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Letters to the Editor: Audio Ammunition Appreciation and Tax Bill Pain

Reporters Desk
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Letters to the Editor: Audio Ammunition Appreciation and Tax Bill Pain

Audio Ammunition Appreciation

I agree with Ms. McDonnell in her article “Let Freedom Ring” from the May 29-June 11 RLN. But you don’t need to be Beyonce’ or Springsteen to create “audio ammunition” in our current anti-Trump-tyranny movement.

I’ve always loved creating parody songs, mostly for friends, such as personal birthday songs, happy retirement, etc. Since March, when I started my YouTube channel, Trump Resistance Songs II (that’s Roman number II or two letter I’s), I have been on fire, with 20 Trump parody songs so far and more coming.

One recent song is “No Kings Today,” in honor of June 14, at https://youtu.be/9tkHY2OLl5A

My song with the most views so far is “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Trump,” based on the Grinch song, at https://youtu.be/umgCVTPx2m4

You can find my channel at https://www.youtube.com/@TrumpResistanceSongsII

For those of you in the print edition, to find my channel, go to the YouTube search bar, and type in my channel title plus one song title, such as Trump Resistance Songs II No Kings Today. That should pull up the “No Kings Today” song and feel free to check out my other songs.

Please like, subscribe, share and comment while you’re there. My songs are for the American people. I will not be monetizing my channel, unless I could donate all funds to indivisible.org or other such groups.

Onward,

Timothy Joel Johnson

San Pedro

 

Tax Bill Pain

A few weeks ago, I sat on the Capitol steps from dawn to dusk to sound the alarm about Republicans’ tax bill — which would hurt kids, seniors, and middle-class Americans who are just trying to get by.

The bill has now been passed by House Republicans.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the bill would strip health insurance from at least 13.7 million Americans, many of whom live right here in New Jersey.

But it doesn’t stop there. It would also cut food assistance for hungry families, Head Start programs for young kids, Pell Grants to help people afford college, funding for clean air in elementary schools, and more — all to pay for tax cuts for the richest Americans.

And the deficit? This bill would cost $3.72 trillion, James Preston. Exploding the budget deficit while handing most of the tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans who don’t need them isn’t just fiscally wrong — it’s morally indefensible.

Cory Booker, US Senator New Jersey

Sunken City Coffee

Terelle Jerricks
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Sunken City Coffee

 

Not Just Coffee: A Third Space for San Pedro Locals

Elisa Palacios said the idea for Sunken City Coffee began while working remotely and struggling to find a quiet space to focus.

“I get distracted very easily,” she said. “I loved Sacred Grounds, but I wanted to move around sometimes so it didn’t feel like the same day over and over again.”

Incidentally, Sunken City Coffee opened the same week Sacred Grounds closed.

While she appreciated Sirens for its lively energy and Distrito for its coffee, both places felt too busy or too small for working long hours.

She and a few friends often found it hard to locate a calm, welcoming spot where they could settle in without pressure. That search inspired her to create a different kind of space — one built around comfort and calm.

Before Sunken City, Palacios ran a pop-up at Feed and Be Fed, the garden church on Sixth Street. She served coffee and baked goods during Little Sprouts, a Friday morning program where parents and children ages 0 to 6 played in the garden.

“The idea was to bring something fun and fuel the moms,” she said. That pop-up, with its “communal coffee culture in nature,” planted the seed for something more lasting.

Palacios later connected with Tori Aten and Chef Alex Schwartzman of Neon Sun. When they discussed expanding the restaurant’s hours, Palacios pitched her coffee concept. Since Neon Sun already had an espresso machine, launching Sunken City Coffee inside the space came naturally.

“Tori embodies the décor — it literally looks like your living room,” Palacios said. “It’s homey and comfortable.”

Now open six days a week during breakfast and lunch hours, Sunken City keeps its menu simple: espresso, Americano, iced coffee and lattes. Palacios makes all syrups and pastries herself, allowing her to rotate weekly specials based on seasonal ingredients and inspiration.

“It’s just our basics,” she said. “Every week I come up with something new — whatever I’m feeling.”

While many coffee shops prioritize rare beans and extensive menus, Palacios said most customers want something familiar: a good cup of coffee, a treat and a calm space.

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Sunken City’s chocolate chip cookies. Photo by Terelle Jerricks

“There’s a handful of people who park their behinds in a seat and work for a couple of hours,” she said. “That’s what I wanted — somewhere people can hang out and not feel rushed.”

Her definition of success isn’t a long line out the door. It’s a slow, steady flow of people throughout the day.

“They stay a little, then leave. Someone else comes in and stays a little,” Palacios said. “It’s easier to manage, and it doesn’t feel overwhelming.”

Sunken City Coffee

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Details: 310- 872-3616, https://www.instagram.com/sunkencitycoffee/

Venue: 524 W. 9th St., San Pedro

Creating More Chaos

James Preston Allen
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Creating More Chaos

 

Trans athletes, immigration protests and ICE provocations

A mother of a San Pedro High School track star sat in the bleachers at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track & Field Championships, which took place on May 30 and 31, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, California. In 104-degree weather, sweat was dripping down her forehead and back while she watched her son and his friend, Jack, race that day.

Outside the field was a small, loud group of anti-trans protesters inspired by the Orange Felon, who had been creating chaos and confusion over a single trans-athlete competing in the state championships. It was more of a distraction from the competition because this track meet got national news attention that it normally would never have had.

Back in the stands, a San Pedro father of three girls booed every time AB Hernandez’s name was announced. One of his daughters was competing in the same events.

