Los Angeles Downtown News 10-04-2021

Revitalizing Downtown The Grand LA development planned for epicenter of Grand Avenue arts corridor

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‘I Matter’ Parks and rec hosts girls empowerment event

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The Dead Daisies

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Covered California CONSIDER THIS will help OPINION

The perils of being an opinion columnist

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist

“P

Pass the rolls, please,” the nice-looking, white, middle-aged gentleman said to me. It was the autumn of 2005, and I was at one of the countless luncheons I attended as a journalist. This one was in a small yet sumptuous dining room at the Pasadena Ritz-Carlton. The expected elegance was on display: fresh flowers, impeccable service, crisp linen tablecloths, nice glassware. Even the ubiquitous luncheon chicken was a delight.

The man next to me and I were having a good time during lunch. I was between marriages, and we were actually flirting. Then he saw my name tag. Horrified, he looked in my eyes and said, “You’re Ellen Snortland? But I hate you!” It was so authentic and unguarded, we both burst out laughing.

“I haven’t had the pleasure to spend enough time with you to hate you. Yet,” I said.

We laughed again.

“Why do you hate me? I don’t know you, do I?” I asked.

He said, “I read you a lot.”

I responded, “Can I give you some advice?” “Sure.” “Don’t read my columns!”

“But I like hating you. It gives me something to look forward to,” he said. We laughed again.

“Hmm. Yes, I often feel the same way about Maureen Dowd of the New York Times, although she occasionally surprises me,” I said.

“You never surprise me,” he said. “Except today. You’re fun to talk to.”

I said, “Wait a few minutes, and if you’re lucky I might tick you off!”

He really was an entertaining man, as I am still talking about him.

Fast forward to last week: I received an email from a reader named Tim W. regarding my previous column about “Snortland’s laws.” The message read: “I often read your drivel in the Pasadena Weekly. It’s amazing how practically every word you write is 180 degrees from the truth. Exactly opposite. You’d think laws of averages would allow an accidental occasional truth.”

The man I credit with my columnist career, the late, great Jim Bellows, gave me sage advice about anti-fan mail. He said to simply write back to the naysayer with: Dear Tim W., You might be right. Thanks for taking the time to write.

Sincerely, Ellen I’ve always loved that advice, except I have to add a postscript.

P.S. Don’t read my columns.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriam Santos Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb know, or weigh in on something you feel FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Larisis important to the community.

Hey you! Speak up!

Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Los Angeles Downtown News PO Box 1349 South Pasadena, CA 91031 213-481-1448

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©2021 Times Media Group. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Times Media Group. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed bi-weekly throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles Downtown News has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in Court Judgement No. C362899. One copy per person.

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Covered California will help OPINION THE PERILS OF BEING AN OPINION COLUMNIST, 3 I had to look up “drivel,” as it’s not a word I often use, even if I occasionally employ it. I don’t claim to be 100% drivel free, after all. What a great word! It’s useful and underused. “Drivel” can mean everything from unintelligible babbling to dog saliva.

This is also definitely not the first cranky email I’ve gotten regarding my column.

I have often wondered why people who don’t like something have so much time to express their discontent? What about the people who enjoy reading my column? I rarely, if ever, hear from them — at least in print. I am guessing that Tim is a white male Republican. If so, I can see that he might be offended by some of my opinions and open mockery. And one way he can “get me” is to label my words as dog spit. I am such an avid dog lover that being called dog drool is empowering to me.

What was it about my last column that got Tim’s goat? If he often reads me and “Snortland’s laws” was the last straw — “That’s it! I’ve got to write to that driveler and let her know exactly how I feel!” — what was it? It requires effort to write a journalist.

Everyone is familiar with that harridan Murphy’s laws, you know. “Everything takes longer than you think; if anything can go wrong, it will, blah blah, blah…” But Snortland’s laws are less well known. I reviewed them, and I think I found what set Tim off.

The “They Who Smelt It, Dealt It” Rule — When Republicans attack anyone left of center, it’s often because they are doing the exact thing they accuse the centrists and liberals of doing. Drumpf is a classic example of the “They Who Smelt It, Dealt It” Rule. The most obvious is blaming Democrats for cheating on the election.

Dear Tim W., Your email of Sept. 25 was serious as hemorrhoids (serious as a heart attack is so old school). If you don’t mind taking some unsolicited advice, try to have more fun.

Don’t read my columns unless you really enjoy being annoyed, in which case, read away! It seems like you might have written your own drivel and needed to express it!

Sincerely, Ellen I have no laws yet on emails from detractors, but I’m getting closer!

The LAGRANT Foundation (TLF) is hiring!

Ellen Snortland has been entertaining and annoying readers for decades now. Email her at ellen@authorbitebybite.com.

Note: This coming Monday is National Indigenous People’s Day, formerly known as Columbus Day. Please show your form of gratitude to the people whose land we stole. In the San Gabriel Valley, that’d be the Tongva.

TLF is looking to fill the following roles at its Downtown L.A. office: • Programs & Outreach Associate • Senior Programs & Outreach Associate • Programs & Outreach Manager $1,500 - $2,500 Sign On Bonus!

For more information and to apply, please contact: Mr. Kim L. Hunter, Chairman & CEO Email: kimhunter@lagrant.com Phone: 323-469-8680 Ext. 225 Our Mission: The LAGRANT Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to increase the number of ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations by providing scholarships, career & professional development workshops, mentors and internships to African American/Black, Alaska Native/Native American, Asian American/ Pacific Islander and Hispanic/Latino undergraduate and graduate students.

Our goal is to open the proverbial “door” for minorities by providing the necessary resources and tools not commonly available to many minorities entering the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations.

Learn more about The LAGRANT Foundation at www.lagrantfoundation.org

Corrections In a Sept. 27 story headlined Resilience, recovery and renewal in DTLA, a photo captioned Little Tokyo should have been labeled Chinatown with Billy Bennight II as the photographer. Also, Grant Park should have been Grand Park.

