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Welcome to “The Kill Zone”

Reporters Desk

July 1, 2025

Life and Death, Courtesy of Jones Chemicals in the Harbor Gateway

By Rick Thomas, Columnist and Harbor Gateway Community Activist

They call themselves “neighbors.”

And wanted us to respond to them using the same title.

“Them” being Jones Chemicals, Inc., that is.

Neighbors?

How about… polluters?

Residents learned at a recent Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council meeting, hosted at Councilman Tim McOsker’s new field office at the Enclave, that Jones Chemicals, Inc. wants to introduce itself to the community.

More on the Enclave as you continue reading… but drumroll please… “Let’s bring to the stage… Jones Chemicals, Inc.!”

For those of us who live in Harbor Gateway, Jones Chemicals, Inc. hasn’t brought goodwill or welcome mats.

Jones Chemicals, Inc.?

They’ve brought nothing more than danger. And misery. And chaos.

They are nothing more than environmental polluters.

Not neighbors.

Jones Chemicals’ footprint is just steps from the modular-built Cheryl Green Boys & Girls Club facility, because the soil is too contaminated for permanent foundations. Also, I live in that neighborhood. What the Del Amo Action Committee now calls “The Kill Zone.”

It’s called “The Kill Zone” because of that environmental polluter known as Jones Chemicals, Inc. The place where toxins seep into the ground, cloud the air, and kill residents in the Harbor Gateway.

But silence echoes in the chambers of City Hall.

Until now.

Thanks to the Del Amo Action Committee — DAAC for short — residents are finally organizing.

But let me be clear: one mistake from Jones Chemicals, Inc. dumping chemicals here, one lapse in containment or oversight, and the results could be catastrophic.

I want more Christmases. More time to sing along with The Whispers: “And this Christmas will be a very special Christmas… for me.”

But that future isn’t promised — not here.

Not in “The Kill Zone.”

Cancel Christmas, pal.

Politicians are shaking hands with corporations like Jones Chemicals, Inc., while those same corporations are poisoning us as law enforcement institutions cling to the motto “to protect and serve” — but who, exactly, are they protecting and serving?

Apparently not us.

Here in the “The Kill Zone,” families breathe and step onto chemicals they can’t even pronounce. Children walk past fenced-off “cleanup sites” on their way to school or to the Cheryl Green Boys & Girls Club. Asthma, rashes and unexplained illnesses have become a way of life for those of us living here.

All from the likes of Jones Chemical, Inc.

For a time, I tried to play the game. I believed maybe, just maybe I could be transactional — trade a little favor by being quiet for a little safety — a little leverage for a little peace of mind.

I thought I could work with the system.

Maybe work within the system.

But I can’t sell out my community in the Harbor Gateway.

I just can’t.

That ain’t me.

And that community, by the way, is stretching into the Harbor City section of Tim McOkser’s Council District 15.

More to come on that.

I’d rather work for free, for the people who actually live here — the ones who actually breathe the toxic air and walk on the toxic ground, rather than sell out to weak politicians.

Or sell out to those who are supposed to protect and serve.

Because they are killing us, slowly but surely. Murdering the safety of our communities…

And it’s unacceptable.

There’s no negotiating with rot that allows a company like Jones Chemicals, Inc. to operate just feet from children’s playgrounds and homes.

It’s not a negotiation.

It’s a fight.

I won’t tell the whole story, but I will give a hint or two on what may be coming. But until our air is clean, our soil is safe, and our children can play without fear of contamination, the Del Amo Action Committee isn’t backing down.

And neither am I.

Let’s circle back to that neighborhood council meeting at Tim McOsker’s new office, located in the ultra-modern retail/office complex on 190th Street. You’ve probably driven past the Enclave, but if you blink, you’ll miss it. There’s Nook, the popular coffee shop, Trademark Brewery, the Long Beach Fish Grill (still on my to-do list), and one of my favorites — 123 Pho.

This place is cool.

Buzzing.

Optimistic.

But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see what’s festering beneath the surface of this office complex. Because guess who rents office space at the Enclave along with Councilman Tim McOsker?

Jones Chemicals, Inc.

The environmental polluters.

That’s right — Councilmember McOsker’s office is on the first floor, and Jones Chemicals?

Ninth floor.

Same building.

Same air.

I don’t need PhD-level intelligence to do the math here. Truly my minus-7 credits in a baccalaureate degree in political science at Temple University are enough education for me to be able to read between the lines.

Mama didn’t raise no fool!

Brings to mind the phrase, “There are no secrets in life, just hidden truths that lie beneath the surface.”

That quote comes from an appropriate character in the Showtime television series Dexter. The lead character was a serial killer, so he fits right in with what’s going on with the environmental polluters known as Jones Chemicals, Inc.

I liked Dexter when it was on Showtime, but watching it is different than, well, living it.

At the neighborhood council meeting, sitting right in front of me was Tim Ross, vice president of operations for Jones Chemicals, Inc. He looked familiar, and for a moment I couldn’t place him.

But then it clicked — Tim Ross from Jones Chemicals, Inc. manages the trucks I’ve seen rolling through residential streets, transporting hazardous materials.

I’ve met him before.

That was the first time he was rude to me.

So, when it came time for questions, of course I spoke up. With all the sarcasm I could muster, I asked, “Oh, so your trucks are the ones — marked with ‘JCI’ — driving illegally down residential streets, past children and families and cats and dogs and chickens and ducks and veterans and yes, even gangbangers, right?”

Alright, I embellished a bit, but you see my point.

He didn’t like that.

Not one bit.

But guess what, Tim Ross?

I don’t care.

This community has fought hard to stop tractor trailers and other big rigs from using residential streets to get to the freeways to make their deliveries. We understand fully where we live and that it’s not going to get any better. More real estate is now available for other trucking firms to locate in the Harbor Gateway.

It’s a byproduct of where we reside.

But we don’t have to live in “The Kill Zone.”

We’re going to see a lot of trucks in the hood. We worked with the trucking companies on Denker Avenue to stay the hell off residential streets in the Harbor Gateway. The Los Angeles Police Department collaborated with this community to put up signage to prevent that nasty practice from continuing.

So then I learned from Tim Ross that Jones Chemicals, Inc. was given the OK to roll down residential streets. So, I asked the question aloud, “Who gave you, Jones Chemicals, Inc., permission to go down residential streets in our community?”