In response, another student sitting nearby called out, “shut the fuck up.” And of course, this created a whole other war of words, instigated by the commander and thief, who couldn’t care less who won the race. Eventually, things escalated and the CIF officials were called in, and only when it was explained that if the trans athlete won ahead of his girl, they would both win the same medals that he calmed down. It was a brilliant shifting of the rules by the CIF. It diffused the made-up controversy until the ICE raids hit Los Angeles the next week.

The State of California has sued the federal government over the threat to withhold funding to schools that don’t adhere to the policy of discriminating against trans athletes.

Starting early on Friday, June 6, ICE started its raids with masked SWAT-type officers in unmarked SUVs and no badges, descending on known workplaces for immigrant workers.

Contrary to what was promised, “to go after known immigrant criminals,” these raids were focused on those without papers. No one in the media, nor officials seemed to ask if there were actual judicial arrest warrants, as it appears that the ICE raids were just casting a wide net to pull in as many “illegal” fish that didn’t slip through. The media took the bait and covered the raids and protests in days of long coverage. It focused on the growing response to the chaos and brutality of the raids and then only upon the overreaction that inevitably spirals into equally violent responses. The vast majority of the thousands of protesters were peacefully assembled until the police started to use violent tactics.

And so, none of the TV talking heads could do more than prognosticate on what they were viewing from the sky or behind police lines. It wasn’t until the following Monday that the reports started coming out by actual reporters on the ground that it was the ICE agents who fired first at the protesters, spraying identifiable reporters with pepper spray and peaceful citizens with flashbang bombs and tear gas. It would have been just as easy to report that a riot situation was caused by ICE before the California National Guard could be nationalized without request from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who criticized the action as unnecessary.

Newsom rightly called the president’s actions provocative and intentionally spreading fear and chaos. And when the border czar threatened to arrest him, he replied, “Trump’s border czar is threatening to arrest me for speaking out. Come and get me, tough guy. I don’t give a damn. It won’t stop me from standing up for California.”

This might just be the leadership that the resistance needs, for if half of the people who showed up to protest these raids just sat down and practiced civil disobedience, the authorities wouldn’t have enough jails to put them in.

Still, what is presumed is that it was “bad actors” among the demonstrators who were throwing bricks at the CHP or burning the Waymo cars, and assaulting ICE officers. Yet these allegations are made with no actual evidence, and when the FBI finally catches up with these suspects, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them listed in the DOJ advisory would turn out to be provocateurs.

It would be a curious form of justice if some of these were the Proud Boys that the Orange Felon pardoned. In a notice for the $50,000 reward for information on “unknown suspects” wanted in the Paramount raid on an assault on a federal officer and damage to government property, it read.

Suspects “should be considered armed and dangerous.” From my perspective, it seems obvious that the most well-armed and dangerous players are the ICE SWAT officers. The unprecedented unilateral action of deploying 2,000 National Guard without state or local requests raises serious concerns about authoritarian overreach and politicizing the military. The question still remains, were the federal warrants specifically targeted to individual people and issued by a federal judge, or were these broad administrative warrants?

The end result is that once again, the Orange Felon has dominated the news cycle, commandeered the public’s perception, and left the battle over the lone transgender athlete in the dust. The only reasonable response was the previously mentioned interview with Jacob Soboroff of MSNBC amid President Trump’s attempts to militarize Los Angeles following peaceful protests against federal immigration raids.

The military deployed 700 U.S. Marines to the mix to only add more uncoordinated chaotic response to National Guard troops already mobilized in Los Angeles to intimidate the response of the protesters.

Gov. Newsom and Attorney Gen. Rob Bonta have now filed yet another lawsuit in federal court challenging both actions as being illegal and unconstitutional. LA County has voted to support these actions.

A Red Cantaloupe Experience Honors ‘Griot’ Legacy, Father Amde Hamilton

Melina Paris
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A Red Cantaloupe Experience Honors ‘Griot’ Legacy, Father Amde Hamilton

 

Father Amde Hamilton recently told me he comes from a generation of artists like Nina Simone, who asked, “If an artist doesn’t relate to his environment, what else does he have?”

Father Amde Hamilton is a member of the Watts Prophets. Hamilton continued his thought, explaining, an artist has to relate to what’s going on and the truth.

“Artists think differently,” Hamilton said. “I was told by Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry and Billy Higgins that style was the death of creativity. So, that’s what I’m saying.”

Hamilton was referring to members of the top tier of iconoclastic jazz musicians in Los Angeles history. Coleman was a pioneer in the free jazz renaissance. Initially viewed as a radical disruptor, the multi-instrumentalist was ultimately celebrated as a visionary innovator.

In LA, he found his tribe, notably collaborating with trumpeter Cherry, who played a significant role in Coleman’s groundbreaking bands. Cherry later emerged as a trailblazer in world music, fusing African, Middle Eastern and Indian influences into his work.

Higgins, who played in Coleman’s quartet, came from Blue Note Records, where he was a house drummer. He remains one of the most important and controversial drummers in music history, an uncommonly versatile and intuitive player. Higgins cofounded The World Stage in LA and taught jazz studies at UCLA.

Hamilton also knew Robert Carmack, producer of The Red Cantaloupe Experience, who was also a native of Watts. In the 1960s and ’70s, Watts was a place where artists of every kind collaborated, creating a renaissance of Black art in LA.

Reviving that tradition, this spring, Pocket Jazz and Hipster Sanctuary once again presented “A Red Cantaloupe Experience” at Roscoe’s Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. This iteration was in tribute to Quincy Jones, the great composer, record producer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter and bandleader. This event also honored the legacy of poet (‘griot,’ as he says) Father Amde Hamilton, bestowing him with the Cultural Icon Award in poetry, music and community service in recognition of legacy and outstanding accomplishment in the performing arts.

