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“Steal this story, Please!” – Long Beach Art Theatre

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“Steal this story, Please!” – Long Beach Art Theatre

 

Undeterred by armed soldiers, smooth-talking politicians, and riot police, journalist Amy Goodman has reported some of the most consequential stories of our time. A gripping portrait of Goodman, Steal This Story, Please! follows her decades-long fight to report from the frontlines and amplify voices ignored by mainstream media. From global conflicts to Democracy Now!, her work challenges power at every turn. From filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, this urgent and often funny documentary goes behind the scenes of a relentless truth-teller navigating a rapidly shifting media landscape.

Amy Goodman Png
Screenshot, Journalist Amy Goodman.

 

Time: Various, April 20 to 23

Cost: $11 to $13

Details: https://tinyurl.com/Steal-this-story-please

Venue: Art Theatre Long Beach, 2025 E 4th St, Long Beach

Overnight Closures of Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro

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Overnight Closures of Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro

 

Closures will affect the westbound direction of the bridge

SAN PEDRO — Caltrans (District 7) will implement overnight closures of westbound State Route 47 (SR-47) at Vincent Thomas Bridge between Ferry Street and Harbor Boulevard beginning April 19. Closures will occur between 10:45 p.m. to 6:45 a.m., Sunday nights through Friday mornings.

Additionally, the southbound SR-47 on-ramp at Ferry Street will be closed during these overnight closures. Initial construction activities include the installation of an under-deck shield and working platform, as well as staircases for crews to access the bridge deck from multiple locations, ahead of the full bridge closure scheduled for November 1, 2026.

Overnight closures in the eastbound direction will begin at a later date. Caltrans will provide advance notification before they are implemented. The overnight closure work is expected to continue through summer 2026, with occasional overnight closures occurring in the fall. Daytime construction activities will not require bridge closures.

During the westbound overnight closures, traffic will be detoured via SR- 47 to Route 103 to Pacific Coast Highway to Route 110. (See map below)

This work is part of the Vincent Thomas Bridge Deck Replacement Project. A critical infrastructure project totaling $752.8 million, the deck replacement will require partial and full closures of the bridge over the next two years. More information is available at theproject website. Skanska-CEC Joint Venture is the general contractor for the project.

Due to weather or operational factors, the schedule is subject to change, including dates and times, the number of closures, and other details. Motorists should expect delays when utilizing the Vincent Thomas Bridge and use Caltrans Quickmap to review current traffic conditions before traveling. Caltrans reminds drivers to exercise increased caution near the closure and Slow for the Cone Zone.

See below for map showing the detour route for westbound overnight closures

Unnamed 64

Mayor Karen Bass Appoints New General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services

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Mayor Karen Bass Appoints New General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services

LOS ANGELES – On April 17 Mayor Karen Bass announced the appointment of Gabrielle Amster as the new general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, where she will lead efforts to further strengthen lifesaving, humane care, operational excellence, and community engagement across the city’s animal shelters. A photo of Amster is available here.

Amster brings more than 19 years of experience advancing innovation, collaboration, and life-saving outcomes in animal welfare. Amster is known for diplomacy, building and sustaining high-performing teams, and her use of technology to deepen and expand the human-animal bond. Throughout her career, Gabrielle has focused on professionalizing the sheltering field, strengthening staff development, and cultivating a workplace rooted in optimism, compassion, and purpose. During her time at Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, she significantly increased adoptions, improved staff retention, expanded access to spay/neuter and veterinary services, and strengthened ties to the broader Los Angeles community.

“I feel honored by the confidence that Mayor Bass has shown by entrusting me with this vital work,” said Gabrielle Amster, animal service general manager appointee. “It will be a privilege to support and collaborate with the skilled and dedicated team in the department. I look forward to supporting and harnessing the considerable talents and energy of our essential volunteers, and I am eager to work closely with New Hope rescues and other valued partners to provide the highest standard of care and best positive outcomes. The people and pets of Los Angeles deserve every opportunity to thrive together.”

The appointment will now be referred to the LA Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee, and other committees of jurisdiction, followed by a vote of approval by the Los Angeles City Council.

Singapore, LA and Long Beach Ports Renew Green Shipping Corridor Pact

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Singapore, LA and Long Beach Ports Renew Green Shipping Corridor Pact

Singapore, Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports Renew Green and Digital Shipping Corridor Agreement

SINGAPORE — The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, with the support of C40 Cities, April 20 renewed their memorandum of understanding on the green and digital shipping corridor for another three years. First signed in 2023, the renewal reinforces the ports’ commitment to decarbonization and digitalization along the trans-Pacific route, one of the world’s busiest container trade lanes. It also supports efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience and energy security.

