Yo! Venice 2.15.19 by Yo! Venice Newspaper

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VENICE www.yovenice.com

February 15 – 28, 2019

Bike Rental Shops in Age of E-transit

Westside shop owners address burgeoning industry. By Keldine Hull

Nearly two years after Bird and Lime debuted their electric scooters on the streets and sidewalks of Santa Monica and San Francisco, their popularity has grown exponentially. While e-scooters provide a convenient and easily accessible mode of transportation for consumers, bike rental owners in Venice, Santa Monica and the Westside are aware of the growing industry’s negative impact to both their business and customer safety. Javier Cernas opened J’s Rentals twenty years ago on Venice Beach. Located at 1501 Ocean Front Walk, J’s Rentals offers rentals for bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, surfboards and scooters. Since the rise of the e-scooter and subsequent surge in its popularity, Cernas has had to cope with a sharp decline in his business. “They’ve definitely had a big impact on our business, the bike rental business,” Cernas said. “Last summer we saw a significant 40 percent drop on our rental business. The summer before that, we would run out of bikes on the weekends.”

Cernas’ biggest issue with e-scooters is where they are placed when not in use, especially when riders drop off Birds, Limes and Jump Bikes, among other e-transit devices, in front of his shop. “I can tell you personally what we have to deal with every day at the shop. People park the scooters in front of our shop. Between all the different companies that are out there right now, we have to move their scooters out of the way," he said. “Some people, rather than rent something from us, rent the scooters. We lost a lot of business because of it. With the other scooters, people have the advantage to drop them off anywhere they want." Efforts to address the issue have been unsuccessful, and this is frustrating to Cernas, who has to deal with these rental devices on a daily basis on top of running his own rental business. “It’s disrespectful. We are an established business, and they literally put their scooters right in front of our door. We have several situations in which we approach the people who are dropping off the scooters. We’ve said, ‘Hey, can you put them somewhere else.’ And they say they’re just getting paid to do this. They completely ignore us. They tell us that if we want them to move it, call the company. If they’re told by the company to move them, they’ll do so. It’s an everyday battle.”

A bike rental shop alongside Venice Beach’s Ocean Front Walk.

Yo! Venice reached out to Lime regarding the placement of their scooters in front of Jay’s Rentals and other rental stores throughout the Westside. “Deployment of scooters and bikes is based on optimizing ridership and we change locations daily. We have never pur-

Photo: Sam Catanzaro.

posely targeted any type of business and all our deployments are within the confines of the city's parking rules and guidelines. Lime prides itself in being a community partner and we will look into this concern,"

BIKES, see page 6

Dockweiler Power Plant to be Abandoned

L.A. Divests in Fossil Fuels. By Sam Catanzaro

The City of Los Angeles will not spend billions of dollars to rebuild three natural gas power plants, Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced. “It’s the right thing to do for our health. It’s the right thing to do for our Earth. It’s the right thing to do for our economy,” Garcetti said. “And now is the time to start the beginning of the end of natural gas.” The three plants in question are the Scattergood in El Segundo just south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Harbour in Wilmington and Haynes in Long Beach. According to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assesment, the Scattergood and Harbour plants are in some of the

most polluted areas in the state. California lawmakers previously ordered Los Angeles to shut down ten gas-fired power-generating units among these three power plants because they utilize the ocean for cooling, which harms marine life. Garcetti's decision flies in the face of a December 2018 recommendation of independent consultants and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) staffers to spend $3.4 billion to replace seven of the ten ocean-cooled generators with generators equipped with dry-cooling capabilities and supplement the other three with increased energy efficiency, solar power and energy storage. LADWP staffers have argued that gas power plants are critical to ensuring the city had enough power. State lawmakers, however, had passed a bill several months ago requiring cities in California to get to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 and many local lawmakers and

Photo: Getty Images.

The Scattergood power plant on Dockweiler Beach.

environmental activists pushed back, urging Garcetti to explore alternatives to gas plants and adopt green alternatives. Among those vocal in their opposition to LADWP's proposal to reinvest in these gas plants was Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin, who represents Venice. Following Garcetti's announcement that the

city will not rebuild these three power plants, Bonin and environmental activists applauded the decision, saying it is part of Los Angeles' Green New Deal, a reference to the far-reaching climate change policies espoused by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y). "We are sending a clear and unmistakable signal that the people of Los Angeles are determined to fight climate change. We refuse to condemn our children to a world of extreme heat and cold, freak storms, drought, wildfires, and a diminishing food supply. For the health and safety of our kids, we insist on getting off fossil fuels and moving aggressively to clean and renewable energy," Bonin said in a Facebook post, adding a few hours later: "Los Angeles is leading the way toward a sustainable, equitable and thriving future and I am thrilled to work with activists and environmental champions to show the world what a #GreenNewDeal can look like.”

New Home for Venice 12-Step Meetings By Staff Writer

A vacant city building near Venice Beach will serve as the temporary home for 12-step and other types of meetings serving the recovery community on the Westside, Councilmember Mike Bonin has announced. The Westminster Senior Center, which has been vacant for several years, will host a series of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step meetings organized by the Venice Recovery Center, an all-volunteer organization that recently lost its popular meeting location on Lincoln Boulevard. The Westminster Senior Center is at 1234 Pacific Avenue in Venice, adjacent to the Westminster Dog Park. “Venice and the Westside have a thriving recovery community, and I’m glad we can provide a safe and convenient home for meetings,” Bonin said. “The Venice Recovery Center has organized dozens of well-attended 12-step meetings, and we can’t allow that to disappear. Recovery is an important part of the fabric of Venice.” Venice Recovery Center, a non-profit that was founded in 2007, had been operating out of a storefront on Lincoln Boulevard but was left without a place to host meetings after the building was recently sold. Thanks to Bonin and the City’s

The Westminster Senior Center is becoming the new home for Venice Recovery Center 12-Step meetings.

