2022 Fall Los Angeles Collegian Issue3

Council Race

Heats Up

The incumbent and L.A. City Councilmember for District 13 face an uphill battle against candidate, union organizer Hugo Soto-Martinez.

BY TUPAC ZAPATA

As the campaigns enter the final weeks of canvassing and fundrais ing prior to Nov. 8 election day, the race for a City Council seat in Los Angeles District 13 intensifies.

Hugo Soto-Martinez won the primary in June with 19,196 (40%) more votes than Mitch O’Farrell, who has been a member of Los Angeles City Council since 2013.

Kate Pynoos, who finished third with 7,371 votes, has now backed Soto-Martinez.

District 13, which includes Los Angeles City College, is home to approximately 250,000 people. East Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Atwater and Westlake are all parts of District 13.

Three out of every four people who live there rent, and many of them have seen their rents rise in the past 10 years. The incumbent is not the only one to lose the pri mary.

In a two-candidate crucial pri mary that would send the winner to City Hall, Gil Cedillo of Council

Students Receive Free Transit

The “GoPass Program” changes lives for the better.

BY JUAN MENDOZA

LACC students can get a tap card for unlimited bus and train rides to and from school or work during the week or on weekends for the fall semester with proof of enrollment and a student ID.

The “GoPass Program” addresses the lack of trans portation that many students face during the semes ter. Students are able to take the subway, buses, and trains thanks to the program; and 13 additional L.A. County public transportation agencies to ride for free.

The LACCD received a federal grant of $1 million last month to expand the “GoPass Program,” which will benefit thousands of district students.

“Lack of transportation is one of the leading barriers for students seeking to complete their education,” Sen ator Feinstein said. “And that’s particularly true in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles.”

LACCD and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced in a press release dated Sept. 21, that LACCD had secured a $1 million grant through the Congressional Direct Process. This assistance will extend the “GoPass Program” for the 2022-2023 aca demic year in all 21 community colleges in Los Angeles County.

“We are pleased to have this program extended for another year,” LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodri guez said. “Everything we do at LACCD is through an equity-first lens, and fareless transit directly enables more students to access higher education.”

Twenty-five percent of LACCD students use public transportation, according to a press briefing.

Since more than half of LACCD students are living below the poverty line, the opportunity to ride the bus and Metro for free will help them.

This solves the problem of how to get to students to school and continue their education. Sixty-three percent of students reported experiencing food and housing insecurity in a recent LACCD survey.

“LACCD takes our most disadvantaged neighbor hoods and finds folks there and gives them opportu nities for education,” Mayor Garcetti said. “But they still face too many barriers; health barriers, transportation barriers, childcare barriers.”

With a free or reduced-cost tap card, fifty percent of students said they would use or continue to use public transportation. The GoPass program was awarded to Sandra Cabrera, a student at LACC who majors in film. Cabrera works, studies full-time, and is a mother.

“I’m so thankful for the L.A. Metro GoPass because [it] allows me and my son to ride for free,” Cabrera said. “For all the students who are not on the program, I encourage you to sign up today and use the GoPass Program.”

The L.A. Metro provides service to the surrounding neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. At the corner of Fifth Street and Flower Street in downtown L.A., Line 16 is heading to West Hollywood on Oct. 13 during rush hour. The bus line 53 goes from downtown L.A. to CSU Dominguez Hills via Central Avenue. The aver age travel time is one hour 37 minutes. A lot of college students who are enrolled at CSU Dominguez Hills use route 53. Student beneficiaries of the GoPass Program can use 13 other transit agencies in L.A. County, in cluding the Montebello bus lines. This is a bus stop in Downtown Los Angeles at Fifth Street and Olive Street. Go to the LACC Bookstore with your student ID and proof of class enrollment to get a Metro GoPass.

MLK Library Reopens Upper Floors, Marks Anniversary

BY ABEL HABTEGEORGIS

2023 will mark 15 years of operation for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at Los Angeles City College, but few years have been as tu multuous as those experienced recently.

Short-staffed and under-resourced, the li brary will welcome more students than in previ ous months as the campus opens post-COVID.

numbers; however, they noted that the hiring process can be lengthy and are not anticipat ing them for “another two to three weeks.”

Despite on-site limitations, students like journalism major Henry Lopez are relying heavily on the Library’s virtual offerings.

Metro Stop Brings Opportunity to Leimert Park Riders

BY EDWARD LOCKE

Los Angeles Metro K Line sub way officially started operation on Friday, Oct. 7, and the grand open ing celebration lasted until Sunday, Oct. 9.

All passengers of Metro system, buses and subways alike, enjoyed free rides during the three days of celebration.

On Friday, Oct. 7, in Leimert Park, near Leimert Park Station of the K Line, local musicians and dancers performed. Tables and tents were set up to offer gifts to the public.

Giveaway items included small packages of mixed herb seeds (sweet Basil “Italian Large Leaf,” Dill “Bouquet,” Winter Thyme, and Pars ley “Italian Giant”), hand sanitizer bottles, tie pins, subway and light rail transit maps, posters and other items.

