Festival of Sail Postponed
We all continue to face the challenges of COVID-19 together and we all have to continue to plan and re-plan as we move through these challenges together. Last week we got word that the prudent decision had been taken to postpone the 2021 LA Fleet Week at the Port of Los Angeles until next Memorial Day, 2022. We agree with the folks who had the difficult job of making this decision. The large level of community spread of COVID-19 is just too high and is showing no signs of abating before the event was scheduled to start. The Festival of Sail Presented by LAMI during LA Fleet Week will also be postponed until Memorial Day, 2022.
Further, we express our sincere thank you to the Port of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, U.S. Navy, their planning partners, supporters and most importantly the LA Fleet Week Foundation. It took a ton of teamwork over the last few months to get us to the point where we would be able to have the event.
I would personally like to thank our team of hardworking volunteers, staff, and the numerous partnering organizations that worked so hard to prepare us for this year’s Festival of Sail Presented by LAMI. With the planning mostly completed and now just delayed, I hope you will join us on Memorial Day 2022 for the best LA Fleet Week and Festival of Sail Presented by LAMI!
Bruce Heyman, Executive Director of LAMI, San Pedro
Afghanistan and Endless War, An Alternative
When talking about Afghanistan today, we need to always remember, and reiterate, that the Taliban (whom we were arming and dealing with until weeks before 9/11), after 9/11 made many public statements that they were willing to turn over Osama bin Laden if the U.S. provided evidence, not proof but evidence, that he was involved in the attacks of 9/11.
We opted for war instead. Twenty years of war, fame and spotlight for U.S. war leaders, wealth for America’s many war manufacturers and the solidification of their presence in our economy, the building and control of oil and gas pipelines in Central Asia, and a military foothold just that much closer to, as Kissinger called it in the 1970’s, “the soft underbelly” of the Soviet Union, that is of course now, with many “strands” conveniently broken off from it, just Russia. A country surrounded on almost all sides by U.S. and “NATO” military bases. But I guess they are the aggressors. I’m still trying to figure that one out…
I would encourage your readers to visit the websites of Veterans For Peace and Codepink (you will be led to many more useful sites) for a plethora of current information and analysis on Afghanistan. Additionally, Amy Goodman and Democracy Now! have recent incredible interviews, as does Michael Moore with Medea Benjamin. Many, many U.S. veterans are speaking out, right now, about the last 20 years of war.
In the traumatic wake of 9/11 20 years ago, many, many Americans knew that war was not the answer. Millions around the world eventually took to the streets to prevent war. They were right then, and they are correct in their prescriptions for today. Listen to them for once.
The Planet can’t handle the climatic changing effects of war and militarism, and humanity can’t handle the endless murder of each other.
Two other efforts I would steer your readers to would of course be the events of our 6th annual L.A. Harbor Peace Week, as well as Codepink’s online 20th anniversary 9/11 event, “Never Forget: 20 Years of the U.S. War on Terror.” Details of each can be found at codepink.org
We offer these resources and actions in Good Faith, (a good ol’ Union bargaining phrase, no?), in the hope that Americans believe-in themselves-that we are so much better than this. Check it out. What does one have to lose except perhaps, one’s prejudice against peace?
Rachel Bruhnke, Codepink, San Pedro
Life-long Democrat
I’m a life-long Democrat.
I was of legal age to cast my first vote for JFK in 1960.
But today, I’m holding off casting my “No” vote on the recall ballot. Why? I’m waiting for the Democratic establishment to shed its hubris and provide a “Plan B” for those of us who want to hedge our bets by adding a credible Democrat as the “write-In” candidate on the recall ballot question 2.
May I suggest our Lt. Governor Elena Kounilakis? After all, she already is the duly elected official next in line to succeed Newsom as governor should he die, become disabled, or otherwise unable to complete his term of office.
It’s not yet too late to launch the multi-million $$ marketing campaign that will be necessary to bring this bright, capable, lady to the attention of enough Democrats and Independents to overcome the disinformation campaign that may soon land a Larry Elder in the Governor’s Mansion.
Today’s history lesson is the Gray Davis recall that brought us the Terminator when a perfectly good governor-in-waiting was available in the person of then Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamonte.
History does repeat itself when hubris rules!
This time around, less than 20% of the voting electorate could beat a sitting Governor’s 49.999% of that electorate. Then what? We hold our collective breaths hoping nothing critical happens until November 2022?
Bill Roberson, San Pedro
Ports Conflict At Least, Or Collusion With Gas Drilling Industry
I would sure like to learn more about the slime-ball tactics of the fracked- and drilled-gas industry. I think there is a Polluters Alliance of the ports and frackers.
Take a look at how POLB already, and POLA coming up, have put in TEU fee waivers for LNG trucks.
It should be no surprise AT ALL that POLA and POLB are backing the fracked-gas industry in waiving fees for LNG trucks.
The ports are backing another industry that profits from externalizing its air pollution problem onto the public health. They are on the same side arguing that CEQA should be curbed, that regulations should be less rigorous and enforcement winked at or to be avoided.
Essentially, it is collusion or a conflict of interest as they enable and welcome another polluting industry to fight CARB, AQMD, and add to the bought Democrats in state government who side with the polluters and not the public.
Peter Warren, San Pedro