As expected, the atmosphere in the room was full of energy. Red Cantaloupe audiences are known for their enthusiastic appreciation, often responding vocally — and sometimes even through song — to the cultural legacies celebrated in this series.

Carmack consistently showcases some of the best jazz musicians in Los Angeles in his series. The band included Knick Smith on keys, Rickey Woodard on saxophone, Edwin Livingston on bass, Alex Bailey on drums, special guest Daryl Darden on guitar and vocals and Jeff Robinson was the featured vocalist. The band brought a smooth and funky show encompassing the best of ‘Q’ to a highly engaged, full house. Three shows in, with more to come, this is what you can expect from A Red Cantaloupe Experience. Carmack likes to keep the ambiance flowing with excellent music, good vibes and community and he is successful in this endeavor.

The Community Factor

A Red Cantaloupe, along with the community, celebrates legends who have helped shape the LA music and cultural scene.

Father Hamilton was part of the Watts Prophets for 48 years, along with Richard Dedeaux and Otis O’Solomon. The Watts Prophets formed in 1967 at Budd Schulberg Watts Writers Workshop in the wake of the Watts Riots, and the emerging Black Power movement.

This represented a turn toward more nationalist and Pan-Africanist ideas of liberation, alternatives to integration in favor of political power and control in communities where they have significant numbers. Coming out of that Watts Writers Workshop, Hamilton formed The Watts Prophets. And from that group came “the first rap album ever on earth,” — (Father Amde Hamilton) called Rappin’ Black in a White World. Fusing music with jazz and funk roots with a rapid-fire, spoken word sound, Watts Prophets created a sound that gave them a significant local following but little commercial success. It featured two female members, Helen Mingleton, who named the group Watts Prophets, and Dee Dee McNeil, who became a member in 1970 and remained for two years. The Watts Prophets worked and recorded with artists like Quincy Jones, Don Cherry, Billy Higgins and Horace Tapscott, and soon they took their rap international.

Father Hamilton is a Rastafarian and was ordained as a priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in 1975, which he noted, Rastafarians have a significant connection to. The Prophets went to the Caribbean and worked with the Rastafarians and Bob Marley. Later, Marley came to Watts to work with Hamilton and gangs. The two also worked together with the youth organization in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church worldwide teaching them history and culture. Eventually, Marley and the Prophets were going to make an album together, when, unfortunately, Marley died.

Father Hamilton spoke to Random Lengths about the Watts Prophets and their works. Of the decades he spent in the Watts Prophets, Hamilton said they were “griots, not poets.”

“… Meaning that we [had an] oral tradition, we talked about our community,” he said. “We were the first ones to use the art form of rap as a revolutionary tool and that’s what we did. We brought poetry into what you see today. There was no poetry slams or poetry all over the world. Rap had a baby called hip hop, not hip hop that had a baby called rap.”

Hamilton said the world got it confused.

“Hip hop is a culture; rap is an art form. Wherever there was jazz, there was rap and it started in Africa and it rolled on into what you see today, it came through slavery … and rap is sprinkled amongst all of our music, our gospel, our jazz, but that’s what the Watts Prophets were doing. We were the ones who brought poetry in the clubs … we took it from the podium to the stage. And we used it in a revolutionary manner. That’s who I am.”

The Watts Prophets were “a living bridge from the civil rights of the sixties to the Hip Hop generation [that followed].” Hamilton explained that The Prophets have been mistitled as jazz poets. Having been born in a community with many of the world’s great jazz musicians, they learned from and interacted with these talented musicians. Sometimes, he noted, they were the only ones open to something new and would encourage the Prophets to continue developing their art form.

The Watts Prophets performed everywhere.

“We were street poets,” said Hamilton. “The streets was our stage; community centers, churches, dance clubs, skating rinks, wherever people was.”

Father Hamilton WattsProphet
Father Amde Hamilton accepts his award at The Red Cantaloupe Experience in April, 2025 with the shows founder, Robert Carmack, looking on. Photo courtesy of Robert Carmack

When asked about his thoughts on the prevalence of poetry, especially around LA, without missing a beat, Hamilton said that was the intention of the Watts Prophets.

“We knew what we were doing,” he said. “We were using it as a tool. We came from the Watts riots. We wanted to open an area of expression for those with no area of expression. And we’re a complete success. They’re rapping on every continent on Earth.”

Hamilton referenced a book by William Cleveland and Clarissa Estés on what the griot called the author’s interpretation of how five different countries used art as a revolution. The Watts Prophets, he said, represented America in that book titled Art and Upheaval: Artists on the World’s Frontlines.

People knew about the Prophets underground and across the world, Hamilton said. They never had any advertisements or campaigns to tell people who they were. The Prophets might have sold 10,000 records, Hamilton said, but they were duplicated at the time, in Vietnam, when there were cassette tapes. That’s how their verses spread across the world.

“We weren’t looking for applause anyway,” Hamilton said. “Not applause, we had a cause. And that cause has been taken up continuously till now. Rap music is all over the world. It’s not … the model that you hear here in America: 16 bars and motherfucker this and that. It’s not like that all over the world. It’s being used as a revolutionary tool. It’s giving an area of expression to those, again, who had no way of expressing. That’s why we did it.

“It’s a beautiful art form, a fine art form.” Hamilton said. “Quincy Jones said it’s no different than jazz. As a jazz musician is blowing his solo, so is a rapper and the voice is the first instrument. [Of] all of the elements that you all hear, which have been blocked by the industry, rap to us means to say it, sang it, scat it, shout it, hum it, however you can use it to communicate.”