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A $1 billion multiuse project debuting in 2022 seeks to revitalize Downtown LA’s cultural and civic core with a public plaza, a luxury hotel and a residential tower.

Rendering courtesy of Related Companies

Development seeks to revitalize arts corridor

By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer $1 billion mixed-use development project, featuring a plaza, commercial stores, a hotel and apartment building, is anticipated to revitalize Downtown LA’s civic and cultural core that will serve as a centerpiece for Grand Avenue.

The 1.5 million-square-foot project is known as The Grand LA and will be located at the epicenter of the Grand Avenue arts corridor between First and Second streets. The development is expected to be completed in 2022 and sits directly across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, making it within walking distance from eight Downtown LA cultural landmarks, like The Broad, Museum of Contemporary Art and The Music Center.

Rick Vogel, senior vice president for private New York real estate company and developer Related Companies, is overseeing the project. He said the addition of The Grand LA will give people a reason to visit Downtown Los Angeles.

“What The Grand LA is doing is creating a 24/7 neighborhood that gives something to do for everybody. … Hopefully it will be in the top two of three destinations for visitors when they visit Los Angeles,” he said.

The large destination is comprised of two towers. One is The Grand’s 45-story residential tower that will have 436 luxury units, 20% of which will be affordable rate units. The second tower will be Hilton’s Conrad Los Angeles hotel and will stand 28 stories tall with 305 rooms, flaunting a spa and a 16,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with a pool deck.

A large plaza will be available to the public and is Vogel’s favorite part of the whole Grand LA project. Vogel hopes that the plaza will mesh with the Downtown LA community.

“It will provide the community with a venue where they can enjoy public programming throughout the year and really feel like they are a part of this project. We didn’t want this to be a project that is exclusive or limiting to who can access it,” Vogel said.

The plaza will host outdoor art installations and music, coupled with a retail space, that will cover a wide variety of price points, providing a collection of restaurants, shopping and entertainment experiences to all visitors.

“It’s a 35,000-square-foot public plaza right in the center of the project, which really makes the project feel accessible to Angelenos and visitors. The energy it creates on the ground is im-

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portant. We want people to enjoy coming here,” he said.

The Grand LA will fit in nicely among the other art-centric and design-friendly landmarks surrounding the area. Vogel, commenting on the design of The Grand LA, said that everything is intentional, from choosing the luxury hotel and the project’s designer.

“Conrad hotels really knows luxury and how to curate a wonderful and personalized guest experience, whether you’re traveling for business or leisure.

“The combination of bold design, a focus on arts and culture, an incredible global network and that they really know luxury is what attracted (Related Companies) to Conrad hotels,” he said.

Though Vogel is overseeing the project. Frank Gehry, an architect of the Walt Disney Concert Hall fame, will design The Grand LA. Vogel said that Gehry is key to the project.

“Frank is a huge promoter of Downtown LA and particularly the Grand Avenue arts corridor,” Vogel said. “He’s very much involved in other resident companies, like the LA Philharmonic, and he is a big believer in creating a cultural landmark and destination for Los Angeles.”

An LA resident, Gehry was a natural choices because of his architectural and design background and his fondness for the area, Vogel said.

The Grand LA is a part of a larger master development, called The Grand Avenue project, which was initiated in 2004. Through a collaborative effort from Related Companies and the city and county of Los Angeles, The Grand hopes to benefit the community and seeks to generate 10,000 new jobs, affordable housing, $397 million in revenue for the city, and $60 million in revenue for LA over the next 25 years.

Vogel said that projects like The Grand LA only come to fruition with great partnerships, referring to the city and county, Conrad hotels and resorts, and Gehry.

“Great projects are the product of great teams. I think it’s going to very exciting for everyone to see the results of work that’s taken almost 20 years. I think everyone will be proud of what we’ve done.” he said.

“Downtown LA has gone through unprecedented growth over the last two decades. Just like in other cities, we see the area evolve, and in this case, we see a renaissance. … This is the centerpiece that we’re working on now, and it really represents a transformative project for Downtown Los Angeles.”

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YCSLA organizers celebrate the end of an afternoon full of speeches from climate justice advocates in City Hall Park.

Photo by Steven Chun

Climate demonstration brings together youth, climate activists

By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer oung protestors and environmental activists gathered en masse for a 24-hour climate strike to advocate for the climate and demand, on a local and national level, a divestment from fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

Youth Climate Strike LA (YCSLA), a group of young organizers in high school and college, organized and led the demonstration that ran from 10 a.m. Sept. 24 in Pershing Square and ended at 10 a.m. Sept. 25 in City Hall Park on North Main Street.

Other LA County climate justice organizations and groups, like Sunrise Movement LA (SMLA) and International Indigenous Youth Council LA (IIYCLA), joined the strike and showed their support through attendance, social media posts and speeches throughout the 24-hour period.

Jesus Villalaba Gastelum, one of the first members of YCSLA, said the group started in 2019 after a young, Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, gave a call to action to youth worldwide for protests demanding more action from governments on climate change.

Villalaba Gastelum said that since 2019, YCSLA’s approach to climate justice has grown from bringing awareness to climate change in a “polite, yet firm,” way to a more “people-focused” way.

“It’s become more about addressing the intersection of climate change on different issues,” he said. “Climate change is affecting a majority of Black and brown countries (and communities).

This is what we’re trying to focus on.”

The initial goal of YCSLA, Villalaba Gastelum said, was to “think global and act local,” and the direction the group has grown since 2019 is positive. “We’ve taken a primarily Eurocentric global climate strike and shifted it to focus on Indigenous people who were already doing this work (in LA),” he said.

Original members of YCSLA began to step away for various reasons, according to Villalaba Gastelum, who took time away for health issues. Other LA County youth began to fill in administrative organizer roles.

Chandini Brennan Agarwal, communications and outreach lead with YCSLA, “bloomed” and slowly became comfortable role filling a leadership role, after she began to organize with the group, according to Villalaba Gastelum.