I didn’t like the answer. But I can be transactional if I get what I need to protect members of my community. So it’s not about me.

For now.

Back to that neighborhood council meeting.

After my question, Tim Ross from Jones Chemicals, Inc. went on a slight tirade.

He was rude to me, again.

“Our trucks don’t come down those streets and if you see any of our trucks going down those streets, I will fire that driver!” he shouted.

“All right, calm down fool,” I said.

OK I said that to myself. I’m a runner not a fighter.

“Um, Tim Ross from Jones Chemicals, Inc.? Would you like to see the photos… of your trucks… going down Del Amo Boulevard?”

Pissed off. I left. I was done.

Everything stinks here as Jones Chemicals, Inc., the polluters in the Harbor Gateway, are the developers of the so-called “The Kill Zone.” Maybe I should have asked, “Why the hell is Jones Chemicals, Inc., the polluters, not our neighbor, introducing themselves to a community of residents that they are killing?”

In a text that night I wrote to Councilman McOsker about what took place in HIS office.

“I am just stunned.”

Environmental polluters… Jones Chemicals, Inc.

Tim McOsker texted back that he would take care of it in the morning. I texted, “If this were San Pedro we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

There were a lot more words in that conversation. But it’s just another example of how the elected leaders and those that are supposed to be looking out for the best interest of the communities they represent, don’t.

They just don’t.

But “We don’t give up until the clock says zero.” Sports verbiage I heard this year from an NBA all star who competed to the point where he will miss a full year of future contests and competition because of a torn achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA championship.

You don’t give up “until the clock says zero.”

“… our office has received numerous concerns from residents regarding truck traffic associated with your facility along Del Amo Boulevard,” Councilman Tim McOsker wrote in a letter to Tim Ross at Jones Chemicals, Inc.

“Our office will be coordinating with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to install the appropriate signage along Del Amo Boulevard to ensure compliance and improve safety and quality of life for nearby residents,” he continued.

I guess sometimes you gotta be a prick, and well, rude, to get shit done.

“Continued violations may result in further enforcement action.”

Well, that could have been a bit stronger, Tim. I might have written something like, “Continued violations WILLresult in further enforcement action.”

Jones Chemicals, Inc. is killing human beings in the Harbor Gateway.

There’s no “may result” rather “will” result.

Jones Chemicals, Inc. went through an Environmental Protection Agency inspection in 2024 and the EPA determined that Jones Chemicals, Inc. had seven… I repeat, seven “areas of concern” that needed to be addressed at their Harbor Gateway facility.

Seven “areas of concern.”

Seven.

Just one area of concern is troubling enough. But seven?

That’s just this location.

Do a search for Jones Chemicals, Inc. and another one of their environmental polluting sites pops up. This is in Caledonia, New York. From the EPA report on issues at that location they wrote, “Spills occurred during the transfer and repackaging of many of these chemicals, contaminating soils and groundwater with hazardous chemicals.”

Jones Chemicals, Inc. are long time, serial, environmental polluters because this report in Caledonia, New York was written by the EPA back in 1986.

Yeah, these are the guys I want to be in bed with so let’s welcome them into the neighborhood, right?

No.

I can easily say no.

In future posts I will focus on the Del Amo Action Committee with respect to Jones Chemicals, Inc. The Del Amo Action Committee wants Jones Chemicals, Inc. shut down.

The community wants them shut down as well.

“As we proceed,” in the words of the philosopher Biggie Smalls, I will share the response to a letter sent to Jeffrey Jones, chairman and CEO of Jones Chemicals, Inc. Said letter was sent by Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents our community now.

“… the most recent EPA inspection found the company failed to maintain their responsibilities as required by federal law, “ she wrote about their Harbor Gateway location.

Jones Chemicals, Inc. must respond back to her in 60 days from the May 22, 2025 correspondence.

Not “may” respond.

Must.

I’ve met Rep. Nanette Barragán.

Several times.

Um, quick note to Jeffrey Jones, Jones Chemicals, Inc. chairman and CEO…

PSSST!

I would respond back to her sooner rather than later if I were you.

Stay tuned.

This is just the pilot… maybe I should pitch this story to Showtime.

I know.

This is not funny.

In a time where I just want to produce Christian stand up comedy shows and heartwarming content about military wives on military bases saving lost dogs, I gotta deal with the mess about Jones Chemicals, Inc. polluting our community.

OK then, I will.

This is just the first episode of many more episodes to come concerning the drama and the tragedy known as “The Kill Zone,” directed and produced in surround sound, Technicolor and IMAX by the environmental polluters in the Harbor Gateway known as Jones Chemicals, Inc.

Airport Workers Push For Alternative Jet Fuels

Paul Rosenberg

October 11, 2023

Airport Workers Push For Alternative Jet Fuels

Unlike the controversies over bio-fuels, there’s virtual unanimity for including jet fuel in the overall phase-out of fossil fuels in California’s transportation sector. The only questions are “Will it begin quickly?” and “Will it be done right?” Dozens of union airport workers, including union officers, showed up at the California Air Resources Board public hearing on the Low Carbon Fuel Standards update on September 28 to demand that it will.

“I developed pneumonia, asthma, and diabetes. I have respiratory problems,” said Oscar Antonio, a 23-year airport worker. “I am exposed to airplane fumes all day long,” said LAX cargo worker David Goddard. “On really bad days, I have trouble catching my breath and it’s difficult to breathe. A lot of my coworkers have developed asthma and breathing problems.”

“In 2019, I was diagnosed with COPD. No, I’m not a smoker, but I guess I breathe jet fuel on a daily,” said Jovan Houston, LAX worker and SEIU-USWW executive board member.

COPD, or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common lung disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems.

“I live seven minutes from LAX. So when I lay in my bed at night, I see jet fuel flying, dumping over my house. This is the type of air that I breathe on a daily basis.”

“Even though I work inside the terminal, my job at the airport exposes me to air pollution that impacts my health and the health of my coworkers,” said security officer Davonni Sturdivant. “I have asthma and the pollution and smell of the fumes that I am exposed to on the job definitely makes it worse. The fumes come into the terminal sometimes and I have trouble breathing and I get bad headaches and migraines from it.”

“SEIU members are here in solidarity with other black immigrant communities fighting for environmental justice,” said Armando M. “We support the farm worker communities fighting to end air pollution from methane crediting. We stand in solidarity with the communities living near pollution jet fuel refineries. We are suffering from the same health impacts.”

