Post on 19-Apr-2018
transcript
The National Cancer Institutestates that secondhandsmoke contains at least 250
harmful chemicals, including 69that can cause cancer. On March 8,diners at restaurants with outdoorpatios in Los Angeles will not haveto worry about inhaling thosechemicals.
Councilmember Tom LaBonge,4th District, joined CouncilmemberGreig Smith, 12th District, at aStarbucks in Porter Ranch Jan. 13to announce the City of LosAngeles’ ban on smoking on restau-rant patios that will take effectMarch 8.
The motion for the ban was firstintroduced by Smith in 2008 andwas seconded by LaBonge. Theordinance was passed in 2010 andrestaurants have had a one-yeargrace period to allow the business-
es to prepare for the new law. Theban will exclude bars. Smoking ona restaurant patio would be punish-able by a fine of up to $250.
“Smoking is a personal deci-sion,” LaBonge said. “But so is the
decision not to smoke. If you haveto light-up a cigarette outside arestaurant or cafe, take a little walkdown the sidewalk while yousmoke. But don’t forget to pick-up
U.S. Representative HenryWaxman (D-LosAngeles) addressed a
crowd of approximately 75 peo-ple at the headquarters of theNational Council of JewishWomen, Los Angeles on Jan. 13,and spelled out some of the majorissues currently affectingCongress.
At the onset of the event,Waxman discussed the rampagein Tucson, Arizona on Jan. 8,where six people were killed andRep. Gabrielle Giffords was criti-cally wounded. Waxman said allmembers of Congress had been
warned to take reasonable pre-cautions following the shootingrampage, and he said both federaland local law enforcement agen-cies had taken steps to ensure hissafety. Waxman added that heconsiders the lack of a federalassault weapons ban to be one ofthe major issues at the root of therampage and other violencearound the country. The federalassault weapons ban was passedin 1994 and expired in 2004 with-out being reenacted. Severalattempts have been made to reen-act the legislation, but so far, allattempts have failed. He addedthat the progress Giffords is mak-ing in her recovery is encourag-ing, as was the speech made byPresident Barack Obama on Jan.12 in Tucson. Waxman alsodenounced the remarks by former
The drug salvia gained muchpublicity in December afterteen pop star Miley Cyrus
was allegedly smoking it from awater pipe in a video posted onYouTube. Salvia, a hallucinogenwhich has effects similar to LSD, ismade from an herb that commonlygrows naturally in Mexico andSouth America. It is sold openlyand legally at many smoke shops
and souvenir stores on HollywoodBoulevard and other places, and is agrowing concern amongst federallaw enforcement officials.
Salvia is legal in California, how-ever, and is not a controlled sub-stance under federal law. RustyPayne, a spokesperson for theFederal Drug Enforcement Agency(DEA), said people should beaware of the dangerous effects ofsalvia. The DEA classifies it as a
When Jorge Maldonadocame back to coach theHollywood High
School boys soccer team this year,he noticed a very key componentwas missing. The HollywoodSheiks finished 4-4-5 last seasonand Maldonado attributed thelackluster year to a lack of disci-pline. His first day on the job, theteam already knew he would notput up with any nonsense.
“Last year this team had a lot ofinfighting and received a lot ofdumb cards [penalties] on thefield,” Maldonado said. “I bring alot of discipline to this team andthey knew that right off the batbecause of my reputation.”
Maldonado has been involvedwith Hollywood High School foralmost 15 years. He started as amath teacher in July 1996 and,aside from the 2003-04 schoolyear and last year, has taught at theschool ever since.
Maldonado coached Sheiksboys’ soccer from 1997 to 2003and girls’ softball in 2001. Heswitched to coaching the girls soc-cer team from 2006 to 2009. Hewent 42-10-4 while coaching the
Volume 21 No. 3 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities January 20, 2011
INSIDE• Budget cuts
may impact JFS.pg. 3
• LAUSD reviewssafety policy. pg. 4
Clear andbreezy, withtemps around68º
See Salvia page 20
See Waxman page 22
BY EDWIN FOLVEN
BY EDWIN FOLVEN
See Soccer page 21
See Patio Smoking page 22
���������������� �������������������
������������������������������������ �!"������������������� #������!���! ��$
WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM
n Ban Goes Into Effect Mar. 8
n House RepealedHealthcare ActWednesday
photo by Rafael Guerrero
Some smokers were still lighting up on the patio of the Starbucks onMelrose Avenue after the chain announced a ban on smoking last week.
n Substance is Considered a ʻDrug of Concernʼ
n Soccer Players Look to Improve Their Record
photo by Rafael Guerrero
The Hollywood High School varsity boyʼs soccer team is off to a faststart this year after missing the playoffs last season.
Coach Kick Starts Team at Hwd. High
Patios Off Limits for Smokers
Salvia Sales Rise as DEAWarns About Dangers
Waxman Addresses TucsonShooting, Healthcare at NCJW
photo by Edwin Folven
Salvia is sold in different concentrations at many of the smoke shops onHollywood Boulevard, including Black Myst.
BY RAFAEL GUERRERO
BY RAFAEL GUERRERO
22 Green Homes
Real Estate agent Todd Dwyer ishosting a free “Green Your
Home Expo” on Saturday, Jan. 22from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exhibitorsinclude ECOLA Pest & Termite,American Vision Solar, Verengo SolarPlus, Garden of Eva Landscaping,Discover Green Building Materials,Melaleuca, and more. John C.Fremont Branch Library, 6121Melrose Ave. (310)500-7801,www.todddwyer.com.
Art Exhibition
The Luis De Jesus presents twoexhibitions titled “Margie
Livingston: Paint Objects” and“Geoffrey Todd-Smith: Casual X”running from Saturday, Jan. 22through Feb. 26. A reception is sched-uled on Jan. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at thegallery in Bergamot Station F2, 2525Michigan Ave., Santa Monica.(310)453-7773, orwww.luisdejesus.com.
Al Jarreau
The Pepperdine University Centerfor the Arts is holding an evening
with vocalist Al Jarreau on Saturday,Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. Jarreau has wonGrammy Awards in the jazz, pop, andR&B categories, and will performmany of his well-known songs,including those from his recentrecording, “The Very Best of AlJarreau: An Excellent Adventure”.Pepperdine University’s SmothersTheatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy.(800)982-2787, www.arts.pepper-dine.edu.
23 Organ Recital
Organist Dr. Carol Williamsmakes her Walt Disney Concert
Hall debut on Sunday, Jan. 23 at 7:30p.m. with a program representing bothtraditional pipe organ styles and anexploration of what the instrumentcan do with lighter, popular musicinfluences. The performance willinclude works by Bach, Reger,Bedard, Beethoven, Willscher, Glass,Jongen, Idenstam and Jenkins. An“Upbeat Live” event takes place in theBP Hall at 6:30 p.m. hosted byThomas Neenan, lecturer in musichistory and theory at Caltech. Ticketsare $30-$54. Walt Disney ConcertHall, 111 S. Grand Ave. (323)850-2000, www.laphil.com.
Holocaust Lecture
The Museum of Tolerance is hold-ing a free lecture titled “Shush!
Growing Up Jewish Under Stalin” onSunday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 p.m. Authorand Professor Emil Draitser will leadthe lecture about conditions in theanti-Semitic, post-Holocaust SovietUnion. A book signing will follow theprogram. The Museum of Tolerance,9786 West Pico Blvd. (310)772-2526,wwwmuseumoftolerance.com.
25 ComedyShowcase
GravityWorks presents a sketchcomedy showcase on Tuesday,
Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. The weekly showincludes guest performers, top-billedcomedians, magicians, and a varietyof musical guests. The Dragonfly,6510 Santa Monica Blvd. www.gravi-tyworktheshow.com.
Itzhak Perlman
Violinist Itzhak Perlman will per-form on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 8
p.m. at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.The recital will feature music byLeclair, Beethoven and Saint-Saëns.Perlman will be joined by pianist
Rohan De Silva. Tickets are $38 to$99. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S.Grand Ave. (323)850-2000,www.laphil.com.
26 LomographyWorkshop
The Lomography Gallery StoreL.A. is holding a workshop
titled “Spool is in Session” onWednesday, Jan. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m.The workshop will cover informa-tion on Lomography and the differ-ent ways to use film in analog pho-tography. Lomography Gallery StoreL.A., 7998 Santa Monica Blvd.(323) 301.1414,www.lomography.com.
27 Roe v. WadeDiscussion
The City of West Hollywood’sWomen’s Advisory Board and
the National Council of JewishWomen/Los Angeles (NCJW-LA)present a free panel discussion titled“Roe v. Wade…The ImminentThreat” on Thursday, Jan. 27 from11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at theNational Council of JewishWomen/Los Angeles, 543 N. FairfaxAve. The program commemoratesthe 38th anniversary of the landmarkU.S. Supreme Court decision thatlegalized abortion, and will focus onthe ongoing advocacy efforts in sup-port of women’s reproductive rights.Refreshments provided. Admissionis free. (323)852-8503, or e-mailruth@ncjwla.org.
