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Gutting the Weather Watchers: When Tyrants Rewrite the Forecast

Thom Hartmann
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Gutting the Weather Watchers: When Tyrants Rewrite the Forecast

 

This is no accident. It’s a coordinated attack on science, safety, and the truth — just in time for hurricane season…

This disaster has me so angry I can barely type straight. Elon Musk and his phony “Department of Government Efficiency” — which isn’t even a real government department, by the way — are systematically destroying the agencies that keep Americans alive when Mother Nature comes calling. And for what? Some twisted ideological experiment that’s going to cost lives.

The National Weather Service is falling apart right before hurricane season. They have 155 empty positions that should be filled with forecasters working around the clock to track storms and save lives.

Tom Fahy from the National Weather Service Employees Organization nailed it when he told The Washington Post:

“For most of the last half century, NWS has been a 24/7 operation. Not anymore, thanks to Elon Musk.”

Picture this: a Category 4 hurricane spinning up in the Gulf, and the people who should be tracking its every move and warning coastal communities just aren’t there anymore. That’s not some dystopian nightmare: that’s what Trump and Musk have done to us.

Want to know how insane this gets? NOAA started the year with over 600 vacant positions. Instead of filling those jobs, Trump’s crew — with Musk’s DOGE cheerleading the destruction — illegally fired or pushed out another 10% of the remaining staff. They’re literally making the problem worse.

The consequences hit immediately. Last month, the National Weather Service had to stop launching weather balloons at several sites and gut their data collection operations because they don’t have enough people. Those balloons aren’t just pretty toys; they’re how we know if that storm brewing in the Atlantic is going to slam into Miami, New Orleans, Houston, or fizzle out at sea.

Here’s another insane part of this: NOAA’s weather data generates $9 in economic value every year for every $1 of expense, and benefits the US to the tune of over $5 billion a year. That’s the kind of return on investment that would make venture capitalists weep with joy. But Musk and Trump are torching it anyway, because their real goal isn’t efficiency, it’s blinding Americans to the climate crisis.

This attack on NOAA fits perfectly with their broader war on climate science. We can’t have people understanding the true cost of extreme weather if they and their fossil fuel funders want to keep pumping carbon into the atmosphere, right? Better to leave everyone stumbling around in the dark while the planet burns.

And don’t even get me started on what they’re doing to FEMA. They’re gutting the agency that coordinates disaster relief that, ironically, benefits Red states that get pummeled by hurricanes and tornadoes every year the most. Remember Hurricane Helene tearing through North Carolina last fall? Instead of supporting relief efforts, lunatics like Marjorie Taylor Greene spent their time attacking FEMA and spreading conspiracy theories.

Greene actually tweeted: “Yes, they can control the weather.” If that were true, maybe she could ask Trump and Musk to turn on those magical Jewish space lasers and give us all a break.

But this isn’t really about controlling weather, it’s about controlling information. It’s about making sure Americans don’t have the tools to prepare for disasters or understand why they’re getting worse. It’s about putting ideology ahead of human lives, and we should all be sick of it.

Was it Putin or the fossil fuel billionaires who told Trump and Musk to do this? Because I can’t think of any other reason why they’d be working so hard to bring death and destruction to millions of Americans.

People are going to die because of these cuts. Not might die, not could die: will die. Families will lose everything. Communities will be wiped off the map. All because two billionaires decided their war on our “socialist” government and the tax dollars that support it was more important than keeping ordinary Americans safe.

The National Weather Service, NOAA, and FEMA aren’t bloated bureaucracies wasting taxpayer money. They’re the thin line between advance warning and mass casualties. They’re the difference between evacuation and devastation.

We can’t let them finish this demolition job directed against our nation. Call your representatives. Raise hell. Make noise. And, if we can’t stop them, let’s make sure that when the next big storm hits and the warnings don’t come in time, we’ll all know exactly who’s responsible for the bodies.

