2000-2012.” An innovative voice in her field she was a much loved educator in the Arts Department at CSULB. Curator Kristina Newhouse has clearly created a labor of love. The title of the exhibition, “Swimming in Paint” refers to one of Day’s favorite expressions a “good day in the studio is one where I’m swimming in paint.” Day derived pleasure from art by immersing herself in an embodied state of inspiration. Paint from her studio, jazz on the radio, even the local street noise served as an inspiration. Day frequently used physiological terms such as “pulse,” “beat,” and “breath” to describe
laid down in wavy and sometimes jagged lines, Day’s paintings display a visible, archeological record of their creation. With her use of vibrant color, Days’ work invites the viewer to participate through interaction. Much of Day’s work was inspired by digital glitches, the type sometimes created by data corruption on your computer files. This compares to the snow effect that used to appear on our old black and white television wired to rabbit ear antennae. Here, her geometric construction pieces, sometimes assembled with staples and glue, appear as preliminary preparation for larger work to come. These paintings embody light, space and a sense of speed and sound through the manipulation of color, transparency, and structure. The primitive TV speaker becomes surround sound. Saturated color extends across the screen. Day said “I am dreaming of Vistavision, Cinemascope.” Exhibit: Swimming in Paint (Sept. 8 – Dec. 9, 2012) Venue: University Art Museum, CSULB Location: 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach
September 6
August 31
Evening Jazz at Anderson Park Join the fun in an evening of jazz at Anderson Park for the 30 and older crowd. Come ready to network
with the Carson family and have a good time. Bring your lawn chairs, this event is free. Come in your denim and white and join the fun. This is an adult only affair. Venue: James Anderson Park Location: 19101 Wilmington Ave. Carson Hula Mau Polynesian Festival The 18th Annual E Hula Mau® returns to the Long Beach Terrace Theatre on, Aug. 31st through Sept. 2, at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. The celebration of Hawaiian Culture, which also hosts Southern California’s only Hula and Chant Competition, will feature dynamic live performances, unique arts and crafts, interactive workshops and a delectable Island-style cuisine. Tickets prices ranges from $19 to $78. Details: www.ehulamau.org, www.ticketmaster.com. Venue: Long Beach Performing Arts Center Location: 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
August 24 – September 6, 2012
Jeff Dunas’ “STATE OF THE BLUES” Gallery 478 is pleased to present State of the Blues, an exhibition of photographs by Jeff Dunas. The show opens on First Thursday, Sept. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. An Artist’s Reception will take place Saturday, Sept. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. Los Angeles-based photographer, Jeff Dunas has created a stirring visual tribute to the blues in a series of intimate portraits of the greatest artists of the genre including B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Taj Mahal, and many others. The exhibit runs from Sept. 6 – Nov. 29, 2012 Venue: Gallery 478 Location: 478 W. 7th St., San Pedro
Shop Local. Dine Local. Support Your Community.
The late Linda Adair Day, an internationally recognized award winning artist San Pedro resident, is the subject of an exhibition this fall at the University Art Museum at Cal State Long
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Entertainment Calendar from page 14. chairs, and picnic basket as you listen to live world music under the sky. Admission is only $20 (free parking), which includes a world-class event and a chance to experience the historic Dominguez Rancho at twilight. Details: (310) 603-0088 Venue: Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum Location: 18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez
August 31
Queen Mary Art Deco Festival Celebrating Labor Day Weekend, the Queen Mary is inviting guests and visitors to a total immersion of an era. The Eighth Annual Queen Mary Art Deco Festival, presented in association with the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, will feature all things Art Deco. Art Deco, a decorative art style characterized bay precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors, flourished during the 1930s and influenced fashion, jewelry, art, architecture, design, and even Ocean Liners. Runs August 31 – September 2. Details: www.QueenMary.com Venue: The Queen Mary Location: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach Rick Parma and Chi-town Soul Rick Parma and Chi-town Soul perform at 7:30 p.m. Venue: 7th Street Chophouse Location: 465 W. 7th St., San Pedro Bad Apples Experience a few Bad Apples, starting at 10 p.m. Aug. 31, at the San Pedro Brewing Co. Details: (310) 831-5663 Venue: San Pedro Brewing Co. Location: 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro
September 1
ACE>> Arts • Cuisine • Entertainment
Richie Cole Richie Cole performs, at 8 p.m. Cole is a jazz master of the sax, brilliant arranger and composer, educator, and founder and director of The Alto Madness Orchestra, which he created in the early 1990s to feature a rhythm section plus four horns. Cost is $20. Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro Kaye Reznick Kaye Reznick performs, starting 7 p.m., as part of the Trova and Bohemian Night. Details: (562) 434-1182 Venue: Viento y Agua Coffeehouse & Gallery Location: 4007 E. 4th St., Long Beach
September 2
Felix Martin Trio The Felix Martin Trio performs, at 4 pm. Sept. 2, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Martin is the innovator of the 14-string guitar, currently signed a major label called Prosthetic Records. Ticket price is $20. Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
September 6
Lucid Fly Lucid Fly performs, at 9 p.m. Sept. 6, at DiPiazza Restaurant and Lounge in Long Beach. Details: (562) 498-2461 Venue: DiPiazza Restaurant and Lounge Location: 5205 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach
August 24 – September 6, 2012
September 7
David Hughes David Hughes performs, at 8 p.m. Sept. 7, at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro. Ticket price is $20. Details: (800) 403-3447 Venue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Afro-Beatles Altogether now in joining us FREE outdoors under the stars at Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park for the LA Debut and very special evening of joy and discovery in a live improvised scoring mashup celebrating this passionate collaboration of The AFROBEATLES come to life! See and enjoy rare footage of the mighty FELA Anikulapo KUTI & THE FAB FOUR in narratives woven from a capellas, rock, pop and Afrobeat classics and African cinema.Featuring RICH MEDINA as host, narrator, and DJ and MARK HINES on the music and visual mix. Details: www.levittla.org/calendar/tag/september/ 18 Venue: McArthur Park
Preview of a Reprised “Fiddler” at Armstrong Theatre writers but never before told a Jewish by: John Farrell
O
nce every 10 years or so an American musical comes along and changes how people think about things. In 1964, Fiddler on the Roof took Broadway by storm, and staged 3,000 performances before it closed. It has since been revived professionally ever few years and some of the best voices on Broadway have taken on the role of Tevye, the father of five daughters living in a Jewish shtetl in 1906 Russia, bringing the audience at once into his confidence as he explains Anatevka and its long-time traditions. But those traditions, passed on for years, are already changing and more change will come before Fiddler ends. The story is tame and a part of American tradition now. But it was ground breaking in the musical comedy world, which had many Jewish
Continued from page 11.