Theatre Festival
The Los Angeles Theatre Centeris hosting the second annual
LATC Playwrights Festival runningfrom Thursday, Jan. 27 through 30.The free festival begins on Jan. 27 at7 p.m. with a staged reading of “TheDevil’s Advocate”, followed eachday with works by numerous estab-lished and emerging playwrights.Readings will be followed by anopen dialogue between the play-wrights and audiences. LATC, 514 S.Spring St. www.thelatc.org.
Contemporary Art
Art Los Angeles Contemporary,the international contemporary
art fair of the West Coast, runsThursday, Jan. 27 through 30. The fairfeatures top established and emerginggalleries from Los Angeles and acrossthe globe, a newly established solosection, a conversation series, art per-formances and screenings. Formerlyat the Pacific Design Center, the eventwill take place at the Barker Hangar atthe Santa Monica airport, 3021Airport Ave. (323)851-7530.www.artlosangelesfair.com.
Ongoing
A Noise Within (ANW) reprises itshilarious and critically acclaimed pro-duction “Noises Off” for 10 perfor-mances running through Sunday, Jan.30. The production focuses on a bum-bling troupe of veteran thespiansreadying themselves for the worldpremiere of a new play with the auspi-cious title, “Nothing On”. Tickets are$46. A Noise Within, 234 S. BrandBlvd., Glendale. (818)240-0910 ext.1, www.ANoiseWithin.org.
Just Down the Road
The Fillmore & Western Railway isholding a series of special events
in January, including “SaturdayScenic Excursions Train Rides” onJan. 22 and 29; the “Viva Lost Vegas’Murder Mystery Dinner Train” onJan. 29. The “Saturday ScenicExcursions Train Rides” allow partic-ipants to relax onboard the train invintage 1930’s passenger or diningcars for a journey through century-oldcitrus and avocado groves to stops atthe Loose Caboose Garden Center andGift Emporium, and downtown SantaPaula. The train departs Fillmore at11:30 a.m., and returns at 3:30 p.m.Tickets are $24. The “Murder MysteryDinner Train”, which runs from 6:30to 9:30 p.m., takes participants on asymbolic trip to Las Vegas to enjoythe “Rat Pack” and other celebrities.The trip includes dinner and entertain-ment by the P. Maxwell Productionstroupe. Tickets are $89; reservationsrequired. (805)524-2546 or (800) 773-8724, www.fwry.com.
2 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
C a l e n d a r
photo courtesy of Christine Retzer
Inside the Ford presents stagings of the comedy play “Free” runningSaturday, Jan. 22 through Feb. 27. The whimsical comedy features GregAlbanese and Michael Earl Reid, and explores the boundaries of friend-ship and gravity. It is based on Marshall “Free” Gunther, who has to workat keeping himself tethered to the ground. “Free” wants more than any-thing to be normal, and when he decides he would rather clean motelrooms than defy gravity for indifferent audiences, he finds that the gift hedoesnʼt want has touched more lives than he realized. John Anson FordTheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East. Tickets are $20. (323)461-3673,www.FordTheatres.org.
Cathedral Chapel School Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
755 South Cochran Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90036A Member of the Miracle Mile Community since 1930
Call for information:(323)938-9976
www.cathedralchapelschool.org
����������������������� �� ��
� � ���������������������������������������� �� �� !��"���#����
������$��%&���'��������&����
(� �� ��)"")�"���#���������
�*��������������������������+������������������+���������,
-�*������������� �� �������*�&����(�� �������+������������� ��.� ���+��������
�/����������������+��
Following an accidentalshooting that took placeTuesday at Gardena High
School, Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District (LAUSD)incoming superintendent JohnDeasy has said that the schoolwas not following district policy.The policy requires schools toconduct random checks withmetal detector wands, and theLAUSD has zero-toleranceregarding guns on campus.
At Hollywood High School onWednesday, assistant principaland counselor, Dr. EmmaJeanette Burns, said her studentswere not in a rush to talk about it.
“Just another normal day,nothing out of the ordinary,”
Burns said.But the school, which has a
student population of approxi-mately 1,650, has a proactiveapproach with helping troubledteens.
“We rely on the students,”Burns said. “If they see anythingsuspicious, we want them toreport it. Then, we’ll call in thatstudent at random so we don’tfrighten them or single themout.”
Even though the school does-n’t have metal detectors, Burnssaid school personnel are vigilantabout keeping students safe, andthe school does conduct randomchecks with the hand-held secu-rity wands.
“If a student’s wearing a back-pack all day long, there’s some-thing going on,” she said.
If a student is caught with aweapon at Hollywood High,Burns said the school police
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 3 January 20, 2011
When governor Jerry Brownproposed his budget for the
2011-12 fiscal year on Jan. 11, oneof the programs that looks to be hitthe hardest is the MultipurposeSenior Service Program (MSSP)offered through Medi-Cal, thestate’s health insurance program.
MSSP aids more than 12,000seniors each month in California.The Jewish Family Service of LosAngeles (JFSLA) has been a part ofthe program since 1978 and cur-rently aids more than 680 seniors inthe city with cost-effective nursingcare and other services providedthrough the program. MSSP is cur-rently funded for $19.9 million.
“While the State of California’ssafety net is already frayed from thelast two years of cuts, the proposedbudget cuts would create massiveholes in social services funding thatwould be all but impossible torepair,” said Paul S. Castro, CEO ofJFSLA.
The program serves seniors overthe age of 65 who are eligible forMedi-Cal. JFSLA has five seniorcenters located in Los Angeles andpotential clients are referred bysocial workers at the centers. Theclients are then assigned a socialworker and a nurse who visits theclient once a month to check ontheir status. The program also pro-vides clients with transportation tothe hospital when needed.
“We understand that in order forthese people to stay healthy theyneed to keep their doctor’s appoint-ments and we help them with thetransportation if need be,” Castrosaid.
MSSP also provides other ser-vices, such as housekeeping, tohelp relatives care for the seniors inthe home. They also send out anurse to care for the client if the rel-ative is not able to on a particular
day.“It’s a cost-effective way to get
in-home nursing treatment,” saidDavid Gershwin, spokesperson forJFSLA.
A fact sheet provided by MSSPclaimed that the public costs oftreating an MSSP patient were 47percent lower than the cost of nurs-ing home care. It also claimed if the
Senior Services Face Cuts in State Budget
photo by Rafael Guerrero
Services at the Jewish Family Servicesʼ Freda Mohr MultipurposeCenter on Fairfax Avenue could be jeopardized under the state budgetproposed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
n JFS Looks for New Ways to Fill Gaps n Hollywood High
Takes Steps to Prevent Incidents
See Budget Cuts page 21
See School page 21
BY RAFAEL GUERRERO
“These seniorsare probably
going to have tostay home andthey will die.”
-Paul S. Castro, CEO of JFSLA.
School Shooting in GardenaPrompts Look at Procedures
BY NU YANG
4 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
Complete Automotive Service - We Do It All!• Tires• Brakes• Shocks & Struts
• Lube & Oil• Air Conditioning• Wheel Alignment
• CV Boots• Timing Belts• Water Pumps
• Foreign & Domestic
• All Years, Makes & Models
• Latest Computerized Diagnostic Services
• Computerized Customer Service Files
105 South Fairfax Ave. at 1st St.(323)931-1481 • (323)936-6141
Chuck’s Auto &Chuck’s Auto & Dream Machines, Inc. Dream Machines, Inc.
Classic FordMustangs
1965-1970Sales &
RestorationServing the
Fairfax District for 50 Years
Awater leak at the corner ofWilloughby Avenue and
Crescent Heights Boulevard causedby a malfunctioning copper pipewas repaired Tuesday, according toa spokesperson with the LosAngeles Department of Water andPower.
The cause of the damage to thepipe, which is one to two inches indiameter, was not determined, nor
was the period of time the pipe wasleaking.
Some residents in the areaclaimed that the water had beenseeping through the street for a fewmonths and that repeated requestsfor repairs were not answered.
“Given the speed of car traveland the volume of traffic, the con-dition of the road is a disaster wait-ing to happen,” local residentMatthew Jacobs said.
The LADWP said reports of thewater leak were received on Jan.11, and crews moved as quickly aspossible to make the repairs.