Leimert Park is a center for Afri can-American art with art galleries,

SEE “METRO K

studios, gift shops and tent ven dors. The location of the Leimert Park Station makes it easy for An gelenos to visit this interesting place of African-American artistic creation.

The seven stations that are op erational now are Expo/Crenshaw (near the same station as the Expo Line), Martin Luther King Jr., Leimert Park, Fairview Heights, Downtown Inglewood and West chester/Veteran.

A free bus shuttle can accom modate passenger trips from the Westchester/Veteran Station con necting to the C Line (Green Line) Aviation/LAX Station. The segment to connect Westchester/Veteran Station and LAX/Metro Transit Cen ter is projected to open in 2024; and the segment to connect Avia tion/Century and LAX/Metro Tran sit Center is projected to open in

Career Center Encourages Student Success

BY MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ

Latinx – pronounced la-teen-ex” – resonates in popular culture as a gender-neutral alternative to Lati no or Latina.

As the term evolves within the Latin community, its meaning is indicative of a culture on the brink of change.

The Library features a range of offerings which include 150,000 print books, 230,000 eBooks, 75 magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and online databases which can be accessed remotely. Virtual resources include an “Ask a Librarian” chat service, an Internet-based vir tual text chat service connecting information seekers with librarians, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“The Library has been full of late,” said the long-time librarian and current Library Vice Chair Dorothy Fuhrmann. “More students are using the library, nothing like pre-covid, but more than last year.”

The Library’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke on the campus 60 years ago this year.

“Dr. Martin Luther King was judged as the best lecturer of the fall semester,” wrote the Jan. 18, 1963 edition of the Collegian.

On Dec. 14, the integration leader addressed Snyder Field’s largest student assembly about “The Future of Integration.”

The MLK Library, like other national libraries, is experiencing a staffing shortage.

Fuhrmann revealed that technology assis tants are being transferred to other campus departments, putting pressure on the com puter lab the most right now.

As more students enter the Library, Fuhr man and her team are reviewing existing work-study applications to increase those

“I use the online library for its convenience,” Lopez said. “Since Covid started, I did a lot of research for my sociology and debate classes especially since I needed to access data and various academic papers often.”

In 2008, the 63,315 square-foot building, located at the northeast end of campus, re placed the old building that many thought was too complex for students to navigate as they looked for materials for their assign ments.

Today, students will find a number of dis traction-free areas throughout the library with large windows that let in as much light as possible. Students can study individually in sturdy and durable study carrels or tables.

Once restrictions are lifted, students can learn together in one of 18 group study rooms.

Students can anticipate crucial system up dates in the coming months, particularly with regard to printing operations. According to Fuhrmann, these updates will include wire less printing and credit card processing..

The Library is located at the northeast end of campus and is open Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fridays: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., and closed weekends and School Holidays. Due to staffing issues, the computer lab hours are restricted to Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Career fair, free haircuts, free clothes...

BY LARA BARNEY

The Career Center at L.A. City college has a plethora of resources that can make life after college less scary.

Students can start to think about what to do after college with a visit to the Career Center. Students can explore career paths independent ly or with guidance.

There are personal discovery quizzes, goal-setting, and career planning activities to help students discover their interests. There are also resources to help students draft a resume, find a job using the job board and nail the interview.

The counselors at the Career Center are aware that staying cur rent is important when applying for jobs. Especially when more opportunities for employment are available online.

“We might help students prepare for those opportunities by looking

at their resumes, write cover letters or understand the job application process or social media sites,” said David Turcotte, a counselor at the Career Center. “Now you submit those electronically… it’s import ant for students to have a digital profile.”

Turcotte also advises students to reverse engineer their educa tional plan with their future career in mind. When students are aware of their future plans after college, school becomes easier to manage for them.

There are times when students already have a career goal in mind, but are unaware of the many pos sible paths within that field. The Career Center counselors have the expertise to translate students’ strengths into an equitable career path.

The Career Center wants stu

TheStudentVoiceofLosAngelesCityCollegeSince1929

PHOTO BY EDWARD LOCKE Metro staff greet riders outside the K Line Leimert Park Station on Oct. 7, 2022.

LACCD Should Build Student Housing

BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

Los Angeles City College (LACC) should buy aban doned proper ties around the school and turn them into stu dent housing.

With housing priority going to homeless students, former foster kids and next charging interna tional students, and finally any students wanting to house close to the campus. Housing should cov er the semester plus holidays and short-term semesters if they intend to enroll in the next full semester. (What is this? Next charging inter national students?)

I have been thinking of this for a while. If I had the money, I would buy property around the commu nity colleges and make loft-style studio apartments. It would include building these apartments above the student parking lot on Ver mont and Melrose. That lot is large enough to house 100 students per apartment, a laundry room on each floor, and one floor with a workout room with a hot tub, and a small pool and sunning area.

The largest cost to start this venture would be to purchase the property and build the apartments. But in about five years, the money could be made back on either rent collected, or grant money obtained to house the students unable to pay.

Plus, the school or individual could get property tax forgive ness from the city and state for X amount of years. If they are smart, they would ask for no less than ten

years of tax forgiveness to make up the cost of buying the land and building the property.

