Los Angeles Downtown News 07-06-20

Arrested

Stopping By

Councilman JosĂŠ Huizar charged

Harry and Meghan visit

with federal racketeering

Homeboy Industries

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July 6, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #27

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JULY 6, 2020

FBI arrests LA councilman in alleged bribery scheme

By Sarah Donahue fter serving on the LA City Council for over a decade, José Huizar was arrested at his Boyle Heights home June 23 on federal racketeering charges.

He allegedly masterminded a “pay-toplay” scheme with powerful real estate developers. If convicted, Huizar could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

A complaint released by the Department of Justice on June 23 alleges Huizar and his associates were part of a “criminal enterprise” in which they conspired to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, committing extortion, bribery, money laundering and honest services fraud.

“Our investigation has pulled back the curtain on significant and blatant corruption at City Hall,” U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna said. “Councilman Huizar violated the public trust to a staggering degree.”

Because of Huizar’s role as the Planning and Land Use Management Committee chairman, he allegedly gave preferential treatment to those who paid during the city’s review process.

“He decided which projects lived and which projects died,” Hanna explained.

Most new developments were Downtown in part of District 14, which Huizar represented.

Dubbed “Operation Casino Royale,” the allegations in the report say Huizar illegally accepted approximately $1.5 million in bribes from various lobbyists and developers.

Huizar and his associates also reportedly accepted bribes in the form of luxury hotels, hotels, expensive meals, casino trips, prostitution services as well as tickets to sports events and concerts, according to the 116-page affidavit. In exchange, Huizar allegedly used his power to help the bribers obtain real estate developments.

“In addition to cash, trips and other benefits, one Chinese real estate magnate allegedly put up $600,000 to be used as collateral so Mr. Huizar could obtain a bank loan to pay off a woman who accused him of sexual harassment,” said Hanna.

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Hanna added when Huizar stopped making bank payments, the collateral was allegedly used to pay off the loan.

While Huizar was in custody, the rest of the City Council voted unanimously to suspend him.

“Today’s arrest of a duly elected city council member is a stain on our city government,” City Council President Nury Martinez said in a Facebook post announcing his suspension. “But it should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law.”

Many had anticipated his arrest, as a trail of evidence had reportedly been unfolding over the years.

Multiple sexual harassment lawsuits have been filed against Huizar since 2013

by Huizar’s former staffers, one of whom was offered a $600,000 settlement funded by the alleged bribes, according to the official complaint. In exchange for the bribe, Huizar allegedly assisted the real estate developer’s plans to redevelop his property and “build the tallest building west of the Mississippi River,” the affidavit reads.

In November 2018, FBI agents searched Huizar’s residence and found $129,000 in red envelopes with Chinese characters, concealed and wrapped in a T-shirt and stashed in a suit jacket pocket in Huizar’s closet, according to the affidavit.

Mayor Eric Garcetti and Martinez publicly called on Huizar to immediately resign after his closest aide, George Esparza, agreed to plead guilty on charges connecting him to the “pay-to-play” scheme in late May. Huizar refused to step down and as a result was asked by Martinez to refrain from attending meetings, in which he publicly agreed to limit his participation in council.

Huizar is the fifth person to be charged in connection with the corruption probe.

In March, former Councilman Mitchell Englander agreed to plead guilty to being involved along with a political fundraiser, Justin Jangwoo Kim. Around two months later, real estate development consultant George Chiang agreed to plead guilty to his participation in the scheme as well.

As Huizar approached the end of his

Los Angeles Downtown News 161 Pasadena Ave., Suite B South Pasadena, CA 91030 213-481-1448

José Huizar was arrested at his Boyle Heights home June 23 on federal racketeering charges.

Photo courtesy city of Los Angeles

term limit, he planned to have a relative succeed him to continue the alleged bribery for at least another decade, where he likely planned to rise to the role of city attorney or mayor, according to the affidavit.

While the relative is only identified as Relative A-1 in the affidavit, it’s reportedly his wife, Richelle Huizar, as the dates of her candidacy announcement line up with the dates listed in the official document.

After their house was raided, however, Richelle dropped her campaign. She has not yet faced charges in relation to the corruption probe, and court records do not indicate whether Richelle knowingly

took part in the alleged crimes.

The grand exterior of Los Angeles concealed a “cancer” within the city’s government, Hanna said.