DWP Crews Fix Flooding on Crescent Heights
City Hits Milestone in Renewable Energy Goals
n Cause of Pipe RuptureUnder InvestigationBY RAFAEL GUERRERO
Fire Causes Major Damagein Hollywood Home
photo by Edwin Folven
Investigators with the Los Angeles Fire Departmentʼs Arson Unit arelooking into the cause of a fire that damaged a residence on LelandWay on Jan. 14. The fire was reported at 2:15 p.m. at the house at 6816 Leland Way,just west of Highland Avenue. The arriving firefighters found heavysmoke and flames coming from the residence, and quickly beganefforts to fight the blaze from the exterior and the interior, accordingto LAFD spokesperson Erik Scott. Firefighters cut a hole in the roofto ventilate the building, and determined that the flames had spreadto two rooms inside the house. Approximately 40 firefighters extin-guished the blaze in 20 minutes, but personnel were at the scenefor several hours to ensure that no embers were smoldering withinthe walls or attic, Scott said. The cause and damage estimate isunder investigation, and a result will not be available until at leastnext week, according to a spokesperson for the LAFD Arson Unit.
The Los Angeles Department ofWater and Power (DWP)
recently achieved the major mile-stone in 2010 of providing 20 per-cent of the city’s power fromrenewable energy sources. Theachievement was hailed by LosAngeles Mayor AntonioVillaraigosa, environmental leadersand representatives from the DWP.
“When I became mayor, I set agoal to generate twenty pecent ofthe city’s power from renewableenergy sources by 2010 and I amproud to say that we have achievedthat goal,” Villaraigosa said. “Wewent from worst to first andquadrupled our renewable energyportfolio in a few short years whilealso keeping our rates lower thanother major utilities. [This]announcement illustrates that theDWP is a national leader in cost-effective, environmentally respon-sible and reliable energy.”
In 2005, Villaraigosa and theLADWP made a commitment toincrease the utility’s use of clean,green renewable energy from fivepercent to 20 percent by 2010. Thisamount of renewable power pro-vided to customers — 4,500gigawatt-hours (GWh) — is equiv-alent to annually removing 750,000homes from the power grid, pre-venting 2.5 million metric tons ofCO2 emissions, or removing nearly490,000 cars from the road.The 20 percent goal has beenachieved through a combination ofmajor projects and power agree-ments. In June 2009, the DWPbegan full operation of the Pine
Tree Wind Power Plant — thenation’s largest wind farm ownedby a municipal utility. Wind powercomprised nearly 50 percent of allof the DWP’s renewable energy in2010, with hydro-electric projectscontributing 30 percent, geother-mal and biofuels making up 22 per-cent, and solar contributing onepercent. In addition to achieving 20percent renewable energy in 2010,the DWP has reduced its carbonemissions to 22 percent below1990 levels through a combinationof expanding renewable energy;replacing old generators with effi-
cient and ultra-clean power plants;and promoting energy efficiencyamong its customers. The DWP isalso currently making a transitionaway from coal-generated power,and in 2010, only 39 percent of itspower portfolio came from coal.
In 2011, the DWP will continueto develop new wind and solar pro-jects close to existing transmissionlines and other infrastructure. Theplan includes local in-basin solarand a feed-in tariff program whichwould allow private parties to sellpower to the DWP for distributionon the power grid.
16,000 Potholes Fixed DuringWeekend Operation
Federal Grants to Help SchoolsBecome More Energy Efficient
Los Angeles City CouncilPresident Eric Garcetti, 13th
District, has announced that morethan 16,000 potholes were filled onJan. 8 and 9 as part of “OperationPothole”.
Fifty city crews were dispatchedto fix potholes that were reportedby residents across the city. Someresidents may wonder why pot-holes they reported were not imme-diately fixed, and in most cases, thereason is that the reported damageto the asphalt is not actually a pot-hole. Different types of damagerequire different equipment andmaterial to fix the problems. Edgecracking and other types of cracksin the asphalt can be caused by poordrainage, an inadequate base, or
heavy loads. In these cases, work-ers must determine the cause of thecrack and repair it accordingly.
Other damage that will requiremore extensive repairs includesraveling, which occurs when parti-cles of asphalt wear away, leavingbehind a rough surface. Ravelingrequires a different kind of patchthan a pothole, as does rutting,which is a permanent deformationof the pavement due to repeatedexposure to heavy loads. Often, rut-ting occurs along the wheel path inthe street, and is typically addressedby resurfacing the thoroughfare.
Residents are still encouraged toreport the locations of potholes andother damage through the city’sinformation line at 311.State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Torlakson haslaunched an effort to ensure that alarger number of future school pro-jects incorporate energy efficiencyand renewable power. Torlaksonmade the announcement during aceremony toaward $848 mil-lion in federaltax credits for awide variety ofschool construc-tion projects.
“It makes nosense to teach thenext generationof California’sstudents in facili-ties that are relicsof the past, pow-ered by energysources that areout of touch withour state’srenewable fu-ture,” Torlaksonsaid. “Investingin energy efficiency will help ourschools save money – now and overthe long run, and show students thatwe’re concerned about the environ-ment and their future.”
Torlakson said he was creating aSchools of the Future team, com-
prised of education, state, labor, andbusiness leaders to make it easierfor schools to build energy efficien-cy into every project, remove regu-latory barriers, and identify poten-tial funding sources. The team willalso make recommendations on the
Department ofEducation’s rolein the process,including identi-fying best prac-tices and provid-ing technicalassistance toschool districts.The panel will beco-chaired byCesar Diaz, leg-islative director ofthe State Buildingand ConstructionTrades Council ofCalifornia, andStephen E.Rogers, boardvice president ofthe San Mateo
Union High School District, withadditional members to be named inthe next few weeks. The CDEreceived 130 applications for thecredits, totaling more than $2.5 bil-lion. For a complete list visitwww.cde.ca.gov.
“It makes nosense to teach
the next generation ofCalifornia’s students in
facilities thatare relics of the
past.”-State Superintendent of
Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
photo by Edwin Folven
6 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
������������ ����������������� ���
������������ ����������� !"�#$$�!!!"
%��������� ��&��������������� ������'(($!)
Los Angeles City Councilmem-ber Tom LaBonge, (left), 4th
District, joined Enayet Hossain,consul general for L.A. forBangladesh, and City CouncilPresident Eric Garcetti, 13thDistrict, on Jan. 15 help to hang theLittle Bangladesh sign at 3rd Streetand Alexandria Avenue.
The ceremony commemoratedthe designation of LittleBangladesh, which is located in afive-block area around 3rd Streetand Alexandria Avenue, as an offi-cial district within the city. Otherofficials in attendance includedMayor Antonio Villaraigosa, cityCouncilmember Jan Perry, 9thDistrict, and L.A. County SheriffLee Baca. The district is adjacent toKoreatown.
“Los Angeles is a place that wel-comes people from all over theworld to come and build theirdreams,” LaBonge said, “Namingcommunities allows all people totake pride in their neighborhoodand promotes a village-like atmos-phere in this great metropolis.”
The idea for the LittleBangladesh District was proposedby long-time Los Angeles residentsMominul Huq Bachu andMuhammad Shamin Hussain, whobegan the effort in 2001. LaBonge
worked with local Korean andBangladeshi leaders to set theboundaries of the new district.
“This is our identity,” Hussainsaid. “We’re so happy that inAmerica, in Los Angeles, we get tocelebrate that identity. We plan tocreate more business, more culturein Little Bangladesh. We’vealready seen more interest from the
Bangladeshi community in startinga business in Little Bangladesh.”
Approximately 40,000 to 50,000Bangladeshis currently live in LosAngeles.
ʻLittle Bangladesh ̓Becomes Official District
photo courtesy of the 4th Council District Office
First 5 Commission Fills Gapsin Funding for Childcare
Project Begins To BeautifyOlympic Boulevard
The First 5 L.A. Commission hasvoted to re-allocate $10 million
to CalWORKS Stage 3 child careproviders in Los Angeles County tocover payments for February andMarch.
The commission’s action re-allo-cates previously approved butunused funds that the state budgetwould not have covered for thosemonths. State Assembly SpeakerJohn Perez (D-Los Angeles) hasalready introduced legislation that isexpected to restore state funding toCalWORKs Stage 3, and Gov. JerryBrown’s budget proposal includes
CalWORKS Stage 3 childcare fund-ing starting in April. In late October,First 5 L.A. approved transitionalfunding to restore the CalWORKSchildcare program in response to theelimination of childcare for nearly7,000 children in L.A. Countywhose parents have successfullymoved off welfare. TheCommission also acted earlier toavert a local childcare crisis trig-gered by former Gov. ArnoldSchwarzenegger’s veto of $256 mil-lion from the “welfare-to-work”program. For information, visitwww.first5la.org.
The Community RedevelopmentAgency of the City of Los
Angeles (CRA/LA) recently brokeground on the Olympic BoulevardStreetscape Project, which willinclude improvements in theKoreatown area.