Hamilton noted the greatest rappers during his era were artists like Barry White. He explained, “we look at him as a singer … the industry called what he did a monologue but Barry White would open his songs with a rap. So did Lou Rawls.

“They always take all our art forms and make them what they want in this commercial industry,’ Hamilton said.

These days Hamilton is working on completing his life story, and he’s still doing lectures and poetry readings. The griot is still communicating, whether he responds in straight talk or verse, this legend possesses a keen eye for what’s true in a world that seldom recognizes truth anymore.

Hamilton said his book should be available in about a year. He also published a book about his Creole background in Louisiana, titled; Ebony Creole Whispers, Amde Watt’s Prophet.

Details: www.instagram.com/AmdePoet and www.pocketjazzpresents.org

Global Chef, Local Legend

Terelle Jerricks
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Global Chef, Local Legend

Chef Shalamar Lane Brings Soulful Southern Barbecue to Nigeria’s Premier Culinary Festival

Chef Shalamar Lane of My Father’s BBQ will soon begin collecting pre-orders for July 4 on her website, www.myfathersbbq.com, with the relaunch of the restaurant itself set for later in the month of July.

Carson’s favorite barbecue spot has been on hiatus for the past few months, undergoing internal reorganization in preparation for a stronger return to serve its loyal barbecue-loving fans. The relaunch comes just as Sprouts and the city of Carson have finalized a deal to fill the former 99 Cents Only store space at the University Drive strip center.

“I’m a Carson resident, and we definitely need a grocery store on this side of Carson,” Chef Shalamar said. “We haven’t had one for a very, very long time. We’ve had to go out to other areas to shop for groceries. But now we’ve got one in our own community.”

Last month, acclaimed pitmaster and culinary entrepreneur Chef Shalamar Lane took center stage at one of Africa’s most prestigious culinary events — the GTCO Food & Drink Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. Representing the deep-rooted tradition of Southern Black barbecue, Chef Shalamar delivered a high-energy masterclass that blended storytelling, technique, and soulful flavors. Her signature Alabama-meets-Texas barbecue captivated audiences with smoked meats, creamy slaw, and slow-simmered beans — a true taste of the American South served with heart.

Invited as a featured chef, Chef Shalamar was one of a select group of international culinary talents chosen to lead live demonstrations at the three-day festival. Hosted by GTCO Bank, Nigeria’s largest financial institution, the annual event draws over 200,000 attendees and features more than 200 food vendors, world-class masterclasses, family zones, and cultural showcases.

“It was an incredible honor — not just to cook, but to represent the legacy and love behind Black Southern barbecue on a global stage,” said Chef Shalamar. “Nigeria feels like the cultural capital of the world right now. Being invited home to share this food and connect with my roots was powerful and emotional.”

This isn’t Chef Shalamar’s first time bringing Southern flavors to the international spotlight. In 2023, she was invited to cook at the Vivid Fire Kitchen in Sydney, Australia — and like then, this trip was a family affair. After Lagos, she and her family traveled to Senegal for a week, continuing their exploration of the deep ties between West African food traditions and Southern American cuisine.

Demonizing Immigration, Bowing to Oligarchy

Reporters Desk
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Demonizing Immigration, Bowing to Oligarchy

 

By Garrick Rawlings

If you were the person in charge of carrying out the orders to deport people here who are undocumented, and it was your choice of how to do so, would you send people out to notify the immigrants that they need to get their affairs in order, and allow them to find some representation to fairly and humanely help them through the process, to notify their family and loved ones, their employer(s), and while doing so, respectfully identify themselves and show them the paperwork explaining the legalities of what is happening to them?

Or… would you say “fuck that” let’s spend a shitload of money, get a bunch of agents armored up in aggressive tactical gear, then roll up on them out of the blue unannounced like we do when apprehending violent criminals, then pull these peaceful people out of their cars, out of their place of work, grab them while they are already in court, as they were instructed to do, all for the world to see so their children and families won’t know what’s going on, or where their loved one is, so it will scare the shit out of everybody. Also, don’t identify yourselves, show no proof of anything and cover your faces while taking away their dignity, human rights, and reducing them to a helpless convict with no due process or representation?

This is all political theater, last time around nobody could stop talking about the wall, another dumbass distraction. Impossible to do, but even if an impassable wall were successfully constructed, nothing would have changed, in that there is still no functioning immigration system that is fair and efficient. This is all designed to keep everyone distracted from that fact because the oligarchy benefits from it being this way, not the average citizen.

When it served Ronald Reagan’s political needs, he gave them all amnesty; he didn’t do it for the good of the people, he did it for the good of his power and wealth. The suffering humans involved are only pawns in this game. Every presidential regime in our lifetime has kicked the can of immigration reform down the road, bobbin’ and weavin’, doing everything they can to make you think they will fix it while making sure it always remains the same.

Imagine if we were an honest country and absolutely and ethically enforced labor laws, such as no one getting paid less than a minimum wage, so that they would enjoy the OSHA worker’s rights that everyone else does. Follow the money, who benefits from the policy, and who suffers? Imagine how much more that would collectively cost employers to do so?

The political conditioning so many have fallen prey to is so successful that too many citizens cannot see how those in charge flipped the narrative completely around. Imagine if we were an honest country and enforced labor laws on every single employer so that it would be impossible for humans who aren’t allowed to work here legally to work here. The reason the vast majority of immigrants and refugees come here is that people pay them to do the work no one here wants to do, as well as enjoy the freedom and privilege to pay them less than documented workers.