How quickly and strictly CARB acts in response will become apparent in the months ahead.

Read the main story of this sidebar.

LA County Assessor Prang ― What LA County Residents Need to Now About Their Property Taxes

RLn

October 11, 2023

LA County Assessor Prang ― What LA County Residents Need to Now About Their Property Taxes

Over the past three years, California has lost nearly a million people to states like Texas due to the housing affordability crisis. It’s bad enough that during a time when folks are concerned about generational wealth and passing on assets to their children without being taxed into oblivion, Californians passed two tax-related amendments over the past three years. It will be three if the repeal of the voter-enacted changes to property tax rules for transfers between family members gains enough signatures in time for the 2024 November ballot.

Last month, Random Lengths News publisher James Allen interviewed Los Angeles County Property Assessor Jeffrey Prang about these stress points and more. The interview can be viewed at www.randonlengthsnews.com.

Prang was first elected to County Assessor’s office in 2014, but before that, he served on West Hollywood’s city council for nearly 18 years.

“I also have been working in the public sector for most of my adult life. I was a city administrator,” Prang said. “I spent a number of years in the City of Los Angeles, working for the city council and then later at the Department of Animal Services.”

Among the topics of conversation between the two was the disparity in the way the state treats wealthy families and corporations in regard to property assessments.

Oftentimes corporations with long-term leases with the Port of Los Angeles would sell or merge with another corporation without necessarily triggering a reassessment in the same way a homeowner would when selling his primary residence. Like when Union Oil sold its refinery to ConocoPhillips.

One would think that the sale of a refinery would trigger that kind of assessment because it’s basically a transfer of property. But it doesn’t. This is true for all of the many different properties that are held by a corporation that buys another corporation. As a result, the people of the county and the state are actually being shortchanged behind these corporate sales.

Prang agreed, noting that under California law, in order for a sale or transfer of property to cause a reassessment, 50% ownership has to change.

“This is actually a loophole that really only benefits corporate entities where they transfer less than 50% of an asset, sometimes over a period of time, and not trigger a reassessment,” Prang said. “So they can keep the property taxes low.”

Prang highlighted Michael Dell’s 2006 purchase of Fairmount Hotel in Santa Monica, the CEO of Dell Technologies. The hotel was assessed somewhere around $80 million, but the new market value of that hotel was closer to a quarter billion dollars.

That would have been almost a three-time increase in property taxes. So instead of purchasing the property to take full ownership, Dell assembled a limited liability company, or LLC, where he and members of his family purchased a minority share, and then that LLC purchased the hotel. Because no one individual or entity got 50% ownership, it was not considered to be a transfer even though 100% control of the hotel changed, the law determined that 50% ownership did not change. Thus, it was not really assessable.

“That’s really inequitable,” Prang said. “It’s the part of the system that really needs to be changed.

Even the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the defenders of Prop. 13, indicated that the law was not intended to create strategies to evade taxation. It was intended to stabilize taxation. Prop. 13 is the 1978 California Constitutional amendment that rolled back most local real estate assessments to 1975 market value levels, limited the property tax rate to 1 percent plus the rate necessary to fund local voter-approved bonded indebtedness, and limited future property tax increases to a maximum of 2% per year.

“This 50% rule is done by statute,” Prang said. “So they can pass a law that says, those properties can be reassessed, but no one has been able to get it done.”

Prang surmises that advocates in favor of reforming Prop. 13 don’t want to do it piecemeal.

“They want the whole thing to go away,” Prang said. “They are afraid that if they just take little pieces of it to try to fix those broken pieces they will lose their momentum toward greater reform.”

Prang said he doesn’t agree with that perspective.

“I’ve been in government now for most of my adult life and I’ve learned sometimes the incremental approach to change, though not very satisfying, is the best way.”

The career administrator noted that Prop. 13 is so polarizing, that it’s almost impossible to have a rational conversation. It’s not as if there isn’t consensus in the state legislature, Prang said.

“There’s this legal corporate loophole, which allows them to transfer property without being reassessed. There are very few people who think that’s a fair and equitable system,” Prang said.

“If we can agree in Sacramento that there is a solution to that and address it, maybe we can look at other elements of the law that might also need to be looked at. We just need to have all sides recognize that no law is perfect.”

Prang argues that this zero-sum state of politics in regard to Prop. 13 is what leads to poorly crafted legislation having unintended consequences. He called the 2020 Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment known as Prop. 19,a dumpster fire.

“It’s an absolute crappy piece of legislation rushed through the legislature in the last week of the legislative session,” Prang said. “They didn’t do their due diligence. They didn’t vet it through expert assessors who are responsible for administering it.”

Prang noted that after Prop. 19’s passage, his office spent the next couple of months trying to dissect it and find out what they could and could not do to implement it.

“The legislature gave us two months to put it into effect,” Prang said. “I can tell you that we could not have done it in less than 12 months. Eighteen to 24 months was much more realistic because it totally changed the way we operate. [The legislature] didn’t give us any resources in terms of personnel or money even though it changed the way that our operation works.

“So let me tell you what Prop. 19 does. It does two things. One is, I think a lot of people would think it’s beneficial … it allows seniors over the age of 55, the disabled, and people who are victims of natural disasters like a flood or earthquake to transfer their property taxes when they sell their home and buy a new one. So if you owned your home since 1990 and have a relatively low tax base, you can buy a new house and take that tax base with you. So you’re not going to pay new taxes in your new more expensive home. It allows you to move anywhere in the state of California to buy a home of any value and to transfer that tax base three times, or if you’re married — six times, so the tax base becomes portable.

“So seniors, especially, want that sort of stability. The challenge with that is you lose revenue by stabilizing those taxes, so local governments were very concerned. So, what the authors did to compensate, and they didn’t talk about this publicly because it’s not very popular, but they eviscerated family inheritance benefits,” Prang said. “Under the old law, if you were a parent and you want to leave your property to your children, you can leave them your home and up to a million dollars and other property, without being assessed. So, your kids will have a tax increase. Prop. 19 rolled a lot of that back. Under Prop. 19, the only property that your children can inherit without reassessment is your primary residence. There are some conditions to that. So for them to adhere to your home and the tax base one, they have to move into that house within 12 months and they have to file the homeowner’s exemption and as long as they want that tax base to continue, they must live there in perpetuity.

