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City of Carson Extends Deepest Condolences to Vancouver’s Filipino Community, Reaffirms Safety Commitment Ahead of Philippine Independence Day Celebration

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City of Carson Extends Deepest Condolences to Vancouver’s Filipino Community, Reaffirms Safety Commitment Ahead of Philippine Independence Day Celebration

 

CARSON — The City of Carson stands in profound solidarity with the City of Vancouver and its residents following the heartbreaking tragedy that occurred yesterday. On behalf of the city council and the people of Carson, Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes extends heartfelt condolences to all those affected.

“We are profoundly saddened by the tragic events that unfolded in Vancouver,” said Mayor Davis-Holmes. “Here in Carson, where our Filipino American community is the largest in the South Bay and is an integral thread in our city’s rich tapestry, we feel this deeply. Knowing how interconnected our communities are, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, first responders, and the entire Vancouver community during this incredibly difficult time.”

As a community that values compassion, unity, and resilience, Carson offers its support to the City of Vancouver in the spirit of shared humanity and friendship. As a city whose heritage is an array of different cultures, it’s clear that celebrating our differences makes us stronger. In moments like these, Carson recalls the vital importance of coming together—not just as cities, but as global neighbors.

In this context of shared sorrow and the paramount importance of community well-being, the City of Carson is planning its upcoming 127th annual Philippine Independence Day celebration, which will be held on June 7, 2025. Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes and Councilwoman Arleen Bocatija Rojas are at the forefront of these preparations, with a central focus on ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all attendees.

“As we look forward to celebrating the rich culture and heritage of our Filipino American community at the Philippine Independence Day event,” stated Mayor Davis-Holmes, “the safety and security of everyone present are our absolute top priorities. Recent events underscore the need for vigilance and comprehensive safety measures at all public gatherings.”

In light of the tragedy in Vancouver, the City of Carson is reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors. The city’s public safety and emergency management team is continuing its diligent work with the Carson Sheriff’s station to further enhance safety measures for all events in Carson. Suspicious behavior is highly encouraged to be reported promptly to public safety and law enforcement officials.

The Silent Genocide: How Trump’s America is Choosing Who Lives and Who Dies

Thom Hartmann
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The Silent Genocide: How Trump’s America is Choosing Who Lives and Who Dies

 

Structural eugenics isn’t science fiction — it’s happening right now, and if you’re not terrified yet, you should be…

Wake up, America! While we’ve been distracted by the daily chaos of the Trump administration, something far more sinister has taken root in our country. It’s called Structural Eugenics (and a hat-tip to Qasim Rashid for putting this on my radar), and if you’re not furious about it yet, you damn well should be.

This isn’t some fringe conspiracy theory: it’s a coordinated assault on our most vulnerable citizens happening in broad daylight with deadly consequences.

Let’s be brutally honest here: the MAGA movement isn’t just pushing bad policy, they’re implementing a modern form of eugenics through selective attention and neglect.

Consider what the Trump administration is obsessively tracking: They’re monitoring autistic children, trying to build databases of women’s menstrual cycles, creating blacklists of anyone who criticizes Trump or questions Israeli policies, surveilling transgender Americans, and targeting anyone who dares mention diversity or inclusion.

They’re establishing the infrastructure of authoritarian control with surgical precision.

Yet what are they deliberately NOT tracking?

— They’ve abandoned monitoring of vaccination rates as measles returns to kill our children.
— They’ve stopped counting Covid deaths even as hundreds of Americans still die weekly.
— They refuse to track gun violence despite firearms becoming the leading killer of American children.
— They’ve gutted environmental monitoring as our planet burns.
— They’ve dismantled food safety regulations while tens of thousands of Americans get sick and hundreds die every year from contaminated products.

This selective attention isn’t random: it’s strategic and deadly. It’s the implementation of a 21st-century form of eugenics through bureaucratic means. Rather than directly eliminating “undesirable” populations through the horrors of the 20th century’s firing squads and gas chambers, this approach simply withdraws protection from targeted groups while amplifying imaginary threats.

The Trump-Kennedy alliance represents the perfect storm for this deadly agenda. Kennedy’s dangerous anti-vaccine propaganda will inevitably lead to the deaths of vulnerable children while Trump systematically disassembles the regulatory infrastructure that keeps Americans safe.

Meanwhile, they’re constructing elaborate systems to monitor and control the bodies and behaviors of anyone who challenges their worldview, particularly “uppity women.”

