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lmost two decades after the reporter Gary Webb exposed a connection between the CIA and crack cocaine in America, Hollywood chimed in with a major movie

This one has all the ingredients of a dreamed-up Hollywood blockbuster: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist uncovers a big story involving drugs, the CIA and a guerrilla army. Despite threats and intimidation, he writes an explosive exposé and catches national attention. But the fates shift. Our reporter’s story is torn apart by the country’s leading media; he is betrayed by his own newspaper. Though the big story turns out to be true, the writer commits suicide and becomes a cautionary tale.

Hold on, though. The above is not fiction.Kill the Messenger, an actual film coming soon to a theater near you,

is the true story of Sacramento-based investigative reporter Gary Webb, who earned both acclaim and notoriety for his 1996 San Jose Mercury News series that revealed the CIA had turned a blind eye to the U.S.-backed Nicaraguan contras trafficking crack cocaine in South Central Los Angeles and elsewhere in urban America in the 1980s. One of the first-ever newspaper investigations to be published on the Internet, Webb’s story gained a massive readership and stirred up a firestorm of controversy and repudiation.

After being deemed a pariah by media giants like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, and being disowned by his own paper, Webb eventually came to work in August 2004 at Sacramento News & Review. Four months later, he committed suicide at age 49. He left behind a grieving family—and some trenchant questions:

Why did the media giants attack him so aggressively, thereby protecting the government secrets he revealed? Why did he decide to end

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POLAHS Principal Scotti ReturnsSchool Turmoil Offers Lessons for a Private-Public PartnershipBy Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

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POLAHS Calm Restored for Now/ to p. 2The Messenger Returns/ to p. 6

n air of calm rested upon the Port of Los Angeles High School campus on Monday Nov. 10, following the reinstatement of the beloved

Principal Tom Scotti. It was a welcome change from the heated two-

week conflict between parents, teachers and students, and the school’s board of trustees. Scotti received a hero’s welcome after an emotionally charged Friday. Students wearing yellow shirts chanted his name as POLAHS’s Board of Trustees were able to convince Principal

Tom Scotti to return following a four-hour meeting Nov. 7. Photo by Terelle Jerricks.

Port Truckers Return to the Picket Line p.3

San Pedro Waterfront Arts District Promotes

Street p.11

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Harbor AreaCommitted to independent journalism in the Greater LA/LB Harbor Area for more than 30 years

Serving With a Thankful HeartThe 7th Annual “Serving With A Thankful

Heart” Thanksgiving Banquet will take place, from 11:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24, Ernest S. McBride Park. You must RSVP before Nov. 21 at the Ernest S. McBride Park or by calling (562) 570-6816.Details: (562) 570-6816Venue: Ernest S. McBride ParkLocation: 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Long Beach

Pacific Arts Affordable Artist HousingArtists interested in affordable housing can

apply through the Department of Cultural Affairs for housing. The Department of Cultural Affairs has worked with Meta-Housing to create a true artist colony in San Pedro. Rents start at just $474. The development includes 48 apartment units, including six ground floor live-work units, professional workshop studios for visual arts and soundproof rehearsal space.Details: http://affordableartisthousing.org Happy Hats Fundraiser

The community is invited to a fun, family barbecue lunch fundraiser on Nov. 16, between 12 and 3 p.m., to benefit hospitalized children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. There will be lots of exciting family activities and unique Christmas and Chanukah gifts. Adults pay $10, children between 6 and 12 pay $5, and children 5 and younger get in for free.Details: (310) 787-0970Venue: Happy Hats for Kids in HospitalsLocation: 923 Van Ness Ave., Torrance Long Beach Bake-Off

More than three dozen bakers are expected to bring goodies to the 4th-annual Long Beach Bake-Off hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 23.

The competition has five categories, including: pies, cheesecakes; cakes; cupcakes, muffins, cake pops, cookies, brownies, bars and squares. Judging criteria includes taste, appearance, quality and first impression. Private judging will take place between 6 and 7 p.m. The tasting reception is from 7 and 8 p.m. First place winners’ favorite local charity/school/place of worship will receive a $50 donation from the Community Action Team. Winner will also get a blue ribbon.Details: www.justinrudd.comVenue: Bay Shore Church,Location: 5100 E. Toledo, Belmont Shore. Thanksgiving Teen Feast

Carson’s Recreation and Human Services is hosting a Thanksgiving Teen Feast Nov. 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. There will be good food, entertainment and games. Donations are welcomed.Details: (310) 830-9997Venue: Veterans ParkLocation: 22400 Moneta Ave., Carson Carson Tree Lighting CeremonyCarolers, light refreshments and Santa Claus will be at the Carson Tree Lighting Ceremony, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.Details: (310) 835-0212 ext. 1480Venue: Cong. Juanita Millender McDonald Community CenterLocation: 801 E. Carson St., San Pedro Martin Luther King Jr. Peace & Unity Parade, CelebrationApplications are being accepted for sponsorship, parade participants, vendors, performers and volunteers for the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace & Unity Parade and Celebration, starting at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 17, near Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street in Long Beach.Community groups and organizations are encouraged to participate. Parade application fee is $85 and vendor fees range from $150 to $350.Details: (562) 570-6816Venue: Martin Luther King Jr. ParkLocation: 1950 Lemon Ave., Long Beach

POLAHS Calm Restored for Nowfrom p. 1

he returned to the job, some unspecified new powers and an unspecified pay package.

It won’t be business as usual anymore, considering that the schools woes were about more than Scotti’s resignation, or even the continued presence and employment of board President Jayme Wilson and Executive Director Jim Cross—though some think their days in those positions are numbered.

The groundswell of community activism to bring Scotti back was but a platform to address long festering issues that the board of trustees was too slow to address.

Those festering issues included lack of financial transparency, lack of teacher input on school-site spending and the appearance of board members enriching their friends with no bid contracts.

Issues of TransparencyDiana Chavez-Feipel, a fourth generation

longshore worker and highly involved mom, blew the bullhorn on the school’s board of trustees. But she was doing this long before Scotti tendered his resignation.

Aside from sitting on a number of Local 13 commissions, Feipel helped organize countless fundraisers for students throughout the Harbor Area. In fact, it was while she was working on an unrelated fundraising campaign in which she solicited local retailer, Norman’s, that Feipel’s suspicions were raised.

The San Pedro clothing institution is long known to give back to community organizations through the sale of scrip, whereby a nonprofit buys scrips at a discounted rate from participating retailers and then sell the scrips to members for use at those participating retailers. The nonprofit keeps the difference. After learning that Norman’s

accepts scrips for everything except uniforms, she wondered if the maritime high school was getting the best deal on uniforms they possibly could.

This prompted Feipel to ask Jim Cross to see the school’s contract with Norman’s for uniforms as early as February 2014. Feipel said Cross initially avoided answering her questions, until she cornered him one day in an elevator and forced him to meet with her.

Cross could not be reached as of press time and has been on leave since the tumult over Scotti’s resignation began.

During her quest to see the school’s checkbook, the school’s profit and loss statements and information on all the bids put out by the board in the past four years, Feipel said she

learned that Cross opened a credit card account in the school’s name but used his home address as the billing address.

Feipel explained that she engaged in this back and forth for information with Cross until the middle of August when he stopped communicating with her. Feipel had already planned to step up the pressure on Cross for greater transparency well before Scotti’s resignation. But unforeseen circumstances from different directions turned into a perfect storm.

Parents and teachers were frustrated with the lack of transparency and input over resources in the classroom and the students were upset that their beloved principal was seemingly forced to leave.

“At first I did it privately, behind closed doors,” Feipel said. “I’m not a shit talker. Scotti didn’t say anything to me.”

When Feipel saw Scotti’s Oct. 21 letter of resignation sent to parents, she initially didn’t think anything of it. In her words, “principals come and they go.”

It was her daughter’s reaction and the reaction of the rest of the students that changed her mind and caused her to pay attention to the suddenness of his departure. His resignation ultimately caused her to make it a priority and pressure the board to bring the popular principal back.

Feipel’s organizing effort was largely accomplished through email trees, Facebook posts and word of mouth.

The Monday following Scotti’s last day, Oct. 27, parents, students and teachers packed the Executive Council and Finance Committee meeting demanding answers about Scotti’s resignation. It was here that the idea of a public forum took shape in order to allow the stakeholders to ask questions, but more important vent frustration.

School Site Control of Resources

Among the ongoing issues was the creation of a school-site management council—a council comprised of teachers, administrators, parents,

Principal Scotti Returns/ to p. 5

Ann Lee Carpenter, Randy Bower, Jayme Wilson and Sandy Bradley at the Nov. 6 POLAHS executive council meeting. Photo by Terelle Jerricks.

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Leland Park’s Reopening Celebration

After four months of intransigent hostility, and continuing labor law violations, truckers working for three port drayage companies—TTSI, Pac9 and Green Fleet Systems—announced they were going back out on strike, starting Nov. 13. However, there have been rumors that one company might settle in advance, because all three have come under increased legal pressure related to their illegal practices.

What’s more, truckers from seven different companies—the three already mentioned, plus QTS, Laca, Win Win and Pacer cartage—approved a set of demands the previous Saturday in a meeting at the Teamsters headquarters in Long Beach. The set of demands included an end to misclassification, wage theft and paycheck deductions for business expenses, removal of obstacles to labor law protections (health and safety, disability, workers compensation and unemployment insurance) and of obstacle to unionization (misclassification, retaliation, harassment and union busters), and payment of a fair wage for every hour worked, including all wait times.

Drivers at the first three companies went out on strike in July, but agreed to a cooling off period brokered by Mayor Eric Garcetti, the terms of which the companies have repeatedly violated.

“If these companies keep violating the rights I risked my life to protect, I am ready to go back on the picket line,” said Paul Quinto, an Army veteran and port truck driver for Green Fleet Systems in a Veterans Day statement Justice for Port Drivers released.

Similar sentiments were expressed by a parade of truckers and supporters at a special Harbor Commission meeting on Nov. 7.

“You gotta do what you gotta do,” responded Commissioner Dave Arian.

“We’re thinking about going back on strike because nothing has been done about this issue,” said Jaqueline Aguilera. “Companies keep violating the law and we can’t take this anymore.”

“All the courts are ruling we are employees and the law is on our side,” said port trucker Julio Cervantes. “If you keep not doing anything you

are helping the companies to exploit us. Please help us.”

“Their stories of wage theft, as a previous speaker said, borders on indentured servitude,” said John Moorehouse, senior pastor of the Pacific Unitarian Church. “This is not what the greatest port in America, America’s port should be doing.”

“I don’t know why it’s taking so long to prove that they are evading labor employment and tax laws,” Cervantes also said. “Since everyone—the IRS in the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the California labor commissioner, the California economic development department and even now the federal judges—has figured out [what] everybody else has figured out, what’s taking you so long to help us?”

“This continues to be an outrage,” said Commissioner Patricia Castellanos in response to the comments. “I cannot in good conscience continue to ask these drivers to be patient… I think it is very clear that the actions their employers are taking is what’s causing them to take even further action.”

“If I could snap my fingers and change this condition I would,” Arian said. “But we’re limited legally and practically in how far we can go. Individually, I’m always out there…but there’s limits on how far we can go as commissioners and it hurts. It hurts. Because this is not right. But I, again, appreciate you guys coming out and you gotta do what you gotta do.”

Even Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka spoke up in support.

“My grandfather was a Teamster; he drove a truck for American Can Co. in New York and New Jersey for 40 years,” he said, addressing the truckers directly. “He was able to put food on the table and raise a family. His daughter, my mother, who passed away this April, was a union organizer for American Airlines and she helped create the first-ever flight attendants union at American Airlines. I was the first in my family to go to college and it’s because of that work ethic I had the chance to do that. I understand exactly what you’re commenting on and we will find

ways to help.”But despite the professed good intentions, the

port’s actions—and the mayor’s—do not appear to be having any noticeable impact, which is why the strike has been resumed.

The strike comes on the heels of at least two major blows against the companies. First, on Oct. 10, a federal district court found that two Green Fleet Drivers—Amicar Cardona and Mateo Mares—were employees under the law, and ordered Green Fleet to “reinstate Cardona and Mares to the same positions they held at the time they were discharged” under what’s known as a 10(j) injunction—the first time in history such an injunction has been used for this purpose. On Oct. 31, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Green Fleets’ motion to stay the injunction, and on Nov. 7, Cardona and Mares triumphantly returned to work.