Secondly, it puts a cap on how much value of that home can be transferred to the children that would be exempt from taxes or transfer the old tax base. The rule of thumb is that if the house is worth less than a million dollars, you will inherit the home and your taxes will remain the same if it’s over a million dollars. The median sales price of a single-family home in LA County is about $900,000 ― that’s half the properties in the county. The value over 1 million dollars will be assessed at market value. The first million dollars, you’ll inherit your parents’ rate over a million dollars, and you’ll get a market rate. And for those people who inherit their parents’ home and don’t plan to live in it, that home will be reassessed to market rate which may cause them to have to sell the property, Prang explained.

Indeed, the past August, the California Attorney General’s office released the Repeal of Voter-Enacted Changes To Property Tax Rules For Transfers Between Family Members. The initiative has to gain 874,641 valid signatures in order to get on the November 2024 ballot. The deadline is Feb. 20.

October Art Walk ― The Lights, Sights, and Sounds of First Thursday in San Pedro

Culture

RLn

October 11, 2023

October Art Walk ― The Lights, Sights, and Sounds of First Thursday in San Pedro

By Baraka Noel

A sky tinged with lilac blessed the journey to 6th Street. Cooling air, a welcome respite from the day’s
heat.

Leashed dogs. The trolley. A gentle breeze animating flags around the neighborhood. Curbs lined
with trash bins and dogs barking, distantly. Birds flocking to rooftops. Lights hung festively across
the avenue.

Young folk in black t-shirts, carrying skateboards. Masks on a few faces. Folks talking on the street.
“What’s your dream job?” A lively back and forth. “Dream? That means, like, everything … right?”
The Tuna Fish Painting Co. held a pop-up shop by The Crazy Fish Grill, bookended by Salsas
Chingona and Latina Baker’s spooky desserts in their street vendoring debut.

Fresh copies of Record Collector magazine were delivered outside the Grand Emporium. A sign by Heart’s Respond welcomed visitors to a small gathering, where a fellow in a little chair drew upon an easel while a few musicians tuned their instruments.

One couldn’t help but notice the conviviality of Compagnon Wine Bistro. Thomas Compagnon
shared his strong opinion that First Thursday “takes all the parking away… pushes our regulars
away.” He explained, “Even though we were busy last night, that wasn’t always the case for First
Thursday… to give more incentive they have to come up with new ideas and have more art galleries
open later. The last few months, it’s been pretty low… We’re better off any given Thursday… I
think it’s a great event… It’s been going on for so long … Enough of the food trucks being close to
the restaurants… If people are going to be coming for the food trucks; it shouldn’t be called the art
walk. It should be the food truck festival.”

Thomas went on to talk about his restaurant. A “french bistro in downtown San Pedro … French
food … everything from scratch, including all the stocks and braising… local supplies … We use
Alma Farms, a local farm located behind Target. They are becoming a big part of the community
[with] kids programs … teaching kids to grow and plant.”

Friendly conversation bubbled out from the curated fancy of the Art and Curiosities Shop.
Art appreciators mingled in hushed tones at Menduina Schneider. The gallery’s curators, Alejandra
and Jorge Schneider asked passersby to “immerse [themselves] in the magic of finding works that not
only will marvel … but also transform.”

A band called Douglas was booked to play outside, on the corner of 6th and Mesa. Their Boogie amp
stacked onto a Fender. Their bassist locked in with his drummer, back turned on a public who
filtered the performance through lit phone screens.

The singer warned his audience to “hold on, it’s almost here” as a large brown shaggy dog arrived;
tongue bouncing to the tempo. “Hold on, it’s coming.”

Listeners hovered nearby. One barefoot dancer holding a stuffed monkey. The air of a club, waiting
for the drop. By the food trucks, a crackling loudspeaker blared out: “Nine!”

Curbside, the incongruous offerings of Cousins Maine Lobster. Grilled cheese seafood and their
hypnotic video loop, like something in the realm of Philip K. Dick. Surrounded by smiling families
and wise-eyed adolescents; a screen displayed its narrative concerning cousins, Jimmy and Sabine.
Hobnobbing with the likes of Jon Favreau and Freddie Prinze Jr, thanks to their success on Shark
Tank.

The street vendor block party went on: Inglourious Funnels. Crepes Bonaparte. Deli Doctor. Bison
Burger. Eagle Rock BBQ.

Down the block, a man seemed to prophesize. “They know when a new ice age is coming,”
murmured the solitary elder gentleman. LA Harbor’s Masonic Lodge manned a table outside
Goodfellas sports bar.

Further along, sidewalk capoeiristas chanted melodies against percussive polyrhythms.
Tambourines, maracas and atabaque. Maculeles held upright. Scooters and skaters. Street
musicians, representing Capoeira Batuque South Bay.

Arteluta Capoeira's monthly Roda at the First Thursday Art Walk. Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala — Arteluta Capoeira’s monthly Roda at the First Thursday Art Walk. Photo by Arturo Garcia-Ayala

Buono’s offered up free slices on their corner of Centre St. An instant hotspot; teens chasing one
another, sharing tater tots.

Off The Wall Art Designs opened its doors with a candy offering. Saucer eyed owl in the window.
Gregory Koosed welcomed visitors and heralded Halloween. A spunky gallery; its signature texture
and cobbled-together style. The two-wheeled muscle power of a versus bike and splash-toned
Interceptor motorcycle on display by the front entrance. Outside, passersby were greeted with
candy and warnings of thievery.

Nearby, next to Crimsin Cocktails stood a Tim Burtonesque purple-clad scarecrow slash skeleton.
Cake pops, baked with love, hawked on the sidewalk by mobile young vendors. What appeared to be
a child-run mini bodega out front of Badfish Clothing Company. Cinnamon buns served up in the
entrance of Old School Vintage.

The singer from Douglas inquired, “Anybody seen any UFOs lately?” before an ode to hitting ‘Rock
Bottom’. The First Thursday sidewalks were resplendent with Hello Kitty and Pokemon, totes and
mini satchels; laughter and moving shadows. Earrings for sale.

A cheerful Red Cross Club posed for photographs beside Sunken City Books. In an adjacent tent,
visitors were met with offerings of bubble tea. Gostosas catering truck nestled away from the
sparkling lights of town as the Roundtrip Collective displayed their wares.

Jovial friends consoled each other, “It’s not always sunny, but it will be tomorrow.”

