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County unveils temporary housing village in Chinatown

By Matthew Rodriguez LA Downtown News Staff Writer n wake of the housing crisis that is poised to only get worse because of COVID-19, Los Angeles County built a temporary housing site for people experiencing homelessness.

Located in Chinatown a mile away from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Hilda L. Solis Care First Village was built on land originally acquired for a new Men’s Central Jail.

“What once was supposed to be a staging area to build a new Men’s Central Jail will now serve as a safe space to address the housing, mental and behavioral health needs of our residents experiencing homelessness,” said Board of Supervisors chair Hilda L. Solis, who authored the motion to build the facilities. “I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and that is re-imagining Los Angeles County with steps toward our commitment towards realizing a Care First, Jail Last model.”

The 60,500-square-foot campus boasts 232 private units — with their own bathrooms — across six buildings and has a 6,000-square-foot administrative building containing a full-service kitchen, dining, laundry and administrative spaces for employees. The campus also contains a dog park. The campus will be managed by the Weingart Center Association.

The project cost an estimated $57 million and was mostly paid for with federal Cares Act Coronavirus relief funding. The HSCFV was finished in a remarkable five months by using modular design components. Typically, it takes two to three years for a project of this size to be finished.

When principal architect Tim Ballard and his colleagues heard that the deadline was five months out, he thought his general contractor Mike Funderberg was insane for accepting the contract.

“People thought Mike had lost his mind,” Ballard said. “But it became infectious, like, ‘Well Jesus, if Mike said we can do it we can do it.’”

Funderberg, vice president of construction firm Bernards, believed that the prefabricated modular units helped the workers meet the aggressive deadline.

“Traditional commercial construction on a project of this type is very linear,” he said. “What offsite modular construction allows you to do is start to do multiple things at the same time… We’re able to do a lot of things at once and compress the schedule.”

The structures were built with repurposed shipping containers stacked on top of each other. Shipping containers have become a go-to choice for modular design because they are abundant, easy to transport, have predictable costs and recycle leftover products.

“There’s a huge surplus of shipping containers that arrive here on those big ships and to send them back empty doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said Ballard.

“There are many projects that are using repurposed shipping containers be-

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The Hilda L. Solis Care First Village features two structures built using repurposed shipping containers.

Photo courtesy of Here and Now Agency

cause they’re in great abundance. They have certain advantages to (building and moving quickly).”

The single occupant rooms provide residents not only safety from COVID-19 but also provide them with a private space and stem away from the traditional multi-bed rooms in shelters.

The rooms in the two structures built from the repurposed shipping containers are 160 square feet and the ones in trailers are 170 square feet, both much smaller than a typical studio apartment.

“The desire was to have everything you needed: a restroom, shower, bed all in one compact unit,” said Ballard.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski To combat any heating issues stemming from living in a metal box in the STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero middle of Los Angeles,WRITERS: the workers installed individual air conditioner units CONTRIBUTING Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk and placed insulation toArman compensate for any heat gained from the steel.

ART DIRECTORS: Olivares, Stephanie Torres PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavezsaid Funderberg. “It also makes practical “That wasSTAFF of critical importance,” PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriam Santos sense from aCONTRIBUTING comfort standpoint for each individual person.”

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb The HSCFV opened in April.

All 232 beds were filled by May. FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris “It was a privilege to work on a team where every single person was focused on making this happen,” said Ballard. “This happened in an amazingly short period of time and it’s providing services.”

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Matthew Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Bliss Bowen, Frier McCollister, Bridgette M. Redman, Ellen Snortland ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Andrea Bricco, Nicole Franzen, Eric Laignel, Jules Jones Peters ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway (213) 308-2261 Michael Lamb (213) 453-3548 FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

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Covered California will help OPINION

Getting their just rewards

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist

G

estapo and Brown Shirts, the KGB, STASI, anyone? Just when I think I’ve heard it All, (capital “A” my emphasis), the Texas Legislature comes up with yet another dangerous attack on women’s rights. I’m talking about the idea of having regular Texas citizens collect a $10,000 reward for turning in patients and abortion providers who cross a six-week pregnancy line. Yes, the Texans want to make it illegal to have an abortion after six weeks, which is still within the timeframe where many females don’t even know they are pregnant!