Rep. Barragán Raises Alarm Over GOP Plan to Cut Health Care for Millions

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Rep. Barragán Raises Alarm Over GOP Plan to Cut Health Care for Millions

 

Washington, D.C. – After a 26-hour markup last week, House Republicans on the energy and commerce committee May 17 advanced their piece of Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation plan — with no Democratic votes. The bill slashes $715 billion from Medicaid and other critical health care programs — combined with the provisions passed by the Ways & Means Committee this week and a proposed regulation from the Trump Administration, 13.7 million Americans now stand to lose their health care.

“This bill is nothing short of an assault on the health care of working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities,” said Rep. Barragán. “The Republican reconciliation bill, along with the actions of the Trump Administration and Republicans’ failure to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, will cause almost 14 million people to lose their health care. Republicans forced us to debate this bill in the dead of night, when they knew most Americans would not see their attempt to take health care away from millions of people. House Democrats will continue to fight this bill and make sure all Americans know that these painful cuts to essential services and programs are so that Republicans can give even larger tax breaks to their billionaire donors.”

Throughout the marathon markup, Rep. Barragán and Democratic committee members introduced amendments to reverse, blunt, or improve upon the harms of the bill, which Republicans, as a whole, rejected. This bill will now be combined with the Republican reconciliation bills that have passed out of other House committees for full House consideration.

The approved bill text includes harmful provisions that will:

Make it harder for people to enroll and keep their health coverage:

Burdensome new paperwork for Medicaid enrollees, designed to reduce access — not improve care.

Barriers to enrolling and renewing coverage for people on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Shortened enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage, reducing time to sign up.

Make it more expensive to access care:

New copays for Medicaid recipients.

New fees and documentation requirements for people seeking ACA subsidies.

Barriers to programs that help low-income seniors on both Medicare and Medicaid afford health care.

Decrease access to high-quality, affordable care for hospitals, community health centers, nursing homes, and at-home services:

Delays implementation of nursing home minimum staffing standards, putting elderly residents at risk.

Restricts states’ use of provider taxes, which support payments to health care providers and expansion of covered services.

Cuts federal Medicaid support for states that use their own funds to cover undocumented immigrants.

Beyond health care, the bill also includes sweeping attacks on environmental protections, clean energy investments, and telecommunications infrastructure:

Guts clean energy and environmental investments — including pollution reduction programs in schools and low-income communities.

Lets fossil fuel companies pay to bypass safeguards, including a $1 million fee to fast-track LNG exports and $10 million to expedite pipeline permitting.

Raises $88 billion through a spectrum auction and diverts those funds to tax cuts for billionaires, rather than investments in internet affordability and NextGen 911.

The legislation now moves to the House floor, where it will be considered as part of the broader Republican budget reconciliation package.

Annual Grant Opportunities Now Open at Arts Council for Long Beach

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Annual Grant Opportunities Now Open at Arts Council for Long Beach

The Arts Council for Long Beach or ArtsLB announces this year’s annual grant opportunities. These grants are designed to support artists, arts organizations, and cultural projects that enhance the vibrancy of the community. Whether you’re an individual artist, a local arts organization, or an emerging creative leader, there’s a funding opportunity for you.

Three Grant Programs Available:

1. Community Project Grants

Supports exemplary artistic, cultural and arts educational projects in Long Beach. This grant aims to encourage innovative and diverse programming, support arts and cultural projects that address community needs, and assist local organizations with a track record of effective arts programming. Funding: $1,000 – $5,000 (based on available funds and merit of proposals)

2. Operating Grants I & II

Provides unrestricted funding for arts and cultural organizations with an annual budget of $250,000 or more. Organizations must focus on presenting, collecting, or commissioning exemplary works of art, performances, or exhibitions for public benefit. Note: Measure B Grantees are no longer eligible for this program. New applicants must schedule a consultation with the grants department between now and June 6. Contact grants@artslb.org to book an appointment.

3. Professional Artist Fellowship

This grant honors living Long Beach-based artists who have demonstrated excellence and impact in their field(s). Eligible disciplines include: Visual, Performing; Audio, Literary; Media; and Culinary Arts; Folk; Traditional; Multidisciplinary; and Interdisciplinary Arts. Awards are based on artistic merit and professional achievement.