The $6 million streetscape pro-ject is located within the CRA/LA’sWilshire Center/KoreatownRecovery Redevelopment Area.Over the last several years,Councilmember Herb Wesson, 10thDistrict, the CRA/LA and the city’sBureau of Street Services (BSS)have worked closely with commu-
nity groups and the KoreanAmerican Chamber of Commerceof Los Angeles to design changes toOlympic Boulevard. AlthoughOlympic Boulevard is a major thor-oughfare, many people believed itlacked distinct features that identi-fied it as Koreatown’s center.Improvements will include gate-ways and signage; landscapedmedians and monuments; decora-tive crosswalks; and bus stop,pedestrian and sidewalk improve-ments. Construction is expected totake approximately one year. Forinformation, visit www.crala.org.
City Council Approves NewGeneral Manager for DWP The Los Angeles City Council
on Tuesday approved theselection of Ron Nichols as thenew general manager of the LosAngeles Department of Waterand Power (DWP).
“With over thirty years ofexperience in the utility industry,Ron Nichols has the practicalexpertise and vision to keep theDWP a national leader in cost-effective, environmentally-sus-tainable and reliable energy,”Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.“Mr. Nichols will hold the DWPto the highest standards of trans-parency and accountability toensure that the department ismaking smart investments tomeet our environmental regula-tions while also keeping the costslower than other major utilities.”
Nichols, an energy and waterutility industry expert, wasappointed to the position inDecember by the Board of Waterand Power Commissioners, but
the appointment was subject tocity council approval. In 2007, hewas part of a diverse team for theCalifornia Energy Commission,evaluating the effects of alterna-tive levels of energy efficiencyand renewable energy on carbonlevels and electricity costs inCalifornia. In the aftermath of the2000-2001 energy crisis, Nicholshelped return the state’s electrici-ty market to normal by arrangingfor more than 10,000 megawattsof power supply contracts.
“The Department faces largechallenges, but with challengecomes opportunity,” Nicholssaid. “I look forward to havingthe opportunity to work withMayor Villaraigosa, members ofthe city council, the Board ofWater and PowerCommissioners, and the hard-working staff of the LADWP torebuild the department, restoreits credibility with its customersand ensure its future success.”.
14 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
The following information was reported to the West Hollywood Sheriff’sStation and the LAPD’s Wilshire Division between Jan. 8 and Jan. 15, 2011.If you are a victim of a crime, here are the telephone numbers of local lawenforcement agencies; Los Angeles Police Department, Wilshire Division
(323)485-4022 and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department WestHollywood Station (310)855-8850.
POLICE BLOTTER
The following crimes occurred inWest Hollywood between Jan. 8and Jan. 15, and were compiledfrom www.crimereports.com.
Jan. 8
At 12:35 a.m., an unknown sus-pect was involved in a domesticviolence incident in the 600 blockof N. Robertson.
A stolen vehicle was recovered inthe 300 block of Robertson at 1:12a.m.
At 1:30 a.m., an unknown suspectphysically assaulted a victim in the600 block of N. Robertson.
An unknown suspect physicallyassaulted a victim in the 600 blockof La Peer at 2:27 a.m.
At 3 a.m., an unknown suspectstole a vehicle parked in the 9000block of Keith.
An unknown suspect burglarized abusiness in the 1100 block of N. LaBrea at 6:30 a.m.
At 9 p.m., an unknown suspectphysically assaulted a victim nearthe corner of Fountain and Kings.
Jan. 9
At 12:45 a.m., an unknown sus-pect assaulted a victim in the 7900block of Santa Monica.
An unknown suspect burglarized avehicle parked in the 9000 block ofAshcroft at 2 a.m.
At 5:30 p.m., an unknown suspectburglarized a vehicle parked in the1000 block of Stanley.
Jan. 10
At 12:25 a.m., an unknown sus-pect robbed a victim at a businessin the 8300 block of Sunset.
An unknown suspect assaulted avictim in the 1000 block ofHancock at 7 p.m.
Jan. 11
At 3 a.m., an unknown suspectphysically assaulted a victim nearthe corner of San Vicente andSanta Monica.
An unknown suspect committed atheft at a residence in the 7100block of Lexington at 9:45 a.m.
At 5 p.m., an unknown suspectburglarized a business in the 9000block of Melrose.
An unknown suspect physicallyassaulted a victim during a domes-tic violence incident in the 8100block of Norton at 7:50 p.m.
Jan. 12
At 3 a.m., an unknown suspectburglarized a vehicle parked in the1200 block of Spaulding.
An unknown suspect stole a bicy-cle in the 1200 block of Hayworthat 9:30 a.m.
At 5:12 p.m., an unknown suspectphysically assaulted a victim inthe 8200 block of Sunset.
An unknown suspect burglarizeda vehicle parked in the 1200 blockof Sweetzer at 5:30 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., an unknown suspectburglarized a residence in the1200 block of N. Sweetzer.
An unknown suspect robbed avictim in the 7800 block of SantaMonica at 8:10 p.m.
Jan. 13
At 12:50 p.m., an unknown sus-pect assaulted a victim in the9000 block of Sunset.
An unknown suspect burglarizeda vehicle parked in the 8200 blockof Norton at 1:39 a.m.
At 4 p.m., an unknown suspectassaulted a victim during adomestic violence incident in the700 block of Westbourne.
An unknown suspect committed atheft in the 900 block of Kings at 5p.m.
At 11 p.m., an unknown suspectstole a vehicle parked in the 8800block of Santa Monica.
Jan. 14
At 1:15 a.m., an unknown suspectassaulted a victim in the 8800block of Santa Monica.
An unknown suspect committed atheft from a business in the 8700block of Melrose at 3 a.m.
At 11:20 p.m., an unknown sus-pect committed a theft at a resi-dence in the 1100 block of Fuller.
Jan. 15
At 7 p.m., an unknown suspectburglarized a vehicle parked inthe 500 block of Hollywood.
Police Seek Robbery SuspectInvestigators from the Los
Angeles Police Department’sWilshire Division are searchingfor a male suspect who brieflykidnapped and robbed a victim onJan. 11 near Pico Boulevard andBronson Avenue.
Officers received a radio callabout the kidnapping and robberyaround 8:45 p.m. The unidenti-fied victim was parking her vehi-cle in a dimly lit, covered parkinggarage located to the rear of herapartment complex near PicoBoulevard and Bronson Avenue,and as she was exiting her vehi-cle, the male suspect approachedher from behind, covered hermouth and immediately forcedhis way inside her vehicle.
The victim believed the suspecthad a gun. He forced her to drive
to an ATM in an undisclosed loca-tion and withdraw money. Thesuspect then forced the victim todrop him off near NormandieBoulevard and 30th Street. Thesuspect is described as an AfricanAmerican man approximatelyfive-feet-eight-inches tall and 170pounds. He was wearing a blackjacket, gray hooded sweatshirt,gray baggy sweat pants and dark-colored work boots. Throughoutthe robbery, the lower portion ofthe suspect’s face was coveredwith a dark colored shirt.
Anyone with information isasked to call Wilshire AreaRobbery Det. Raul Soto at(213)922-8205. During weekendsand off-hours, call the LAPD’s24-hour, toll-free information lineat (877)LAPD247.
Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Police Department
The suspect who kidnapped and robbed a female victim in the Wilshirearea was captured on surveillance camera footage.
Information Sought on Hit-and-Run DriverDetectives with the Los
Angeles Police Depart -ment’s Central Traffic Divisionare seeking information that willlead to the arrest of personresponsible for the death of 53-year-old Norbert Keilbach, a res-ident of Los Angeles.
On Dec. 5 around 6:50 p.m.,Keilbach was walking acrossAlvarado Street near the inter-
section of Court Street when hewas struck by a vehicle headingnorth on Alvarado. The vehiclecontinued on Alvarado Streetwithout stopping, and the drivernever rendered help or providedidentifying information, asrequired by law. Investigators donot have a description of thevehicle or the driver.
Keilbach was transported to
the hospital in critical condition,and died on Dec. 14. The LosAngeles City Council recentlyapproved a $50,000 reward inthe case. Anyone with informa-tion is urged to call CentralTraffic Det. Padilla or Mapson at(213)485-1383. During week-ends and off-hours, call theLAPD’s 24-hour, toll-free hot-line at (877)LAPD247.
Aformer juvenile probation campteacher accused of staging
fights between students from oppos-ing gangs pleaded no contest to sixfelony counts on Jan. 18, the LosAngeles County District Attorney’sOffice has announced.
Stephen Wesley, 44, pleaded nocontest to six felony counts of childabuse as part of the case, and isexpected to be sentenced to 180 daysin county jail and one year of angermanagement. Additionally, Wesleywill lose his teaching credential,according to Deputy DistrictAttorney Ilean Richard.
Wesley pleaded “open” to the
court, meaning a sentence was notnegotiated with the DistrictAttorney’s Office. Judge TerrySmerling scheduled a sentencinghearing on April 15.