“The ruling sends a message loud and clear to the trucking industry and to all employers who try to pass off workers as independent contractors,” said Teamsters’ attorney Julie Gutman Dickenson at teleconference that morning just prior to their return to work. “It sends a message loud and clear that misclassified independent contractors are in fact employees.

“Very soon we may go on strike,” Cardona told the commissioners later that same day. “I’m just asking you please do something because the court has already decided that I am an employee.”

Second, on Oct. 31, the Los Angeles city attorney sent letters to seven port trucking companies giving them 30 days to answer

Port Truckers Resume StrikeBy Paul Rosenberg, Senior Editor

Strike Resumes/ to p. 4

After more than a year, Leland Park hosted a reopening with a celebration on Nov. 8, showing off its new, high-tech scoreboard donated by the Dodger Foundation. It stands behind center field behind the baseball diamond. The newly renovated park fulfills the wish of neighborhood residents by becoming an active park with amenities for neighborhood children. For the celebration, neighborhood’s park advisory board, Los Angeles Recreation and Parks and the Dodger Foundation provided a jumper for children, a rock-climbing structure and a baseball clinic for children, who were able to walk home with brand new Los Angeles Dodgers caps.

The park advisory board is looking to attract adult league and little league softball teams to keep the park occupied. Members believe that constant use by local residents and families will keep negative elements, such as graffiti and crime, at bay. Photo by Bobby Fabro.

—By Joseph Baroud, Contributing Writer

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Negotiations are turning nasty for the first time since the July 1 expiration of the ILWU contract with the Pacific Maritime Association. Both sides have been trading blame through the media for the work layoffs and container backups, which took place on the weekend of Nov. 1.

“[The] Tacoma [ports] ordered for the night-side [to come to work] but let everybody go at lunch,” said one longshore worker who asked for anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak to the media. “The PMA is short ordering the cranes—six guys for five machines. The usual order is two guys per machine. Steady hammerhead operators ordering two guys per machine.” His comments were in reference to Nov. 4.

On Nov. 3, the Pacific Maritime Association issued a press release accusing the ILWU of orchestrating work slowdowns in an effort to cripple the ports in the Pacific Northwest. The PMA took the opportunity to frame the narrative by explaining that the two sides initially agreed to have an agreement by July 1 and that when that failed to materialized, the two sides agreed to “continue negotiating in good faith.”

“The ILWU has reneged on that agreement,” said Wade Gates, a spokesperson for the PMA.

The ILWU International responded to the PMA saying they were engaging in a smear campaign and noted that the two sides had no such agreement.

“This is a bold-faced lie,” the union’s press release read. “No such agreement was ever made given the parties’ historic disagreement regarding the definition of ‘normal operations’—a disagreement that has been the subject of arbitrations for decades.”

The union also called false the PMA’s assertion that temporary contract extensions are

standard practice.According to the PMA, the slowdowns at the

Tacoma and Seattle ports have reduced terminal productivity by 40 to 60 percent on average. For example, terminals that typically move 25 to 35 containers per hour were moving only 10 to 18, according to statistics compiled by PMA. The data tracks historical productivity based on the number of containers moved per hour for each vessel at the same terminal.

The PMA employers were forced to send workers home at mid-shift Nov. 2, after the union refused to go back to normal workplace practices.

“In Tacoma, the ILWU is not filling orders for skilled workers, including straddle carrier operators, who are critical to terminal operations,” Gates said. “This is like sending out a football team without the receivers or running backs. You can’t run the plays without them.”

Gates went on to accuse the union of deploying slow down tactics throughout its history, citing a Los Angeles Times article on the practice, a story published during the 2002 PMA lockout of the union.

“Often, the ILWU will make false or exaggerated claims of safety issues in order to justify unilateral actions that have repeatedly been found to be in violation of the coastwide contract,” Gates said. However, there is currently no contract in place and no agreed upon arbitrator to settle these differences.

For its part, the union accused the PMA of attempting to shift work normally designated for longshore workers to other workers and refusing to negotiate on creating a retraining program to properly train longshore workers, while preventing non-qualified workers from operating the equipment.

ILWU, Employers Take Gloves OffBy Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

questions concerning missing documentation in violation of the agreement under which they had received liquefied natural gas clean truck subsidies. In addition, a related letter to TTSI from Christopher Cannon, POLA’s director of environmental management, went significantly farther, citing numerous violations and demanding that TTSI “repay the entire amount of the granted funds totaling $1,472,000 within thirty (30) days of receipt of this letter.”

This action follows Random Lengths’ inquiries and stories about such violations both with POLA and the Air Quality Management District. Four of the companies involved—JBA, Cascade Sierra Solutions, Calko Transport Co. Inc. and California Cartage Express—were cited for non-compliance with a provision governing subleasing of trucks, which appears to have been violated by forcing so-called “independent owner-operators” to sublease the port-subsidized trucks. Other potential violations were cited in letters to Green Fleet, Pac9 and Southern Counties Express.

The physical background to the strike is an unprecedented breakdown in the functioning of the local ports due to massive congestion. Alongside ongoing contract talks with the ILWU, the PMA has sought to blame the longshore union for the congestion—a charge that the union vehemently denies. In a Nov. 10 press release, the ILWU said:

The ILWU is not responsible for the current congestion crisis at West Coast ports. The documented causes of congestion at the ports

include:• Chassis shortage and dislocation;• Rail service delays, including a shortage of rail cars nationwide;• The exodus of truck drivers who cannot make a living wage;• Long truck turn times;• Record retail import volumes (increases of 5.3 percent over 2013);• Larger vessels discharging massive amounts of cargo;• Container terminals pushed to storage capacities; and• The peak shipping season (i.e., the August through October pre-holiday surge)

Trucking companies have responded to the congestion in two ways, both of which demonstrate a further unwillingness to deal comprehensively with the problems involved.

First, on Oct. 30, the Journal Of Commerce reported that port congestion has gotten so bad that trucking companies were charging their customers “surcharges of $50 to as much as $100 an hour,” explaining that the companies “say they have no choice but to charge customers for long waits caused by port congestion…. Drivers who normally would make four trips per day are averaging fewer than two because of the widespread congestion, trucking company executives said.” But the picture on the ground appears to be one of increased exploitation, divisiveness and favoritism, with trucking companies pocketing most of the money, and paying the drivers peanuts.

Daniel Linares, who drives for Pac9, explained that these surcharges do little good for the truckers

As for the congestion in the Pacific Northwest ports, the union’s spokesman, Craig Merrilees credits it for changes in the employers’ business model, shortage in the number of truck drivers needed to move the truck chassis and a shortage of railcar capacity.

The union didn’t directly address the PMA’s accusations of deliberately initiating work slowdowns, but historically, the practice has been used to apply pressure on management while avoiding an outright strike.

The Maritime Exchange reported that as

of Nov. 5, there were nine container vessels, four break bulk containers, and one tanker waiting outside the harbor. Port of Los Angeles spokesman, Phillip Sanfield noted that the backlog of container ships outside the Los Angeles Harbor that feeds the twin ports has been slowly building up since the summer.

Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing non-stop in San Francisco, according to one source close to those meetings. As of this week contract talks lasted until 1 a.m. one day and still seem no closer to an agreement.

Strike Resumesfrom p. 3

Truckers/ to p. 19

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from p. 2

and board members, would oversee spending at the school.One parent at the Nov. 6 public forum, questioned the source of funding for

a Washington D.C. field trip for a particular class, as well as the building of a classroom over Scotti’s objections, because of its possible disruption of the math department. Bradley noted that the monies in part came from grants and other fundraising sources by the teachers. As for the building of the classroom, Cross had it built without the board’s input.

It was in light issues such as this that teachers asked about the status of establishing a School Based Management Council—something the board has been working for more than a year. Board member Sandra Bradley replied that it’s a high priority and that the board is still forming the bylaws, election rules and processes.

One teacher, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, explained that Scotti was their buffer and their voice to the board.

She said Scotti’s leaving was what prompted the teachers to organize and join the United Teachers of Los Angeles. The teachers voted overwhelmingly for the move, but hurdles still remain.

The idea of a maritime high school was originally conceived in 2002, when there was a Hahn in both the mayor’s and the Council District 15 seat. Port of Los Angeles High School from the very start was intended to be a charter school that prepared students to become tomorrow’s engineers, CEOs and workers at the port. It was also envisioned that the school, along with others, would turn the core of San Pedro into a school town with campuses becoming incubators within the local economy.

Just about all the original founders that were involved in the building of the school in the beginning are still involved with the school on the board of trustees, including Bradley, Jim Cross and Jayme Wilson. The requirement to become a trustee, aside from securing an invitation, is that a potential trustee must donate time, expertise, and money. This is a phenomenon that’s quite common in the world of nonprofits, particularly ones that adopt an increasingly corporate structure. Many of the former and current trustees are also members of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.

The challenge for boards of trustees in running a public charter school with a corporate model is incorporating democratic processes that are transparent and inviting of all the stakeholders, from the students to the parents.

The Oct. 27 and the Nov. 5 through Nov. 7 meetings became an example that such public-private partnerships have a hiccup.

Channeling Public AngerThe Nov. 6 public forum at Port of Los Angeles High School resembled a

public flogging (without the whips).With Cross absent from the meetings after going on medical leave following

the fallout from Scotti’s resignation, Wilson bore the brunt of the public’s anger at the board meetings and public forum.

Students and parents alike asked repeatedly, pointedly and certainly not with the respect accorded to one of the founders of the school, “Why won’t you resign?”

Wilson, in reply, first noted that the school abides by a charter and bylaws and that there’s a procedure for placing and removing members from the board and executive positions.

He later noted that the board of trustees asked him to come back and lead the board given his work and donation of time, resources and leadership in helping found the school nine years ago.

Wilson explained to Random Lengths that though he was one of the original founders of POLAHS, his involvement ended in 2003, when he went on to lead the Port Community Advisory Committee. He was asked by the board to become its president this past July.

During the public forum, Feipel formally requested access to the school’s financial documents which aren’t on the school’s website, such as the profit and loss statements, the checkbooks and all the bids solicited by the board for work done at the school.

Feipel had asked Wilson previously in private conversations for access to those documents. Both Wilson and Feipel agree that Wilson said he would provide access in consultation with the school’s lawyer. There’s disagreement on the time frame for that access. Wilson noted that the school is subject to California public records laws, but that the certain systems and processes had to

be set up to comply with those laws. Feipel believed she would have immediate access after the several months-long dance with Cross for those records.

Feipel quizzed board member and president of Malaga Bank, Randy Bower on whether board members pay to become trustees.

Bowers explained that Bay Cities National Bank had closed and Malaga took on the accounts. Bowers said former board president and founder Camilla Townsend asked him to join the board for his financial expertise.

Parent Bruce Webb, a retired air force officer, asked for clarification on the embezzlement allegations and fiduciary irresponsibility brought to the attention of the board by Scotti and whether there would be an investigation by a third party.

Bradley batted the rumor down, explaining that there had been no allegations of embezzlement and that a student speaker used the term incorrectly at a previous meeting. The Nov. 6 meeting was intended to be a forum for students, parents and teachers to get answers to questions they couldn’t get during the normal board meetings. It was also intended to be a release valve for the tension that has built up around Port of Los Angeles Board of Trustee President Jayme Wilson and Executive Director Jim Cross since Scotti resigned three weeks ago.

Feipel, worked with Jayme Wilson, Acting Principal Felicia Ivie and lead teacher Mary Jane Werpool to put on the public forum.

Feipel, who attended the Oct. 27 meeting, following Scotti’s last day on the job, believed a public forum was necessary since the board meetings weren’t flexible enough to accommodate the issues parents,

Principal Scotti Returns

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his own life? What, ultimately, is the legacy of Gary Webb?

Like others working at the newsweekly in the brief time he was here, I knew Webb as a colleague and was terribly saddened by his death. Those of us who attended his unhappy memorial service at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento, a week after he died, thought that day surely marked a conclusion to the tragic tale of Gary Webb, but no, because here comes Kill the Messenger.

