from p. 5
Green vs. Labor
mittee charged with reviewing all construction projects. She claims to have overseen “the largest green building program in the country, a model for other districts.” Before being elected to her first term in 2001, she was a part-time instructor in anthropology and broadcasting at district colleges. She runs a media consulting firm, has her own radio show, “Environmental Directions,” and her own cable TV show, “Eco News.” Vela contends he’s running to provide more students with access to higher education. He’s served on the Montebello Unified School District board since 2007. There he created College Bound Today for students having problems transferring to institutions including the Los Angeles
Community College District. “Change starts with the board,” he charges. “My opponent has had all this time on the board. She cannot work with the other members of the board. She’s had political battles on the board for 12 years. I can build consensus.” “He’s a puppet of the Democratic party’s political machine,” Pearlman retorts. “The political machine sees the trustees’ seat as a starting point for other offices including the state legislature.” “My opponent has had the opportunity to work with stakeholders and relationships need to be nurtured,” argues Vela. “You can say, sorry, I can’t support you but she may not have communicated that to her stakeholders.” “How could I have done it differently?” Pearlman retorts. She further contends the Democratic leadership has never “liked” her “green environmental stance” or simply that she’s an “outspoken woman.” Another Pearlman supporter, Jan Tucker of the Same Page Coalition, says of labor’s oppo-
David Vela is in running against Nancy Pearlman for Seat 6 on the LA Community College District board.
sition, “Just crass politics…She didn’t vote correctly and some of the unions used that to say she did not support them.” Tucker summarizes his view of the battle with, “Nancy isn’t in their social circles. They wanted to create a position for David Vela. The other thing they say is, she isn’t a lifelong Democrat. They need to make room in their big tent.” Pearlman’s campaign site is www.nancypearlman.net and her campaign phone is (310) 202-7553. She has an environmental advocacy site at www.ecoprojects.org regarding her radio
and TV shows. Vela’s campaign site is www.electdavidvela. com and his campaign phone is (213) 949-2651. Visit www.laccd.edu for details on the Los Angeles Community College District and its Board of Trustees. For general details on the May 21 run-off including location of polling places, visit http:// clerk.lacity.org/elections or call (888) 873-1000. For voter registration details, call the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder at (800) 815-2666.
May 17 - 30, 2013
Serving the Seven Cities of the Harbor Area
Local Restaurants Help Fight Blood Cancer in Children
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On May 5, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year organization kicked off a series of fundraisers to fight children’s blood cancer in honor of Devin Hamilton at Big Nick’s Pizzeria. The restaurant donated 15 percent of gross sales between 5 and 9 p.m. to the cancer research charity. Random Lengths Lengths News chronicled Devin’s fight against cancer in Nov. 2009. In Jan. 2010, she died. There will be another fundraiser at Rizzo’s Pizza on May 23. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of sales from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On May 30, Dominic’s Pizza will host a fundraiser donating 15 percent from 5-9 p.m.