Consider Virginia, where Republican Governor Youngkin blocked legislation that would have prevented law enforcement from demanding, viewing, and compiling women’s menstrual histories. Think about that for a moment: Republicans want to track your daughter’s periods!

What possible legitimate purpose could that serve? It’s about control, surveillance, and, ultimately, determining which Americans get to fully participate in society without monitoring or harassment.

Women are downloading period tracking apps to understand their health, and now those very tools could become weapons of state control, with Trump brazenly telling TIME magazine that states “might” monitor women’s pregnancies to enforce abortion bans, as if such invasive surveillance is perfectly acceptable in what’s supposed to be a free country!

The treatment of transgender Americans under this regime is particularly telling. With nearly 600 anti-LGBTQ bills moving through state legislatures nationwide, we’re witnessing a coordinated campaign to legislate certain Americans out of existence. Eugenics, in other words.

This isn’t about protecting children or preserving sports; it’s about erasing people who don’t fit into their narrow vision of a straight, white, Christian, male–run America.

Perhaps most chilling is the Trump regime’s approach to political dissent. Palestinian students and other people of color who criticize American or Israeli policy face expulsion from school, imprisonment, and — after Trump decides they’ve spent enough time in jail to be appropriately punished for speaking out — eventual deportation. They’re holding Rumeysa Ozturk in jail right now, for example, for co-authoring an anti-Netanyahu editorial in the Tufts’ student paper over a year ago.

Trump has explicitly stated his intention to deport American citizens he dislikes, shredding due process protections enshrined in our Constitution. These aren’t the actions of a democratic government: they’re the hallmarks of fascism and dictatorial strongman rule.

The complete elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from federal agencies is another glaring sign of what’s happening and Trump’s embrace of white supremacy.

On his very first day back in office, Trump signed the executive order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” systematically dismantling decades of progress toward a more inclusive society. The Department of Education has already canceled over $2.6 million in DEI-related contracts and removed hundreds of guidance documents from its website.

Their Project 2025 agenda isn’t about fiscal responsibility; it’s about ensuring that America’s institutions remain dominated by one certain group (wealthy straight white male Christians) while systematically excluding others.

Meanwhile, public health emergencies that threaten all Americans go unaddressed. Measles — a disease we had virtually eliminated — is back, killing children because of vaccine misinformation spread by the very people now running our health agencies. And whooping cough is quickly catching up.

At least three children have died in Texas from a measles outbreak while Bob Kennedy, with his long history of dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric, has been sending mixed messages about vaccination by promoting quack “healers” who push unproven and potentially harmful treatments.

And it gets worse: there are credible reports that the Trump administration has directed NIH officials to stop all research involving mRNA vaccine technology, a devastating blow to cancer research and treatments for numerous diseases.

Gun violence continues its grim harvest, particularly in communities of color, while Republicans literally prohibit the CDC from even studying the problem.

Climate change — the existential threat of our time — is treated as a liberal conspiracy rather than scientific reality. Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to strip tax-exempt status from climate justice organizations, effectively silencing those fighting to save our planet. This isn’t governance; it’s the vindictive destruction of our future to enhance the profits of fossil fuel billionaires.

The gutting of food safety regulations might seem like a minor issue until you realize how many Americans — particularly the elderly, children, and immunocompromised — die from foodborne illness each year. These aren’t just policy disagreements; they’re life-and-death decisions being made with callous disregard for human suffering.

The most vulnerable Americans are being targeted through this structural eugenics approach. Low-income communities, Black and brown Americans, women, LGBTQ+ individuals: they’re all in the crosshairs of policies designed to determine who thrives and who suffers or even dies in Trump’s America.

This should concern all of us, regardless of political affiliation. When a government begins selecting which populations deserve protection and which don’t, no one is ultimately safe. Today it might be transgender kids or Palestinian students, but tomorrow it could be anyone who falls outside the ever-narrowing definition of Republican-acceptable Americans. Including you and yours.

We must recognize this for what it is: an attempt to reshape America through neglect, surveillance, and targeted harassment. We must fight back through every means available: in the courts, at the ballot box, in our communities, and in our daily lives.

Because make no mistake: structural eugenics isn’t just a theoretical concern for some distant future.

It’s here now, being implemented by people who believe some Americans are more valuable than others. And if we don’t stand against it with everything we have, we’re complicit in allowing this new form of eugenics to take root in the 21st century.