Kill the Messenger is a Hollywood film starring Jeremy Renner as Webb; Rosemarie DeWitt as Webb’s then-wife, Sue Bell (now Stokes); Oliver Platt as Webb’s top editor, Jerry Ceppos; and a litany of other distinguished actors, including Michael K. Williams, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia and Robert Patrick. Directed by Michael Cuesta (executive producer of the TV series Homeland), the film opens in a “soft launch” across the country and in Sacramento on Oct. 10.

Members of Webb’s immediate family—including his son Eric, who lives near Sacramento State University and plans a career in journalism, expect to feel a measure of solace upon the release of Kill the Messenger.

“The movie is going to vindicate my dad,” he said.

For Renner—who grew up in Modesto and is best known for his roles in The Bourne Legacy, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Avengers and The Hurt Locker—the film was a chance to explore a part unlike any he’d played before. During a break in filming Mission Impossible 5, he spoke to SN&R about his choice to star in and co-produce Kill the Messenger.

“The story is important,” Renner said. “It resonated with me. It has a David and Goliath aspect.

“He was brave, he was flawed.…I fell in love with Gary Webb.”

won a Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for reporting on the Loma Prieta earthquake.

It was the summer of 1996, when the lone-wolf journalist handed his editors a draft of what would become the three-part, 20,000-word exposé “Dark Alliance.” The series was exhaustive and complex. But its nugget put human faces on how CIA operatives had been aware that the Contras (who had been recruited and trained by the CIA to topple the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua) had smuggled cocaine into the United States and, through drug dealers, fueled an inner-city crack-cocaine epidemic.

When Dark Alliance was published on Aug. 18 of that year, it was as if a bomb had exploded at the Mercury News. That’s because it was one of the first stories to go globally viral online on the paper’s then state-of-the-art website. It was 1996; the series attracted an unprecedented 1.3 million hits per day. Webb and his editors were flooded with letters and emails. Requests for appearances piled in from national TV news shows.

“Gary’s story was the first Internet-age big journalism exposé,” said Nich Schou, who wrote the book Kill the Messenger, on which the movie is partially based, along with Webb’s own book version of the series, Dark Alliance.

“If the series had happened a year earlier it, Dark Alliance just would have come and gone,” Schou said.

As word of the story spread, black communities across America—especially in South Central—grew outraged and demanded answers. At the time, crack cocaine was swallowing up neighborhoods whole, fueling an epidemic of addiction and crime. Rocked by the revelations, Rep. Maxine Waters, congresswoman for Los Angeles’ urban core to this day, used her bully pulpit to call for official investigations.

But after a six-week honeymoon period for Webb and his editors, the winds shifted. The attacks began.

On Oct. 4, the Washington Post stunned the Mercury News by publishing five articles assaulting the veracity of Webb’s story, leading the package from page one. A few weeks later, the New York Times joined with similar intent.

The ultimate injury came when the Los Angeles Times unleashed a veritable army of 17 journalists (known internally as the “Get Gary Webb Team”) on the case, writing a three-part series demolishing “Dark Alliance.”

The Los Angeles paper, which appeared to onlookers to have missed a giant story in its own backyard, was exhaustive in its deconstruction, claiming the series “was vague” and overreached. “Oliver Stone, check your voicemail,” summed Post media columnist Howard Kurtz.

Now, even some of Webb’s supporters admitted that his series could have benefited from more judicious editing. But why were the “big three” so intent on tearing down Webb’s work rather than attempting to further the story, as competing papers had done back in the day when Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein broke the Watergate scandal?

Some say it was the long arm of former President Ronald Reagan and his team’s ability to manipulate the gatekeepers of old media to its purposes. (Reagan had, after all, publicly compared the contras to “our Founding Fathers” and supported the CIA-led attempt to topple the Sandinista government.)

Others say that editors at the “big three” were simply affronted to have a mid-size paper like

the Mercury News beat them on such a big story. An article in the Columbia Journalism Review claimed some Los Angeles Times reporters bragged in the office about denying Webb a Pulitzer.

One of their big criticisms was that the story didn’t include a comment from the CIA. When reporters at the big three asked the agency if Webb’s story was true, they were told no. The denial was printed in the mainstream media as if it were golden truth.

Other issues fueled controversy around Webb’s story. For example: It was falsely reported in some media outlets—and proclaimed by many activists in the black community—that Webb had proven the CIA was directly involved in drug trafficking that targeted blacks. He simply did not make this claim.

In some ways, Webb became the first reporter ever to benefit from, and then become the victim of, a story that went viral online.

After triumphing in the early success of the series, Webb’s editors at the Mercury News became unnerved and eventually backed down under the pressure. Jerry Ceppos, the paper’s executive editor, published an unprecedented column on May 11, 1997. That was widely considered an apology for the series, saying it “fell short” in editing and execution.

When contacted by SN&R, Ceppos, now dean of the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, said he was only barely aware of the film coming out and wasn’t familiar with the acting career of Oliver Platt, who plays him in the movie.

“I’m the wrong person to ask about popular culture,” he said.

Asked if he would do anything differently today regarding Gary Webb’s series, Ceppos, whose apologia did partially defend the series, responded with an unambiguous “no.”

“It seems to me, 18 years later, that everything still holds up.…Everything is not black and white. If you portrayed it that way, then you need to set the record straight.

“I’m very proud that we were willing to do that.”

Some find irony in the fact that Ceppos, in the wake of the controversy, was given the 1997 Ethics in Journalism Award by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Webb, once heralded as a groundbreaking investigative reporter, was soon banished to the paper’s Cupertino bureau, a spot he considered “the newspaper’s version of Siberia.” In 1997,

after additional run-ins with his editors, including their refusal to run his follow-up reporting on the “Dark Alliance” series, he quit the paper altogether.

But a year later, he was redeemed when CIA’s inspector general, Frederick Hitz, released his 1998 report admitting that the CIA had known all along that the Contras had been trafficking cocaine. Reporter Robert Parry, who covered the Iran-contra scandal for the Associated Press, called the report “an extraordinary admission of institutional guilt by the CIA.” But the revelation fell on deaf ears. It went basically unnoticed by the newspapers that had attacked Webb’s series. A later internal investigation by the Justice Department echoed the CIA report.

But no apology was forthcoming to Webb, despite the fact that the central finding of his series had been proven correct after all.

I never really gave up hopeWebb’s son Eric, 26, opened the door to his

Sacramento rental home with a swift grab for the collar of his affable pit-bull mix, Thomas. Eric—lanky at 6 feet 4 inches, with his father’s shaggy brown hair and easy expression—attended college at American River College and hopes to become a journalist someday. He was happy to sit down and discuss the upcoming film.

To Eric, the idea that a movie was being made about his dad was nothing new. He’d heard it all at least a dozen times before. Paramount Pictures had owned the rights to Dark Alliance for a while before Universal Studios took it on.

“I stopped expecting it,” said Eric.Webb’s ex-wife, Stokes, now remarried and

still living in Sacramento, had heard it all before, too.

“I’d get discouraged,” she said, “but I never really gave up hope.”

Things finally took off almost eight years ago, when screenwriter Peter Landesman called author Schou, now managing editor at the OC Weekly, about his not-yet-published book on Webb. Landesman was hot to write a screenplay about Webb’s story, Schou said.

It was years later when Landesman showed the screenplay to Renner, whose own production company, The Combine, decided to co-produce

The Messenger Returnsfrom p. 1

The first big Internet-age journalism exposé

There’s a scene in Kill the Messenger that will make every investigative journalist in America break into an insider’s grin.

It’s the one where—after a year of tough investigative slogging that had taken him from the halls of power in Washington, D.C., to a moldering jail in Central America to the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles—Renner as Webb begins to actually write the big story. In an absorbing film montage, Renner is at the keyboard as it all comes together—the facts, the settings, the sources. The truth. The Clash provides the soundtrack, with Joe Strummer howling: “Know your rights / these are your rights … You have the right to free speech / as long as you’re not dumb enough to actually try it.”

It took the real Gary Webb a long time to get to this point in his career.

His father, a Marine, moved Webb around a lot in his youth, from California to Indiana to Kentucky to Ohio. He wound up marrying his high-school sweetheart, Sue Bell, with whom he had three children. Inspired by the reporting that uncovered Watergate and in need of income, he left college three units shy of a degree and went to work at The Kentucky Post, then The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, where he rose quickly through the ranks of grunt reporters. Dogged in his pursuit of stories, Webb landed a job at the Mercury News in 1988 and became part of a team that continued on following page

Jeremy Renner stars as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb in Kill the Messenger, a Focus Features release. Webb’s book Dark Alliance was published in 1996.File photos.

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it. Focus Features, which is owned by Universal, now has worldwide rights to the movie Kill the Messenger.

“When Jeremy Renner got involved, everything started rolling,” Schou said.

It was the summer of 2013, when Stokes and Webb’s children—Eric, his older brother Ian and younger sister Christine—flew to Atlanta for three days on the film company’s dime to see a scene being shot.

“The first thing [Renner] did when he saw us was come up and give us hugs and introduce himself,” Eric said. “He called us ’bud’ and ’kiddo’ like my dad used to.…He even had the tucked-in shirt with no belt, like my dad used to wear. And I was like, ’Man, you nailed that.’”

The scene the family watched being filmed, according to Stokes, was the one where Webb’s Mercury News editors tell him “they were gonna back down from the story.”

“I was sitting there watching and thinking back to the morning before that meeting,” said Stokes. “Gary was getting nervous [that day]. He said, ’I guess I should wear a tie and jacket’ to this one. He was nervous but hopeful that they would let him move forward with the story.”

Of course, they did not.After a pause, Stokes said, “It was hard

watching that scene and remembering the emotions of that day.

“Seeing a chapter of your life, with its highs and lows, depicted on the big screen is something you never think is going to happen to you,” she said. “It was all very emotional.

“But I loved the movie. And the kids were very happy with how it vindicated their father.”

“If [the family gets] closure or anything like that…that’s amazing,” Renner said.

Stand up and tisk it allIt was eight days after Webb’s death when a few hundred of us gathered in Sacramento Doubletree Hotel’s downstairs conference room for an afternoon memorial service. Photo collages of Webb were posted on tables as mourners filed into the room. There he was on his prized red, white and blue motorcycle. There he was camping with his children. There he was featured in an Esquire magazine article recounting his saga. Family members and friends, longtime colleagues and SN&R staffers packed into the room.

My own distress at Webb’s death wasn’t fully realized until my eyes lit on his Pulitzer Prize propped on a table just inside the entryway. It was the first one I’d ever seen. I wondered how many more exceptional stories he could have produced if things had gone differently.

“He wanted to write for one of the big three,” said Webb’s brother Kurt. “Unfortunately, the big

three turned [on him].”Praise for the absent journalist—his smarts,

guts and tenacity—flowed from friends, colleagues and VIPs at the event. A statement from now U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, then a senator, had been emailed to SN&R:

“Because of [Webb]’s work, the CIA launched an Inspector General’s investigation that found dozens of troubling connections to drug-runners. That wouldn’t have happened if Gary Webb hadn’t been willing to stand up and risk it all.”

And, Waters, who spent two years following up on Webb’s findings, wrote a statement calling him “one of the finest investigative journalists our country has ever seen.”

When Hollywood weighs in soon on the Webb saga, the storm that surrounded him in life will probably be recycled in the media and rebooted on the Internet, with old and new media

journalists, scholars and conspiracy theorists weighing in from all sides.

But the film itself is an utter vindication of Webb’s work.

Renner was hesitant to say if those who watch Kill the Messenger will leave with any particular take-home lesson.

“I want the audience to walk away and debate and argue about it all,” he said of his David and Goliath tale. And then, “I do believe [the film] might help create some awareness and accountability in government and newspapers.”

And what would the real live protagonist of Kill the Messenger have thought of it all? It’s at least certain he’d have been unrepentant. In the goodbye letter his ex-wife received on the day of his suicide, Gary Webb told her:

“Tell them I never regretted anything I wrote.”

Gary Webbfrom previous page

Four candidates, including Assemblyman Isadore Hall III, have been certified for the Senate District 35 special primary election Dec. 9.