Since the corridor’s launch, several milestones have been achieved. These include the completion of a baseline study in 2024, onboarding of industry partners to explore potential pilot trials, and establishment of workstreams to advance pilot initiatives in alternative fuels, digitalization and energy efficiency. These initiatives support the development of more diversified and resilient energy pathways for international shipping.

All three ports have also advanced their alternative fuels bunkering capabilities. MPA completed methanol bunkering trials in 2023 and subsequently awarded three methanol bunkering supply licenses. The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports have commissioned a Clean Fuels Study and are preparing for a methanol pilot in 2026. These developments prepare the three ports for green fuel trials in the next phase of their partnership. The partners have also conducted port-to-port data exchange testing and started pilot collaborations with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

Under the renewed memorandum, the partners will continue working with industry to deploy low- and zero-emission fuels and digital solutions. This includes supporting fuel supply and infrastructure, developing pilot and demonstration projects, strengthening port-to-port data connectivity, and promoting interoperability, cybersecurity and common standards.

The memorandum was signed ahead of the Singapore Maritime Week 2026. C40 Cities will continue to serve as a facilitator to convene partners, coordinate collaboration and provide communications support.

Details: www.mpa.gov.sg.

CD15 City Budget Policy Update

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CD15 City Budget Policy Update

 

On April 20, Mayor Karen Bass will submit her proposed budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year to the city council. As a member of the budget and finance committee, coucilmember Tim McOsker, along with colleagues, will begin a series of hearings throughout April and May to review, analyze, and ultimately revise and adopt a final budget before sending it back to the mayor for approval or veto.

This work will formally begin on April 24, at 1 p.m., with the first hearing on the mayor’s proposed budget. This initial meeting will include an opportunity for public comment.

These hearings are a critical part of the budget process, where the committee listens, asks questions, and makes decisions that directly impact services in your neighborhoods. Conversely, they are an opportunity for residents to be heard. Councilmember McOsker strongly encourages members of the public to participate, share their perspectives, and help inform the decisions the committee makes. If you are unable to attend in person, you can submit comments online.

“I encourage you to stay engaged throughout this process,” said McOsker. “These are your tax dollars, and you deserve a meaningful voice in how they are allocated.”

UPDATED: LB At-Risk Missing Person – Pedro Perez Vital

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UPDATED: LB At-Risk Missing Person – Pedro Perez Vital

Update April 20
On April 19, 2026 at-risk missing person Pedro Perez Vital was located safe and unharmed in Long Beach.

The Long Beach Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating 89-year-old at-risk missing person Pedro Perez Vital.

On April 19, 2026, about 6 a.m., in the 600 block of W. Hill Street, it was discovered that Vital had left his residence on foot. He has no cell phone and no other means of tracking. He has medical condition(s) and may become disoriented.

Description of Pedro Perez Vital:

Age: 89
Hair Color: Gray
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 157 lbs
Gender: Male
Race: Hispanic
Clothing: Navy/gray/red plaid jacket, gray sweatpants
Possible Destination: Unknown
Jewelry: None
Scars/Marks/Tattoos: None
Medical Alerts: Has medical 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 LBPD dispatch at 562)-35-6711or anonymously at 1-800-222-8477; www.LACrimestoppers.org.

April 16th Edition Letters: Censuring Distribution

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April 16th Edition Letters: Censuring Distribution

Censuring Distribution

This first letter needs to have a preface as it is in response to the public political forum held at the Grand Annex on April 7. The forum was sponsored by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, of which RLnews is a member. After repeatedly placing our publication on the front information desk and seeing it repeatedly removed, I had a few stern words with the young assistant about freedom of expression. As a result, I was confronted by Ms. Swanson and two large thugs. She started off complaining about an article I wrote about her complicity in the courthouse development, and then instructed her thugs to remove me from a public event. This is her response.

Dear James,

I am writing to formally address the incident that occurred at the San Pedro Chamber Candidate Forum on April 7th at the Grand Annex.

As I stated at the event, raising your voice at Chamber staff is unacceptable under any circumstances. If you have a concern regarding a Chamber event, you are expected to bring it to me directly and professionally.

To be clear about the nature of last night’s event: the Candidate Forum was produced and hosted by the Chamber on private property. As the host and organizer, the Chamber retains full authority over the rules of entry and conduct within the space. While the event was open to the public by our invitation, that invitation does not transfer or diminish our authority as the organizing body. A private event host is not obligated to permit the distribution of materials by media or any other attendees, regardless of the public’s access to the event.

As a Chamber member, you are welcome to promote and distribute the Random Lengths News at the following events:

      • Chamber Mixers
      • Breakfast with the Chamber (the fourth Friday of the month)

Please be advised that conduct of this nature will not be tolerated at future Chamber events and may result in consequences for your membership standing.