TONI
your life because they were there when you had no money and they did the best they could do.” During an interview with Random Lengths at Sacred Grounds, explained her process of putting the song and video together. “I put up a post on Craigslist eight months ago and found a producer, Yang Song,” Toni explained. “He barely spoke any English but he was really good. You could hear it in his work and he was willing to collaborate for free. So I went to his home studio and we tracked the song. “When he produced the beat there was a part of the beat I couldn’t write or sing to. Yang told me that was for the rapper. Ok, well I guess we’re gonna have a rapper.” Toni explained that the project was delayed for awhile after relations with the first rapper they chose to work with fell apart. They had actually came across Killahboy’s name previously through a friend of a friend. “We went back to Killahboy Onwon; I really liked him in the first place,” she said. “I loved his energy, he’s unique, exciting and passionate and I was really excited to have him on the track.” It turned out the two went to Narbonne High School, but didn’t know each other. “It’s really cool to see how things worked out, we came from the same town (Harbor City) but
story. It made Jewish immigration a part of the American experience, like Irish and Italian immigration. In Torrance, Tevye is David McGee. And if he doesn’t have the big voice that other Tevye’s have had, he has all the chutzpah and all the wily ways in his struggles with God as he endures poverty, a lame horse and young daughters growing up in the modern world. Director Jim Hormel uses the first-rate sets and much of Jerome Robbins’ original choreography, which was recreated and augmented by choreographer Mark Esposito for a wonderful experience. The full 24-piece orchestra enhancement, directed by conductor Rick Heckman, places the production into a special category. This is as good as Fiddler gets. At least got our starts in two completely different worlds, he went to work and took care of his family and I went to university. If Killahboy and Toni were complete contrasts, she and JXclusive, were kindred spirits creatively. JXClusive added an indispensable element to the song. “He came up with this really cool catchy melody during the bridge, and included the lines “You’re beautiful…” I loved those notes,” she said. Filmed in part at the Hernandez Ranch portion of Peck Park, the video has a fun feel good element featuring Toni and Onwon and a group friends. Since this is the only video Toni has online, it was easy to get confused by whether Toni was the name of an individual artist or the name of the band. The confusion compounded with Toni’s drastic wardrobe changes gave the impression that Toni had a twin. Aside from these minor issues, the video was tightly crafted and most importantly, locally produced. “The second day we had no budget,” Toni explained. “It was only supposed to be a one day shoot... So everything happened impromptu and I created my own outfits.” The end result were the inclusion of downtown San Pedro businesses such as Sacred Grounds, Threads of Time, and Crimsin Lounge in the video. We asked about the 105,000 views in less than a week and what it took for it to happen. Toni smiled and began her answer with a reflection on what the process was like in the beginning, two years ago versus what the process is like now. “I felt more excited in the beginning, more optimistic,” Toni began. “I thought if I get over “X” amount of views people will notice us or want to sign us or give us money but it doesn’t happen
until another Broadway road show comes into town. Tickets are $35, $30 for seniors, $25 for children. The last performance is Saturday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Details: ( 310 ) 7 81 - 7171 , w w w . torrancetheatercompany.com Venue: Armstrong Theatre Location: 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance that way. It really doesn’t.” Toni noted that most people think the song’s lyrics is about a relationship or about talking to another person, saying you don’t really want their money or anything else, just them. She set the record straight, explaining, “the song is really about yourself and asking yourself to remain true and once you figure out who you are - which is the light - someone who should be shining, then you don’t really need anything else.” She explained that the song was inspired by a favorite Bible verse, Matthew 5:14. “It talks about being the light, and sitting on the hill, it’s who you are - which is a light,” she said. Toni isn’t concerned about putting together a full on album at this point. “I feel like we’re in the age of singles,” Toni explained. “I’m definitely going for putting out an EP with 5 or 6 songs on it though. [But] For me it’s about get my single, promoting the heck out of it and getting a following started. I want to hold off on an album until I have financial backing, whether it comes in the form of a record company or sponsor. So it’s little by little, song by song you know and it’s about finding genuine people to work with in this industry.” As for future and ongoing projects, Toni said she’s open to everything, but it seemed like she was already doing everything. “I’m open to everything, the more you say yes the more that can come to you,” she said. She said she sent out an audition tape to the producer for The Voice, that’s in the works now. She’s also on a reality show pilot based on her life. “It’s about how I work full time every day then go to the studio after work and record,” she said. “All of that and right now my wife is pregnant too. So it’s just the story what it takes to do it all every day. “You just have to have the right team, who produces good quality, professional work. It’s got to be good, it’s an impression that you’re making; best foot forward, nothing else will do.” To see the video, visit http:// tinyurl.com/All-I-Want-is-You-Toni