Hall is the outgoing representative in the 64th Assembly District, which includes Carson. The 35th Senate District runs from Inglewood down through Carson and the Harbor area to the San Pedro coastline. The seat is open following the resignation of Rod Wright this past September.

In a special primary election such as this, the law mandating a top-two run-off regardless of votes received does not apply. If one candidate receives a majority (50 percent plus one) on Dec. 9, there will be no run-off. If nobody receives a majority, then a run-off between the two candidates who received the most votes will take place on Feb. 10. The next regular election for the SD-35 seat is scheduled for 2016.

Besides Hall, two other Democrats are on the ballot. One is Hector Serrano, a Harbor Planning commissioner. The other is Louis Dominguez, a San Pedro resident with a great deal of political experience. The fourth candidate is James Spencer, a Republican businessman in Inglewood. SD-35 is considered a safe Democratic seat.

One Democrat who was expected to run decided not to. Steve Bradford, who is facing term limits in the 62nd Assembly District, which includes Inglewood, suspended his campaign before getting on the ballot.

Hall has begun actively campaigning, launching a campaign website and gathering dozens of endorsements from elected officials, labor groups and Democratic organizations. Hall has served three terms in the Assembly, the maximum time allowed by term limits. Before being elected to the Assembly in 2008, he served on the Compton City Council, from

2003 to 2008, and the Compton Unified School District Board, from 2001 to 2003.

While in the Assembly, Hall helped secure passage of Senate Bill 510. The bill put teeth into a state law mandating that mobile home park owners consider park residents’ responses regarding conversion to resident ownership

Hall Faces Three Others for Open Senate SeatBy Lyn Jensen, Carson Reporter

of individual lots, commonly called “condo conversion.” Previously some park owners had argued survey results were not legally binding.

Neither Serrano nor Spencer has put up a campaign website at press time, but

Senate Dist. 35/ to p. 10

Candidates for the state senate district 35, Isa-dore Hall (top), Louis Dominguez, and Hector Serrano. File photos

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“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do some-

thing about it.”

Columnists/ReportersLyn Jensen CarsonB. Noel Barr Music DudeJohn Farrell Curtain CallLori Lynn Hirsch-Stokoe Food WriterAndrea Serna Arts WriterMalina Paris Culture WriterCalendar

Publisher/Executive EditorJames Preston Allenjames@randomlengthsnews.com

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Managing EditorTerelle Jerrickseditor@randomlengthsnews.comAssistant EditorZamná Ávilazamna@randomlengthsnews.com

14days@randomlengthsnews.comPhotographersTerelle Jerricks, Slobodan Dimitrov, Betty Guevara, Phillip Cooke

Contributors David Arian, Joseph Baroud, Bobby Fabro, Greggory Moore, Danny Simon

Advertising ProductionMathew Highland, Suzanne MatsumiyaAdvertising RepresentativeMathew Highlandreads@randomlengthsnews.comRichard Olivarezadv@randomlengthsnews.comEditorial Intern David Johnson

Display advertising (310) 519-1442Classifieds (310) 519-1016www.randomlengthsnews.com

—Mark TwainVol. XXXV : No. 23

Published every two weeks for the Harbor Area communi-ties of San Pedro, RPV, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson and Long Beach. Distributed at over 350 loca-tions throughout the seven cities of the Harbor Area.

CartoonistsAnn Cleaves, Andy Singer, Matt Wuerker

Random Lengths News editorial office is located at 1300 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731, (310) 519-1016. Address correspondence regarding news items and news tips only to Random Lengths News, P.O. Box 731, San Pedro, CA 90733-0731, or email to editor @randomlengthsnews.com.Send Letters to the Editor or requests for subscription information to james @randomlengthsnews.com. To be considered for publication, all Letters to the Editor should be typewritten, must be signed, with address and phone number included (these will not be published, but for verification only) and be kept to about 250 words. To submit advertising copy email adv@randomelengthsnews.com or reads@randomlengthsnews.com.Extra copies and back issues are available by mail for $3 per copy while supplies last. Subscriptions are available for $35 per year for 27 issues.Random Lengths News presents issues from an alternative perspective. We wel-come articles and opinions from all people in the Harbor Area. While we may not agree with the opinions of contributing writers, we respect and support their 1st Amendment right to express those opinions. Random Lengths News is a member of Standard Rates and Data Reporting Services and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. (ISN #0891-6627). All contents Copyright 2014 Random Lengths News. All rights reserved.

I started work on the waterfront in 1965. I’ve seen the major changes in the maritime industry, from breakbulk cargo to containers and now to new and evolving automated terminals. I’ve witnessed container ships grow from 100 20-foot equivalent units to current vessels with more than 13,000 TEUs on board.

I experienced the 134-day strike in 1971-72, the 2002 lockout and today’s backlog of ships in the Los Angles-Long Beach port complex. In each case, the delays were created by major industry transformations: The 1971-72 strike was due to the container revolution; the 2002 lockout was the result of the advent of automation; and today’s congestion issues are related to the restructuring of the maritime cargo movement

industry. This restructuring is causing congestion at ports around the nation and globally.

The current restructuring, based on much-needed cost savings for the industry, dates back to about 2008. The industry’s first solution was bigger ships. Large ships in 2007 were about 7,500 TEUs. Today, based on construction orders for new ships between now and 2016, sizes will range from 7,500 to 18,000 TEUs.

With newer, larger ships entering service, there is a surplus of containership capacity, which has depressed shipping rates and squeezed margins. In response, carriers have begun to form mega-alliances. Most of the world’s largest shipping lines now are part of a handful of alliances.

Cargo Challenges Create OpportunitiesBy David Arian, originally published in the Journal of Commerce

The founding fathers of this country all knew the value of education. Fifty-six of them were graduates of the first public school founded in Boston in 1635. Since then, especially after the American Revolution, the federal government has supported and passed laws to support free public education. Literacy is, after all, the foundation upon which a free people can remain free of tyrants, dictators and imbeciles. Thomas Jefferson understood this when he help to establish the University of Virginia, saying that, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite to our survival as a free people.”

Democracy is not perfect nor is it immune from electing imbeciles to public office on all levels, but it is better than inheriting them from a line of inbred monarchs. History has proved this to be true. Yet, here we are, in the early decades of the 21st century arguing about funding of public education versus creating some hybrid public-private charter school model of education. In California, the downhill slide began with the conflict between escalating property taxes (think Proposition 13) and a California Supreme Court decision that disallowed the use of State Tidelands oil revenues being used to fund education.

With the election of Ronald Reagan as governor and the rise of the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations at our colleges and universities, there was reason and cause by conservatives to question whether providing free college education to the masses was such a good idea. And the shift was on in every decade since to transfer the costs of public education onto college students and

the day. And what are the value of test scores in their relationship to teaching students?

Without wading into the complete morass of all the arguments on the pros and cons, there are two self-evident perspectives to keep in mind. First, the only quantifiable benchmark that improves student education is reduction in class size. Change the ratio of students to teachers

(regardless of what you think of teachers in general) and amazingly students learn more. The other is the current misguided assumption that education is about economics and not democracy. Thomas Jefferson might have a thing or two to say about placing the nation’s GDP before liberty.

What I have noticed in my years volunteering at both public school councils and in the non-profit sector is

that the adults in the room have such a loose grasp on how to run anything democratically. That is fundamentally embarrassing. I recall an instant while serving on the School-based Management Council at San Pedro High School of having to explain how the open meeting laws of the State of California applied to those meetings because of the council’s control over public monies and the council’s power to set policy. This meant that agendas had to be posted in public places where parents or students can reasonably find them and that public comments are allowed at those meetings. You would have thought I killed someone’s pet parakeet when I made that clear to the members of the council.

I recall another time, as a board member of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce where I consistently provoked the ire of the chairman over the protocols for passing simple motions. It didn’t appear that the chairman, with his college degree in engineering and who now sits on the Board of Harbor Commissioners, had ever read Robert’s Rules of Order or the preamble of the California Brown Act. Most public and nonprofit organizations would much rather not hold a contested board election for fear that someone’s feelings might be hurt or that a corporation will pull its funding.

Which brings me to my next complaint about who gets “elected” for charter school boards or other non-profits based upon how much money they donate. Since the end of the Reagan (counter) revolution, the corporate model of “a thousand points of light,” ( George H.W. Bush 1988), charitable giving has taken over. Just about everywhere you look, political standing in the

their parents by defunding public education, resulting in ever increasing tuition and fees. As many of you may recall, Reagan had it in for those college demonstrators, particularly at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara. At UCSB, students torched a branch of Bank of America, an act probably more appropriate in recent years with that bank’s participation in the sub-prime mortgage loan scandals.

We are told that our graduation rates are low, that we are behind in science and math and that our public schools are failing our children. Everyone from Bill Gates to Eli Broad to the mayors of Los Angeles are all wringing their hands about public education here in the City of Angels. Charter schools versus public schools and how they are managed and run seems to be the debate of

nonprofit sector has more to do with how many zeros come after the first digit on the check, than how intelligent or how good your ideas are. And, it barely has anything to do with the democratic process. Like the processes at Goldman Sachs or Bank of America, getting elected onto a board of trustees is about how much stock or money you control. This has not even the slightest resemblance to democratic procedure. Some ask why the citizenry are so disengaged from voting? Look around and show me where democracy hides. Is it only in your local neighborhood council?

Again, I would direct you to think

foundationally. Thomas Jefferson once said, “The cure for bad government [or bad schools] is not more laws, but more democracy.” I might also add that the fundamental challenge of our schools today is not how to teach students to pass a test, but to make them into critical thinkers who think about what it means to be citizens in a democracy and are literate enough to actually run one. Sadly, many adults who graduated from some of our better institutions and who are now in leadership positions don’t have a clue. They must have just been studying to pass the next test.

We Don’t Even Teach Democracy in Our SchoolsThe failure of teaching by example and how it has affected educationJames Preston Allen, Publisher

continued on following page

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RANDOMLetters

These alliances are spreading their cargo to numerous terminals, which is new to the industry. This makes it extremely difficult to consolidate cargo for rail and truck transport, so cargo must be shifted from terminal to terminal or sit for long periods on the docks.

In another cost-savings strategy, carriers have divested themselves from the truck chassis operations at container terminals, requiring the development of new chassis business solutions at Los Angeles-Long Beach and other trade gateways. The resulting chassis issue just deepens the congestion problem. Just recently, however, the major chassis operators in the San Pedro Bay complex have agreed to phase in a gray chassis pool concept starting Feb. 1, which should improve this situation markedly.

Chassis provisioning isn’t the sole source of today’s congestion. The lack of labor to serve these operations is also part of the problem. There is a shortage of skilled labor to handle larger vessels calling simultaneously at multiple terminals in the complex.

The labor shortage extends to the trucking sector, too. Truckers face long lines at terminal gates that reduce the number of trips they can make in a day and has made trucking a low-paying job. As a result, port truckers, locally and nationally, are leaving the business to find other ways to make a decent living.

So what are the solutions? There are a number of ideas to solve the congestion issue:

• Create a gray or neutral chassis pool run by a non-profit organization to better administer the availability of chassis.• Implement a universal, technology-based

portal system that oversees all movements of containers, chassis and other equipment in the Los Angeles-Long Beach complex.• Work with our alliance partners on a more efficient approach to use of terminals.• Create incentives for efficiencies at each container terminal.• Work with the state and federal government to invest in a cargo-movement incentive program.• PierPass, which was created to shift cargo truck trips from days to nights in order to avoid freeway congestion, has worked well for its intended reason. The program should be updated, however, to realize greater operational efficiencies in the port complex.• Consider the wider use of inland distribution centers so our on-dock terminals are used more efficiently. We need to move cargo off our docks quickly and perhaps distribute them at another location.• Shipping lines should analyze cargo flow, stowage and information flow for efficiency improvements.

Many of these solutions exist beyond the ports’ control, so we’re not just looking at technical problems with technical solutions. It’s in the broader interest to understand and address the challenges of a changing maritime industry. This means the ports, all of its supply chain partners, along with the state and federal government and our international partners, must work together and confront these challenges head-on.

