Three Questions

I've been thinking about posing these for a while. I'll be out of town for the next week or so - I'd love to see everyone's views on these three questions.

1) Downtown - What does it mean to you? How often do you go there?

2) Waterfront - What is wrong with the waterfront as it currently exists - what about the "Bridge to Breakwater" area drives you crazy?

3) Chinese food - Without disparaging my current San Pedro Chinese eatery of choice, I need more satisfaction than I'm currently getting in my local Chinese food. Who's got the best?

The News

Some local news of interest.

1) From the Breeze - A $117 million cleanup of Machado Lake and the Wilmington Drain in the Harbor Area was approved Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council as part of a sweeping package of citywide water quality improvement projects. There's also $6.1 million for improved drainage in Peck Park. That's Proposition O money at work. One question - couldn't someone come up with a better name than the "Wilmington Drain"?

2) Republican Presidential candidate/Senator John McCain & Der Governator made a staged public appearance in the Harbor yesterday. The theme was environmental issues, with McCain taking swipes at Bush's environmental policies.

Times Coverage

Breeze Coverage

3) Democratic Presidential candidate/Senator Barak Obama brought his Obamarama to LA yesterday (LA Times Coverage), and Jacob Soboroff got some tape of Janice Hahn at one of the events. This may be a dud news item, as I can't seem to get the video to properly load in any browser on this computer, and when I saw it yesterday, I didn't have speakers at my disposal, but here's the link anyways. If someone can find a better link - please put it in the comments.

4) Board of Education Candidates Forum. Don't forget there's an election on March 6. On February 24, from 2-3 PM, there will be a Candidates Forum for those vying to replace Mike Lansing's seat on the Board of Education. What are these guys all about? Find out on the 24th.

5) Lastly, a big reminder that the 28th is the last day to submit comments on what they're now calling the San Pedro Waterfront Project. You can submit comments via E-mail at ceqacomments@portla.org. Let them know what you think!

Twin Receptions at Angels Gate tomorrow

From the shameless self promotion department. Angels Gate is hosting receptions for two shows on Sunday, 110%: Recent Works by Faculty from Art Center's Photo and Imaging Department and New Studio Artists.

110% features works by a slew camera jockeys, including: Mark Berndt, Paul Bielenberg, Robert Cavalli, Sam Davis, Tony Di Zinno, Thomas Gugler, Mark Harris, Patrick "Pato" Hebert, Micol Hebron, Richard Houston, Paul Jasmin, Dennis Keeley, Mona Kuhn, Steve Lavoie, Pete McArthur, Ken Merfeld, Rick Miller, Paul Ottengheime, Patti Peters, David Safian, Jeff Sedlik, Norma Smith, Jeannette Stramat, David Strick, Peter Suszynski, Suzanne Valles-Chavez, Rudy Vega, Everard Williams and Josh Withers. This show has got everything from super technical still life work to a posed narrative involving a girl and her unicorn.

New Studio Artists is the first of two exhibitions focused on the many new artists in the Center's Studio Artist Program. Raul Arellano, Kimiko Miyoshi, Peggy Reavey and Jack Tillotson have all come to the Center in the past three months, and this exhibition is an opportunity for them to introduce their work to the community.

Both receptions are being held Sunday, February 18, from 2-4 PM in Building A. Following the receptions, at 4 PM, there will be an artist talk with several of the artists from 110%. Everything is free and open to the public.

Top: 110% - Rudy Vega, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, Ultrachrome print/acrylic, 43"x54", 2006

Waterfront - WTF

The Breeze is running an article following up on the Port's attempt to defend it's current waterfront plans at Thursday's Harbor Commission meeting. Read it here. My take on the whole situation - this project needs leadership fast, and leadership from outside POLA. I just don't think they're getting the big picture on the issues at hand - the fact that moving the Westways liquid bulk terminal isn't even in their plans. Right now, all they've put forward is a big bus stop for the cruise ship industry, who at this point seem to be their sole priority. I'm not buying it, the whole thing stinks

Quotes -

"The strategy is based on delivering public access (to the waterfront) and the cruise terminal in the shortest time possible" - Geraldine Knatz

"Where is the commitment, the vision, the passion? Where is the public soul?" said Papadakis, the restaurant owner who launched the promenade effort years ago. "It's been gutted. It's much too little and it's getting too late." - John Papadakis

"Something's changed, and I don't think it's for the best" - Janice Hahn

Lastly, notice how in the article they refer to the development as a 36 year schedule? Wasn't it supposed to be 25 years? Are we now running 10 years over-schedule with no concrete plan? Cause that's what it's looking like from here.

Downtown Beautification in the Works?

This Press Telegram article (warning, may load slowly, PT website is sluggish) seems a little sketchy on the details, but it sounds like there's some kind of volunteer attempt to beautify downtown in the works.