Backdoor Studios invited entrance into the workspace of Jules Wolfe and her lushly colored denim
jackets. She shared her process. “Oil on canvas. Everyone thinks they’re acrylics, but they’re not …
Oil is more vibrant, more rich. Acrylics dry, and your brushes get wrecked.”

Out in the hall, hung a stark unframed canvas of wheat-pasted news and magazine clippings. Fresh
rosemary for interested pedestrians.

Meeting goers piled out of the Grand Annex Concert Hall. A man in sunglasses, on a bicycle,
tendered an invitation to The Sardine’s newly opened next-door space. Douglas gained traction with
a mix of locals caught in the groove. Karaoke echoed from Brouwerij West.

The trolley stopped at Mesa and 7th; passing Godmother’s Saloon and approaching the harbor.
Rhythm and blues-laced pop sounds serenaded the smattering of convivial travelers.

Trios of dark-haired teenagers climbed aboard. A night of masks and painted faces. An impromptu
sidewalk capoeira crowd swelled. The trolley’s driver, Tony, stopped at 10th and Mesa.
And night continued, as everybody moved along their path.

Port of Long Beach Awarded $20 Million for Pier Wind

Terelle Jerricks

October 15, 2025

Port of Long Beach Awarded $20 Million for Pier Wind

The Port of Long Beach Oct. 8 was awarded $20 million by the California Energy Commission to fund the ongoing development of Pier Wind, a proposed 400-acre terminal to assemble and deploy floating offshore wind turbines.

As the largest recipient of the agency’s offshore wind energy waterfront facility improvement program from state bond funding, the Port of Long Beach will match $11 million to complete engineering, environmental, business planning and community outreach requirements needed to begin construction on Pier Wind. The proposed $4.7 billion facility aims to help California meet a goal of generating 25 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2045 – enough to power 25 million homes statewide.

“Our Pier Wind project will ensure California’s offshore wind energy goals are achieved,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We thank the California Energy Commission for funding the Pier Wind project, which will enhance the nation’s energy independence and strengthen the electric grid to support electrification investments across the supply chain.”

The grant funding came from Proposition 4, the climate bond measure approved in 2024 by California voters which set aside $475 million for port infrastructure projects connected to offshore wind development. The Port of Long Beach will seek additional Proposition 4 proceeds for Pier Wind as the state releases those funds.

Pier Wind would allow for the staging, storage and assembly of some of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, standing as tall as the Eiffel Tower. The fully assembled turbines would be towed by sea from the Port of Long Beach to wind lease areas 20 to 30 miles off the coast in Central and Northern California.

The proposed project is undergoing extensive environmental review by local, state and federal regulatory agencies as the Port of Long Beach gathers input from the community. Construction could start as soon as 2027, with the first 200 acres completed in 2031, and the final 200 acres coming online in 2035. A recent preliminary economic impact report found that Pier Wind could create more than 6,000 jobs and generate $8 billion in labor income, $14.5 billion in economic output and $1.3 billion in state and local taxes between now and 2045.

Details: click here.

Vincent Thomas Bridge Closing Overnight For Inspections

Reporters Desk

October 13, 2025

Vincent Thomas Bridge Closing Overnight For Inspections

On Oct. 10, Caltrans announced that the Vincent Thomas Bridge will be fully shutting down for four nights, nonconsecutively, for inspections. The bridge will be closed in both directions betweem Ferry Street and Harbor Boulevard from 10:15 p.m. to 6:45 a.m., on the following dates: Monday, Oct. 20, Tuesday, Oct. 21, Monday, Oct. 27, and Tuesday, Oct. 28.

In addition, the the northbound State Route 47 (SR-47) on-ramp at Harbor Boulevard and the southbound SR-47 on-ramp at Ferry Street will be closed at these times.

Traffic will be diverted from northbound Interstate 110 (I-110) to eastbound State Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1), and southbound SR-47 to westbound SR-1.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge previously had partial closures from Aug. 26 to Aug. 28 for repairs. However, during two of the three nights, at least one lane in each direction was still in use.

The bridge will soon close for a much longer period, as plans are underway to close it partially or fully to completely replace the deck of the bridge. Current plans will see most of the bridge’s traffic redirected to Wilmington.

No Kings, No Fear

Reporters Desk

October 13, 2025

Indivisible Calls America to Peaceful Action on October 18

By Ezra Levin, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Indivisible and

Peter Warren, Indivisible San Pedro

This is an answer to the Trump administration’s lies about Indivisible, and it is a call to action. We are a peaceful, people-powered movement challenging the administration’s authoritarian actions against the people of the United States.

We are courageous activists organizing in every state and nearly every congressional district — red, blue, and purple. We’re in the cities Trump is invading and the rural areas he promised to fight for, but now attacks.

There is nothing an authoritarian fears more than peaceful, organized people power. That’s why the White House is now turning its sights on us.

You may have seen reporting from Reuters or heard new rumors circulating in the media that Trump’s administration is preparing to target Indivisible alongside other organizations. We don’t have all the details, but it appears they’re gearing up to smear us with ludicrous accusations that we’re somehow tied to violence at protests — a claim that’s as false as it is predictable. These stories, and the rumors around them, are all part of the same authoritarian playbook: discredit, divide, and intimidate people into silence a week before the Oct. 18 No Kings protests.

Let’s call this what it is: a baseless attempt by an authoritarian regime to chill free speech, to scare people from exercising their constitutional rights.

Here’s the truth:

Indivisible has been committed to nonviolence from the very beginning. It’s a core principle, not just a talking point. Our events prohibit weapons; we’ve trained thousands of people in de-escalation; and we expect every Indivisible event host and participant to uphold our commitment to peaceful protest.

Peaceful protest is our strength. Movements that last, movements that win, are disciplined, courageous, and grounded in values. That’s how we’ve beaten authoritarian movements before in this country, and that’s how we’ll beat Trump’s MAGA agenda.

And none of that matters to Trump, because this is simply meant to chill free speech. The timing is not accidental. By floating false allegations of violence, Trump’s White House is trying to scare people away from exercising their constitutional rights. We won’t let them succeed.

Here’s what we need from you:

Keep organizing. Don’t let this smear distract you. The best response to attacks on our rights is to exercise our rights. And that means showing up in huge numbers on Oct. 18. If you haven’t yet made plans to attend an event happening near you, start planning now.

Reaffirm our principles. Share Indivisible’s nonviolence commitment with your friends, family, and fellow Indivisible group members. Make sure everyone knows: We show up firmly, strategically, and peacefully.