Wesley was a substitute teacher atCamp Karl Holton, a juvenile proba-tion camp in Los Angeles County,where he taught math and science toteenage boys between the ages of 13and 17. On Aug. 8, 2008, the defen-dant allegedly matched up six stu-dents from rival gangs to fight. Theincident was captured on video,Richard said. Camp Holton has sincebeen closed.
Former Camp Teacher PleadsNo Contest in Child Abuse
Counterfeit Cigarettes SeizedThe U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) Departmenthas seized a shipment of counterfeitMarlboro cigarettes that was beingsmuggled into Los Angeles.
The counterfeit cigarettes are fromChina and have an estimated manu-facturer’s suggested retail price of$1.1 million. As an attempt to mis-lead CBP and circumvent U.S. fed-eral laws, smugglers falsely invoicedthe shipment as hang tags and hangplugs. Examination of the merchan-dise revealed a total of 22,170 car-tons, equivalent to over 4.4 millionindividual cigarettes, in violation ofthe Marlboro Light 100’s andMarlboro Gold Pack trademarks.
Counterfeit cigarettes not onlyaffect trademark owners, but defraudconsumers and deprive the govern-
ment of tax revenue. Consumersthink they pay less for a genuineproduct, when in reality they payless for a product of substandardquality. Organized crime organiza-tions smuggle counterfeit cigarettesbecause of the potential for substan-tial profits. Much of these profitsfund other criminal activities,including money laundering and ter-rorism.
Importers violating intellectualproperty rights may be subject tocivil penalties and criminal prosecu-tion. In 2009, 14,841 seizures ofcounterfeit and pirated goods, with atotal domestic value of $260.7 mil-lion, were intercepted in the UnitedStates.
For information, visitwww.cbp.gov.
LAPD Schedules Sobriety CheckpointsThe Los Angeles Police
Department has received a grantto combat drunk driving and holdsobriety checkpoints, including onescheduled on Friday, Jan. 21 onVermont Avenue between 5th and6th Streets.
Funding for checkpoints is pro-vided to the LAPD by a grant fromthe California Office of TrafficSafety, through the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministration. The checkpoints area proven law enforcement tooleffective in reducing the number ofpersons killed and injured in alcoholinvolved crashes. Officers will bechecking drivers who pass throughthe checkpoint for signs of alcoholor drug impairment. and properlicensing. If officers suspect that adriver has been drinking or isimpaired, they will conduct fieldsobriety tests.
A conviction for drunk drivingnow includes jail time, fines andfees that can exceed $10,000. Firsttime convicted drunk drivingoffenders also are required to havean ignition interlock device installedin their cars under a pilot program inCalifornia that was initiated by StateAssemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles).
Statewide, overall traffic deathshave declined by 23 percent, from3,995 in 2007 to 3,081 in 2009. Themost recent year that statistics areavailable. Total traffic fatalities areat their lowest levels in six decades,when the federal government begancompiling figures. Driving underthe influence deaths declined by 16percent, from 1,132 in 2007 to 950in 2009, according to federal statis-tics. Alcohol impaired deaths stillmake up the largest category ofoverall vehicle fatalities, with 31percent of all deaths caused by adrunk or impaired driver.
“Everyone in California shouldbe heartened with these figures,”said Christopher J. Murphy, directorof the California Office of TrafficSafety (OTS). “But as encouragingas this is, we can’t let up on theefforts to encourage and supporttraffic safety.”
Officers will bechecking drivers
who passthrough the
checkpoint forsigns of alcohol
or drug impairment.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 15 January 20, 2011
Mrs. Arthur Lange, of Burnside Towers, was pictured on thecover of the Jan. 12, 1978 issue of the Park Labrea News.Lange, who had lived at Park La Brea for 23 years at the time,was a former star of stage and film who had appeared in theBroadway production, “Honeymoon Lane”. She later marriedArthur Lange, a composer, conductor and former music direc-tor for Fox Studios. After her husbandʼs death in 1956, Langebecame the manager of the Los Angeles office of the UnitedNations, and later retired. She said in an accompanying articlethat she was working on creating a memoir of her life, and hadbecome interested in studying psychic forces and mysticism.
‘Hollywood Lane’ StarPoses For the Camera
Wende Museum Hosts Berlin WallExhibit, Film Screening Jan. 20 The Mid City West Community
Council is promoting a rareopportunity to visit the WendeMuseum on Thursday, Jan. 20 andparticipate in a question and answersession on the Berlin Wall Exhibit,and view a film screening of adance performance on the MiracleMile.
The “In/Ex Dance Project”, acontemporary Los Angeles dancecompany, performed at the BerlinWall segments at 5900 Wilshirebuilding last October during theMiracle Mile Art Walk. The grouphas produced a film which will
screen at the Wende Museum the-atre.
The Wende Museum is a collec-tion-based research and educationinstitute that preserves Cold Warartifacts and history, makingresources available to scholars,and applying historical lessons ofthe past to the present.
A tour of the museum begins at4 p.m., followed by the program at5 p.m.
The Museum is located at 5741Buckingham Parkway, Suite E,Culver City. For information, visitwww.wendemuseum.org.
Womenʼs Group Celebrates 20 YearsThe Women’s Reproductive
Assistance Project (WRRAP)will celebrate the organization’s20th anniversary on Saturday, Jan.22 at 8 p.m. with a comedy benefittitled “Comic’s Choice Redux”,hosted by Wendy Hammers.
The event will also celebrate the38th anniversary of the landmarkU.S. Supreme Court decision, Roev. Wade, which legalized abortion.
Artists scheduled to appearinclude comedians Franklyn Ajaye(“National Lampoon’s HotFlashes”; “Car Wash”); JohnFugelsang (“Politically IncorrectWith Bill Maher”); Dana Gould(“The Simpsons”); Rich Overton(“The Informant”; “Leverage”);Paul Provenza (“Empty Nest”);Carrie Snow (“Roseanne”); andSuzanne Whang (“NYPD Blue”).
Eric Schwartz will appear as aspecial musical guest, and KellyCarlin, daughter of the late comedi-an, George Carlin, will also make aspecial appearance.
“’Comic’s Choice Redux’ is the13th comedy benefit to raisemoney for WRRAP, which workswith hundreds of clinics across thenation, including PlannedParenthood,” said Joyce Schorr,president and founder of WRRAP.“Women who cannot afford a safeand legal abortion are helped byWRRAP’s financial grants. Theprimary purpose for WRRAP’swork is for the safety of women,who would otherwise be forced tocarry a crisis pregnancy to term,which in their desperation couldcause great harm to themselves.”The event will be held at the
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N.Sepulveda Blvd. Tickets are $75.
For information, call (818)501-4286, or visit www.wrrap.org.
Local High School StudentsSelected for Spotlight AwardsNinety-one talented high school
students have been selected asperforming arts semifinalists forthe 23rd annual Music CenterSpotlight Awards.
The young artists were selectedfrom nearly 1,200 SouthernCalifornia students who auditionedin six categories, including ballet,non-classical dance, classicalvoice, non-classical voice, classicalinstrumental and jazz instrumentalmusic.
Students from the local areaincluded Kacey Baughman, asenior at Hollywood High School,who was selected in the classicalvoice category.
Preliminary auditions for theMusic Center Spotlight Awardstook place from October toDecember, during which studentsperformed before panels of judges.
Students received detailed evalu-ations of their auditions, intendedto help them improve their per-forming and auditioning tech-
niques. The judges chose the top 15students in each category, who nowadvance to the semifinals.
The 91 semifinalists receive aunique opportunity to attend spe-cial master classes with highlyregarded professional artists whooffer in-depth insight on perfor-mance technique, training and pro-fessional life. Each semifinalistwill audition again before a newpanel of judges, who will thenselect the top two finalist perform-ers in each category. The MusicCenter will announce 12 perform-ing arts finalists in March 1, withthe final competition at the MusicCenter’s theater on April 30.
The Music Center SpotlightAwards program is a performingand visual arts education programsfor teens, offering training in thearts and awarding more than$100,000 in scholarships annually.For information, call (213)972-3300, or visit musiccenter.org.
Campaign Aims to Make Resturants Gun-FreeThe California Chapters of the
Brady Campaign to PreventGun Violence are launching apublic service campaign titled“Demand Gun-free Dining-California Project”, which calls onall restaurants and businessesthroughout the state to adopt gun-free policies to protect patrons andemployees.
California Brady Campaignpresident Dallas Stout kicked offthe project by sending a letter tothe California RestaurantAssociation asking them to informtheir members about the work-place safety issue of the danger ofallowing guns into restaurants,particularly those that serve alco-hol. Stout said the campaign iseven more pertinent now after the
tragic shootings in Tucson,Arizona.
The California BradyCampaign members are alarmedat the “gun gatherings” organizedby groups advocating “OpenCarry” policies over the Internet,where they meet at restaurantscarrying guns holstered to belts,with the live ammunition clipsreadily available.