Grant Assistance Workshops Join the free virtual workshop to help you navigate the application process: May 20 (Zoom Workshops) – covering community project and professional artist grants. Operating grants require one-on-one consultations instead of a workshop. RSVP: https://artslb.org/programs/grants/grant-assistance/Apply now. Applications close June 13 at 5 p.m.

Details: Applications are open now – visit https://artslb.org/programs/grants/ to learn more and submit your application.

134,000 LA County Residents to Get Medical Debt Relief Notices This Week

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134,000 LA County Residents to Get Medical Debt Relief Notices This Week

More than 134,000 Los Angeles County residents will begin receiving notices this week as a part of the first wave of medical debt relief, marking a significant step in addressing the financial strain caused by medical costs. The notices, sent by LA County and national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt inform the resident that their medical debt has been permanently retired and offer helpful information for individuals who need help with additional medical bills or are seeking financial assistance.

The amount of debt being relieved through this first round of notices is $183,580,711.32.

Launched in December 2024, the Los Angeles County Medical Debt Relief Program provides immediate financial relief by purchasing and eliminating medical debt for qualifying residents. Through an initial $5 million investment approved by the LA County Board of Supervisors, the program aims to retire $500 million in medical debt for low-income residents, with plans to eliminate up to $2 billion by seeking additional contributions from philanthropic partners, hospitals, and health plans. Through this program, Undue Medical Debt acquires qualifying debts in bulk for a fraction of their face value from provider partners like hospitals and health systems along with collection agencies, meaning on average one dollar donated can erase $100 or more of medical debt.

Eligible residents will receive an Undue Medical Debt and Los Angeles County branded envelope in the mail without any need to apply. The program also includes preventive measures to reduce future medical debt through improved eligibility tools for financial assistance programs and increased access to resources.

This medical debt relief is source-based, meaning only qualifying debts held by participating providers or collectors can be canceled. Relief cannot be requested. To qualify for relief, current LA County residents must be either four times (400%) or below the federal poverty level or have medical debt that totals 5% or more of their annual income.

A key component of existing efforts to reduce medical debt accumulation rests in ensuring that hospitals and health care providers have robust systems in place to help those with few resources manage a chronic illness and/or medical emergency. To assist with these efforts, the LA County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance on September 10, 2024 requiring hospitals in unincorporated Los Angeles to report on debt and financial assistance activities. On April 29, 2025, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously advanced a motion, led by Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, to extend medical debt data collection to 34 additional hospitals within the city limits. This expansion builds upon efforts to improve the quality of financial assistance programs and debt collection practices in order to reduce medical debt by the LA County Board of Supervisors in September 2024 which apply to hospitals in unincorporated areas.

Details:http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/hccp/medicalDebt/prevent.htm

LA County Expands Support for Transition Age Youth and Tackles Jail Deaths

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LA County Expands Support for Transition Age Youth and Tackles Jail Deaths

 

Supervisors Advance CalAIM Benefits for Transition Age Youth

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors May 13 approved a motion authored by chair pro tem and Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and Supervisor Janice Hahn to establish a framework to ensure every Transition Age Youth or TAY aging out of the county’s system has information and enrollment support regarding available healthcare options and benefits, including those through California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal or CalAIM.

CalAIM, which provides beneficiaries with holistic care extending beyond the doctor’s office or hospital, includes statewide benefits such as Enhanced Care Management or ECM and Community Support or CS, and have helped address historic challenges faced by youth in foster care and TAY, such as care coordination. In June of 2024, the board passed a motion authored by chair pro tem Solis to ensure generational and life-long success for TAY, establishing a roadmap and a TAY Roundtable to address youth ages 16 to 24 who are not in school, training, working, or seeking employment. As a part of this approach, the county recognized these disconnected youth as more likely to be part of a generational poverty cycle, be unemployed or underemployed, experience housing insecurity and homelessness, and poor health.

The TAY roundtable had its kick-off meeting last month to begin collaboration to address the holistic needs of transition age youth. This roundtable is bringing together stakeholders across multiple county departments and community partners to coordinate to meet the needs of TAY, as well as make recommendations to better serve these youth. One of their key recommendations is connecting TAY to health care plans, to help preserve access to care and resources even beyond the County network.

