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Tonsich Sues RLN-Fails to Stop the Presses

Terelle Jerricks
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Tonsich Sues RLN-Fails to Stop the Presses

Clean Air Engineering-Maritime founder Nick Tonsich’s ties to the port have been recurring issues ever since he left his post as president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission. And ever since, Random Lengths News has covered his dealings. Senior Editor Paul Rosenberg’s latest story on Tonsich, Icarus Falls, was apparently the last straw because Tonsich filed a libel suit against Random Lengths News, on Aug. 11. Then he filed a temporary restraining order, and later he filed a preliminary injunction motion to take down the Icarus Falls story and a 2016 referenced story, also by Rosenberg, from this publication’s website. Judge Michael P. Vicencia in the Long Beach Superior Court denied both motions.

Of all the times this newspaper has covered Tonsich and his port dealings, not once did he submit a letter to the editor or make any request for a retraction based on the facts about this newspaper’s coverage. In 2016 he responded with a complaint letter to the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Commission that we reviewed and do not believe included any evidence contradicting our reporting. After which Tonsich refused to speak with us.

A significant part of the recent article was based upon legal filings in the civil litigation between Pasha Stevedoring, Inc and Nicholas Tonsich wherein Pasha accuses Tonsich of fraud among a list of other causes of action. Fair and accurate reporting on judicial filings are legally protected as they become public records and the allegations in them a matter of transparency and open to public scrutiny not a matter of libel. Tonsich who has a law degree should know this.

In addition to asking the courts to force this newspaper to immediately remove the two articles from its website, Tonsich asked that the newspaper take steps to ensure the Random Lengths News articles cannot be accessed through internet searches via any search engines — something nearly impossible to guarantee — and to issue a formal retraction of the Icarus Falls story.  This is a very curious form of censorship to silence the press. We believe it lacks legal precedent. 

Tonsich argued that Random Lengths News had libeled him, because he was no longer a public figure having left his position as president of the Board of Harbor Commissioner in 2005 and that he was just a private person and owner of two corporations doing business in the Port of Los Angeles. Tonsich boldly claims that because he is no longer a public figure, he does not have to prove our publication acted with actual malice with our reporting. The Pasha lawsuit, though, is a very public law suit. Our position is that once a person becomes a public figure they can’t unilaterally stop being one just because they claim it, especially when he continues to remain highly influential in matters of public concern and retains prominence in the local community. The judge twice acknowledged the possibility that Tonsich was a public figure in denying Tonsich’s requests for preliminary relief.

Random Lengths News‘ lawyer, David Bosko, has raised several points for attack on Tonsich’s allegations. Among them that Tonsich has not demonstrated that Random Lengths News made any false statements; that the Icarus Falls article was privileged and subject to protection under California law; that Tonsich’s attack on the older article is time-barred; and that Tonsich must show actual malice to prevail and has not even alleged malice. 

Publisher James Preston Allen rejects Tonsich’s allegations saying that they are baseless and that he stands behind the integrity of our reporting as factually accurate.  

“Nick Tonsich is just trying to bully this newspaper and bury us with litigation. He won’t win as he’s chosen a fight that he can’t win,” Allen said. “I’ve never liked bullies and I’m not going to stand for someone like him trying to suppress the freedom of the press.” In this era it should come as no surprise, “That some people try to nullify the media especially when we speak truth to power”, publisher Allen surmised.

For more of the back story or if you missed the original story you can read more here

Read Icarus Falls here: https://tinyurl.com/Icarus-Falls-2020-07

Read Green Port: A Dream Gets Closer to Reality: https://tinyurl.com/Green-Port-2016

A limited number of hard copies are available by contacting our office 

Getting Art(ists) Out Into the World While Everyone’s Staying Home

Greggory Moore
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Getting Art(ists) Out Into the World While Everyone’s Staying Home

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Alyssandra Nighswonger. After several months of planning and curating an immersive art experience to coincide with the release of Nighswonger Sings Nilsson (as in Harry Nilsson, contents self-explanatory), the country slid into shutdown mode just days before the show’s scheduled date.

“There would have been paper art installations to transport the audience to the Land of Point!” she says (referencing Nilsson’s sixth album and its accompanying animated feature film). “There would have been projections! There would have been an album included with admission! I would have worn a colorful dress and played with a damn fine band featuring [Nilsson’s son] Zak on drums!”