The Local Publication You Actually Read
August 24 - September 6, 2012
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Scalers Tells Clean Harbors to Clean Up Act By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
On July 20, ILWU Local 56 Scalers Union and other labor demonstrators hosted a press conference outside the Clean Harbors Environmental Services LLC facilities as a warning to clean up their act. A long history of environmental violations trail the Massachusetts-based environmental services company, ranging from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Air Resources Board and the state’s Water Resources Board. “We’re here to warn the Harbor community that Clean Harbors has a spotty record when it comes to protecting workers and the public,” said Ruben Hurtado, Business Agent and Dispatcher at Local 56. Local 56 President Ilugardo Gonzalez added, “It’s disappointing to see an environmental cleanup firm operating here who’s been charged with so many violations of clean air and water laws.” Local 56 Secretary-Treasurer Enrique Marin said, “We’d like to see this company live up to their ‘Clean Harbors’ name.” Clean Harbors services include treating, storing, hauling, and disposing of hazardous waste and most of its violations center on this activities. In 1990s, Clean Harbors lost in a labor complaint after an employee filed a complaint against the company alleging that he was fired in retaliation for his safety complaints and his refusal to violate federal regulations. They appealed the case and lost, forcing the company to pay court costs to the Secretary of Labor and the original complainant in the case. In 2004, the company reached a $19,000 settlement with the California Department of Toxic
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Substances Control for hazardous waste violations at its 5756 Alba St. facility in Los Angeles. The violations noted were: • Accepting hazardous waste from a generator without a hazardous waste manifest. • Failing to submit an “Unmanifested Waste Report” to the Department within 15 days after accepting hazardous waste without a manifest. • Failing to make a proper waste determination. • Offering hazardous waste for transportation and off-site treatment without a hazardous waste manifest. In April 2010, Clean Harbors Environmental Services agreed to pay $55,500 in penalties for violating air quality regulations, after an investigation by the Air Resources Board showed that Clean Harbors failed to properly self-inspect their diesel trucks to assure that the trucks met state smoke emission standards. Though ILWU spokesman, Craig Merrilees noted that the company violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, the company has been getting recognition for its participation in the Voluntary Protection Program which employs OSHA-approved guidelines promoting a safety and health management system that stresses employees working together with their managers The July 20 demonstration was not regarding a specific labor dispute, but rather about how the environmental services company does business. The Port of Los Angeles contracts a great deal of work to the environmental services company. In September 2011, Clean Harbors was hired to remove asbestos from the fruit warehouses at
On July 20, ILWU Local 56 Scalers Union protested outside of Clean Harbors Environmental Services in Gardena. Photo: Betty Guevara.
Berth 54, near 22nd and Miner streets. Fifty-five ILWU demonstrators protested outside the gates after learning that Clean Harbor hired a subcontractor using non-union labor for the job. “The company is using workers not qualified to do the job,” said Carlos Cordon, the international organizer of the ILWU, at the time. “The workers don’t even have the right equipment and they’re dealing with potentially hazardous materials. We want to make sure they are abiding by industry standards.” In a phone interview with Random Lengths News after the July 20 demonstration, Cordon took note of the 70-plus year history of the Scalers Union, scraping the barnacles off the hulls of ships and how the occupation evolved into safely cleaning and disposing of hazardous materials from the Harbor.
“The Port of Los Angeles is supposed to pick the best of the best of those that put in a bid, but instead we have a company with the worst record,” Cordon said hours after the protest. “Clean Harbors. You see the irony right? Clean up your act.”
Four other firms agree to settle
On July 17, Ancon Marine, Patriot Environmental, Ocean Blue and Double Barrel, harborarea hazardous-materials clean-up companies, agreed to contract terms with ILWU Local 56. The 15-month contracts increased daily stipends for workers by $5 and provide most employees with 4-percent wage increases. According to the ILWU Dispatcher newspaShip Scalers/ to p. 27
The Local Publication You Actually Read
August 24 - September 6, 2012
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Caravan for Peace On Aug.12, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition launched a tour of 25 cities called, Caravan for Peace, to put human faces and names on the estimated 60,000 dead, 10,000 disappeared and 160,000 displaced people in Mexico since 2006, when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Pentagon and the CIA supported the escalation of the Mexican armed forces. Javier Sicilia and Stephen Downing (featured as the Random Profile in the Aug. 9, edition of Random Lengths) at Border park just after the Caravan crossed the Mexican border. He was very taken that a cadre of criminal justice professionals would offer to lead his caravan across the United States. LEAP vehicles were staffed with LEAP speakers and photojournalists. Photo Courtesy of LEAP.