The approved motion directs several county departments and offices, including the Departments of Public Health Services, Youth Development, Public Health, and even the County’s Youth Commission and LGBTQ+ Commission to include a presentation of considerations for TAY enrolling in a managed care plan in addition to the recommended framework.

Details: here.

 

Board of Supervisors Passes Hahn Motion in Response to Rising Deaths in LA County Jails

LOS ANGELES — In response to a disturbing rise in in-custody deaths within the Los Angeles County jail system, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors May 13 passed a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn to initiate a multi-departmental comprehensive plan to address the crisis.

The county has seen one of the deadliest starts to a year in its jail system’s recent history. In the first 20 weeks of 2025 alone, 20 incarcerated individuals have died—more than double the number of deaths during the same period last year—including three in a single day.

“Our jails are in crisis,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We have seen an alarming increase in deaths of people who are in our custody and in our care. We need to take urgent, decisive action to save lives. The aim of this motion is to make sure we understand what is driving this increase and that we address it at a systemic level.”

Deaths have continued to increase despite recent efforts to improve conditions—such as increased medical staffing, greater access to Narcan within jails, and a declining jail population.

The motion directs the Department of Health Services’ Correctional Health Services or CHS and requests the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or LASD to deliver a comprehensive report within 90 days that includes:

An implementation plan with clear performance metrics to significantly reduce in-custody deaths;

An in-depth analysis of the causes and contributing factors behind the increase in deaths, along with recommendations to prevent future loss of life;

An assessment of how policy or budgetary decisions—such as Proposition 36 or federal cuts to health services—may affect inmate health outcomes.

Additionally, the motion directs the auditor-controller and CEO risk management, with support from CHS, LASD, and the medical examiner, to audit corrective action plans related to in-custody deaths from 2020 to the present and recommend further improvements.

Details: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/202910.pdf

 

Letters to the Editor: Memories, Machines and Messages of Peace from Pedro to California

Reporters Desk
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Letters to the Editor: Memories, Machines and Messages of Peace from Pedro to California

Remembering Eleanor Montano

I’m a family friend of Eleanor Montano. I’m speaking on behalf of the Montano family to let you know of her passing on April 29th.

Eleanor served her community of Wilmington, LAPD Harbor Division, City of LA on various Boards and Commissions throughout Los Angeles for over 50 yrs.

Eleanor has received numerous awards through the years for her work and has been a friend and mentor to many throughout the community. On a personal note, she was a mentor to me when I first came on board with the LAPD, volunteering with the Crisis Response Team back in 1996.

I thought it would be so very nice to acknowledge her dedication to her many years of service.

Thank you so much,

Gary Horton

 

Industrial Robots

U.S. factories now run about 382 ,000 industrial robots—up 12 % in a single year—and 2023 saw a new unit bolted to the floor roughly once every 14 minutes. ¹ These machines make everyday goods cheaper, but each one also reshapes or erases a human role. IFR International Federation of Robotics

AI is no longer just on the shop floor: algorithms design circuit boards, route freight, and even auto‑generate maintenance schedules. Yet the speed of this rollout has left unions and local officials scrambling to react in real time, not years in advance.

So why aren’t workers given a transparent timeline—and the resources—to adapt? Large‑scale studies show that only about one in eight displaced workers (≈ 10–15 %) ever enroll in any formal retraining, despite clear evidence that targeted coursework can restore lost earnings. ² Meanwhile, many Americans still cling to the comforting hope that the economy will simply “snap back” to its pre‑automation state. That ship has sailed; entire warehouses and ports already run lights‑out. Money Smart Week

If we’re serious about preserving middle‑class dignity, three steps can’t wait:

Transparency. A federal Automation Forecast forcing large employers to publish five‑year robot/AI deployment plans.

Transition funding. A National Reskilling Trust that grants every displaced worker a fully paid year in an accredited program—no tuition, no lost health coverage.

Portable benefits. Health care and retirement accounts that follow the worker, not the job, so people can move from legacy roles into new ones without risking bankruptcy.

Give citizens the facts, the time, and the tools, and they’ll meet the future head‑on. Keep them in the dark, and the true price of “cheap” goods will be paid in livelihoods, not dollars.

