Former POLA president Nick Tonsich sued for $5 million in fraud complaint By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor “This is a Wright brothers moment!” Pasha Terminal’s then-vice president, Jeff Burgin, exclaimed on July 12, four years ago. “We’re standing on the cliff with some wings strapped to our arms. We know we can fly, we’re just not sure how far.” But Burgin now seems more like Icarus, plunging into the sea, taking a much more prominent partner down with him — former Port of Los Angeles Commission President Nick Tonsich. At the time, he was touting Pasha’s Green Omni Terminal, intended to be the Port of LA’s showcase all-electric terminal. But on May 8, his former employer—headquartered in Northern California— sued him for $5 million, along with Tonsich, whose firm, Ocean Terminal Services, also known as OTS, allegedly received at least $4.25 million in overbilled invoices on a shady crane services contract — by far the largest sum of money involved in the scheme. [See Tonsich, p. 4]
Defund the LBPD? Leaders say not so fast p. 3
The City of Los Angeles does not want the Los Angeles Police Department to be the lead agency for homeless outreach, said Captain Jay Mastick of Harbor Division. The LAPD works in a supportive role with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and the Bureau of Sanitation’s Watershed Protection Division. The department is charged with providing protections for both organizations while they do their jobs. “It is the department’s position that we don’t want to be in the homeless business; we want to be in the security and safety business, as more of a guardian model, more so than an enforcement model when it comes to homeless issues,” Mastick said. Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement unit, or HOPE unit is the primary group that the LAPD uses to interact with homeless people. Cleaning
and Rapid Engagement, or CARE, is the primary tool the LAPD uses to clean up homeless encampments. CARE is coordinated by the Unified Homelessness Response Center. “The HOPE unit [is] right now focused out of the South Bureau, which serves all of South Los Angeles; they come out and facilitate cleanups and also offer wraparound services,” Mastick said. There are three major homeless encampments within Harbor Divison’s jurisdiction. The first is in San Pedro, on South Beacon Street and W. 8th Street; the second is in Harbor City, on McCoy Avenue and Lomita Boulevard; and third is on East F Street and Broad Avenue in Wilmington. Mastick said the Harbor Division has a quality of life unit that goes to these encampments and facilitates cleanups when the HOPE unit is unavailable.
[See LAPD and Homeless, p. 8]
COVID-19 Deaths in USA as of July 8, 2020: 134,351 • Confirmed Cases: 3,038,800 • Recovered: 923,000. For Local numbers: www.randomlengthsnews.com
July 9 - 22, 2020
Al fresco dining comes to Pedro p. 10
By Hunter Chase, Reporter
DJ Terence Toy— More anthem music needed p. 9
Community, LAPD Discuss Defunding, Homeless
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Former Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Nick Tonsich and the Pasha Terminal.
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Juy 9 - 22, 2020
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Community Announcements:
Harbor Area The Long Beach Challenge Fundraiser Benefits Local Nonprofits
The Long Beach Challenge is an online auction to raise funds for Meals on Wheels of Long Beach and the Long Beach Education Foundation. More than 45 auction items are open for bidding and additional auction packages are being added. The auction will be open for bidding until 5 p.m. July 15. Details: 562-439-5000; https://one.bidpal.net/ lbchallenge/welcome
State Grants Expand Assistance for Unemployed Long Beach Residents
Long Beach announced, June 26, three state grants totaling almost $2 million that will help Pacific Gateway — a federally designated workforce development area administered by the City of Long Beach — expand assistance to residents whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19. The grants will help expand offerings at The WorkPlace, a career center operated by Pacific Gateway. Services include career counseling, training opportunities, online courses and assistance in finding a new job. For more information about business operations during COVID-19, Long Beach workers and business owners can call 562-570-4249 or visit: longbeach. gov/4BIZ. Details: 562-570-3700; Pacific-Gateway.org.
Farmers Market Comes to Lomita
The Farmers Market, hosted by the Lomita Chamber of Commerce, launched July 5. The Lomita Farmers Market features fresh certified produce and eight vendor booths. The market takes place every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Lomita City Hall, 24300 Narbonne Avenue. Remember to wear a mask, maintain six feet of social distancing and use hand sanitizer from the various stations that will be available. Details: LomitaFarmersMarket.com
Committed to Independent Journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for More Than 40 Years
Despite Protests, LB Reluctant to Defund LBPD By Dayzsha Lino, Editorial Intern
“Defund the police” is a rallying cry that has seemed to gain notoriety as protests continued across the country, following weeks of civil unrest after the tragic killing of George Floyd. Organizations such as Black Lives Matter have been demanding that local governments take away large portions of their city’s police budget and reallocate the money to social programs that would benefit the community. The goal is to shift the focus from police intervention in every circumstance to letting counselors and other mental health professionals handle situations that even police say they are not wellequipped to handle. An example of this call for change is a statement from the Black Lives Matter Long Beach website. It reads: “We call for the end to the systemic racism that allows this culture of corruption to go unchecked and our lives to be taken. “We call for a national defunding of police. We demand investment in our communities and the resources to ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive. If you’re with us, add your name to the petition right now and help us spread the word.”
Floyd was a black man who was killed by a police officer who suffocated him with his knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds on Memorial
Anti-police brutality demonstration in the wake of the George Floyed protest in Long Beach this past June. Photo by Greggory Moore
Day. The killing of Breonna Taylor, who was shot in her bedroom by Louisville Metro Police Department officers on March 13, 2020 during a “no-knock” investigation, has also been a huge motivator in calls to shift funding from police. The black community, in general, has been fed up with police encounters resulting in the deaths of black individuals over the years, and the recent deaths of Floyd and Taylor are very
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reminiscent of similar victims such as Freddy Grey, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and Michael Brown, whose deaths within the past decade have sparked the conversation on police misconduct against African-Americans in the United States. Data from Mapping Police Violence shows that out of the 1,000 people who were shot and killed by police between 2013 and 2019, about a [See Defunding, p. 13]
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July 9 - 22, 2020
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[Tonsich, from p. 1]
Striping the Approaches and Connectors
LONG BEACH — As work continues on the main span of the Bridge Project, crews are applying some finishing touches to other areas of the project, including the striping of the approaches and connectors. In the coming weeks, striping will be placed on the two approaches on the Terminal Island side of the Bridge Project, which will be clearly visible to motorists headed east on Ocean Boulevard before they head over the current bridge. Details: www.newgdbridge.com
RPV Announces New Director of Community Development
RANCHO PALOS VERDES — On June 30, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes announced the selection of Ken Rukavina, a veteran civil engineer, as director of community development. Rukavina joins the city from neighboring Palos Verdes Estates, where he served as director of community development and public works since 2016. Rukavina brings experience in land use and engineering, as well as knowledge of development issues facing cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, from view restoration to wireless facilities and accessory dwelling units. Prior to his tenure in Palos Verdes Estates, Rukavina served as city engineer in Lake Elsinore and director of public works and city engineer in Rosemead. Rukavina earned bachelor of science degrees in civil engineering from California State University Long Beach and in meteorology from the University of Utah. He is a registered civil engineer in the State of California and is a member of the American Public Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Japan’s Consulate General Facilitates Donations for COVID-19 Response
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
LOS ANGELES — Japan’s consulate general in Los Angeles has coordinated the donation of 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and 1,000 face shields from a team of Japanese corporate entities for the Port of Los Angeles and Logistics Victory Los Angeles, or LoVLA. The donors include YS Media Agency, the Japan External Trade Organization Los Angeles, Nippon Express and Toyota Motor North America. The donated items will become available for distribution through the LoVLA campaign, established by Mayor Eric Garcetti as a resource linking hospitals and health care agencies with much-needed personal protective equipment. The items will be sent to area hospitals, medical facilities and frontline workforces.
Fatal Drive-By Shooting
Juy 9 - 22, 2020
WILMINGTON — The Los Angeles Police Department’s Harbor Area Homicide Detectives are seeking help in identifying the suspect(s) responsible for the drive-by shooting death of 19-year-old Daniel Felipe Delgado. On July 5, at about 1:45 a.m., Daniel Felipe Delgado was driving eastbound Pacific Coast Highway near Drumm Avenue when a vehicle with unknown suspect(s) drove by and fired multiple rounds, striking Delgado. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded and transported Delgado to a local hospital. Medical staff attempted to revive Delgado, however he died from his injuries. The suspect’s vehicle was described as an unknown make/model dark silver in color. Detectives do not have any leads as to the suspect’s identity. Anyone with additional information is urged to call 310-726-7884 or 4 310-726-7887.
Tonsich
The suit is a counterclaim in response to a suit OTS filed in February, after Pasha terminated the contract in December. “In response to the suit, Pasha began reviewing invoices over the life of the OTS contract,” the suit read. It explains: On inspection, the invoices revealed significant discrepancies between the tonnage that was reported to POLA and the volume of tonnage on which OTS charged Pasha. Pasha realized that it had been overcharged for tonnage, including being charged for tonnage from berths not covered by the OTS Agreement. Pasha also conducted an investigation into Tonsich’s relationship with Burgin and uncovered the illegal kickback scheme. Pasha had not known about any of this prior to its investigation because Tonsich and Burgin actively concealed their scheme from Pasha corporate headquarters and executives.