These craven Republican Texas legislators walk among us, posing as actual humans. This isn’t new. If vigilantes don’t already make your skin crawl, think about lynch mobs, Jews turned in by neighbors for a one-way trip to a death camp and sweet little South African apartheid-era children squealing on mom and dad for being Black sympathizers. Where is the late, great, Molly Ivins — columnist smart-ass extraordinaire and as Texan as they come — when we really need her?

In Molly’s tongue-in-cheek spirit, I have come up with other $10,000 reward programs to offset the Bad Karma at work here. Consider the following:

Belay the Spray: My front walkway is made up of flagstones lined by various cacti. I have a shriveled brown thumb instead of a green one, which is why my yard is full of plants that are hearty enough that even I can’t kill them.

The flagstones occasionally grow weeds in the cracks between the stones. I pull them out; it’s no biggie. I stepped outside one morning when the gardener was here and caught him spraying Round-Up on the weeds. I am afraid I scared him when I was yelling.

I went inside and printed out a diatribe in Spanish on the evils of RoundUp and gave it to him. I also felt bad because I’m guessing one of his customers probably yelled at him once for not using Round-Up! But geez, could I get a $10,000 reward for turning in people who not only use spray poisons on plants but also the people and pest control companies that use poison to kill rats? I have seen far too many poisoned predators up the food chain thanks to the stubborn use of substances that kill the “good guys” of the insect and animal kingdoms.

Spot the Speeders: Could I have a hefty reward for squealing on the jerks who race through streets anywhere, but especially in neighborhoods like ours that feature pedestrians, pets and kids? Yes, I am that woman who yells loudly at vehicles rocketing by. I once read somewhere that a satisfying thing to do is carry an ordinary household hair dryer when you take walks and point it at fast-moving cars while holding a pad and pen. People slow down when they think there is a radar detector trained on them! But really, I’d rather get some cash for turning them in.

Peg The Priest: And finally, did y’all hear about Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill of Wisconsin, who has been the acting general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops? He’s actively supported denying faithful Roman Catholic President Biden communion because Biden supports women’s rights, including abortion rights. Monsignor Burrill has resigned because he’s been outed as a user of Grindr, a gay dating app. I don’t have room to go into all the problems with celibacy and closeted priests, but I suggest that exposing this kind of duplicity deserves a reward!

I’m guessing there are more than a few Texas legislators who have taken advantage of reproductive rights, including abortion, for their wives, daughters and/or mistresses. As Monsignor Burrill’s case proves yet again, it’s often the people who yell and scream about other people’s alleged depravity that are covering up their own. I would love to offer a $10,000 reward to any Texan who spills the beans about their legislator covering up their own shenanigans.

And yes, of course there are female antichoice folks. I’m reminded of another hypocrite, Susan Carpenter McMillan, who was a candidate for the California State Legislature. Ubiquitous in the late ’80s and early ’90s, she was a spokesperson for a large antichoice organization. McMillan finally had to admit that she’d had two abortions. Of course, they were necessary to her at the time. Oh please. By the way, I refuse to use the blatant spin term “pro-life,” which is a lie… but that’s another column.

So, let’s create a fund to reward folks who “out” Texas Republicans! Heck, while we’re at it, let’s throw in right-wingnut evangelicals and TV preachers, who often talk one thing and walk another.