“This public display and flaunt-ing of semi-automatic handgunweaponry puts restaurant employ-ees and customers at risk of anaccident or vigilante-type incidentwhere innocent bystanders couldget shot,” said Shikha Hamilton,spokesperson for the CaliforniaBrady Campaign. “The CaliforniaBrady Campaign will do all it can
to help keep our families andcommunities safe from gun vio-lence.”
The California BradyCampaign is calling uponCalifornia businesses and retailestablishments to bar open andconcealed carrying of guns intheir places of business, whichthey have the right to do, with theexception of uniformed policeofficers.
California Brady Campaignmembers will be contactingrestaurants in their areas with apacket of information encourag-ing owners to adopt a gun-freedining policy.
For information, visitwww.bradycampaign.org/CA.
������������� ���������
��������
��� ��� ������� ��� ���� ��� ��������� ��� ��� � �� ������ ������������������� ����������������
������������������������������������ ��������������������������� � ���� �� �������� �� �� ������������ ������������������������������ �� ���� �� ��� ����������� ��� ������ ������������� ����������� ����� ������ ����� �������� ��������� �������� � ��������������� ������ ���
������������������ ��� ����� ��� ����� ������� �� ���������� ��������������� ��! �������������������� ������ ������ ����� ���� ��� ��� �� ������� ���� �������������������������� �������� ���������"���� ������� � ���� ������ ����� � ����� � ���������� ��� ������������������ ���� ������ � ���������� �� ������������� �� ������ ���� ������ �� ������ ���������� ������������ ��� ��������������#� ��������������� ������� ����������� ������ ����������������
����������������������������� ���� ��� � ������ ��������� ���� � �� �������� ��������������� �������������� ���� ��������������$��� ����� ��!�������� �������� ���������� ������� � �������� ������������������� ������������������� ���� �� � ����� ������ ��� �������������� �������������������������������� ������������������ ���������������������� �������� ��� ������� �������������� ��������� �����
������ ��� ���
�������� ������������� !"� ���#!$%�&��' ���()�
�*"���+�!�"&�,���-))./0.(.1-/2345))
����������������� �����
�� *��� $ !�+����6*�7
������������������������ ������������������������������
���������������������� ����������� ����������������������
��������� ����
��������������
����������������� �����������������
����������
16 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
See Answers Page 22
Autry National Center Book Club Hosts AuthorThe Autry National Center’s
Book Club kicks off the NewYear with a discussion withauthor Maile Meloy on her criti-cally acclaimed book, “BothWays Is the Only Way I Want It”on Sunday, Jan. 23 from 2 to 4p.m.
Published in 2009, the collec-tion of short stories was includedin the “Best of 2009” lists of theNew York Times Book Review,Los Angeles Times andAmazon.com, and it also receiveda California Book Award silvermedal. The 11 new stories demon-strate the emotional power andthe style that have earned Meloypraise from critics and devotionfrom readers. Propelled by aninstinct for storytelling, and con-cerned with the convolutions ofmodern love and the importance
of place, the collection is aboutthe battlefields and victories thatexist in seemingly harmlessspaces such as kitchens, living
rooms and cars. Set mostly in theAmerican West, the stories fea-ture small-town lawyers, ranch-ers, doctors, parents, and children,and explore the moral quandariesof love, family, and friendship.
“Thanks to Meloy’s spare, sub-dued style, the death and infideli-ty running through these talesdon’t take on as grim a tone asyou’d expect. Only one story,about the murdered daughter,really makes you want to slit yourwrists; and, indeed, a wry humorappears regularly,” critic CurtisSittenfeld said.
A light reception and booksigning will follow the discussion.The Autry National Center islocated at 4700 Western HeritageWay in Griffith Park. For reserva-tions, call (323)667-2000 ext.391.
photo courtesy of the Autry National Center
Meile Meloy will discuss her bookat the Autry National Center.
Film Caucus Announces New Board MembersThe Caucus For Producers,
Writers & Directors hasannounced that nine members havebeen elected to two-year terms onthe organization’s steering commit-tee. The new members of the com-mittee include Bill Blinn, DennisDoty, Chuck Fries, Sally Hampton,Dorothea Petrie, Norman Powell,Herman Rush, Greg Strangis andHugh Wright. They will serve onthe 26-member committee for oneyear. Additionally, they will joinmembers of the organization’s gov-
erning committee, which includesSharon Arnett, Dave Bell, SteveBinder, Gil Cates, LionelChetwynd, Richard Colla, Suzannede Passe, Troy DeVolld, Vin DiBona, Deildre Dix Hung, AlbertFisher, Roger Gimbel, Tanya Hart,Lee Miller, John Moffitt, MicheleNasraway and Syd Vinnedge. TheCaucus also announced its newAssociates Committee chair is DanLux, and the new Media Memberof the Associates Committee isDrew Baldwin.
The Caucus supports programsand projects in television and newmedia, and members have workedin Washington D.C. recently inconnection with the recent FederalCommunications Commissionadoption of the Comcast mergerand other issues affecting the tele-vision industry. The caucus alsopresents industry leaders in paneldiscussions on vital developmentsand changes in television. Forinformation, visit www.caucus.org.
L.A. Chamber of Commerce Honors SandersThe Los Angeles Area Chamber
of Commerce will honor BarryA. Sanders, a retired partner withLatham & Watkins LLP. with its
Los Angeles Civic Medal ofHonor.
The selection was announced byGeorge Kieffer, past chamber chair
and chair of the Civic MedalSelection Committee.
“Sanders is a marvelouschoice,” said Warren Christopher,who received the Civic Medal ofHonor in 2003. “His kind ofsuperb citizenship and active civicinvolvement are required today tomake our democracy work.”
The award is not a businessaward, but a community awardsignifying extraordinary civicleadership and public service overan extended period of time.
Previous Civic Medal awardeesalso include Sherry Lansing, EliBroad, Father Greg Boyle, JohnMack, Richard Riordan andNancy Daly Riordan.
Sanders practiced law withLatham & Watkins for more than35 years as a partner from 1978-2002, and as executive counselfrom 2003-2005. Sanders is alsopresident of the Board ofCommissioners of the Recreationand Parks Department of the Cityof Los Angeles; Chairman of theLos Angeles Parks Foundationand an adjunct professor in theCommunications StudiesDepartment at UCLA. He is alsoChairman of the SouthernCalifornia Committee for theOlympic Games.
photo courtesy of LACMA
A composite ibis figure circa 711–322 B.C. will be displayed atLACMA. The piece is a gift of Varya and Hans Cohn.
Museum Exhibit FeaturesAncient World Collection Many works from the Los
Angeles County Museumof Art’s (LACMA) collectionfrom the ancient world, includ-ing Egypt, Greece and Rome,and the Near East, have justbeen reinstalled in newly refur-bished galleries in the HammerBuilding.
Some works that have notbeen on view for many yearswill be displayed in the newgalleries, including two colorfulmummiform coffin lids, a dior-ite statue from the 26thEgyptian Dynasty, woodentomb models of figures per-forming household duties, andburial implements including anembalming hook, a heart scaraband a two-finger amulet. Four1850s to 1870s era photographsof Egypt by photographersFrancis Frith and Antonio Beatowill also be featured, drawnfrom LACMA’s Vernon
Collection.The Egyptian portion of the
new gallery installationaddresses several themes: tomb,temple, animals, and royalimages. It includes a number ofworks reflecting the ingenuityof the ancient Egyptians. Threeof the works have not been seenbefore in LACMA’s galleries.All three objects seem to evi-dence the intentions of theartist, an aspect that helps tobridge the very wide span oftime between their creation andthe present. They include acomposite ibis figure from theLate Period; a jar with lug han-dles from the Naqada II Period;and a vase from the NewKingdom.
LACMA is located at 5905Wilshire Blvd.
For information, call(323)857-6000, or visitwww.lacma.org.
ʻTour de Cure Ship to Shore ̓SetThe American Diabetes
Association recently launchedthe “Tour de Cure Ship to Shore”on Jan. 14 for riders, sponsors, andregistered teams wishing to takepart in the “Tour de Cure”, anupcoming cycling event to raisefunds to help stop diabetes.
The American DiabetesAssociation is challenging morethan 3,000 riders to take part in theannual event, which occurs onMay 1, 2011. “Tour de Cure”brings together occasional riders toexperienced cyclists with routes
from 10-mile family rides to a 100-mile century ride.
The official launch will be heldon Jan. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.at the Reef Restaurant, 880 S.Harbor Scenic Drive, Long Beach.Guests can meet the individualsand teams that are participating.There are currently nearly 24 mil-lion Americans who have diabetes.Unfortunately, 5.7 million peopleare unaware that they have the dis-ease.
For information, visit www.dia-betes.org/tour-shiptoshore.