He called the corruption probe “a disease of elected officials and staff members breaking a series of laws in order to line their own pockets, maintain power and keep open a spigot of illicit bribes and other benefits.”

Huizar was released on a $100,000 bond, and he will declare his plea to the charges in his arraignment, which is set for July 20.

Huizar could spend up to 20 years in federal prison if found guilty.

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JULY 6, 2020

YWCA CEO: ‘We will advance the dream’

By William Bergholz WCA of Greater Los Angeles hosted a virtual town hall, “Standing in Solidarity,” June 26 to tackle issues like social injustice, equality, racism reform and the organization’s next moves after the Black Lives Matter protest.

“The Black Lives Matter protestors amplify the voices of those who can’t speak for themselves,” said Faye Washington, YWCA GLA president and CEO, who hosted the event.

“I’m here to tell you that the YWCA heard you. We have assembled a diversity of folks in this town hall who demonstrate the sincerity of our conversation and mean business. We stand in solidarity with you. I’m confident that we will advance the dream.”

Washington was joined by CBS 2’s Pat Harvey, who served as moderator, and special guest Rep. Karen Bass (District 37).

The guest speakers included Dr. Melina Abdullah, co-founder of the Los Angeles Chapter of Black Lives Matter; Avis Ridley-Thomas, co-director of the Institute for Nonviolence in Los Angeles and Days of Dialogue; Kristin Clarke, president and executive director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Carl E. Douglas, president at Douglas/Hicks Law; Justin Sanders, co-managing partner of Sanders Roberts LLP; and Jorja Leap, director of the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership.

Bass wrote the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which the House passed by three votes on June 25. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act bans chokeholds and no-knock warrants, creates a national database of police misconduct, consents national training standards and accreditation for police officers among other provisions.

Ultimately, Bass’s bill failed in the Senate.

“Now is the time that we have to start negotiating,” Bass said.

Abdullah noted how all movements build upon the work of the previous.

“Black Lives Matter is different than the Black Power movement, it’s different than the civil rights movement, but it takes lessons from them,” Abdullah said.

The lessons include centering women and the role they play in birthing Black Lives Matter and rejecting respectability politics. Black Lives Matter has become allies with organizations including White People for Black Lives, Aim SoCal, Centro CSO and the Brown Berets.

“We fully embrace the title of this town hall today. We have to stand in solidarity,” Abdullah said.

Ridley-Thomas called for Angelenos to negotiate budgets and policies.

“The dialogue is just the very first step,” said Ridley-Thomas.

Clarke connected the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to the mo-

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Faye Washington

ment.

“I think that right now our country is at a crossroads. There’s a lot of trauma out there. I see a lot of room for hope and opportunity,” Clarke said.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law works on fighting voter suppression, fighting and supporting police reform, and fighting and standing up for protesters.

Douglas joined the conversation, too.

On police reform, Douglas suggests people transform from a warrior mentality of “us versus them” to a guardian mentality. He also suggested that the city shift money for the police toward mental health services, homelessness and recruiting more women as police officers.

“We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can protest and vote. We can protest and serve on juries. I am hopeful for a better tomorrow,” Douglas said.

Sanders shared his beliefs—the important changes in Los Angeles’ society have helped, but they’re not solving the problem. As a lawyer, Sanders has seen a low number of minority and women attorneys in large law firms and public agencies. Over the years, he’s seen increases.

“Now 20 years in, when I meet with clients, companies, people in decision-making authority in major American institutions, I’m not surprised any longer if that person is a person of color or a woman,” Sanders said.

“At the same time, when I go to court, there’s times when I look around and the courtroom is packed with attorneys and there might be one woman in it. It’s still shocking to me.”

Sanders has noticed American companies have been connecting with the Black Lives Matter movement and protesters. He believes this because of diversity inclusion.

Leap addressed social justice research, which should not be defunded but paused.

She has been a part of reports on LA County DCFS, LA County Probation, the LAPD,

Karen Bass

Pat Harvey

the LA Sheriff’s Department, The State of California Mental Health and LAUSD. According to Leap, stacks of reports and recommendations are sitting on organization’s shelves.

“We need to stop the research. We need action,” Leap said. “Too many people have made their careers on the backs of communities.”

Leap called for a rethinking of research.

She said she believes researchers could put equal weight on all communities.

“And here’s the most radical idea of all.

The community must be paid,” Leap said.