Ellen Snortland has written, “Consider This” for decades and done her best to call out “bad guys.” Contact her at: ellen@authorbitebybite.com

JULY 26, 2021

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OPINION

Fauci coddles younger Americans Editor: Dr. Fauci says “we will try anything and everything” to get people vaccinated, like appealing to trusted confidants of the unvaccinated to reason with them. (PBS Nightly News, July 19, 2021) Interestingly, Dr. Fauci does not even go near suggesting actual enforcement of public health law, the only thing that has ever worked in the history of the world to end epidemics.

Our infectious disease expert knows that today’s young people in their twenties and thirties will do very little in their own health interests unless until they are forced to, just like when they were teenagers.

But the mouthpiece of two administrations also knows that rule of law is politically unpopular today, so he sides with libertarians who think no one should ever be required to do anything against their will.

Here’s the thing. Our Millennials and Zers are happy to do whatever is required of them at work in order to get their paychecks, at pain of firing if they don’t. Why can’t government require them to get vaccinated in order to get their good citizenship paychecks, at pain of fine or lengthy community service if they don’t?

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Covered California will help ART & CULTURE

Musician pays tribute to Van Halen through song

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

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ed Nugent was a rock star to David Haerle, but, he said, Eddie Van Halen “performed miracles on six strings.”

After Van Halen’s death, many musicians and fans mourned. Haerle, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, turned it into a song called “Eddie.”

“I realized I wanted to write in a song, from the perspective of a young boy, what it meant to me,” said Haerle, who lives in Los Feliz. “That’s what I hope to convey in this song. As an artist, you want to try to say things in a way people will connect with them. I hope I did that.”

“Eddie” is available to stream/buy on all digital platforms and the music video can be viewed on YouTube.

“He was a total game changer,” Haerle said. “It leveled the guitar world. He turned the guitar world on its head. I loved the whole band, the songs and the musicality.”

“Eddie” is the latest release in a series of other heartfelt and personal tracks from Haerle, including “Train Down Memory Lane,” “No More We” and “True Liberty.” His May 2020 sophomore album “Death Valley” was praised by acclaimed music magazines.

A new love Haerle said he was 11 years old when he heard “Runnin’ with the Devil” while driving with his dad near their Los Angeles home. The song spoke to him.

“The song starts off with the backward blare of car horns and a thumping bass line,”

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he said.

“It’s followed by the sound of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar and the drums kicking in. Then comes that distinctive lead vocal and their trademark harmony singing. It was like a bomb went off in the rock world that February 1978. Especially for guitar players. I started playing myself not long after that on a Fender Stratocaster and amplifier gifted to me by my parents.”

Haerle was a fan of the entire band, though, for its “incredible new sound.”

“Looking back on those younger years, it felt different,” he said. “There was a lot of seriousness in guitar playing, with Eddie jumping around the stage with a big grin. I loved the attitude and feeling he conveyed.”

He attended multiple Van Halen concerts, but after the 1980s-era show, he felt down.

“I felt, hmmm, ‘depressed’ is too strong,” he recalled. “I felt down because the show was so great. I was feeling so great. I was already playing the guitar at that point. I thought, ‘Who can go anywhere from here?’ I remember like it was yesterday.”

Musical family Haerle isn’t the only music fan in his family. Born in Germany, his father had an encyclopedic knowledge of country music, which he garnered by listening to Armed Forces Radio Network.

“He started a record label (CMH Label Group) in 1975,” Haerle said. “Music was the business of my family, especially my father. I rejected country and bluegrass for a while.

Very early on, when I first heard ‘Fame’ by David Bowie, that was a pivotal moment.

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When I heard Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix, that planted a seed that I wanted to do this.”

He left school in the 11th grade and earned his GED. He floundered for a couple years and played in alt-rock bands. Haerle landed a job at the International Creative Management (ICM) mail room.

At ICM, he met “the woman I would be married to for many years.” When Haerle was 24, his father died unexpectedly. For a few weeks, he pondered whether or not he wanted to continue CMH Label Group.

