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Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation Bolstering Landmark College Athletes Bill

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Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation Bolstering Landmark College Athletes Bill

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed legislation by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) to accelerate implementation of California’s Fair Pay to Play Act, first-in-the-nation legislation signed by the Governor in 2019 to allow college student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. The law inspired a wave of states across the country to take similar action to empower student athletes.

Under SB 26, the Fair Pay to Play Act will take effect on Sept. 1, 2021, ahead of the original January 2023 implementation date. This ensures that California students are protected under the Fair Pay to Play Act following new rule changes by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA that allow colleges and universities to develop their own rules in states without name, image and likeness laws, or in states where laws are not yet in effect. SB 26 also expands the Fair Pay to Play Act to California Community Colleges and allows athletes to identify what school they attend as part of promotional materials.

Gov. Newsom signed the Fair Pay to Play Act in 2019 alongside authors Senator Skinner and Senator Bradford, as well as NBA legend LeBron James, UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, WNBA star Diana Taurasi, former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and Rich Paul. SB 206 will allow all student athletes enrolled in public and private four-year colleges and universities in California to earn money from their name, image, or likeness. Student athletes will also be able to hire sports agents, and not lose their scholarships if they receive income for their work. The law includes safeguards to prevent college athletes from signing endorsement deals that conflict with their school’s deal when they are participating in official team activities.

Details: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

LBCC District Trustee Sunny Zia Appointed to Los Angeles County Community Action Board

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LBCC District Trustee Sunny Zia Appointed to Los Angeles County Community Action Board

Long Beach Community College District or LBCCD Trustee Sunny Zia Aug. 30, announced she was elected to serve on the Los Angeles County’s Community Action Board representing Supervisorial District 4 on August 19.

The 15-member Community Action Board or CAB represents the public, low-income and private sectors of the community, administers the Community Services Block Grant or CSBG and according to their vision statement: “empower[s] the poor to become self-sufficient, ease[s] existing poverty’s challenges, and address[es] poverty’s primary causes through community action and support.”

Ms. Zia, who has prioritized the needs of lower-income and homeless students at LBCC as a Trustee had this to say about her appointment:

“We have a poverty and homelessness emergency in Long Beach and LA County, with recent estimates showing 10.9% unemployment in LA County and an unacceptable 13.4% poverty rate. As a Commissioner, I will continue the work I have done at LBCCD to fight for basic services, food relief, protection from violence, access to legal services, assistance for seniors and at-risk youth, and employment services for those in need. I’m honored to have received this appointment, but more importantly, I’m ready to join my colleagues and get to work.”

During 2020, $6.2 million in CSBG funds provided services through 40 community-based organizations in LA County to combat poverty. Ms. Zia was recommended by the residents of the 4th Supervisorial District and confirmed by the board to represent the Low-Income Sector of the District for a 4-year term.

Sunny Zia is a member of the Long Beach Community College District Board and represents Trustee Area 3. She is serving her second term and was first elected by the voters in 2014.

Twin Ports Updates: STAX Grant Pulled From POLB Agenda; Empty TEU’s and Strong July at POLA

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Twin Ports Updates: STAX Grant Pulled From POLB Agenda; Empty TEU’s and Strong July at POLA

Consumer Demand Fuels Strong July at Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles processed 890,800 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, a 4% increase compared to last year. Last summer is when U.S. consumer purchasing began to build momentum and was the start of 12 consecutive months of year-over-year growth at the Port of Los Angeles.

July 2021 loaded imports reached 469,361 TEUs compared to the previous year, an increase of 2.9%. Loaded exports decreased 27.6% to 91,440 TEUs compared to the same period last year. It was the lowest amount of exports at the Port of Los Angeles since 2005.

Empty containers climbed to 329,999 TEUs, a jump of 20.4% compared to last year due to the continued demand in Asia.

Seven months into the 2021 calendar year, overall cargo volume is 6,318,675 TEUs, an increase of 36.8% compared to 2020.

