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Toberman Neighborhood Center Announces New CEO

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Toberman Neighborhood Center Announces New CEO

The Toberman board of directors has announced that Lupe Rivera has been hired as the new CEO of Toberman Neighborhood Center.

Rivera began at Toberman May 9.

The board conducted a thorough search for its new CEO, Though it stated it saw many fine candidates, Rivera was the board’s unanimous choice.

Rivera has extensive experience as a leader of various nonprofits and comes to Toberman from Families in Schools, a Los Angeles-based organization whose mission is to involve parents and communities in their children’s education to achieve lifelong success. She was president and CEO.

In a press release Toberman Neighborhood Center said it is excited that Rivera’s strong background will enable her to play a critical role in the continued growth and success of Toberman.

Board of Supervisors Support Muratsuchi Homeless Court Legislation

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Board of Supervisors Support Muratsuchi Homeless Court Legislation

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, led by Supervisor Janice Hahn and Chair Holly Mitchell, May 3, threw their support behind AB 2220, legislation that would provide state funding for local Homeless Court programs. Homeless courts, like those that already exist in Redondo Beach and Long Beach and will soon be launched in Torrance, are proving effective in helping the hardest-to-reach individuals get connected with services and housing.

The City of Redondo Beach runs a Homeless Court program that diverts unhoused individuals from jail and into housing for certain qualifying misdemeanors. An unhoused individual who qualifies for the Homeless Court will be linked with services and programs to get them housing-ready, leading to them entering housing and having their pending charges dismissed. Since its inception in September 2020, the Redondo Beach Homeless Court has permanently housed 22 individuals. Its success has led the City of Long Beach and Torrance to pursue similar models as well.

Despite their success, Homeless Court programs do not have an ongoing or consistent source of funding. The lack of funding threatens their futures and may deter other cities from implementing their own programs.

The Board of Supervisors supported a motion to back Assembly Bill 2220 (AB 2220) authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, which aims to address that problem by introducing state funding for Homeless Courts across California.

AB 2220 will establish a competitive-grant pilot program administered by the Judicial Council to create a homeless courts plan that includes a community-based framework. This will provide funding to both support the existing Homeless Courts like those in Redondo Beach, Long Beach, and Torrance and to also expand the model to other cities and jurisdictions.

Ports Briefs: Container Dwell Fee Still Holding/ Grant Powers POLB Zero Emissions Push

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Ports Briefs: Container Dwell Fee Still Holding/ Grant Powers POLB Zero Emissions Push

Container Dwell Fee Remains on Hold to May 13

SAN PEDRO — The San Pedro Bay ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will again delay consideration of the “Container Dwell Fee” for another week, until May 13.

Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 47% in aging cargo on the docks.

The executive directors of both ports will reassess fee implementation after monitoring data over the next week. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners have both extended the fee program through July 28.

Under the temporary policy, ocean carriers can be charged for each import container dwelling nine days or more at the terminal. No date has been set to start the count with respect to container dwell time.

Grant to Power Port of Long Beach’s Zero Emissions Push

A multimillion-dollar California Energy Commission Grant will help the Port of Long Beach transition to zero-emissions operations by developing infrastructure plans to support electric vehicles at the Port of Long Beach.

The $2.5 million award aids the second phase of the port community electric vehicle blueprint, which the port created to identify an approach to electric vehicle planning and implementation, and identify opportunities to ensure the local workforce has the skills and abilities required to support and maintain an electric vehicle-ready community.

Projects covered by the grant include developing a master plan for SSA Marine’s Pier J facility to convert to zero-emissions operations. A similar master plan will be developed to evaluate the infrastructure required to support a fully zero-emissions port-owned fleet of vehicles and vessels. Other projects include installing chargers at the port’s maintenance facility as well as the infrastructure needed to power future chargers at the port’s joint command and control center. Lastly, funds will be used to develop a report in partnership with Long Beach City College to identify workforce skills needed to maintain zero-emissions trucks and infrastructure.

Bass Campaign Issues Cease and Desist Following Defamatory Police Union PAC Attack Ad

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Bass Campaign Issues Cease and Desist Following Defamatory Police Union PAC Attack Ad

LOS ANGELES – The Karen Bass campaign May 10, issued a cease and desist letter in response to a wildly misleading, defamatory attack ad released by the Los Angeles Police Protective League, an independent expenditure committee opposing Karen Bass’s candidacy for Mayor of Los Angeles.

The letter points to demonstrable falsehoods in the Police Protective League’s ad, including the claim that Congresswoman Bass “repeatedly voted to give USC millions in taxpayer funds,” and demands the organization stop funding the false advertisement in violation of defamation law.

Karen Bass never voted to appropriate taxpayer funds to USC, and none of the bills cited in the ad refer to the University of Southern California or USC – unless you count the abbreviation of “United States Code”.

“A police union PAC supporting Rick Caruso is trying to distract from his USC pay-to-play admissions scandal by airing attack ads that spread misinformation about Karen Bass,” said spokesperson Anna Bahr. “Let’s be clear: While Caruso helped the wealthy and well-connected at USC, depriving working class students of an education, Karen Bass was at USC to study our broken child welfare system. This is what happens when a real estate billionaire tries to buy an election.”