Many former foster kids do not attempt college because of a lack of housing and support. Homeless college students start college in the hopes of getting a degree in a field that will help them obtain and stay housed.

After I aged out of foster care, I lived on the street. I started college with the hopes of one day having the degrees to get a job and a re tirement job. I just never realized that I would end up with major in juries from my job and end up back at community college trying to get the skills to do the film jobs that I would have learned and worked my way up to on set.

Many college students are lucky to have family members whom they can stay with. But many of us, more than just those of us that grew up in foster care have no where to turn.

Los Angeles City College, like many community colleges, has homeless students that they help. What is needed, however, is a place to live.

Instead, some of the housed students and staff complain about finding students sleeping on or around campus.

The city and colleges have a way to house these students, it is their ethical responsibility to ensure that students make it. It is the students that achieve these certificates and degrees that help sell the college to future students.

A student who has steady hous ing is a better student.

Apps Like Airbnb Force Tenants from Their Homes

BY HAIRAM RAMOS

Wait! Before you rent your next Airbnb, you should know how much harm it is doing to communities across the world.

This convenient ly deceptive app can make life eas ier for someone looking for a tem porary place to stay, but it hurts the lives of communities permanently.

Housing is a very important and controversial topic because we have a clash in society between the rich and those just trying to get by. These short-term rental apps are creating worry for those trying to keep a roof over their families’ heads. As one journalist wrote, “ In creasingly, affordable housing ad vocates worry that the short-term rentals are displacing long-term tenants.”

These long-term tenants most likely have families who have been there for decades, and now they are kicked out of their homes and most likely must move into one of lesser quality.

Vacations can be an escape for people facing their problems and stresses they deal with daily. Usu ally, on vacations, travelers may go somewhere far from home or at least a good distance away. This presents an opportunity for some to use an app.

“Most consumers don’t think about the effect of their rental

when they are going somewhere,” said Christopher Elliot who heads a nonprofit. “They are just looking for a cheap place to stay. They don’t think about ‘who may I be displac ing.’”

The next time you go on vaca tion, please be aware that staying at a short-term rental property could be helping dismantle com munities.

No one is safe from applications like Airbnb because they are be coming so popular. Even the big gest cities in the world are affected.

“The McGill report found that “Airbnb has removed between 7,000 and 13,500 units of housing from New York City’s long-term rental market.”

The report also says the greater the number of Airbnb’s in a city, the higher rents will rise for local residents. The big apple is known to many as the most important city in the world, and this app affected it on a massive scale. Imagine the damage it does to smaller markets.

So, the next time you are on vaca tion or need a cheap place to stay, evaluate whether your comfort is worth ruining the lives of others.

A sense of community is a beauti ful thing, and we will lose it forev er if we continue to have different neighbors every month. We have to voice our frustrations to help our communities combat these decep tive apps. They promise to make things easier, but in reality, they do more harm than good.

L.A. NEEDS GREEN BETWEEN BUILDINGS

BY ROBERT COOMBS

Buildings in L.A. are growing like toadstools, but what about the grass?

Despite an economic slowdown and rising building costs, construc tion in Los Angeles continues at a fast rate. While this may be reassur ing for the real estate market, we must ask what benefits, if any, this might bring to the broader community in this era of multiple crises.

While new high-rises fill old lots in Hollywood and Koreatown, the unhoused still fill the streets. Luxury units are tailor-made for the well-to-do. Rolling black outs darken many homes and businesses at inoppor tune times. Summer heat and pandemic echoes put people on edge.

Meanwhile, the construction industry is facing its own problems. From supply chain issues to a pro nounced labor shortage, the industry finds itself in a typical economic impasse—too much demand, too little supply.

How can the city, industry and the community work together to resolve their respective issues? Building permits have recovered since the pandemic, rising 17 percent since last year.

The City Council, acknowledging the high impact buildings have on emissions, is seeking to make all new buildings carbon-free.

Many new structures include affordable units in ex change for concessions. But what about the face of it all? Among other things, I feel that there is a discon nect between the existence and the essence of these facts. People need to feel included. I believe they need to feel enveloped. The landscape reflects our priorities. If our development doesn’t include natural elements that reinforce our commitment to adapt, how can we attach any importance to balanced ecosystems?

All new developments ought to include ecological as well as utilitarian and aesthetic dimensions. When people feel embraced in an eco-niche, as they do in tree-filled neighborhoods, they can relate to them selves as a part of a broader community.

Let’s Stay Home Today

BY HENRY LOPEZ

Please do not go. Stay. I need you here. Angelenos, stop leav ing this gorgeous place. I under stand things have become more expensive. Rent is increasing. We need to stay. How did we get to this point? I no longer recognize my neighbors. The melting pot is not melting anymore.

Somehow, the pandemic gave landlords and rent al companies the go ahead to make up new rental prices. Pricing out my friends, my family, my people. Rent on the West Coast went up 20% during the pandemic, according to a report by Pew Research, “Key facts about housing affordability in the U.S.”