David Arian is vice president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission, which oversees the Port of Los Angeles. A retired longshoreman, Arian previously served as international president of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union and was president of the ILWU Local 13 for three terms.

This letter was received after the Oct. 30 edition of Random Lengths published. Read the front page story on some of the underlying issues that led to Principal Tom Scotti’s resignation.

Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

POLAHS Principal Resigns

As we all know Mr. Scotti has resigned. Do we all know the reason?

Mr. Scotti is being pushed out! Mr. Cross the Executive Director is tearing our school apart. Mr. Cross controls all finances, contracts and directs our school. This is the same man who was on administrative leave last year and it was kept hush-hush. The question is why?

Go to www.polahs.net/about/governance/boardminutes. Look up minutes for March 31, 2014 and read the proof that Mr. Cross (the man that runs our school) falsified a Trustees (Mark Martis) signature and submitted the document to LAUSD without consent. My understanding is this document he signed was to release funds but the meeting minutes show no details on the amount of money or the purpose. The minutes show how politics and politicians got involved and put this lying, cheating man back in his position at POLAHS. It was stated that he had no personal gain! Does this make it right? What else has he done that is not

in the best interest of the school and our kids? This behavior of Mr. Cross that has been swept under the rug has started a domino effect of board members, Mr. Scotti and in the near future teachers and staff resigning. How can this be good for our kids?

I am asking that all of you spread the word that there is an Executive Committee meeting this Monday from 4-5 pm. Let’s ask questions, lets get answers. Are the teachers dissatisfied and why? Does the current board care about the academic side of POLAHS? Why is there no transparency of the board? Why did Michael Neophyte, Karen Abel and David Thornburg resign? Why did Mr. Scotti resign? Let’s demand answers. It can only help our POLAHS kids today and the one of our future. If we don’t protect our kids, who will?

Diana Chavez-Feipel, ParentSan Pedro

PT’s Endorsement of Patrick O’Donnell

The Press Telegram “ d ue diligence” prior to endorsing O’Donnell would have better served readers, revealing among other issues, allegations of illegal use of police resources in O’Donnell’s mailers and lack of connection and understanding of our communities and needs.

At a San Pedro debate, when asked regarding our poor school ratings, O’Donnell

attributed it not to administrator, politicians or lack of funds, but to student’s home lack of English language and cultural background; a very demeaning statement regarding people of color and diversity. When asked about possible gas leaks at Rancho LLC Plant, he expressed concern over gases dissipating “into the air.” Mr. Goya, a chemical engineer, corrected him.

Those gases flow “down” NOT “up to the air” and the real danger is that they can contaminate our water supply and create havoc. Mr. O’Donnell should stay in the classroom. My vote is for Mr. Goya.

Georgina OrtegaLong Beach

SP Pirates T-Shirt

My grandson is 19 years old and he grew up in Inglewood. He attends El Camino College and plays football. He resides in the Harbor Area three to four days a week with his grandma and me.

He came home one evening and told us he met and made friends with a teammate from San Pedro. Grandma and I thought that was just great. He went on to inform us that he and the San Pedro friend bonded so quickly they decided to exchange logoed T-shirts. He was given a San Pedro Pirates log shirt and he gave his new friend an Inglewood logo shirt.

One night my grandson, his grandma and I were watching television in our den. Grandson rose quickly and announced he was

going to wear the San Pedro Pirate shirt to Wilmington. At that instant grand’s looked at each other. All time seemed to stop and no words were spoken for what seemed like 5 minutes. In reality 3 seconds had passed. We experienced what can only be described in those three seconds as endless nightmare of social pathology reminiscent of the Watts Rebellion (43 dead) or the Charles Manson murders. Grandson was strongly lectured that Harbor Area folks don’t even joke about San Pedro log being worn in Wilmington or Wilmington log being worn in San Pedro, not even at Harbor College.

Obviously, my grandson did not understand local history, any rivalry, but mostly any street gang implications. To him the pirate logo simply represent the friendship between two football buddies; no more, no less. But to others a logo is an invitation to kill. To kill young men who are involved in positive pursuits, young men seeking a future and just happen to make a friend.

This all reminds me of my years as a California Department of Corrections, parole agent. In that capacity there was daily contact with gang shooters, of course, they have reasons for their action. But as we know delusions, disguised as reason, does not exist. It is defined as insanity.

Protecting the neighborhood, more drug sales territory, he looked at my girlfriend and the quintessential: he mad dogged me, again speaks to insanity for unacceptable behavior. None of the above can be sandwiched into nay sensible rationale to attack someone who is minding his own

business, who then becomes the target of another’s uniformed whim that one may or may not, be a rival street gang member. Then who killed for wearing a logoed T-shirt.

Let’s make a movie: End the log T-shirt chaos, starring Dr. Phil McGraw.

Let’s have a forever truce. It’s one world and one people. Let’s be free to go and do without fear because of wearing a logoed TEE-Shirt.

John R. GraySan Pedro/Wilmington

Cargo Challengesfrom previous page

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Election Night Winners

students and teachers wanted to address.Feipel, met with Wilson and at least two

lead teachers were involved in the planning of the public forum. Diane requested that Jim Cross, Anne Lee, Randy Bowers and Mark Martis to be among the panel participants. Feipel was informed Cross wouldn’t be able to attend.

The board could not answer questions related to personnel but just about everything else was fair game. The questions centered on when rather than whether Wilson and Cross’ resignation would be tendered, what did the board do to retain Scotti as principal, and when will the board grant access to all the financials and all the bids of work done at the school.

In regards to Scotti, Wilson’s reply was that he reached out to Scotti through phone and email. Feipel and apparently students and teachers, were incredulous of Wilson’s answer.

Knowing When it’s TimeRev. Joseph Olomoija, a concerned parent

of three students at the school, noted by parents and teachers alike for his constructive comments during tumultuous board meetings, said he believes the board means well, but a second set of eyes are needed.

“Many of the board members like Ms. Townsend and the others had been there since the beginning of the school and they have done a tremendous job in starting such a well-respected school…and all of the board members have given their time and treasure to the school,” Olomoija said. “I think that they gave so much that [the school] looked like something they owned. Though that’s not what they claim, I think that’s where their stronghold was. They have to learn to detach themselves by saying, ‘Hey, look we’ve started the school, there is nothing for us to gain. It is for the community and I think it’s a good time now for us to give it to others who are qualified and trustworthy to run it so that the dream can continue to be there while the founders are no longer there.’”

POLAHSfrom p. 5

Above, 47th Congressional District Rep. Alan Lowenthal, right with Matt Knabe, cruised to victory with 55 percent to Republican candidate Andy Whallon’s 45 percent. Right, Long Beach Fourth District City Councilman Patrick O’Donnell, picture on the left, also cruised to victory with 63 percent of the vote versus his Republican opponent, John Goya, at 37 percent. Photos by Diana Lejins

Dominguez has. His bio says he serves as an elected member of the San Pedro Coastal Neighborhood Council, where he chairs the Port and Environment Committee. For 17 years he chaired the Vincent Thomas Bridge Lighting Committee. He once worked for Thomas and also served in the administrations of Los Angeles mayors Tom Bradley and

Richard Riordan. Being a retired teacher, he’s a member of United Teachers Los Angeles.

Wright was convicted in January of various charges related to not living in the district he represented. The Senate suspended him shortly after. In September, he was convicted and barred from ever holding elected office in California again. He resigned his seat and Gov. Jerry Brown called a special election.

Wright’s suspension meant that Democrats no longer had a super-majority in the state Senate. Democrats lost two more state Senate seats in the Nov. 3 election, so a Democrat winning this seat will not be enough to get it back.

Senate Dist. 35from p. 7

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By Andrea Serna, Arts and Culture Columnist

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Continued on page 16.

A dialog is taking place in the monthly meetings of the San Pedro Arts Culture and Entertainment group. The dialog centers on the funding and implementation of public art projects to move the group toward the next level of arts advocacy.

In 2007, the district received generous funding of $100,000 a year, for a period of five years, from the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles. The Agency was disbanded following the 2010 election of Gov. Jerry Brown. The Arts District group now is on a deadline to meet the requirements of the grant. Much of their vision was laid out in a 2008 plan that included developing the successful First Thursday Art Walk, create artist live-work spaces and the planning of the newly completed artist resident building on 4th Street and Pacific Avenue.

Now the group is working to fulfill the plan to assign the remainder of funds before the end of 2015.

Arts DistrictThe arts district is home to more than 90 visual artists as well as

performing arts venues and art galleries. This wealth of creativity is not always discernible to the casual visitor. The group wants to make downtown San Pedro a recognizable center of art for all visitors.

The Warner Grand Theatre, Little Fish Theatre and The Loft Studios anchor the district. Warner Grand Theatre is a 1,500-seat, historic art deco movie palace, Little Fish Theatre is a community theater and The Loft Studios is a 3-story warehouse where a concentration of fine artists do their work. The district’s streets are lined with artist live work spaces.

Studios come alive on the First Thursday Art Walk every month, with gallery receptions, artist open houses, food trucks and live music. But during the remainder of the month it can be hard to find art and

artists because the streets seem deserted. Only a few galleries stay open during the week and some open only during the art walk.

The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District (formerly ACE) is hoping to bring a new generation of mural art to the downtown area by commissioning a $15,000 project that will be announced before the end of the year. The goal is to follow in the footsteps of

Utility box painted by artist Adrienne Wade, shown right.

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By Lori Lynn Hirsch Stokoe, Food Writer & Photographer

Beaujolais Nouveau is synonymous with festivity and celebration.

Anyone who loves to participate in a global party and those wine snobs with a sense of hu-mor should belly up to the bar Nov. 20 to join the French in their popular annual tradition for uncorking the Beaujolais Nouveau wine.

Made from the red Gamay grapes grown in France’s Beaujolais region – it is a wine that is enjoyed while still young, fresh and fruity. It is a light to medium-bodied wine not to be taken too seriously, actually... not seriously at all.

All over the world, on the third Thursday of every November – at one second after midnight according to French law – the recently-harvested Beaujolais is launched. Seventy million bottles are distributed around the globe with the U.S. market being the largest importer of the nascent wine.

Here in the South Bay, we are fortunate to be able to party with the wine world on Nov. 20 at The Whale & Ale. Proprietor Andrew Silber turns his British Pub into a French Bistro on this day every year by offering a special menu to pair with the newly released wine.

For almost 19 years, Silber has promoted a Beaujolais bash at The Whale & Ale.

“Having worked in London for many years where it has always been a fun, different and sort of jolly event once a year, I thought we should offer the same thing in the South Bay of Los Angeles,” Silber said. “It seemed like a good fit for The Whale & Ale because the English get into it very strongly. They send teams across the Channel to Beaujolais to pick up a case in a race to bring the first one back to London for a prize.”

To supplement The Whale’s English menu, Chef Alonso is offering his homemade Soupe du jour plus your choice of pan-roasted Chilean Sea bass with beurre maître d’hôtel, mélange of fresh autumn vegetables and pommes Pont Neuf or grilled rib-eye steak bourguignon, and pommes purée. The price per person for the two course menu, which includes two glasses of wine, is $38.85. It is available to guests seated between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

And, new this year is a juicy miniature burger, available only at the bar, and only with purchase of a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau. It’s cooked to order, as rare as you like it - or even well done - and topped with your choice of melting brie cheese or farmhouse pâté with a rustic house salad and cornichons on the side. This petite French-style deal is just $4.50 purchased with a glass of the newly-arrived Beaujolais. How fun! Be sure to take advantage of this special as it is only available from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Chilling this red wine brings out its bright acidity and enhances its ability to pair with foods. Whether haute cuisine or burgers or pizza - cooling it down to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit will bring out its cheery side. You might want to try this yourself: Purchase a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau and pour a glass. Then, refrigerate the rest of the bottle for about 25 minutes. Pour a second glass and test the two different temperature wines with your appetizers or meal. It is a twist on wine tast-ing - same wine, varying temperature. Compare to see how temperature affects the aromas, fruitiness and refreshing components. And, you will quench your thirst while simultaneously participating in a worldwide celebration.

Duboeuf, the self-proclaimed “King of Beaujolais” is the largest producer by far, with 125,000 cases imported, this wine should be read-ily available at local retailers through the month of December. The Whale & Ale will be offering Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau for $7 per glass and $26 per bottle. Join in the festivities on the third Thursday of November or stop by The Whale & Ale anytime into December, to try this bright new wine while supply lasts.