“For the next 20 years, much of my energy went to CMH Label Group,” he said. “At the 20-year mark, a shift started to happen to me. I’m a late bloomer. I was in conversation with a particular person in my life. I said I’d like to take singing lessons. I had sung in my life.

“The next thing I knew, my life changed like I had never expected. It led to wanting to work part time and dedicate half of my life as an artist.”

He released “Garden of Edendale” in 2018, and “Death Valley” in 2020. Haerle is planning to release his third collection later this year or early in 2022.

“I owe a lot to my colleagues and the support I have at this company,” he said. “It could not have been possible without them. I give credit where credit is due.”

He returns to Bowie, saying that was his first experience with a loss of a favorite artist.

“David Bowie was the biggest one that had happened in my life,” Haerle said. “He’s been a big idol and influence for me. I remember cutting out his obit from the physical paper and tucked it away in a special place.

“I heard the news about Eddie online. It really hit me — as it did so many people — hard. I knew what would happen. I saw it on the front page, and I just burst into tears. I knew I would. It felt good to cry. Yes, you changed my life, Mr. Eddie Van Halen. I read the obit and tucked it away with David Bowie.”

More info David Haerle davidhaerle.com CMH Label Group cmhlabelgroup.com

David Haerle of Los Feliz runs his late father’s record company, CMH Label Group.

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JULY 26, 2021

By Bliss Bowen Pasadena Weekly Contributing Writer

LEDISI, Ledisi Sings Nina (BMG): HHH½ Tackling Nina Simone’s oeuvre is a formidable prospect, and Ledisi brings a respectful balance of humility and passion to this seven-track tribute to the outspoken jazz icon. The Grammy-winning vocalist doesn’t radically reinterpret classics such as “Feeling Good,”“My Baby Just Cares for Me” and the swinging “Work Song,” but Jochen Neufer’s punchy arrangements for Metropole Orkest magnify the impact of her dynamic readings. Highlights include a live, guitar-centered version of “Wild Is the Wind” (from Ledisi’s Simone tribute for PBS last December) and a magnetic performance of “Four Women” with Lisa Fisher, Alice Smith and Lizz Wright. Ledisi’s in concert with LA Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl July 24.

Ledisi.com JON BYRD, Me & Paul (self-released):HHH½ Listening to how this veteran Nashville songwriter and guitarist unspools melodic tales such as the bruised beauty “I’ll Be Her Only One” (co-written with Kevin Gordon) and “Why Must You Think of Leaving?” (co-written with Shannon Wright) is akin to the savory pleasures offered by a novel or a favorite neighborhood bard when the hour’s late and whiskey’s flowing. A natural storyteller, Byrd has a homing instinct for emotional truth, even when inhabiting the lines of J.J. Cale (a haunting “Don’t Go to Strangers”) and the Louvin Brothers (an effectively understated “Cash on the Barrelhead”). Paul Niehaus supplies graceful accompaniment, his pedal steel complementing Byrd’s plainspoken delivery without glossing over its essential grit. jonbyrd.com JUNACO, Blue Room (Side Hustle): HH½ “Is paradise a place or a state of mind?” That’s the question posed by this promising L.A.-based duo’s balmy single “Paradise,” which seems tailor-made for some future soundtrack. The chill dreaminess conjured with electric guitars, keyboard and percussion by frontwoman Shahana Jaffer and guitarist/drummer Joey LaRosa throughout this eight-track album soothes more than stimulates. There’s tension between Jaffer’s angelic tones and the pensive concerns of “Blue Room,”“Living Out of Mind” and “Weight of the World,” but any drama, like their hooks, is subtle. junacomusic.com LES FILLES DE ILLIGHADAD, At Pioneer Works (Sahel Sounds):HHHH Uniting the female-centric tende tradition of chants and calland-response with the droning electric guitars that have defined Tuareg music in recent decades, the Niger quartet expands the form by restoring women to their central place. At the heart of this concert set, recorded in 2019 in New York, is the 11-minute “Telilit,” resurrected from a desert recording lead vocalist/guitarist Fatou Seidi Ghali and vocalist/percussionist Alamnou Akrouni made after forming the band in 2016. Since joined by Agadez guitarist Amaria Hamadalher and Ghali’s cousin Abdoulaye Madassane (the lone male, who also plays rhythm guitar with Mdou Moctar), their celebratory guitars, handclaps, tende drum and voices exalting community are hard to resist. Highlights: “Chakalan,” a spirited take on Etran Finatawa’s “Surbajo.” lesfillesdeillighadad.bandcamp.com