Sincerely,

Elise Swanson

San Pedro Chamber of Commerce

 

Ms. Swanson,

Clearly, we have a difference of opinion on what a public political forum is, no matter who hosts it. When you invite the public to a political forum, there is an expectation of free speech, which cannot be censored. Your tightly orchestrated “forum” allowed for only chamber board members to ask questions in person, and the general public had to write theirs on 3×5 cards. This gave priority to the business community over the general public. As such, speech was censored, and to top it off, you insisted that the only local publication that carries any political content couldn’t be displayed, which was only adding insult to injury.

Now I’m sure that you feel perfectly justified in this, as you have over the last 15 years attempted to silence any dissent that I have raised over the chamber’s role in trying to influence local politics towards conservative values.

Your decision to manipulate who speaks at the forum and who does not goes a long way toward explaining why the chamber is out of touch with most small businesses in San Pedro and the general public.

A democratic republic needs a diversity of voices to remain free. And when views or media are censored, we are all less free.

James Preston Allen, Publisher

Two years out, LA28 Impacts Local Community Groups
We love the Olympics, especially the Summer Olympics, and are excited for the LA28 Games. The San Pedro and Long Beach areas will host many events, in part due to their proximity to water venues such as Cabrillo Beach and Marine Stadium.

One would expect impacts on traffic and housing leading up to and during the events in July 2028. But certain developments are already negatively impacting local activities, specifically adjacent to the Cabrillo Beach Youth Center, where the San Pedro Outrigger Canoe Club (SPOCC), the Los Angeles Harbor Dragon Boat Club, and other small community groups practice.

The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has already terminated Greater Los Angeles Scouting’s 80-year lease of the Youth Center to accommodate a training facility for the 2028 sailing events. A non-profit (and presumably well-funded) called Pathway to Podium will operate the facility.

The SPOCC leases a small building and access to the beach from POLA and is not attached to the Youth Center. Our membership consists of adults ages 20 to 76, and we run a Juniors program comprising students from San Pedro High School and other local schools in the area. The Juniors’ team is fully scholarship-based through small fundraisers and donations from our community members.

The Port of LA has said it is committed to ensuring that community groups will continue to have access to the waterfront and facilities at Cabrillo Beach. We were told of these moves quite informally (on the sand, back in December 2025), then discovered that the locks to our storage building and the access gate to the beach were changed. And we were told by POLA that we could not paddle out of Cabrillo until we produced the required permits, which we started working to acquire in January. Then, POLA requested a list of insurances that do not apply to our club, including $1M in Ocean Marine Liability coverage — a policy applicable to larger, motorized or commercial vessels (such as ships, yachts, or transport vessels). Our canoes are 44-foot, non-motorized, six-person paddling vessels used strictly for recreation and racing. POLA also requested proof of workers’ comp and car liability, neither of which applies to our club.

After months of back-and-forth communications — and despite our continued efforts and a great working relationship with POLA since our inception in 2017 — as of this writing on April 7, we still have not been granted access to our storage and training facilities or to our canoes, which are stored on the beach.

Our season was supposed to start on February 1, 2026. Had we had access to our beach, we would have already had 27 practices, getting returning members and newcomers ready for racing. Because of this significant delay, we have lost some members to other canoe clubs. All the other 30+ outrigger canoe clubs in Southern California – governed by the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association (SCORA) — have started their recruiting and training season. The first SCORA race is May 2.

We are missing recruiting and retention opportunities. Our current members are confused, and the club is losing revenue because membership dues aren’t being collected. We still have bills to pay, including insurance and canoe payments, with no incoming funds. We are confused by the lack of attention and slow response to our efforts. We have been working with Jeff Gilbo of POLA, as well as Guadalupe Serrato and Michael Galvan. And have been repeatedly assured that all will be ready “in a couple weeks.”

This has been going on since January 26. May 2 is less than three weeks away. We need our community to step up and encourage POLA and its representatives to act quickly and issue our permits, or our existence is in jeopardy. The San Pedro Outrigger Canoe Club is integral to what makes San Pedro unique in the diverse landscape of Los Angeles. We, along with the Dragon Boat club, have been neglected in favor of big business. However, we are the community, and we will be here long after the Olympics have come and gone.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Valdez, president

Julia (Juju) Jones, coach and founder

Peg Moline, member of the San Pedro Outrigger Canoe Club

Earth Day at 56 Years

James Preston Allen
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Earth Day at 56 Years

And our future could have been so much better

Earth Day originated in 1970 as a grassroots response to industrial pollution, proposed by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, after witnessing the devastation of a massive 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, mobilizing 20 million Americans to demand environmental action, ultimately leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and landmark environmental legislation.