Department of Recreation & Parks, which owns the former senior center, the Venice Recovery Center will be able to organize and host meetings at the new location for the next year, and possibly longer. “The Venice Recovery Center provides a place

Photo: Google.

for people to come together in fellowship and help each other stay sober,” said Jeff Christensen of the Venice Recovery Center. “We’re grateful to Mike Bonin and the Recreation & Parks Department for allowing us to continue to have a local and convenient place where thousands of friends

in this neighborhood can contribute to their own recovery.” Many city buildings frequently provide space for 12-step meetings, including the Vera Davis McClendon Youth & Family Center, which is soon to close for several months of renovations. The Westminster Senior Center housed 12-step meetings for several years before it closed in 2013. “Many communities, such as Santa Monica and Culver City have spaces that host frequent 12step meetings, and it's important that we have that resource in Venice, too,” Bonin said. “VRC has provided that for over a decade, and it is vital that it continues.” The City of Los Angeles had once considered using the Westminster Senior Center as a place for people who are homeless to store their belongings. That proposal has been withdrawn, Bonin said, because the recently approved temporary bridge housing at the former MTA bus yard on Main Street will allow its residents ample space for their belongings. The Venice Recovery Center has currently arranged for at least one 12-step meetings every evening, and meetings most mornings. Slots are available for other meetings as well. For more information about the Venice Recovery Center please visit https://venicerecoverycenter.org.

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Abbot Kinney Merchants Association explores idea. By Sam Catanzaro

The Abbot Kinney Merchants Association and the City of Los Angeles are exploring the idea of bringing parking meters to the iconic street. "For many years we have been encouraging the City to explore improvements to increase and optimize parking on Abbot Kinney Blvd. We also now see the need to add space for micro transit such as bikes, motorcycles, scooters, ect. The obvious starting point was to add meters to increase turnover rates," the merchants association wrote in a letter circulated to surrounding neighbors. According to the letter, the parking restrictions would remain the same only there would be meters enforcing the restrictions. There would not be a meter for each spot, but instead, a pay box to allow for multispace parking. If the city's proposal comes to fruition, installation of meters on Abbot Kinney Boulevard would coincide with the introduction of the LA Express Park program,

Photo: Sam Catanzaro

Local lawmakers and stakeholders are exploring the possibility of installing parking meters to Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

which integrates new technology to increase parking availability by including vehicle sensors under each spot. "We think that this is worth exploring and it could be beneficial to both residents and businesses in the area, as increased turnover rates will provide more open parking throughout the day," the Abbot Kinney Merchants Association said in their letter. Some residents, however, in the surrounding area with the prospect of parking meters on Abbot Kinney Boulevard because patrons shopping in the area use side streets to park. This often forces residents without garages to park on Abbot Kinney.

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FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2019

Fighting Fires, Homelessness The role of fire departments in 21stcentury urban centers. By Keldine Hull Do firefighters fight fires? Yes, but most of the time fire is not what calls them to action. It’s been nearly 130 years since the Santa Monica Fire Dept. (SMFD) was formed, and since then, many changes have occurred within the department including the way firefighters are trained to the kinds of calls they respond to. In a City Council meeting on January 22, Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole, while speaking about the city’s financial future, addressed the shift in the type of emergencies firefighters respond to on a daily basis. “100 years ago, when a city our size would have 1,000 fires a year, you’d have a department that was exclusively devoted to fighting fires. Now our fire department spends less than one percent of their time fighting fires,” Cole said. “99 percent of their time is on emergency medical and 25 percent of their time is on dealing with homelessness.” The Santa Monica Mirror reached out to Cole to expand on this topic. According to Cole, around .06 percent of the calls to service the SMFD gets in a year are for structure fires.

FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2019

Photo: SMFD.

An SMFD firefighter takes a breather on a hot day.

“We average one or two structure fires a week in Santa Monica, yet the Fire Department responds to over 17,000 emergency calls a year. Many of these calls, about 20-25 percent of our 911 call volume, are about people experiencing homelessness. The Fire Department responds to medical and other emergencies, including reports of ‘man down’ or a person in distress.” Cole adds, “More often than not, when our crews arrive the person has already left, is simply asleep or suffers from chronic medical conditions that

do not involve immediate treatment or transport to an emergency room. We now have a Fire Captain on special assignment working with our Police Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team, our Human Services Division and other County and non-profit providers to work on more effective ways to prevent and handle these calls.” The Home Liaison Program (HLP Team) is a six-officer unit that, according to the City of Santa Monica’s website, uses traditional law enforcement and social service strategies to ad-

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dress homeless issues. This special unit plays a key role in the City’s Action Plan by linking outreach and mental health services to mentally ill homeless individuals encountered by the police. The SMFD isn’t the only fire department that responds to such a high percentage of medical related emergencies. According to Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, “More than four out of five calls we receive are medical related. Approximately 85 percent of our daily activity relates to emergency medical services. The remainder are a broad variety of fire-related services which would include structure fires and vehicle fires.” Humphrey adds that while fires have diminished over the years due to building codes, public education, and safer appliances, there’s still a significant impact of fires on the city.” Growing public awareness has also had an impact on fires throughout the Westside as well. “Fires, while more rare today because of advanced building codes, effective inspections and public education, still pose a constant threat in an urban environment. That’s why we still maintain our crews and equipment in constant readiness even as they respond to a wide range of other calls, plus they obviously pose a critical first line of response for natural and man-made disasters as well as mutual aid for wildland/urban fires,” Cole said. “The world has obviously changed in the last 100 years. The role of police, libraries, parks, fire and other services continue to evolve.”