In another report from Forbes.com, rental prices went up 17% in Los Angeles alone. “The Status of Rent Increase in California,” states that the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment hovers at $2,500 per month in L.A.

Properties that were affordable have suddenly become an unwelcome place for the people that live there. We belong here! The exodus from Los An geles is so bad that we lost a Congressional seat for

the first time this past year.

We have lost representation at a time when we cannot afford not to be seen. My Angelenos are leaving. Los Angeles is becoming the city of strang ers. Please do not go.

People of color are the people leaving this great city. Public Policy Institute of California estimates that 11.6% of people of color left Los Angeles from 2016-2020. Their report outlined the racial and eth nic differences among those who are leaving Cali fornia. We should not allow ourselves to be pushed out when people of color are the majority in this city. People of color make up 63% of Los Angeles County according to census.gov. Stay. We work and strive for a way of life.

Sometimes working multiple jobs. I remember a time when having a job guaranteed a roof over your head. Now it doesn’t even guarantee peace of mind. We need to fight for what it means to have a livable wage.

What it means to have affordable living. We can set the standard as a people for this city. We have the power. We have the rights. All we need to do is come together and make our voices heard.

Collegian

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LACC Student Wins

Grammy Award

Artist and Engineer Jamie Peters discusses his career, next big moves, collaboration with Kanye.

BY LOU PRIMAVERA

L.A. Native Jamie Peters did not only carve his place in the music industry, but he continues to push forward, honing his skills at LACC.

Peters is the rare type of artist that displays humility while also achieving the pinnacle of success. He won a Grammy with arguably one of the greatest artists in the world, Kanye West.

As an established audio engi neer, he is sharpening his skills as a producer and songwriter with his time.

In 2020 Peters won a Grammy award as an engineer for Kanye’s gospel album “Jesus is King.” He has previously worked with NBA Youngboy and Kodak Black, to name a few, and continues to spend a lot of time in the studio.

Peters took time to reminisce about adversity he faced. He also mentions his humble roots, bright future and impressive career path.

Collegian: You’re originally from L.A. right? What part of L.A. are you from and how did you get into producing and engineering?

Peters: I grew up in South Cen tral L.A. and I attended Crenshaw Senior High. When I got out of high school, I knew I wanted to get into music, but I never saw myself as a performer. I’ve always want ed to be in the background, and I saw an ad for the LA Recording School. That’s when I found out about audio engineering. I joined the Army and used my GI Bill to obtain the skills needed to record.

Collegian: You won a Grammy for Kanye West’s album “Jesus is King,” that’s quite an accomplishment. Can you speak a little more on that experience and that process?

Peters: That was an amazing ex perience. I had the chance to work with an amazing artist. Being in that environment and watching Kanye and all of the other artists and producers work was really in spirational. He had so many things going on between music, fash ion, and family. Watching Kanye work and seeing his ideas come to fruition was remarkable and I was able to do things and go places I have never gone before.

Collegian: What are some tracks or artists you’re work ing on and with now?

Peters: At the moment I am currently going to school. I was able to get into the applied mu sic program at LACC so I decid ed to take a small break from engineering to develop myself as a producer and a songwriter.

Collegian: I’m sure you faced your share of obstacles and ad versity. How did you stay fo cused on your work? Your style seems versatile, what genres do you focus the most on?

Peters: I honestly developed a mindset where I wasn’t afraid to fail. I just knew that I wanted to get better at whatever I was doing and if I stayed diligent and kept my reasons for doing something in the front of my mind, I could get through anything. My favorite genre is R&B, but I’m always open to work with artists of all genres. I’ve never been the type to limit myself. I really love music -- cliche I know -- but I really enjoy being in the studio especially when that initial spark occurs and every one’s creative juices get going.

Collegian: Out of your whole catalogue, what is the work you’re the proudest of?

Peters: “Jesus is King” is at the top of my list. But I feel like Youngboy “NBA” and “AI Youngboy 2” is my favorite because I recorded most of the album and they used most of my rough mixes for the album. I had no idea that was going to hap pen and when I heard it and did an A and B I felt like I had grown a bit.

Collegian: What are some artists that inspire you, and do you have your eye on any up-and-coming artists in L.A.?

Peters: I wouldn’t mind getting in the room Brent Faiyas or Giveon. I really love their sound and voices. As far as L.A. artists I really like Au gust08 he’s been out here making waves. Steven G is another artist I like from the city, and I have been listening to Larussell a lot lately, I believe he’s from the Bay Area but it’s still California love.

Netflix Films on LACC Campus

Students witness rare daytime feature production on campus.

BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

Netflix’s first-year series, Brother Sun,” was filmed at L.A. City College as students curiously stood around to watch Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The series is set to air on Netflix in 2023. Michelle Yeoh, best known for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drag on,” will star in the lead role as Mama Sun.

The internet movie database, IMDb, estimates that eight epi sodes of “Brother Sun” will be re leased.

Viewers can expect crime, drama and irreverence from the television series.

Despite the tough schedule film sets have, crew members took the time to answer onlookers ques tions.

LACC allows film productions to use its location which helps raise money for the campus and stu dents.

