Re: Turning Pages, Changing Lives-Ednita Kelly’s Passion for Books and Bikes in LA
Thank you Rosie Knight and Random Lengths News for this feature which introduces me to the Wilmington community through my history with the Los Angeles Public Library and my love of CicLAvia. *Yes, I really did play librarian when I was a kid.
Ednita Kelly, Senior Librarian at Los Angeles Public Library
Wilmington
UTLA Call Out Gov. Newsom and His Encampments Clearance Order
“Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order to clear homeless encampments without providing immediate, safe housing alternatives will devastate unhoused families and exacerbate the student homeless crisis in Los Angeles.
As educators, we witness firsthand how the housing crisis disrupts classroom instruction and hinders students’ educational progress. With a third of Los Angeles’ homeless population under the age of 18, the dire impact on our students is evident every day.
Amidst record-high cost of living expenses, a fiercely competitive housing market, and inadequate tenant protections, the lack of financial and mental support has made it increasingly difficult for families to maintain dignified living conditions. Governor Newsom’s cruel decision responds to none of the forces driving California’s cost of living to rise faster than the income of its working people. Furthermore, these actions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, and families of color who, due to decades of systemic racism, suffer from homelessness at significantly higher rates.
We believe every student deserves a safe place to sleep, and it is the government’s duty to ensure quality, accessible housing for all. We urge Governor Newsom to take immediate action to address this crisis, and its root causes, with compassion and justice, not punishment and neglect.”
Alexandra Catsoulis
United Teachers Los Angeles
Hoping for Self-Sufficient Power Grid to Tackle Rising Energy Demands and Emission Goals
I wanted to share this WSJ article with you. Our Homeowners have consistently testified to the need for the port’s to engage in the creation of their own power grid. It became obvious last year a few times during hot days when the Governor instructed ports to shut down access to electrical amping on the terminals that this is a big issue.
Many years ago now, an engineer from Austria promoted the concept of the ports employing a massive effort to engage in such a grid by using solar, wind and wave energy…..all of which could be easily accessed by their locations. He also promoted the idea of a mag lev train operation within the port complex that could generate energy from the metal to metal wheel contact on the rail tracks. The combined energy sources may well be enough to support port operations. If not, using these options could assist greatly in supporting energy needs. The Feds funding has now given the ports an opportunity to seize this option. Obviously, these electrical needs are only going to increase as more ships begin amping, and “if” we are sincere in the goal of reducing emissions ….including Carbon….then it becomes imperative that we take such an action.
I’m hoping that CARB, AQMD and the Ports themselves begin to move in a direction that will begin the process of serious implementation of this concept. If that does not happen then any progress that we have made with the amping of ships will fail to deliver the improved air quality and environmental gains we have all been aiming for.
I hope that you will carefully consider this action and push for establishing independent port electrical grids.
Janet Schaaf Gunter
San Pedro