BACTERIA, PATHOGENS, SEWAGE

Photo: Sam Catanzaro.

Trash piled up on Venice Beach beach on Febuary 11 following rainfall. Despite the blue looking Santa Monica Bay, water quality after storms is very poor in Southern California beaches.

Santa Monica Bay After Rainfall. By Keldine Hull

Two years after California experienced its wettest year since record-keeping began in 1895, the rain continues to fall, ending drought conditions in several parts of California long accustomed to carefully monitoring water usage. While rainfall is welcome, swimmers, surf-

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ers and anyone else who frequents California beaches, especially in Santa Monica Bay, are reminded to be cautious when it comes to going into the water in winter months. “When rain falls in developed areas, the rainwater becomes stormwater runoff and washes debris and pollutants into nearby rivers, streams and stormwater drains, which eventually flow into the ocean without treatment. Immediately during and after the storm, you can often see evidence of runoff by a change in ocean color from increased sediment in the water right off the beach.” said Katie Day, Staff Scientist for the Surfrider Foundation, “Unfortunately, it’s what you don’t see that can be much more dangerous. Stormwater brings bacteria and other pathogens to the beach where it can cause people to get sick.” Beachgoers are advised to wait at least 72 hours before entering the water after rainfall, the time it takes for bacteria and other pollutants to dilute back down to safe concentrations. Contributing factors like water flow and currents impact how quickly beaches recover from pollutants in the water. "Beaches and bays that have high water flow and strong currents can sometimes dilute these pollutants faster, while areas with weaker currents and low water flow may require more time- up to ten days. In addition to dilution, the sunlight, saltwater, and even other marine life can help kill excess bacteria over this time- period," Day said. Location is another factor in determining which beaches are at greater risk of pollutants following rainfall “Beaches near river and stormwater outfalls experience more severe stormwater pollution, as these areas border the immediate discharge areas for debris and pollution swept in from urban areas," Day said. "Alternatively, beaches in undeveloped, or less developed, watersheds, such as protected areas or state parks, are less susceptible to stormwater pollution, as there are less pollutants and less runoff since rain gets better absorbed by soil and the natural landscape.” Despite the warnings, some surfers and swim-

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mers might still feel compelled to go into the water too soon after rainfall, a risk that poses a harmful threat to their health. “Skin infections and rashes; eye, ear and nose infections; and gastro-intestinal symptoms are some of the more common yet minor afflictions that can be picked up by surfing or swimming in the ocean after it rains. And there’s worse with MRSA, Vibrio and other life threatening diseases that are possible to contract if exposed to human sewage in recreational waters.” According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is considered a “Serious Threat". Founded by a group of surfers in 1984, Surfrider Foundation has been dedicated to protecting the ocean and beaches through programs and campaigns designed to educate, create solutions, and raise awareness. Once stormwater pollutants and bacteria infiltrate coastal regions, there’s very little that can be done; however, according to Day, there are preventative measures that could keep stormwater from reaching coasts in the first place. “This can be accomplished by increasing the amount of permeable landscapes that can capture and absorb rainfall or excess water before it gets to the coast. Examples include the preservation of natural areas and habitats like forests and wetlands, the use of permeable roads and sidewalks, and the incorporation of Ocean Friendly Gardening principles that collect, retain and filter stormwater.” Day said, “Ocean Friendly Gardens can be used at private residences, but also along city streets and developments to act as bioswales. Some cities even offer rebate programs to help landowners transition their yards and outdoor areas to Ocean Friendly Gardens to protect beach water quality and reduce water use. In Santa Monica alone, there are two rebate programs including the Rain Harvest Rebate program and the Cash for Grass Rebate program.” To learn more about the Ocean Friendly Gardening program, visit: go.surfrider.org/ofg.”

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Local Impact of Global Helium Shortage

Technology, balloons impacted by depletion of helium from the atmosphere. By Keldine Hull

As the world’s largest supplier of helium, the United States is experiencing a shortage in helium that could affect everything from scientific experiments to the way we blow up balloons. Helium exists in Earth’s atmosphere from two sources – decay of radioactive elements on Earth and cosmic rays making it virtually impossible to be produced by any other means. While news of a global helium shortage comes at a surprise to most people, the current shortage marks the second occurrence within the last 12 months. In addition, the rate at which helium is currently being used throughout the world is faster than the rate at which it can be replenished, putting an unprecedented amount of stress on the world’s reserves. Although blowing up balloons is the most well- known use of helium, it plays a far bigger role in day to day life than most people realize. The combination of helium

Photo: Getty Images.

The rate at which helium is currently being used throughout the world is faster than the rate at which it can be replenished, putting an unprecedented amount of stress on the world’s reserves.

and oxygen is used in the effective treatment of respiratory issues like asthma and emphysema. Helium is also an important component of Internet and cable TV services as well as the production of semiconductor chips found in phones, computers and televisions.