The suit includes four counts of action: fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, breach of contract and unfair competition. The same day, Pasha also filed a direct answer to the OTS suit, asserting 35 affirmative defenses. Tonsich also had a stake in the OMNI Terminal project, getting a $3.75 million grant via another company he owns, Clean Air Engineering-Maritime, better known as CAEM, for technology that’s failed to deliver. In that case, ethics regulations would have blocked the Port of LA from giving him the grant, but the port allowed Pasha — meaning Burgin — to include Tonsich’s speculative technology in its package grant proposal, with no subcontractor bidding process. Tonsich’s history of sliding around the rules goes back more than 20 years. In 1999, just one year after founding his own law firm, Glaser Tonsich & Brajevich, he landed a $200,000 no-bid contract from the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority — a joint project of the ports of LA and Long Beach. By 2005, the Los Angeles Times reported that his firm had racked up a total of $1.25 million in no-bid contracts with ACTA, the vast majority approved while Tonsich was president of POLA’s board. But now that long history may be coming to an end. “The scheme was simple: OTS issued invoices to Pasha that were inflated or, in some cases, completely made up,” the suit alleges. “The invoices improperly added tonnage from other berths not covered by the contract to make the invoices bigger. Burgin would approve the inflated tonnage numbers and, at times, even increase the tonnage based on what he believed he could ‘get away with.’ Other times, OTS issued multiple invoices for the same charge or billed Pasha at rates not allowed by the contract.” A table included shows that Pasha’s overbilling grew from $244,677 in 2011 (13.95%); to $1,271,958 in 2015 (66.4%); before tapering off slightly to $898,698 in 2016 (54.25%). The total overbilling, $4,259,684, was $45.9% of the total billed in those five years. OTS provided “maintenance and repair work” on three cranes located at Pasha’s Berth 174-181 container terminal, but — approved by Burgin, while hidden from Pasha’s corporate management in Northern California — Tonsich billed Pasha based on cargo at Berths 154 and 206-209 as well. Beyond that, the suit charges, they “set up
phony companies using vacant addresses at POLA,” and generated phony invoices for work never done. The majority of activity charged was undertaken by Burgin. He was the inside man, and thus Pasha’s initial internal inquiry has turned up far more information about how he operated. In response, Tonsich’s lawyers filed a demurrer on June 16, seeking to remove him from the lawsuit, and leaving Burgin holding the bag. “Neither OTS nor Mr. Tonsich are alleged to have knowledge or involvement in these separate schemes other than to supposedly receive payments from Mr. Burgin,” the demurrer claims. That they were actually multi-million dollar overpayments simply amounts to “an issue of contract interpretation,” it argues, and “Pasha cannot twist this contractual interpretation dispute into a fraud claim against OTS and Tonsich.” But a contract designed for the purpose of fraud is surely an essential part of the fraud. And, the groundwork for everything was laid in the initial crane services contract “that included highly irregular terms (e.g., payment based on tonnage rather than man hours) and that locked Pasha into a long-term arrangement (10 years plus options to extend/renew).” As the suit explains, “crane services are almost always priced based on manning, not tonnage. This is because tonnage is not necessarily proportional to the amount of crane maintenance and repair services that will be required.” But it’s ideally suited for an over-billing scheme — one that can almost run on autopilot. As a lawyer since 1989, Tonsich obviously played the lead role in laying this foundation. The unprecedented use of tonnage rather than hours clearly enabled him to bill for shipments at other terminals — and then use this very defense against any accusations of fraud. Plus, the longterm nature of the agreement (versus one to three years, as is normal) was designed to keep the scheme going as long as possible. In violation of Pasha’s procurement policies, Burgin signed the contract on behalf of Pasha without any review from Pasha’s corporate headquarters or legal department, the suit alleges. It all started when POLA stopped providing crane services to terminal operators. The logical response—which most operators took—would have been to directly hire the same crane service workers that POLA had used, and pay them standard ILWU contract wages. There
Former senior vice president of Pasha Stevedoring Terminal, Jeff Burgin, in 2016. Photo by Linnea Stephan. Former Harbor Commission president Nick Tonsich, above.
would have been no added overhead. But instead, Burgin signed a contract with OTS. “On paper, this decision made no sense,” the suit states. “OTS had no experience in crane maintenance, had no track record, and only had one or two other clients.” However, both Burgin and Tonsich had previous patterns of behavior leading to this decision. The suit notes previous examples of Burgin defrauding Pasha — particularly a prolonged scheme involving Dunrite Construction, which billed $5.5 million for work that was never done “with kickbacks going to Burgin” — and notes: Tellingly, before the OTS contract was signed, Burgin told another Pasha executive that he was going to invest in and become a partner in a crane maintenance company. Shortly thereafter, Burgin approved the OTS contract. By his action, it is very possible that Burgin has an ownership interest in OTS.
If this proves to be the case, that’s game over for Tonsich’s attempt to blame everything on Burgin. As for Tonsich himself, this isn’t the first time he’s gotten a contract with little or no track record or scrutiny. It’s virtually his modus operandi. A 2005 Los Angeles Times article cited the 1999 no-bid contract with the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority mentioned above, as well as another almost-simultaneous example: Tonsich’s firm was one of 25 approved to handle police misconduct cases [in response to the Ramparts scandal] by the city attorney’s office when [James] Hahn headed that office. All of them had substantial experience defending public agencies except Tonsich’s firm, which cited just one case on its application…. Tonsich’s clean air firm, CAEM, also [See OTS, p.13]
El Segundo Students Lead Protests Against Police Brutality By Mark Friedman, Columnist
Independence Day weekend was different in El Segundo this year. Normally known as a conservative 80% Caucasian bastion with a racist history and police profiling, 200 resident protesters led by high school students are seeking to change this image with a rally they held on July 5, at Library Park. Groups organizing this and prior protests since the killing of George Floyd have come
else we need to fight to exist,” Taylor said. “We are faced with so much injustice, police brutality and micro attacks such as our children being held back in the schools or the harassment of black women. When George Floyd was killed, it was an overflow, an explosion based on all the oppression.” Taylor then said every community in the United States should be doing the same as they
El Segundo High student, Elias Garcias speaking at a community rally against police brutality and for changes at their school. Photo by Lee Tonks
are because racism exists everywhere. Another student, Miles, said that he felt that “institutionalized prejudice is just as deadly as the cop killings.” July 7 is the El Segundo Board of Education meeting and the students are organizing to have residents send a statement of support to Tracy Adams at tadams@esusd.net.
Real News, Real People, Really Effective July 9 - 22, 2020
from several different El Segundo High School organizations, including the Hispanic Student Union, Black Student Union, El Segundo High School LGBTQ, Bridge Between Cultures and others. These groups are also organizing for major changes in their curriculum to include contributions of minorities, cultural activities that are inclusive of minority students to celebrate their cultures, hiring a diverse staff and the establishment of a community council to investigate violations of the zero-tolerance policy of racism. A leader of this action, Elias Garcia, a recent graduate of El Segundo High School, explained the history of their protests. “When the killing of George Floyd happened and we decided to organize a march, we expected to have a few people, but 100 showed up,” Garcia said. “Given the history, we didn’t expect El Segundo to be very supportive of anti-police demonstrations. Since then we have held two rallies and a march including a June 19 ceremony.” He further explained that there is lots of racial profiling in El Segundo, police target black people who are merely driving through the city or just come to eat, many of whom are airport workers. “That is why we formed El Segundo for Black Lives,” he said. “There is a sordid history of racism with high numbers of incidents of police using unnecessary force.” El Segundo resident Keith Puckett said he has a son entering El Segundo High and for that reason, he became part of the coordinating committee for these protests. “There is an insensitivity here to other cultures and the city has a history of racism,” Puckett said. “As late as the 1980s, there used to be a sign that said, ‘No coloreds allowed after dark.’ We want to change that reputation.” Essential leader of the action Tonya Taylor recounted a similar sentiment. “As a black person in El Segundo or anywhere
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Unfinished Business and the Sins of the Fathers Trumpism out of step with 157 years of progress By James Preston Allen, Publisher
“The gods visit the sins of the fathers upon the children.” —Euripides (c. 485-406 B.C.)