TAXILL..AA.. CCHHEECCKKEERR CCAABB
FAST & ON-TIME TO LAXProfessional • Courteous • Reliable
(800) 300-5007(800) 696-4919
24-hour radiodispatch service
������������� ������������� ����!����!���
��"��#�������$������#���$#���$�����!��#�����"$$#���������������� ��������������
�������������� ���������������������
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 17 January 20, 2011
�������������� ����� ���������������������� ����� �������������������������� ���������������������� ����
!"��#$����!"��#$����
����������%��&���'����(�&����
������������ ���������������������������
��� ��� ������������������������� �������������������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������ ������������������� �������� ������������ !"!#����$��%������&�������'�(�� �����(�����)*�������+�+�������������������������������������� �������,������������������������ �!%���� ��������*��������* �+����*���!!!!!!#������������**��������������� ��������!��"���-*� ��������������������!!!!!!
����)��& "*��+����)��& "*��+
����
�����
�
‘Get on the Bus’ Students Honored
photo courtesy of Joshua Barash
Three of the 14 students selected to participate in the Cityʼs “Get on the Bus” Creative Arts/EducationInitiative were recognized recently as part of the city commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.The students included Michela Pizzia (left), Bianna Mardarenko, Michelle Liberman, and were joinedby West Hollywood City Councilmember Abbe Land.
WeHo Outlines Volunteer OptionsThe City of West Hollywood has
announced numerous volunteeropportunities at non-profit organiza-tions and social services agenciesthroughout January.
Ace of Hearts, a non-profit petrescue organization dedicated torescuing dogs from L.A. shelters,needs volunteers on Saturday Jan.22 from noon to 5 p.m. at a petadoption event at the WestHollywood Petco, 508 N. DohenyDr. Volunteers are needed to set upfrom noon to 1 p.m. and break downfrom 4 to 5 p.m., as well as individ-uals who can be trained as walkersfor large dogs. Ace of Hearts res-cues American bulldogs, mastiffsand other large dogs, and volunteersrequire excellent social, communi-cation and people skills to show thedogs to interested parties. For infor-mation, call (310)358-3344 or e-mail to dogsfromheaven@aol.com.
NCJW/LA also needs volunteersfor its “Light Up A Library” pro-gram, where volunteers read aloudto classes at their school libraries in
the local area. The volunteersopportunities are available from 8a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday throughFriday. Volunteers are also neededto work with students in theNCJW/LA After School HomeworkClub on Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m.and Thursdays from 2:30 to 4 p.m.For information, call MelissaTillman at (323)852-8505.
In addition, Project Angel Foodneeds volunteers to cook and deliv-er free meals on Thursday, Jan. 27.Volunteer orientations are held from10 to 11:30 a.m. at 922 Vine St. Forinformation, call (323)845-1816, ore-mail to volun teers@angel -food.org.
Free People, an environmentalnon-profit organization dedicated togrowing a sustainable future for LpsAngeles, also needs people onSaturday, Jan. 29 from 8:30 a.m. tonoon for a tree planting project inWilshire Heights. All volunteersmust pre-register by e-mailing vol-unteer@treepeople.org.
L.A. Art Show Features Fine Print FairThe 27th annual IFPDA Los
Angeles Fine Print Fair will beat the FADA Fine Art Dealers Fairuntil Jan. 23 at the Los AngelesConvention.
Curators, collectors, publishersand artists will participate, anddemonstrations of printmaking willtake place each day by members ofthe Los Angeles PrintmakersSociety.
The fair is part of the L.A. ArtShow, and will be held at the LosAngeles Convention Center, WestHall A, 1201 South Figueroa St.Visit www.laartshow.com.
photo courtesy of the Tobey C. Moss Gallery
“L.A. Sky With Spinning Hearts” is one of the works that will be dis-played during the 27th annual IFPDA Los Angeles Fine Print Fair.
Mayor Appoints Beyer to New Post on CommissionRobert D. Beyer was appointed
to the Los Angeles Board ofAirport Commissioners (BOAC)on Jan. 18 by Mayor AntonioVillaraigosa. Beyer is chairman ofChaparal Investments LLC, a pri-vate investment and holding com-pany he founded in 2009.
Villaraigosa said he will bringdecades of experience in businessmanagement as well as overseeingoperating, financial and real assets.
“I am proud to welcome RobertD. Beyer to the Board of AirportCommissioners,” Villaraigosa said.“His unique combination of experi-ence in business and investment
management will serve our airportswell as we strive to modernize andoperate them successfully, toimprove services to travelers, andto remain competitive in the globalmarket.”
Beyer is a director of twoFortune 100 companies, TheAllstate Corporation and TheKroger Co. He also serves as Chairof the Board of Visitors of TheUCLA Anderson School ofManagement, as a trustee andimmediate past Chair of HarvardWestlake School, and is a memberof the Board of Councilors of theUSC College of Letters.
18 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
Students Learn to CreatePoetry at Workshops
photo courtesy of Pilgrim School
Poet Cecilia Woloch speaks to students at Pilgrim School.
Poet Cecilia Woloch held work-shops with Pilgrim School
students ranging from kindergart-
ners to seniors on Jan. 13 as partof the school’s Visiting Writersand Artists Series.
Students in grades K-5 wrotegroup poems together (left), witheach line coming from a differentstudent. Woloch, who also teach-es at USC, read several poemsabout family and friends from hermost recent book, “Carpathia”, aswell as poems from an earlierbook titled “Sacrifice”.
Pilgrim School is located at 540S. Commonwealth Ave. For infor-mation and a complete list of vis-iting artists and authors, call(213)385-7351, or visitwww.Pilgrim-School.org.
WishnessThe flower might wish forpetals, The petals might wish forsunlight. The sunlight might wish tosleep, Sleep might wish to awaken. Waking might wish for aflower.
Bob Baker Marionette Theater Opens SeasonThe Bob Baker Marionette
Theater will usher in its 51stseason as the nation’s oldest ongo-ing puppet theater with a showtitled “Magic Strings” openingSaturday, Jan. 22. To celebrate thenew season, all tickets for the pro-duction are $15.
“Magic Strings” is a specialshow for the Bob Baker MarionetteTheater, and has entertained audi-ences for generations. With theTheater’s “in-the-round” cabaretstyle, the puppeteers are not onlyexposed to the audience, but serveas an integral part of the show.
The production features over100 of Baker’s marionettes in anhour-long variety revue, includingpuppet horses frolicking on an old-fashioned merry-go-round, a rollerskating opera diva, a marionette“Day at the Circus”, and a grandfinale that is a red, white and bluecelebration of America. After theperformance, guests are invited tohave refreshments.
The Bob Baker MarionetteTheater is the oldest theatre of itskind in the United States. In 2009,the Bob Baker Marionette Theaterwas declared an historic culturalmonument by the City of LosAngeles.
The theatre is located at 1345West First St. For information, call(213)250-9995, or visit www.bob-bakermarionettes.com.
photo © Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Bob Baker Marionette Theater will host “Magic Strings” Jan. 22.
The Los Angeles CountyNatural History Museum
(NHM) held a press conference onWednesday to unveil the “T. RexGrowth Series”, the world’s onlyTyrannosaurus Rex life serieswhich will be installed as a majorcenterpiece inside the museum’snew Dinosaur Hall opening July2011.
The NHM T. Rex GrowthSeries” offers a look at the waysthe Tyrannosaurus Rex grew, from
an a 11-foot baby, to a 20-footjuvenile, to the young adult, 30-foot “Thomas the T. Rex” fossil.The rare and T. Rex specimenswere displayed for the first timefollowing their articulation andpreparation at Phil FraleyProductions in New Jersey.
The Natural History Museum ofLos Angeles County is located at900 Exposition Blvd. For infor-mation, call (213)763-3466, orvisit www.nhm.org.
photo courtesy of the NHM
The “T. Rex Growth Series” will be on display at the Los Angeles CountyNatural History Museum.
L.A. County Natural HistoryMuseum Unveils T. Rex Exhibit
Blessed Sacrament Hosts Catholic Schools WeekBlessed Sacrament School is cel-
ebrating the annual CatholicSchools Week next week with aschool-wide poetry contest onMonday, Jan. 24 and open houses onTuesday, January 24.
The school is hosting two openhouses on Tuesday for visitors inter-ested in learning more aboutCatholic education. The first will beheld from 10 a.m. to noon, so visi-tors can visit classrooms whileschool is in session. The second willbe held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. forindividuals who cannot visit during
the day. The finalists in the poetrycontest will be competing thatevening at 6:30 p.m., and althoughclasses are not in session, studentswill be around, according toPrincipal Suzanne Patterson-Jones.Volunteer members of the 8th gradeclass will provide tours and answerquestions, as will teachers andPatterson-Jones. The open housesare an especially good time to visitthe school and learn more about thedifference a focused private educa-tion can make for students.
Patterson-Jones and the school’s
teachers are also planning other spe-cial events for students that willoccur throughout the week. The cel-ebration will culminate on Fridaywith students encouraged to come toschool dressed as their favoritesuperhero.