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Due to the helium shortage, specific retailers, including Downtown Santa Monica’s Paper Source, have been unable to blow up balloons since the end of last year. Sergio Alfaro is a shift supervisor at Paper Source and has had to inform numerous customers that at least for the time being,

BIKES,

from page 1 Lime said in a statement. Just north of Venice in Santa Monica, where stricter scooter regulations exist, Rob Wakefield, owner of Santa Monica Bike Rentals, located on 1428 4th Street, says his business has been more impacted by weather than by the rise in e-scooter use. “Last year was one of the hottest years on record. That affected our business more than e-scooters. This year so far is one of the wettest. That affects our business as well. But when the sun’s out, we are very, very busy," Wakefield said. However, his biggest issue with e-scooters is the threat they pose to public safety. "If a person on that scooter hits a pole, they’ve got brain damage. And those scooters with little wheels can very easily flip over. People don’t realize the potential injuries that can occur on those scooters. It’s the most dangerous transportation on the road," Wakefield said. While Santa Monica Bike Rentals offers scooter rentals, Wakefield warns potential customers of the risk involved. “I rent them, but I let the person know unless they can drive them carefully, they’re

Paper Source is out of its helium supply. “I’m noticing a lot of people are surprised when you tell them there’s a shortage at all because they don’t even perceive helium to be something that could be extinguished. When we tell customers, ‘We apologize, but we can’t blow up your birthday balloons or graduation balloons,’ they seem irritated but also shocked at the whole idea.” Even though Paper Source is expected to receive a replenishment of their helium supply within the upcoming weeks, it comes at a higher cost than before. “With the lesser supply and increase in demand, they’re going to change the price point. It would be safe to even estimate that at some point helium will even be way out of our range until someone develops it.” Other retailers on the Westside can still blow up balloons, but places like Balloon Concepts and More, located at 734 Santa Monica Blvd., suggest placing orders ahead of time due to the shortage. Other retailers you can visit that will still put helium in your balloons include: Aahs! The Ultimate Gift Store located at 3223 Wilshire Blvd., and Balloon Celebrations located at 1311 Montana Ave. Other retailers, including Paper Source, offer unique alternatives to blowing up balloons including balloon banners that don’t require helium and still add the perfect touch to any party. very dangerous,” Wakefield said. “I know a nurse in the ER at UCLA, Santa Monica and people go there every single day with injuries from using those scooters. I see children with no helmet riding a scooter. It’s unbelievable. If that person gets in an accident, they potentially have a problem for the rest of their life." A recent UCLA study shed light on the severity of e-scooter accidents. According to the researchers, people involved in e-scooter accidents are often injured seriously enough — from fractures, dislocated joints and head trauma — to require treatment in emergency rooms. "We’ve seen teeth knocked out, jaws broken in several places, noses crushed and head injuries including skull fractures. The most common injuries are wrist, ankle, collarbone and shoulder fractures,” said Dr. Wally Ghurabi, medical director of the Nethercutt Emergency Center at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. The researchers examined data from 249 people who were treated at the emergency departments of UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center between Sept. 1, 2017, and Aug. 31, 2018. The study found that about one-third of them arrived by ambulance, an indication of the severity of their injuries.

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And finally, on Valentine’s Day, (or any other day for that matter), revel in the act of throwing caution to the wind and say (without apology) the three most powerful words ever spoken; I love you.

Let Romance Win the Day! By Guy Camilleri

Sitting in my car in Venice Beach, with an unobstructed view of the ocean, I listen to the raindrops dance on the hood and root for the droplets as they race down my windshield, congratulating the winner! I also wait for a single drop of inspiration to rain down upon me in the form of banging out today’s Yo! Venice column. The rain continues, as does the wait. Minutes later, I find myself leaning toward the reminder that tomorrow, Thursday, February 14j is Valentine’s Day. Perhaps there is something in this yearly event I could explore today. I lead myself to ask the question, I’ve yet to ask this year; How will I express my love to that someone special in my life tomorrow? Will it be a night of intimacy including, but not limited too; flowers, (a variety of colored roses), a candlelight dinner with wine, a smattering of desert… and then more even more intimacy in the form being physically intimate with someone you feel love for, or may be in love with? Is this what this one day of expressing the word love to one or more individuals is about? With curiosity in hand, I look up the definition of romance and am shocked, not surprised, mind you, but shocked as I think… Is this the image of someone who is not realistic or practical as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary? I admit freely and honestly, I am a romantic at heart. Yet, when I read the definition of the word, I think… wait a minute that doesn’t sound like me at all! I am Virgo, as practical and realistic as the next person and yet, there is a

FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2019

romantic living deep down inside me. And wait just a rose-colored moment, how can a single word like romance, (that which elicits highly charged images, sensations and thoughts of people, places, things and events in my life) also be defined as having an idealized view of reality! Well, if this be true, then I say: Give me romance or give me the dull life! For if not to have an idealized view of reality or to be utterly impractical at least once a year, what then makes life worth living? The rain clears for a beat or two…, and on that beat, I commit once again to being completely and thoroughly impractical and unrealistic for at least this one day. And, if it feels right to you, go ahead and paint the most idealized version of reality you can this year. And then, I encourage you to express yourself freely in the form of being with the person your heart shares a beat with. And finally, on Valentine’s Day, (or any other day for that matter), revel in the act of throwing caution to the wind and say (without apology) the three most powerful words ever spoken; I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day, 2019. Guy Camilleri is a Venice-based actor, acting coach, and poet. He teaches on-going classes at his studio, RAW acting studio on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the Electric Lodge, in Venice. His private coaching specializes in audition preparation, self-taped auditions, original reels, and career consultation. To audit a class, enroll in a course or book a coaching session, visit www.guycamilleri.com. Follow Guy on Instagram @guycamilleri, @raw_actingstudio and on Facebook.

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How to Prepare for

THE BIG ONE Earthquake preparedness on the Westside. By Keldine Hull

All it took was 10-20 seconds for the 1994 Northridge earthquake to rattle Southern California in a way no earthquake had done before. Dozens of people lost their lives and thousands more were injured as the state reeled from a catastrophic event that cost billions in damages. As devastating as the Northridge earthquake was, seismologists warn that the hypothetical “Big One”- an earthquake magnitude of 8.0 or more- would be even more disastrous. Twenty-five years after the Northridge earthquake, for many Californians, the likelihood of the “Big One” is imminent. While it’s impossible to predict exactly when or where a massive earthquake will strike, cities throughout Southern California, including Santa Monica, have made vast improvements towards earthquake preparedness. In 2017, the City Council implemented the Seismic Retrofit Program designed to reinforce and strengthen older buildings.