This is why so many have been conditioned to call them “illegal immigrants” instead of “undocumented immigrants,” this language helps with the fear-mongering and growing the intolerant hostility towards these people, who are simply refugees and immigrants. Imagine the challenges they faced where they came from, that even the inhospitable, disrespectful treatment they’re given here is more tolerable to them than in the country they were born in. Why is hardly anyone calling out the lawbreaking, profit-mongering, illegal employers? Why are no arrests being made, or even charges being filed, or investigations being made on the vast numbers of employers who are breaking the law?

Also, there are multitudes of Caucasians in this country illegally from countries all over the world. Do you see any of them being dragged out in handcuffs? Do you see anyone dragging out anyone in handcuffs in Beverly Hills, Aspen, or any other affluent community? There are plenty of undocumented immigrants working in those places, too.

So many of the people who are OK with this mistreatment of immigrants claim to be Constitution-loving, Statue of Liberty-loving Christians, the ones who want the tenets of their religion and tax-exempt churches displayed in public places funded by the tax dollars of millions of citizens who don’t believe in the same things at all. Yet these same people, when it comes to this immigrant thing, have no problem throwing those liberty and Christian tenets right out the window, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” and the ones about loving your neighbor, about not judging people, following the golden rule, about all being created equal in the eyes of God, we’re all God’s children, not following false prophets, that money is the root of all evil, thou shalt not kill, as well as not lying, and the spirit of love and empathy.

These tenets have a border; they only apply to those with a specific citizenship, or is it about the color of their skin?

People who prioritize a singular political loyalty and their policies over the greater good and the humanity of helpless individuals have never been on the righteous side of history.

The oligarchs have so successfully conned this country into supporting the millionaires and billionaire CEOs and executives of insurance companies, who are nothing more than middlemen extracting as much wealth from the population as they possibly can, it’s the only reason they are in business, not to help you. They’ve convinced so many that this is better than universal healthcare for all of us. Same goes for the for-profit hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, supplementing big oil and corporate farms and all the rest, as well as settling all the police brutality and murder cases with our tax money, and the police who are guilty do this with impunity. It is a great system for those on top; this is what we should be referring to when people say “the system is rigged,” and it is, against us. We have everything we need to make this country healthy, solvent, and housed, but there’s no money in it for them.

Meanwhile, every one of our representatives in Congress is far wealthier than the average citizen, but for some reason, we continue to pay for both them and their eligible family members excellent healthcare as well as pensions for the rest of their lives, while for millions, a hospital stay can render them homeless.

Until the citizens of this country grow the balls to dismantle this ruthless, unfair, and unregulated oligarchical system, the standard of living for the average citizen will continue to decline, along with the wealth gap continuing to expand as it has for over 50 years now. These levels of inequity haven’t been seen in this country since the Robber Baron era, where monopolies ran free in the late 19th century, which eventually led to the Great Depression in 1929. We need to wake up and fight to get our country back to something resembling a democracy, or we will lose this republic, as Ben Franklin warned.

In 1787, outside Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin was asked by Philadelphia socialite and political figure Elizabeth Willing Powell, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic if you can keep it.”

No Help, No Home

Terelle Jerricks
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No Help, No Home

A Cautionary Tale: How Asbestos Contamination Shattered a San Pedro Family’s Life

For more than 45 years, Pamela Allen worked as a home health and hospice nurse across San Pedro and the South Bay, helping people spend their final days at home, where they’re most comfortable.

“You know how important that is when people get older and that familiar environment is ripped away,” said Pamela’s daughter, Debbie. “The horrible part is, there’s no help or support to get back in.”

Pamela, now in her early 80s, had hoped for the same dignity: to live and die in the home she loved.

“It’s a heartbreaker,” she said tearfully. “Just one poor decision, one incident — anything in life — can turn everything upside down.”

The Allen family’s ordeal began in June 2024, with a single oversight that snowballed into financial and emotional devastation.

The Asbestos Mistake

A licensed drywall contractor began work on Pamela’s home without warning the family that the “popcorn” ceilings might contain asbestos. The contractor neither ordered testing nor explained the risks. According to Pamela, his credentials and experience should have made him aware.

“Never in a million years did asbestos come up,” Debbie said. “He should have said, ‘There’s popcorn on your ceilings — I can’t touch it unless you get it tested.’ But we had no idea. He came in, did his thing, and we didn’t find out until it was too late.”

Typically, licensed asbestos abatement professionals advise that homeowners leave the premises during removal, even in limited areas. Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers — even in small amounts — can pose serious health risks.

In this case, the contractor told the family they could remain in the house while he worked on one side. He only asked them to push their belongings against a wall so he could cover them with a sheet. The job started in June and continued through the July 4 weekend. Though the work was unfinished, he claimed to have cleaned up.

“It looked like a mess,” Debbie said. “We just started cleaning. And as we cleaned, the popcorn material broke apart.”

A Dangerous Discovery

As the family cleaned up the dust and debris, they began to suspect something was wrong. Their own research confirmed the danger: disturbing asbestos can release microscopic fibers into the air, which can lead to health risks.

“We didn’t know what we didn’t know,” Debbie said. “But now we know — and we want others to learn from it so it doesn’t happen to them.”

The Gap in Help for Homeowners

The Allens turned to local agencies for help, only to discover a patchwork of guidance but no direct support.

  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) offers general advice but does not test or inspect homes. It refers residents to certified environmental consultants. 
  • South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) oversees air quality rules tied to asbestos and requires notification for any renovation or demolition involving asbestos-containing materials. 
  • Cal/OSHA certifies asbestos consultants and technicians but offers no homeowner assistance. 
  • The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) encourages verification of contractor licenses but provides no remediation aid. 
  • The City of Los Angeles Housing Department offers the Tenant Habitability Program (THP) for asbestos mitigation in rent-controlled units, but no equivalent exists for homeowners unless tied to natural disaster relief. 