“For decades, we have gone into communities. We have used community members

as our information sources. And we give them a Jamba Juice gift card. I have had to look at colleagues and say you know there’s not a Jamba Juice within 20 miles of where a resident is currently living. Stop it. It has to end. We have to be able to speak truth to power.”

Washington concluded the conversation, “We know what needs to be done. We have to stand boldly. That’s what today’s about.

It’s about the moral moment we’re in. It’s genuine. This is our moment. Our moment in history, and if we don’t seize this moment, many of us won’t be around for the second go-around. We have to act quickly.

We’re going to listen to the community.”

JULY 6, 2020

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Black Lives Matter, lawyers want excessive force to end

By Sarah Donahue lack Lives Matter LA, as well as other protest groups and the lawyers who represent them, have asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order injunction to bar the LAPD’s use of tear gas, rubber bullets and baton strikes at protests.

“This is very important in the sense that otherwise, people are liable to be injured again,” said Jorge Gonzalez, an attorney who is also representing other protesters who have sustained injuries allegedly at the hands of LAPD. This measure is connected to the class-action lawsuit filed in early June by Black Lives Matter, the Los Angeles Community Action Network and the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles, which lays blame on the LAPD for abusing power and violating the protesters’ First Amendment rights.

“With the rubber bullets, it’s just unfathomable the way that they’re using them,” Gonzalez said.

One of his clients was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by LAPD, which fractured her jaw, he said. As a result, the young woman had surgery to repair it with a steel plate.

The rubber bullets are designed to be shot at the ground, where they bounce and hit the protesters’ legs, Gonzalez explained, which is

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a practice only to be used when police safety is at risk. Rather than being used as riot control in the instance of protesters throwing objects, LAPD is shooting peaceful people pointblank, leaving many with bruised and bloody wounds, he said. Some protesters have sustained injuries to their genitalia; others have lost eyes.

Kendrick Sampson, actor and founder of BLD PWR, a grassroots social justice group, spoke out about his experience with police during the first days of protests in LA. Sampson, who has worked closely with Black Lives Matter leaders, posted a video where he described the scene, saying the protests went from peaceful to violent and that “all the aggression comes straight from the cops.”

He was wounded throughout his body after being struck with a baton and rubber bullets multiple times, requiring an emergency room visit, he said.

“I’m traumatized,” Sampson said in the video. “I’m working through it.”

Protesters’ rights are also being violated, Gonzalez said. About 90% of the over 4,000 arrests that were made during recent protests shouldn’t have happened, Gonzalez said.

“Almost all of them were arrested for either infractions or minor misdemeanors,” he said.

Gonzalez explained that when someone

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Protesters hold signs while marching through the streets of Downtown on June 5.

Photo by Sarah Donahue/ LA Downtown News

receives an infraction for curfew violation or misdemeanor for failing to disperse, the law states that police are required to issue a written citation where the person must agree to appear in court, but they are otherwise free to go. “There’s no authority to arrest them and take them to jail.”

While in custody, protesters have been subject to harsh treatment by LAPD, where many protesters say their zip ties were tied so tight that they lost circulation or were injured in the process of the ties being cut, he said.

On top of that, the many wrongfully detained protesters have been kept in crowded conditions during a pandemic, with no respect for social distancing, Gonzalez said.

Pertaining to enforcing curfews, police are required to give the protesters verbal notification of the curfew, a reasonable amount of time to disperse and must direct the protesters on which way to leave.

“What they would do is they would cattle people,” Gonzalez said. “They would have a line of police officers on the south, a line of police officers on the north, and they can’t go

anywhere because there are buildings to the east and the west. They’re trapped.”

This deceiving technique isn’t new and was exercised during the Occupy LA protests as well as the protests in LA after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Gonzalez said.

“This is something they’ve done before,” he said. “They know what they’re supposed to do. And then they refuse to do it anyway.”

People complying with curfew were still arrested, as many were walking to their cars to leave, Gonzalez said. He mentioned how a mother who was picking up her son from the protests was arrested, along with her son.

“What sense does that make? It makes no sense,” he said. “It’s punitive in nature. They’re doing it because they’re trying to show that they’ve got the power in order to do this, and that’s what these suits are all about.”

Earlier this month, LAPD investigated 56 misconduct allegations, where 28 of those were in regard to excessive force. Since then, 10 LAPD officers have been placed on desk duty.

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Chinese enameled silver bowls, post-1950, estimated $200 to $300.