According to Nick Furnari, Emergency Services Administrator at the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), “Nearly 2,000 commercial and multi-family residential buildings in the City were identified as potentially seismically vulnerable in need of possible structural improvement and are required to comply with the Program. You can search to see if your building is on the list on the Seismic Retrofit website.” Santa Monica, like many other cities, continues to be active in both mitigation and preparedness activities. Furnari explains, “We maintain our state of the art Emergency Operations Center 24/7 that is the central command point for large scale emergencies. We conduct Emergency Operations Center drills with city staff and first responders many times throughout the year. One such exercise is the annual Great ShakeOut where we practice how to conduct the city’s initial response after an earthquake.” Furnari continues, “We often partner with community organizations like the American Red Cross, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and Santa Monica College during these drills to practice information sharing and coordination before an emergency event.” In 2018, the OEM relaunched a coalition

A Los Angeles freeway in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

called Santa Monica Organizations Active in Disasters (SMOAID). Furnari continues, “SMOAID consists of leaders from local businesses, non-profits, and community organizations that work together to prepare the community before a disaster and pledge to serve after the disaster. SMOAID fosters a ‘whole community’ approach to disaster planning, meaning that the best way to organize and strengthen Santa Monica’s resilience and response activities is to work across disciplines and sectors.” In addition, OEM offers disaster education and training to local community and

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Photo: Facebook.

business organizations. For those who live or work in Santa Monica, OEM manages the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Furnari explains, “The damage caused by natural disasters or from manmade events can affect all aspects of a community, including government services. These events can severely restrict or overwhelm our response resources, communications, transportation, and utilities and leave many individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside support.” Furnari con-

EARTHQUAKE, see page 9

FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2019

EARTHQUAKE, from page 8

tinues, “For the initial period immediately following a disaster, individuals and neighborhoods may need to rely on their own resources and individual skills until help arrives. CERT basic training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others during a catastrophe. The class is offered twice per year by the Office of Emergency Management and teaches medical operations, light search and rescue, community specific hazards, and disaster psychology to name a few.” To better prepare yourself and those around you for an earthquake, OEM recommends a simple three- step process. The first step is to have your kit ready. Furnari explains, “When developing a preparedness kit, residents should stock up on non-perishable, easy to prepare food that they will actually eat. There’s no sense in storing food that no one in the family likes.” The OEM also recommends storing one gallon of water per person and pet for seven days. Water can be stored in your home, at work and in your car. Furnari continues, “In addition to a flashlight, it’s important to have a radio, extra batteries and a first aid kit available and ready to go. It’s also important to have cash in multiple denominations of bills. If the power goes out and the merchant doesn’t have change for a $50 bill, then it may be an expensive bottle of water for you. Be sure to include your personal essentials such as specific medications, eyeglasses, important documents, baby needs and pet supplies for everyone in your household. Additional items to include in your kit are an extra change of clothes, sturdy shoes and a sleeping bag.” The second step is to have a plan. Furnari explains, “Know your family communications, household, school and workplace plans. Also know your neigh-

borhood hazards. You can visit myhazards.caloes.ca.gov for more information and resources.” The third step is to be informed. OEM recommends that if you live or work in Santa Monica, to register for alerts at smalerts.net. You’ll receive texts, emails or phone calls that let you know what to do in the event of a natural disaster or other emergencies. Communication following a natural disaster can be challenging, but there are ways to get in contact with your loved ones and keep them updated. Furnari explains, “We recommend having an outof-state contact in case of an emergency. Historically, right after a disaster the communication infrastructure is severely inhibited. This means that it will be highly unlikely that anyone will be able to make phone calls to friends or loved ones. However, we’ve found that texting is easier on the cell networks and often work during an emergency. If you can text an out-ofstate friend or relative, they can call other family and post your status on social media on your behalf.” On December 31, 2018, the US Geological Survey (USGS) partnered with AT&T and the Annenberg Foundation to launch ShakeAlertLA- the nation’s first publicly available earthquake early warning mobile application. Available on all iPhone and Android devices, ShakeAlertLA warns users seconds in advance of an impending earthquake. In some cases, a few seconds could be instrumental in moving to a safer position to ride out an earthquake. According to Mayor Garcetti, “We created the ShakeAlertLA app because getting a few seconds heads-up can make a big difference if you need to pull to the side of the road, get out of an elevator, or drop, cover, and hold on.”

Culver City Police Seek Assistance in Locating Missing 6-Month-Old The search for the infant continues. By Sam Catanzaro The Culver City Police Department (CCPD) is requesting the public's assistance in locating infant Jacsun Manson, a six-month-old child of parents who were recently arrested. On January 25, 2019, Jacsun was reported missing to the CCPD by the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services. The LAPD had recently arrested Jacsun's parents, and at the time of their arrest, the parents were not with Jacsun. According to the CCPD, Jacsun’s parents are currently incarcerated and are in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. They have been identified as Adam Manson and Kiana Williams. Police say Adam Manson has aliases of Adam Owens and Adam Jackson. According to witnesses, Jacsun was last seen on December 31, 2018, with his parents, before their arrest. "It is believed that Jacsun’s parents stole a blue 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the vehicle is missing a bumper and the license plates have likely been

To learn more about how you can be better prepared for any natural disaster, visit: https://www.smgov.net/departments/

Photo: CCPD.