Initial phases of the beautification effort already have identified some priorities, such as providing locks for trash bins, improving the look of vacant storefronts and removing the bulky, rectangular planters that were installed on downtown sidewalks some 20 years ago.

"Improving the look of vacant storefronts" - You know what would really improve the look of vacant storefronts? Businesses. Businesses with open hours. I owned one down on 7th for four years - On my side of the street there were maybe five businesses, including mine, with anything resembling operating hours. Unless they're going to create an atmosphere where businesses can survive, which I don't see happening, what's the point?

Curbed LA chimes in, in it's ever endearing and always snide manner, about the article, and while I think they're a bunch of ignorant, know-nothing real estate hillbillies, they aren't much off the mark by describing this one as "putting lipstick on a pig". The only thing that can save downtown from itself is new businesses, and a sustainable effort to market those businesses to the public. I've seen businesses open and close in the same month, I've seen a half dozen "art galleries" come and go (usually takes 6 months) in the past few years. Hell, even my old neighbors' methamphetamine factory/storefront went under.

Have you seen this man?

As I think anyone with access to a TV or a newspaper is aware of, there's a major focus on gang activity in Los Angeles going on at the moment. Right now there's a three day summit going on to find new solutions to address the problem. The most concrete thing to come out of this for those of us in the Harbor Area is the attention that's being given to the 204th St. Gang in Harbor City, who have made the top 10 list for gangs to be targeted, largely because of the race motivated conflict that they've brought to their own neighborhood.

The LAPD has put out a list of their 10 most wanted gang members, which includes Mario Lemus, a.k.a. "Drek" (which means "Shit" in Yiddish, FYI), who's associated with Rancho San Pedro (side note - some googling dug up this blog post of San Pedro gang tags), and wanted for the October 15 murder of David Carl Franklin, who was beaten to death on the street.

Anyone with information on Lemus is urged to contact Harbor Area Homicide Detective at 310-522-2036. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

Congrats to Narbonne High!

I'm not one to post the sports scores, but here's some love to Narbonne High, who's Academic Decathalon team made state for the first time. Good luck to them in their upcoming competition.

Body found off Point Fermin

No real details, other than a male body, 35-45 was found in the tide pools at 9:25 AM. They've brought the body up to the Korean Bell, where as of about 30 minutes ago, the authorities were giving it a thorough look over. No word on if the death was the result of a fall or of another cause has come in yet.

I walked out from my office and took a look from the overlook in front of the Marine Exchange, but I couldn't see anything of real interest, other than that the body looked pretty intact and that the Police have cordoned off the Korean Bell parking lot. Apparently a bunch of Asian tourists were at the bell when they closed it down and had their picture taken with the police, which I and the various Studio Artists who were taking a look found a bit odd.

Breeze coverage here.

UPDATE - This morning's Breeze has some more details. Yes, the injuries are consistent with a fall, and yes, as I observed yesterday, the guy was completely naked (I figured they had just stripped the body down to look for injuries). No ID on the deceased, yet. The article also mentions that about 10 people die each year off the cliffs.

The article has a weird quote from Officer Vincent Albano regarding the nudity -

"I remember back when everyone was on PCP, and the first thing they did was strip all their clothes off because they feel hot," he said.

"Back when everyone was on PCP" - remember when we were doing PCP all the time? Back when PCP was totally in? That statement just struck me as a bit weird, given that PCP is probably the rarest of all street drugs. Shows the kind of slightly distorted perspective that police tend to develop in their semi-isolated environment, I guess.

FURTHER UPDATE - The authorities have identified the body, but they haven't released his name publicly yet. Breeze coverage.

Rise and the Fall issue 9 release party Saturday

I'm doing just a re-post here of the Rise and the Fall E-mail. This looks like a good gig. I'll note that it's not taking place at Harold's Place this time.

Hello Folks,

Once again, the new issue of THE RISE AND THE FALL is
upon us and cuz of this we'll be celebrating the
release of ISSUE 9 at THE SAN PEDRO BREWING CO. in San
Pedro, CA. Come scoop up the (FREE) new issue of The
Rise And The Fall, check out a couple of cool bands
and tell us what you think. Get there early so you can
check out Cheryl's slideshow of Pedro house parties &
other interesting stuff... who knows, you might be a
part of the show. Hope to see you there...

Music by:

TOYS THAT KILL 11:30
MIKE WATT + THE SECONDMEN 10:30
and a slideshow by SHANTY CHERYL 10:00

DJ TODD CONGELLIERE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2007
@ THE SAN PEDRO BREWING COMPANY
331 W. 6th Street, San Pedro, CA (90731)

More Info: 310.831.5663
21 & Up / Full Bar.
9:30 PM Start.
$3.00 Cover.

Danelo Toxicology Report In

Danelo was apparently at .23 (which from some googling around, seems to be somewhere just shy of a twelve pack - reasonably drunk) when he fell to his death. Given that there doesn't appear to be any motive for suicide whatsoever, I guess he just picked the wrong spot to enjoy his drunk.