JULY 6, 2020

Tibetan hilt bronze tantric Buddhist figures in yab-yum, estimated $400 to $600.

Photo courtesy Andrew Jones Auctions

Suite of Michael Taylor “Montecito” modern garden furniture, comprising a dining table and eight side chairs, estimated $1,500 to $2,000.

Photo courtesy Andrew Jones Auctions

Oil on oil canvas painting by Suzanne Eisendieck (German/Polish, 1908-1998), titled “Jardin a Sirole,” estimated $1,000 to $1,500.

Photo courtesy Andrew Jones Auctions

Photo courtesy Andrew Jones Auctions

Andrew Jones Auctions goes virtual

By Kamala Kirk Those looking for a historic signed document by Abraham Lincoln or Asian works of art, Andrew Jones Auctions will feature a wide variety of unique and outof-the-ordinary items at its virtual DTLA Collections & Estates auctions on July 14.

“In the July auction we will have a lovely oil painting from German-Polish post-impressionist painter Suzanne Eisendieck entitled ‘Jardin a Sirole,’” said Aileen Ward, vice president and senior specialist at Andrew Jones Auctions.

The July 14 auction will have a vast selection of Asian works of art, clocks and timepieces, decorations, fine silver, and other items primarily from the collection of Mary and Lou Silver of Indian Wells, as well as other sources.

“We work with the consignments we get in for sale to fashion themes,” Ward said.

“We held a fantastic sale this past February—Collections Curated by Designers

of Distinction. The sale comprised nearly 500 lots pulled from six California collections assembled by legends of interior design including Kalef Alaton, Craig Wright and others. We’ve held single owner fine art and luxury item sales, a coin and banknote auction, an Animals in the Arts auction, even a meteorite auction.

We’re planning a fine jewelry auction for the fall. We have great contacts in the business, so if someone comes in with something no one really knows anything about, we know who we can contact to find out about its history and value.”

Andrew Jones Auctions opened in summer 2018 and is the only full-service fine art and antiques auction house in Downtown Los Angeles. Prior to COVID-19, its auctions were held for an in-room audience as well as internet, telephone and absentee bidding. While previously it would hold one auction a month, it has re-calibrated to present about two smaller sales per month.

“Since the ‘Safer at Home’ order, we seem to have a captive audience looking to buy,” Ward said. “We have had a huge jump in internet participation and have had some of our more successful sales since the lockdown. We look to cultivate long-term relationships with the clients who buy from us and sell through us.”

The auctions last between five to seven hours, depending on the number of lots and interest in the property. They will both start at 11 a.m. and will held online through andrewjonesauctions.com, as well as on popular bidding platform liveauctioneers.com. Buyers from around the world can sign up and bid online.

“We have bidders the world over,” Ward said. “You just need to register with us and provide us with some information so we can follow up with payments and property collection after the sale. We encourage clients to contact us in advance of the sale to ask questions about pieces they are interested in buying. We can

provide additional images, complete reports on the condition of an item, and help them feel comfortable with the entire process.”

Andrew Jones Auctions will also host “Design for the Home and Garden” on Sunday, July 26. It will offer important pieces from the collection of Mary and Lou Silver, including a still-life painting by Nicolai Fechin with an estimated value of $70,000 to $90,000. It will also have important furniture, silver, objects and fine art from other sources.

“Our staff has been in the business for decades, so we have clients that have known us for years,” Ward said. “We have a wealth of knowledge and international experience, having worked for many years at major auction houses in America and Europe, scouring property from across North America. Our auctions are diverse and eclectic and feature fine items in many collection categories spanning antiquity through the 21st century.”

JULY 6, 2020

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 7

Harry and Meghan visit Homeboy Industries

By William Bergholz arr y, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were just “Harr y and Meghan” when they visited the nonprofit Homeboy Industries in Downtown LA. “They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the bakery and café. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality,” said Father Greg Boyle, the Homeboy Industries founder.

The couple visited the Homeboy Industries, which is dedicated to improving the lives of people formerly incarcerated and involved with gangs. During their visit, they wore face masks and gloves and joined Homeboy participants to help with Project Hope, preparing food for those who are vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.

Homeboy Industries posted photos of the couple’s visit on its social media pages.

The photos show Meghan and Prince Harry rolling out pastry and packing meals.