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“This strike is really about showing the power that we hold as a movement and a community,” Brennan Agarwal said about the 24-hour demonstration, which she emphasized was a “coalition event.”“We’re here as an organization of youth.

“We’re fighting for freedom for fossil fuels, and everyone here is fighting for the cause,” Brennan Agarwal said. YCSLA, organizations and activists in attendance are about spreading awareness and taking action for “intersectional climate activism. We’re showing up for Black Lives Matter and International Indigenous Youth Council LA; we’re about fighting for environmental justice,” she said.

YCSLA is focused on highlighting “environmental racism,” which, Brennan Agarwal says, includes oil drilling and how people of color are affected by it. A recent motion from the LA County Board of Supervisors, as well as other studies on the subject, substantiates claims made by Brennan Agarwal and other LA climate activists about people of color and their communities being disproportionately affected by oil and gas development.

The mid-September motion, presented by Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Sheila Kuehl, stated, “Tens of thousands of county residents live in close proximity to an oil well, and nearly 73% of those residents are people of color.”

Moreover, the motion cites a scientific journal, Environmental Research, which published a study in June saying that residents of these communities, who live near active and inactive oil drilling sites, experience “a significant decrease in lung and pulmonary function.”

Demands for the YCSLA demonstration furthered the message of divesting from fossil fuels and advocating for people of color from disproportionately affected neighborhoods and the future of the nation.

A YCSLA document titled “24 hour Details, Demands, Action Items” urgently calls on Gov. Gavin Newsom to “stop approving oil and gas permits and drop existing oil and gas production” and implement a 2,500-foot buffer zone between communities and oil drilling sites.

The document demands a federal $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill passes, which has yet to be finalized by Congress. The bill will outline government spending for the next 10 years and covers a variety of social programs and combats climate change as a part of the Green New Deal and President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda.

Though congressional legislators debate and disagree on the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill, its phrasing, its large cost and implementation, Villalba Gastelum said the United States does not worry about how much money it spends on wars. Instead, it is concerned about funding for its residents, its future and the infrastructure.

Josiah Edwards, spokesperson for Sunrise Movement LA and emcee for the speeches during the demonstration, said he hopes attendees and those who hear about the 24-hour demonstration take away that “young people are here, and we’re here to stay.”

Edwards firmly explained the 24-hour strike as an action among many others for climate justice and as a rebirth of the youth climate movement in Los Angeles, the United States and worldwide.

“We’re not going to give up our futures to undemocratic politicians who do not listen to their constituents or fossil fuel corporations who continue to put us at risk, especially Black, brown and Indigenous folks on the front lines of the climate crisis. Our futures matter,” he said.

Edwards said Sunrise Movement LA will launch a local campaign, Environmental Justice for Los Angeles, that will tackle environmental issues centered around the communities of Watts and Vista Hermosa, which are experiencing “environmental racism” and gentrification.

The 24-hour program for the demonstration primarily consisted of speeches; relevant climate education and lectures; arts and crafts; and a DJ appearance from celebrities Lil Dicky, Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat. Councilmember Mike Bonin also made an appearance and gave a speech after a passionate and warm welcome by Edwards.

Bonin started by giving his thanks to all participants of the demonstration for their action and message regarding climate change. “I wanted to stand here tonight, which was and is sacred tribal land, to say thank you to those of you doing the sacred work to save this planet for your generation and generations to come after,” he said.

Kenneth Mejia, candidate for the LA city controller for 2022, followed Bonin’s speech with his own. Mejia’s campaign for election in 2022 focuses on transparency of Los Angeles’ finances and advocacy for working-class peoples in LA. “How amazing would it be for a progressive to hold the powerful accountable,” Mejia said about the possibility of getting elected.

“What we’re trying to do,” Mejia said about running for LA city controller, “is put the city’s finances on blast for all of you to see because, although we’re not the policymakers, we can put this information out there so that (activists and organizations) can lobby their councilmembers and the mayor so they can enact that change.”

The demonstration, focused primarily on climate policy action for future generations of Angelenos and youth worldwide, brought gatherers together, around 8 p.m., to observe a chalkdrawn globe, outlined with lit candles for a community vigil.

As people gathered around the drawing, Edwards said, “This is our opportunity to recognize the pain and suffering inflicted upon each other as a global community. As a community of human beings, bonded with one another in our pain, suffering, love, joy and anger. What we’re going to do is take this moment to experience that together.”

The crowd and the speaker fell silent, and as a collective, those attending hovered, gazing at a bright, candle-lit drawing of the globe together.

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DA Gascón to dismiss nearly 60,000 cannabis convictions

By LA Downtown News Staff os Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, along with the Social Impact Center, said he will dismiss nearly 60,000 cannabis convictions as part of his ongoing efforts to reverse the injustices of drug laws.

“Dismissing these convictions means the possibility of a better future to thousands of disenfranchised people who are receiving this long-needed relief,” Gascón said. “It clears the path for them to find jobs, housing and other services that previously were denied to them because of unjust cannabis laws.”

During the announcement, Gascón was joined by Felicia Carbajal, executive director and community leader of the Social Impact Center, a nonprofit organization that serves as a bridge between government, grassroots organizations, and people in underserved communities; Lynne Lyman, former director of the Drug Policy Alliance; Public Defender Ricardo García and Alternate Public Defender Erika Anzoategui.

“I have made it my life mission to help and support people who have been impacted by the ‘war on drugs,’” Carbajal said. “Giving people with cannabis convictions a new lease on life by expunging the records is something I have worked on for years, and I am grateful that we can now make it happen.”

Lyman added, “This is the unfinished work of Proposition 64. We created the opportunity for old cannabis convictions to be cleared, but it was up to local district attorneys to actually make it happen. Proposition 64 was always about more than legal weed; it was an intentional effort to repair the past harms of the war on drugs and cannabis prohibition, which disproportionately targeted people of color. I applaud District Attorney Gascón for taking this action to help nearly 60,000 Angelenos have their records fully sealed.”

Garcia said this is “another important step toward justice reform.”