WILBURT LEE RELIFORD, Seems Like a Dream (Big Legal Mess): HHHH Mississippi hill country blues is known for raw guitars and droning grooves, but in these 12 rarely heard tracks, there’s also joy, thanks to Reliford, a blind harmonica player who grew up near Junior Kimbrough’s Chulahoma juke joint and died in 1993. Reliford was recorded in 1989 by a Dutch folklorist during a field trip (which eventually yielded a “Rural Blues” documentary), but half of his rediscovered solo performances feature newly added support from guitarist Will Sexton and a crack band that manages to sound organic as Reliford’s expressive “wah” tones and hopeful, earthy vocals nod to Sonny Boy Williamson. Rewarding as it is to hear them frolic and strut through “Tappin’ That Thing” and “I Won’t Be Back No More” behind the wailing harp, it’s Reliford’s solo turns that haunt. Highlights: “Sugar Mama,”“I’m Gonna Leave.” biglegalmessrecords.com LAURA MVULA, Pink Noise (Flamingo/Atlantic UK):HHH The British R&B artist unexpectedly swerves into the ’80s with her third album, a sleek vehicle driven by synthesizers, metallic drumbeats and pop hooks. In retrospect, “Phenomenal Woman” and the Nile Rodgers-supported “Overcome” from her Ivor Novello Award-winning 2016 album “The Dreaming Room” can be heard as precursors to the choral swells of “Magical,” the addictive jam “Got Me,”“Church Girl” and the funky “Remedy,” composed during the 2020 lockdown amid Black Lives Matter protests (“How many more must die before the remedy?/ Can you hear all my people cry for the remedy?”). It’s far removed from the jazzy sophistication of 2013’s “Sing to the Moon,” confirming Mvula’s eclectic taste and range. planetmvula.com MIKE ZITO, Resurrection (Gulf Coast): HHH The Texas guitarist won Blues Rock Artist and Blues Rock Album (for “Rock ‘n’ Roll: A Tribute to Chuck Berry”) honors at last month’s Blues Music Awards, but leans into rock with his newest release. Reteamed with producer David Z, he slams social media’s negative energy with “Don’t Bring Me Down”; transforms Willie Dixon’s “Evil” into an ominous groover bound to elicit cheers at shows; and lightheartedly skewers politicians with “Running Man.” But Zito, who exchanges J.J. Cale’s sly wit for sincerity and beefy solos during “I’ll Make Love to You,” is less concerned with topicality than betting everything on the title track’s inspiration: love and second chances. mikezito.com WELCOME CENTER, Talk Talk Talk (self-released): HH½ “Talk, talk, talk, and I listen/ Nation lost in your vision now/ …

Southern curse I cannot handle/ Sunday service, light a candle, watch it burn out.” Inspired by 2020’s turmoil, the slow-building “Burn” gives this modest electronic-pop EP its title and focus. The melodic vista expands, War on Drugs-style, as Jesse Smith’s electric guitar fills evoke memories and roadtrips (perhaps explaining its 6:24 run time). “Parasite City” and “Losers,” meanwhile, thrum with Aaron Sternick’s incongruously upbeat synthesizers. The EP’s more nuanced than 2020’s “This House Will Be Filled With ____”; “Burn” represents a still more interesting step forward. welcomecenterband.com

JULY 26, 2021

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Covered California will help ART & CULTURE

Grammys refresh ‘Red Carpet’ exhibit

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

T

he Grammy Museum has refreshed its “On the Red Carpet” exhibit with new outfits from 63rd Grammy Awards and 21st Latin Grammy Awards.

