By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor, Photos by Kelvin Brown The NAACP officers made it clear at the outset that the police would be called if audiences members grew too rowdy in either support or opposition of any candidate during a forum the Carson chapter hosted Jan. 31, at the Juanita Millender McDonald Community Center. The group even went so far as to ban the use of video cameras. One of the officers said the candidates didn’t feel comfortable. He didn’t mention which candidate. A little more than 100 people filled the conference room to listen to all 10 candidates running in the March 5 elections. The questions posed to the candidates came from the audience after being screened by three National Association for the Advancement of Colored People officers before they were passed on to the candidates.
Rig the Vote
Republicans Contemplate Vote-Counting Schemes that would have Elected Romney
By Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor
Because of the electoral college, only a handful of states really matter in electing a president every four years. For almost 40 years, Virginia was not one of them, as Republicans carried the state in every election from 1968 to 2004, rarely ever breaking a sweat. But that all changed in 2008, when Virginia not only became a battleground state, with candidates fighting tooth and nail for every vote, but actually ended up going for the Democrat, Barack Obama, for the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson’s 44-state landslide win over Barry Goldwater. Then in 2012, Obama won the state again.
Some Virginians weren’t happy to see their state go to the Democrat, which is understandable. The reasoning offered is less so.
Justice and Democracy
The Pillaging of the California Superior Courts
By James Preston Allen, Publisher
I am afraid that at this point, most people look upon going to court in somewhat the same way they look at going to church. They only do it when they must, and even then, only under duress.
When you think about it, courts and churches do have some striking similarities. Both have these large symbolic edifices with intimidating rooms of pomp and ritual where attendees sit in rows. One is refrained from approaching the altar, judicial or otherwise, unless invited and the officiators for either God or law all wear ceremonial robes. I could go on, but I think you get the point. Just as we have segregated God from pedestrian access, so too have we separated justice from the common civic experience. It’s about to get worse in our California justice system.
Police Attack Newspaper Deliverers in Manhunt of Former Cop
Los Angeles Police Department officers shot two women, who were delivering
newspapers in Torrance, on Feb. 7, during a massive manhunt of a former policeman.
The two women, who have not been identified, were shot in the 19500 block of Redbeam Avenue. Witnesses say one woman was shot in one of her hands and the other was shot in the back. The blue pick up truck they drove was full of bullets after the shooting.
A Random Lengths News newspaper deliveryman also was stopped at gunpoint on his way to work later that day. Another shooting took place at about 5:45 a.m., also in Torrance, near Flagger Land at Beryl Street.
Harbor Currents: ANNOUNCEMENTS Feb. 6, 2013
Feb. 11
Land Use Planning and Public Works Committee
Stakeholders are invited to participate in the next Land Use Planning and Public Works Committee meeting, at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 11, at Think Café Restaurant in San Pedro.
Items on the agenda include:
- Review of development proposal for 311 S. Pacific Avenue, “San Pedro Family Apartment”, with architect Kevin Maffris of John Cotton Architects.
- Review special project opportunities for a Marymount Intern.
- Review status of the Lilyan Fierman Walkway improvement project.
Harbor Currents: NEWS Feb. 6, 2013
PortTechLA Executive Director Accepts New Position
SAN PEDRO – PortTech Los Angeles announced, Feb. 6, that Executive Director Jeffrey Milanette is leaving the organization to launch an innovation center in Africa. Milanette’s resignation is effective Feb. 15.
Under Milanette’s leadership PortTechLA grew from non-profit with one client to an organization capable of supporting more than 20 clean technology companies with a combination of onsite and virtual services. He recently secured a $1 million contract in Community Development Block Grant funds that enables PortTechLA to continue to provide services to local clean technology entrepreneurs for the three years that follows.
PortTechLA’s reach is extensive. Shortly after taking charge Milanette established the PortTechForum, a monthly program specially designed for entrepreneurs and members of the clean technology business community to come together to exchange ideas, business tips, marketing advice and benefit from networking opportunities.
Harbor Currents: ANNOUNCEMENTS Feb. 4, 2013
Feb. 4
West County Connectors Project
The Orange County Transportation Authority is halfway through West County Connectors Project construction and has rolled out a new look.
At the midpoint of construction with two more years to go, the West County Connectors team is rolling out a new format for weekly e-mail updates.
A few of this week’s highlights:
Harbor Currents: NEWS Feb. 4, 2013
DOJ Reaches Agreement with Lomita Protection Religious Freedoms
LOS ANGELES – On Feb. 1, the Department of Justice announced a settlement with the City of Lomita, resolving allegations that the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 when it denied the Islamic Center of the South Bay’s application to build a new mosque on its property.
The settlement, which still must be approved by the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, is in the form of an agreed order and resolves a lawsuit filed today by the United States against the city.
The case arose from the Lomita City Council’s 2010 denial of an application by the Islamic Center to take down the aging, separate structures on its property, which it has been using for worship and various other religious activities since 1985, and construct a single building that would serve its needs.
Harbor Currents: ANNOUNCEMENTS Feb. 1, 2013
Feb. 2
Community Meeting
The North Long Beach Community Assembly will host a community meeting Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees will be offered an opportunity to meet their neighbors and learn more about their local associations.
The assembly will feature a presentation on the final design and development details of the new North Branch Library. This meeting will be held at Houghton Park. RSVP.
Details: (562) 570-6137; www.insidedistrict9.com
Venue: Houghton Park
Location: 6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach
Harbor Currents: NEWS Jan. 31, 2013
Red Cross Shelter Closes, Palos Verdes Inn Fire Victims Wonder
SAN PEDRO — On Jan. 28, the American Red Cross shelter, which took in evacuees of the Jan. 22 Palos Verdes Inn fire, closed.
The shelter, provided at the Anderson Memorial Senior Center, fed displaced residents and helped them search for temporary housing.
The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 22, on the corner of 10thand Palos Verdes streets. Investigators have confirmed that the fire was arson. A 69-year-old man died as a result of burns.