“Today’s mass dismissal of cannabis convictions restores dignity and provides new opportunities to those who have been unfairly impacted by outdated, tough-on-crime antidrug laws. Many are our most vulnerable community members who deserve our care and support.”

Anzoategui explained the dismissal is a pivotal step in reforming the criminal justice system.

“This sends the right signal to the community that the nation was wrong in its ‘war on marijuana’ and that criminal convictions for marijuana offenses have a disproportionately negative impact on communities of color,” she said.

“We join DA Gascón in removing roadblocks to employment, housing and education through the dismissal and sealing of these convictions.”

As the co-author of Proposition 64, the 2016 measure that made cannabis legal in California, Gascón has been at the forefront in eliminating prior cannabis convictions.

In Los Angeles County, roughly 66,000 cannabis convictions were dismissed last year after Assembly Bill 1793 was passed that tasked prosecutors in California with affirmatively reviewing the convictions.

However, the review only covered cases from state Department of Justice data. Further examination of Los Angeles County court records uncovered approximately 58,000 felony and misdemeanor cases dating back more than three decades that are eligible for dismissal.

Nearly 125,000 cannabis cases are being dismissed in Los Angeles County. The latest batch of cases eligible for dismissal could come as a surprise to people who either thought their convictions were already dismissed last year or were not aware they are eligible for resentencing.

Although no law required prosecutors to take further action on the cannabis convictions, Gascón wanted to ensure by sealing their records it would no longer hamper the ability of those convicted from obtaining employment, affecting their immigration status or receiving educational opportunities.

The announcement came as part of the Week of Action and Awareness (WOAA), formerly known as National Expungement Week, which is Sept. 26 to Oct. 3.

Organized by National Expungement Works (N.E.W.), a permanent assistance network for more than 70 million justice-impacted individuals and their communities nationwide, the week will focus on helping Californians get their criminal records expunged as well as other socioeconomic barriers restricting fundamental human rights for people with an arrest or conviction on their record through social and wraparound services centered around community needs, such as grocery distributions, brake light repair, employment resources, voter registration and health screenings.

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Entrepreneur Mikaila Ulmer, 17, is the keynote speaker for this year’s “I Matter: Girls Empowerment Conference.” She launched an apparel company at 9 and has appeared on “Shark Tank.”

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a Advertising is Keep Great Way to rs Your Custome Informed The Los Angeles Downtown News publishes a wide array of special sections and quarterlies throughout the year on topics like Health, Education, Nightlife and Residential Living.

C A L L TO D AY C AT H E R I N E : 2 1 3 . 3 0 8 . 2 2 6 1 MICHAEL: 213.453.3548

By LA Downtown News Staff eeking to inspire young girls to pursue their dreams and educate them on becoming successful and powerful women in a global society, Los Angeles County Parks will host the seventh annual “I Matter: Girls Empowerment Conference” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at three LA County areas.

Themed “Girls with Dreams Become Women with Vision,” this year’s conference will provide attendees the opportunity to meet and hear from powerful women innovators, educators and trailblazers; attend educational and fun-filled breakout sessions; connect with their peers; receive SWAG bags; and show off their dance moves during a DJ-powered lunchtime dance party. The free event is open to young women ages 12 to 18.

This year’s keynote speaker is Mikaila Ulmer, the 17-year-old entrepreneur who launched her own company, Me & the Bees Lemonade, at age 9, then staged a successful appearance on the reality TV series “Shark Tank” in 2015.

Conference breakout sessions will focus on empowering girls to use their voice for change and build upon their individual vision for success. Workshops include “Women in Tech,” which will teach girls how they can help to close the gender gap in the technology industry, and “Delete the Divide,” which will provide girls with training, technical certifications, scholarships and employment opportunities.

Career exploration, pathways to college and career, and sports and dance workshops are also scheduled.

“We are honored to host the ‘I Matter: Girls Empowerment Conference,’ which will encourage young women to use their voice to live a life full of endless possibilities,” LA County Parks Director Norma Edith Garcia-González said. “It is extremely important to empower today’s young women so that we may have a future where all people have room to succeed, regardless of their gender.”

“I Matter: Girls Empowerment Conference” is free, but registration is limited. Enrollment is open at all three conference locations: Earvin Magic Johnson Park, 905 El Segundo Boulevard, Los Angeles; Loma Alta Park, 3330 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena; and Hacienda Heights Community Center, 1234 Valencia Avenue, Hacienda Heights.

Because of COVID-19 protocols, all participants must be masked while indoors and physical distancing will be mandated. Parents do not attend the conference, as this is an event solely for girls ages 12 to 18.

For more information, including transportation options, visit the 2021 Girls Empowerment Conference website at https://parks.lacounty.gov/gec2021.

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Covered SPORTS California will

retire after 2022 season

By LA Downtown News Staff odger Hall of Fame broadcaster Jaime Jarrín will retire following the 2022 season, his 64th with the organization.

The 1998 inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame has been calling Dodger games since 1959 and was inducted into the Dodgers’ Ring of Honor in 2018, joining other franchise icons in having his name permanently affixed to Dodger Stadium.

“I’m grateful to the Dodgers — the best organization in baseball — for giving me the opportunity to do what I love most for 64 years,” Jarrín said.

“As much as I’ll miss my ‘baseball family’ at Dodger Stadium and across the country, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my sons, Jorge and Mauricio, and my grandchildren and nurturing my love of travel.”

Jarrín, who will turn 86 in December, has called three perfect games (Sandy Koufax in 1965,

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Tom Browning in 1988 and Dennis Martinez in 1991) and 22 no-hitter, 30 World Series and 30 AllStar games during his career.

In 1998, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award and became only the second Spanish-language announcer to achieve that honor, joining Buck Canel. In the 2005 book “Voices of Summer,” Jarrín was named as baseball’s all-time best Spanish-language broadcaster.

“It’s impossible to put into words what Jaime has meant to the Dodger organization,” Dodger President and Chief Executive Officer Stan Kasten said.