Continuing through Spring 2022, the display includes outfits worn by Phoebe Bridgers, Alex Cuba, Kany García, Alana Haim from HAIM, Lupita Infante, Natalia Jiménez, Miranda Lambert, Víctor Manuelle, Megan Thee Stallion, Christian Nodal, Lionel Richie, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift.

Established in 2008, the Grammy Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives and public programming.

The museum is located at 800 W. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles. For more information, call 213-725-5700 or grammymuseum.org.

Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers puts a skeletal twist on the red carpet at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.

(Courtesy of the Grammy Museum)

Country’s Miranda Lambert glistens during the red carpet at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.

(Courtesy of the Grammy Museum)

The sister act Haim is pretty in lavender from the red carpet at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.

(Courtesy of the Grammy Museum)

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion shows leg during the red carpet at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.

(Courtesy of the Grammy Museum)

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JULY 26, 2021

Covered California will help ART & CULTURE

Alexander Jean explores highs and lows on new EP

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor

“D

Alexander Jean released their newest EP, “Coming Down” (Parts and Labor Records) July 23 and is in the process of getting a tour together.

(Courtesy of Alexander Jean)

The husband and wife duo became famous on TikTok and Instagram for their single “Highs & Lows” and their cover of “Sex and Candy.”

(Courtesy of Alexander Jean)

ancing with the Stars” mirror ball champ Mark Ballas and his wife, BC Jean, strive to take fans of their band, Alexander Jean, on a journey.

“I wouldn’t want anything we put out to feel like it’s one note,” Ballas

said.

Their EP, “Coming Down” (Parts & Labor Records), continues their creative endeavors. Ballas is a virtuoso guitar player, with a creative percussive bluesy flamenco style that is signature to their sound. BC is a vocalist who wrote Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy.” Released July 23, the EP wraps that in a tight package. It features six tracks, including Alexander Jean’s single “Highs & Lows,” which was well received last year, with 1.9 million streams on TikTok. The opening track, “Coming Down,” is in your face, with playful and fun lyrics.

“Nevermind” is the first song the couple wrote for the EP and carries an Americana twist. Ballas returns to “in your face” to describe “For Anybody Wondering,” which is “grungy.”

It’s been a rollercoaster couple years for the couple. When the pandemic started, Ballas and Jean thought it was going to be a “mini vacation.” They cooked at home, imbibed in wine and enjoyed each other.

Ballas said they also built a home studio and learned how to self-produce and engineer.

“Before, we would get an idea and say, ‘I wish we could throw it down right now,’” Ballas said. “We can do it now. We’re getting pretty proficient.

“We have a lot of ideas and things we want to try, but when we’re in with a producer, it’s hard to articulate it and take control.”

There’s another benefit to recording at home: It saves money, as most studios charge by the hour.

“We are able to be a little more creative for more hours,” Jean said. “We’re not paying for someone’s time and using someone’s time.”

Besides constructing a studio, they built up their socials.

“We had to stay at home, so we thought we would really dive into social media and get the word out there more,” Jean said. “As indie artists, that is all we have.

We’re lucky enough to have a few videos really take off.”

One of those videos is a cover of “Sex and Candy,” the 1990s hit by Marcy Playground. It was recorded and produced by Ballas and Jean.

“It’s been one of my favorite songs since I was a little girl,” said Jean, who added the ’90s play an important role in the band.

“It’s very nostalgic for me. We threw 1-minute covers on TikTok and Instagram.

People responded, saying they wanted the whole song. It had more than 1 million views in a couple days.”

The goal now is to bring those songs to the stage. Jean said tour routing is being discussed.