How Asbestos Can Destroy a Home’s Future

Improper asbestos removal creates a long-term health hazard and financial damage that can render a home unappealing and potentially unsellable. Experts say risks include:

  • Contamination: If fibers enter HVAC systems or carpets, cleanup becomes exponentially more difficult and expensive. 
  • Disclosure requirements: Sellers must report known asbestos issues. Mishandled abatement can lower offers or deter buyers entirely. 
  • Loss of trust: Buyers may question the overall safety and maintenance of the home. 
  • Remediation costs: Certified asbestos cleanup can cost tens of thousands of dollars. 
  • Legal and insurance issues: Mishandling asbestos may lead to lawsuits or denied insurance claims. 

A Year Without a Home

The Allen family has already lost irreplaceable keepsakes — photos, heirlooms, and memories tied to three generations. A year after the initial mistake, Pamela is still unable to return home.

They have launched a GoFundMe campaign, hoping the San Pedro community, known for helping its own, will step in where institutions have failed.

When this began, the family believed asbestos removal would be simple. Instead, they’ve faced loan denials, insurance refusals, and silence from local and state officials.

Now, they hope their story serves as a warning.

“This can happen to anyone,” Debbie said. “We just wanted to fix Mom’s ceilings. Now we’re fighting for my mom’s home, her dignity in her final years.”

To help, go to https://tinyurl.com/asbestos-home.

Trump’s War On Immigrants And The Rule Of Law

Paul Rosenberg
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Trump’s War On Immigrants And The Rule Of Law

 

“We’re going to have troops everywhere”: Trump Makes Police-State Fantasy Explicit, “No Kings” Demonstrations Explode, Courts Remain Key Battleground

Like authoritarian leaders around the world, Donald Trump thrives on creating crises he then pretends he alone can resolve.

It began on Friday, June 6, with ICE workplace raids, including day laborers at the Westlake Home Depot. Why? Because ICE can’t find enough criminals to meet Trump’s deportation targets. There aren’t nearly enough of them. But in three days time, Trump had managed to spin the resulting community outrage into justification for turning federal troops loose to attack his perceived enemies.

“We’re going to have troops everywhere,” Trump said on Sunday night. “We’re not going to let this happen to our country. We’re not going to let our country be torn apart.”

But it’s Trump himself who’s tearing the country apart. LA was peaceful before the ICE raids. And even afterwards, protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Then he called up the National Guard without Governor Gavin Newsom’s request or consent—something that hasn’t been done since the Civil Rights Movement, when it was done to protect civil rights protesters, against the wishes of a terror-supporting segregationist governor. What Trump’s doing now is the exact opposite. And his border czar, Tom Homan, even threatened to arrest Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass if they got in his way.

Trump doubled down, saying it would be a “great thing” if Homan arrested Newsom, adding that Newsom’s “primary crime is running for governor because he’s done such a bad job.”

But if these actions are meant to intimidate the opposition, they’re clearly failing. The number of “No Kings” demonstrations planned for next weekend has jumped by more than 100 in just a few days, Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin told Rachel Maddow. More than 1800 are currently planned. There are dozens in the LA region, including Torrance, Long Beach, Catalina Island, and nine Orange County locations from Dana Point to Seal Beach. While previous mass protests organized by 50501, Indivisible and their partners have skewed older and whiter, Trump’s crackdown in LA may help broaden the coalition of people who show up.

Itching For Violence

Trump has long wanted to use federal troops to impose his will. “Can’t you just shoot them, just shoot them in the legs or something?” Trump asked about Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020, according to his then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper. So he’s been thinking about it for quite some time. Which is just what authoritarians do: they substitute the rule of force for the rule of law.

And the rule of law has been very frustrating for Trump, particularly when it comes to immigration, where his losses include a 9-0 Supreme Court decision. But his losses across the board have been staggering.

In May, federal courts ruled against the Trump administration 96.3% of the time, according to a tally by Stanford political scientist Adam Bonica. The loss rate has risen every month: 53.8% in February, 74.3% in March, and 76.1% in April, before becoming almost total in May. And Republican-appointed judges ruled against Trump almost as often as Democratic-appointed ones: 72.2% vs 80.4% of the time.

Needless to say, Trump has been getting mad. He’s called those ruling against him—even ones he appointed himself—”USA HATING JUDGES,” and “communist radical-left judges,” along with individual attacks, calls for impeachment, and incendiary language that’s helped feed record levels of physical threats to judges.

There have been 269 challenges to Trump’s executive actions alone as of June 6, according to Just Security’s Litigation Tracker. including 63 cases about immigration and citizenship, 34 about civil liberties and civil rights, and 16 about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. But those figures understate the situation. For example, the tracker treats as one case all the lawsuits challenging the removal of F-1 foreign student visa registration, which includes “more than 100 lawsuits and 50 restraining orders from dozens of federal judges,” according to Politico. The government reversed its decision on Apr. 25—yet another source of Trump’s frustration.

Eight lawsuits filed on the administration’s first day gave a strong indication of how radically his sense of his own power was at odds with American history. They included:

  • Three cases challenging Trump’s revocation of birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in the 14th Amendment, passed in 1868.
  • One case challenged Trump’s executive order to reclassify federal employees, stripping them of civil service protections so they could be fired at will—a protection that “dates back more than 130 years to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act” of 1883, as plaintiffs argued in their initial complaint.
  • Three cases challenging Trump’s creation of the “Department of Government Efficiency” as a violation of the 1972 Federal Advisory Committee Act by delegating regulatory and monetary power to unelected citizens without public oversight.