“For over six decades, he’s brought us signature calls of baseball’s biggest moments while serving the Dodgers and Los Angeles with grace, integrity and class. Jaime was integral in introducing the Dodgers to Los Angeles and in giving a voice to the franchise’s Latino stars. We’re going to cherish this last year with him on the broadcast and wish him the best in retirement.”

Jarrín received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 1998 and is a member of the California Broadcasters’ Association Halls of Fame and the Southern California Sports Broadcasters’ Association, which awarded him the organization’s Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

His other major honors include La Gran Cruz al Merito en El Grado de Comendador, received in Ecuador in January 1992; being honored by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) Foundation with an AFTRA Media and Entertainment Excellence Award in 2011; and earning Hall of Fame recognition by the Associated Press Television-Radio Association (APTRA) in 2011.

On New Year’s Day in 2020, Jarrín was featured in the Rose Parade as an honored guest of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, embodying the theme of “The Power of Hope.”

Plans to honor Jarrín during the 2022 season will be announced at a later date.

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Covered ARTS & CULTURE California will

Clufetos’ legacy springs the Dead Daisies to life

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor ead Daisies drummer Tommy Clufetos admitted he felt a bit at home during the quarantine. The self-described hermit enjoyed the time with his wife and daughter.

“I live my life as a pandemic,” he said with a laugh. “It’s sad to say. I’m kind of a homebody. When I get home from tour, the last thing I want to do is go to a concert. I like to be at home with my family.

“As horrible as it was, there was a silver lining. My daughter just turned 4, and it’s been invaluable to have time with her. I look at that as a positive. I know years from now, I’ll say, ‘Thank God I had that time with her.’”

He contended that he did “go crazy at the same time,” but in the back of his mind, he thought, “‘There’s a reason it’s happening to me at the moment.’ That’s how I tried to look at it.”

Clufetos has returned to the road with the Dead Daisies on the “Like No Other” tour with guitarists Doug Aldrich and David Lowy and the “voice of rock” Glenn Hughes.

Supporting the album “Holy Ground,” the tour — which hits Hollywood’s The Vermont on Saturday, Oct. 9 — is the Dead Daisies’ first U.S. jaunt since 2018. Supporting the Dead Daisies is Orianthi.

Recently, the band launched its radio program “Live from Daisyland,” which is featured on DASH Radio’s Monsters of Rock channel. The global quarantine also saw the launch of its mobile video game Daisy’s Revenge, which continues the story of anti-heroine Daisy, who was previously featured in the band’s “Bustle and Flow’” and “Like No Other” videos.

Clufetos took the pandemic break a step further and founded Tommy’s RockTrip with singer Eric Dover, Eliot Lorengo, Hank Schneekluth and Nao Nakashima.

“I did my own record during this pandemic, which I never set out to do,” he said with a laugh.

“That was an odd thing. I never had a moment to ever write any of my own songs or record any of my own songs. This whole pandemic shutdown happened, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I only played drums on other people’s music. I just practice my drums until whatever gig is next.”

Music is in his blood. The Rochester, Michigan, native began drumming at age 6, when he received his first pair of sticks. He balanced school and playing the drums in his dad’s band throughout his formative years, often attending class on only a few hours of sleep.

In his early 30s, he sat behind the kit for legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne and toured the world.

Living in LA, Clufetos got his break from a fellow Detroiter, the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent, after meeting him through Bob Seger sax player Alto Reed.

“I got asked by Alto Reed to play on a movie soundtrack, and Ted was playing guitar,” said Clufe-

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The Dead Daisies’ tour hits Hollywood’s The Vermont on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Submitted photo

tos, who previously played for Mitch Ryder. “Previously to that, I had been working my (butt) off for 10, 15 years playing drums. All that hard work will lead up to a little window where you get an opportunity to move on to the next level.”

Clufetos’ resume also includes stints with Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, alongside fellow Detroiter John 5. He left Zombie’s band for Osbourne in 2009, replacing Mike Bordin, who reunited with his former act Faith No More.

“It was just a dream come true to play with Ozzy,” he said. “The guys in the bands are such great musicians; (bassist) Blasko, (keyboardist/rhythm guitarist) Adam Wakeman and (lead guitarist) Gus G. are true gentlemen on stage, off stage, and true professionals. I was just honored to play with them.”

Clufetos said he’s proud of his career, but there’s something — someone — else who really makes him happy.

“I’m proud of my family,” he said. “I’m just proud I can take care of them through music. I’m very blessed and fortunate to get to make a living playing music.

“When I was 10, it was my dream to become a professional musician. I’m doing this how many years later? That’s a great thing.”

The Dead Daisies w/Orianthi WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 WHERE: The Vermont, 1020 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $33.25 INFO: vermonthollywood.com

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TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Covered California will help FEATURE

Hits and Misses: Check out these new albums

By Rohit Lakshman LA Downtown News Staff Writer DRAKE, “Certified Lover Boy”: ½ Alright, here we go. After three years of mixtapes and compilation records, Drake has dropped “Certified Lover Boy,” which immediately generated internet buzz due to its album cover. On this LP, Drake treats listeners to a long, bitter and lackluster set of 20 tracks, with only a few bright spots. “Champagne Poetry” and “Papi’s Home” leads to a false sense of optimism. “Girls Want Girls” has, arguably, the worst chorus of any Drake song out there. It is not even worth my time to unpack the deeply problematic and fetishistic mindset that must have produced this lyric. Production-wise, Drake has gifted us with one new idea, that being cranking up the woozy meter to 11. Yes, Drake has succeeded in turning the once catchy bangers that were his brand into moody mumblefests. “Certified Lover Boy” is basically a Drake cut and paste. In short, aside from a few decent instrumentals and a brief flash of self-awareness in the first 10 minutes of the record, “Certified Lover Boy” is as awful to listen to as its album cover is to look at.