The television show, Communi ty” starring Chevy Chase, filmed at LACC from 2009 until 2014, allow ing the fund to build the Student Service Center building and many others.

“Brothers Sun” began setting up production, while LACC’s Coming Out” event happened, unlike other shows that film in the evening and on weekends.

The three-hour event gave the crew time to assemble video vil lage and the scene they would film.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE PETERS

In 2020, Jamie Peters received a Grammy for Best Contemporary Music Album. He was recognized for his engineer work for Kanye West’s gospel album “Jesus is King.”

PHOTO BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

Crew sets up video village

LACC campus to film the series “Brother Sun.”

PHOTO BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

A “Brother Sun” employee, right, speaks to potential students during film production on Oct. 11, 2022.

Mexican Film Festival Comes to L.A.

PHOTOS COMPILED BY LOUIS WHITE

Success Comes from Hope and Sorrow

notebook embraces Latino Heritage Month

In the Mexican state of Michoacan, Apatizican is home to a small pueb lo that is hidden away in the hills. A young child by the name of Mar icela, or“Chinita,”lived there. She had 13 siblings and was the youngest.

In search of a better life, Chi nita’s mother immigrated to the United States. Chinita was raised by her grandmother un til she was 16-months-old.

Her grandmother made the deci sion to send the child to work when she was five-years-old. In Mexico, ev eryone in the village, even the chil dren, worked hard to make a living.

“I remember when I was about five-years-old,” Chinita said. My next door neighbor grew very sick, she asked for help. So, she paid me five pesos a week to help clean the house, run errands, wash dishes and maybe get her some pan dulce.”

Chinita recalled her sto ry with a touch of nostalgia from her home in Mexico. She clearly recalls her hometown. “I had no shoes,” Chinita said. “So, since it was hot, I had to hop around what shade I could find.”

BY JONATHAN VALDOVINOS

When Chinita was around 12-years-old, her grandmother learned about a strange taxi driv er who was 30-years-old. He was announcing to his neighbors that he was going to kidnap the girl.

It was common practice to wed one’s abductor in some parts of Mexico. There was nowhere else for the abductee to be. A swift deci sion was made to send her north to the United States with her mother. She recalls feeling afraid and cold during the trip. She was forced to mature quickly and was re ferred to as, “Maricela,” in the U.S..

“I remember eating KFC, and it was so delicious,” Maricela said. It was my first time having fried chicken.”

She was advised to take the “GED Prep Course” and then challenge the GED test by one of her teachers. “By the grace of God,” she passed the test.

Her GED helped her get into Pasadena City College in 1996. She enrolled and met all of the re quirements to become a nurse.

Maricela thought she had com pleted her education. In 2018, a

head nurse at Pasadena’s Hunting ton Hospital forced her into earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing. She claims that she did not have the time, but her job did not al low her to choose. She made the decision to return to school and finished the course in 11 months.

I remember trying to look up my results for my nursing license, and it took a long time for the site to load,” Maricela said. “ There was my name! It shocked me to the point I spat out my cereal and began to cry.”

Maricela began to prostrate herself before God. She con tinues to set goals for her life.

It’s one of my happiest and most emotional memories,” Maricela said.

Maricela has worked in nursing for more than 25 years. She en couraged Catherine, her youngest daughter, to work in the field from which she will graduate in Nov. 2022.

Maricela weeps once more as she talks about her jour ney. She triumphed over odds.

Attendees wait their opportunity for a photo on the red carpet at the Hola Mexico Film Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

Mexico Film Festival presented by Toyota, featuring team leaders in the film “Enfermo

Vendors gives food to participants of the Hola Mexico Film Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN VALDOVINOS

Maricela stands in her work uniform with performers while celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

Actress Cassandra Sanchez Navarro stars in “Enfermo Amor”

premiered during the Hola Mexican Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

Actress Selina Ringel arrives on the red carpet at the Hola Mexican Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

Race Heats Up For City Council

District 1 was defeated by commu nity activist Eunises Hernandez for re-election.

Seven of the 15 seats on the Los Angeles City Council are up for grabs on Nov. 8, with four new councilmembers guaranteed.

Labor unions, political groups, activists and politicians have all backed Soto-Martinez’s campaign, which does not solicit contribu tions from real estate developers, police unions, or corporations.

The 39-year-old said that his grassroots campaign will have the same success in November as it did in June at a fundraiser held at a downtown brewery on Sept. 7.

“We are going to stick to the same plan that has yielded good results for us and we will continue to knock on doors in order to get the votes needed to prevail,” said Soto-Martinez.

Soto-Martinez became involved as a union organizer for a hotel he worked at during his senior year of college. He was raised in South Central Los Angeles by Mexican immigrants whose parents were street vendors.

As a result, he was able to nego tiate a more favorable contract for his fellow hotel workers. He learned a lot about organizing and fighting for what is right when the workers were able to get benefits and a pay raise.

Many people want a different approach to the problem of home lessness because they are dissatis

fied with rising rents and the grow ing number of people living on the streets.