Details: Read the text of the cease and desist letter here.

Join TRAA’s Zoom Meeting: Voter Advisory Panel’s Candidate Recommendations for the Torrance Election

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Join TRAA’s Zoom Meeting: Voter Advisory Panel’s Candidate Recommendations for the Torrance Election

Join TRAA’s Monthly Zoom Meeting

Discuss and meet some of the Candidates at TRAA’s Monthly Zoom Meeting.

Time: 7 p.m. May 11

TRAA Recommended candidates for the upcoming Torrance election have been invited to speak at the start of TRAA’s monthly meeting, don’t miss it. Get the Inside story on the upcoming elections.

To attend the virtual meeting, RSVP with an e-mail request for a Zoom link to TRAA President Steven Goldsmith at info@TRAA.website. Include your phone number so we can update you before the meeting. Look for the Zoom link and agenda on Wednesday morning.

TRAA Voter Advisory Panel’s Candidate Recommendations for the June 7, Torrance Election

The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance or TRAA Voter Advisory Panel submitted three questions related to the use of hydrofluoric acid or HF in the local refineries to the candidates for Torrance mayor, city council, and treasurer in the upcoming election on June 7. Then they compiled the answers and graded the candidates on how closely they aligned with TRAA’s mission. Candidates who didn’t respond were given an F.

View the results in the scorecard on TRAA’s website, which includes additional important voter information.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/TRAA-rec

LBPD Launches Webpage Including Proposed Military Equipment Use Policy

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LBPD Launches Webpage Including Proposed Military Equipment Use Policy

On September 30, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 481 to address the funding, acquisition and use of military equipment. In compliance with this new bill, the Long Beach Police Department has launched a webpage containing the Department’s proposed Military Equipment use policy, definition of Military Equipment as ascribed by AB 481, and information about how our community can share their questions or concerns regarding the Department’s military use equipment.

Following a 30-day public review period, the Department’s proposed Military Equipment use policy will be sent for City Council’s review and placed on the agenda for open session and public comment. Members of the public can also register a question or concern regarding military use equipment by contacting the LBPD via email at AB481@longbeach.gov.

Details: www.longbeach.gov/police/lbpd-ab-481/

Arts Announcements: “Bridging Wellness” Through Art and Healing/ LB Creative Economy Grants Open

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Arts Announcements: “Bridging Wellness” Through Art and Healing/ LB Creative Economy Grants Open

Long Beach and San Pedro Host “Bridging Wellness” Through Art and Healing

“Bridging Wellness” is a series of community pop-ups supported by WE RISE LA. “Bridging Wellness” is a collaborative effort with partners Angels Gate Cultural Center, Arts Council for Long Beach, and 23 other organizations and numerous artists in the Harbor Area. County wide pop ups can be found on the WE RISE website and all “Bridging Wellness” local events can be found on the Arts Council for Long Beach website.

Pop-ups range from Embodying Water for Wellbeing to a day of collaborations on May 15 at Compound . Visual artist Betsy Lohrer Hall offers meditative experiences focused on sound receptivity and senses of place through Here Hear at Angels Gate Cultural Center on May 15th. Also best-selling author Dr. Lucia Capacchione, originator of the “Creative Journal Method”, will lead a Grounded, Stable, Empowered: Be Guided There by Your Non Dominant Hand workshop with ArtsLB artist teacher Betty Rosen on May 13.

WE RISE 2022: BY US, FOR US is a series of community-led events that support health and healing across Los Angeles County. A collaborative impact initiative, WE RISE 2022 invests in local organizations, artists and leaders to strengthen community wellbeing. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month in May, community partners provide access to resources and opportunities for connection through art installations, cultural experiences and other community engagement projects. As the ripple effects of the pandemic, social injustice and global pressures continue, WE RISE 2022 emphasizes positive programming that connects youth and those who love them, while amplifying collective strength.

Details: www.whywerise.la/werisela

Grant Applications Now Open For City Of Long Beach Creative Economy Grants Program

The application period opened for the City of Long Beach’s recently announced creative economy grants program. This program, funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act, will provide funding to local arts, culture and history nonprofits and professional artists to be utilized for operational recovery, public murals, community projects and professional artist fellowships. Now until June 10, 2022, eligible artists and organizations can apply to receive grants to support a variety of arts activities.

The Creative Economy Grants Program includes the following four grant opportunities, administered through ArtsLB:

  • Organizational Recovery Grants
  • Public Mural Program
  • Community Project Grants
  • Artist Fellowships

The application period for all programs will close June 10, with the exception of the public mural program, which closes Aug. 5.

Details: www.artslb.org/creative-economy-grants

Filipino Seaman Pleads Guilty to Fatally Stabbing Fellow Crew Member

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Filipino Seaman Pleads Guilty to Fatally Stabbing Fellow Crew Member

LOS ANGELES – A Philippines national who fatally stabbed a fellow crew member on a container ship en route from Shanghai to Los Angeles pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge.