of black American academics, writers and intellectuals fill volumes on the subject. These are books that many conservative Americans never read. Yet, something changed this time with the murder of George Floyd caught on a cell phone as he died at the hands of white Minnesota police officer. Suddenly Black Lives Matter wasn’t just a slogan exclusively for black activists but a rallying point for a multi-ethnic, multi-generational uprising that has shocked the collective consciousness — not just here but around the world. Suddenly (even though it’s not really sudden), you have white students and elders marching alongside people of many shades to protest injustice. This has by its very diversity woken up America, the media and challenged Congress. Then as a response we have Donald J. Trump on this Fourth of July giving a speech at one of the great national monuments — Mount Rushmore. Here’s his response: One of their [the democratic left’s] political weapons is “Cancel Culture” — driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees. This is the very definition of totalitarianism, and it is completely alien to our culture and our values, and it has absolutely no place in the United States of America. This attack on our liberty, our magnificent liberty, must be stopped, and it will be stopped very quickly. We will expose this dangerous movement, protect our nation’s children, end this radical assault, and preserve our beloved American way of life. In our schools, our newsrooms, even our corporate boardrooms, there is a new far-left fascism that demands absolute allegiance. If you do not speak its language, perform its rituals, recite its mantras and follow its commandments, then you will be censored, banished, blacklisted, persecuted and punished. It’s not going to happen to us. Make no mistake: this left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution. In so doing, they would [See Sins of Fathers, p. 7] Publisher/Executive Editor James Preston Allen james@randomlengthsnews.com
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
Racism is still a problem in America. If you subscribe to the idea of “American Exceptionalism” — the belief that America is exceptional and better than other nations — you are a part of the problem. All of us who think we can claim to be the exception to exceptionalism, must now bear witness to the sins of the fathers visited upon the generations. So here we are, a week after the 244th anniversary of our nation’s forefathers declaring independence, we are still arguing over the clause, “All men are created equal.” Clearly you thought this had been settled back in 1865 when the Confederacy lost the Civil War and the enslaved were freed or that the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution settled the issue of who were citizens and exactly what their civil rights were. And just to make sure these rights were set in stone, the U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Most of this was glossed over in your high school history class while you were consumed by sex and the latest music craze. All of these things were done well before the first Confederate statue was ever erected. Gen. Robert E. Lee, when declining an invitation to erect statues on the battlefield in Gettysburg said, “I think it wiser not to keep open the sores of war, but to follow the examples of those nations who endeavored to obliterate the marks of civil strife and to commit to oblivion the feelings it has engendered.” Which was a very gentile way for the Confederate general to say we should bury the past along with 618,222 soldiers who died on both sides. I would add most of which were white men fighting over whether black people’s involuntary servitude status should end. Which brings me to the realization that since that war, and for a long time prior, white people have been arguing with each other over the status of black people (and others of color) in our country. And it wasn’t for the lack of some very eloquent and highly educated black voices to call on the consciousness of America to rectify this original sin. From Frederick Douglass down to Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Angela Davis to name just a few — the names
Juy 9 - 22, 2020
Assoc. Publisher/Production Coordinator Suzanne Matsumiya
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“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. XLI : No. 14
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Under Attack
Nu Yang, Editor-in-Chief for Editor & Publisher Like the rest of the country, I was stunned in disbelief as I watched the television broadcasts and read the accounts about the attacks on journalists covering the protests over George Floyd, a black man, who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn. on May 25. From Los Angeles to New York City, journalists, along with protesters, were being arrested, hit with rubber bullets, pepper-sprayed and more. According to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, as of the first week of June, there have been more than 400 incidents reported at national George Floyd protests. One of the earlier incidents took place just four days after Floyd died when a CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his producer and photojournalist were arrested on live television by Minnesota police while covering the protests in downtown Minneapolis. Although they were released about an hour later, it was still unsettling to watch officers put handcuffs on the journalists, even after they clearly identified themselves as members of the press. Targeted attacks on journalists, media crews, and news organizations covering the demonstrations show a complete disregard for their critical role in documenting issues of public interest and are an unacceptable attempt to intimidate them, Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement condemning the attacks. Authorities in cities across the U.S. need to instruct police not to target journalists and ensure they can report safely on the protests
without fear of injury or retaliation. A joint statement between the News Media Alliance, America’s Newspapers and the National Newspaper Association read: “It is essential that law enforcement and government officials not only allow journalists to report on the historic events currently unfolding, but to provide journalists with the necessary protection in order to remain safe to do their jobs, as members of the press — the rights of which are guaranteed under the First Amendment. Local journalists are not only covering the protests as they are unfolding, but they are telling the stories behind these events, and they will be there in the months ahead to report on the aftermath and local repercussions.” Many journalists reported that the hostility they experienced on the ground was something they had never encountered before. Some blamed President Donald Trump’s harmful rhetoric against the press, calling them “fake news” and “enemies of the people.” It certainly did not help with he called them the “lamestream media” on Twitter right at the height of protest coverage. “I’ve been covering conflict both nationally and internationally for many years, so I know the dangers involved in these situations, especially when you get between riot police and protesters,” Carolyn Cole, a Los Angeles Times photographer covering the protests in Minneapolis, told the New York Times, “but I wasn’t expecting them to attack us directly.” [See Attacked, p. 7]
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RANDOMLetters Defunding the Police
“Defunding” the police is the latest version of the same old, tired, Democrat ploy to rob people of their money. People pay taxes to ensure that streets are maintained; that police, fire, and other first responders are available to protect them; to ensure that schools are available to teach their children. Then, Democrat ideologues spend untold sums of that money on their political agendas and, when there’s not enough money to undertake the core government functions that taxes were supposed to fund, they push innumerable “special” taxes and bonds to fund the things people really want funded (e.g., special school taxes, and police taxes, EMT taxes and fire taxes, highway construction bonds, etc.). “Defund the Police” is just a way to raid the police budget for social welfare expenditures, knowing full well that, when people later get upset that no one responds when they call 911, they’ll be able to push additional taxes to fund the police again. Note the mindset that money, once collected, is theirs to spend
on whatever they wish. Keep voting for Democrats and you’ll get more of the same. Why not REFUND the Taxpayers? Defund the Police? Then return the money to those who paid it. Ralph Ortolano San Pedro Ralph, There’s a whole bunch of things that our taxes pay for beyond police, firefighters and street maintenance if you think about it. Many of those services go unnoticed until they stop working, like the day your trash doesn’t get picked up or when the sewer system gets flooded with rain water and overflows onto our beaches. People like to complain about government overspending and inefficiencies up to the point that there’s a crisis like now and suddenly the health departments emerge as “essential” operations. You probably will complain about wearing a mask or social distancing too, but science and data shows that this is sound medical advice. So, in a world driven by data we just might want to take a look at the crimes stats, which show that
[Online, from p. 1]
Sins of Fathers destroy the very civilization that rescued billions from poverty, disease, violence, and hunger, and that lifted humanity to new heights of achievement, discovery, and progress. To make this possible, they are determined to tear down every statue, symbol, and memory of our national heritage.
[Attacked, from p. 6]
Attacked
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Los Angeles Maritime Institute is the only Harbor Srea finalist. Please support us as we bring a great new program for family fun to the LA Waterfront. Stay tuned to play a vital role in our LA2050 competition! Through the team’s hard work, LAMI has qualified as a finalist for the prestigious LA2050 Grants Challenge, a unique opportunity
tyrant who continually accuses his adversaries of the very same actions that he has committed himself. He shames dissenters, demands total submission from his associates and underlings, threatens and censors the press, recites political mantras and promotes his own brand of fascism. He does this even as he acts solicitously with our nation’s adversaries and curries favor with the world’s autocrats, dictators and oligarchs. The term, “treasonous,” comes to mind. Trump is perhaps the best foil with which white America can now have the argument over what America owes black Americans. For surely their blood has stained this land as much as my ancestors, earning them a proper place of actually being equal. Black Americans have fought, suffered and died to be equal in this nation and this is a special burden specifically for white America to rectify. Racism is defined here specifically between white and black America but it affects all. And one last thought … the cultural revolution that he so mistakenly brings up that is corrupting American values started when Chuck Berry took Rhythm and Blues and turned it into Rock & Roll and teenagers across the land started dancing to it and when Jackie Robinson started to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers and white fans cheered. The cultural revolution is the embracing of a national diversity that expresses the one core American creed that all people are created equal and we should all enjoy the freedoms of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This only became mainstream in the 1960s with the civil rights and anti-war protests and songs and the rest shall we say, is history. This is something that the liar-in-chief knows so little about. And still the argument over racism in America comes down to a contest between two white men in their 70s trying to explain what freedom looks like to a country that is made up of many different shades of color.