The Culver City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating six-month-old Jacsun Manson.

removed. The family was seen in this vehicle, and are known to frequent of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard. The PT Cruiser has not been recovered," CCPD Chief of Police Scott Bixby said in a press release. "Multiple interviews have been conducted with Jacsun’s parents and family members. To date, we have not been able to locate Jacsun." Anybody with information as to Jacsun’s whereabouts is urged to contact the CCPD. During business hours contact Detective Raya at (310) 253-6318. After business hours, please contact the Watch Commander at (310) 253-6202.

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Yo! Venice Staff MANAGING EDITOR Sam Catanzaro | sam@yovenice.com

BUSINESS MANAGER Max Montemer 310.310.2637 ext. 104

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L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Yo! Venice invites letters from readers on any subject. All letters must include the phone number and address of the writer. Letters are subject to editing from the Editor for reasons including length or questionable content. Views expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily the views of Yo! Venice. Mail: 2116 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 260, Santa Monica, CA 90403 E-mail: sam@yovenice.com

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DOING IT FOR THE ‘GRAM Venice Beach Among Most Instagrammable Locations in the U.S. By Sam Catanzaro A recent study has pegged Venice Beach as the ninth-most Instagrammable location in the United States. According to the study, carried out by PlayPicks, 3,186,917 posts have been shared here in Venice Beach. In light of this study, here are five of the most popular places for snapping pics on Venice Beach.

1. Ocean Front Walk Home to the Venice Boardwalk and all the shops, performers and sights that come along with this iconic stretch of Venice, it is no wonder Ocean Front Walk is a favorite place for tourists to snap some shots for the 'gram. Lined by palm trees and full of color, even longtime Venice locals find it hard to resist bringing out the camera here on a sunny day. 2. Venice Skatepark From seasoned shredders to up-and-coming skaters, the Venice Beach Skatepark is one of the hottest skateparks in the country. While other skateparks may have bigger ramps, deeper pools and longer grind rails, they don't have the level of performance and beach-front views boasted by the Venice Beach Skatepark. And with onlookers perennially surrounding the action snapping pics, the skaters are always putting on a show here.

3. Muscle Beach Muscle Beach in Santa Monica is considered to be the birthplace of the physical fitness boom in the United States during the 20th century when it opened in 1934 and when it closed in 1987, Muscle Beach Venice, previously know as Venice Beach Weight Pen, became the center of the Westside fitness scene. Over the years, a slew of celebrities have flexed their muscles here, from Dave Draper and Larry Scott to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Trejo. Today, the iron-pumping lives on here on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, making it hard for passersby resist gawking at the feats of strength and snapping some pics. 4. Venice Art Walls The Venice Art Walls is where graffiti art and the most iconic beach in Southern California meet. Located in the heart of the Venice Beach by the breakwater, these art walls are one of Los Angeles graffiti's most historic landmarks. Colorful street art, murals and traditional as well as modern graffiti are always on display at these walls, catching many an eye and shutter exposure.

Photos: Sam Catanzaro.

5. Pride Lifeguard Tower When Venice won the right to keep its rainbow-painted lifeguard tower – initially begun as a Pride-only installation – on permanent display, it became the first LGBT monument approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Two years later, the tower where Brooks Avenue meets the beach, remains a center of attention in Venice, hard to miss amid the backdrop of white sand and blue ocean.

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AI in the Year 2020… Almost By Nektar Baziotis

In 1966 Gene Rodenberry’s “Star Trek” made its television debut on NBC. Audiences young and old were captivated by the show, particularly by its imagination of the space, the future, and the incredible technology humanity could possible yield in it. “Star Trek” would go on to inspire a generation of people determined to create the gadgets of the future. Just three years after the premiere of Star Trek”, humanity would launch Apollo 11, the spaceship that would carry Neil Armstrong to the lunar surface, making him the first person ever to walk on the moon. Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and other children of the space age would go on to become titans of the modern technological era, successfully developing the same kinds of devices used in the iconic television show. 63 years later it appears that humanity is inching closer to that future that was but science fiction generations prior. In particular, technology powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming more integrated into our everyday lives. AI powered virtual helpers that exist in our smart devices have learned to understand our behavior so as to predict what we need from them. For example, Alexa, a digital assistant developed by Amazon is trained to recognize voices, commands, and even recognize when different people are talking to it. Through machine learning Alexa learns your patterns, allowing it to predict when you need to order groceries, set an alarm to wake up, even remind you

to take your medication. And as soon as 2025, developers intend to make Alexa smart enough to predict when your relationships with your intimate partners are about to end. AI analysts, researches and developers are visioning to integrate AI into E-Learning technology. AI powered E-Learning, can learn to apply logic to tasks through the data they collect from users can help developers to create software that make learning in the classroom at a job easier and more streamlined. Training sessions for new skills that would previously take months to learn in a classroom can now be taught on a computer, tablet, or other smart device powered by technol-

ogy designed to enrich the learning experience. Of course, with any advance in technology there exists a draw back. Many researchers who study AI have warned of the dangers that super-intelligent technology can pose to humanity. Elon Musk claims that “AΙ is far more dangerous than nukes”. AI is trained to accomplish its tasks as logically as possible, it is neither benevolent nor malicious. However, if the AI’s goals do not align with humanity’s goals, it could pose a considerable threat to our safety. Smart cars that are programed to optimize your travel from point A to point B may end up leaving havoc in their wake as they bulldoze through build-

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ings and people to get you there the fastest way possible. Data centers storing huge amounts of personal information about us, from our patterns and behavior on the internet to digital images of our faces, also raise huge ethical concerns about privacy. In more recent years researchers have warned about AI, particularly the algorithms used on social media sites, being used to manipulate public perception by flooding people’s pages with false news articles. AI researchers and technological ethicists have urged that as our technology becomes smarter it is important that we prioritize humanity’s safety from the dangers it may eventually possess. The future of technology is equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Every day technology is being developed to make our lives easier than ever imagined. What risks that might entail remain to be seen. But humanity will always prevail, and will charge forward on our technological quest and continue “to boldly go where no man has gone before.” Nektar Baziotis is an entrepreneur and IT project manager based in Santa Monica, President of ENKI Technologies. He has managed and successfully delivered to various institutes and organizations, including the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and public and private sector partners and clients in the United States. For more information, visit https://enki.tech/ or call (213) 814-2332 or follow at twitter.com/enkitechi/ and linkedin.com/ in/nektariosbaziotis.