BABY KEEM, “Melodic Blue” (pgLang): HHH After two mixtapes and a sleeper hit, Hykeem Jamal Carter Jr., aka Baby Keem, finally signed to pgLang, the new record label and production company created by former Top Dawg Entertainment Co-President David Free. Oh right, and Kendrick Lamar, who is Carter’s cousin, is also co-owner of pgLang. Baby Keem isn’t as lyrically or thematically creative as Lamar, but his mixtapes from 2018-19 were solidly stacked with short but sweet bangers. “Melodic Blue” changes up the pace significantly. Firstly, Carter’s tracks on this record are far longer, most being upward of 3 minutes, many with beat switchups. As well as that, “Melodic Blue” sees a totally different Baby Keem. Except for tracks like “Booman,” Baby Keem is far more introspective, looking back on his history on songs like “Trademark USA” and the absolutely killer “family ties,” a track featuring his older cousin. Let me just say that across this record, Keem is dropping the hints of a great album.

There are some snoozers, especially at the back half of the record, but the ideas that stick are definite winners. “Melodic Blue” isn’t impressive on its own, but it’s exciting to see what Baby Keem put out next. And of course, it’s always a welcome surprise to see Kendrick on a record.

NESSA BARRETT, “pretty poison” (Warner Records): HH½ For those not acquainted, Nessa Barrett is a popular social media influencer. On TikTok, Barrett has presented a totally different side of herself. Here, in the world of Barrett’s music, she is no longer a bouncy, pleasant girl who learns the latest dances and smiles for the camera. Nay, in the world of “pretty poison,” Barrett is

willing to go totally, unashamedly, mask off! So, what is pretty poison? Unsurprisingly, it’s a fairly decent pop EP. Barret has clearly been listening to Olivia Rodrigo, as her lyrics echo the angst of “Sour,” but her production is… well, it also sort of echoes the same musical ideas. However, this is not Barrett’s problem, but simply a trademark of this kind of pop music. Within the bounds of the genre, Barrett has proven herself a competent voice, with hooky choruses and faux-eerie production that add to the vengeful girlfriend aesthetic. “pretty poison” isn’t a great debut, but it’s just good enough to be middling.

LIL HUDDY, “Teenage Heartbreak” (Interscope Records): HH Chase Hudson, aka Lil Huddy, is a successful social media influencer, most famously dating more successful social media influencer Charli D’Amelio and being a part of the TikTok supergroup known as The Hype House. After signing to Interscope Records, Hudson transformed. He is no longer the slightly edgy cute face from TikTok; he’s a pop punk icon. With all that in mind, “Teenage Heartbreak” is here, and it’s a short collection of fairly middling pop punk. The production is a little too clean, but overall, it fits the melodramatic lyricism and Hudson’s whole “sad boy” aesthetic. Hudson’s vocals vary from nasal and obnoxious to classic pop punk. In short, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Songs like “21st Century Vampire” stand out for their lyricism, while “Don’t Freak Out,” which features a whole menagerie of artists, stands out for its lyricism in all the wrong ways.

“Teenage Heartbreak” isn’t nearly the best the genre has to offer, but Huddy certainly isn’t incompetent on this record.

LIL NAS X, “MONTERO” (Columbia Records): HHHH At this point, anyone who’s accessed the internet knows who Montero Hill, aka Lil Nas X, is. This year has been fantastic year for Hill, who released the universally controversial and bold declaration of self “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” then outdid himself again just a few months later with “Industry Baby” and its equally awesome (and explicit) music video. Lil Nas X was building an incredible hype train for “Montero,” so now that it’s here, has it lived up to the hype? Short answer: yes. The earworms that were “Industry Baby” and “Montero” were only a preview for a tracklist fully stacked with the catchiest pop and hip-hop tracks this year. One song after another, Lil Nas X begins with an initial musical idea that sticks with listeners for hours and then builds the track around that. Furthermore, the experimentation on this record is truly admirable. Lil Nas X plays with rock, hip-hop, pop and ties all these disparate musical ideas together with themes of queer love and being an outsider in the music industry. As with his music videos, “Montero” is 100% original, 100% innovative and 100% Lil Nas X. If this is his debut, I can’t wait for what comes next.

OCTOBER 4, 2021

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

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Covered ARTS & California CULTUREwill help

Yamamoto shares the core of emotion in monochrome

By Nicole Borgenicht LA Downtown News Staff Writer nternational artist Mayuka Yamamoto channels her love of children and childhood with playful tenderness utilizing highly skillful techniques.

A leading contemporary artist in Japan, Yamamoto has been represented by the Corey Helford Gallery since its curator saw her show in Tokyo.

Yamamoto earned her master’s from Musashino Art University and studied in London through the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists. Her oil paintings capture guests’ emotional core of innocence and a desire for protection, represented by children secured in an animal suit.

Their wistful or cheerful eyes are created with color and fine line symmetry across the canvas. Maintaining a finite color scheme yet varying strokes for textures engenders dimension artistically and an emotional yearning in the art of Yamamoto.

The new show at Corey Helford Gallery, titled “Monochrome, Apples and Animals,” explore Yamamoto’s expressive children’s themes with shades in originally developed colors that produce the sense of volume in multifarious textures.

“For the first time in this solo exhibition, I painted monochrome work,” Yamamoto said. “I wanted to make the painting reminiscent of a scene from an old movie or a nostalgic feeling that I had experienced before. Full color paintings are painted in a way that feels more flat visually, while monochrome paintings capture the subtlety of light.”

On a personal level, the story of painting children began once Yamamoto had a child.

“Before painting my current portraits, I use to draw paintings reminiscent of my mother, under the series titled ‘Mother.’ My work has changed since I had a child.

“I think the main reason why I started drawing pictures of children is that I remembered my childhood through my child care experience. I think it reminds me of my feelings at that time, such as being scared and wanting to be protected by something warm and fluffy. After or while making those paintings, I feel that the memory from that time comes back to me through the paintings.”

Symbols behind paintings do not always happen at the beginning of an artistic process. For example, the metaphor in Yamamoto’s painting “Apple,” of a child holding a big red apple, came while painting; only then did she realize it represented the Japanese flag.