A significant encampment at Echo Park Lake was compelled to disperse forcibly during a costly and massive police raid in March 2021. Many individuals blamed Mitch O’Farrell for the sweep, and a number of organizations pledged to remove him from office.

O’Farrell defended his nine-year council membership at a candidate forum for District 13.

“Leadership is not easy, it means that you are willing to take chances and willing to take risks and willing to be criticized for being a leader and standing for what you believe,” said O’Farrell. “ We’ve done that since taking office. My leadership has resulted in four thousand units of covenant affordable housing and permanent supporting hous ing for the unhoused since 2014.”

O’Farrell was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2013 after working for Eric Garcetti for more than a decade. He was re-elected in 2017 to serve out a five-and-a-halfyear term that begins in December.

The City Council election hap pens simultaneously with the mid term elections for the first time this year.

The majority of the members will be up for re-election in 2024, while the remaining half will be up for election in 2022.

The election is on Nov. 8.

FROM “METRO K LINE”

METRO K Line Attracts Riders

2023. All new stations feature pub lic artworks.

The K Line passes through sev eral African-American neighbor hood. It makes it more convenient for students from these minority communities to travel to Los An geles Trade Technical College and Los Angeles City College through a well-connected system of subways

and light rails. The K Line is con necting itself directly to Expo Line that stops at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and to the 7th Street/Metro Center where the Red Line continues travel to stop at Los Angeles City College. K Line runs every day from around 4 a.m. to around midnight, in 10 to 20 min ute intervals.

FALL CLASSIC HIRING SPREE

resume Dress to Impress Meet with Employers

Career Fair Brings Options to Students

dents to become aware of these resources and to utilize them.

“I’ve never heard of it and I think that it’s a good program,” said Ale xandre Meija Rivas, an arts and hu manities major. “ I aspire to become a writer and artist. I would use [the] career center for job postings, in terview skills, and resume building.”

After a few years online, the Ca reer Center is working on creating an interactive exploratorium for students to use on campus. They hope to incorporate augmented reality and interactive technology to immerse students in the possi bilities after college.

The Career Fair will be held on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LACC Main Quad for students that

want to explore career opportu nities in person. The Career Fair is free to attend and will feature free workshops.

This event is coordinated by the Los Angeles County Office of Ed ucation and over 100 employers are looking to hire. Senator Ma ria Elana Dorazo and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis will be attending with Senator Dorazo making a speech. Students should bring their resumes and dress to impress to be ready to meet with potential employers.

The Career Fair will have a lend ing closet by “Clothes The Deal” to help craft the perfect interview outfit and there will be free haircuts to perfect the look!

“LATINX”

‘Latinx’ Transcends the Woke-trap

The exact origin of Latinx is un known, but gained momentum in the media in 2016 after a mass shooting at LGBTQ+ nightclub, Pul se, in Orlando. Many of the victims killed or injured were of Hispanic descent and identified as gender non-conforming.

More recently, Latinx is used by some news and entertainment outlets, corporations, local govern ments and universities to describe the nation’s Hispanic population.

However, only 23% of U.S. adults who self-identify as Hispanic and Latino have heard of the term Lat inx. Just 3% self-identify as such, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center poll.

The sharpest divide seen along at the generational level. Forty-three percent of young Hispanics, age 18 to 29, have reported being familiar with the term, compared to 7% of those age 65 or older who are not.

Critics of Latinx point to its ori gins among U.S. English speakers. Critics say it ignores the Spanish language and its gendered form.

Meanwhile, others see Latinx as a gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive term which reflects a broader move ment around gender identity.

“ The reality is that there is little support for its use and it’s sort of seen as something used inside the Beltway or in Ivy League tower set tings,” said Domingo Garcia, presi dent of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

The oldest Latino civil rights or ganization in America had Latinx” removed from being used in the group’s official communications in 2021. Therein lies the great divide - the oldest Latino civil rights orga nization in America.

Twenty-eight-year-old Azucena Gutierrez is a child development educator who works with Hispan ic families in East Los Angeles. She welcomes Latinx, preferring

the term “Chicanx” for herself as a first-generation Mexican-Ameri can.

“Chicanx is a self-appointed po litical statement that comes with a certain level of awareness and ac ceptance that Chicanx people live in an in-between world,” Gutierrez said.

Living in an in-between” world is a reality for most Hispanics. A sense to belong to American and Latin cultures, yet removed from both for partial participation.

In response to critics, Gutierrez points to the deep-rooted mi sogyny of machismo” in Hispanic culture. Overtly assertive hyper masculinity places a father as the ultimate authority which com mands subservience from his wife and children.

Instilled at a young age, ma chismo culture breeds domestic violence and underdevelopment for generations of women who suf fer the fragile and false masculine pride taught to men.

“ The patriarchy is fragile without the defined rules and gendered expectations,” said Gutierrez. To openly admit that one is inclusive of people who do not fit the binary can quickly make someone doubt the validity of their perceived straightness. Machismo is so fragile it can’t even accept others living in their truth without making it doubt its own existence.”

It is undeniable that society in all its aspects – social, economic, polit ical, religious and cultural – is in the process of fundamental change.