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FREE ENROLLMENT New full-time students (12 units or more per semester) are eligible for free enrollment and payment of AS, health and student ID fees! $1,200 TEXTBOOK VOUCHERS SMC wants to help you offset the high cost of textbooks. This unique program helps SMC students like YOU achieve your academic goals. •$100 for summer session, $500 for fall semester, $100 for winter session and $500 for spring semester.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? •You graduated from any public or private California high school in 2018 or 2019 and are directly attending SMC as a first-year student. •If you graduated in 2018 you are eligible for any term in the 2018-19 academic year. If you graduate in 2019 you are eligible for any term in the 2019-20 academic year. •You will take 12 units or more per semester. •You are a California resident or an AB 540 student. * Textbook vouchers for California College Promise Grant qualified students.

For complete details, visit smc.edu/freetuition SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Chair; Dr. Nancy Greenstein, Vice Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Dr. Louise Jaffe; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Barry A. Snell; Alexandria Boyd, Student Trustee; Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu

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OSCARS SPECIAL

FILM REVIEW:

Oscars 2019 POV: Best Director BEHIND THE SCREEN By Kathryn Whitney Boole Over the next four weeks, I will share my own humble point of view (POV) on which films, filmmakers and actors should be honored with an Oscar. Bear in mind that 2018 produced one of the most fertile crops of cinematic brilliance in a long time. So, in my opinion, not everyone worthy of an Oscar will be receiving the golden trophy. I will write about just a few of the categories. This week, it’s nominees for Best Director: Spike Lee for “BlacKkKlansman”, Pawel Pawlikowski for “Cold War”, Yorgos Lanthimos for “The Favorite”, Alfonson Cuaron for “Roma” and Adam McKay for “Vice.” My POV – “BlacKkKlansman” is distinctly made in the unique style of director Spike Lee – at once colorful, bold and full of direct impact. The film plays like a rap video with dramatic emphasis and comedic banter set against a narrative that follows a true story about the fight against racial discrimination. “Cold War” is an exquisitely mounted

tragic love story that mirrors the Cold War through the lives of its characters over several years in the 1950’s. This gorgeous black & white film is perfectly balanced and boasts superb performances by its stars, Joanna Kulig and Tomasz Kot. Polish Director Pawel Pawlikowski has created a perfectly balanced, lushly depicted historical film reminiscent of David Lean’s 1965 masterpiece, Doctor Zhivago. “The Favourite” is disguised as a classic early 1700’s period piece based on historic letters. However it is a completely unexpected comedic romp through the hilarities of human nature. I like to think that this is an entirely more realistic portrayal of historic figures than most. Director Yorgos Lanthimos likes to allow his audiences to draw conclusions from his cinematic implications rather than spell everything out in the narrative. Here he displays a superb command of choreography and comedic timing. In “Roma”, legendary director Alfonso Cuaron uses the qualities of light and shadow that can only be produced in a black and white film. He has created a poignant alternate reality of his childhood years in Mexico City. The resulting dreamlike movie will probably bring back memories of your own

early years. This highly unique and touching film is beautifully made. Director Adam McKay’s “Vice” is an indepth study of Vice President Dick Cheney. It’s a thought-provoking, disturbing story of his relentless rise to be one of the most powerful men in the world under the administration of President George W. Bush. McKay has pulled together an ensemble of actors who give extraordinary performances. The film does not have the comedic punch of his political dramedy, “The Big Short”, However it is a critical lesson in how one man can coerce our country’s politics to his own vision. My opinion is that all of these films deserve an Oscar. However if I were a voting Academy member I would choose Yorgos Lanthimos to win the Best Director Oscar for his unique, imaginative and hilarious “The Favourite”. Who do I think will actually win?...probably “BlacKkKlansman” or “Roma” - and deservedly so. Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people. She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com

Photo: Courtesy.

This week, Kathryn nominates for Best Director: Spike Lee for “BlacKkKlansman,” Pawel Pawlikowski for “Cold War,” Yorgos Lanthimos for “The Favorite,”Alfonson Cuaron for “Roma” and Adam McKay for “Vice.”

Moving Venice Dance Performance “Façade of Time” speaks to the history of Venice.

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In an intersection between dance, history and social justice, a public performance this weekend in Venice promises to be both visually and intellectually stimulating. “Façade of Time” is a site-specific dance project comprised of sixty performers of mixed age and experience, contemplating the interplay between personal and collective, constructed and spontaneous, performer and audience. By performing in a public space, the piece incorporates the vicissitudes of environment, collapsing barriers and enabling access without pretension or hierarchy. The performance will move through the Venice neighborhood, between Venice Blvd., Windward Avenue, West of Abbot Kinney Blvd. and culminate on the beach straight out from Windward Ave. at the breakwater. "Venice, with its vibrant history, driven to

Photo: Courtesy.

dereliction, to become an icon of gentrification and a commercial metropolis, exemplifies transformation. While its basic infrastructure has remained largely unchanged it is now home to many dotcom’s but still a destination for homeless. Venice has held the potential for the arts to be a source of healing in the community. We forge artistic connections and creative relationships utilizing local spaces in novel ways," reads the event's website. Sunday, February 17, 3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. sunset. Start location 200 N Venice Blvd. For more information, visit www.bodyweather. org/faade-of-time.