Details: https://www.youtube.com/watch/strong-july

STAX Grant Pulled From Port Of Long Beach Agenda

LONG BEACH — A proposal to fund a controversial at-berth emissions capture-and-control system appears to be dead—at least for now—as the Port of Long Beach has reacted to issues raised at the August 5 Port of LA board meeting by dropping consideration of contributing funding from its August 23 board meeting. Both ports need to approve $333,334 funding for the project to proceed. POLA’s board deferred action on Aug 5, due to concerns raised by Jesse Marquez and Janet Gunter about the lack of experience of the grantee, STAX Engineering, the involvement of alleged stolen patents, and the questionable selection process conducted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the lead partner in a proposed alliance with the ports to secure a $9.5 million grant from the California Air Resources Board. The proposal was apparently dropped after POLB staff reviewed the recording of the POLA board discussion, which raised concerns about conflicts of interests at POLB as well. However, POLB declined to comment when asked about what had occurred.

More Empty TEU’s Exported

PORTS OF LONG BEACH/LOS ANGELES — As reported by The Loadstar, exports from the top 10 U.S. container ports slumped by 8.3% in July, compared with the same month of 2020, to 763,619 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), while imports gained 14.3% to 2,096,076 TEUs, according to data from Blue Alpha Capital.

The gap between import and outbound volumes at U.S. ports had widened in July to a new record ratio of 2.75x, compared with a 2.19x average in 2020 and 1.85x for 2019.

With import records on course to be broken again in August, the trade gap is set to widen further.

Blue Alpha Capital founder John McCown said the impact of tariffs on exports has combined with equipment shortages and action by carriers to hobble the nation’s export market.

Exports from the west coast hub ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach dropped by 27.6% and 20.7%, to 91,439 TEUs and 109,951 teu respectively, in July, while imports grew by 2.9% at the Port of Los Angeles, to 469,361 TEUs and by 1.6% at the Port of Long Beach, to 382,940 TEUs.

However, if the backlog of cargo on ships at anchor in San Pedro Bay awaiting berths were to be factored in, the import numbers would be considerably higher.

According to Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, July’s exports were the lowest since February 2005. Seroka said exports had declined in 29 of the past 33 months at LA, and that empty container exports were now running at more than three to one to loaded boxes.

Looking ahead, The Loadstar opined there seems to be no let-up in U.S. consumer demand for Asian imports. The port’s Signal forecaster of cargo destined for LA terminals predicts a year-on-year surge of 59% in volumes this week and 29% for the first week of September.

On Aug. 20, the Port of Long Beach announced the completion of the final phase of its Middle Harbor all-electric facility, which will increase throughput.

Despite the new facility at Long Beach, The Loadstar reported Blue Alpha Capital’s July throughput figures indicated the acceleration of shift from the highly congested U.S. west coast ports to the east. July’s single-digit 3.9% import growth for the west coast was dwarfed by the 27.7% surge for boxes arriving at U.S. east and Gulf coast ports.

Containers discharged on the east coast last month were recorded as 1,023,398 TEUs, against the 1,072,678 TEUs off ships that managed to berth on the Pacific coast.

This suggests the east coast container ports, with their capacity for growth, relatively uncongested berths and more reliable rail intermodal services, will eventually dominate — as long as demand remains elevated.

Details: https://gcaptain.com/at-port-of-los-angeles-more-boxes-leave-port-empty-than-loaded

As California Surpasses Vaccination Milestone

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As California Surpasses Vaccination Milestone

Sacramento – Gov. Gavin Newsom visited a vaccination clinic in Oakland Aug. 31, to promote vaccinations as more than 80 percent of eligible Californians 12 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Underscoring the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older last week, the Governor encouraged unvaccinated Californians to take action to protect themselves and their communities from the Delta variant and do their part to help bring an end to the pandemic by getting vaccinated.

California has implemented first-in-the-nation vaccine verification or testing requirements for state workers and school staff, and vaccination requirements for workers in health care settings. Since first implementing these measures, the state has seen significant progress, with five straight weeks of more than 500,000 vaccines administered. Last week, California administered over 643,000 vaccinations, marking a 44.7 percent increase compared to mid-July. The state continues to lead the nation with 48 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered.

California is also encouraging private businesses and local governments across the state to follow the state’s lead and adopt vaccine verification systems for their employees, a move that has been followed by some of the state’s largest public and private employers. The push will allow business owners to worry less about closing their doors due to a COVID-19 outbreak and promote the state’s ongoing economic recovery.