In other words, it would have been typical of the kind of the kind thing Long Beach mainstay Nighswonger has put on over the years. In 2010, she produced a Vaudeville Folk Spectacular at the Art Theatre of Long Beach, which in addition to a variety of musical performances featured tap dancers, poetry, a cross-dressed, gossipy recitation of a short work by Russian absurdist writer, and “amazing feats of strength by Strong Bear” (you had to be there). Over the next decade came similarly eclectic experiences (what else to call them?). “Illumatory Interlude” at the Long Beach Museum of Art included fire dancers and a shadow-puppet version of Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. An album-release show at the Packard for an album by frequent collaborator Ellen Warkentine included two floors of themed art installations and moving human statuary.  

There’s also been a host of facilitatory and behind-the-scenes work, including social media for the Long Beach Folk Revival Festival and ten years of hosting Viento y Agua’s weekly open mic, which she celebrated with (what else?) a ten-hour open mic.

But with live entertainment in a holding pattern (at least in parts of the world where public policy vis-à-vis health and welfare is guided by science), over the last six months Nighswonger—who in addition to putting on events has regularly gigged solo and with various bands—has been something of a fish out of water. What does a local musician cum impresario do during the time of COVID-19? 

Well, you do something. From April 30 and August 27 Nighswonger put together weekly open mics via Zoom, and from May 2 to August 8 she collaborated with We Love LB to bring local music to neighborhoods (because if the mountain will not come to Muhammad…) via trolley.

“Each time we would go to a sponsored neighborhood, and the trolley would slowly drive up and down every street with the musician on the back playing for people who would come out into their front yards,” she says. “Social-distance-friendly entertainment at its finest. I was the musician a few times, but I really liked getting other musicians connected, too. It felt really good to get some artists paid gigs when shows dried up. […] It’s not just about accomplishing my own goals: there’s also this question of how to give space for other people and other artists. The open mic was only half about being a performance space; it was also about creating a safe space to share feelings, experiences, and struggles—and to encourage artists to keep going.”
Last month Nighswonger tried her hand at live streaming with A Very Wes Anderson Birthday Stream, using her birthday (not Anderson’s) as an excuse to solicit from the area music community video recordings in one way or another tied to Anderson’s oeuvre, which features a songbook reaching from Hank Williams to Elliott Smith. Submissions ranged from the straightforward to silly (The Royal Tenenbaums tent scene “acted” by a dog and cat) to inspired. Highlights in the last category included Freddie Dilsdale’s “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (featured in Moonrise Kingdom) seemingly recorded with a cheap cassette player and with lyrics rendered kid-style in crayon (both touches cleverly apropos of the film) and Fellow Robot’s Anthony Pedroza’s version of The Kinks’ “Strangers” (from The Darjeeling Limited), with Pedroza tripled and costumed as all three of the Whitman brothers in what serves as an effective DIY promotional video for the film.

A Very Wes Anderson Birthday Stream —

Overall, though, it wasn’t anything fancy or polished, just a creative way to get her community together in an effort to keep spirits high and artmakers motivated. Encouraged by the results, she says more such events may be in the offing. 

“Looking forward to the next time we can get together to do some big multimedia projects,” Nighswonger said during the show. “In the meantime, let’s do this.”
For all things Nighswonger, visit alyssandranighswonger.com.

New Long Beach Bridge Scheduled to Open Oct. 5

Reporters Desk
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New Long Beach Bridge Scheduled to Open Oct. 5

Officials announced Sept. 24, that the state-of-the-art new bridge at the Port of Long Beach is nearing completion and on course to open to traffic Oct. 5. The six-lane, cable-stayed bridge will provide a major new regional highway connector as well as improve cargo movement at one of the world’s largest port complexes.

“This new bridge is an incredible icon that will connect Long Beach to the world,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “We will continue to build infrastructure and drive economic growth across the country.”

The new bridge will replace the shorter, narrower Gerald Desmond Bridge, which carries 15 % percent of all containerized goods coming into the U.S. 