Carlos Saldana

Long Beach

 

California Love

If your online algorithms have ever led you into the far-right internet, you know it is a fact-free environment filled with conspiracy theories and disinformation.

That’s true when it comes to California as well.

During the LA fires they were out there saying we didn’t rake the forest enough, firefighters were using purses to put out fires, and that the fires were set deliberately to create a UN model city. Wild stuff…

But it happens every day.

They say people are fleeing California. False. Our population grew again last year.

They say our state has made a mess of the economy. False. California is now the fourth largest economy in the world. The right likes to talk up Texas as some beacon of what America’s economy should be. Ridiculous. California is the largest manufacturing (and agricultural) state in the country. The next largest state is Texas, and we’re 41% bigger than Texas. Plus, California is a donor state. Texas? A welfare state.

We have more jobs in forestry, agriculture, and fishing. In so many ways, California is a microcosm of the United States. America… but more.

Thanks for reading — and stay vigilant against the lies and falsehoods out there.

Gavin Newsom, Governor California

 

Peace In Pedro

I’d like to announce 2 local Peace events this month:

1) Thursday May 15th 4-5pm in front of RLN, we will be rallying for our 1st Amendment Freedom of the Press, and to commemorate Nakba Day and denounce the murder by Israel of over 200 Palestinian journalists in Israel’s US-backed war of erasure in Gaza.

2) Our 10th Annual L.A. Harbor Peace Week Not Fleet Week, a series of Peace activities at the San Pedro Waterfront resisting the normalization and promotion of war during the U.S. military’s annual “fleet week” here. For 10 years during “fleet week”, YOUR L.A. Harbor has become a military fairground at the base of the USS Iowa on the L.A. Waterfront. Weapons of all types, and “careers” in WAR are promoted ad nauseum to tens of thousands of people, and especially target youth to recruit them to war jobs after high school.

We Americans pay $1.5 Trillion every year to the Pentagon to fight, prepare for, and recover from, America’s highly questionable wars and over 750 military bases in other people’s countries. Cutting just the nonsense programs like the F-35, long range missile “defense”, the Sentinel ICBM program, and the continued procurement of aircraft carriers could save $100 billion a year. This money could go to nurses, affordable housing, teachers, clean energy, pre-school programs, and healthcare, including VA benefits.

If you are sick and tired of constant WARS, and the promotion of them, join us for Peace Week Not Fleet Week!

A full list can be found @pedro4peace and @codepinksanpedro and on Facebook.

Thursday May 22 we’ll be flyering 4 peace at the downtown welcome “party”. Party4Peace. We’ll meet at 6pm in front of the garden at 429 6th St.

Friday May 23 is our Weekly “Rally for Palestine” @1221 S Gaffey St VONS 5-6pm, followed by a Car Caravan to Wilmington to vigil and FLYER in Banning Park at “fleet week’s” Wilmington Welcome ‘Party’.

Saturday May 24 11am-2pm to FLYER! @ the USS Iowa. and 5pm-7pm FLYER! for Peace at West Harbor

Sunday May 25 1-4pm @ USS Iowa

-Interfaith Peace Promotion and FLYERING!

“Stop Glorifying Guns”

“Pray for Peace, Not for War”

Monday Memorial Day May 26 2-5pm @ USS Iowa FLYERING!

“Gaza is Starving”

“War is Making you Poor”

Rachel Bruhnke Codepink

San Pedro

MAGA Warriors: The Bill is Due

Reporters Desk
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MAGA Warriors: The Bill is Due

 

By John R. Gray

Well, MAGA conservatives, you got what you wanted: Donald Trump was elected president. And lately, he seems to be following what you all wanted: immigration crackdowns are rampant (constitutional or not), DEI initiatives have either been shut down or are on the run, and liberals everywhere are being “owned” through all of Trump’s initiatives in just the first few months of his term.