Stay safe and disciplined. In the lead-up to No Kings, we’re working with our partners on several safety, Security, and de-escalation training sessions. Sign up for an upcoming training here, or catch up with the ones you’ve missed.

Trump and Stephen Miller want us afraid. They want us divided. But we are building this movement together, across race, class, and geography, and we know that’s the only way to win.

We’re not backing down. We’ll see you in the streets on Oct 18.

Reverberations, On View at Sala Gallery San Pedro

Melina Paris

October 10, 2025

Reverberations, On View at Sala Gallery San Pedro

Let your imagination play at SALA Gallery San Pedro. SALA, born of local artist Amy Thornberry and friends, unites to share art and ideas in a friendly homey environment. The mission of Sala Gallery is to build community through sharing and enjoying art.

Reverberations, on view at SALA, or Thornberry’s home near San Pedro High School, has recently been extended to Nov. 1. Sala is Spanish for living room which fits well with Thornberry’s mission and is a good antidote for our worldly concerns.

As you enter the living room of the home gallery, two pieces that look as though they were made for their fresh and calm surroundings will attract your attention.

Beth Elliot’s installation piece Lifeboat resembles a cradle – of sorts. She works with natural elements such as palm fronds for many of her works. Lifeboat is a mixed media piece of natural elements hanging from swirling hardware and features a seabird and other charming accents telling the story of this little vessel through Elliot’s whimsical imagination.

Algea Blooms Nancy Voegeli Curran Sp E1760146728743 — Nancy Voegeli-Curran stands next to her “Algae Blooms.” Photo courtesy of Amy Thornberry.

Algae Blooms by Nancy Voegeli-Curran is another mixed media work that blossoms with delicate, powdery surfaces in primarily earthy greens and yellow. Her unique works feature lush colors and always call attention to our precarious environment, beautifully so.

Also on view are Thornberry’s abstract window boxes featuring a mixture of collage and paint, notably painted on the outside of the window box glass, creating intriguing, often surprising works.

Abstract Window Box, mixed media by Amy Thornberry

Other works are displayed in various rooms throughout the home and Thornberry is an outgoing and welcoming host who is enthusiastic about showing her guests around.

Both Elliot and Voegeli-Curran have studios at Angels Gate Cultural Center. Thornberry is a movie set painter and yogi who moved to San Pedro in 2000 to join Angels Gate Cultural Center and study with Marie Thibeault, Linda Day, Fran Siegel and Carol Shaw-Sutton at California State University, Long Beach.

“These amazing women artists drew me in,” said Thornberry. “I then got my degree and raised my daughter here … art got a little bit of a back seat.”

Now, with her daughter grown and Thornberry recently returned from a post pandemic hiatus and really craving community, she decided to call up some artist friends and start SALA.

Festive Opening Photos Beth Elliot Lifeboat Piece — SOLA;s Festive opening. Photo courtesy of Amy Thornberry.

“I love this art community by the sea,” Thornberry added.

Time: Reverberations runs to Nov. 1

Details: Contact: 424-232-5812; amytberry65@icloud.com to make an appointment

Venue: SALA, 1055 w 17th St., San Pedro

“Is ICE Planning My Deportation? A Citizen’s Crisis in a Post-Constitutional America”

Reporters Desk

October 10, 2025

“Is ICE Planning My Deportation? A Citizen’s Crisis in a Post-Constitutional America”

By Dr. Lawrence J. Gist II, Esq.

I was born a citizen of the United States of America. I served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, swore an oath to defend the Constitution, earned multiple degrees, practiced law, and spent years mentoring students as a university professor. I am not a foreign national. I am not a criminal. I am, by every traditional and legal definition, an American citizen.

Yet today, I am no longer sure of my citizenship. And I am not alone.

The question that once would have seemed paranoid or absurd—Is ICE planning my deportation?—now feels tragically reasonable in the era of the Second Trump Administration. In a country that has shed its constitutional skin, adopted extralegal policies, redefined the meaning of loyalty, and weaponized immigration enforcement, the boundaries between citizen and enemy have begun to blur, not because of factual identity but because of ideological nonconformity.

The Shifting Ground of Citizenship —Citizenship, in its truest form, is more than a birth certificate. It is an active covenant—anchored by rights, responsibilities, and legal protections afforded under a Constitution. But if that Constitution is no longer respected, interpreted in good faith, or even operatively applied by those in power, then what remains of the protections it once offered?

Under the current regime’s authoritarian drift, the United States is not simply enduring political turbulence—it is undergoing a structural transformation. Institutions once considered sacred have been gutted, judicial precedent has been overturned by fiat, and executive overreach has become normalized. Dissent is treated not as patriotism but as treason. And the machinery of the state—especially Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—has been increasingly redirected toward domestic control rather than international boundary enforcement.

The terrifying irony is that, as a U.S.-born citizen, I now fear the agency originally created to expel those without lawful presence may be leveraged against those who possess too much constitutional fidelity.

From Republic to Regime: A Legal Transmutation — The Trump Administration’s second term has been marked not by governance within constitutional bounds, but by a rejection of them. Consider the hallmarks:

Illegal executive actions bypassing congressional authority;
Mass purges and political loyalty tests within federal agencies;
Authoritarian rhetoric labeling domestic critics as “enemies of the state”;
Selective prosecutions and retributive enforcement targeting political opponents;
Manipulated naturalization and denaturalization procedures, not on grounds of fraud but political disfavor.

If, as some legal scholars now argue, the United States has ceased to operate as a constitutional republic—having abandoned the rule of law in favor of consolidated executive power—then what does that mean for the legal standing of citizenship acquired under a now-defunct framework?

ICE, Surveillance, and the National Loyalty Complex — In this new quasi-nation, ICE’s mission may no longer be merely about borders. It has become, in many ways, a tool of ideological enforcement. And there are chilling precedents:

The registry and tracking of U.S. citizens based on heritage, faith, or perceived disloyalty;
The targeting of activists, veterans, and legal professionals with surveillance or intimidation;
The creation of detention centers that exist in legal gray zones—some dubbed by activists as “Alligator Alcatrazes,” where due process is suspended in practice if not in name.

Even native-born Americans have been detained by ICE before—some for days, others for months—due to bureaucratic error or willful ignorance. But what happens when error becomes policy? When disagreement becomes disqualification? When the state begins to manufacture the conditions under which it can say, you no longer belong here?