Recent measures by California to encourage vaccination and slow the spread of COVID-19 include:

  • Vaccine verification for state workers. Requires that all state workers either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week, and encourages local governments and other employers to adopt a similar protocol. Following California’s announcement, some of the largest California businesses and local governments followed suit, as did the federal government.
  • Vaccinations for health care workers. Requires workers in health care settings to be fully vaccinated or receive their second dose by Sept. 30, 2021.
  • Vaccine verification for all school staff. Requires that all school staff either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week. California is the first state in the nation to require all school staff, including at public and private schools, to verify vaccination status or get tested. Education and labor leaders across the state welcomed the announcement.
  • Universal masking in K-12 settings. Aligned with guidance from the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, California was the first state to implement universal masking in school settings to keep students and staff safer while optimizing fully in-person instruction.
  • Medi-Cal vaccination incentives. $350 million in incentive payments to help close the vaccination gap between Medi-Cal beneficiaries and Californians as a whole, significantly stepping up outreach in underserved communities.
  • Statewide mask recommendation. In response to the spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new CDC guidance calling for masking, the state recommended mask use for indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status.

L.A. County to Modify Health Officer Order on Youth Sports

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L.A. County to Modify Health Officer Order on Youth Sports

Los Angeles County will modify the Health Officer Order to update youth sports testing requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated athletes, staff, coaches, and volunteers.

The county continues to recommend weekly testing for unvaccinated participants in youth sports. The following applies to teams and sport activities based in Los Angeles County and relaxes some screening testing:

  • Indoor Moderate or High Risk Sports for children of all ages, staff, coaches and volunteers. A weekly negative test result is required for all participants who are not fully vaccinated, including children who are playing, staff, coaches, and volunteers; weekly school testing fulfills this obligation.
  • Outdoor Moderate or High Risk Sports for youth 12 and older, staff, coaches and volunteers. A weekly negative test result is required for all participants 12 and older who are not fully vaccinated, including children who are playing, staff, coaches, and volunteers; weekly school testing fulfills this obligation.
  • No screening testing required for children under 12 playing Outdoor Sports; weekly school testing fulfills this recommendation.
  • Fully vaccinated youth participating in outdoor sports are not required to test weekly unless there is a positive case among players, coaches and/or staff. If there is a positive case, all players, coaches, staff and volunteers (regardless of vaccination status) are required to have a weekly negative test result for two weeks from exposure to the case and must test negative prior to competitions.

These requirements may be modified based on the availability of and access to testing and will be reassessed when community transmission is no longer high. The youth sports guidelines are posted online at: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_YouthSports.pdf

Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status. Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to find a vaccination site near you. Or you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation to and from a vaccination site, or scheduling a home-visit if you are homebound.

Details: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Long Beach Creative Group Seeks Submissions for ‘Ocean’ Exhibition

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Long Beach Creative Group Seeks Submissions for ‘Ocean’ Exhibition

The Long Beach Creative Group or LBCG has announced an open call for Ocean, an exhibition of paintings, drawings, sculpture and mixed media. In its press release, the LBCG Board said it is eager to see how its community experiences the ocean, whether imaginatively, nautically, scientifically (environmental, biological, ecological), or for entertainment.

LBCG seeks artists residing in Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, or San Pedro, as well as individuals who attend, or have graduated from, Cal State University Long Beach or Long Beach City College. Work must be for sale, reasonably priced, produced within the last five years, and gallery ready. There is an entry fee of $16, and artists may submit up to three pieces.

Work for the exhibition will be selected by a panel of guest jurors.

The deadline to submit work is Sept. 24, and the exhibit will run from Nov. 7 to Dec. 5, 2021.

To submit work, go to: www.artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique

The LBCG is an established consortium of experienced artists, educators and art enthusiasts engaged in creating exhibit space and opportunities for artists through curated exhibits and events.

Details: www.LongBeachCreativeGroup.com

Official Registration Deadline for the California Gubernational Recall Election

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Official Registration Deadline for the California Gubernational Recall Election

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean C. Logan reminds eligible voters that the registration deadline for the September 14 California Gubernatorial Recall Election is today at 11:59 PM.

Registering to vote is quick and easy and can be completed online atlavote.net.

If an eligible voter misses today’s deadline they will not be issued a Vote by Mail ballot, but can still vote in person at anyVote Center in Los Angeles Countybeginning Saturday, September 4.