The new bridge will provide a higher passage for cargo ships, extra traffic lanes for trucks and cars, emergency lanes, greater resiliency in an earthquake and a 100-year minimum lifespan. With the twin 50-story-high towers connecting 80 cables to the center span, the new bridge will be one of the tallest cable-stayed bridges in the United States and the first of its kind in California. The new bridge will also include a pedestrian-bicycle path and will be illuminated with dozens of LED lights that change colors.

The bridge project began in 2013 with a major undertaking to clear the path for the new structure. Shortly after the design-build project got underway, state engineers were able to secure additional improvements to the original bridge design to further enhance the bridge’s resistance to a potential future large earthquake. The $1.47 billion bridge project also includes the eventual demolition of the existing Gerald Desmond Bridge that sits just a few feet from the new bridge.

Opening of the new bridge will require an Oct. 2 through 4 weekend traffic closure in the vicinity in order to switch over lanes to connect both ends of the nearly 2-mile-long structure to existing roadways that reach the 710 Freeway, downtown Long Beach and Terminal Island. Barring any unforeseen construction-related complications, motorists should be able to access the new bridge by the morning of Oct. 5. Final details for motorists will be announced soon, and the public is encouraged to monitor the project’s website for the latest details at www.newgdbridge.com.

Officials today also announced there will be a virtual opening ceremony to be telecast over YouTube and other social media channels, and available at www.newgdbridge.com and www.polb.com Friday, Oct. 2. Due to coronavirus restrictions, there will not be a ceremony open to public attendance.

The new bridge is a joint effort of Caltrans and the Port of Long Beach, with additional funding support from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

Video and photos of the bridge construction progress can be found at the bridge website, www.newgdbridge.com.

More Than Meets the Eye

Terelle Jerricks
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More Than Meets the Eye

San Pedro resident releases photobook of leading African-American figures and reflective quotes about mothers

What do you see when you look into your mother’s eyes? That can be a complicated answer depending on who you ask. However, San Pedro author, Melba Binion-Sanders-Johnson, found a way to pull together a variety of answers from leading African-American political and cultural figures and marry those answers with their stunning portraits. These figures are from a variety of walks of life, ranging from entertainment, politics and the nonprofit sector. The portraits focus on the faces of the subjects with particular attention to the eyes.

Some of those featured include the well known, like retired California Sen. Diane Watson, actor Malcolm Jamal Warner, Rev. Cecil Murray, vocalist Eloise Laws, singer-songwriter Skyler Grey, director-producer Donald B. Welch, Bonnie Pointer of the Pointers and more. The first 15 pages are perhaps the most striking because they reveal a far more personal portrait of the author’s family. casually flipping through the pages you are greeted with four generations of the Binion-Sanders-Johnson family who all have similar looking eyes. It was almost as if the casual viewer were looking at a single person transition through all five phases of life. Family resemblance runs deep in the DNA.

These photographs appear like a visual interpretation of a quote Binion-Sander-Johnson uses in the prologue from scientist-inventor and peanut farmer George Washington Carver:

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life, you will have been all of these.”

This is a quote that may resonate today.

What is perhaps the most stunning element of the book is that the portraits are intensely focused mostly on the eyes of the subjects whose stories are only partly told. Some of these beautiful pictures by Moses Mitchell are artfully cropped in half, giving more of a poetic glance than providing a full storyline. This is an intriguing design for storytelling. And, it should be considered as the companion to the author’s documentary series. More on that later.

If there’s a complaint to be had about this book, it’s that Through My Mother’s Eyes operates as a companion piece without its companion. The book is supposed to be paired with the docu-series but the docu-series is not here yet. As a result, there are no brief biographies in this book that helps contextualize the words of the people featured, let alone offer understanding for the uninitiated of just how important they are and the circumstances that formed the very basis of who they are.

For example, I was pleasantly surprised to find the inclusion of Toberman Neighborhood Center former executive director Gloria Lockhart. Lockhart published her own memoirs, Unmasking a Woman’s Journey in 2011 and I wrote a feature story on it. I read Lockhart’s quote in Binion-Sanders-Johnson:

“There are two pairs of eyes. First, my biological mother’s eyes, the ones that did not raise me but which held a lot of pain, sorrow and a lot of regrets. Then there are my adopted mother’s eyes, that showed me joy, ambition and creativity. These are filled with the Love of God. The combination of the two, I got what needed from both.”