“Our staff was thrilled to work alongside them as they helped prepare food and learned more about our newly launched

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FAMOUS FIRE-GRILLED CHICKEN

06/30/20

#FeedHOPE program which employs our program participants to provide meals to food-insecure seniors and youth across Los Angeles,” the post’s caption read.

The couple has been living in North America since they formally stepped down as working royals in late March.

Prior to their visit, Meghan, Harry and Boyle spoke about the Racial Justice Movement.

“The Duke and Duchess connect deeply to Homeboy’s mission to welcome all people into a community of mutual kinship and love, focused on healing and contributing to the well-being of families and communities,” Boyle said. “To them, Homeboy is a perfect example of how empathy, kindness and compassion can change the world.”

Homeboy Industries, which has been running for 32 years, provides services and resources to high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women. Services include counseling, education, legal assistance, addiction recovery support, tattoo removal, job training and employment opportunities.

Info: homeboyindustries.org

Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates gang members across Los Angeles, hosted Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, above, and Harry, the Duke of Sussex, to help with Project Hope on June 25.

Photo courtesy Twitter/ The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

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JULY 6, 2020

Covered California will help BUSINESS

Entrepreneur breaks from family tradition to create app

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski erlen Mitchell approached his family about opening a Downtown shipping business, and they showed one emotion: disappointment.

“My parents were really upset and disappointed that I would walk away from such a good job and salary where I had already been promoted a few times,” said Mitchell, who was working in IT for the government. “But there was something inside me that believed I could do this.”

Two years ago, he opened Fast & Easy (F&E) Shipping Services at 225 E. 12th Street. Soon thereafter, he parlayed his IT knowledge into an app that was better suited to the package and delivery— freight—community.

Already in development in 2019, the recent launch of Ship District coincided with the onset of COVID-19.

Ship District is a PC/iOS/Android application that connects people sending packages with drivers ready to deliver them on demand. The timing was perfect, as consumers are relying more on the delivery of food, prescriptions and medical supplies.

“Ship District came from the store in Downtown LA,” Mitchell said.

“There is more need for this service right now than likely any time before. Individ-

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uals and business owners want to print postage for parcels and packages conveniently from their phones, homes or offices and then have those items delivered to the service providers right away.”

Mitchell is hoping to take the app national because he thinks it’s something that’s needed.

“It would help with businesses that don’t have the same edge that the Fashion District has as far as having a bunch of trucks coming through every day to have their packages picked up,” Mitchell said.

He’s particularly had interest in the Midwest, thanks to his Instagram posts.

“I really owe my success to my parents,” said the native Angeleno. “They’ve been helping me through this whole thing. They were disappointed at first, but they came around and are very supportive.

“I followed in their footsteps and I got a government job myself that was six figures. I was a senior network systems analyst when I quit to pursue opening my own business.”

Unbeknownst to Mitchell, his desire to take the leap toward entrepreneurship in September 2018 appears to coincide with a national trend whereby young African American men are striking out on their own. According to a state of small

Native Angeleno Verlen Mitchell says he never imagined he would open his own business. Now he runs Fast & Easy Shipping Services on 12th Street, and the Ship District app.

business survey conducted by Guidant Financial, 2018 saw a major uptick in the launch of businesses by African American small-business owners. Specifically, the survey noted a 400% increase in a yearover-year period between 2017 and 2018.

The study also indicated that African American businesses were more likely launched by men, who accounted for upward of 62% compared to women.

Business at the store and the app has been fruitful—even during the pandemic.

“We’re considered an essential service,” he said. “We put up signs about wearing masks. Since the pandemic started, we’ve seen a pretty good volume of customers coming back. There’s a buildup of people who needed to ship things.”

Mitchell said he never dreamed of owning his own business, but the journey has been interesting.

“It’s way more exciting than I thought, especially with the challenges I face,” he said. “I don’t have a background in shipping. I had to study a lot. I’m learning through every experience. I’m making a difference.”

Photo courtesy Verlen Mitchell

Fast & Easy Shipping Services 225 E. 12th Street, Los Angeles 213-205-8241, shipfasteasy.com The Ship District app shipdistrict.com 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Covered California will help BUSINESS

DTLA Ritz-Carlton penthouse lists for $7.3M

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Downtown LA Ritz-Carlton penthouse has been listed for $7.3 million by Nicholas P. O’Malley, an agent affiliated with the Pacific Palisades office of Coldwell Banker Realty.