July 9 - 22, 2020
Nu Yang is editor-in-chief of Editor and Publisher. She has been with the publication since 2011.
a $100,000 award for our Ocean Adventure Together program! We will be asking you and all of your friends to vote for us starting July 13 through July 20. Alice Taylor San Pedro
Cole was pepper-sprayed in her left ear and eye and her cornea was damaged. Michael Anthony Adams, a correspondent at Vice News, also described to the New York Times how he was thrown to the ground and sprayed with what he thought was pepper spray by officers, even after identifying himself as a reporter. “That’s something that I would expect in Turkey,” he said, referring to an incident where he was tackled by police officers while on assignment there. “But in America, I wouldn’t have expected this.” It’s true: we have seen injustice and discrimination against journalists in other countries, where many of them are persecuted, sentenced to jail and even killed for simply doing their jobs. Now, instead of looking outward, we’re looking inward — and we aren’t liking what we are seeing.
supported by a $1,000,000 grant from the Goldhirsh Foundation https://challenge.la2050.org/2020/ play/los-angeles-maritimeinstitute/. LAMI will need your help to receive more electronic votes than the other four finalists in our category, earning LAMI
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
Excuse me, but this is nothing more than gaslighting and accusing others of what he himself is guilty of. Here is a lying hypocritical
violent crime in Los Angeles is at a 20-year low, not because we have more police but because of other factors like low-unemployment rates up until now. Ask most police officers and they will tell you that they can’t arrest their way out of the homeless crisis. Ask Sheriff Alexander Villanueva about running the largest mental health facility in the nation — the Los Angeles County Jail. Then, explain why we are using badged officers to be social workers or mental health professionals. The police agencies would gladly give up dealing with homeless and crazy people so they can go back to their core mission of solving and preventing crime. James Preston Allen, Publisher
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[LAPD and Homeless, from p. 1]
LAPD and Helping the Homeless Mastick said officers who participate in cleanups have a training curriculum for dealing with homeless people, but he has not attended. “Police are extremely good at what they do and what they’re trained to do,” said Amber Sheikh Ginsberg, who heads the Council District 15 Working Group on Homelessness. “Of course, I wish they had more training. But they aren’t trained social workers or case managers.” Sheikh Ginsberg said it’s not the best idea to give police the role of working with folks that are vulnerable, traumatized and possibly mentally ill. “They’re trained to be on high alert all the time because they’re trained to be taking on jobs that are dangerous, that are, you know, responding
to really high-need, high-risk situations,” Sheikh Ginsberg said. “And, it’s definitely not the right approach to managing individuals experiencing homelessness. “Our police do amazing work, and … what they do I could definitely never do, [but] they are not social workers, they are not caseworkers and they are not trained or given the proper training to do that. So, I do not think it’s a good alignment to have them out there working with individuals experiencing homelessness in any of those ways.” Mastick said that the problem of homelessness should be dealt with using a proper balance of resources, outreach, wraparound services and cleanups.
“It is not the department’s position to criminalize homelessness; that’s not the department’s position at all,” Mastick said. “It’s more of dealing with it on a systemic level.” The Harbor Division will still respond to calls for service and to crimes committed against homeless people, or by homeless people, Mastick said. The Harbor Division has had homeless people as victims of crimes, as well as suspects and witnesses. “Back in January we had a homicide at the homeless encampment located at 8th and Beacon,” Mastick said. “So, that is absolutely a law enforcement concern. It will take the highest
homeless people generally in Los Angeles, but she believes that the Harbor Division has a pretty good relationship with most of the homeless people with whom they work, it’s just a small percentage of the homeless population. “In the Harbor Area, you know how many folks are experiencing homelessness right now?” Sheikh Ginsberg asked, rhetorically. “The percentage that they probably interface with is probably closer to 10% of the actual [total homeless] population.” She said that the homeless people that Harbor Division works with struggle with substance abuse or mental health.
Juy 9 - 22, 2020
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
Harbor Division police officers with the Los Angeles Police Department attempting to help one of the houseless neighbors on Beacon Street in San Pedro. Courtesy of the office of Councilman Joe Buscaino
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priority and we’ll come out that night, and deal with the homicide like we would deal with any other homicide, in a professional, comprehensive matter.” Sheikh Ginsberg said there is room for the LAPD to scale back its interactions with homeless people. “The way for us to solve this is for everyone to do what they do best and for everyone to do what they are trained at doing,” Sheikh Ginsberg said. “We have great caseworkers, social workers out there working to place people into housing, or get people the services they need, or even just begin relationships with people.” These social workers are trained to work with people that have struggled with substance abuse or mental health abuse or have been through trauma, including the trauma of living on the streets. Police do not receive the training and support that they would need to do that job effectively, Sheikh Ginsberg said. “A lot of our Harbor Division police officers ... try their hardest, honestly, given their lack of knowledge, experience and training,” Sheikh Ginsberg noted. “I have seen a lot of Harbor Division police officers truly try to just tap into their own humanity and try to come at it with that while trying to keep everyone as safe as possible. That being said, [it’s] not an ideal situation.” Mastick believes the LAPD could have less interaction with homeless people in the future. “In terms of seeking resolution, long-term lasting solutions for that, I believe the department as a whole would like to see our role out of that equation,” Mastick said. However, for the police to have less interaction with homeless people, there are a few things Mastick said would need to happen. “We’d have to have a lead agency that goes out there and deals with the issue effectively, Mastick said. Sheikh Ginsberg recognizes that there are some larger issues around LAPD working with
Mastick said the Harbor Division responds to calls that complain about homeless people — things like blocking the sidewalk, defecating on the street, as well as the buildup of trash. But it does not typically respond as the lead agency, but rather in a supportive role. On July 1, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-2 to reduce the LAPD budget by $150 million in the next fiscal year. Councilman Joe Buscaino and Councilman John Lee voted against the motion. The application of those cuts and their impact on specific services is an ongoing process, Mastick said. “But in terms of radio calls for service, if we have a crime we’re still going to come,” he said. “And I can tell you that five years from now, 10 years from now, if we get a victim of a crime who indicates a crime happened, we’re going to come out.” Capt. Mastick is in command of some 344 patrol officers in Harbor Division on a rotating 28-day deployment. It is uncertain at this point how many officers would be freed up if they were not policing the homeless or being the first responders to mental health crises. According to a recent Los Angeles Times analysis of the last 10 years of 911 calls for service a small percentage of them were for violent crimes. Sheikh Ginsberg does not believe the city should direct LAPD resources to serve homeless individuals — unless it’s a high risk, criminal situation. “To just be responding to people’s needs, it’s honestly silly to have policemen do it,” Sheikh Ginsberg said. “We should be allocating funding, more funding, to have folks that are trained do it.” Sheikh Ginsberg believes there is a large misconception about the phrase “defund the police.” “It’s not about taking police away from us, it’s about using the limited resources we have in smarter ways that once again, everyone is doing what they do best,” she said.
A
By Melina Paris, Editorial Assistant
DJ Terence Toy seeks to fill a musical void in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. File photo
July 9 - 22, 2020
[See Think, p. 11]
What follows is the DJ’s take on events and his top three tracks from the show that speak to this moment. Settle in for some learning. Toy looked on social media, checking everybody’s injection of music when the protests were at their peak. “I have black friends of mine saying nothing — in essence not even using the tool of a DJ to do something other than, ‘Look at me, check out this track I’m working on,’” Toy said. He got fed up and wrote a Facebook post on June 1, thinking a few people would see it. “Maybe people would like it or say something about my speaking [out] about myself and other comrades, other DJs around the world not saying nothing about what happened,” Toy said. “So what if [George Floyd] was passing a fake $20, so what if he was a criminal, he didn’t deserve to be killed. [There] was just no acknowledgement, musically.” In his post, Toy asked: “So nobody is going to say anything, musically about what happened?” While the number of “likes” on his post kept rising, he realized he hadn’t yet done anything to speak his peace.
Real News, Real People, Really Effective
s uprisings sparked by the murder of George Floyd spread like wildfire across all 50 states and around the world, something felt amiss for Los Angeles-based DJ Terence Toy — specifically, he felt a musical void. Toy has been DJing for more than 40 years with more than three of those decades steeped in jazz and house music and travelling around the globe from Mexico to Montreal. He earned resident DJ status at Therapy [Montreal] and Club Yellow [Tokyo]. But locally, he spun the tables in residency at Toy Box in Santa Monica, Does Your Mama Know on the Sunset Strip, Release in San Francisco and Paradise 24 in Hollywood, inducing “house headz” [Toy’s term for house music fans] to dance. Toy also garnered a show on Los Angeles radio station KKBT in the early to mid 1990s. After Floyd’s tragic death, Toy saw his contemporaries of color posting “regular” mixes on their platforms. These cats are at Toy’s “level and higher.” They were saying nothing about what happened when a police officer murdered George Floyd, suffocating him by kneeling on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Toy responded by curating a selection of anthem music for his online radio show, By Any Jazz Necessary titled, Think: George Floyd. He shared it widely and urgently from his Soundcloud.
9
L
ife is challenging this summer, and the living is getting easier, by fits and starts. Dining inside restaurants is prohibited again, and bars are waiting for the order to open again. Outdoor dining is okay if done while wearing facial coverings and practicing social distancing. Proper hygienic procedures by the restaurant must still be met by compliance on the part of the guests and staff. Early summer is a delightful time to dine al fresco in Southern California, where this time of year is blessed with mild weather and refreshing ocean breezes ... Redondo Beach has made outdoor dining a celebration; Catalina Avenue is sacrificing parking to make room for tables on the sidewalk and in the street. Canopies shade the festive scene, and even with reduced numbers of tables, the restaurants are enjoying success. Dining is spilling out onto the streets in Long Beach as well. Always welcoming to strolling, shopping and sidewalk dining, Belmont Shore’s 2nd Street has a charming neighborhood feeling as does Retro Row, with its
Summer Al Fresco Dining Coming Soon By Gretchen Williams, Dining and Cuisine Writer
by PBIDs and chambers of commerce. San Pedro’s al fresco dining will work like the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, which are small business loans to help keep workers receiving a paycheck through low interest loans that can be forgiven after the business owners fulfill some requirements. In the case of the San Pedro Outdoor Dining program, the PBID will finance the infrastructure
Coming Soon—
Safe Al Fresco Dining in
Downtown San Pedro!
Direct Mail Marketing Opportunity
Get Your Ad in Their Front Door. STARTS
Starting the week of July 23, street-side parklette dining is coming to the San Pedro Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District!