I was compelled to review Lockhart’s memoir to remember the grounding experience from which her quote grew. Lockhart focused her memoirs on the most seminal and transformative events of her life that helped her break through barriers, but also included traumas that had lifelong impacts on her. In easy to read prose, Lockhart recounted the events that led to her mother separating Gloria from her siblings for what was supposed to be a short time but ended up being permanent. Lockhart was sent to live with a maternal aunt and her husband at the age of five or six years old. Reading Lockhart’s quote within this context, the words pack a particular punch and depth.

Another quote that stood out to me was one from the radio personality of KJLH, Roland Bynum, in which he say:

“My Mother didn’t raise me. When I looked into her eyes, I saw a sad person. She was fearful. But when we did finally get together, she said ‘about time you got home, boy. Welcome home.”

I was left wanting to know what made him say this.

The same was true of State Sen. Holly Mitchell, who said this about her mother:

“She was shy and insecure but blossomed into a powerhouse, and A-type personality and became a prison warden. ‘She was something else,’ [Gov.] Jerry Brown once said of her.”

Clearly there is much more alluded to than is outright told in this book which is why one becomes curious about what comes next.

Fortunately, Through My Mother’s Eyes is part of a larger  project that includes a docu-series  exploring the relationship between a mother and child. Created by Binion-Sanders-Johnson, filmmaker Chadwick L. Williams and Brownstone Entertainment, the docu-series examines the unique circumstances and relationships that make us who we are through our relationships. The questions the show asks: What do you see when you look into your mother’s eyes? If your mother were to look into your eyes, what would she see? What influence did your mother have on your life? Tell me about the last time you looked into your mother’s eyes; and tell me about your mother.

The trailer for this  docu-series promises to be a good companion to Binion-Sanders-Johnson’s book while offering insights into the lives of some of the most powerful and culturally significant Southern California-based African-American figures of our time.

About the Author

Binion-Sanders-Johnson is an actress, model, author and a 36-year practitioner and senior teacher of Bikram Hot Yoga and a certified Core Power Yoga instructor. Binion-Sanders-Johnson is also the owner of the yoga apparel line, It’s a Wrap by Melba.

About the Photographer

Moses Mitchell, an Los Angeles-based photographer responsible for the portraits in Through My Mother’s Eyes has been shooting stills since he was five years old. Reflected in the quality of his images are the years he has dedicated to cultivating his craft. Moses’ work largely reflects his concern for poverty and education, his interest in universal spiritual principles and his passion for music. This laser-like focus is reflected in his commercial and documentary projects. Clients include, Diageo, GTM, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Michael Beckwith, Interscope Records, Warner Bros, CBS, LA’s BEST, HBO, MTV and BET, among others.

To purchase the book, visit https://tinyurl.com/Through-My-Mothers-Eyes. The book can be purchased in the following formats with the following ISBN numbers:

Paperback: ISBN: 978-1-950936-44-1 $29.95

E-book: ISBN: 978-1-950936-45-8 $19.95

Hardcover: ISBN: 978-1-950936-55-7 $39.95

La Bocca Felice: The Happy Mouth to Replace Pappy’s Seafood

Terelle Jerricks
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La Bocca Felice: The Happy Mouth to Replace Pappy’s Seafood

This past June, Greg Morena, restaurateur and owner of Pappy’s, announced he was selling the historic restaurant location for $2.5 million. At the time, he said if the building didn’t immediately sell, he would put it up for lease until the right offer and circumstances appeared.

The news was music to the ears of restaurateur Nima Karimi, the owner of Sebastian’s Mediterranean Cuisine and Matteo’s Pizza. Karimi had his eyes on the former Papadakis Taverna location since he arrived in San Pedro almost seven years ago.

“I still can’t believe it,” Karimi said. “Ever since I came to San Pedro, which was six and half years ago, I’ve always had an eye for that place. And now, finally, we’re there.”

Karimi’s new restaurant will be called La Bocca Felice, or The Happy Mouth in Italian. The restaurateur intends for this new restaurant to be more formal than Pappy’s but has no plans of making significant changes to the historic venue, with the exception of installing an open-air pizza oven on the second floor of the restaurant, provided that all of the building and safety permits go through. Karimi said the restaurant will be open for business by Oct. 1.