Located at 900 W. Olympic Boulevard, Unit 44G, the three-bedroom and four-bathroom penthouse is a short distance from various entertainment venues, like LA Live, which includes dozens of restaurants; clubs; the Staples Center for Lakers, Clippers or Kings games; the Nokia Theater for concerts; and the Grammy Museum.

“Synonymous with luxury, the Ritz-Carlton truly lives up to its reputation, providing unrivaled lavish amenities and envy-inducing views of Downtown Los Angeles,” O’Mal-

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ley said.

Perched high in the sky, penthouse 44G boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, a contemporary chef’s kitchen featuring Gaggenau appliances, and custom lighting fixtures.

The sprawling, single-story, approximately 4,300-square-foot unit spans from edge to edge of the iconic building, offering breathtaking views to the ocean, mountains and city. The ultra-private master suite has a separate entrance and dual walk-in closets. The unrivaled amenities include 24-hour concierge and valet, room service, a rooftop pool and cabanas, a fitness center, the champion’s sky lounge, a wine-tasting room, a five-star spa and a salon, as well as private security.

To view the home, contact O’Malley at 310230-2435 or nicholas.omalley@camoves.com.

Penthouse 44G, which goes for $7.3 million, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, a contemporary chef’s kitchen featuring Gaggenau appliances, and custom lighting fixtures.

Photo courtesy Coldwell Banker Realty

JULY 6, 2020

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN NEWS 9

The COVID-19 pandemic has done Yoga Circle Downtown a favor, by bringing the exercise to the forefront. It’s something that people can do at home.

Photos courtesy Yoga Circle Downtown

Yoga Circle benefits from COVID-19 pandemic

By William Bergholz When the coronavirus pandemic knocked the doors shut at Knekoh Fruge’s Yoga Circle Downtown, she admitted she was “distraught and sad.”

“I thought, ‘Oh well, that’s the end of that,’” she said. “I got emails, texts, phone calls, Facebook messages from students all across town saying I should offer livestreaming classes.”

She “listened to what the universe was saying” to her and did just that. The facility at 400 S. Main Street is livestreaming yoga classes on Zoom and Facebook.

“After about the fifth or sixth person reached out to me randomly, I sat down and I watched tutorial after tutorial after tutorial on how livestreaming is done, how to set it up and what I need to do,” she said.

“I researched what platform was the best and I found Zoom. So I got a Zoom account. All of this happened on a Monday, and on Tuesday I Zoomed my first class.”

To connect to classes on Zoom, participants have to send an email to admin@ yogacircledowntown.com 15 minutes before the class begins. Yoga Circle Downtown will then send them a link and password to get signed up for daily links.

To connect on Facebook, participants have to like and follow Yoga Circle Downtown’s Facebook page, be on the page at the designated time and click on the link when the class goes live.

Class schedules are available online at yogacircledowntown.com. Participants can also sign up for a newsletter to receive updates on upcoming classes. There is no charge, but donations of $5 to $15 are suggested through @yogacircle on Venmo and admin@yogacircledowntown. com at PayPal. Yoga Circle Downtown offers a Yoga Philosophy Workshop Sanskrit, where participants can explore the basics of the Sanskrit language—one of the most ancient languages in India, used as a means for communication as well as a mystical

technology to connect to the universe’s energy—and the Devanagari writing system. The date for this workshop is yet to be determined. It will be $25 and $15 for members.

Fruge said the classes keep improving, thanks to input from her students.

“I asked them for feedback, and for the next several classes I had students stick around afterward and fill me in on what they thought and they did, and every class just keeps getting better and better,” she added.

Fruge is considering keeping the virtual classes as the pandemic resolves. She said it will be beneficial to clients who have moved away.

“Students who have moved away from Downtown, who have moved away from Los Angeles, who have moved away from the state, even people who have moved away from the countr y have been able to join my classes again because I’m livestreaming,” Fruge said.

“For our next class in the studio, we

will definitely livestream it. We’ll probably have a camera in the front and the back, so we will be a hybrid in studio and live studio.”

The “yoga therapist” said the exercise is especially important during this pandemic and to the well-being of her students.

“I’ve seen people transform their lives through the practice of yoga and meditation,” she said. “I want to use everything I’ve discovered over the years and bring that to the classroom. So that yoga can return to its roots.

“Yoga is a wonderful process for physical and emotional health, and the side effect is physical fitness. It seems, in the last several years, yoga has gotten away from that and it has become just another workout. So, in a way, I believe the yoga industry has been done a favor by COVID. I hear all the time, ‘I don’t know what I would do without yoga. Thank you for being there.’