The 2014 vintage in Beaujolais has had a long growing season with expectations of high quality... experience this light-hearted wine, flown here from Paris to LAX, rushed down the 405 then the 110 Freeways to San Pedro on Nov. 20 … at The Whale & Ale.

Á votre santé!

Beaujolais Nouveau at The Whale & Ale

Plated dinners to include choice of the following:

Soup— Butternut squash or onion soup gratin

Salads— Fresh Spinach Salad with candied pecans, roe, onions, strawberries, gruyere and raspberry black pepper vinaigrette.

Caesar Salad with baby romaine, house croutons, cotija and creamy caesar dressing. Cobb Salad with market greens, blue cheese, smoked bacon, avocado, eggs and tomatoes.

Chef to Carve— roast tom turkey with wild rice chorizo stuffing, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce, five peppercorn rosemary mustard crust prime rib of beef marchand de vin, duck port roast

with molasses bourbon glaze

Vegetables— loaded garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato pudding, creamed corn, haricot vert brussels sprout and glazed carrots.

Desserts— Peanut butter pie, pumpkin pie, Mississippi meringue pie and raspberry creme brulee.

Enjoy endless sparkling wine or cider, coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks included.

For Reservations Please Call 310-521-8080

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Calendar continued on page 16.

By John Farrell, Curtain Call Writer

On stage he is a monster.No, that isn’t a negative criticism. He actually

is a monster in his current role, the creation of Victor Frankenstein: tall, threatening, with an unhealed wound on his head, a steam punk monocle and dressed in an almost floor length leather duster that, with his muscular bare arms, makes him intimidating and ferocious, a man whose life has been revived by Frankenstein’s science and who is confused and helpless, frightened and frightening all at once. His monster is no Boris Karloff, speaking in guttural mutters. After all, he has to sing.

In Frankenstein the Musical Ray Buffer, as actor and director, is just where he wants to be: on stage performing in a musical. You can’t tell he is happy: that is what acting is all about after all, creating a character. But Buffer is in the middle of the world he loves and he wants to keep that world alive.

The West Coast premier of Frankenstein the Musical recently ran at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre at the Scottish Rite Temple in Long Beach. This was Buffer’s first appearance on stage in several years. He has been in Los Angeles since 1999, trying to make a career as an actor and director. Frankenstein, in partnership with Jonas Sills, is his latest attempt to catch the trophy of success.

He looks in real life a little like Frankenstein’s monster, but in a clean-cut, all-American way: big, strongly built with a handsome, square face, a serious smile and an affable, engaging personality. He is 45, and has been doing theater all his adult life. He has moved easily in the past from earning a regular paycheck, with Long Beach Opera and the Laguna Playhouse in marketing, and in the retail field, to taking a chance on theatrical ventures. Originally from south Florida, Buffer moved to central Florida, where there was plenty of work in local theaters and theme parks.

“I had lots of chances to perform there,” Buffer said in a recent phone interview. “There are plenty of theaters around Orlando and Disney World. I left there in 1999 to come to Los Angeles and try my luck here.

“I was making a good living, working in sales and marketing locally, for the Laguna Playhouse, driving just a few mile to a cushy job there. Then I moved to become general manager for Long Beach Opera under Andreas Mitisek. Sometime around 2006, I discovered the Warner Grand and decided I wanted to produce theater there.”

The Warner Grand, then as now, was an underutilized space, a depression-era jewel that could hold a large audience even if it had some

difficulties with space on stage (it doesn’t have much room for deep sets and had an antique rigging system, the ropes and pulleys used to change sets, that needed improvement.) It was once a premier movie palace, and had finally been bought by the city to be used for local performing arts. But it hadn’t found anyone willing to do the hard work of producing shows there.

That’s where Buffer comes in. In 2007, he founded The Relevant Stage

company to produce shows in the Warner, sometimes big shows, sometimes small, but, at least at first, shows that were a little unusual. For four years Buffer ran his company in the Warner Grand, producing, amongst other works, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate and, early in his four-year run, Urinetown. Buffer starred as Petruchio in Kate, was one of the leads in Seven Brides and played Scrooge once in the annual The Christmas Carol. Buffer has a pleasant, easy baritone voice that, if not dynamic, serves him well in a variety of roles.

“The first thing we did at the Warner was Acts of Desperation. The second was Over There, Over Here the west coast premier of that musical,” Buffer remembered. “We decided that we needed to be big, so we did Urinetown, and then Bat Boy: the Musical. As the audience began to build we decided to do seasonal shows like I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change for Valentine’s Day, and The Christmas Carol for the holidays.”

One of his proudest memories is of a musical version of Upton Sinclair’s Singing Jailbirds.

“We adapted that play into a musical and had thirty men from the sober living facility at Beacon House as the chorus,” Buffer said.

But, finally, the Relevant Stage didn’t have the success he had hoped it would and Buffer returned to the retail world in 2011.

“When I get tired of producing theater I return to the world of getting a regular paycheck,” Buffer said. “Then, when I get tired from earning too many paychecks I go back to the theater. It’s a cycle, from one to the other. I keep hoping that I will find the perfect balance between the two and if I do I will be very happy.”

He and Sills got together recently to from Art in Relation, hoping to find a black box type space they could use for their productions.

“We were looking for a space where we

november 14Sara WatkinsSara Watkins will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 14, at the Grand Annex in San Pedro. She is the founder of the Grammy-winning progressive bluegrass-influenced band Nickel Creek, Watkins launched her second release, Sun Midnight Sun, her musical arrangements feature guest artists including Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Benmont Tench, and other rock royalty. General admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. details: www.grandvision.orgvenue: Grand AnnexLocation: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

Kristin KorbLove brought the American bassist and singer to Denmark in 2011. Now, Kristin Korb returns to the US to celebrate the release of her new CD, Finding Home. details: www.alvasshowroom.comvenue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

rob on the pianoEnjoy Rob on the piano, starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 14, at The Whale & Ale in San Pedro. Great food, great fun, great music and no cover.details: www.whaleandale.comvenue: The Whale & AleLocation: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

november 15tribute to the music of James taylorEnjoy an evening of classic singer-songwriter James Taylor’s greatest hits in this acoustic-electric show featuring accomplished guitarist-vocalist Stephen Bock. He’s backed by the six-piece Taylor Made Band, which includes Sheryl Braunstein on backing vocals and Preston Gould on horns and backing vocals. General admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. details: www.grandvision.orgvenue: Grand AnnexLocation: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

QuattroThe Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation presents Quattro, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15, at the George Nakano Theatre in Torrance. The innovative ensemble blends Latin pop, jazz and classical crossover for “popzzical.” Tickets start at $33.details: (310) 781-7171; www.TorranceArts.orgvenue: George Nakano TheatreLocation: 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance

noisefestOn this evening, Harold’s is hosting punk legends and stone cold rockers with Sista Sin,SSSSSSS, Somos Mysteriosos, and Randy Stodola (Solo & Poetry). venue: Harold’s PlaceLocation: 1908 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro

markus CarltonMarkus Carlton will perform, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, at The Whale & Ale in San Pedro. Markus Carlton is a lifelong musician who has worn out many guitars playing gigs, writing starting the next chapter in his musical journey and will entertain you by performing new material, as well as jazz and blues standard.details: www.whaleandale.comvenue: The Whale & AleLocation: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

november 16noir Quartet Saxophone extravaganzaExperience the Noir Quartet Saxophone Extravaganza, from 2 p.m. Nov. 16, at the Marymount California Oceanview Campus in Rancho Palos Verdes.d e t a i l s : ( 3 1 0 ) 3 0 3 - 7 2 2 3 ; w w w .MarymountCalifornia.edu/cultural-artsvenue: Marymount California, Oceanview Campus, The CommonsLocation: 30800 Palos Verdes Dr. East, Rancho Palos Verdes

november 20Izon edenIzon Eden will perform, Nov. 20, at The Whale & Ale in San Pedro.details: www.whaleandale.comvenue: The Whale & AleLocation: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

november 21rob on the pianoEnjoy Rob on the piano, starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 21, at The Whale & Ale in San Pedro. Great food, great fun, great music and no cover.details: www.whaleandale.comvenue: The Whale & AleLocation: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

november 22dirk Hamilton at AlvasHamilton released a slew of critically acclaimed records from the mid-70s into the 80s (Meet Me at the Crux is considered a minor masterpiece) before leaving the music industry behind to counsel troubled teens. He never really stopped though, quietly releasing 13 more albums since 1989 and becoming something of a star in Italy. Admission is $20.details: www.alvasshowroom.comvenue: Alvas Showroom Location: 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro

november 28dW3Spend an evening with DW3 full of Soul, Funk, and rhythm and blues. There’s a full bar, free parking and dinner and cocktails are served. For 21 years and older only with a $10 cover.details: www.alpinevillagecenter.comvenue: Alpine Village

rob on the pianoEnjoy Rob on the piano, starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 28, at The Whale & Ale in San Pedro. Great food, great fun, great music and no cover.details: www.whaleandale.comvenue: The Whale & AleLocation: 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro

november 15Wings, Wishes & dreamsCome out to the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum on Nov. 15 to see the beginnings of the Monarch Butterfly Garden that is beginning to attract the monarch butterfly population. The museum has become Monarch Waystation 8,494 and is also a certified wildlife habitat. details: (310) 603-0088 venue: Dominguez Rancho Adobe MuseumLocation: 18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez

november 21Chill at the Queen maryA deep freeze will take over the Queen Mary this holiday season as Chill returns on Nov. 21 and continues through Jan. 11. Enjoy Ice Skating, Ice Tubing and the incredible Ice Kingdom as a cold front overtakes Southern California. details: http://www.queenmary.com/venue: The Queen MaryLocation: 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach

november 22ranger WalkEnjoy a free guided hike with a different theme through restored habitat with dramatic views, starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 22, at the White Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro.details: (310) 541-7613; www.pvplc.orgvenue: White Point Nature PreserveLocation: 1600 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro

november 26birding with Wild birdsJoin Wild Birds Unlimited for a guided walk with an expert birder, at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 26, at George F Canyon.details: (310) 541-7613; www.pvplc.orgvenue: George F CanyonLocation: 27305 Palos Verdes Dr., East, Rolling Hills Estates

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street Arttheater/Film

Art

the great Los Angeles mural projects that had their zenith in the 1970s and 80s. The group called upon advisors from the Los Angeles Mural Conservancy to direct and advise on the upcoming project.

Linda Grimes, co-chairwoman of the district group is searching for a location for the mural and plans to send out a call to artists for a design that the design review board will approve.

Utility Box Project Locals are beginning to take note of the most

recent project, the painting of downtown San Pedro electric utility boxes. The boxes, recently completed, enliven the district with the colorful designs of local artists. Artists were asked to submit designs to the district review committee, staffed by some of the most experienced gallerists and artists working in San Pedro.

The five utility boxes are all on Pacific Avenue between 5th and 9th streets. You may have observed the artists working on their creations while you drove around town. Zahra Bejune, Casey Courey-Pickering, Miriam Jackson, Monte Thrasher and Adrienne Wade have all recently completed their projects. Information about the artists can be obtained by researching their websites through the QR code imprinted on each box or by visiting http://www.sanpedrowaterfrontartsdistrict.com/.

The theme for the first stage of this project was “Unexpected Pedro.” However, art in San Pedro is rarely unexpected. The public art projects, now in the planning stages, will add to the many existing public arts projects residing in the downtown area.

toUr of PUBlic Art insAn PeDro

Out at Point Fermin artists placed their stamp years ago. Beginning at the furthest end of the point, the controversial Sunken City ruins lay covered with graffiti, or street art —depending on your opinion.

Much to the dismay of some residents, Sunken City — “where the ghetto meets the sea” — has gained worldwide attention with tourists from as far away as Europe and Asia, trekking to the cliffs above the water. Drunken all-night parties, accidents and fights have also added to the colorful reputation of the spot. But the juxtaposition of the wild undisciplined art, along with the breathtaking ocean scenery have driven one neighborhood council to appeal to the City of Los Angeles to open the fenced off area to visitors.