By the end of that decade, President Jimmy Carter predicted that America could be oil independent by the year 2000 and then started to support alternative energy like solar and wind. All of this happened after the 1970s oil crises, which were primarily caused by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, leading to supply embargoes by OPEC, which caused global panic, production cuts, and a quadrupling of oil prices. The 1973 crisis was sparked by U.S. support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War, while the 1979 crisis was driven by the Iranian revolution against the US-backed Shah. Does any of this resemble our current situation?

Israel, Middle East wars, and oil, this keeps coming back like a bad dream that we keep repeating with the same results —no peace, escalating oil prices, unresolved geopolitical conflicts, and inflation. A leader who stepped back into this quagmire would really have to be an idiot. We already knew this, that our very own Orange Felon is attempting to turn back the clock on just about every progressive advancement that has occurred over these 56 years — including starting to begin drilling off of Santa Barbara again–back to the future. Stupid isn’t even an adequate word for it.

Since the first Earth Day, it has also been confirmed and revealed that Exxon-Mobil did the research on climate change that predicted global warming and the harm it would cause. Then they buried it and led the denial propaganda campaign that the Republicans have been using against anyone who even uses the term. We are still addicted to oil, even though it’s killing us, and the U.S. is now (thankfully) oil independent, but still dependent on the global price of oil. Price fixed by OPEC.

The recent failure of negotiations to end this war was farcical if not tragic.

A post of one observer on Quora put it succinctly, “Oh Lord, embarrassment in Islamabad. Iran shows up with all its top government officials with a motorcade and is treated like heroes. The USA shows up with the trio of idiots … JD Vance, Trump’s real estate buddy Steve Wykoff, and Jared Kushner, and they look like losers. I don’t know if Trump is panicking … I think Trump is too stupid to panic; he believes himself to be invincible, but it’s a pathetic showing, to say the least. For someone who likes to make powerful impressions to make people think he’s a fearless leader, Trump has missed the mark … ‘bigly.’”

And yet every Republican president since Dwight Eisenhower has attempted to influence Middle East foreign policies to benefit the USA because of oil, and it has done nothing more than to create more anti-American sentiment and given birth to various Islamic terrorist groups, one of which attacked our country on September 11. President Reagan with his Iran-Contra scandal, both presidents Bush with their Saudi alliances, then the wars in Iraq, and now Trump and his misguided missiles for an unprovoked war. A gallon of gas used to be under a buck before all this started back in the 1970s, and every time there’s a war, inflation hits. This is nothing new; it’s predictable.

So, this year, we are heading back from our goal of zero-emissions, the EPA budget is slashed, and the gates have opened for more oil production, even as consumption has dropped because people like driving fuel-efficient cars. Yet here in the San Pedro Bay industrial harbor complex, we’re still a long way from zero-emissions. If we spent half as much on cleaning up the air and water as we are on this misguided war, we would be a long way to turning around global warming, and leading the free world to a more peaceful future.

And then there could be a huge Earth Day celebration to say, “If we can send astronauts around the moon, we can heal our own planet!”

A Classic Corner Reimagined

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A Classic Corner Reimagined

 

Western & Trudy’s 1957 Mini Mall Blends History with New Flavor

By Gretchen Williams, Columnist

Western Avenue and Trudie Drive is a historic location in the Southern California architecture and style lexicon, the first example of a mini mall, developed in 1957.

After a recent renovation, Hillside Liquor remains, a popular source for liquor, wines and beers, offering a terrific selection.

The Habit, a happening hamburger restaurant has opened with excellent response. Flame grilled burgers, fries and shakes (intriguing Blue Wave Shake is pineapple and coconut flavors) are menu favorites, but check out the salads like the Santa Barbara Cobb or Mango Miso Crunch. Sides include crispy onion rings,sweet potato fries as well as very good French fries. Tempura green beans are satisfying, supplying green as well as crunch.

 

Random Happening: Mexican Repatriation: Navigating Displacement and Remembrance

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Random Happening: Mexican Repatriation: Navigating Displacement and Remembrance

 

Join a panel conversation exploring the history and lasting impact of the Mexican Repatriation campaigns of the 1930s. During this period, more than one million people of Mexican descent, many of them U.S. citizens, were expelled from the United States in one of the largest mass removals in American history.

Presented in conjunction with Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano, the conversation expands on themes from the current exhibition on view at Rancho Los Cerritos. The exhibit highlights the lives, culture, and resilience of Mexican and Mexican American families in early 20th-century Long Beach despite discrimination and displacement.

The panel will include Professor John Macias and Professor Abigail Rosas, who helped shape the exhibit through their historical and community expertise. Alongside additional presenters, they will reflect on the social, political, and economic forces behind repatriation and why bringing this history to light remains urgent today.

Time:11 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 18

Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/panel-Mexican-repatriation

Venue: Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 N. Virginia Rd. Long Beach

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