The time for polite disagreement and “strongly worded letters” is over. Our lives — and the soul of our democracy — quite literally depend on stopping this deadly experiment before it’s too late.

At-Risk Missing Person – Charles E. Chambers

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At-Risk Missing Person – Charles E. Chambers

 

LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Police Department is asking for the public’s help locating a 77-year-old at-risk missing person, Charles E. Chambers, who was last seen on April 28, about 7 a.m.

On April 28, at-risk missing person Charles Edward Chambers was last seen at his residence near the 2200 block of Earl Avenue. Chambers is believed to be on foot and his destination is unknown. He walks with the assistance of a brown wooden cane.

At-risk missing person Charles E. Chambers is described as follows:

Age: 77-years-old
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair: Bald
Eyes: Brown
Clothing: Black jacket, black or blue jeans, black baseball hat, and white shoes. Uses a brown wooden cane.
Scars/ Marks/ Tattoos: Missing all his teeth.
Medical Alerts: He has mental condition(s) and may become disoriented.

Anyone with information regarding this missing person is urged to call the LBPD missing persons detail at 562-570-7246 or Police Dispatch at 562-435-6711, or anonymously at 1-800-222-(8477, www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Janet Jackson Was Right — And So Are We

RL Intern
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Janet Jackson Was Right — And So Are We 

What Have They Done for Us Lately? A Personal Reflection

By Rick Thomas

In 1986, Janet Jackson asked a poignant question that resonates deeply and politically with me today: “What have you done for me lately?”

This song was the anthem of my youth, through the clubs where we danced away our nights and our days. When an “8 ball” wasn’t a black, miniature round object on a pool table at some place I should have gone home from too many hours ago.

TMI?

Probably.

But it’s all part of the journey.

One of the lines, no pun intended, in Janet Jackson’s song stands out to me: “You’re always

puttin’ off what we could do today.” It’s a sentiment that seems tailor-made for Los Angeles politicians. Procrastination is their modus operandi, continually deferring actions that could benefit their communities.

“A personal reflection” is a journey I embarked on 8 years ago. This road trip has been anything but smooth, filled with unexpected twists, turns, and the occasional brick wall. The ride has been bumpy and bruising, but it’s nearing its end.

It’s nearing its end.

Yet challenges remain, each day presenting new obstacles.

My frustration with the lack of political attention to the Harbor Gateway is no secret. I’ve voiced my displeasure loudly and clearly, emphasizing that this community has been neglected by its political leaders. Just look around, walk the streets, or ask community activist David Matthews – the failure is evident.

It’s a fact.

And it needs to be addressed.

As a tried-and-true Democrat who has only voted for one Republican, why do I continue to waste my vote on Democrats who do nothing for the areas they represent? Every couple of

years, I stand in front of a Ballot Marking Device, doing this last year at North Torrance High School and the two prior cycles at South Torrance High School, and I vote Democrat.

And I’m starting to wonder why.

Ezra Klein, who wrote for the New York Times, penned a best-selling book titled “Abundance.” He partnered this effort with Derek Thompson, a staff writer for The Atlantic. “Abundance” explores why America struggles to build big, ambitious projects in the modern era—despite having the resources and technology—and argues that reviving a politics of growth, innovation, and abundance is key to solving today’s biggest challenges

That lack of “growth, innovation and abundance? Are our so-called Democratic leaders for the Harbor Gateway. Look in the mirror, LA’s political leaders. The face you see deems you

part of the failures of addressing these issues. The failures of liberal governance. Cause now, today, we are looking at you and asking Janet Jackson’s question.

”What have you done for me lately?”

For many years, the Harbor Gateway community has been underserved by its political leaders. And historically, this community continued to support these politicians in elections. However, this trend is now changing as residents are more aware of the lack of public administrative services in the Harbor Gateway.

Political representatives are being held accountable for their performance and

can no longer relax and receive their substantial six-figure salaries without demonstrating tangible accomplishments.

Want some evidence?

Easy.

In Abundance, Klein and Thompson note that “Nearly every County in California moved toward Trump, with Los Angeles County shifting eleven points toward the GOP.” Those three election cycles I mentioned above at North Torrance and South Torrance High Schools? Well, I worked as a clerk for the County at those two schools.

Meaning I was there, firsthand, watching voters come and go. The first two elections I worked at were easy. Last year in real time, I watched that electorate change.

In real time.

For four straight days.

“…Los Angeles County shifting eleven points toward the GOP?”