The Breeze coverage quotes the report:

The report also couldn't ascertain what Danelo's state-of-mind was before his death but he "would have had to scale a wall to get to the strip of land before the steep drop-off of approximately 150 feet while under the influence of alcohol."

Anyone who's familiar with the wall Danelo hopped over knows that "scale a wall" is a gross exaggeration of what's involved at Point Fermin. I'm not saying there should be a better barrier, I'm just saying that there really isn't one.

Not your typical overpass message...

Sea Launch launch explosion follow-up

Blogging.la's Cybele wrote a great post on the aftermath of the Ocean Odyssey explosion on January 30. She reports that Ocean Odyssey has been re-manned and operating under its own power and that they are currently surveying the damage. Good news for any vessel that's recently been completely engulfed in a rocket fuel fireball. The post is chock full 'o links for further reading, check it out.

Building a Harbor at San Pedro

Many, many thanks to Garrison Frost over at The Aesthetic for bringing this to my attention. The link below is to a page where you can view a 1901 Edison Studios film documenting the construction of what was then San Pedro harbor. It's available in a variety of formats for your viewing pleasure.

Catch the flick here.

Food for thought re: LA Waterfront

A Laist post this morning contained this quote from a LA Daily News article about downtown's Grand Avenue Project. It reminds me of the kind of attitude that we need to see regarding the LA Waterfront project (from the link is it now being called the San Pedro Waterfront?), but that we're definitely not seeing yet.

"This is not a `downtown project,"' said Carol Schatz, president and chief executive officer of the Central City Association of Los Angeles.

"This is a project of regional, if not international, significance. "Most importantly, it becomes a destination that anchors our cultural spine and our civic center area, an area we should take pride in as the seat of our local democracy."

Replace the word "downtown" with "San Pedro". That's where we need to be for this to really benefit both the region and San Pedro itself.

Peck Park shut down due to possible bobcat sighting

Okay - does anyone know what a bobcat is? It's a small cat (about 20 pounds, on average - I've got friends with fat-ass housecats that weigh in that range) that just has the good fortune to have escaped domestication and the humiliating tyranny of the litter box. When two teenagers call up and tell you that they think they might have seen one - don't roll up the drawbridge. It's called wildlife, dudes.

Breeze story on this waste of everyone's time is here. I like how they evacuated the pool. As if some giant sabre tooth tiger is going to just leap in and eviscerate a pool full of happy, unsuspecting swimmers, leaving only a mess of floating entrails and a spreading red stain?

New Play Reading Series Debuts atAngels Gate with Get What You Need

From the shameless self promotion department.

Angels Gate is about to launch a new play reading series this Saturday, with a script in hand performance of Jessica Goldberg's new play Get What You Need. Goldberg's work has been seen at The Mark Taper Forum's Taper TOO and Playwrights Horizons in New York.

Characters

Joan: Tessa Auberjonois
Edgar: Hamish Linklater
Arthur: Chris Messina
Hester: Sandra Kinder

Directed by Nathan Birnbaum
Cast by Raul Clayton Staggs

Play Synopsis: The play follows a couple over 25 years, from 1979 to 2004. It opens with Joan and Edgar as young hippie parents who need to smoke a joint to cope with their meager finances. Get What You Need follows them as they struggle to remain true to their countercultural principles, while the New Age beckons and the tech revolution steams on. By the end of the play George W. Bush is president, the Atkins diet threatens their business, and Joan and Edgar drink not-great wine as they confront who they really are.

The series continues March 10 with Better Angels by L.A. playwright Wayne Liebman, and concludes April 14 with a new play TBA.

To cap the season, new dance works, commissioned by the Cultural Center from L.A. artists for the Art on the Waterfront 2007 festival, will be presented on the San Pedro promenade on the evening of May 12th.

The Details:

What: Get What You Need by Jessica Goldberg
When: This Saturday, February 3, at 2 PM
Where: Angels Gate Cultural Center, Gallery A
How Much: $5

Big Cat on the Prowl

This isn't the first supposed bobcat sighting on the Peninsula, but it sure attracted a lot of attention yesterday. Apparently a hiker spotted a loose big cat and now everyone and their mother is looking for him/her. There was apparently a ton of helicopter footage on the news yesterday, but I missed it. This morning's Breeze has a bit of a wrap up, though.

Mayor in Pedro today

Caught this item in today's LA Observed Morning Buzz:

The mayor will come out for Richard Vladovic in the race for the Board of Education's 7th district seat. Noon, outside the auditorium at San Pedro High School.

So if you feel like chilling out with the Mayor, you know where he'll be today.

Update:


check the comments for Banditos' bit on his visit to the new Harbor City Library today, and here's some Breeze-age on Antonio's endorsement.