Viewed through this lens, Lat inx is for a generation that has emerged with different compre hensions about gender and sexu ality. Older generations are forced to confront long-established rules and traditions that their children are ready to leave behind.

Special Honorary Grand Marshall State Senator Durazo

FROM

Metro employees offer free gifts to passengers near the entrance of Expo/ Crenshaw Station on Oct. 7, 2022.

PHOTOS BY EDWARD LOCKE

Riders await the next station inside the K Line train on Oct. 7, 2022.

A vendor’s tent is located at Leimert Park on Oct. 7, 2022.

The artist and owner sits outside the Lion art gallery at Leimert Park on Oct. 7,

“Sonder” is the name of a porcelain enamel steel art panel by Kenturah Davis on the platform of the Downtown Inglewood Station, Oct. 7, 2022.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY RAE ON UNSPLASH Women dance in the street in Mexico in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 17, 2017.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Soci ety (LLS) Scholarship

LLS knows how challenging it can be to plan for your future in higher education during and after cancer treatment and offers up to $7,500 to students who are blood cancer patients or survivors diag nosed at age 25 or younger.

Amount: Varies

Deadline: October 28, 2022

Apply today at: WWW.LLS.ORG

Mel C. Marshall Student Scholar ship

To encourage California un dergraduate college students to enroll in careers related to the precast concrete industry, Califor nia Precast Concrete Association will award $500 per semester to students in the academic field of building including safety, account, IT, etc. who maintain a 2.5 GPA.

Amount: $500

Deadline: October 31, 2022

Apply today at: WWW.CARPRE CASTCONCRETE.ORG

University of Florida (UF) Out-ofstate Scholarships

UF is offering merit-based schol arships designed to reduce tuition for out-of-state students planning to apply for UF admission.

Amount: up to $8,000

Deadline: November 16, 2022

Apply today at: WWW.ADMIS SIONS.UFL.EDU

Construction Landscape Irriga tion Council, Inc (CLC) Scholarship

The Associated General Contrac tors of California awards annual scholarships to students who por tray academic excellence working towards a degree in the following fields of interest: landscape con struction, engineering, construc

Scholarships

COMPILED BY MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ

tion management, business ad ministration, and/or related fields.

Amount: $1,000

Deadline: November 30, 2022

Apply today at: WWW.AGC-CA. ORG

Golden 1 Credit Union Scholar ship Program

Awarded to Golden 1 Credit Union members involved in com munity service totaling at least 24 hours in the past 12 months; and have a 3.0 GPA.

Amount: $5,000

Deadline: January 15, 2022

Apply today at: WWW.GOLDEN1. COM

Dan X Wray “Big Dream” Scholar ship Cancer for College provides needs-based college scholarships and educational experiences to cancer survivors attending a U.S. college and have a family income of less than $150,000 per year.

Amount: $20,000

Deadline: January 31, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.CANCER FORCOLLEGE.ORG

eQuality Scholarship Collabora tive

Offering scholarships to honor and encourage California students that demonstrate service to the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community.

Amount: $6,000

Deadline: January 31, 2022

Apply today at: WWW.EQUALI TYSCHOLARSHIP.ORG

Southern California Mothers of Multiples Clubs, Inc. (SCMOMC) Scholarship

To qualify, applicants must be multiple birth students (twins, trip

lets, or higher) or a mother of multi ples residing in Southern California.

Amount: $1,500

Deadline: February 4, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.TUN.COM/ SCHOLARSHIPS

PG&E Scholarships

PG&E offers a wide range of scholarships to help the next gen eration of Californians succeed and innovate in both Science, Technol ogy, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors. Veterans and adults return ing to school are encouraged to apply.

Amount: Varies

Deadline: February 25, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.PGE.COM

Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Scholarship ACWA awards scholarships to students in a water-resources field of study best demonstrated by pursing a degree related to or iden tified with engineering, agriculture or urban water supply, environ mental studies and public admin istration associated with resources management.

Amount: $3,500

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.ACWA.

COM

Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program Awarded to the state’s most promising students in a broad range of academic studies includ ing Agricultural Studies, Agricul tural Business, Culinary Cooking or Hospitality Management and more.

Amount: $2,500

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.CALEX POSTATEFAIR.COM

Matsuo Bridge Company Ltd. Of Japan Scholarship Awarded to college students pursuing a degree in civil engi neering, welding engineering technology, or related disciplines with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Amount: $2,500

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.AWS.ORG

University of California – Berke ley Middle Class Scholarship UC Berkeley awards scholarships to new, transfer, and returning un dergraduate students with family incomes and household assets up to $184,000 who maintain a mini

mum 3.0 GPA and not be in default on a student loan

Amount: Varies Deadline: March 2, 2023

For more information, visit: WWW.FINANCIALAID.BERKELEY.

EDU

California Association of Wine grape Growers Foundation (CAWG) Scholarship

CAWG offers scholarships to Cal ifornia students with a parents or legal guardian employed by a Cal ifornia vineyard during the wine grape growing season.