Legal Identity in a Nation of Lies — I hold a valid U.S. passport. I pay taxes. I vote. I taught constitutional law. And still, I find myself wondering if I am now a foreigner in the land of my birth—an alien not by birthright or behavior, but by belief in a Constitution my government no longer honors.

When governments change in substance but not in name, legal identity becomes unmoored from constitutional legitimacy. If the government that exists now is not the one I swore allegiance to as a Marine, does that mean I am no longer bound to it? Or worse, does that mean the current regime may view me as a defector?

In past authoritarian regimes—from Stalinist Russia to Pinochet’s Chile—citizenship did not protect those deemed politically inconvenient. It served only to identify them more precisely for targeting. Legalism was weaponized to strip individuals of their status, their dignity, and their freedom.

That is no longer ancient history. It is present-day potential.

Conclusion: A Citizen’s Warning — I do not write these words lightly. I write them as a scholar, a veteran, and a son of this country. I still love the ideals this nation once stood for, but I cannot pretend that we remain in the same America I was born into.

Citizenship today is no longer assured by birth or service. It is increasingly conditional upon obedience to a regime that has turned the law into a tool of suppression. If the name “United States of America” is retained merely for branding while its core principles are discarded, then we must ask: Who are we now?

And more urgently: What will they do to those of us who remember who we used to be?

Art, Authenticity vs. Hypocrisy Why the Arts Matter to Downtown Communities

James Preston Allen

October 10, 2025

Art, Authenticity vs. Hypocrisy Why the Arts Matter to Downtown Communities

Older downtowns throughout California were struggling before the COVID-19 pandemic; most have not recovered. It’s a huge loss in jobs, wages, and tax base for both cities and the state. This is also true in San Pedro and other parts of the greater Harbor Area.

Vacancy rates are up, small businesses are struggling to survive in general, and civic leaders are confused and will try almost anything to change this decline. Here in San Pedro, the San Pedro Property Owners Alliance has taken to promoting the “night market”, which, for all intents and purposes, is nothing more than a swap meet on the First Thursday, which historically was the art walk and restaurant promotion night. Many are shocked.

At the ArtWalk’s peak, the streets of downtown Pedro were crowded with more than 3,000 people, and it was a great party night. I used to call it “the pay the rent party” for most of the restaurants, but since the pandemic, this has changed.

What the SPPOA has done in a naive attempt to cure this with the night market is absolutely wrong because it destroys the intent of the art scene, and does nothing to actually support the arts in general. So why does this even matter?

Some 20 years ago, I realized what was perfectly obvious to myself and many others, which is that San Pedro has had a very long history of creative arts here. It is what you may call an “organic” arts culture. I wrote up the vision statement to create the San Pedro Arts and Culture District, which was endorsed, embraced, and then ratified by the LA City Council as an official district of Los Angeles.

About this same time, the San Pedro Chamber brought in the Urban Land Institute (a group of urban planners and notable architects) to study the downtown area and offer advice. One of their top three findings was that while other towns have to invent an arts district, we had a vibrant, organic one with hundreds of artists, musicians and craftsmen here. It was considered one of our “assets” along with some of the historic buildings that they recommended be preserved. When the original ACE district was formed under my leadership, the Community Redevelopment District promised and delivered $500,000 to support the arts.

Before the ink was dry on that deal, the leadership of the SPPOA came up to me and promised that they would fund the arts district with more money sooner than the CRA would. That promise never happened, still hasn’t happened, and in the end, the CRA money came through and benefited many artists and arts organizations — it was an investment in the vision. Today, the only vision the SPPOA has is built upon the vagaries of the tourist industry and the promise that the West Harbor is going to be a bigger destination than what Ports O’ Call Village was in the 1970s and 1980s.

In the meantime, San Pedro has attracted the eyes of the speculator development class, who buy up properties and “land bank” them, waiting for the values to rise based upon the great success of the West Harbor development. Many of these business properties lie vacant, dilapidated, or even demolished but never built, and are a blight on the community and its aspiration for economic development.

And what happens is that the “organic arts community” gets threatened with rising rents because of what? There are too many vacant storefronts, which won’t be rented at the rates the landlords are asking, and you’d think that the lack of demand would lower the prices of rent instead of raising them.

So, let’s bring in a cheap night market and only advertise it on social media and not tell anyone local what we are up to. There’s a quote in the Bible that goes, “where there is no vision the people perish,” and sadly, folks, the leadership here has no real vision for the downtown arts district other than as a bullet point on the propaganda to draw tenants to the new developments. I’m sorry to say it, but if you don’t invest in the things and people that you’ve got, you are going to destroy all of the creative things in pursuit of the golden calf on the waterfront.

In other waterfront towns, the leaders recognize and invest in the arts and culture.

“We’re bringing positive energy to downtown Oakland through cultural programming, vibrant public spaces, and thriving small businesses,” said Mayor Barbara Lee. What San Pedro has is authenticity, something other places try to invent, that have no history, that have no cultural context, things that we do.

And yet former LA City Councilman Joe Buscaino, without any historical context, designates one piece of the Downtown as Little Italy, ignoring the 20 or 30 other nationalities and saying that the 5,000 people in Pedro with Italian surnames are the largest collection in California. Now I eat pizza and linguine like anyone else, but I take a certain offense to one group commandeering a piece of my town that historically had more dive bars, whorehouses and gambling joints than any other port town on the West Coast. Designating it as Little Italy is completely ahistorical, and the redevelopment of Pepper Tree Plaza into Piazza Italia is completely absurd — stupid in a word.

It is far past time for the SPPOA, the San Pedro Chamber, and the LA City Council to fund the arts at a sustainable level and for the landlords to understand basic market principles of supply and demand — quit gaming the rents! And while the city seeks a means to fund the arts, perhaps a special tax on vacant properties would be an incentive.

Instead of commandeering First Thursday for a Gypsy Swap Meet just put it on anyone of the other days of the month and let the ArtWalk be the art walk. And then invest just two percent of your budget supporting the arts!

Many Winters Gathering of Elders

Reporters Desk

October 9, 2025

The 19th Many Winters Gathering of Elders (MWGOE) will be held at Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) Oct. 9 to Oct. 12.

The MWGOE is a four-day gathering where Native/Indigenous Elders and knowledge-keepers from across the country gather to share teachings through oral tradition with the community. The Gathering also hosts Native ceremonies throughout the four days. MWGOE is held in partnership with AGCC, open to the public, free to attend and family friendly.