That’s what I saw. Trump voters wearing Harley-Davidson t-shirts and other clothing indicating they were not gonna vote blue. And on Super Tuesday, North Torrance High School was overwhelmed with stakeholders who clearly were MAGA voters.

They showed up, but it was clear…the electorate DID change.

“We fundamentally as liberals have not delivered a model of governance that people trust,” said Klein on MSNBC’s ‘11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.’ Derek Thompson, his co-author, says after the publication of his new book, he said he was asked by those on the right, “Why aren’t you guys just Republicans?”

Circumstances, though, may gradually be evolving. Some elected leaders have finally

started working for us…with us. To enhance our quality of life and, just maybe, we are finally seeing the light of day?

Let’s hope. But still, I place a question mark at the end of that sentence. We are simply seeking nothing more than “recognition.”

“Recognition” was the word a Random Lengths News photographer used two years ago to describe my push to bring solutions to the issues in the Harbor Gateway.

“Recognition.”

Unless our political leaders here wake up to the reality that they need to focus on the here and now, the electorate is going to continue to move to the right.

“What have you done for me lately?”

Can’t get a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated CrossWalk) traffic system to slow down cars speeding up and down Western Avenue, where Congresswoman Nanette Barragan is from, in the Harbor Gateway.

Put that on Councilmember Tim McOsker as well, who put a whole bunch of them in Harbor City.

But Caltrans feeds us bullshit about a HAWK beacon that I’ve been asking for since 2019.

I just want one.

I only want it because it will save lives. Children’s lives. Kids and residents crossing Western Avenue between Del Amo and Torrance face an unprecedented traffic nightmare going to school or work, North or South on Western Avenue on that stretch of road.

But crickets

The Assemblyman Mike Gipson’s office has been a waste as well― A complete waste.

“Bite my tongue for no one,” in the words of the Philosopher Biggie Smalls.

Then I gotta author a blunt email to the State Senator’s office to get Alcohol Beverage Control back on track to do the work they are paid to do, and shut down a nuisance retail location that for over a decade has been selling liquor to minors.

Nothing has been done to resolve this issue. Still selling liquor to minors, oh and it’s also a

nuisance as a headquarters for a local gang to recruit new gang members. And the State Senator Laura Richardson’s office tells me that the Alcohol Beverage Control, under State oversight, can’t do anything?

Yeah, well, now that office is waking up to the reality that it’s time to wake up. Because those photos I have of the gang activity at that retail location can end political careers when they are shown on Fox News. And the guy writing this column went to college with one of the architects of that news network. I don’t want to share those photos because they are, well, political career-enders.

But I am almost at the point where I don’t care anymore. Share them, part of me says.

You want more?

The Assemblyman, well, his office supported another nuisance alcohol serving establishment that caused significant problems in the Harbor Gateway.

Remember Paradise LA?

I do.

And now that nuisance is shut down.

And all you gotta do is read David Matthews’ posts on Nextdoor to see what he thinks about County Supervisors Janice Hahn or Holly Mitchell.

So, I ask again, “What have you done for me lately?” Quite frankly, not a damn thing without significant pressure. And that is unacceptable.

In upcoming posts, I will hold every officeholder mentioned responsible for what they do or don’t do. Because until said politicians representing the Harbor Gateway start doing something, as in doing their jobs for the Harbor Gateway, I will decide whether it’s time to shift to the other side.

It may be time to join that “eleven percent” that shifted toward the GOP in the 2024 election.

In extremely limited fairness, some of these local politicians have started to show us some ‘recognition.’ But it’s a speck of what we need.

I will write about the new CD15 Council office in the Harbor Gateway at the Enclave. The new State Senator’s office is there as well. But they’re just offices. I will write about the Congresswoman who started the Harbor Gateway Community Council. To address issues in her district that Maxine Waters never looked at when she repped our area.

But it’s what we see on the ground that determines if that “recognition” effort is real. And y’all gotta step up because on my end, it’s not.

The shift to the right will continue if you don’t step up.

So, “What have you done for me lately?”

Hahn Announces Launch of Phase 2 in Metro Weapons Detection Pilot Program

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Hahn Announces Launch of Phase 2 in Metro Weapons Detection Pilot Program

LOS ANGELES — This morning, Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn April 28 announced the beginning of Phase 2 of Metro’s Weapons Detection Pilot Program, which began today at Metro’s Norwalk Station on the C (Green) Line and San Pedro Street Station on the A (Blue) Line. The Norwalk Station serves as the eastern terminus of the C Line and a major commuter hub for the Gateway Cities region.