That same day, Trump pardoned close to 1,600 January 6 insurrectionists, including more than 600 who were charged with assaulting or obstructing law enforcement officers. In short, Trump’s hostility to the traditional rule of American law was evident from Day 1.

Trump’s hostility has been amplified by his supporters. At least half a dozen judges have been targeted for impeachment by House Republicans, and violent threats have escalated dramatically, with 277 judges threatened this fiscal year, roughly a third of the judiciary, according to the US Marshals Service. There has even been a bomb threat to the sister of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee who has nonetheless ruled against his administration on several occasions.

Trump has even turned against the conservative Federalist Society for its “bad advice” on judicial nominations, after one such judge joined a unanimous ruling that his worldwide tariffs were illegal. He called Leonard Leo, who was chiefly responsible for the picks, a “sleazebag” and a “bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America.” So now, even conservative judges aren’t good enough for him.

 

Immigration Lawlessness

Immigration has been a particular focus of Trump’s lawlessness. Deportations have taken place despite judicial orders. Even a Supreme Court decision—requiring the Trump administration to facilitate the return of Kilmer Abrego Garcia after he was wrongly deported—was ignored for more than 6 weeks. After it was complied with, Trump lawyers brought new, seemingly trumped-up charges against Garcia. They were based on a years-old incident regarded as harmless at the time, and the case led a high-ranking federal prosecutor to resign, fearing that it was brought for political reasons.

Not only have ICE and other immigration officials acted illegally, but they’ve also harassed and intimidated elected officials and judges. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is suing temporary US Attorney General Alina Habba (formerly Trump’s personal attorney) for false arrest over a May 9 incident at an ICE facility in his city. After false trespassing charges against him were dismissed, charges were filed against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, who was present at the time, claiming she had assaulted officers, a claim unsupported by video of the event.

In Wisconsin, FBI agents arrested a respected state district court judge, Hannah Dugan, based on allegations that she prevented the arrest of a man by immigration authorities during a federal law enforcement operation at her courthouse. In reality, Dugan merely directed him to exit by a different door, which led to the same public area where immigration agents were waiting, and they subsequently did arrest him. So no harm was done, except to the agents’ egos. A bipartisan group of more than 130 retired judges subsequently filed a brief urging the court to drop charges, saying her arrest undermines “centuries of precedent on judicial immunity.” But that could well be the whole point—to further erode judicial legitimacy.

The Threat Of Dictatorial Takeover

All these are symptoms of a deeper threat—the threat of a dictatorial takeover of the courts, as Bonica noted in a May 28 substack, “When Leaders Attack Judges as ‘Enemies’: The Global Authoritarian Playbook—and How to Stop It.” Citing examples on three continents, he wrote, “From Erdoğan to Trump, strongmen follow the same script—and mass mobilization offers a path to resist.” And he warned Random Lengths that “we’re in a narrow window where judicial resistance remains meaningful” because the Supreme Court has also been eroding constitutional limits and human rights protections, and will like overturn many lower court rulings.

The pattern Bonica described is frustratingly predictable:

  1. A court rules against the leader
  2. The leader attacks judges personally, calling them biased, corrupt, or “enemies”
  3. They work to delegitimize the entire judicial system
  4. This creates permission for supporters to threaten and intimidate judges
  5. If there is no or insufficient mass resistance, they capture the courts
  6. If there’s sustained, broad resistance, they’re forced to pause or retreat

Bonica cited examples such as Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who bluntly told the country’s Constitutional court, “I don’t obey or respect the decision” in a 2016 case, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who called Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno an “enemy,” and Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro who openly threatened violence against judges when he faced a corruption investigation.

As for how to stop the destruction of independent courts, “mass protests are effective,” Bonica argued, “but intensity and timing are important,” and he offered the contrasting examples of Israel and Poland as illustrations. Summarizing the differences, he wrote, “In Israel, the mobilization was immediate, massive, economically disruptive, and crucially, it united people across political, economic, and social lines. In Poland, despite heroic efforts by judges and citizens, the protests came too late and never achieved the breadth or economic impact needed to stop the takeover.”

So what are the prospects for America? Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous “because the escalation is already visible,” he warned. And our situation is particularly precarious, he told Random Lengths.

“One troubling aspect of this is that the federal courts are under attack from outside by political actors while being undermined from within by a Supreme Court that increasingly abandons its role as constitutional guardian,” Bonica said. “When lower courts try to enforce constitutional limits and protect human rights, they face the likelihood that the Supreme Court will reverse them in ways that further erode these principles—as we saw with the immunity decision giving presidents a ‘get out of jail free’ card.”

As a result, “This means we’re in a narrow window where judicial resistance remains meaningful. Lower court judges still issue rulings defending democracy, but the gap between their decisions and Supreme Court review may represent our last period of effective judicial protection,” he warned.

As that window closes, “This internal conflict profoundly complicates public mobilization,” he said. “When the highest court undermines both legal principles and its own legitimacy, it’s harder to rally support for ‘defending the courts.’ The Trump admin and allies will be able to point to the Supreme Court and say that the courts are on their side, not the protestors. And from what we’ve seen so far, they will probably be right.”

The attacks on the judiciary are particularly troubling. “It’s long been apparent that ICE would become the secret police if the GOP’s authoritarian ambitions progressed,” Bonica said. “That they are showing up in courtrooms in a very public and intentional challenge to judicial authority is an ominous sign. That the Supreme Court has done nothing to stop them is even more concerning.”