2020
dining “parklets” near downtown Long Beach. Late to the party, Los Angeles, and San Pedro in particular, is taking the parklet concept of turning the parking spaces directly adjacent to the restaurant into space for tables. These parklets will incorporate a trick protective structure to make a level surface on slight hills and bring the street up to sidewalk level. The prototype for the enclosure has Super Bowl design heritage, and Pedro’s downtown anticipates more deliveries by the end of July. Look for it around 6th and 7th street eateries to spill happily into the streets. Truth be told, the San Pedro Property Owners Business Improvement District had already begun laying the groundwork for outdoor dining long before the COVID-19 pandemic made it an imperative at Los Angeles City Hall. When the pandemic hit, Mayor Eric Garcetti moved to allow restaurants to have outdoor dining on the sidewalk and in the private parking lots owned by the restaurant. Included in the order was the allowance of outdoor dining in closed-off streets created
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Diners partaking in the dress rehearsal of San Pedro’s al fresco dining on May 29. Courtesy of the office of Councilman Joe Buscaino
such as k-rails and platforms for San Pedro’s al fresco dining program, asking only that restaurants participate by providing outdoor dining opportunities. Participating restaurants can then apply to have the alfresco dining infrastructure loans forgiven. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem since San Pedro’s restaurants are still providing takeout service. And the process is getting easier and cheaper. Though the current situation makes dining out challenging, fine cuisine is available every day with pickup and delivery. Delivery services have been forced to modify some charges and many restaurants maintain their own delivery persons at no charge to the customer. A minimum order is required, but it’s often less than $20. Ambiance is so important to the restaurant experience, but safer at home is a good excuse to try a new kitchen or exotic cuisine. There is a silver lining to this thunderhead cloud. The Southern California restaurant scene has needed a new focus on outdoor dining perfectly suited to our climate and our way of life. Now we just need fresh squeezed orange juice on every table to give us the California Dream. This Friday, July 10, residents will get to see some of the infrastructure buildout for al fresco dining. From 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., the following streets will be closed to make way for the installation of outdoor parklet k-rails, from: 6th Street from Pacific to Centre; 7th Street from Mesa to Centre; Centre Street from 6th to 7th Nelson Street from 6th to 5th 5th Street from Mesa to Centre.
The PBID, in cooperation with LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn are promoting Al Fresco Dining and Safe Retail in Downtown San Pedro with direct mail marketing.
JULY
Join them in promoting your restaurant or business to 10,000 local and loyal customers in RLn’s Every Door Direct Mail program. Ads start at just $175. Space reservation: July15 Publishes: July 23, 2020
Juy 9 - 22, 2020
Private Event Rental Community Meetings Art Classes/ Exhibitions
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[Think, from p. 9]
Think: George Floyd
“I thought what can I do?” Toy said. “I’m 59 years old, I ain’t gettin’ out there and protesting; that’s a young man’s job. I have a son I have to be here for.” He decided to do a By Any Jazz Necessary episode, which streams online at KSTARS. He realized he needed songs that grab the attention of black people, white people and young people. After he did the dedication, Toy received responses from people about music that they created or talking about what they thought he should have put on the episode. Toy said it’s the most controversial episode he’s done. “This white friend of mine, female, lawyer — she sent me a message. To sum it up, ‘I can’t believe you did an episode for George Floyd. He’s a criminal.’ “It’s just songs that are in my body, [and] mind ... I did my best,” he said. “I had to pick one [song] that would open the show and hold people’s attention. That couldn’t be the first one that I wrote down, Strange Fruit, because that would scare everybody.” Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit (1939) is about lynching. Toy knew he’d be taking a chance. He opened with a jazz piano version of Prince’s Controversy to get people thinking
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Family owned and operated since 1965, Buono’s is famous for awardwinning brick oven baked pizza. Buono’s also offers classic Italian dishes and sauces based on tried-and-true family recipes and hand-selected fresh ingredients. Takeout, delivery and patio dining. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Buono’s Pizzeria, 222 W. 6th St., San Pedro, 310-547-0655, www.buonospizza.com
KRS-One, Sound of da Police (1993). “That song grabbed me when I was a kid and still [does] today, because it’s what’s going on still, police doing criminal stuff. This one speaks true to right now, the brutality of the police, how they behave towards us, what they think and do and how long they’ve been doing this via slave trading, ‘overseers’ … literally.” John Coltrane track, Alabama,“There’s all kinds of stuff written about why [Coltrane] did that song. He did it because of the young ladies that were killed there [the Sept. 15, 1963 Ku Klux Klan bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church]. He wanted to express his anger through his horn.Artists were expressing themselves and not just musicians but writings from Langston Hughes and others. ” “My boy Jovan’s version of Gil Scott-Heron’s Bicentennial Blues (1976) — “I played Bicentennial Blues at a club gig one time. One of my friends, a white guy, came over to me and let me have it, tried to read me about playing this song. He just was so upset about this Gil Scott-Heron song. You know, white people don’t want to hear what their ancestors have done. Not even the ones that are our friends, that we love. They are really our friends and they wouldn’t do anything against us as black folk but they also don’t want to hear what their ancestors have done.”
pick up and delivery. Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. S. Conrad’s Mexican Grill, 376. W. 6th St., San Pedro • 424-264-5452, www.conradsmexicangrill.com
curbside pickup. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Happy Diner #2, 1931 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 310-935-2933, www.happydinersp.com
COMPAGNON WINE BISTRO
HAPPY DELI
Compagnon Wine Bistro offers rustic French cuisine that pays tribute to classic French bistros in various regions of France. Enjoy outdoor dining in our newly built “parklette” or call in your dinner and family meal orders for pick-up. Hours: Wed. - Thurs.. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 4 to 9 p.m.; Sun. 10 to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8:30 p.m. Compagnon Wine Bistro, 335 W. 7th St., San Pedro, 424-342-9840, www.CompagnonBistro.com
HAPPY DINER #1
The Happy Diner #1 in Downtown San Pedro isn’t your average diner. The selections range from Italian- and Mexican-influenced entrées to American Continental. Happy Diner chefs are always creating something new—take your pick of grilled salmon over pasta or tilapia and vegetables prepared any way you like. Call for takeout breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours: Mon.-Wed. 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Happy Diner #1, 617 S. Centre St., San Pedro, 310-241-0917, www.happydinersp.com
HAPPY DINER #2
Built on the success of Happy Diner #1, Happy Diner #2 offers American favorites like omelets and burgers, fresh salads, plus pasta and Mexican dishes are served. Order online for delivery or call for
Editor’s Note: Future Anthems With this look at anthem music, it’s frequently true; these chants are oftentimes older songs — a touchstone to the past, relatable to in the present. It’s for that reason they are anthemic. People are exposed to them further, which brings deeper historical understanding. This was Toy’s intent with Think: George Floyd. He succeeds in highlighting where we have been and offers a deeper awareness. Carrying that message to this moment, we look at a handful of new releases as present protest anthems that will be subsequently considered in a future — now being determined. Lockdown—Anderson Paak featuring Jay Rock
PIG FEET —Terrace Martin featuring Denzel Curry, Daylyt, Kamasi Washington, and G Perico Light —Michael Kiwanuka
Sweeter (Live) —Leon Bridges featuring Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper Details: https://soundcloud.com/terencetoy/ thinkgeorge-floyd and www.kstarrs.com/ jazztyme-happy-hour-show
food purchase)! Open daily 12 to 8 p.m. for takeout and delivery through Grubhub, Postmates and Doordash. San Pedro Brewing Company, 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro, 310-831-5663, www.sanpedrobrewing.com
The Happy Deli is a small place with a big menu. Food is made-to-order using the freshest ingredients. Breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches include a small coffee. For lunch or dinner select from fresh salads, wraps, buffalo wings, cold and hot sandwiches, burgers and dogs. Order online or call for takeout or delivery. Hours: Mon. - Sat. 6 am. to 8 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Happy Deli, 530 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 424-364-0319, www.happydelisp.com
TAXCO MEXICAN RESTAURANT
PAPPY’S SEAFOOD
WEST COAST PHILLY’S
Pappy’s Seafood is your destination for fresh, sustainably caught seafood, locally sourced farm-to-table produce, craft beer, fine wines and cocktails. Now offering curbside pick-up or delivery via Grubhub and Seamless. Hours: Wed.Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pappy’s Seafood, 301 w. 6th St., San Pedro, 424-224-5444, www.pappysseafood.com
SAN PEDRO BREWING COMPANY
A micro brewery and American grill, SPBC features handcrafted awardwinning ales and lagers served with creative pastas, BBQ, sandwiches, salads and burgers. Order your growlers, house drafts and cocktails to go (with
We are proud to serve our community for almost four decades with generous plates of traditional Mexican Call in your order for pickup or order online for delivery at Doordash. com. Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. and Mon. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Taxco Mexican Restaurant, 28152 S. Western Ave., San Pedro, 310-547-4554, www.taxcorestaurantpv.com Welcome to West Coast Philly’s Cheesesteak and Hoagies where authentic Philly cheesesteaks meet the waterfront in San Pedro. Along with serving the classic cheesesteak, West Coast Philly’s puts its unique twist on its cheesesteaks and hoagies. Also on the menu are subs, burgers, wings and salads. Order online or call for pickup in the rear parking lot or delivery via Postmates, Doordash and Grubhub. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. West Coast Philly’s, 1902 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, 424-264-5322, www.westcoastphillys.com
Support Independent Restaurants • Dining Guide online: www.randomlengthsnews.com/dining-guide
July 9 - 22, 2020
Conrad’s reflects the cuisine of Oaxaca with a focus fresh on local, seasonal ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now Conrad’s features Peruvian dishes, as well as an inventive Mexican vegetarian and vegan menu. Order online for curbside
Toy’s Top Three
clothes. I was black, I was a kid and was like, ‘Yeah, say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud.’ “Time flies when we’re learning,” Toy said as he closed Think: George Floyd.