Michael Dequito Monegro, 43, a resident of The Philippines, pleaded guilty to one count of committing an act of violence against a person onboard a ship that is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship.

United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer has scheduled a September 12 sentencing hearing, at which time Monegro will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

According to his plea agreement, in September 2020, Monegro was working as a seaman aboard the MSC Ravenna, a 153,000-gross-ton Liberian-flagged container ship. On Sept. 20, 2020, the Ravenna was approximately 80 nautical miles from Southern California, nearing the end of its two-week voyage from Shanghai to the Port of Los Angeles.

That morning, several crew members were preparing for their shift and waiting for their direct supervisor to provide their work assignments for the day. Shortly after Monegro saw his direct supervisor in the hallway outside the locker room, Monegro began stabbing him with a knife while they were both in the hallway in full view of several crewmembers.

Crewmembers attempted, unsuccessfully, to intervene to stop Monegro, including throwing a trash can at him. Monegro admitted that he only stopped stabbing the victim when he became too tired to continue.

The ship’s captain, chief mate and chief engineer all arrived on scene during the incident, and the captain convinced Monegro to get off the victim, who died on the ship from multiple stab wounds.

Monegro was convinced by the captain to walk to a conference room. After continued discussions, Monegro placed the knives on the conference room table and was escorted to his cabin.

Monegro was confined to a cabin and crew members were assigned to guard the door — unable to perform their normal duties on the ship. Other crew members were traumatized by witnessing Monegro stab and kill the victim.

Federal agents arrested Monegro after the ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles on September 27, 2020. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.

Compound LB Hosts Fundraiser for World Central Kitchen’s Ukrainian Relief Efforts

Melina Paris
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Compound LB Hosts Fundraiser for World Central Kitchen’s Ukrainian Relief Efforts

Compound Long Beach will host a fundraising event May 7, to support José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen or WCK and their efforts to provide sustenance to those affected by the war in Ukraine with a Ukrainian-inspired Chromasonic immersive art installation.

The fundraising event, created in partnership with Chromasonic, features an immersive light and sound sequence experience inspired by the Ukrainian flag. The sequence, which will precede each cycle of Chromasonic’s in-situ installation Field Study on view at

Compound, draws attention to the tragedy in Ukraine while paying homage to the human spirit. Field Study is composed of repeated translucent scrims laid out to create a series of rooms and interstitial spaces.The installation uses “Chromasonic Refrequencing,” a real-time translation of light frequencies to sound, and sound frequencies to light, in effect making light audible or sound visible.

Join this special event featuring music from DJ Olive Kimoto, appetizers and sweets from beloved local eatery Wide Eyes Open Palms, beer and wine by Compound, and the opportunity to hear directly from Chromasonic and WCK. 100% of proceeds benefit World Central Kitchen.

Chaos to Cosmos exhibit, the second installation at Compound, features artists addressing nature and beauty, working on the creation of visual systems, order and iconography to address the mysteries of the universe, seeking to represent the inexplicable.

Anna Sew Hoy’s Slow Moon’s Rose sculpture garden features ceramic works composed of stoneware and mirrors.

WEOP dishes to include:

  • Little Gems with Ukrainian Beet Salad
  • Crispy Potatoes and Pork Meatballs with Paprika Cream
  • English Pea Pesto and Mint Crostini
  • Lavender Ricotta, Raspberry Jam and Fennel Crostini
  • Maple Almond Cookies with Toasted Coconut
  • WeOp “Chippers” with Dark Chocolate, Espresso and Sea Salt

Parking is available at the Compound parking structure at 1326 Obispo Avenue.

Time: 4 to 8 p.m. May 7

Cost: $19 to $25

Details: 562.534.6050; To RSVP and donate visit, www.compoundlb.com

Venue: Compound Long Beach, 1395 Coronado Avenue, Long Beach

They Built the Wall. Problems Remain After Founder’s Guilty Plea

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They Built the Wall. Problems Remain After Founder’s Guilty Plea

Brian Kolfage, a 40-year-old Air Force veteran, faces more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to the wall effort.

By Jeremy Schwartz and Perla Trevizo,Co-published with The Texas Tribune

Brian Kolfage arrived in Texas three years ago pledging to help fulfill

President Donald Trump’s promise of a “big, beautiful” wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. After pleading guilty to federal fraud charges last month, Kolfage leaves behind two small stretches of fencing that are mired in legal, environmental and permitting fights.

Kolfage, a 40-year-old Air Force veteran, faces more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to the wall effort. Despite the resolution of the criminal case, Kolfage and his We Build the Wall group still face a defamation suit brought by the National Butterfly Center, a nonprofit nature preserve in the Rio Grande Valley that he accused of promoting sex and human trafficking without evidence. In addition, the federal government has filed suit regarding one of his wall projects, alleging it was built in potential violation of an international treaty between the U.S. and Mexico.

Read more at: https://www.propublica.org/article/they-built-the-wall-problems-remain-after-founders-guilty-plea

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