Election information and statistics can be found in theCalifornia Gubernational Recall Election Media Kit.

For translated materials in Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, or Vietnamese, call (800) 815-2666, option 2.

Ed Asner (1929-2021) A Lion in Underpants

Greg Palast
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Ed Asner (1929-2021) A Lion in Underpants

The death squads had just executed Maryknoll nuns, bullets to the back of the head. It was the Reagan-sponsored war on “communists” in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Afghanistan.

Ed Asner, an actor who wasn’t particularly political, agreed to attend a press conference denouncing the killing of the nuns.

Within short order, his network canceled Lou Grant, the number one show on American TV, in fact, #1 worldwide. Ed once told me he could’ve kissed the network’s ass, promised to be a good on-stage puppet, an off-stage mute, and save his career which was now on the new Black List. But he couldn’t. Couldn’t stay silent. Instead, Ed grew louder. And unstoppable.

At dinner this week, Ed told me he was preparing to open in three new one-act plays. But my wife didn’t think so. She said, “This is the last time we’ll see Ed, isn’t it?”

I wish she weren’t always right.

I remember when we were about to film Ed in The Best Democracy Money Can Buy. I deliberately hadn’t revealed his lines to him, nor his costume: a ridiculous Santa suit. Ed was a good sport about it. And a “one-take” wonder. But, we needed several takes, a bit too long for his 80-something’s bladder. So, rather than halt the production, he said, “The heck with it!”, let go, then simply dropped his soaking pants and continued the shoot in his boxers.

So, that’s how we shot the next scene: Ed Asner in a top hat and underpants. Absolutely brilliant. Take a look. For inspiration at the shoot, Ed asked our Executive Producer Leni Badpenny if he could think of her naked. Hey, he only said what every guy thinks. Her response was to sit on his somewhat damp lap. (By the way, he was thrilled when he learned we married.)

Ed Asner and Leni Badpenny at The Best Democracy Money Can Buy premiere 2016

And take a listen to learn why Asner was recognized as the best voice actor on the planet. This is his reading of my investigation of Wal-mart, “What Price a Storegasm?”

And here, the Network soliloquy that Ed gamely voiced to a techno dance beat for Armed Madhouse.

Asner was an actor of great talent because he was a man of great feeling. He would allow nothing to get between his emotions and the words he would express. It was true fearlessness, a courage and inner power that came through even in a sitcom or in a Santa suit.

There’s no guessing where it came from. A working class Jewish kid from Kansas City, child of the Depression and the incipient Holocaust which most Americans, Left and Right, were happy to ignore, and a fierce union man from early on. Ed only became an actor, he told me, because he lost his job in the steel mills.

Before I got the call that Ed was gone, it was already a lousy morning. I was deeply upset about the people of Afghanistan whom we’d just abandoned to the Islamists executioners, the very killers Reagan had unleashed alongside the death squads of El Salvador. And, frankly, I’ve been afraid that I’d be shunned by progressive friends and editors who are breaking out the party hats to celebrate the end of the “forever war.” But I just can’t join the party. Should I say something? Death squads, Nazis, Taliban. Which victims am I allowed to speak for?

I’m an operational atheist.

I can’t turn to the Lord for advice. But I can ask, What would Lou Grant do?

You’ll have my answer this week.

Alev ha-shalom, my friend.

Producer David Ambrose (left), Ed Asner (center), Greg Palast (right) at The Best Democracy Money Can Buy premiere (2016)

The Long Beach Suffrage 100 Cast Their Last Ballot on Women’s Equality Day

Fabiola Esqueda
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The Long Beach Suffrage 100 Cast Their Last Ballot on Women’s Equality Day

The purple, white and gold sashes over white dresses were indicative of the women’s suffrage movement in the 1900s. About 40 sentinels of the Long Beach Suffrage 100 gathered on Aug. 26 on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Chestnut Avenue dressed in suffrage clothing.

The Long Beach Suffrage 100, a group of women volunteers on a mission to celebrate and educate on the 19th Amendment hosted a rally on Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the 101 anniversary of women, but not all women, gaining the right to vote in the United States on Aug. 26, 1920.

“I find my vote is precious, and I think it’s important to commemorate all these women that came before us that fought,” said Jane Hansen, a member of the theater circle with Long Beach Suffrage 100.