As you begin to head towards the business district, the beloved Three Eyed Fish and his cousin, the Giant Squid on Gaffey Street stand as historical examples of early street art.

Street art created in public locations, usually unsanctioned, is executed outside of the context

of traditional art venues. The term gained popularity during the graffiti art boom of the early 1980s and continues to be applied to subsequent incarnations.

Stencil graffiti or sticker art, and street installation or sculpture, are common forms of modern street art. The amiable San Pedro Cat has appeared surreptitiously in spots around town, only to be removed by unappreciative property owners. In the past few weeks the San Pedro Cat made a surprise appearance on the side of the recently vacated courthouse building. She has also been the target of vandals who tore down a small sculpture of the cat in Point Fermin Park. It appears the popular cat has a growing fan base that has launched a Facebook page to express their appreciation of the cat and her anonymous creator.

This past summer the port discovered the impact of public art, when they brought in what was billed as “The World’s Largest Rubber Duck,” a creation of artist Florentijn Hofman of the Netherlands. Two-hundred-seventy-seven-thousand people swarmed the Port of Los Angeles and posted selfies online in an unexpected demonstration of what can be accomplished with a yellow rubber duckie.

San Pedro already has several outdoor and indoor murals that have taken residence in our fair town for many decades. Historic New Deal era Works Progress Administration murals, funded in the depth of the great depression, grace the walls of the Beacon Street U.S. Post Office and San Pedro High School. The school has 9 murals by artist Tom Tyrone Comfort in a series titled, Industrial Life in San Pedro. The subject of the murals beautifully represent the goal of the Works Project Administration, which was to get people back to work.

Across Pacific Avenue, the outside of the Random Lengths News office is home to a 1995 mural titled “The Spirit of the Sage,” created by Roberto Salas. The mural is a tribute to early inhabitants of the area, the Gabrielino tribe. At the dedication of this mural a sage ceremony was led by Manuel Rocha, spiritual leader of the tribe. During the installation of the mural, a tragic accident at the intersection of Pacific Avenue at 13th Street took the lives of three members of a local family. The mural is dedicated to their memory.

Our newest resident artist, John Van Hammersveld recently completed a fluorescent colored pop-art mural for the interior of the Topaz building on 6th Street. His work joins the work of other resident artists such as Eugene Daub, who sculpted the bust of Harry Bridges on the San Pedro waterfront. Public artist Michael Davis has also contributed his modern aesthetic with a nautically influenced concrete and glass landscape and sun dial tower at the Pacific Place Plaza.

Hidden from sight, in the alley behind the Warner Annex, between 5th and 6th streets, is an unsung gem. “Last Night All My Friends Had

the Same Dream” by Earon White, is a whimsical mural depicting the nonsensical dreams of San Pedrans, with images of Charles Bukowski and Richard Pryor dancing in their heads. Due to the unfortunate location, this mural is enjoyed primarily by drug addicts and the homeless population.

november 15downtown ShabbyThe L.A. South Towns Show Chorus presents its Downtown Shabby, at 2 p.m. Nov. 16, at the James Armstrong Theatre in Torrance. Downtown Shabby is a hilarious musical romp through the Grandham Family Estate. Tickets are $25.details: www.lasouthtowns.orgvenue: James Armstrong TheatreLocation: 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance

november 21Spring AwakeningDue to popular demand the Studio at Long Beach Playhouse will be extending their run of Spring Awakening the Musical, through 8 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22. Tickets are $24 for adults, $21 for seniors and $14 for students.details: (562) 494-1014 option 1; www.lbplayhouse.orgvenue: Long Beach PlayhouseLocation: 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach

Ubu the Sh*tCal State University Long Beach’s University Players and Los Angeles-based clown troupe Four Clowns will present a modern retelling of French playwright Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi entitled Ubu the Sh*t, Nov. 21 through Dec. 7, at Studio Theatre in the Theatre Arts building on CSULB Campus. Four Clowns’ Artistic Director and CSULB Theatre Arts alum Jeremy Aluma has adapted Jarry’s script and is directing this collaborative production. With clown training and techniques incorporated into the rehearsal process by Aluma and members of the Four Clowns company, the undergraduate cast has been given the opportunity to explore the art of clown first-hand by some of Los Angeles’ most experienced clown teachers, creating a truly unique version of Jarry’s absurdist comedy. Tickets start at $12.details: (562) 985-5526; www.calrep.org, www.fourclowns.orgvenue: Studio TheatreLocation: 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach

Sweet CharityThe South Bay Conservatory presents its Sweet Charity, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22, with a 2 p.m. show Nov. 22, at the James Armstrong Theatre in Torrance. Charity Hope Valentine works at the Fan-Dango Ballroom but longs for a different life. She meets Oscar Lindquist who promises another life. Tickets are $20.d e t a i l s : ( 3 1 0 ) 7 8 1 - 71 71 ; w w w .southbayconservatory.comvenue: James Armstrong TheatreLocation: 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance

november 22Kon-tikiPalos Verdes Land Conservancy presents this dramatization of the 1947 4,000-plus mile ocean trip Thor Heyerdahl made on the raft, the Kon-Tiki, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22, at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. This is an epic film about endurance, bravery and the indomitable human spirit. With five loyal friends in tow, explorer Thor Heyerdal sailed a fragile balsa wood raft along an ancient path some 4,300 miles across the Pacific, enduring tidal waves, shark attacks and other dangers. Q-and-A will follow the film to review fact and fiction of the explorers. Tickets are $10. Student 18 years old or younger get in free.details: www.grandvision.org/shop/tickets.asp?id=630venue: Warner Grand TheatreLocation: 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro

november 15the Habit Continues at Cornelius projectsThe exhibition Habit Forming: Makers Of Matter at Cornelius Projects in San Pedro continues through Dec. 13. Between now and December 13 there will be a reading with Jana Martin and Evelyn McDonnell with some music performances dotted throughout the remainder of the show. New York-based writer Jana Martin and San Pedro’s Evelyn McDonnell ― two thirds of the lit girl group the Fictionaires ― reunite at 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Martin will read from her collection

Russian Lover and Other Stories, as well as new fiction. McDonnell, author of Queens of Noise: The Real Story of the Runaways, will read new and old Regular hours are on Saturdays from 1 to 6 p.m. or by appointment. When the red flag is flying we are open for you.details: (310) 266-9216; corneliusprojects.comvenue: Cornelius ProjectsLocation: 1417 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro

november 15Holiday Arts and Craft FaireThe Torrance Craftsmen’s Guild present its 45th Annual Holiday Arts and Craft Faire, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16, at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Find handcrafted treasures, “make it and take it’ craft tables for children, prizes, foods and an opportunity drawing. details: www.TorranceCraftsmenGuild.orgvenue: Torrance Cultural Arts CenterLocation: 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance

november 17Faculty ShowEnjoy the works of El Camino College Art Department and Photography Department faculty, Nov. 17 through Dec. 10, at the El Camino Art Gallery in Torrance. details: (310) 660-3010venue: El Camino Art GalleryLocation: 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance

november 23transformationsTransformations, featuring painter Astrid Francis, sculptor Mary Tarango and ceramic artist Pat Hinz, runs through Nov. 23, at Artists Studio Gallery in the Promenade on the Peninsula.details: (310) 265-2592; www.artists-studio-pvac.comvenue: The Artists Studio GalleryLocation: 550 Deep Valley Road, #159, Rolling Hills Estates

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Twelve-string, finger-style guitarist Toulouse Engelhart returns to Alvas Showroom Nov. 21 for a concert supporting his new CD Mind Games.

Engelhardt’s Mind Games is a work of sublime beauty and grace. Each track takes one into the world of acidic neo folk music. He subtitles this recording as “13 Novelettes of Space, Time and Contemplation” is not as odd as it may sound. It is the musical story played with dramatic whimsy of surrealist tone poems, that have a beginning, middle and end.

His opening track, “Nierika,” is a textured piece that places the listener in a contemplative mood for a journey to your mind. Where in the“Theme to The First Annual Bluebelly Lizard Roundup,” the twelve-string maestro picks up the pace with a delightful idea of a frenzied round up of critters that one could only imagine.

Track 10, “Lady of The Light” is about the tale of a lighthouse keeper wife who died or a woman who committed suicide along the cliff’s at the point. There various stories on the sightings of this woman in white with long wet black hair. Here we have a song with emotion and wonder.

Engelhardt as “The Segovia of Surf” doesn’t fail us with his version of Dick Dale’s “The Wedge.” It’s wild Gypsy rhythms cutting through the air like a surfer switching back and forth on the waves along the Palos Verdes Coast. Totally bitchin’ bro!

The closing track is a beautiful duet with an alto flute, “Dialogue With An English Rill” is a gorgeous song dedicated to his British bride.

Mind Games is a sonic treat for acoustic guitar lovers, Engelhardt will be bringing this album to life at Alvas Showroom on Nov. 21.details: www.alvasshowroom.com

Spot Lighttoulouse engelhardt’s new Cd mind Games Comes Alive at Alvas!

Review by B.Noel Barr, Music Writer Dude

Novem

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Cuisine • Entertainm

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boArdWALK GrILLC a s u a l w a t e r f r o n t d in ing a t i t s finest! Famous fo r s l a b s o f Chicago-sty le baby back ribs, fish-n-chips, rich clam chowder,

cold beer on tap and wine. Full lunch menu also includes salads, sandwiches and burgers. Indoor and outdoor patio dining available. Proudly pouring Starbucks coffee. Open 7 days a week. Free Parking. Boardwalk Grill • 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 77, San Pedro • (310) 519-7551

bUono’S AUtHentIC pIzzerIAA S a n P e d r o landmark for over 40 years, famous for except ional a w a r d - w i n n i n g pizza baked in brick ovens. Buono’s also offers classic Italian dishes and

sauces based on tried-and-true family recipes and hand-selected ingredients that are prepared fresh. You can dine-in or take-out. Delivery and catering are also provided. Additionally, there are two locations in Long Beach. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. • Buono’s Pizzeria • 1432 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro • (310) 547-0655 www.buonospizza.com

CALIente CAntInA LoUnGeCaliente Cantina has a variety of hot bar cuis ine and salads, with a variety of hot wings, including orange ter i yak i chicken wings and the special Caliente wings made with habanero sauce. They a lso of fer burgers, fries and nachos. Part sports

bar and part lounge, Caliente Cantina takes full advantage of the two story venue with a bar on both floors, regularly featuring live entertainment. Happy hour 4-7p.m. seven days a week. Open seven days a week, from noon to 11 a.m. weekdays and from noon to midnight on weekends. Caliente Cantina Lounge, 465 W. 7th Street, San Pedro • (310) 684-1753

eL CUCo reStAUrAntP l a y a E l C u c o i s t h e quintessential El Salvadorean beach and El Cuco Restaurant s e r v e s quintessential

Salvadorean cuisine right here in San Pedro. A wide variety of pupusas-made fresh daily-plus empanadas, platanos, pastelitos, as well as authentic Mexican favorites. Wine and imported and domestic beers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served 7 days a week. Free parking. el Cuco Restaurant • 234 N. Pacific Ave., San Pedro • (310) 521-9509

HAppy dInerThe Happy Diner isn’t your average diner. If you pay attention to their special menu on their blackboards (yeah plural, they have about three), it’s almost a certainty you’re going to find something new from week to week. The cuisine runs the gamut of Italian and Mexican cuisine to American

cont inental . The Happy Diner chefs are always creating someth ing new. They believe that if an item is good, its reputation will get around by word of mouth. You can even find items normally found at curbside lonchera trucks. You

can take your pick of grilled salmon over pasta or tilapia and vegetables, prepared anyway you like. Another item that’s emerged from their flair for the creative is their chicken enchiladas soup made from scratch, a soup Roman describes as very thin and flavorful. Happy Diner • (310) 241-0917 • 617 S. Centre St., San Pedro

LIGHtHoUSe CAFeThe favorite local cafe for the point Fermin area of San Pedro great b r e a k f a s t s , lunches and even dinners. Serving

traditional offering for breakfast along with specialty omelets, espresso and cappuccino. Lunches include a delicious selection of soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches with hearty portions as well as Chef’s Creations. Dinners feature Top Sirloin Steak or Prime Rib as well as a kids menu. Beer and wine are served. Free Wi-Fi and is pet friendly on the patio. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. close to Cabrillo Beach and the Korean Bell, Point Fermin area. Lighthouse Cafe • 508 West 39th St., San Pedro. 310- 548- 3354

mISHI’S StrUdeL bAKery Mishi’s is a fragrant l a n d m a r k o n 7 t h Street, where it is possible to find Nirvana by following your nose. The enticing aroma of baking strudel is impossible to resist, and the café is warm and welcoming like your favorite auntie’s house. Aniko and Mishi

have expanded the menu to include homemade goulash, soups and a variety of sweet and savory Hungarian strudels, crépes and pastas. Take a frozen strudel home to bake in your own kitchen and create that heavenly aroma at your house. Mishi’s Strudel Bakery and Café, 309 W.7th St., San Pedro • (310) 832-6474 www.mishisstrudel.com

nAzeLIe’S LebAneSe CUISIneN a z e l i e ’ s L e b a n e s e C u i s i n e i s a favorite of the neighborhood for the terrific kabobs, beef o r c h i c k e n shawarma, lamb

dishes and falafel. Nazelie’s chicken and rice soup with lemon is like a warm embrace—it takes chicken soup to a whole new level. Nazelie uses a recipe handed down in her family for generations, starting with homemade chicken broth, and adding a refreshing touch of lemon for taste and nutrients. Nazelie’s Lebanese Café, 1919 S.Pacific Avenue, San Pedro. (310) 519-1919

pHILIe b’S on SIXtHOwner Philie Buscemi welcomes you to Philie B’s on Sixth, where New York style pizza, Sicilian rice balls and pizza by-the-slice are the specialties.