That’s not because they’re getting a workout. It’s because of the mindfulness, the meditation aspect.”

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10 DOWNTOWN NEWS

Shannon Hoon was known as an introspective, talented songwriter.

The documentary “All I Can Say” started out as a film about Blind Melon but instead focused on its late singer, Shannon Hoon.

Special to LA Downtown News

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

Shannon Hoon documentary shares his life through his eyes

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski efore Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon died, he traveled with a video camera. Everywhere he went, he documented his life, almost like a video diary.

Director Danny Clinch was given the tapes by Hoon’s girlfriend, Lisa Sinha, and, after a mourning period and “a lot of discussion,” the renowned photographer made the bold move of telling Hoon’s story through the singer’s eyes.

Late last month, Oscilloscope Laboratories released the feature documentary “All I Can Say” in virtual cinemas, record stores and music venues.

“Shannon’s girlfriend always felt I should take control of the tapes and do something with them,” Clinch said. “There was talk of making the film as a Blind Melon documentary, until someone in the band said, ‘This is through Shannon’s eyes, and more focused on him.’ I said it was an interesting idea.

“It’s not a film about Blind Melon. It’s about this person who started filming himself obsessively. This is before there were cellphones. He had to change the batteries, bring the camera, save the tapes. He had all these things going against him. He was leaving something really valuable to us.

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The challenge was telling that story and not leaving any holes in the story.”

Founded in 1990, Blind Melon launched its self-titled debut in 1992 with a Southern psych-rock-influenced album fused with ’90s-era alt-grunge that included the breakthrough single “No Rain.” Its accompanying music video starred the now-iconic “Bee Girl” and earned heavy airplay on MTV, propelling the band to quadruple-platinum success. Hoon passed away from a cocaine overdose on October 21, 1995, in New Orleans.

“All I Can Say” traces Blind Melon’s rise to fame, the Indiana-bred singer’s creative process, his family, his daughter’s birth and his struggle with addiction—all the way up to a few hours before his death at age 28 on his tour bus. It features appearances by Sinha, who gave birth to his daughter, Nico Blue; and Blind Melon members Christopher Thorn, Brad Smith, Rogers Stevens and Glen Graham.

“Shannon would love this film—the editing of it, the franticness of it, the wide angles, the poking fun of his friends, the music,” Clinch said. “He would love it. I think he would appreciate the film for sure. We did him justice.”

The “we” is Clinch, along with fellow di-

“All I Can Say” features performances by the late Shannon Hoon.

Special to LA Downtown News

rectors Taryn Gould and Colleen Hennessy.

“I was friends with Shannon and am still friends with the band to this day,” Clinch said. “We had the rug pulled out from under us when Shannon passed away. We were in our mid-to-late 20s—still pretty young at heart and not used to that sort of thing.”

Hoon was magical with his hippy persona and unique vocal stylings.

“His writing style was really, really unique, too,” Clinch said. “There are a lot of musicians who are fans of Shannon Hoon, like the Avett Brothers. He didn’t have any rules. He was willing to try anything and take chances.”

The film started as Blind Melon’s story, Clinch said. But then he started to focus on Hoon and the world through his eyes.

Educational project Hennessy met Blind Melon in 2007, when the band reformed with a new lead singer, Travis Warren, to record an album.

“I was a big fan of the band and working for Danny at the time,” she said.

Gould, however, became a Blind Melon fan while working for Clinch as an editor and collaborator.

“Taryn came to the project not knowing much about the band or knowing much about the music,” Clinch said. “That was an interesting opportunity to have someone come on board for a different reason.”

Gould asked a lot of questions about Hoon; for example, what was his major contribution.

“However, I don’t think the film’s concerned with that,” Gould said. “It’s an autobiographical document that’s compre-

Special to LA Downtown News

hensive of a person and a time. I think the music is part of his expression and diary.

You get to know him. He was raw and very open about his struggles and someone who loved, and loved a lot.

“He was very open with those flaws. We were dealing with, ‘What did Shannon intend with this archive?’ He was intending to share because he was constantly addressing an audience. Shannon was leaving a record of his life. We put it together as a complete portrait of a flawed human who died young. Hopefully, you feel his loss. It’s as simple as that. Even if you don’t like the music, the film goes beyond that.”