“You can’t take a gun or knife into a Dodger Game, a concert, or a government building, and you shouldn’t be able to bring them on Metro,” said Hahn who first urged the pilot and has championed weapons detection. “Let me be clear: weapons do not belong on Metro. There is no room for compromise on that. My goal is simple but firm: a Metro system where all of our riders feel safe, respected, and confident that they will get to their destination without fear.”

The weapons detection pilot program, using pillar-style scanners, will be conducted by Metro security officers at various stations, two stations at a time, for two-month increments, for the next 12 months. Riders will walk between sensors which detect concealed weapons without requiring them to stop and remove any belongings. If flagged by the sensors, riders will be subject to further screenings including a search of their belongings and follow-up questions.

From August through December 2024, Metro conducted the first phase of the weapons detection technology pilot program at Union Station and APU/Citrus College Station in Azusa. In addition to the rider screening process, Metro also tested video analytics systems at Union Station which scan CCTV video feeds in real time to identify threats, including someone brandishing a weapon, and sends alerts to law enforcement. In February, Hahn along with fellow board members Kathryn Barger, Hilda L. Solis, Karen Bass, Fernando Dutra, and James Butts led the Board in expanding the pilot program for this next phase.

A report by Metro shows that the passenger screening system technology proved to be effective. While no weapons threats were identified on passengers, the systems detected officers’ service weapons with 100% accuracy. At Hahn’s request, the board’s February motion also called for Metro to explore bringing the weapons detection technology pilot to the system’s buses. Metro has identified a vendor to conduct the 12-month pilot program on buses and is working to schedule its launch.

Measles Alert: Public Health Confirms Case in L.A. County

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Measles Alert: Public Health Confirms Case in L.A. County

 

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating one case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident who travelled recently from Texas.

The traveler was not infectious during the time of travel. Public Health is identifying others who may have been potentially exposed and taking steps to confirm if they have been vaccinated against measles. Public Health is collaborating with the California Department Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services on this investigation.

Individuals who have not had measles in the past and have not yet obtained the measles vaccine are at risk of developing measles from 7 to 21 days after being exposed and should monitor for symptoms. Exposed individuals who have been free of symptoms for more than 21 days are no longer at risk.

  • Review their immunization and medical records to determine if they are protected against measles, especially before international travel or domestic travel in areas experiencing measles outbreaks. People who have not had measles infection or received the measles immunization previously are not protected from the measles virus and should talk with a health care provider about receiving the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
  • Contact and notify their health care provider as soon as possible about a potential exposure if they are pregnant, an infant, have a weakened immune system and/or are unimmunized regardless of vaccination history.
  • If symptoms develop, stay at home, and avoid school, work and any large gatherings. Call a healthcare provider immediately. Do not enter a health care facility before calling them and making them aware of your measles exposure and symptoms. Public Health can assist health care providers in appropriately diagnosing and managing your care.

About Measles

Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for many hours, even after the infected person has left. The infected person can spread the disease up to four days before a measles rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.

Common symptoms for measles include:

High fever (higher than 101° F)

Cough

Runny nose

Red and watery eyes

Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness. The “measles rash” typically starts at the face and then spreads down to the rest of the body.

Measles can be prevented with a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR or MMRV). The MMR vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps and rubella. The MMRV vaccine protects against four diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). For more information on measles, visit: ph.lacounty.gov/measles.

For a list of clinics that offer free or low-cost immunizations for persons who are uninsured or underinsured, call 2-1-1 or visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/clinics.htm.

In the United States, as of April 24, a total of 884 measles cases have been reported this year. Most of these cases are linked to an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The majority of cases are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. Eleven percent of these cases required hospitalization for management of measles complications or isolation and three have tragically died from measles-related complications. The last case of measles in a Los Angeles County resident was reported in March 2025.

Barragán Briefs: Updates on Student Loan Collections and Support for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act

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Barragán Briefs: Updates on Student Loan Collections and Support for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act

Advisory: Education Department to Collect Defaulted Student Loans starting May 2025

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) April 24 has advised that the U.S. Department of Education will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans, starting May 5, 2025.

If you hold a federal student loan and have missed any loan payments, paid late, or have made incomplete payments, you may be referred to a federal debt collection service or enrolled in an income-based repayment plan. For student loan holders unable to make payments on their student loans, the Department of Education will move forward with involuntary collections. This means that you may see automatic deductions from your paycheck, Social Security benefits, or tax refunds to cover loan payments.