Fresh hot or cold sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, and fresh salads are also served. Try the “White Pizza” with smooth ricotta, mozzarella and sharp Pecorino-Romano cheeses topped with torn fresh basil. Extended hours accommodate San Pedro’s unique lifestyle and work

schedules. Catering and fast, free local delivery ($15 min.) available. Philie B’s On Sixth • 347 W. 6th Street, San Pedro (310) 514-2500 www.philiebsonsixth.com

portS o’CALL WAterFront dInInGSince 1961 we’ve extended a hear ty welcome to visitors from every corner of the globe. Delight in an awe-inspiring view of the dynamic LA Harbor while enjoying exquisite

Coastal California Cuisine and Varietals. Relax in the Plank Bar or Outdoor Patio for the best Happy Hour on the Waterfront. With the Award-Winning Sunday Champagne Brunch, receive the first SPIRIT CRUISES Harbor Cruise of the day FREE. Open 7 days, lunch and dinner. Free Parking. ports O’Call Waterfront Dining • 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 76, San Pedro • (310) 833-3553 www.portsocalldining.com SAn pedro breWInG CompAny

A microbrewery and American grill, SPBC features hand-c ra f ted award -w inn ing ales and lagers served with creative pastas, bbq, sandwiches, salads and burgers. A full bar with made-from-scratch margaritas and a martini menu all add fun

to the warm and friendly atmosphere. WI-FI bar connected for Web surfing and e-mail—bring your laptop. Live music on Saturdays. Hours: From 11:30 a.m., daily. San pedro brewing Company • 331 W. 6th St., San Pedro • (310) 831-5663 • www.sanpedrobrewing.com

SpIrIt CrUISeSAn instant par ty ! Complete with al l you need to relax and enjoy while the majesty of the harbor

slips by. Our three yachts and seasoned staff provide for an exquisite excursion every time, and “all-inclusive” pricing makes party planning easy! Dinner Cruise features a 3-course meal, full bar, unlimited cocktails and starlight dancing. Offering the ultimate excursion for any occasion. Free Parking. Spirit Cruises • 1199 Nagoya Way, LA Harbor - Berth 77, San Pedro • (310) 548-8080, (562) 495-5884 • www.spiritmarine.com

tHe WHALe & ALeSan Pedro’s British Gast ro Pub o f fe rs comfortable dining in oak paneled setting, featuring English fish

& chips, roast prime rib, sea bass, rack of lamb, beef Wellington, meat pies, salmon, swordfish & vegetarian dishes. Open for lunch & dinner, 7days/wk; great selection of wines; 14 British tap ales, & full bar. Frequent live music. First Thursday live band & special fixed price menu. Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri. 11:30 a.m.-midnight Sat. & Sun. 1-10 p.m. Bar open late. the Whale & Ale • 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro • (310) 832-0363 • www.whaleandale.com

could have a yoga studio/art gallery during the day, with apartments above to pay the rent and a performing space by night - an intentional art space,” Buffer said. “But we couldn’t find that option. We talked to Long Beach Parks and Recreation about doing a show outdoors at Recreation Park, but the show times conflicted with Woodrow Wilson High’s homecoming. We started looking at indoor options. We inquired about the Edison Theatre. Then we talked to the Scottish Rite Temple. They have the Ernest Borgnine Theatre there. Everyone knows that building but no one knows what goes on there. When they said we could use that theater space, letting the public know it is there, it was a win-win situation.”

Frankenstein was a show I had long wanted to do, ever since I heard the original cast album. But when I inquired the producer had just signed over the rights to Playscripts. They had the rights but the play hadn’t even been printed. Then I went on a four-year hiatus and now we are doing it.”

What does the future hold? Well, first of all, Art in Relation is doing

The Christmas Carol at the Borgnine Theatre in December for eight performances the week of Christmas. The company has reached an agreement with the Scottish Rite Cathedral to produce three to five Musical at the Borgnine next year.

And then there are other plans: “Jonas and I want to find the kind of space for a black box theater we are thinking of,” Buffer said. “We want to build a following who will come with us.”

According to the Mural Conservancy website, proponents of public art believe:

• That art is for everyone regardless of their status in society

• That the distinctions between high and low art, fine art and folk art are false

• That art should not dwell only in rarefied halls but in the places where people live and work

• That all Americans could be participants in the making of art and that collaborations work

• And last… That the arts can have significant transformative impact on the most significant social problems of our time

Several hidden treasures, too many to list here, are waiting for those curious enough to search the streets of San Pedro. We look forward to even more in the months and years to come.

For more information about the Arts District, go to www.spacedistrict.org.

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19

The Local Publication You Actually Read Novem

ber 13 - 26, 2014

Fictitious Business Name statement

File No. 2014260373The following person is doing busi-ness as: (1.)Josephine Trusela events (2.) JT Events, 1621 W. 25th St #2301., San Pedro CA 90732. Los Angeles County. Articles of Incorpora-tion number: 201422610355.. Regis-tered owners: Le Meow LLC, 1621 W. 25th St #2301., San Pedro CA 90732: California. This Business is conducted by a Limited Liability Corporation. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious busi-ness name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Josephine Trusela, president of Le Meow LLC.. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Sept. 16, 2014. Notice--In Accor-dance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Professions code).Original fi l ing: 10/02/14, 10/16/2014,

10/30/2014, 11/13/2014

DBA/LEGAL FILINGSFictitious Business Name

statementFile No. 2014265913

The following person is doing busi-ness as: (1.) Mister Marley, 880 W. 18th St., San Pedro CA 90731. Mailing Address:880 W. 18th St., San Pedro CA 90731. Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Fred C. Allen, 880 W. 18th St., San Pedro CA 90731: California. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Fred Allen,owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Profes-sions code).Original fi l ing: 10/02/14, 10/16/2014,

10/30/2014, 11/13/2014

Fictitious Business Name statement

File No. 2014296978The following person is doing busi-ness as: paradise Tinting, 24325 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 109, Torrance, CA 90505, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Ronald Engel, 1051 Golden Rose Street., San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above:1-6-10. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Ronald Engel, owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from

NOTiCeSealed bids will be received by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor at 1200 S. Cabrillo Ave., San Pedro, CA 90731 until Nov. 20, 2014 by 5:00 pm for approxi-mately 550 meals total (supper) to be delivered to three sites (San Pedro Boys & Girls Club, Port of Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club and Wilmington Boys & Girls Club) with milk included for approximately 220 days (school year and summer).

On Nov. 21, 2014 at 10:00 am, and promptly thereafter, at the ad-dress provided, all bids that have been duly received will be publicly opened and read aloud. Contract will be awarded to the lowest, most responsible and responsive bidder.

the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Profes-sions code).Original filing: 10/30/14, 11/14/14, 11/28/14,

12//11/14

Fictitious Business Name statement

File No. 2014295900The following person is doing busi-ness as:(1.) Carinas Flowers and gift, 700 S. Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731, Los Angeles County. Registered owners: Zoila Murillo, 700 S. Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731. This Business is conducted by an individual. The date registrant started to transact business un-der the fictitious business name or names listed above:N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) S/. Ronald Engel, owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2014. Notice--In Accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920. A fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920. were to expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 1411 ET SEQ., Business and Profes-sions code).Original filing: 11/14/14, 11/28/14, 12//11/14, 1223

themselves, as it leaves their core complaints untouched, while only some of the drivers are paid extra for just some of the delays they experience.

“The companies are still making deductions weekly from the drivers’ check,” he said. “But there are some companies that are paying the drivers hourly,” which offers a real long-term solution for the drivers.

On Oct. 24, Pac 9 issued a memo promising to “pay $20 per hour terminal wait time after the 2nd hour” from Oct. 25 through Nov. 28, but only for “door deliveries,” which Linares doesn’t make, even though his work has been slowed by the portwide congestion as well. At these rates, a driver forced to endure two 4-hour waits in one day would receive just $80. This would surely amount to even more time spent making less than the minimum wage.

What’s more, the way that Pac9 instituted this practice undermines its claims that the drivers are independent contractors, a commonsense observation that was confirmed by Teamster lawyer Mike Manley.

“Both the courts and the NLRB frequently cite unilateral changes in working conditions, particularly unilateral changes in wages or other compensation, as evidence of employee status,” Manly said. “The fact that trucking companies change conditions and wages whenever they feel like highlights the complete control that companies

exercise over drivers’ working lives.”

The trucking companies’ second “solution” has been to seek deregulation of work-rules, reducing the amount of rest time drivers have.

On Nov. 6, the Press-Telegram reported that the Harbor Trucking Association had announced it would seek an exemption from a federal work rule, requiring a 34-hour rest period for truckers. The provision, enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, allows drivers to work 70 hours within an eight-day period, with two 1 to 5 a.m. off-duty periods during 34 consecutive hours of rest.

Although framed in terms of port-wide congestion, the Press-Telegram story actually suggests that the proposal is meant primarily to benefit a single terminal, Long Beach Container Terminal, which is apparently eager to open its gates on Sundays.

Before considering the merits and demerits of the idea, it’s worth noting that the petition process takes anywhere from 60 to 90 days, meaning that even at best it would not be granted until sometime in January, well after the pre-holiday shipping peak, so it hardly qualifies as a serious proposal. But it is worth considering for what it shows about the problem-generating mentality of the trucking industry.

Random Lengths spoke with John Lannen, executive director with the Truck Safety Coalition, who first explained the problems

with the proposal and then pointed to other approaches that would do far more to address the underlying situation..

“These drivers have already worked 70 hours, and now they’re asking them to shorten their rest period after that, so they’re going to be working more and more hours, over 80 hours a week,” Lannen said.

While some argue that the work rules are really just intended for long-haul drivers, Lannen strongly disagreed.

“These are drivers are interacting with the public in highly congested areas, so they need to be even more alert, not less,” Lannen said. It’s not as if there weren’t other options, he went on to note.

“Instead of looking at making drivers who are already working long hours for even longer, even more, they should be looking at hiring more drivers, or staggering shifts if they want to address driving on Sunday,” he said. “But the answer can’t be to increase the burden and make drivers who are already worked long weeks to actually work more, especially given the importance of the job.”

Meanwhile the truckers have continued to organize. At the meeting at Teamsters’ headquarters on the night of Nov. 8, truckers from seven companies came together with WalMart workers.

“Although we may work for different companies with different names, we are brothers in the same cause,” said Ramon Guadamuz, a Green Fleet driver. “So that’s what we’re fighting for: respect on the job.”

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