CONRAD’S MEXICAN GRILL
Congressional Hispanic Caucus [“There is no Latino America or black America or white America or Asian America. There is only the United States of America.] will hit your heart with vocals, deep house and Martin Luther King Jr. and Obama in unison, declaring, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” “Everybody, including me, has to do their part. I did this to represent change and so people could hear it and go, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that song.’ “I remember when I first heard James Brown’s, I’m Black and I’m Proud. My mom was taking me and my sister to the mall to get some
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Tradition, variety and fast delivery or takeout—you get it all at Big Nick’s Pizza. The best selection of Italian specialties include hearty calzones, an array of pastas and our amazing selection of signature pizzas. We are taking all safety precautions to protect our diners and staff. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on new developments. Call for fast delivery or to place a pick up order. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Big Nicks’ Pizza, 1110 N. Gaffey St., San Pedro, 310-732-5800, www.bignickspizza.com
immediately that this wasn’t going to be a normal episode. “I didn’t want to use Prince’s version because I wanted people to hear that; ‘Contro-ver-sy…’ [mimicking the song notes on the background piano], and be thinking, ‘Oh dope …’ then they start remembering the words, ‘Am I black or white? Am I straight or gay?’” From there he added Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On?, and kept going, setting listeners up mentally. Then he hit them with Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln “moanin’ and groanin’” on Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace. Toy’s masterfully dubbed speech from President Barack Obama at the 2010
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I
Juy 9 - 22, 2020
Real News, Real People, Totally Relevant
n times like these, of uncertainty, when so much is unknown as we shelter-in-place, people instinctively reach toward what soothes them. For many in San Pedro that elixir is art and community. Pat Carroll, affectionately known as Pedro Pat, seemed to know this. She was an advocate for the arts. Pat died peacefully, June 21, on her 81st birthday. Pat was born in 1939 and grew up on a ranch in the San Fernando Valley. She graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in 1961 and earned her masters in business administration in advertising and marketing from Pepperdine University. Pat enjoyed studying Italian and traveling, so much so that Italy and Ireland became prime destinations for passport adventures. She also worked for the Kubota Tractors, which was at one time based in Torrance. Pat was always quick to roll up her sleeves and work for the good of the community. Her first major volunteer project was participating in building a Habitat for Humanity Global Village in Belfast, Ireland in 2000. When she returned, Pat took on the role of registration manager for the 1,400 volunteers working on a December 2000 blitz-build in Wilmington, Calif. After retiring in 2005, Pat took on more responsibilities in Habitat’s volunteer home and community building nonprofit. For the 2007 San Pedro/ Los Angeles Jimmy Carter Work Project, Pat coordinated meals for over 2,000 volunteers for one week as they built 16 homes for lowincome families. Linda Alexander, a civic leader, community volunteer and a long time friend of Pat’s noted that it was during the Habitat for Humanity
12
San Pedro Art Community Loses Great Ally
Viva Pat Carroll!
By Ron Linden, Contributor; Andrea Serna, Arts Writer; Melina Paris, Editorial Assistant housing buildout that Pat was introduced to local businesses and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. Here, she found her niche. She served five years on the Board of the Grand Vision Foundation (Friends of the Warner Grand Theatre), and served two terms on the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council. She was involved in the early days with the Community Redevelopment Agency funded Arts, Culture & Entertainment District — which transitioned into the nonprofit San Pedro Waterfront Arts District. Pat served as Chair of the Arts District and was the principal website administrator. She earned her moniker in part because of her 10-year commitment to highlighting artists and their work through her monthly First Thursday Art Walk tours of the galleries throughout San Pedro’s downtown Waterfront Arts District. In many ways, Pat was the cloth that lovingly enveloped the arts district in terms of both art and the business of it, as she lifted it up in every aspect from her tours, her work on the Central Neighborhood Council, her support of the historic Warner Grand and Grand Vision with all of its programs and her volunteer efforts. Pat is survived by her brother, Matthew Carroll, and his wife Marilyn in Colorado; her niece, Mailan Woods; her nephew Michael
Carroll, and his wife Beth; and her great niece Melanie Woods. A Pat Carroll Memorial Fund at Angels Gate for Artists Continuing Education is being set up under the guidance of Amy Erickson, the executive director of the Angels Gate Cultural Center. Pat’s memory has elicited an outpouring of love from San Pedro artists as they realize they will miss deeply both her presence and her spirit for life. Following are tributes to Pat Carroll from the San Pedro arts community. Pat was a beautiful, gentile soul. She had a passion for the arts. She beat the drum and did the leg work in support of our local galleries and artists in San Pedro. We will all miss her wonderful smiling face about town. —Anne Olsen Daub and Eugene Daub, San Pedro painter and sculptor Pat Carroll loved life and art and people and all things Italian. Her contributions to San Pedro through her volunteer work and support for organizations, such as the library, her art tour and committee work will set an example to all of us as to how to live a memorable and meaningful life. Viva Pat Carroll! —Ann Weber, artist
We met Pat nearly 10 years ago as she voluntarily set up a program, guiding art seekers to the many studios and galleries on the First Thursday Art Walk in San Pedro. It started out with a small group but Pat, with her enthusiasm and determination, soon saw a spike in interest and the numbers kept growing! Pat understood how important these tours could be in developing a deeper appreciation of the arts. —Ray and Arnée Carofano, photographers and owners of Gallery 478, San Pedro Pat Carroll was a true supporter of the arts. Pat was committed to her monthly tour group and at Michael Stearns Studio we always looked forward to our visit from her group. The artists that worked diligently on exhibitions were pleased and flattered that she brought people much like her, curious, intelligent and appreciative of fine art. She will be missed. It will be hard to imagine the art walk, someday when we all go back on the streets again. —Andrea Serna, gallery coordinator, Michael Stearns Studio @The Loft and freelance arts writer “Pedro Pat” will be fondly remembered for her many contributions, including many years of guided First Thursday Art Walk tours, her willingness to stay engaged with this community and her devotion to arts education. She was a role model for graceful aging and continuous learning. As the managing director of the nonprofit Arts District, I reported to her when she was our first board chair. She was a clear-eyed pragmatist, who rose through corporate management when women had to wear hats and gloves. —Linda Grimes, managing director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District Pat will be remembered for her curiosity and enthusiasm, her fearlessness when engaging esoteric and unfamiliar art and artists and her tireless commitment to the San Pedro arts community. She often asked me to speak to her First Thursday docent group to explain curatorial choices, selection of artists, conceptual underpinnings, and so on. On more than one occasion my comments were peppered with profanities (always affirmative mind you) and Pat would reassure me that my “slips of tongue” were just fine with her. I’ll always appreciate her for that. Rest in Power, Pat. —Ron Linden, artist and curator, TransVagrant Projects
[Defunding, from p. 3]
Defunding LBPD
third of those individuals were black, and about 17% of them were unarmed. A graph from BBC News also shows that while African-Americans only make up a little over 13% of the U.S. population, they made up for 23.4% of police shooting fatalities in 2019. Some cities have taken action by either defunding or disbanding police departments. In Minneapolis, the city council announced it is working toward disbanding the city’s entire police department. In Los Angeles, City Council President Nury Martinez recently proposed cutting $150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department Budget. There have been no official moves by the Long Beach City Council to defund the police in Long Beach, despite pressure from many residents to do so. The only measurable action by the council was its vote on June 16 to ban the use of a carotid artery restraint tactic that Long Beach Police Department officers had previously been permitted to use to detain suspects. Some residents do not believe this is enough to solve the problem of racial injustice in Long Beach. “We demand justice for all black people in Long Beach, that will bring up all marginalized people in Long Beach,” said one resident for public comment. “This has gone far too long. It needs to end. The people are in the streets. Listen to the people in the streets!” Other allies in the community, such as The Center Long Beach, have shown their support for defunding the police. Porter Gilberg, who is the executive director of the LGBTQ center, said that his organization was one of over 200 LGBTQ organizations across the country who have
called for transformational change in policing. He believes that this moment in time serves as an opportunity to look at how much money is being allocated to the police, and see how much of that budget could go into services that are better equipped to handle situations such as community outreach and mental health distress while reducing over-policing in the community. “When we think about the LGBTQ community’s role, we are a community that is over-policed,” Gilberg said. “We are a community that experiences disproportionate rates of arrests and incarceration. We experience higher rates of unemployment, so a lot of our community is often forced into underground economies. And when there are resources that reduce that over-policing, reduce that over-incarceration and actually create opportunities for everyone to thrive, LGBTQ+ community members and members of the community that are not LGBTQ+ will have safer, healthier communities.” Other residents of Long Beach have been demonstrating their frustration through a number of different protests across the community. On May 31, thousands of residents marched along Downtown Long Beach, before being met with widespread looting and Long Beach police officers firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. City officials later called on the National Guard to help stop the rioting and looting. On June 14, more than a hundred people gathered for a car caravan stretching from North to Central Long Beach and ended in a protest outside of the Long Beach Police Officers Association Headquarters. Random Lengths News reached out to the Long Beach Police Association and the Long Beach City Council, but leaders of the Long Beach POA and councilmembers were unable to respond by press time.