After the COVID-19 pandemic affected students’ abilities to repay federal student loans, the Biden Administration offered federal student loan borrowers an additional year in which they would be shielded from the negative impacts of missed and late payments. Now, the Trump Administration is putting an end to Biden-era protections for federal student loan holders and putting over one-fifth of our country’s 43 million borrowers at risk of having their wages, Social Security benefits and tax refunds collected involuntarily.

What you can do

If you are missing payment(s):

Log onto your services portal to pay the missing amount. To learn more about which repayment plan may work best for your financial situation, please see Repayment plans below.

If you are out of work:

You may request an unemployment deferment with your servicer. Other deferment plans such as the graduate fellowship deferment, military service and post-active-duty deferment, and the cancer treatment deferment may also be available to you.

If you don’t qualify for a deferment:

Student loan borrowers who choose to request a forbearance will not have to pay their loan payments for up to three years. Interest will still accrue during the forbearance period.

Repayment plans:

Income-driven repayment plans may help you to pay your loan bills in a timeline that best works for your finances. Capped at a monthly rate of a portion of your discretionary income, your student debt may be forgiven after payment for a designated number of years.

Details: For more information on how to pay your missing payment(s) or to find out which financial option may best work for you, visit here. You can also call Rep. Nanette Barragán’s office at 310-831-1799.

 

Rep. Barragán’s Statement on the United States Hispanic Business Council and Latino Organizations’ Support for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) released the following statement April 23, in response to the United States Hispanic Business Council and Latino organizations’ support for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act.

“Thank you to the United States Hispanic Business Council, Javier Palomarez, and the various Hispanic Chamber and business leaders for their dedication and support for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 1330). This bipartisan legislation would establish a museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to recognize the achievements and contributions of the Latino American community and tell our American stories.

Latino Americans, who make up about one-fifth of America’s population and are the largest ethnic community in the country, deserve to have our history told in a location that signifies our role in the ongoing American story – on the National Mall.

The support from the United States Hispanic Business Council and other Latino organizations, and their efforts to work with Members from both sides of the aisle, demonstrates the broad coalition working to make the museum a reality. I look forward to a day where we can celebrate with our community, and all Americans, the opening of the National Museum of the American Latino.”

Metro Takes Action: Shaping Better Transit Services with the Autism and Disability Communities

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Metro Takes Action: Shaping Better Transit Services with the Autism and Disability Communities

LOS ANGELES — The Metro Board of Directors April 24 approved a motion authored by director Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by directors Katy Yaroslavsky, Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, James Butts, Tim Sandoval, and Imelda Padilla calling on Metro to gather community input to report back with recommendations by November 2025 for further improving its transportation system for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities.

“It’s important that we co-create the survey with trusted community organizations who work closely with our neurodiverse communities to ensure we capture feedback that reflects lived experiences and leads to meaningful improvements on our transit system. Understanding and meeting the unique needs of our neurodiverse community is key to shaping a world-class transportation system that truly serves everyone,” said Holly J. Mitchell, Metro board director and Los Angeles County Supervisor, Second District.

The insights gathered from the survey will identify short and long-term solutions and the respective funding required. The recommendations will build on Metro’s existing initiatives for enhancing the ridership experience for people with disabilities which includes Metro’s coordinated plan, section 5310 program, and office of civil rights management of ADA compliance.

“We appreciate this Board motion that will allow us to better understand how those with autism and other developmental disabilities experience Metro,” said Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO. “Making our system more accessible to those with autism, will help us make our system more accessible to everyone.”

The survey will be developed and administered in partnership with key stakeholder groups that directly represent and help serve residents with autism and other developmental disabilities, such as the Special Needs Network, The Wiley Center, and the Aging and Disability Transportation Network.

Long Beach Symphony meets MTV for season’s final Pops concert

Greggory Moore
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Long Beach Symphony meets MTV for season’s final Pops concert

What do you get when you cross a symphony orchestra with 1980s MTV staples?

What sounds like the setup for an inscrutable bad joke is in fact the premise for what should be a fun show: “Electric Avenue: ‘80s MTV Dance Party,” the closing event of Long Beach Symphony’s 2024–25 Pops season, which promises opportunities to dance to the likes of hits by The Police, George Michael, Soft Cell, The Cars, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, a-ha, and Prince.