And while painting a child holding a green apple, she discovered the apple symbolized earth.

“My work has a lot of personal feelings, and for me, I have always thought that art is not about talking about big things but about expressing ‘something’ that derives

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“Bear Boy” Submitted photo

“Sitting Pink Bear Boy” Submitted photo

from small personal things,” Yamamoto said.

“However, I think that in the current COVID pandemic, I’ve listened to horrific news on a daily basis, and these pictures express my desire to be protected.”

The universality of Yamamoto’s art was seen in 2018 at the artist’s solo show in Tokyo by co-curator Caro Buermann from LA’s Carol Helford Gallery.

“I was amazed to witness how Mayuka uses layers of soft tonal colors to create the ‘dreaminess’ of her portraits,” Buermann said. “Her portraits pull at your heart strings. It was undeniable that she is incredibly gifted, and we wanted to curate an exhibition for her, and her first exhibition with us was in 2019. We’ve been representing her since.”

The Corey Helford Gallery frequently favors styles of contemporary fantasy art. Its gallery director Sherri J. Trahan shares, the gallery genres are street art, pop surrealism and new figurative.

The gallery represents international artists, but its focus is not country or theme.

“For us, one of the most interesting qualities to an artist’s work is whether or not they have a unique voice,” Trahan said.

“Monochrome, Apples and Animals”

by Mayuka Yamamoto WHEN: Various times through Saturday, Oct. 30 WHERE: Corey Helford Gallery, 571 S. Anderson Street, Los Angeles COST: Free admission INFO: coreyhelfordgallery.com

“Little King Owl” Submitted photo

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TRAX

OCTOBER 4, 2021

By Bliss Bowen LA Downtown News Contributing Writer

www.Downtownnews.com

ESPERANZA SPALDING, “Songwrights Apothecary Lab” (Concord): HHHH What do you need a song for? That question powers the Grammy-winning jazz composer, bassist and vocalist’s new album, a curious exploration of creativity and well-being that plays in the shadow of Coltrane and Monk. Inviting ethnomusicologists, neuroscientists and trusted musicians (Ganavya Doraiswamy, Corey King, Wayne Shorter, Raphael Saadiq) to participate in her titular lab’s experiments with sound and form, Spalding’s on singular turf (though “Formwelas” 3 and 6 approach the pop-conscious, progressive jazz of 2016’s “Emily’s D+Evolution”). Continually shifting time signatures and styles, from ethereal vocalizing and sweet acoustic folk balladeering to the theatrical, each track has a therapeutic intent. Whether they succeed depends on listeners’ willingness to discard preconceptions. Music as healer is not a new concept, but Spalding’s ambitious approach is. songwrightsapothecarylab.com

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CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700-21716 of the Business & Professions Code, Section 2328 of the UCC, Section 535 of the Penal Code and provisions of the Civil Code.

The undersigned will sell on the 12th day of October 2021 at 11: 00 A.M. on the premises where said property has been stored and which are located at Thriftee Storage Company LLC, 1717 N. Glendale Blvd. in the city of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the following: Name of owner: Space number Description of goods Amount Roxanne Putma H1 Personal effects $596.00 Orson Newstat U6 Personal effects $278.00 Marella Duree H7 Personal effects $260.00 Nathan David Ross L16 Personal effects $619.67 Timothy Middlebrook E26,E27 Personal effects $1314.00 Zane O’brien B20 Personal effects $285.25 Aaron Ray U47,C20 Personal effects $913.00 Jeremy Hollis U25 Personal effects $556.00 Ashley Adams H15 Personal effects $316.00 Adam Tamberg A29 Personal effects $454.00 Stephanie Hunter D27 Personal effects $1216.15 Derek Callahan T7 Personal effects $1437.00 Purchases must be paid for at the time of purchase in cash only. All purchased storage units with the items contained herein are sold on an “as-is” basis and must be removed at the time of sale. Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between Thriftee Storage Co. and obligated party.

Thriftee Storage Company LLC Dated at Los Angeles, CA by Felipe F. Islas / Manager September 29, 2021.

PUBLISHED: Los Angeles Downtown News 10/4/21, 10/11/21

VELVET STARLINGS, “Technicolour Shakedown” (Soundx3/AWAL/Orchard): HHH½ Headed by 18-year-old guitarist/organist Christian Gisborne, this LA-based quartet’s self-described “beach-fuzz-psych” evokes ’60s legends (the Doors, the Kinks, the Animals) while managing to sound organic. The 10-track set, reportedly composed and produced by Gisborne at home after the pandemic kiboshed touring plans, is most infectious when celebrating the joys of live music in sweaty nightclubs amid growling fuzz-toned guitars, reverbed vocals and a slamming rhythm section. Highlights: “Back of the Train,” “There’s Nobody There,” “She Said (she said).” Not as hot as being there, but for now it’ll do. velvetstarlings.com STRAND OF OAKS, “In Heaven” (Galacticana/Thirty Tigers): HHHH Balancing grief and gratitude has been a necessary skill during the pandemic, one embodied by Timothy Showalter throughout his eighth studio album as Strand of Oaks, recorded last October in Silver Lake. The cathartic, big-hearted set’s studded with melodic hooks, hopeful messages and intense solos by Showalter, guest guitarists Carl Broemel and James Iha, and My Morning Jacket keyboardist Bo Koster, yet it’s gentler than 2019’s bracing “Eraserland.” “Jimi and Stan” imagines Showalter’s cat with Jimi Hendrix “in heaven/ making friends, going to shows”; bombastic production undercuts but doesn’t sour its sweetness. Highlights: a synth-heavy call for human connection, “Slipstream”; the spacey “Hurry”; John Prine tribute “Somewhere in Chicago”; “Galacticana” (“I don’t mean to drag you down/ Laughing as a self-defense, crying at my own expense together”). strandofoaks.net DAR WILLIAMS, “I’ll Meet You Here” (Renew/BMG): HHH The folk-pop singer-songwriter’s first album since 2015’s “Emerald” finds her topicality and clear-eyed insights into human nature undimmed, as she sketches immigrant and old-timer fears in “Little Town,” ponders the struggles of creative life (“You Give It All Away”), and chooses determination and hope over “smug frustration” in the face of climate change (“Today and Every Day”). Enlivened by Hammond B3 organ, cello and Stewart Lerman’s sympathetic production, and bookended by two songs that playfully address aging (“Time, Be My Friend,” “You’re Aging Well”), it’s a melodic, relatable collection that may attract new listeners without alienating longtime fans. darwilliams.com