Iranian born, but reared in Norway, Karimi has three restaurants in Norway. When he came to the United States, he was the chef at an Palos Verdes Italian restaurant called Avenue Italy before moving on to open Matteo’s Pizza on Gaffey Street, then Sebastian’s Mediterranean Cuisine on 7th Street.

“I have always cooked Italian food,” Karimi said. “I’ve cooked Italian cuisine for over 20 years.”

The new restaurant will offer Italian seafood cuisine from all 20 regions of Italy.

“My partner and I are convinced that if we travel to each region, each as a special, that will create something unique in San Pedro,” Karimi said.

When asked about the pizza oven that has to be installed, he explained that his vision called for it to be installed on the second floor outdoors. Karimi explained that before any of that is possible he would have to get approvals from the city’s building and safety department. So we shall see.

Karimi noted that due to outdoor dining permissions, he’ll be able to engage in outdoor dining on Oct. 1 with or without the pizza oven in place. With that in mind, Karimi is looking to ensure that operations and staffing are above par by the time of La Bocca Felice’s opening.

“I want everything to be set with good staff,” Karimi said. “It’s much better to be open a little later and be at 100%, rather than use clients as guinea pigs. So, as long as it takes.”

The 301 W. 6th Street location has a great deal of history. Greg Morena’s renovation exposed the 5,000 square-foot building’s architectural history by removing the mid-century architectural add-on, which revealed original 1920s windows, open beams, concrete and other accents that had been covered up.

San Pedro’s famous Papadakis Taverna’s occupation of that corner of Sixth and Centre is the longest in downtown San Pedro history. Closed in 2010, John Papadakis and his family owned and operated the restaurant for more than 40 years. The building originally housed a U.S. Post Office, before it became the Beacon Drugstore.

Back then, drug stores featured a soda fountain and had something alongside the pharmaceuticals sold from their shelves. The first restaurant opened at the location was the Yacht Club Cafe, which advertised as a place to rendezvous and grab a drink, if not a bite to eat.

 Morena purchased the building for $1.6 million in late 2016. Moreno and his wife, Yunnie Kim, reportedly had to let go of the new San Pedro property when the pandemic hit to focus on their two primary restaurants on the Santa Monica Pier, the Albright and Rusty’s.

As sad as it is to see Pappy’s go, there’s palpable excitement for what’s next on the corner of 6th and Centre streets in San Pedro. For his part, Karimi expressed hope that San Pedro and others who may cross La Bocca Felice’s doorstep embrace his vision with open arms.

“I hope that they will enjoy every bite of their meal and I hope I can provide a fun and cozy atmosphere for them with safety first,” Karimi said. “Besides that I can promise nothing. I just hope that everybody puts their feet inside my restaurant and leaves with smiles on their faces.”

During Climate Week 2020, Gov. Newsom to Host California Climate Action Day Highlighting California’s Global Leadership

Reporters Desk
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During Climate Week 2020, Gov. Newsom to Host California Climate Action Day Highlighting California’s Global Leadership

 SACRAMENTO – With Climate Week 2020 events underway this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom will host a virtual California Climate Action Day on Thursday, convening world, state, tribal and local leaders, business executives and other experts to discuss innovative solutions to a wide array of climate challenges facing the state. 

 

The series of virtual conversations will cover topics including building the state’s climate resilience, implementing climate policies in an equitable way, aligning financial decision-making with climate realities, and delivering climate, health and equity benefits for all our communities in the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The day of action will kick off at 9:00 a.m. PDT with an in-depth discussion between the Governor and Van Jones on the state’s groundbreaking climate agenda. 

 

California Climate Action Day  

Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT  Sept. 24

WATCH: The discussions will be streamed on the Governor’s YouTube page here and can also be viewed by registrants here.  

 

AGENDA: 

9 a.m.

Conversation with Governor Gavin Newsom & Van Jones

In this year alone, California and much of the West Coast have endured record-setting heat and wildfires. In this conversation between Gov. Newsom and award-winning journalist Van Jones, we will hear how California can deliver on our aggressive climate change agenda and continue to be the standard-bearer for change.

 

9:45 a.m.