Unveiling of the USS IOWA
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
On Aug. 18, artist Debbie Marr of Lazy Dog Studio presented the officers of USS IOWA an original painting of the battleship turned museum. Marr is pictured with Sue Schmitt, far left, Jonathan Williams of the USS IOWA, and City Councilman Joe Buscaino. Photo: Courtesy of Debbie Marr.
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from p. 1
Ryan: Shifting Risk to the Middle Class most of his first term—repeatedly trying and failing to find a position conservative enough for Congressional Republicans to support, while leaving his base dispirited at best. What’s more, the former choice—striking hard at the Ryan Budget Plan—is well in keeping with the strategy that’s been working for Obama so far. As Jonathan Chait, a political writer for New York magazine, recently wrote: The Republican plan is to leverage public discontent over the current state of the economy into an election victory they can use to push through sweeping changes to public policy. Obama wants the electorate to vote on that instead. Now he has a good reason for wanting this: The entire thrust of the Republican plan, to cut tax rates for the rich and cut the social safety net, is highly unpopular. Ryan’s role as running mate only makes this even clearer. And, indeed, there was every reason to believe that Obama’s strategy was already working. The Talking Points Memo poll average showed Obama’s lead over Romney expanding from 1.8 percent to 6.0 percent from July 24 to Aug. 9. Obama would have to be foolish to move away from a message that’s already working for him, rather than doubling down on it. And yet, Obama still yearns to reach out to everyone, to be a unifying leader. There is a way for him to do that, even as he runs hard against Romney or Ryan.
The Great Risk Shift
“
To understand how, let me take you back to early 2008. I was not a fan of Obama’s presidential candidacy, because I found it so lacking in policy flesh and bones. Many people attacked me for being “so negative”—I didn’t support anyone else, either—and I responded by offering a couple of big-picture policy platforms that I thought Obama could comfortably embrace, precisely because they had broad popular potential, and spoke to remedying people’s feelings of disempowerment. In short, they seemed right in line with “hope” and “change.” I wrote about one of them in a diary at Open Left, “The Great Risk Shift—A Substantive Fight That Obama COULD Make His Own.” I proposed that Obama could address a wide range of economic insecurity threatening the American Dream using a well-developed argument by Jacob S. Hacker, a Yale University political scientist, in his 2006 book, The Great Risk Shift: The Assault on American Jobs, Families, Health Care, and Retirement—And How You Can Fight Back. Hacker argued that the greatest economic challenge facing Americans at that time was the shifting burden of economic risk from large institutions capable of handling it onto individuals and families who are not. He further argued that what’s most needed in the 21st century is a new orientation to bringing risk back under reasonable control—an “insurance and opportunity society” that would provide the economic security needed for people to invest in, and build their dreams.
The achievement of the New Deal and the Great Society was not primarily in providing benefits to the poor and the old…What those programmes did best was to reduce risks for individuals by sharing them across society. Whether it was health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid, insurance against poverty in old age through Social Security…government absorbed and shared some of the risks of life, individuals were able to take chances and make the most of their potential.” —Mark Schmitt
Contrary to the conservative equation of “security” with protecting economic “losers,” Hacker argued that security is an essential foundation for productive and creative risk-taking—as opposed to mere gambling. His analysis pointed to a fundamental reframing of economic discourse, with the growing insecurity of average Americans at its core. His book came out when the economy still superficially seemed okay, two years before the financial crisis. But it presented a picture of tremendous economic distress as the new normal - a picture that cried out for bold, progressive action in response to decades of neglectful policy drift, if not deliberate undermining of most American’s financial security. The figures Hacker cited were staggering. First, regarding basic economic security: Personal bankruptcies increased from 300,000 in 1980
to 2 million in 2005—a 567 per cent increase. The chance that an average American’s income will drop 50 percent or more within a two-year period increased from 7 percent in the 1970s to 17 percent in 2002—a 143 percent increase. Long-term unemployment (more than 6 months) at the peak of the business cycle is triple what it was in the 1960s. Second, regarding health security: The number of Americans without health insurance was 46.6 million, up from about 24 million in 1980. The decline was entirely due to cuts in employerprovided health coverage. Worse still, more than 80 million Americans lack health insurance during a two-year period. Third, regarding retirement security: The percentage of large and medium-sized corporations offering traditional “defined-benefit” pensions, with a guaranteed monthly benefit for life, fell from more than 80 percent in 1980 to less than a third in 2006. And 401(k)s that replaced them? There’s a reason folks call them 201(k)s now. Fourth, the burden was particularly hard on families with children, who conservatives claim to care about most. Their bankruptcy rates are twice that of childless couples. These are just a few of the frightening figures Hacker cited, and in every case, he argued, the basic cause was the same: risk had been systematically shifted from large institutions most capable of handling it onto the shoulders of the most vulnerable. This was largely a result of a rhetoric of “personal responsibility,” but what was actually being shifted was not responsibility, but risk.