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OCTOBER 4, 2021

DOWNTOWN NEWS 13

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Covered DINING California will help

The Kroft: Poutine purveyors at Dragon’s Gate

By Frier McCollister LA Downtown News Contributing Writer t’s been a long road to Chinatown for Stephen Le and his partner, Matthew Tong.

The restaurateurs are the masterminds behind the small and successful poutine chain The Kroft, with locations in Anaheim and Long Beach. They are poised to open their first LA location on Broadway, on the ground floor of the Jia Apartment complex, at the entrance of the Dragon’s Gate.

“We’re at the final stages of construction,” Le said.

“Construction is done. We’re waiting on equipment, which is backlogged. We’re probably four weeks out and then two weeks to staff and train. It will probably be sometime in November for a soft opening.”

The Chinatown project was in the works in March 2019, when the pair opened their second location in Long Beach.

“Oh, man, this project has been the monkey on my back for the past five to six years,” Le said with a sigh.

A proposed food hall, adjoining their unit on Broadway, lost funding, and the entire development was delayed for several years. A lawsuit and ensuing settlement put the project back on track to open in 2020 — until the pandemic.

“We were hoping to open in 2020, but the pandemic threw everything out the window. It’s been the hardest buildout in my 12 years of being a restaurateur,” Le noted.

“We were in the final stages of getting our blueprints and plans approved by the city. When we were ready to submit, the pandemic happened and the offices started closing. That was the biggest (problem) we had to work through. We were pulling hair out, we were pulling teeth out, just to get answers.”

During the pandemic, the duo lost half of their staff. Since they fired up, they’ve had a hard time finding employees.

“That’s a killer,” Le said. “Anaheim is up to 90% (of its prepandemic business) and Long Beach is about 70%, but we can’t find employees.”

Le and Tong are self-made restaurateurs. They are not chefs. Instead, Le has a biotech sales background, while Tong is a real estate broker.

“I love cooking,” Le said. “My partner loves cooking. We always wanted to open up a restaurant.”

Their first venture was SWSH Shabu Shabu in Irvine a dozen years ago. They were into Japanese hot pot.

“I said, ‘Damn it, why don’t we open a Shabu restaurant? We don’t need a chef. We have a small kitchen. The only thing we need to do is prep,’” Le said.

“So, me and my partner and three friends opened up SWSH Shabu Shabu in Irvine 12 years ago.

That was really successful. After two years, I wanted to do something else.”

That “something else” was poutine — the icon of Canadian street food that features a pile of French fries slathered with gravy and cheese curds. It seems like an unlikely transition for two successful Shabu hustlers.

“I was a very avid snowboarder,” Le said. “I would go to Vancouver at least once a year to go snowboarding. And that’s where I was introduced to poutines.”

The dish suggested the type of concept that Le wanted.

“What’s a concept that I can create that would be a niche market, something creative, something that can be fused with other cuisines, something that’s mainstream and something that we could put our own flair into? Poutine! We can make poutine more gourmet.

“So, we refined the poutine and put our little spin on it.”

The menu at The Kroft includes a variety of crafted hot sandwiches as well, and Le is adamant about the care that goes into the food.

“We make everything in-house,” Le said. “We make our own beef broth. We make our own gravies. We trim our own proteins and veggies.”

Their bread is provided by Bread Artisan, and their French fries are custom-built and supplied in volume by another wholesale vendor, Simplot Foods.

“The funny thing about it is, when we first opened The Kroft, me and my partner and my team, we spent probably a good 15 hours just making the French fries,” Le said.

“We probably did a good 300 pounds, and the next day we sold out. It wasn’t feasible. We sell over 750,000 pounds of French fries a year.”

There are seven poutine combinations on the menu at The Kroft, priced $9 to $12. Besides the classic gravy and cheese curd version, more exotic options include the loco moco with meatloaf,

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The Kroft’s menu will include loco moco poutine with meatloaf, brown gravy, fried onions, cheese curds and ketchup glaze, all topped with an egg.

Photo courtesy of The Kroft

The KFC (Kroft fried chicken) sees buttermilk brined chicken breast, jalapeno slaw and garlic mayo on a potato roll.

Photo courtesy of The Kroft

a fried egg and onions; the chicken tikka masala, garnished with cilantro and sour cream; and the country-fried chicken poutine with fried chicken nuggets in a country sausage gravy with cheese curds and green onions.

Six hot sandwich choices ($11 and $12) include the French dip, with sliced rotisserie beef and caramelized onions with horseradish mayo on a French roll; the fried chicken sandwich with garlic mayo and jalapeno slaw; and the porchetta with roast pork belly, cracklings, salsa verde and caramelized onions.

Additional toppings are available, including bacon, mushrooms and pickled red onions. Beer and wine are offered by the glass. The beer list typically includes selections from craft breweries in Long Beach and Anaheim.

The new Downtown location will include menu experiments.

“Once LA opens, we’re going to relaunch our breakfast line,” Le said. “We’re going to do one- or two-day-a-week lunch and dinner specials. We’re going to launch a prime rib dinner on Mondays for $20.

“Be prepared to have some good homemade food. We’re excited to be a part of the LA community. LA is an iconic city. For us to be a part of that solidifies what we’ve achieved, what we’ve become. So, we’re excited. We’re very, very excited.”

The Kroft 629 N. Broadway, Los Angeles thekroft.com

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OCTOBER 4, 2021