All three say it’s unfortunate to release “All I Can Say” during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Hennessy says it could be helpful to those who are suffering through this time.

“I’ve read statistics about how people are struggling with mental health more than ever as a result of this,” Hennessy said.

“This would resonate with that group as well. They can relate to someone else struggling, struggling with addiction. You feel like you’re not quite alone.”

Gould added, “This story is particularly interesting. It was a really surreal experience, let alone the fact that it ends with this dramatic punctuation mark. He filmed up until the morning he passed away. It has just the date. He’s someone who lived and loved hard and he messed up hard. You get to experience all of that. The time with it and away from it is what helped us find it.”

“All I Can Say” allicansay.oscilloscope.net

JULY 6, 2020

DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

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‘Goddess of Stuff’ yearns to honor others

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski When Lori Livacich sees health care workers, grocery employees and food servers, she is saddened by their tired eyes. After all, the two eyes are all she can see around required masks.

Livacich, who worked in the corporate gig and promotional products industry, needed to brighten those sad eyes.

The self-proclaimed “Goddess of Stuff” created the Hero Pin with friend and designer Dan Georgopoulos.

“I love to develop products. I wanted to make a pin so we could honor everybody,” Livacich says. “I wanted to give away 1,000 to the Amazon guy, the mailman, the guy who’s pumping gas, the Costco guy who cleans every single pump every time someone uses it, or the person sanitizing grocery carts in 105-degree heat.

“They’re heroes on all levels.”

That simple, random gesture has become a thing in Los Angeles.

“It’s been really great,” she says. “I think what really needs to be told are the stories of when we give those pins out. I’ve had people almost start crying. I told the lady

at Target thank you and she said, ‘No one’s ever said this to me. It’s so awesome what you’re doing.’

“The response I’m getting from giving someone a pin, you can’t put a price on it.”

Hero Pins can be purchased online by the public to be given to any hero they know or meet during this time, and share a photo on social media with #theheropin.

All of the proceeds from pin purchases benefit the World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that works to provide children, families and seniors with healthy meals year-round.

The goal is to sell 1 million pins to aid the World Central Kitchen’s meal efforts.

“The chef (Jose Andres) and his wife (Patricia) started World Central Kitchen,” she says. “I thought if I do this, whatever money I earn I want to give it away. I reached out to a couple places, but he’s done an amazing job.

“He’s buying meals from restaurants and delivering those. He’s keeping restaurants going. They’re doing stuff all over the country.”

Lori Livacich gives a Hero Pin to an employee at Eastside Deli in Downtown LA. Photo courtesy Lori Livacich

For information on the Hero Pin, visit hero-pin.com To learn about World Center Kitchen, visit wck.org

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Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

Microsoft, Staples shows rescheduled

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ue to the ongoing developments with the COVID -19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Microsoft Theater and Staples Center shows have been postponed or canceled and the staff is working diligently with promoters to get them rescheduled, if possible. All ticket purchases will be valid for the new date and time.

Visit microsofttheater.com or staplescenter.com for continual updates on their event schedules.

Judas Priest: October 15 Jesus Adrian Romero: October 16 Baby Shark Live: November 8 Ricardo Montaner: February 21 Pancho Barraza: February 27 Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra: March 6 Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue: March 12 to March 13 Lindsey Stirling: July 20, 2021 Trolls Live!: July 24 and July 25 Bethel Music’s Heaven Come Conference: August 12 to August 14

Microsoft Theater

Staples Center

Grupo Firme: July 25 Femme It Forward Presents Love Language: August 14 The Australian Pink Floyd Show: August 15 Boyz II Men: August 21 Teo Gonzalez and Jorge Falcon: October 2 Jose Luis Perales: October 3 Franco Escamilla: October 11

Jurassic World Live: Canceled (July 17 to July 19) Camila Cabello: Canceled (August 7) Janet Jackson: Canceled (August 12) The Lumineers: Postponed (August 21) Roger Waters: Postponed (September 10 and September 11) Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin (Septem-

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Country star and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan is scheduled to play the Staples Center on August 27, 2021.

Photo courtesy Luke Bryan

ber 17 and September 18) Krush Groove: September 25 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Canceled (October 10) Celine Dion: Postponed (TBA)

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Wild ‘N Out Live: Postponed (TBA) The Weeknd: August 13, 2021, to August 15, 2021 Luke Bryan: August 27, 2021

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