As we go to press, things are very much in flux. Trump’s chest-pounding has seemingly distracted attention from a myriad of problems he faces—his failed tariff strategy, a slowing economy, with higher prices, his feud with Musk, and his highly unpopular billionaire tax-cut bill that would simultaneously decimate Medicare, Medicade, SNAP and much more, while ballooning the deficit and exploding immigration enforcement spending from $34 billion to $168 billion. There are so many things Trump doesn’t want people paying attention to. So he seems to think that acting tough on immigration is a no-lose strategy.

A big military presence may look tough to some, but for what? Arresting garment workers and chasing after day laborers doesn’t look all that tough. And that’s really all that Trump has at this point. On May 30, a story in the conservative Washington Examiner, “Stephen Miller eviscerated ICE officials in private meeting for low deportation numbers,” reported that Trump’s top immigration advisor demanded a focus on numbers rounded up. “What do you mean you’re going after criminals?” one official quoted him saying. “Stephen Miller wants everybody arrested. ‘Why aren’t you at Home Depot? Why aren’t you at 7-Eleven?’” another said.

An ICE spokesman disputed the account, but what unfolded in Los Angeles after that speaks for itself. And it’s no accident.

Contrary to all Trump’s rhetoric, undocumented immigrants are far less inclined to commit crimes. The most rigorous study of the subject, based on Texas arrest records between 2012 and 2018, found that “undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes.” A document based on the study was removed from the Department of Justice website 10 days after Trump took office.

Trump may be able to hide the documentation of the truth. But the truth itself can’t be hidden forever. Today’s immigrants are basically no different from yesterday’s: the vast majority are hardworking seekers of a better life for themselves and their children. A small fraction are criminals, and bigots will try to tar all immigrants with their brush. But undocumented immigrants are far more likely to be victims of crime than to be perpetrators. More than anyone, they need a fair and honest legal system to protect them. They need America’s rule of law to actually deliver its promise. They don’t want to change America into something wildly unrecognizable and distorted. That’s what Donald Trump wants. He is the threat to America.

LA Briefs: City Budget Advances, Port OKs Clean Truck Funding Plan

Reporters Desk
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LA Briefs: City Budget Advances, Port OKs Clean Truck Funding Plan

 

CD15 Policy Update: LA’s Budget

LOS ANGELES —On June 6, Mayor Bass signed the 2025–26 fiscal year budget, which includes the recommended changes from both the committee and the city council. Initially, the mayor’s proposal called for eliminating over 1,600 filled positions. These cuts would have resulted in major layoffs and serious impacts to essential city services. Fortunately, after careful review by the budget and finance committee, Los Angeles City Council was able to preserve about 1,000 of those positions and protect many of the services residents rely on.

“This has been a challenging process, with the City facing an estimated $1 billion budget gap, councilmember Tim McOsker said. “As Chair of the Personnel Committee, I’ll continue working to transition at-risk employees into funded roles and negotiate with labor partners to reduce further job losses. In this budget, public safety remains a top priority, with the Fire Department receiving the largest funding increase and additional support allocated to the LAPD. While we’ve made meaningful progress, our work isn’t done. I remain committed to restoring services and strengthening the City for the One-Five and all Angelenos.”

Port of LA Approves Clean Truck Fund Spending Plan Through 2027

LOS ANGELES — The Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners May 27 approved a new clean truck fund or CTF spending plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2027, directing an estimated $120 million toward zero-emission or ZE truck deployment and supporting infrastructure. The three-year plan will guide how CTF revenues will be allocated to meet the Port’s 2035 zero-emission drayage goal.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/POLA-clean-truck-fund

California Officials Lead Bicameral Effort to Demand President Trump Withdraw National Guard and Marines from LA

Reporters Desk
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California Officials Lead Bicameral Effort to Demand President Trump Withdraw National Guard and Marines from LA

WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and 39 other California Delegation Representatives are demanding President Donald Trump immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, California. In a bicameral letter sent yesterday, the lawmakers condemn the deployments as an unlawful overreach that bypassed state and local authority and urge the immediate withdrawal of the National Guard and Marines.

“We are writing to express grave concern regarding the deployment of the National Guard and the activation of 700 Marines to Los Angeles. These actions were taken without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local law enforcement. It constitutes a clear violation of constitutional principles and law, and a grave overreach of executive authority,” wrote the lawmakers.

“This deployment does not appear to be motivated by any public safety emergency that could not be dealt with successfully by local authorities. Instead, it coincides with a broader federal enforcement escalation involving mass ICE raids, militarized immigration tactics, and the use of tear gas and riot control methods in civilian areas. These actions undermine civil liberties, destabilize communities, erode public trust in government institutions, and violate the law,” continued the lawmakers.

On June 7 and June 9, Rep. Jimmy Gomez was illegally denied access to the Roybal Federal Building, where ICE is reportedly detaining migrant families — including moms and children— under inhumane conditions. Rep. Gomez called for a formal DHS investigation and submitted a written inquiry demanding answers and accountability from Secretary Kristi Noem. As protests erupted in Los Angeles in response to the raids and detentions, the Trump administration escalated the situation by authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines — without the consent of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and over the objections of local elected and community leaders. They argue the legal authority Trump cited doesn’t apply — making the deployment plainly unlawful.

“As federal officials we must prioritize de-escalation and adherence to the constitutional principles that govern the balance of power between federal and state and local governments. For these reasons, we urge you to immediately withdraw the National Guard and U.S. Marines from Los Angeles and to refrain from further deployments of any military personnel in circumstances that violate constitutional boundaries and escalate domestic tensions,” concluded the lawmakers.

Details: Read the full letter HERE.

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