Whiteness has been restored as the power structure in America. I know, I know, race somehow isn’t an issue in who you voted for as president, but this is just fantasy. Kamala Harris was clearly a more qualified presidential candidate, yet you all still voted for a white man who is a total egomaniac. Nevertheless, one has to wonder, are all of you in MAGA truly content with your vote? Is everything Trump and his “esteemed” cabinet are doing truly helpful for you, or are you starting to have a bit of buyer’s remorse?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the things Trump and his cabinet have done in the past few months. Let’s start off with the tariffs Trump has imposed on many countries all over the world. It was argued that the tariffs implemented would lure manufacturing back to the U.S., forcing other countries to strike new deals with the U.S. and eliminating our trade deficits. All of these actions went against many economists’ advice, but the opinions of experts have never really mattered to Trump, have they? All of his policy decisions seem to be made on a whim, with no real reasoning behind any of them. The man conducts himself as a harbinger of chaos, like Frankenstein on roller skates, causing havoc throughout the government.

Speaking of havoc, let’s talk about the actions of Trump and his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who was seen operating bumper cars at the carnival recently. A TV personality like Trump, Hegseth fired Joint Chiefs Chair General Charles Q. Brown, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, as well as the Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Such actions appear to be nothing more than a purge aimed at getting rid of military officials that Hegseth was known to criticize as “DEI hires.” These firings beg the question of who Trump and Hegseth have in mind for these positions and what connections they may have to the two men. Hegseth has already commissioned his personal lawyer to be a Navy commander in the Judge Advocate General’s corps, which is obviously a conflict of interest and furthers fears that Trump and Hegseth will bring people into the Judge Advocate General that will allow them to get away with whatever they want. Would you want your children to serve under a man like this? Imagine them fighting and dying on the orders of such an inexperienced commander. Was this what you really wanted?

Now let’s get into the absolute catastrophe that is the Department of Government Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE. Run by South African billionaire Elon Musk, this department, which is supposed to cut down on excess government spending, has only hurt government organizations that are meant to help people, such as the Social Security Administration, which was already operating at a restricted level from previous cuts. What are government employees to do, go on welfare? What does this mean for all of the senior citizens who need Social Security to survive in their old age, and what does it mean for those senior citizens who voted for Trump? I suppose they have to go on welfare as well. I guarantee that under Kamala Harris, we would not have had to worry about either of these questions. Seems to be a situation where people shot themselves in the foot, but this is what MAGA followers voted for, many of whom are on Social Security. Was this what you wanted?

Lastly, let’s talk about Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education, all in the name of attacking “woke” ideologies and DEI programs. It’s no secret that the Department of Education was in charge of enforcing anti-discrimination laws and focused on helping underrepresented schools, things that are apparently anathema to Trump and his entire administration. His belief that states and local districts should deal with education by themselves begs the question as to how equitable treatment for all students can exist when each state can deal with education as it pleases. One must remember that at one point before the existence of the Department of Education, many southern states held two different and unequal standards of education for black and white students, thanks to segregation. Maga followers in Mississippi have been found to allocate unequal funds between black majority and white majority schools. Without a Department of Education, we could very well be headed back to unequal standards of education based on how states choose to implement their educational system.

My fellow Americans, I have to ask again: Is this what all of you in the MAGA movement really wanted? Are you really prepared to ride the unpredictable waves of pure dictatorship? When Trump deports legal immigrants such as Kilmer Abrego Garcia to El Salvador prisons and defies a Supreme Court Order to have him returned, is that really a part of what you want for this nation? How much further are you willing to let this man go with his fascism in the name of attacking “woke” ideologies? Will you continue to approve of this mess until this country resembles a Vladimir Putin-style oligarchy? If you do, I can guarantee that not even you will be safe when the trucks arrive to take you to who knows where. Keep waving your MAGA flags and kissing Trump’s ass though, after all, he’s what you wanted, a white narcissist as your ideal president.

Long Beach Fires Up Flavor for 3rd Annual Barbecue Festival

Melina Paris
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Long Beach Fires Up Flavor for 3rd Annual Barbecue Festival

 

It’s time for the 3rd Annual Long Beach BBQ Festival which means a finger-lickin’ good time. Brought to you by Axiom Kitchen and Noah’s Arc Foundation, this sizzling food and music event is happening at Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach, May 23 and May 24.