Charting an Equitable Path to Carbon Neutrality

California is recognized globally for its environmental leadership. Notably, we have grown our economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are aggressively pursuing a 100 percent clean energy future and carbon neutrality by 2045. Under Gov. Newsom, the state is making equity a key pillar of how we achieve those goals. This panel will explore how the state is making progress – highlighting important initiatives underway on our energy, transportation and building sectors – and address what challenges and opportunities lie ahead, and how to implement policy in an equitable way. The panel will also highlight carbon neutrality commitments in business and State government and will focus on equitable principles of our carbon neutral future.

 

PANELISTS: 

Eduardo Garcia

CA Assemblymember, 56th Assembly District

 

David Hochschild

Chair, California Energy Commission

 

Miya Yoshitani

Executive Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network

 

MODERATOR:

Mary D. Nichols

Chair, California Air Resources Board

 

10:45 a.m.

From Wildfire to Water – Investing in Nature Based Solutions to Build Climate Resilience

Like so many of our global partners, California is bearing witness to the devastating impacts of climate change.

 

In recent weeks, wildfires of historic size, scale, and scope have swept across our state. Lives have been lost; homes and businesses have been destroyed; and nature we treasure is gone. These fires have taken place in the middle of a deadly pandemic and heatwave, and on the heels of a prolonged drought. 

 

As California accelerates action to build climate resilience, we are committed to joining the global call for greater attention to the benefits of nature based solutions in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity.

 

This panel will showcase nature based solutions being implemented by climate leaders across the globe, and explore how they contribute to increased equity, improved public health, and expanded economic opportunity.

 

PANELISTS:

Henk Ovink

Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands

 

Margo Robbins

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Cultural Fire Management Council; Member of Yurok Tribe

 

Karen Shippey

Chief Director, Environmental Sustainability, Government of Western Cape, South Africa

 

Senator Henry Stern

California State Senate, 27th District

 

MODERATOR:

Wade Crowfoot

Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency

 

11:45 a.m.

Driving Adoption of Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure in the U.S.

Without a clear and transparent accounting of how public and private investments address climate risk and opportunity, the economy will never truly price these factors into decision making. In California, the catastrophic wildfires of 2017, 2018, and 2019 have put in sharp focus the social, economic, and personal loss that come from the current approach to allocating the costs of risk. But increased disclosure can lead to real market change, at meaningful scale. 

 

This panel will explore how, in the absence of federally mandated risk disclosure, state and sub-national governments can promote coordinated adoption of climate-related financial risk disclosure. Panelists will share insights on what represents effective climate-related financial risk disclosure, explore the pathways for disclosure available to sub-nationals and identify clear actions to align public and private action on Financial Risk Disclosure. 

 

PANELISTS:

Bob Litterman

Chair, Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee of CFTC;

Founding Partner, Kepos Capital

 

Craig Davies

Head of Climate Resilience Investments, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

 

James Manyika

Chairman and Director, McKinsey and Company

 

Divya Mankikar

Investment Manager, CalPERS

 

MODERATOR:

Kate Gordon

Director, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research & Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor on Climate

 

12:45 p.m.

COVID and Climate Change: What’s Next?

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted communities and institutions across California. The public health and economic crises are a stark reminder of another crisis already impacting Californians: climate change. Last year, the American Lung Association declared climate change a public health emergency. This panel will explore how the state might rebuild and refashion our communities, institutions and infrastructure going forward to build a greener, healthier, more prosperous and equitable California. It will highlight efforts underway to recover from this pandemic in a way that creates jobs while delivering climate, health and equity benefits for all Californians.

 

PANELISTS:

Angela Glover Blackwell

Founder in Residence, PolicyLink

 

Lisa Jackson

VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, Apple

 

Michael Tubbs

Mayor, City of Stockton

 

Karen Ross

Secretary, California Department of Food & Agriculture

 

Josh Fryday

Chief Service Officer, California Volunteers

 

MODERATOR:

Jared Blumenfeld

Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency

One Suspect Arrested and Additional Arrest Warrant Sought For Human Trafficking Of Two Minors

Reporters Desk
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One Suspect Arrested and Additional Arrest Warrant Sought For Human Trafficking Of Two Minors

LONG BEACH —  A human trafficking investigation has led to the recovery of two female juveniles reported as missing persons, the arrest of one adult suspect, and the issue of an arrest warrant for a second adult suspect.