Amount: $8,000

Deadline: March 3, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.CAWG. ORG

Construction Industry Educa tion Foundation Scholarship in Ar chitecture

CIEW offers scholarships to mi nority students majoring in Archi tecture who intend to transfer into a Bachelor or Master of Architec ture Program.

Amount: $20,000

Deadline: March 11, 2023

Apply today at: WWW.CIE. FOUNDATION

Coach Guidance Takes LACC to National Ranking

The LACC Men’s Soccer team, which is currently ranked 12th in the country, has had an incredible start to the 2022 season.

This season, the Cubs Men’s Soccer team has been on fire, starting with a record of 6-2-2. In a 2-1 defeat to Norco, the team only recently suffered its second defeat of the season.

Coach Javier Aguiniga Campos was questioned about whether the loss had any effect on the team’s preparations for the upcoming games.

“Definitely, we have a couple of injuries so it made us modify the lineup,” Campos said. “But we were able to move the pieces last game to identify and correct how we will be moving on into conference.”

Most teams might have a standout player who could be considered the team’s Most Valuable Player. Coach Campos, on the other hand, has a team that works to gether to win games and improve one another.

“I think it s the whole team as a group, everyone to gether is the MVP,” Campos said. “They all push each other to be great.”

It is refreshing to hear a coach like Campos believe in his team. There are certain expectations associated with a team’s performance like the Cubs’.

I always set up high expectations for my teams, and I have them for this group,” Campos said. “I think we can make the playoffs and possibly win our con

ference, and have a fighting chance at a state cham pionship.”

After playing East Los Angeles College for their third conference match, the LACC Men’s Soccer team won for the second time in conference. LACC’s strong press and constant attack would help them get off to a good start.

The score would remain 0-0 after some obvious chances were missed, and ELAC would attack more vigorously to gain some momentum. The game had a lot of energy, but both defenses worked hard to keep the score even in the first half.

Both teams were eager to climb the scoreboard in the second half, and the game’s tempo and intensity never slowed down, hinting at a goal for either team.

Sophomore Brayan Cordova, who found a rebound in the box after Axel Miranda had crossed, would score for LACC, which had the majority of the attack. He would also score the game-winning goal.

The Cubs would have more chances with 15 min utes left in the game, but they would also keep their ninth shutout of the season, earning their second win in conference and 10th win overall.

The Cubs hosted visiting Rio Hondo College on Oct. 14, bringing their overall record to 10-3-1 and their conference record to 2-1. The Cubs will host the Compton College Tartars on Oct. 25, at 4:30 p.m.

Women Cubs Strive for Competitive Spirit

BY JUAN MENDOZA

The LACC Women’s Cubs Soccer team is back home after four games played away with a record of two wins and four losses on the road.

The team is greeted warmly and given a new lease on life by the fans in the stands. The Lady Cubs were prepared and determined to give it their all for kickoff. Coach Lior Lipman had given them a mental and phys ical workout. Lipman coaches differently, and he ex pects the best from his players.

“The LACC Cubs are no strangers to a great battle, therefore they are preparing for their up coming and are ready to give it their all,” said Lip man, head coach of the LACC Women’s Cubs. The Lipman strategy aims to instill self-control and discipline in the Women Cubs. While it’s important to compete, Lipman’s most important goal is to acquire the skills they’ll need to advance in life.

“Through athletics, the team is learning how to study and to improve their grades. They are getting set up for a four-year college. A learning process for everyone,” Lipman said. The coach has observed the team’s growth since the beginning of the season. They care about one another and have a strong bond.

The team meets in a huddle for a few minutes be fore and after each game to talk about their plans for the game, what went wrong, and how to approach the next game differently because each game is different. The Women Cubs were able to score early on to take an early lead in their game against the El Camino College

Women Warriors. The Women Cubs dominated the first half of the game.

The Warriors surprised the Cubs by coming back strong in the second half and to win the game by three goals.

Stephanie Cardenas, a midfielder, and Isabella Velazco, the women Cubs soccer team captain, scored against the Warriors.

“We started off the game really well, we were work ing as a team,” Captain Velazco said. “ What went wrong for us, is that once we started scoring we put our heads down, we gave up. For our next game we need to focus on staying concentrated throughout the entire game.”

Lipman says that the Cubs need to work on their fin ishing, but the Warriors have established themselves as a fast team in the conference.

“We had a bunch of scoring opportunities where we hit the post and missed a couple opportunities to get more shots on goal,” Lipman said.

The coaching staff and the team met in the locker room after the game for a briefing and an opportunity for the players to express their feelings.

“They had a heart to heart talk,” Lipman said while waiting outside the room. “Everyone kind of spoke their truth and how they felt about the match.”

Lipman teaches the Women Cubs Soccer team how to learn and to perform better through the idea of hav ing a competitive spirit. This will ultimately help them become the best version of themselves.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LACC ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT WEBSITE LACC Women’s Soccer team members get ready to play against East Los Angeles College on Oct. 11, 2022.

PHOTO BY TUPAC ZAPATA

The LACC Men’s Soccer team celebrate a victory against East Los Angeles College on Oct. 11, 2022.

BY FERNANDO REYES JR.