Join for two days of BBQ, music, entertainment, games, shopping and fun in the sun. Indulge in mouthwatering ribs, juicy burgers and tender pulled pork from the best BBQ vendors in town. Enjoy live music from local bands, and a surprise headliner while you savor your favorite BBQ delights.

Bring your friends and family for a weekend filled with good food, great company and a whole lot of flavor. Proceeds from Axiom Kitchen’s sales will be donated to local charities.

May is National BBQ Month. Dozens of BBQ and other vendors will gather at Shoreline Aquatic Park for the two-day celebration, to offer their smoked, sauced and rubbed specialties to BBQ lovers.

BBQ vendors will include

Axiom Smoked Meats & BBQ

Big Brian’s Meats

El Guero y La Flaca

Casey Family BBQ

Chaudown Kitchen

Good Smoke Better Eats

Rib Bones BBQ

Magillas BBQ

Q Bellie’s BBQ

2 Scoops of Rice

Smoked N’ Blazed BBQ

Midway City BBQ

PS Smoked Meats

Nova’s Craft BBQ

Smokin’ Rubens BBQ

White Oak Craft BBQ

Vinegar and Smoke

Black Pork

Brothers Keeper BBQ

Califas BBQ

Just Wright BBQ

…with more added daily.

“We are excited for year three of this delicious event,” said Ian and Qiana Mafnas in a joint statement. “We hope to give our fellow smokers and BBQ joints some great exposure and to all those attending two days of memorable BBQ.”

Time: 12 to 9 p.m., May 23, 24

Cost: $10 to $250

Details: www.LongBeachBBQFest.com

Venue: Shoreline Aquatic Park, 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach.

Nate Holden, Outspoken L.A. Councilman with Deep Ties to Hahn Family, Dies at 95

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Nate Holden, Outspoken L.A. Councilman with Deep Ties to Hahn Family, Dies at 95

 

(June 19, 1929 – May 7, 2025)

Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Nathaniel “Nate” Holden, known for his fierce independence, combative style, and strong ties to the Hahn political dynasty, died Wednesday at 95. His death was confirmed by L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who described Holden as a political lion and family friend.

Holden’s political roots ran deep with the Hahn family. Before winning elected office, he served for 12 years as assistant chief deputy to Kenneth Hahn, the long-serving L.A. County Supervisor and father of Janice Hahn. Kenneth Hahn, one of the most influential politicians in South L.A., relied heavily on Holden’s grassroots instincts and sharp policy mind. Janice Hahn said she called him “Uncle Nate” and considered him part of the family.

After years of working behind the scenes, Holden launched a tumultuous but ultimately successful electoral career. Despite losing six of his first seven political races, including two bids for Congress, he was elected to the California Senate in 1974, then to the L.A. City Council in 1987, where he served four consecutive terms representing the 10th District until 2003.

As a councilman, Holden quickly established a reputation as a maverick. He often clashed with colleagues, voted alone, and didn’t shy away from insults. “I’m not running any nursery school,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1987. Known to mark down councilmembers who voted against him, he once warned a colleague, “I’ll remember that.”

Despite his abrasive style, Holden was a tireless advocate for his constituents, who respected him for his populist zeal and refusal to be politically “housebroken.” Representing a district that included South Central and southwestern Los Angeles, Holden focused on the basics — street repairs, stop signs, tree trimming — and was known to bombard city departments until requests were met. “They used to call me Stop Sign Holden,” he said. “When something had to be done, I got it done.”

Holden was especially focused on public safety. He supported increased police foot patrols and introduced a city law requiring toy guns be brightly colored to avoid deadly confusion. He also launched a pioneering gun buyback program during his failed 1989 mayoral campaign, offering $300 of his own campaign funds for surrendered assault weapons.

Among the few Black city leaders at the time, Holden worked to rebuild Crenshaw following the 1992 riots and pushed for more parks, libraries, and youth recreation centers. While he opposed liquor store saturation in South L.A., he controversially helped Korean business owners in Koreatown obtain full liquor licenses — a decision that drew scrutiny but strengthened his base in the area. Nearly a quarter of his campaign donations from 1991 to 1994 came from Korean American donors.