On Sept. 16, an arrest warrant was issued for 23-year-old Semaj Kelly, a resident of the City of San Bernardino. On Sept. 18, detectives from the Long Beach Police Department’s Vice Investigations Section arrested Kelly and he was booked on one count of Human Trafficking of a victim under 18-years-old and was held on $175,000 bail.

A second arrest warrant was issued for Marcus Jones, a 27-year-old resident of the City of Los Angeles, who is currently in federal custody for unrelated drug charges.

The events began on Feb. 20, when detectives initiated a missing person’s investigation, later determined to involve the prostitution of a minor. Detectives received information that the minor was being trafficked in the City of Montclair and subsequently arranged to meet the minor at a location where detectives later recovered the victim on March 10. 

The two female juveniles, ages 15 and 16, were listed as missing persons from Long Beach and Los Angeles, respectively.

The victims who were identified by detectives were provided with victim-centered services through the Los Angeles County First Responder Protocol for Sexually Exploited Children.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department’s Vice Investigation Detail at 562-570-7219.

Public Health Underscores the Importance of Workplace Compliance

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Public Health Underscores the Importance of Workplace Compliance

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health has confirmed 16 new deaths and 652 new cases of confirmed COVID-19.  To date, Public Health has identified 261,446 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 6,366 deaths. The number of cases and deaths reported today reflect a weekend reporting lag.

There is significant potential for transmission of COVID-19 at workplaces, making it critically important for employers to adhere to the workplace protocols that require infection control, distancing, masking, and appropriate PPE for all workers.  This is particularly important since after work, many of us go home to family members and other people we live with, some of whom may be at higher risk for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. 

Public Health’s compliance team continues to visit businesses across the county every day. Inspectors review county reopening protocols with business owners and ensure they are familiar with all requirements related to disinfection, the use of face coverings, physical distancing, and any other modifications and employee protections. Compliance inspections are focused on educating business owners and workers about how to stay safe but can result in citations for non-compliance where businesses are in violation of the Health Officer Order and protocols.

As a result of inspections conducted since Aug. 30, 46 citations have been issued to 25 establishments.In early September, the County launched the Safety Compliance Certificate Program that allows businesses to complete an on-line training and self-certify that they are fully implementing the required COVID-19 Protocols to make their workplace as safe as possible. The training is free and is found on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov

Earthquake Damage In San Pedro

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Earthquake Damage In San Pedro

On Sept. 18, a 4.5 Magnitude earthquake struck the San Gabriel area. It was felt throughout the Harbor Area. Although no serious damage was reported some neighborhoods in San Pedro went briefly without electricity.

Minutes after the shaking stopped LAFD received a call for flooding at 7th and Weymouth where a piece of the street cracked open and ruptured a water main turning the streets into a river.

Hundreds of rocks and debris could be seen spewing from the crack in the road as mud and pebbles piled on the street corners. Some residents in the area stated that they had no running water and another neighbor showed me a video of her faucet spewing light blue water.  

DWP arrived about an hour later and were working on the incident.

Long Beach Convention Center will serve as LA County Vote Center

Reporters Desk
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Long Beach Convention Center will serve as LA County Vote Center

LONG BEACH— Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has announced Sept. 21, that the Long Beach Convention Center will serve as a Vote Center for the 2020 Presidential General Election. Voters will be able to vote-in person or drop off their mail-in ballots at this location starting Oct. 30 through Election Day on Nov. 3.

“I want this to be the most accessible, convenient, hassle-free election for voters in LA County history, and that means giving voters options of how and where to vote” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. 

This election, every registered voter will be sent a mail-in ballot. Voters can choose to vote-by-mail and track their ballot’s progress using the new Ballot Trax tool, vote in person at any LA County Vote Center, or drop their ballot off at a Vote Center or one of the county’s ballot drop boxes.

Select Vote Centers across LA County will be open beginning Oct. 24. All Vote Centers will be available beginning Oct. 30.  Every Vote Center will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the early voting period. On Election Day Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.To check voter registration status, visit lavote.net. If a voter has moved, changed their name, or would like to change political party affiliation they must re-register to vote either online or with a paper form. The registration deadline is Oct. 19 to be mailed a Vote by Mail ballot.

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