But this is a Pops show with a difference. Whereas a typical Pops setlist is composed of songs whose original production features symphonic instruments — strings, horns, etc. — most of the hits you’ll hear at Long Beach Arena on May 10 will be getting original orchestrations to help them take flight in a new way.

But that’s not to say they won’t stay true to their core. Electric Avenue — a group of touring/session musicians whose credits include Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Idina Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, and The B-52s — have traveled the country creating what they call “The ‘80s MTV Experience” with a cache of vintage synthesizers and rare signal processors that were a big part of what gives this swath of ‘80s pop its signature sound. Their recreations are so faithful to the originals that in 2019 (the same year Springsteen’s management team and New Line Cinema hired them to play at the premiere of Blinded by the Light), Electric Avenue received a cease-and-desist letter from Warner Music, who were under the misapprehension that the band was using original recordings on their social media channels, which were temporarily shut down for the supposed infractions.

“Let me start by saying that we’re nerds, we’re total nerds,” says vocalist/guitarist Kevin Spencer. “We have been collecting guitars, keyboards, amps, and electronic doodads since we were kids, and the love affair with the rare and finicky pieces of equipment that anchor these sounds continues to this day. […] A clockmaker must learn to take a clock apart before they can build their own timekeepers. […] It is with great pride, and total nerdom, that we [can] say [that] every single sound and nuance in our performances is from scratch.”

But this is the first time they’ll be doing their thing with an orchestra.

“The answer to the question ‘How did it start?’ begins with our drive to get these songs sonically and emotionally right in the first place,” Spencer says. “After 1,000+ Electric Avenue shows under our collective belts, delivering faithful recreations of some of the best songs in pop music history, we wondered, ‘Where else could we take these incredible melodies and arrangements that they haven’t been before? What else do these songs want to be?’ […] The songs we chose were based on two criteria: Does the song harmonically and rhythmically lend itself to a symphonic arrangement? And most importantly, does the song itself have a big enough heart to survive the process? […] The 1980s represent a very interesting time in musical choices, and we wanted to make sure that these songs didn’t lose some of what made them special by just slapping a bunch of notes on top. Each choice had to make musical sense, to amplify the heart of the original piece, while not taking anything away from its meaning or weight.”

To lead the proceedings, Long Beach Symphony is bringing in Evan Roider, who headed for the national tour of Wicked and made his Broadway debut last month conducting The Great Gatsby. Although Roider is a veteran of “Pops” shows across the country (“It’s one of my passions”), he’s particularly looking forward to “Electric Avenue: ‘80s MTV Dance Party.”

“Any chance I get to work in California is exciting because the musicians are the best of the best,” he says. “[…] I’m especially excited about coming to Long Beach Arena, because it’s a bit different than performing in a regular theatre.”

Among the songs he’s most jazzed to conduct with their orchestral additions are (SPOILER ALERT) “Footloose” and Bryan Adams’s “Summer of ‘69”.

“Even though songs like [those] didn’t originally feature symphonic instruments, that’s part of what makes this sort of concert exciting,” he says. “We’re taking well-known hits and giving them a fresh twist with full orchestral power and colors. It’s a fun way to show how versatile a symphony orchestra can be, and how the magic of the orchestra can enhance almost any style of music. […] Today’s orchestras are incredibly versatile. Musicians have to be able to play everything — classical music, rock and roll, rap, Broadway, you name it.”

Spencer cites “Summer of ‘69” as a paragon of a song whose essence is enhanced by adding the orchestra.

“‘Summer of ‘69’ is a great example of an ‘80s anthem that is begging to take flight with a string section and anthemic brass,” he says. “There’s not much runway on a three-minute single, so you have to get the bird up in the air pretty quick — but once you’re off the ground, there’s no telling how fast and high you can soar.”

“Electric Avenue: ‘80s MTV Dance Party” takes place Saturday, May 10 at Long Beach Arena. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35. BYO food/drink (yes, including your favorite libations) or have your meal catered — with no delivery fees — by George’s Greek Cafe, Modica’s, or other local options.

California Climbs to #4 Global Economy — Plus, CalRx® Naloxone Now Available Statewide

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California Climbs to #4 Global Economy — Plus, CalRx® Naloxone Now Available Statewide

 

California is Now the 4th Largest Economy in the World

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom April 23 announced that California has officially overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to newly released data from the International Monetary Fund or IMF and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis or BEA.