[OTS, from p. 4]
OTS Suit
followed the same pattern. It received a $1.5 million grant from POLA in 2012, as we reported in May 2016, when Wilmingtonbased activist Jesse Marquez raised the issue in a letter to POLA: Tonsich had claimed to be a part owner of ACTI, but the company claimed it rejected his ownership bid, and that afterward Tonsich formed Clean Air Engineering-Maritime to compete with them. As of 2012, ACTI had a working prototype, Tonsich’s company did not, yet his company got the $1.5 million grant without a competitive bid process.
When we asked if POLA had evidence to the contrary of the claim that CAEM had no experience, port spokesman Arley Baker replied, “The CAE system is made by TriMer. You can read about their experience in this technology at tri-mer.com.” However, Tri-Mer had actually developed its technology working with ACTI — as confirmed in a 2009 letter from Tri-Mer to ACTI, which also noted that “This customer [TraPac] is not going to work with ACTI under any circumstances ... this is written in granite.” Tonsich was also TraPac’s lawyer. Thus, the “experience” Tonsich claimed was actually that of his competitor’s. Pasha’s lawsuit sheds further light on this episode. It notes that “Tonsich had formerly been a lawyer for ACTI handling collections,” but that Tonsich had a falling out with ACTI’s owner, Ruben Garcia, after ACTI applied for a $2.5 million pollution control grant at POLA, as part of the China Shipping Agreement,
310-953-4863
which was initially approved: However, the Los Angeles City Attorney told Garcia that ACTI was conflicted out because Tonsich was its lawyer and had worked on the China Shipping settlement while a commissioner. Garcia agreed to withdraw the grant application. Tonsich was furious, and told Garcia that the grant was the money Tonsich was putting into ACTI as his investment in ACTI. Garcia refused to make Tonsich a partial owner. Tonsich then formed his competing company CAEM, stole ACTI’s intellectual property relating to its emissions control systems, and used that information to illegally obtain contracts and grants from POLA.
What’s significant here is at least threefold: First, Tonsich’s role as a lawyer handling collections was a rare example where his involvement was arguably innocent — it was a minor role with no relationship to POLA. Second, there was a sharp contrast between Garcia, who abided by the city’s ethics ruling, and Tonsich, who was furious. Third, Tonsich evidently was depending on his relationship with the port (thus validating the city attorney’s judgment) — at least in advancing his claim that ACTI should make him a partner, for what he had supposedly done. Tonsich’s actions have repeatedly drawn criticism over the years, but he’s always managed to wriggle his way out of legal difficulties, in part because of the lax corporate political culture in which the city and the Port of LA is embedded. He’s betting he’ll be able to do it once again. But this lawsuit represents a much more serious effort to hold him accountable than what he’s accustomed to. And, the broader political culture is obviously changing as well.
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DBA FILINGS Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2020081506 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: BLUE ENGRAVERS, 1375 CASPIAN AVE., Long Beach, CA 90813 County of LOS ANGELES. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: LLC/AI No 1334248. Registered owner(s): MIDONNA INC., 1375 CASPIAN AVE, LONG BEACH, CA 90813; State of Incorporation: CA This business is conducted by a Corporation. The registrant(s) started doing business on 04/2015. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)). MIDONNA INC. S/ MICHAEL ROBERT LEONARD, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 05/14/2020. NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another
under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 05/28/2020, 06/11/2020, 06/25/2020, 07/09/2020
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 2020084943 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: FRED ALLEN & ASSOCIATES DBA MISTER MARLEY, 880 W. 18TH ST, SAN PEDRO, CA 90731 County of LOS ANGELES Registered owner(s): FRED C. ALLEN, 880 W. 18TH ST, SAN PEDRO, CA 90731. This business is conducted by an Individual. The registrant(s) started doing business on 09/2014. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)). S/FRED C. ALLEN, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 05/19/2020. NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this
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1 Garbage-carrying boat 5 Singer Dylan 8 Catcher Yogi 13 Two-door car 14 “Who Do You Think You ___?” (genealogy-based series) 15 “Late Night with Seth Meyers” writer Ruffin 16 Gets a bluegrass instrumentalist (off the J)? 19 Joined up on Zoom, e.g. 20 “What ___ I thinking?” 21 Spill the ___ (gossip) 22 3-D exam 23 “Ratatouille” rat and namesakes 25 Mrs. Garrett on “The Facts of Life” 29 Relics for mom’s sister (off the Q)? 32 “Tour” grp. 33 “Addams Family” cousin 34 Debonair 35 They’re pointed out on an airplane 37 Taj ___ 39 Detached 41 Shar-pei shout 42 ___ Soundsystem 44 Warning at an all-bird nude beach (off the X)? 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: 06/11/2020, 06/25/2020, 07/09/2020, 07/23/2020
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 2020088140 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: L.A. URBAN BALLET SCHOOL, 1231 S. PACIFIC AVE, SAN PEDRO, CA 90731 County of LOS ANGELES Registered owner(s): L.A. URBAN BALLET SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP, 1231 S. PACIFIC AVE, SAN PEDRO, CA 90731. This business is conducted by a General Partnership. T he registrant(s) started doing business on N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)). S/PATRICK BRADLEY, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County
49 Winter transport 50 “Mansfield Park” novelist 51 “I Ching” concept 52 Be choosy 53 Contented sound 54 Ending with Wisconsin 55 Wine cocktail for someone who puts lines on the road (off the Z)? 61 By themselves 62 Playing card with a letter 63 Step in a game of hangman 64 Jacques Cousteau’s realm 65 ___ boom bah 66 It might get you an answer
DOWN
1 Recover from a pub crawl, say 2 Like innovative technology 3 Greek wedding exclamation 4 Chinese sculptor and activist Ai ___ 5 Some band members 6 Heavenly sphere 7 Down at the final buzzer 8 ___ California (Mexican state) 9 Guitar-heavy alt-rock genre 10 MLB stat 11 In medias ___ 12 Gallery stuff 13 “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” character? 17 “Anything you want!” 18 Hornet home on 05/26/2020. NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 06/11/2020, 06/25/2020, 07/09/2020, 07/23/2020
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. 2020084095 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: DOT COM LOU, 555 CALIFORNIA AVE, NEEDLES, CA 92363, County of LOS ANGELES, Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 857, Needles, CA 92363. Registered owner(s): LOUIE BLANCHARD, P.O. BOX 857, Needles, CA 92363. This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant(s) started
24 Back muscle, for short 25 Bumper sticker symbol depicted in yellow on a blue background 26 One with a home in both Nome and Rome, perhaps 27 Neighbor of Ore. 28 Enzyme suffix 30 Got ready to take off 31 “black-” or “mixed-” follower, on TV 36 Bride’s reply 37 Compilations on cassettes 38 Become visible 39 Happy moments 40 Zero, on the pitch 41 “Mm-hmmm” 43 Subject at the beginning of Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” 45 Scruff of the neck 46 Hindu precepts 47 In the heavens 48 Attendees 52 “___ for takeout” (sign in some restaurants) 55 ___ Luis (Brazilian seaport) 56 “No Scrubs” R&B trio 57 Fish eggs 58 Get ___ groove 59 Geol. or chem. 60 You, to Caesar (found in GRATUITY)
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doing business on 01/2004. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)). S/ LOUIE BLANCHARD, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on 05/18/2020. NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code). Original filing: 06/11/2020, 06/25/2020, 07/09/2020,
LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE INVITING BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Long Beach, California, acting by and through the City’s Board of Harbor Commissioners (“City”) will receive, before the Bid Deadline established below, Bids for the following Work: FIREBOAT STATION NO. 20 at PIER D, BERTHS D50-51 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA AS DESCRIBED IN SPECIFICATION NO. HD-S2410A Bid Deadline:
correction, or comments regarding the Contract Documents, must be submitted no later than August 25, 2020, at 5 p.m. Questions received after the pre-Bid question deadline will not be accepted. Questions must be submitted electronically through the PB System. Emails, phone calls, and faxes will not be accepted. Questions submitted to City staff will not be addressed and Bidder will be directed to the PB System. NIB -3 Pre-Bid Meeting and Site Visit. There will not be
Prior to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Bids shall be submitted electronically via the Port of Long Beach PlanetBids (PB) System prior to 2:00 p.m.
Bid Opening:
Electronic Bid (eBid) results shall be viewable online in the PB System immediately after the Bid Deadline.