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7 19

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68 Org. that’s found by accident? 69 Piece of chicken 70 Symbols on Irish euro coins 71 Video intrusions 72 Tracker’s clue 73 Sole part 76 Astronomical event 77 Goodies in a goody bag 79 Swarm 80 Hindu honorific 81 Burger topper 82 Backtalk? 83 Miner’s find

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84 Immigrant’s class, in brief 85 Bounded 91 Sneaked a peek 92 Part of T.G.I.F. 97 Slops 98 Wallops 99 T-shirt choices, briefly 101 What drones lack 102 2008 Israeli political biography 103 Relatives of Tonys 104 Sum up 105 ____ Scott

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Answers

106 “Positively Entertaining” cable network 108 Le Pew of Looney Tunes 109 “That’s the truth!” 110 Makeshift ghost costume 112 Warring 113 Florida city, informally 114 Brand of tools 117 Says further 119 Great time 120 Sworn statement 122 G.P.’s grp.

P E P P Y

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1 Goldfish, e.g. 2 Sidestep 3 Balkan capital 4 Mountaineer’s tool 5 Skynet’s T-800’s, e.g. 6 One who’s passed the bar: Abbr. 7 Parent’s scolding 8 Praised 9 “____ Poetica” 10 Letters on a video surveillance screen 11 Trendy smoothie ingredient 12 Force on earth, in brief 13 Bussing on a bus, for short?

A D D S

DOWN

S H E E T

121 Out early 123 Playing ____ 124 “Spamalot” writer 125 Drained 126 Object of veneration by ancient Egyptians 127 Casualty of a crash? 128 One side of a ledger

P S T D Y A I A N D F L E Y E D B R E W E R G E Y O U M N U S U T R O S C T C A L H E D E I L L S C G E T A H A I R P C P P T H I N E A L O P A R O L E M P T I A S S E

AND LANDS A JOB AS A SCOTTISH TAILOR!

L A C K O A R C A N U S T L E D V E G E L D E B E I L O V E R I F M O N E L E U T A B O E C A S E R L Y H S S A L I T S P S S W A M S I S L K I L T I D L E L O S S

FEBRUARY 15 – 28, 2019

111 Shakespearean king 112 Auto safety feature to prevent skidding, for short 115 Man, for one 116 Greeting on Maui 118 007 gets fired …

B O C A

70 One side in college football’s “Big Game” 72 Blue 74 Bitcoin, e.g. 75 Utopias HIS BLATHERING! 78 Shoves (in) 33 Labatt, for one 81 West Coast officers 34 Composer known for track wise-cracking mood music detective … TO A BOVINE! 35 Relinquish 36 Something coming 86 One with a role to play off the shelf? 38 Tropicana products, 87 Bullets, in cards for short 88 First “America’s Funniest Home 41 Floor Videos” host 43 Guy makes a new best friend … WHO 89 Glamorous Gardner TURNS OUT TO BE A 90 Friends gather for a COMMUNIST! funeral … AND COOK 50 Beverage called a UP AN ENORMOUS “tonic” in Boston STEW! 51 Inclines 93 “Bali ____” 54 Enya’s land 94 Lively tune 55 Appropriate 95 Symbolic bird in “On Golden Pond” 56 Retired pool shark returns … 96 Recipe amts. TO WIN FRENCH 100 “Angel dust” IMPRESSIONIST 102 Kind of knot PAINTING!

NEW LINE OF SNACK CRACKERS!

14 Two plus two equaling five, e.g. 15 High mark in Spanish class? 16 “Mon ____” (words of endearment) 17 Energetic 19 “Bon” time 21 Some 24 Color changer 27 Flick 31 Carpentry rod 32 Gift on a string 33 Spiner of “Star Trek: T.N.G.” 36 Destined (to be) 37 Singer Sands 38 Goes (for) 39 In song, Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt’s first name 40 Mix and match? 42 ____ Gay (W.W. II plane) 44 Fifth sign 45 “____ Gang” 46 Grp. with the motto “Until every one comes home” 47 Gran Torino, e.g. 48 Part of a score, maybe 49 Dentist’s directive 52 Lacking pizazz 53 “____ I” (“Same here”) 57 Position sought by some M.B.A.s 58 Kind of shot 59 Olympics unit 66 Concern of an orthopedic M.D. 67 Howls

A T I T

25 Father of Paris, in myth 26 Apple buy-product? 28 Relax, with “out” 29 Assessed 30 Cabby saves prostitute … WITH

REALLY AN ANDROID!

107 Bog monster emerges … WITH A

C A S I T A A V O C E T S R E F E R T O P R I A M I T A X I D R E N O O J S A W E P O P T E N T H E C O L O S N E E R L D O S A S A D C R A M S B A C T O R A T H E B I G C L O D I A N R O N E N C E D E R D A

AN EPIC FAIL!

60 “____ Revere, Engineer” (bestselling 2013 children’s book) 61 Facial expression often accompanied by “Heh, heh, heh” 62 Big dipper 63 Pink-slip 64 ____ Equis (Mexican beer) 65 Chap gets life lessons from kid … WHO’S

R E C A P

1 Small house in the Southwest 7 Covert missions 15 Select 18 Wading birds 20 Light, catchy tunes 21 “Je t’____” 22 Cite 23 Pimp launches career in rap … BUT HAS

This Week’s Sudoku Puzzle

O B I E S

ACROSS

NY TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

G O L D A

SURPRISE ENDINGS

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