The sentinels began the event by reading the names of women who fought for voting rights and remembering local women activists, such as civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama born in San Pedro and Dr. Olive Baker, the first woman obstetrician and gynecologist in Long Beach.

Zoe Nicholson, director of the Long Beach Suffrage 100, casts one last ballot before permanently shutting down the organization. Photo by Fabiola Esqueda

Before concluding, the sentinels marched to the ballots for one final time to cast their vote as the Long Beach Suffrage 100. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization was unable to proceed with their yearlong events – forcing them to permanently shut down the organization.

The fight isn’t over, said Zoe Nicholson, longtime activist and director of the Long Beach Suffrage 100. She is in the process of making a women’s commission in Long Beach and rallying behind passing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution.

“I’m ready to jump and change and work for the ERA,” she said.

For Nicholson, this has been a 45-year-old fight. In the summer of 1992, she fasted in public in Springfield, Ill., for 36 days on water to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

“White women — let’s be clear — white women getting the vote in 1920,” Nicholson elaborated. “That was just the beginning. We are not done. We have a lot of work to do.”

A member of the Long Beach Suffrage 100 holds a sign reading More Ballots Less Bullets. Photo by Fabiola Esqueda

The women’s suffrage movement was the first activist movement to picket the White House over legislation. Three years after the 19th amendment passed, women’s rights activists Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman introduced the first Equal Rights Amendment to Congress in 1923. Ever since, women’s rights activists have fought to ratify the amendment into the Constitution. The Long Beach Suffrage 100 organization is committed to continuing the fight, even without the organization’s name behind them.

“All of us want to be part of the U.S. Constitution,” Nicholson said. “We won’t be until the Equal Rights Amendment is passed.”

For two years, the Long Beach Suffrage 100 hosted events, educational programs and organized performances. Spreading the history of the suffrage movement and telling people the importance of the vote. They concluded their years together at 3 p.m. riding off on a sightseeing bus on their way to the historic Bembridge House for some tea.

“Women passed the baton over decades to get us to 1920 and we are still passing the baton,” Hansen said.

Long Beach City Council Adopts 2022 Budget

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Long Beach City Council Adopts 2022 Budget

LONG BEACH — Long Beach City Council Aug. 24, voted unanimously to adopt a budget for the next fiscal year. The city’s 2022 budget, as Mayor Robert Garcia nored in an email announcement, is balanced, responsible and reflects the city’s strong foundation for a recovery from this historic economic and public health crisis. It includes no cuts, no deficit, replenishes city reserves and positions Long Beach to continue building back stronger than ever.

Long Beach’s adopted budget also includes approval of the Long Beach Recovery Act, which invests $249.3 million in our COVID-19 recovery. Collectively, these programs will reach small businesses, non-profit organizations, tenants, landlords, arts organizations and others in long Beach who need the support in the year ahead. The budget includes the following:

Economic Recovery ($64 million)

  • $13 million to support COVID-19 protection for businesses and nonprofits
  • $20.6 million in direct business support programs
  • $7.6 million to promote economic inclusion
  • $4 million to invest in the Clean Cities Initiative
  • $500,000 in technical assistance for small businesses who need guidance applying for business support programs
  • $1.6 million for a Direct Income Pilot Program
  • $1.6 million for a Micro/Public Transit Pilot Program
  • $15.1 million to support the Long Beach Airport

Healthy and Safe Community ($108.5 million)

  • $15.7 million to support continued COVID-19 response
  • $6.3 million to help ensure that basic needs, including food security and older adult needs, are met
  • $12.1 million to address physical and mental health equity
  • $2.8 million to support early childhood education and childcare programs
  • $3.6 million to address violence prevention and promote a safer city
  • $10.9 million to address homelessness
  • $56.4 million in housing support programs

Securing the City’s Future ($76.7 million)

  • $30 million eliminates this year’s deficit
  • $41.5 million replenishes the city’s reserves
  • $5.2 million ends city furloughs

The budget also includes:

  • $430 million in funding for public safety and disaster preparedness departments,
  • $287 million to fund Public Works department and invest infrastructure,
  • $166 million to support the Health Department, and

$1.3 million in Measure US funding for children and youth, community health and climate change programs.

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