The MWGOE plays a vital role in the Native community of greater Los Angeles, with the participation and support of the original peoples of the land. The vision of the Gathering is to host a sacred space for people to come together, with the intention to listen, learn from and support Indigenous communities, and to inspire a healthier future for all people.

Elders from local tribes including Gabrielino-Shoshone, Gabrieleno Tongva, Acjachemen, Fernandeño Tataviam, Chumash, and other California tribes have attended in the past and will join this October. Tribal Elders from other regions (Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota and others) are expected, as well as Elders from Canada and Mexico.

The Gathering takes place under an arbor which serves as the traditional place of teaching and learning – where Elders pass on knowledge to the younger generation, which is part of intergenerational healing from historical trauma.

The 2025 MWGOE Logo Art was created by artist Jamie Rocha (Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation). This year’s design features a turtle representing North America, or “Turtle Island,” as referred to by many Indigenous people. Read more about this year’s logo here.

During the Many Winters Gathering of Elders, no alcohol, drugs, cameras, pictures, video or other recording equipment are allowed; the MWGOE Organizing Committee requests that attendees respect and observe ceremonial protocol, available on the MWGOE Linktree. No dogs/pets allowed near or around the arbor or sweatlodge areas.

Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct.9 to Oct. 12

Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/MWGOE-2025 And Learn more about MWGOE at: https://linktr.ee/mwgoe

Venue: AGCC, 3601 S Western Ave. San Pedro

Gal Pals & Pet Pals: Storytellers & Rescuers Unite for a Night of Community

Melina Paris

October 9, 2025

Gal Pals & Pet Pals: Storytellers & Rescuers Unite for a Night of Community

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story listed the date of Gala as Oct. 1. It has been corrected to Nov. 1. We are sorry for the error.

Two local nonprofits with totally different missions have come together to tap into the strength of community. This November, celebrate the power of storytelling and compassion with Girls IN Focus or GIF and Pedro Pet Pals or PPP as they join forces for their first collaborative fundraiser gala, Gal Pals & Pet Pals: Storytellers & Rescuers Unite.

The event happens Nov.1, at the San Pedro Elks Lodge, featuring a buffet dinner, live music, boutique vendors, a live auction, a fashion show, and karaoke to close out the night—all within a Día de los Muertos–inspired celebration.

In 2024, GIF students turned their cameras toward their own community, creating a documentary project titled Compassion In Action, which spotlighted Pedro Pet Pals. Through interviews with founder Theresa Sardisco, the short film chronicled PPP’s early beginnings and ongoing impact. The piece highlighted the importance of animal rescue, but also proved how young filmmakers can create work that inspires empathy and change. Compassion In Action will be screened at the Nov. 1 fundraiser gala, bringing the partnership between storytellers and rescuers full circle.

GIF With Camera Shot 1 — GIF working with the camera. Photo courtesy of Girls IN Focus.

Storytelling IN Focus

Founded by filmmaker and executive director of GIF, Dunya Djordjevic, Girls IN Focus is entering its 7th year and preparing for the 2026 Summer Filmmaking Intensive at Pixels Studio in San Pedro. Open to girls and non-binary youth ages 12–18, the two-week summer intensive program turns no students away. Emulating a professional film set and etiquette, participants collaborate to write, shoot, direct, act in, and edit their films, while receiving workshops from film industry professionals to learn the technical and creative processes. The program culminates in the annual GIF Film Fest, a public red-carpet screening that showcases every film.

“It’s transformative for girls to see their stories up on the big screen,” said Djordjevic. “They leave knowing their voices matter. 100% of our alumnae have gotten into top film schools with their films in line with the organization’s mission to ‘shatter the gender gap in film one girl at a time.’”

GIF Premiere 1 — Girls iN focus at past gala. Photo courtesy of GIF

Compassion in Action

For Pedro Pet Pals, the mission is equally powerful: every animal deserves comfort, care, and a chance at a better life. The all-volunteer nonprofit adopts out hundreds of animals each month while supporting local shelters with essential supplies, lifesaving equipment, and community programs such as spay/neuter services and pet owner education. Their work creates a more compassionate future for animals in San Pedro, the South Bay, and beyond.

Pedro Pet Pals Kitty Pic 1 — Pedro Pet Pals kitty. Photo courtesy of Girls IN Focus.

Councilman Tim McOsker with PPP pup. Photo courtesy pf GIF.

Shared Values

With Pedro Pet Pals rescuing animals and Girls IN Focus nurturing storytellers, the gala will celebrate shared values of compassion, vision, and women led businesses in the community. Guests can expect a festive evening of entertainment, plus meet 10 woman-run local businesses inside the pop-up boutique, in addition to supporting two grassroots nonprofit organizations and making a lasting impact locally and beyond. All proceeds are divided equally 50/50 for GIF scholarships and PPP much needed supplies.

Looking Ahead

Today, with its alumni entering film studio jobs GIF continues to pave the way for the next generation of filmmakers from its home base at Pixels Gallery & Creative Space Studio in San Pedro. Enrollment is open for the June 2026 Summer Filmmaking Intensive: girls-in-focus.com/intesive-focus-2026

Monthly weekend workshops are also offered on zoom year-round. Check for film screenings and workshops at: www.Girls-IN-Focus.com; Email questions and scholarship requests to: info@girls-in-focus.com

For PPP the work continues daily—rescuing, fostering, and rehoming animals while advocating for responsible pet ownership and humane communities. For more information about Pedro Pet Pals visit: www.PedroPetPals.com

Time: 5 to 9 p.m., Nov. 1

Cost $60 and up

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Girls-In-Focus-PedroPet-Pals

Venue: San Pedro Elks Lodge, 1748 Cumbre Dr, San Pedro

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No Kings, No Fear

Indivisible Calls America to Peaceful Action on October 18

Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bills to Protect Children Online From AI

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Reverberations, On View at Sala Gallery San Pedro

“Is ICE Planning My Deportation? A Citizen’s Crisis in a Post-Constitutional America”

Art, Authenticity vs. Hypocrisy Why the Arts Matter to Downtown Communities

Many Winters Gathering of Elders

Gal Pals & Pet Pals: Storytellers & Rescuers Unite for a Night of Community

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story listed the date of Gala as Oct. 1. It has been corrected to Nov. 1. We are sorry for the error.

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