The Risk-Shift Ryan Plan
So what does all that have to do with Paul Ryan Plan/ to p. 29
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owner(s): Rosalie Gonzalez, 1415 W. Santa Cruz Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. This business is conducted by an individual. The registrants commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name listed above N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information, which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime.) Rosalie Gonzalez, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on June 20, 2012. Notice-In accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business name in violation of the right of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411et seq., Business and Professions Code). Original filing: 06/28/12, 07/12/12, 07/26/12, 08/09/12
Fictitious business Name Statement File No. 2012134893 The following person is doing business as: Encino Law Center Suite 201, 151915 Ventura Blvd., #303, Encino, CA, 91436, Los Angeles County. Registered own-
continued on following page
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS FILINGS
from previous page
ers: Patti Kraakevik, 15915 Ventura Blvd. #303, Encino, CA 91436. J. Patrick Francis, 15915 Ventura Blvd., #303. Encino CA 91436. This Business is conducted by a general partnership. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 1979. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Patti Kraakevik, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 5, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 07/12/12, 07/26/12, 08/09/12, 08/23/12
07/26/12, 08/09/12,
08/23/12, 09/06/12
Statement of Abandonment of Use of Fictitious Business Name Current File No. 20100561077 Date filed: 4/26/10 Craft-Tique & Ect., 1909 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731. Registered Owners(s): Joanne Marie Califano, 314 S. John Way, San Pedro, CA 90732. Business was conducted by an individual. I declare that all information in this statement is rue and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.)S/ Joanne M. Califano, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on July 17, 2012. Original filing: 07/26/12, 08/09/12,
08/23/12, 09/06/12
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 201213388 The following person is doing business as: Trinkets n Treasures, 1909 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: MaryAnn Califano, 1134 W. 21st, San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) MaryAnn Califano, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 3, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 08/09/12, 08/23/12, 09/06/12, 09/20/12
09/06/12, 09/20/12
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2012153082 The following person is doing business as: Peninsula Mortuary Transport, 1840 Gaffey St. #226, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Joseph Voss, 1840 Gaffey #381 St. San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Joseph Voss, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 10, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 08/09/12, 08/23/12, 09/06/12, 09/20/12
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2012153081 The following person is doing business as: Elite BodyShock Performance, Champion Bodyshock Perfor-
mance, 2424 S. Carolina St., San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Mario Shaw, 2424 S. Carolina St., San Pedro, CA 90731,. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Mario Shaw, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 31, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 08/09/12, 08/23/12, 09/06/12, 09/20/12
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2012157138 The following person is doing business as: Galope Property Services, 905 W. 25th Street, San Pedro, CA, 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Anthony Galope, 905 W. 25th Street, San Pedro, CA, 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: NA. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Patti Kraakevik, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on August 6, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 08/23/12,09/06/12,0 9/20/12,10/4/12
RANDOMLetters from p. 9
Street. Alma is only 30 feet wide and with cars parked on both side it makes for a tight squeeze for a bus to use. Alma Street is in bad need of repairs and re-paving and not strong or wide enough to susutain daily repeated use of heavy, noisy, wide bus traffic. This creates not only a safety issue for the children on the bus, but the residents as well. If there is an emergency and an evacuation needs to take place there is not enough room for a car and a bus to pass each other on either side of the road, each would have to take a turn delaying the evacuation. Parked cars has been almost hit. Small Children and pets have also had near misses now that buses are using Alma Street back and forth between the campuses all day, everyday Monday-Friday. Cars are lining Alma Street to drop off and pick up children before and after school creating another traffic hazard and creating more traffic and noise for res-
idents of Alma as well as taking away spots for residents to park their own cars and trucks in front of their own homes. The promise made to residents and the community was the buses would use Gaffey Street which is a wider, main street that can sustain bus traffic and would be the best route in the case of an emergency. Residents of Alma Street and the surrounding community were also told the Schools gate that opens onto Alma Street would never be opened unless there was an emergency. The gate is open everyday day between 11am and 1pm. The children that attend the John M and Muriel Olguin campus (JMMO) have been simply walking out the Alma Gate mid-day while class is in session. This is a safety concern for the children, parents should worry their children are not in class and wandering children while class should be in session in the surrounding neighborhood also creates
added problems. The JMMO Campus is also trying to sneak six large wind turbines onto the campus. These wind turbines will add to the noise in the area, affect birds living in the area, and block our views. The School is supposed to be part of the community, yet they are not playing any part in trying to benefit the community they are now part of. They are not keeping their promises to the community. They have even rejected a request for the the community to have access to the very large swimming pool on campus. There is no benefit of the new school to the surrounding community, Alma Street hasn’t even been re-paved for the bus use when all the surrounding streets have. We are requesting your presence at a meeting to be held Thursday, August 30th at 8:30 am at the San Pedro JMMO campus in the multipurpose room to discuss these issues. We hope the Random Lengths will support the Community in asking LAUSD to keep the promises made to the community and to work with the community to better it, not abuse it. J.T. McKenzie San Pedro
August 24 - September 6, 2012
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2012138545 The following person is doing business as: International Motors, International Motors U.C.S. 1600 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Antonio Marchione, 4609 W. Carson St., Torrance, CA 90503. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above:
1996. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Antonio Machione, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 10, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 08/09/12, 08/23/12,
The Local Publication You Actually Read
Fictitious business Name Statement File No. 2012144655 The following person is doing business as: Curiosities,1909 S Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: MaryAnne Califano, 1134 W. 21st., San Pedro,CA 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: NA. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) MaryAnne Califano, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on July 18, 2012. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code).