Contract Documents Available:
Download Contract Documents from the Port of Long Beach PB System Vendor Portal: www.polb.com/sbe Click on the POLB Vendor Portal 1. Register and Log In 2. Click “Bid Opportunities” 3. Double-click on respective bid Project Title 4. Click on Document/Attachments tab 5. Double-Click on Title of Electronic Attachment 6. Click “Download Now” 7. Repeat for each attachment For assistance in downloading these documents please contact Port of Long Beach Plans and Specs Desk at 562-283-7353. None.
Project Contact Person:
Christopher Greiner, christopher. greiner@polb.com
Please refer to the Port of Long Beach PB System for the most current information. NIB -1 Contract Documents. Contract Documents may be downloaded, at no cost, from the Port of Long Beach PB System Vendor Portal website. Bidders must first register as a vendor on the Port of Long Beach PB System website in order to view and download the Contract Documents, to be added to the prospective bidders list, and to receive addendum notifications when issued.
NIB -2 Pre-Bid Questions. All questions, including requests for interpretation or
NIB -4 Summary Description of the Work. The Work required by this Contract includes, but is not limited to, the following: Construction of Fireboat Station No. 20 at Berths D50-51, which includes two-story fire station building, fireboat bay enclosure supported on wharf,
NIB -8 Mandatory SBE/ VSBE Participation. This project is subject to the Port of Long Beach (POLB) Small Business Enterprises (SBE)/ Very Small Business Enterprises (VSBE) Program. The combined SBE/VSBE mandatory participation requirement for this project is twenty percent (20%), of which a minimum of five percent (5%) must be allocated to VSBEs. POLB expects all Bidders to achieve the combined SBE/ VSBE participation requirements. Responsiveness of the bid will be conditioned on the Bidder submitting an SBE-2C Commitment Plan demonstrating the Bidder’s
This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations. No Contractor or Subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5 (with limited exceptions from this requirement for bid purposes only under Labor Code Section 1771.1(a)). No Contractor or Subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5. NIB -10 P r o j e c t L a b o r Agreement. This project is subject to the requirements of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), included as Appendix AA. The Contractor and all tier subcontractors must sign a Letter of Assent before commencement of construction and be bound by each and every provision of the PLA, including, but not limited to: payment of prevailing wages; payment of fringe benefit contributions to union trust funds on behalf of workers; use of union hiring halls as a source for workers; follow alternating referral procedures if employing Core Workers; and Local, Disadvantaged, and Veteran worker utilization goals. Per the Department of Industrial Relations, projects covered by a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) are exempt from the requirement to sub-
NIB -11 Tr a d e N a m e s and Substitution of Equals. With the exception of any sole source determination that may be identified in this paragraph, Bidders wishing to obtain City’s authorization for substitution of equivalent material, product, or equipment, are required to submit a written request for an Or Equal Substitution using the form included in Appendix A together with data substantiating Bidder’s representation that the non-specified item is of equal quality to the item specified, no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after City’s issuance of Notice to Proceed (NTP). Authorization of a substitution is solely within the discretion of the City. NIB -12 Prequalification of Contractors. Prime Contractors eligible to bid on this project have been prequalified. Bids will only be accepted from the following prequalified Prime Contractors: • Pinner Construction Co., Inc. • Tobo Construction Inc. • Ford E-C • SJ Amoroso • Bernards Bros Inc. • AMG & Associates • Icon West Inc. • 2H Construction, Inc.
Bidder will, if Conditionally Awarded a Contract by the Board, within thirty (30) calendar days after the Contract is conditionally awarded to the Contractor by the City, execute and deliver such Contract to the Chief Harbor Engineer together with all required documents including insurance forms, a Payment Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and a Performance Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. All Bonds shall be on forms provided by the City.
NIB -15 Period of Bid Irrevocability. Bids shall remain open and valid and Bidder’s Bonds and other acceptable Bid Security shall be guaranteed and valid for ninety (90) calendar days after the Bid Deadline or until the Executive Director executes a Contract, whichever occurs first.
NIB -14 C o n d i t i o n a l Award of Contract and Reservation of Rights. The Board, acting through the Executive Director, reserves the right at any time before the execution of the Contract by the City, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informality or irregularity. The Conditional Award of the Contract, if any, will be to the responsible Bidder submitting the lowest responsive and responsible Bid. If the lowest responsive responsible Bidder fails to submit the required documents including insurance forms, bonds and signed Contract within thirty (30) calendar days after Conditional Award of Contract, the Board reserves the right to rescind the Conditional Award and Conditionally Award the Contract to the next lowest responsive and responsible Bidder.
NIB -17 Iran Contracting Act of 2010. In accordance with Public Contract Code sections 2200-2208, every person who submits a bid or proposal for entering into or renewing contracts with the City for goods or services estimated at $1,000,000 or more are required to complete, sign, and submit the “Iran Contracting Act of 2010 Compliance Affidavit.”
NIB -16 Substitution of Securities. Substitution of Securities for retainage is permitted in accordance with Section 22300 of the Public Contract Code.
Issued at Long Beach, California, this 25th day of November 2019. Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Harbor Department, City of Long Beach, California Note: For project updates after Bid Opening, please contact plans.specs@polb. com.
NIB -13 B i d S e c u r i t y, Signed Contract, Insurance and Bonds. Each Bid shall be accompanied by a satisfactory Bidder’s Bond or other acceptable Bid Security in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid as a guarantee that the
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Copies of all Port insurance endorsement forms, SBE/ VSBE Program forms, Harbor Development Permit Applications and other Port forms are available at www. polb.com/business/permits.
NIB -6 Contractor’s License. The Bidder shall hold a current and valid Class “A” California Contractor’s License to construct this project. NIB -7 Contractor Performed Work. The Contractor shall perform, with its own employees, Contract Work amounting to at least 15% of the Contract Price, except that any designated “Specialty Items” may be performed by subcontract. The amount of any such “Specialty Items” so performed may be deducted from the Contract Price before computing the amount required to be performed by the Contractor with its own employees. “Specialty Items” will be identified by the City on the Schedule of Bid Items. The bid price of any materials or equipment rental costs from vendors who are solely furnishing materials or rental equipment and are not performing Work as a licensed subcontractor on this project shall also be deducted from the Contract Price before computing the amount required to be performed by the Contractor with its own employees.
NIB -9 Prevailing Wage Requirements per Department of Industrial Relations. This Project is a public work Contract as defined in Labor Code Section 1720. The Contractor receiving award of the Contract and Subcontractors of any tier shall pay not less than the prevailing wage rates to all workers employed in execution of the Contract. The Director of Industrial Relations of the State of California has determined the general prevailing rates of wages in the locality in which the Work is to be performed. The rate schedules are available on the internet at http://www.dir. ca.gov/dlsr/DPreWageDetermination.htm and on file at the City, available upon request. Bidders are directed to Article 15 of the General Conditions for requirements concerning payment of prevailing wages, payroll records, hours of work and employment of apprentices.
mit electronic CPRs directly to the Labor Commissioner’s Office. In lieu, the Contractor and all Subcontractors will be required to submit electronic or hardcopies of CPRs and labor compliance documentation to the Port of Long Beach.
For the link to the Port of Long Beach PB System and for information on this Project and other upcoming Port projects, you may view the Port website at www.polb.com/business/ business-opportunities.
a pre-bid meeting or site visit for this project. Attendance or non-attendance at the previously conducted project prebid meeting will not be used to credit or disqualify any bid on this rebid. Site images are provided with the documents for reference. Any site photographs, videos, or maps included in the Contract Documents do not constitute a complete visual depiction of the site and should neither be considered nor are warranted as such. The City makes no guarantee that existing construction and site conditions matches construction depicted on record reference documents. It shall be the Bidder’s responsibility to identify existing conditions.
NIB -5 Contract Time and Liquidated Damages. The Contractor shall achieve Substantial Completion of Work within 710 calendar days and Affidavit of Final Completion of the Project within 790 calendar days as provided in Paragraph SC - 6.1 of the Special Conditions, from a date specified in a written “Notice to Proceed” issued by the City and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.2 of the General Conditions. FAILURE OF THE CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE THE WORK WITHIN THE CONTRACT TIME AND OTHER MILESTONES SET FORTH IN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THE ENGINEER’S APPROVAL OF AFFIDAVIT OF FINAL COMPLETION, WILL RESULT IN ASSESSMENT OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNTS ESTABLISHED IN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS.
intent to meet the combined SBE/VSBE participation requirement. If the Bidder’s Commitment Plan does not demonstrate intent to meet the combined requirements, the Bid will be deemed nonresponsive. The Port’s SBE Program staff is available to provide information on the program requirements, including SBE certification assistance. Please contact the SBE Office at (562) 283-7598 or sbeprogram@polb.com. You may also view the Port’s SBE program requirements at www.polb.com/sbe.
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Pre-Bid Meeting:
floating dock, positioning and fender piles, retaining walls, paving, earthwork, fencing, gates, lighting, existing quay wall repairs, security systems, communication systems, electrical systems, utilities, storm water system, domestic and fire protection water distribution systems, sewer and oily water systems, and emergency generator.
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Juy 9 - 22, 2020
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