Holden’s ties to international trade also reflected his district’s diversity. He traveled to Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to build business relationships and represented L.A. at the Korean president’s inauguration. He helped open the door for East Asian investment in L.A. long before it became common practice.

Though his record included legislative wins — such as championing the law that made Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a California state holiday — his legacy was complicated by personal controversies. In the 1990s, he faced three sexual harassment allegations from former aides. One case was dismissed, another settled, and a third ended in his favor, though the city spent $1.3 million in legal fees. He was also fined more than $30,000 for violating campaign finance laws.

Despite the turbulence, Holden’s constituents admired his pugnacious spirit and unrelenting focus on neighborhood concerns. “If I was ever in a bar fight,” said Herb Wesson, his former chief of staff, “I would sure hope that Nate Holden was on the bar stool next to me.”

He is survived by his sons, Reginald and Chris Holden, and several grandchildren.

Peace Week 2025 Engages the Harbor Community, May 22 to May 26

Melina Paris
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Peace Week 2025 Engages the Harbor Community, May 22 to May 26

 

It’s time for a week of peace activities at the San Pedro Waterfront, resisting the normalization and promotion of war during the U.S. military’s annual Fleet Week.

Throughout the week attend several public activities including:

  • Peace flyering at the USS Iowa
  • Peace Car Caravans;
  • Engagement of the public and local politicians

For 10 years during Fleet Week, the LA Harbor has become a military fairground at the base of the USS Iowa on the LA Waterfront. Polluting military flyovers, warships costing billions of dollars, amphibious attack helicopters, weapons of all types, and careers in war are promoted to 30,000 people, and especially used to recruit youth into war.

Contact: 310-971-8280 sojournerrb@yahoo.com @codepinksanpedro @Pedro4Peace

RSVP for an event. Many pro-peace/cost of war flyers, banners and signs will be available.

 

IMG 8456
CodePink Peace Week Action. Photo by Daniel Rivera

Scheduled events

Party for Peace, Not for War

Get materials to flyer, engage the public on peace during Fleet Week’s welcome ‘party.’

Meet at 6 p.m., May 22 at The Garden Church, 429 W. 6th St.

Vigil for Peace

Meet at 4 p.m., promptly May 23 at Fort McArthur Air Force Housing 23rd/Pacific Avenue during the daily 4:30 bugle blasting of the “Star Spangled Banner” (that can be heard in a 10-block radius daily).

Rally for Palestine

Meet at 5 p.m., Friday (weekly) at 1221 S. Gaffey St., and 13th St. Vons.

At 6 p.m., Car Caravan from Vons to Wilmington (3 miles) to vigil and Flyer Banning Park at Fleet Week’s Wilmington Welcome Party at the Banning Mansion, 401 E M St. Wilmington.

Flyer! At the USS Iowa and West Harbor

Meet at 444 S. Harbor Blvd. (Picnic benches at the end of 5th Street and the Waterfront Promenade). Meet at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 24.

As the “party” continues, join voices to say, “Party for Peace, not for War” 5 to 7 p.m. Flyer for Peace at West Harbor (meet at 6th and Waterfront Promenade in front of the Maritime Museum).

Interfaith Peace Promotion and Flyering

Meet 1 to 4 p.m., May 25, at USS Iowa, 444 S. Harbor Blvd. (Picnic benches at the end of 5th Street/Waterfront Promenade).

“Stop Glorifying Guns.” “Pray for Peace, Not for War.”

Memorial Day May 26 Rally to “Recruit for Peace, Not for War”

Meet promptly from 11 to 12 p.m. at the corner of Palos Verdes Drive North/Western Avenue, in front of the military recruiting office.

Then meet 2 to 5 p.m. for flyering: Gaza is Starving. War is Making you Poor. Meet at USS Iowa 444 S. Harbor Blvd. (Picnic benches at the end of 5th Street/Waterfront Promenade).

Peace Week Wind Down

Celebrate this work and plan for future collaboration. Meet at 5 p.m. at The Green Onion, a San Pedro favorite (one block from the USS Iowa) at 145 W. 6th St., San Pedro.

 

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