Original filing:
25
A Tribute to Monica Teson Hahn (April 25, 1959-Aug. 17, 2011) By Arnée Carofano, Contributor
Not many people know that Monica Teson Hahn died one year ago on Aug. 17, 2011 at the age of 53. Monica was married to the former Mayor James Hahn for almost 20 years and was the First Lady of Los Angeles from 2001-2005. They were divorced after 2005. She is survived by their two children, Karina and Jackson. There has never been an obituary written about Monica Hahn’s death, and as a friend, I think it is important for those who knew her to be aware of her passing. Not only to be able to mourn her passing but to celebrate her life. For if no one knows a person has died then it’s as if they had never lived. Although a public figure, Monica remained a very private person. She was good hearted and kind, mainly devoting herself to her children and their welfare, and they were devoted to her as well. Karina and Jackson lived with their mother in San Pedro and when she became ill with cancer, they took care of her to the end on their own, and only then with the help of Hospice. Monica was very politically astute and quite knowledgeable in music and the visual arts. She, herself, had an artistic flare and created many works of her own using various materials such as clay, metal and glass. Her projects were often notable for their sense of humor. She once crafted a handsome chair for a fundraising event where the seat and back were “upholstered” with
desk staplers facing upward and cushioning the sitter, reminiscent of Marcel Duchamp’s “Readymades.” Our friend, Monica, was quite beautiful by anyone’s standard—a radiant smile and an enviably thick mane of auburn hair. Her laughter was contagious. She was an intelligent, sensitive woman, generous to a fault in her support of charities and causes regarding those less fortunate and conscientious in issues regarding the environment and world peace. Monica sought calm away from the hustle and bustle every now and then. She particularly loved being in Hawaii and relished her trip to Cuba. She always thought of those she loved and brought them back precious little gifts. She touched many lives as she touched mine.
PERSONAL& PROFESSIONAL Lemonade THE
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from p. 2
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The results were different but coordinated events in three different ports on the West Coast. They settled on the name, “Walk the Coast,” for effort on behalf of cancer research. “A lot of people traditionally think that you raise money walking,” Imbagliazzo said. “Our idea is that each port would have its own separate identity and function unique to them.” The only thing that is required is that they use the same artwork in their promotional tools and that the events are held on the same day. “We as a union are going to walk this coast for all the children and the pancreatic cancer victims.” Imbagliazzo said there’s hope next year to add three more ports and another charity to Walk the Coast but couldn’t go into further detail until plans are finalized. Scott’s advice to other families coping with cancer is to follow the old cliche of taking it one day at a time. “Really reach out and [don’t] be afraid to ask for help,” Scott explained. “There are social workers at the hospitals that know of a lot of resources that could help pay medical bills, pay for counseling. “They just have to go online or tap the resources at the hospital to find the resources that’ll help them get through.” The International ILWU, for its part, hopes to get ports across the country involved in Alex’s Lemonade Stand. “There are 25 port cities and we hope to be in every one of them,” Imbagliazzo said.
Prop. 32: A Bill of Rights for Billionaires
Ballot measure promises to eliminate special-interest money in politics but would enhance big money’s influence on elections By John Logan alifornians are used to ballot initiatives that claim to do one thing, but in reality do exactly the opposite. However, even by the standards of misinformation now commonplace in our elections, November’s most controversial ballot measure, Proposition 32, which its supporters call “Stop Special Interest Money Now,” really “takes the giddy biscuit,” as Bertie Wooster (or, for that matter, Mitt Romney) might say. So what does Prop. 32 say it would do and what would it really do? Its supporters claim that Prop. 32 is a balanced measure that limits corporate and union influence on state elections, to the extent allowed by federal election law. Indeed, pro-Prop 32 ads focus on spending in Sacramento by AT&T and PG&E, rather than on spending by labor unions. In reality, “Stop Special Interest Money Now” would do nothing of the sort. Though AT&T and PG&E (both unionised firms) are undoubtedly peeved at being singled out, Prop. 32 would have almost no impact on the ability of corporate executives to contribute unlimited money to candidates or campaigns, but would have a devastating impact on the ability of unions to participate in state politics. Its restrictions on unions are so sweeping that it would prevent them from communicating with their own members on politi-
C
from p. 20
Ship Scalers
Union halls around the country—including the AFL-CIO— have opened their doors to the DREAMers. The AFL-CIO remains committed to creating a common-sense immigration process.