According to the IMF’s 2024 World Economic Outlook data released April 22 and BEA data, California’s nominal GDP reached $4.1 trillion, surpassing Japan’s $4.02 trillion, and placing California behind only the United States, China, and Germany in global rankings. California’s GDP figure is based on the latest state-level GDP data from the BEA.

Outperforming the Nation

California’s economy is growing at a faster rate than the world’s top three economies. In 2024, California’s growth rate of 6% outpaced the top three economies: U.S. (5.3%), China (2.6%) and Germany (2.9%). California’s success is long-term — the state’s economy grew strongly over the last four years, with an average nominal GDP growth of 7.5% from 2021 to 2024. Preliminary data indicates India is projected to surpass California by 2026.

California is the backbone of the nation’s economy

With an increasing state population and recent record-high tourism spending, California is the nation’s top state for new business starts, access to venture capital funding, and manufacturing, high-tech, and agriculture.

The state drives national economic growth and also sends over $83 billion more to the federal government than it receives in federal funding. California is the leading agricultural producer in the country and is also the center for manufacturing output in the United States, with over 36,000 manufacturing firms employing over 1.1 million Californians.

The Golden State’s manufacturing firms have created new industries and supplied the world with manufactured goods spanning aerospace, computers and electronics, and, most recently, zero-emission vehicles

Protecting California’s economy

Gov. Gavin Newsom last week filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the president’s use of emergency powers to enact broad-sweeping tariffs that hurt states, consumers, and businesses. The lawsuit seeks to end President Trump’s tariff chaos, which has wreaked havoc on the economy, destabilized the stock and bond markets, caused hundreds of billions of dollars in losses, and inflicted higher costs for consumers and businesses. These harms will only continue to grow, as President Trump’s tariffs are projected to shrink the U.S. economy by $100 billion annually.

 

Gov. Newsom makes CalRx® Naloxone available for all Californians at $24

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CalRx Naloxone Production. Department of Health Care Access and Information.

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Newsom April 22 announced that individual twin-packs of CalRx®-branded over-the-counter or OTC naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray are now available to all Californians at the price of $24 per carton – almost half the standard market price. Previously offered only to government entities and businesses in packs of 24, this new direct-to-consumer program expands individual access to this life-saving overdose reversal medication.

Naloxone, a medication that blocks the effects of opioids, can quickly reverse an overdose, giving individuals crucial time to receive medical help.

Anyone residing in California can now visit the CalRx website to purchase an individual twin-pack of naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray for $24, plus tax and shipping fees. This price makes the CalRx offering among the most cost-competitive options currently available.

The launch of CalRx®-branded naloxone in May 2024 was more than just an expansion of access to a single medication — it represented a larger shift in how California is reshaping the pharmaceutical market to prioritize affordability, transparency, and public health.

By leveraging state purchasing power and strategic partnerships, CalRx is establishing a new standard for making essential medications more accessible at lower, more predictable prices. This initiative demonstrates how bold, state-led action can disrupt traditional pricing models and ensure that cost never stands in the way of care.

This initiative is part of Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis. A recent study published on the Naloxone Savings Dashboard revealed that the state’s CalRX initiative has saved California over $6 million to date. For more information on opioids and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, visit Opioids.CA.GOV, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources around prevention and treatment.

Impact on the opioid crisis

For the first time in California, data through June 2024 showed a decline in synthetic opioid-related overdose deaths, from drugs such as fentanyl and tramadol. This had reversed a trend of increased synthetic opioid-related death in the state from 2018 through June 2023. The overdose crisis remains complex and is constantly evolving due to a variety of factors. Year-to-year changes cannot be credited to any one cause, but it is clear that a comprehensive effort is making a difference, as we continue to address opioid trafficking, prevent overdoses, support those with opioid use disorder, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids.

How to obtain CalRx Naloxone

  1. Online ordering: California residents and businesses can order CalRx® Naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray for $24 per box by visiting the CalRx Get Naloxone website.

    2. Naloxone Distribution Project: Eligible organizations may qualify for free CalRx® Naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray through the Department of Health Care Services’ Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP). For more information, visit the NDP website.​

CalRx® program

The California Department of Health Care Access and Information, which administers the CalRx program, recently published its Naloxone Savings Dashboard, revealing that this initiative has saved California over $17 million to date.

Details: CalRx® Naloxone.For more information regarding California’s response to the opioid crisis, visit http://opioids.ca.gov.

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