“We’re just starting to get that all figured out,” she said. “Our goal is to elevate our show, whether it’s just me and Mark or if we’re going to have a band of players,” Jean said.

“We bring the heart and the energy,” Ballas added. “There’s a lot of banter and chemistry. The shows will be a lot louder and in your face.”

Alexander Jean TikTok, Instagram and Facebook: @alexanderjeanofficial

JULY 26, 2021

DT

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

Covered California will help BUSINESS

MLB shines light on local businesses

By LA Downtown News Staff

I

n recognition of the challenges faced by small businesses this past year, Mastercard and MLB launched the Home Team Advantage Small Business Contest during this year’s All-Star Game to help businesses grow and thrive.

Together, Mastercard and MLB are calling on small businesses in Atlanta, Boston and Los Angeles to enter for the chance to win $10,000, a Mastercard Digital Doors toolkit, in-stadium assets, and a trip for winner and one guest to attend a 2021 MLB World Series game.

“While small businesses had to contend with extreme challenges throughout the pandemic, they demonstrated exceptional resilience and determination in the process,” said Cheryl Guerin, EVP Marketing and Communications in North America for Mastercard.

“Alongside our partners at MLB, we’re committed to celebrating and sup-

porting the small businesses that serve as the backbone of our communities and are thrilled to provide the resources and digital tools to help them continue to grow and thrive.”

The Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers will each provide the small businesses in their local markets with prizes and promotional packages including hosting opportunities and customized stadium signage.

Finalists in each market will be invited to attend an exclusive dinner event at their local stadium where the winners will be announced.

To help the winners further grow and digitally enhance their businesses, Mastercard will be providing recipients a Digital Doors toolkit inclusive of Mastercard’s Digital Diagnostic, one-on-one mentorship, as well as offers and resources from Jobble, Mastercard Trust Center, Microsoft Advertising, SimplyPayMe and Zoho. Additionally, the toolkit includes new Mastercard cybersecurity tools developed to help small businesses defend themselves against cyber threats including Mastercard ID Theft Protection and My Cyber Risk powered by RiskRecon.

Business owners can confirm their eligibility and are encouraged to enter online at mastercard.us/hometeamadvantage.

Califia Farms expanding to Arts District’s Maxwell building

By LA Downtown News Staff

N

ewmark Knight Frank (also known simply as Newmark) has arranged a 29,440-square-foot lease on behalf of Califia Farms, a plant-based beverage company, at The Maxwell building in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District.

Newmark Senior Managing Director Craig Kish represented the tenant in the transaction.

The landlord, Hudson Pacific Properties, was represented by an outside firm. Califia Farms is relocating from its former location at 1321 Palmetto Street.

“This is the ideal location for Califia Farms’ expansion as they continue to grow their business, brand and team,” Kish said. “State-of-the-art indoor/outdoor creative office properties like this are in short supply in the Downtown Los Angeles market.”

“We want to create an inviting and energizing space that fosters collaboration for our growing Califia Farms team. The amenities in this neighborhood and the features of the Maxwell building hit the mark for us,” added Mike Castle, Califia Farms’ chief financial officer.

The recently renovated 63,224-square-foot property, located at 1019 E. Fourth Place, is known as The Maxwell and was completely renovated in 2019 by Hudson Pacific Properties.

The modern space features double-height event space with roll-up garage doors, a rooftop terrace, an outdoor seating area and parking. Califia Farms will occupy two floors of the building.

Kish added, “The Arts District neighborhood’s strong fundamentals — quality infrastruc-

Califia Farms is a plant-based beverage company and has moved to a newly renovated, 29,440-squarefoot office building in Downtown LA’s Arts District to expand their business.

(Courtesy of Califia Farms)

ture, central location, hip creative urban vibe and newer product — will allow for a faster rebound than many surrounding office submarkets.”

Newmark’s project management team is assisting with the buildout.

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