Local 13 Members Break Ground on New Dispatch Hall in Wilmington
Wilmington—Shovels broke ground, July 13 for a new dispatch hall that was first proposed almost 20 years ago to serve Local 13 members in Wilmington. The new 32,000 square-foot facility will feature meeting rooms, administrative offices and parking for about 800 cars, which will protected by a security fence. The new facility will cost $15 million to build on a site furnished by the Port of Los Angeles, under a long-term lease. Funding for the construction is being provided by 72 shipping companies that make up the Pacific Maritime Association. The current dispatch hall on Broad Avenue in Wilmington was built in the 1940s; it will be used to dispatch casual workers once the new hall is finished. The ILWU tradition of union-managed dispatch halls was a key victory won through a series of bitter struggles, climaxing in the 1934 coastwide waterfront strike in which 7 workers were killed and many more seriously injured. Prior to that victory, longshore workers suffered under a “shapeup” system controlled by employers that included blacklisting, bribery, discrimination and favoritism. Employers tried but failed to eliminate the ILWU dispatch halls during the waterfront strike of 1948 strike that lasted 95 days.
SEIU Lobbies for California Retirement Security
SacramentO—On Aug. 7 and 8, SEIU members from locals 1000, 521, 1021, and 99 lobbied key members of the California Assembly Appropriations Committee and the California Assembly speaker to ask their legislative representatives to support Senate Bill 1234, legislation sponsored by Sen. Kevin DeLeon that will open a secure retirement savings vehicle for California workers who currently lack access to a portable, secure, reliable retirement savings account. California and the nation are facing a retirement security crisis with millions of working people in the private sector having little or no prospects of retirement income beyond their critical, but modest, Social Security income. In addition, Local 1000 submitted petitions with more than 6,000 signatures that members News Briefs /to p. 30
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per, Two other firms, ACTI and NRC, are operating under expired agreements which are being re-negotiated. Local 56 members will continue their efforts to organize more non-union hazmat companies operating in the Los Angeles/ Long Beach Harbor area, including AES, Meza and OC Vacuum, and Clean Harbors. “We’re committed to organizing all these companies to make things safer for workers and the harbor community,”said Local 56 Dispatcher and BA Ruben Hurtado, who made a point during the protest of knocking on the company’s door to tell a management official that today’s event was emphasizing the need for higher safety and environmental standards. “We’ll be talking to them again,” Hurtado said.
cal issues. Worse still, Prop. 32 would enhance the ability of super political action committees (PACs), and other wealthy groups that are exempt from the measure, to dominate elections. This is not genuine campaign finance reform but a bill of rights for billionaires, which would be a game-changer in California politics. California voters have twice before rejected right-wing initiatives to destroy labor’s political voice, in 1998 and 2005. Unable to win by honest means, conservative David H. Koch and Charles G. Koch. File photos. groups decided to come up with says the initiative “wears a soiled white hat” and something more deceptive this time round. To appreciate just how misleading this mea- is “dripping with cynicism.” If Prop. 32 passes in November, right-wing sure is, one has to understand who supports and opposes it, and why. Prop. 32’s principal backer, activists will promote a tsunami of ballot initiathe Lincoln Club of Orange County, co-produced tives designed to drive down working conditions Hillary: The Movie, which was at the heart of the in both the public and private sectors. Califor2012 landmark supreme court decision Citizens nia’s workers could soon face the weakest labor United and which led to a flood of special inter- standards in the country. So what is the likelihood of Prop. 32 winning? est spending. The Lincoln Club boasted it was “instrumental” in pushing Citizens United, and If the election were to take place next month, Prop celebrated the decision as a victory for political .32 would almost certainly pass, largely because free speech. Since its founding in 1962, the Lin- of its disingenuous framing and advertising. But coln Club has consistently sought to weaken rules come November, California voters should see that stop big money from dominating elections, through the deception behind the initiative –the and Prop. 32 would go a long way to achieving labour movement and its progressive allies are much better at defeating measures they oppose that goal. Other backers of Prop 32 include Orange than winning measures they support. Let’s be perfectly clear: Prop. 32 is not a good County anti-union activists and right-wing billionaires (often one and the same), and the usual starting point or an imperfect but well-meaning suspects among Republican activists. And if the effort to limit the influence of special interests polls are tight come November, we will likely see in Sacramento. It is a highly deceptive measure an influx of pro-Prop. 32 money from the same that would greatly enhance the political influ0.1 percent currently funding conservative su- ence of billionaires, super PACs and conservaper PACs at the federal level. Opposed to Prop. tive business interests, and undermine the ability 32 are the nation’s leading good-government of working Californians to have a voice in state groups—Common Cause, the League of Women elections. Given the misinformation being put Voters and others. Common Cause California out by the Yes campaign, however, it will take has accused the measure’s conservative backers a huge effort to defeat it —the election may turn of “trying to use our anger and mistrust to change out to be a squeaker. the rules for their own benefit” and of “laughJohn Logan is director and professor of labor studable” deception, while the League of Women Voters says that Prop 32 is “not what it seems, ies at San Francisco State University, and a research and it will hurt everyday Californians.” Sacra- associate at the UC Berkeley Labor Center. mento Bee senior editor Dan Morain, meanwhile,
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Ryan Plan
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Ryan? Simple: Ryan’s infamous budget plan has many well-known problems with it, but it would also vastly intensify the Great Risk Shift, as Democratic strategist Mark Schmitt cogently pointed out in April 2011 (“The Ryan Plan: The Biggest Risk Shift Ever”). “It’s not just that Ryan slashes spending,” Schmitt wrote. “He places the burden of risk on American families’ shoulders.” That’s precisely what the Great Risk Shift has done step-by-step over the past 30 years. With the Ryan plan, the process would be dramatically accelerated. In one concise paragraph, Schmitt summarized Hacker’s point about the true value and function of welfare state that America’s elites have been gradually dismantling since the 1970s:
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The achievement of the New Deal and the Great Society was not primarily in providing benefits to the poor and the old, although that’s often how both liberals and conservatives talk about it now. What those programmes did best was to reduce risks for individuals by sharing them across society. Whether it was health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid, insurance against poverty in old age through Social Security, federal mortgage insurance that made home-ownership possible, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that enabled people to save for the future with confidence, when government absorbed and shared some of the risks of life, individuals were able to take chances and make the most of their potential. And, in contrast, he noted: Today, though, the only risks we’re sharing are the wrong ones: Wealthy investors are protected by real or implicit guarantees such as “too big to fail,” while the risks that should shared, through social insurance, are instead privatised—that is, pushed down the line onto us as individuals. Just to take one example, voucherizing Medicare is one of Ryan’s key proposals—forcing seniors to buy private health care insurance (assuming that anyone will sell it to them). Ryan’s idea is this will make them more responsible consumers. But the United States’ private health care market is the reason we have so many millions uninsured in the first place—as well as contributing to 700,000 medical bankruptcies per year. Before Medicare existed, there was no such thing as private health care insurance for seniors. Private companies couldn’t make a profit at it. The only thing that Ryan’s plan would guarantee is that now they could make a profit at it - thanks to a government subsidy. Whether seniors could actually get the health care they need is not even part of the conversation, as defined from Ryan’s point of view. But that point of view is precisely the problem. It’s the viewpoint that created the Great Risk Shift in the first place. It deliberately excludes the ordinary citizen’s perspective, what serves them and what dis-serves them. What happens when you do include that perspective? Well, for one thing, a Congressional Budget Office analysis shows that new enrollees under Ryan’s plan would receive $5,900 to $8,000 (35 to 42 percent) less in 2050 than under current law. That’s not asking them to take responsibility. It’s asking them to take a sucker’s bet. And, taking the United States’’ side against a sucker’s bet is precisely where a unifying political figure should want to be.
This article was originally published in Al Jazeera English, where Paul Rosenberg is a regular contributor.
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from p. 27
had gathered in support of SB 1234 to Senator DeLeon’s office. “It was empowering and an honor for me to represent my co-workers in Sacramento yesterday and educating our supporters in the assembly about our struggles through sharing my story,” said Child Care provider and SEIU Local 99 activist Marta Delgado.
SEIU, Latino Vote Campaign Comes to Arizona
Phoenix—Arizona, the state that became ground zero in the national debate over state-sponsored anti-immigrant laws, is the next stop on the national ¡Todos a Votar! (“Let’s Vote”) Latino voter education campaign. The nonpartisan campaign, sponsored by national and local Latino advocacy organizations, has a goal of registering 650,000 new Latino voters and mobilizing 12 million Latino voters on Election Day, Nov. 6. The tour began two weeks prior to the Aug. 11 stop in Arizona. It started in California and was in Nevada the following week. Florida, Colorado and Texas also are on the tour schedule. Groups participating in the campaign are Mi Familia Vota, National Council of La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Service Employees International Union, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Center for Community Change, Presente.org, Voto Latino, and the Hispanic Federation.
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Step for Statewide Teacher Evaluation Proposal Cleared
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Washington D.C.—A Senate committee approved a bill, Aug. 16, to enhance teacher evaluations, effectively eliminating state requirements to use student standardized test scores to measure an instructor’s effectiveness. Assembly Bill 5, authored by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, of Sylmar, would establish a statewide uniform teacher evaluation system that would increase performance reviews, classroom obser-
vations, training of evaluators and public input into the review process. The bill was approved, 5-2, by the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 5 bill would require negotiated agreement with unions, including United Teachers Los Angeles, which opposes the Los Angeles Unified School District’s use of student test scores as one measure of teacher effectiveness. LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy opposes the bill, citing less teacher accountability. The California School Boards Association opposes the bill because they fear the new observations, training and bargaining will cost districts too much. But Fuentes said the bill would provide $89 million in unused funds allocated to low-income schools for the evaluations. LAUSD could gain $16 million, he said. If AB 5 passes, districts and unions would negotiate which measures to use to gauge student progress, including state standardized test scores as well as class projects, portfolios, grades and presentations.
Voter Suppression Law Upheld in PA— Could Give State to Romney
On Aug. 15, a trial court judge in Pennsylvania upheld a voter-ID law that could disenfranchise up to a million voters in the state, turning a battleground state where Obama is well ahead into a potential GOP win. The state admitted from the very beginning that there was no evidence of voter-fraud in Pennsylvania—the ostensible reason for a rash of similar laws passed by Republican legislatures after the 2010 elections—and voting rights advocates presented mountains of evidence about the barriers to voting the law would create. But the judge ruled the law was not unconstitutional “on its face”—meaning an election would have to be held, and people would actually be prevented from voting before the law could be successfully challenged. By then, of course, it would be too late. “It’s a very sad day for democracy,” said Penda Hair, executive director for the Advancement Project, one of the parties to the suit. The ruling is being appealed to the state supreme court.
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