Blessed Sacrament School, locat-ed at 6657 W. Sunset Blvd., is one ofonly four Jesuit-sponsored elemen-tary schools in California.
For information, call Patterson-Jones at (323)467-4177. or visitwww.schoolblessedsacrament.org.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 19 January 20, 2011
10DM1145
Enjoy a year of The Times and Beverly Press.Only $39.
Order convenient home delivery of the Los Angeles Times,
Thursday-Sunday, for only $39 a year — that’s just 75 cents a week!
Plus, your subscription also includes the Beverly Press every
Thursday. Subscribe today and get in-depth news from across the world…
and around the corner.
Call 1-800-326-5500Mention offer code 400024
Gymnasts Perform at ʻL.A. Lights ̓Tourney
Photo courtesy of 2011 L.A. Lights Tournament
Rachel Girma of “So You Think You Dance” will be one of the perform-ers in this yearʼs tournament.
Numerous world-renownedgymnasts from 25 countries
will participate in the “2011 L.A.Lights Tournament” running Friday,Jan. 21 through 23.
The event is the nation’s largestannual rhythmic gymnastics com-petition, and is sponsored by LosAngeles School of Gymnastics andsanctioned by the InternationalGymnastics Federation and theUSA Gymnastics Federation. Itshowcases more than 200 of theworld’s most diverse and competi-tive athletes in rhythmic gymnas-tics.
Athletes scheduled to participateinclude Anna Bessonova, 2008Olympic bronze medalist; LiubovCharkashyna, 2010 WorldChampionship bronze medalist; andRachel Girma, a finalist on “So YouThink You Can Dance” and a mem-ber of the United States NationalGroup Team. Participants also comefrom Japan, Mexico, Russia andmany other countries.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 8p.m. each day at the VeteransMemorial Auditorium, 4117Overland Ave., Culver City.
For information, visitwww.lalightsmeet.com.
photo courtesy of Richard Settle
The West Hollywood City Council presented commendationTuesday in recognition of the 38th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade tomembers of the Womenʼs Advisory Board and the National Councilof Jewish Women, Los Angeles. Pictured (from left) are advisoryboard member Marcy Norton, Ruth Williams, director of Advocacyfor NCJW/LA, West Hollywood councilmember Abbe Land andboard member Kris Slawosky.
West Hollywood Remembers Roe V. Wade
Olympic medalwinners and TV
stars are scheduled to
appear.
“drug of concern”, and the agencyis currently studying the substancefor possible inclusion on the federallist of controlled substances.
“We think it is bad stuff,” saidPayne, who is based in WashingtonD.C. “It’s a plant that produces hal-lucinogenic effects, and justbecause it is not illegal under feder-al law does not mean it is safe. Wethink people should stay away fromit, we don’t think it is safe.”
Federal legislation to outlawsalvia was introduced in 2002 byRep. Joe Baca (D-CA), but the billwas ultimately dropped after beingconsidered in various committees.Payne said that neither the federalgovernment or state agencies keepstrack of statistics involving over-doses or crimes related to salvia,and he added he is not aware of anydeaths caused by the drug. Paynesaid salvia is most commonly
smoked, but there are leaves of theplant available for use in tea, andorally as a liquid. The drug is soldin different concentrations, and itseffects vary depending on thedosage. Payne said salvia has notyet been tested thoroughly by theU.S. food and Drug Administration,but federal officials are currently inthe process of initiating testing andresearch. He said the process forhaving a drug placed on the list offederally controlled substances islengthy, and requires significantcoordination by the DEA, the FDAand the Health and Human ServiceDepartment. Although the processof studying the drug has begun,there is no timeline for completion,and once the study is complete, itmust be vetted by Congress beforebecoming law.
“There are a lot of different fac-tors that go into this,” Payne said.“We have to be sure that this willstand up in court, so we have to
make sure that our research and thescience is legitimate. We look at thesubstance’s use, it’s potential forabuse and other factors. It’s a longprocess that is very meticulous.”
Salvia, scientifically known asSalvia divinorum or salvinorin A, isa member of the mint family ofplants. According to research con-
ducted by the DEA, it produces hal-lucinogenic effects, but is differentthan LSD and similar drugs in thatit stimulates different portions ofthe brain. The effects are also muchshorter with salvia — anywhere
from 30 seconds to 30 minutesdepending on the dosage — com-pared to several hours with LSD.According to a report by the
National Survey on Drug Use andHealth published in 2008, it is esti-mated that 1.8 million people ages12 or older have used salvia.
Some states have passed legisla-tion regulating the sale possessionand use of salvia, includingDelaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois,Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota,Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska,North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,South Dakota and Virginia. Othercountries that have regulated thedrug include Australia, Belgium,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy,Japan, Spain, and Sweden. FormerCalifornia State AssemblymemberAnthony Adams had proposed leg-islation to ban salvia, but that billalso failed, and no other state legis-lation is currently pending. RonOwens, a spokesperson for theCalifornia Department of PublicHealth, said the department has notcompleted any studies on salvia andadded that the drug is “not on ourradar.”
Local law enforcement officialswith the Los Angeles PoliceDepartment and the Los AngelesCounty Sheriff’s Department alsosaid salvia is not considered to be aproblem, other than if someonewere to be caught driving under theinfluence of the substance, accord-ing to Lt. Lawrence Del Mese, withthe West Hollywood Sheriff’sStation.
“There is so much going on here[in West Hollywood] that I haven’theard about any major problemsinvolving salvia,” Del Mese said.“The problem would occur if wehad someone driving under theinfluence of it, which would betreated like any other situation ofdriving under the influence ofdrugs. It may not be illegal, but ifsomeone is driving while impaired,that would be illegal.”
Det. Burt Feldtz, head of the nar-cotics unit for the LAPD’sHollywood Division, said he isaware that salvia is widely sold atshops on Hollywood Boulevard,but added that there is nothing thepolice can do to prevent the saleand use of the substance. Feldtzadded, however, that salvia “isscary stuff,” and said it is some-thing that deserves closer evalua-tion.
“In Hollywood, we see a lot ofweird drugs like LSD and every-thing else, as opposed to some divi-sions within the city where they pri-marily deal with marijuana orcocaine,” Feldtz said. “I don’t knowmuch about it, but [salvia] doesn’tsound good. They say it gives you aeuphoric feeling for about 30 sec-onds, and it is sold in a lot of thehookah clubs. It appears at thispoint to be more of a curiosity.”
Salvia can be purchased at sever-al shops in Hollywood, and someopenly advertise it their front win-dows. It is available in a variety ofconcentrations at Black Myst, asmoke shop and hookah loungelocated at 6702 Hollywood Blvd.Srinivas Pakthasarathy, an employ-ee at Black Myst, said salvia hasbeen used for centuries for medici-nal purposes, and said the onlyharmful effects are caused by thecarcinogens that occur when thesubstance is smoked and inhaled.He said customers must be 18 yearsold to purchase salvia, and they donot allow it to be smoked on thepremises. Pakthasarathy added thathe has seen an influx of peopleseeking to buy salvia since theMiley Cyrus video was made pub-lic, and said the customers range
from teens and young adults to peo-ple in their 50s and 60s. Pricesrange between $11 to $160 pergram, depending on the concentra-tion level. He added that the recom-mended use is to smoke the drug athome in a dimly lit room, because itcan bring on a dream-like state thatlasts for a several minutes.
“The question is, ‘what is anacceptable drug, and what is notacceptable?’ Salvia is no better orworse than anything else, like alco-hol or cigarettes, but those arelegal,” Pakthasarathy said. “It is notto be consumed in public and wetell people that. It has been used for
eons for medicinal purposes, andnow people use it recreationally.You can get it at any of the smokeshops on Hollywood Boulevard.”
Payne added that people shouldbe very cautious about salvia, andthat it will likely someday be illegalthroughout the United States.
“It’s bad stuff, you shouldn’t doit, but there is nothing we can doabout it right now,” Payne added.“It’s frustrating because peoplethink we can just wave a magicwand and make this stuff illegal,but it’s a long and complicatedprocess, and we are not at that pointyet.”
20 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
Salvia Sales Proliferate in HollywoodFrom page 1
photo by Edwin Folven
The Black Myst shop on Hollywood Boulevard is one of many that sellssalvia.
photo by Edwin Folven
Smoking salvia is not allowed at the smoke shops, which do allow peo-ple to light up flavored tobacco.
photo by Edwin Folven
Several souvenir shops advertise that they sell the substance in theirfront windows, including Capital Rock.
We think peopleshould stay
away from it,we don’t think it
is safe.”Rusty Payne,
DEA spokesperson
“The questionis, ‘what is an
acceptabledrug, and what
is not acceptable?’
-Srinivas Pakthasarathy,employee at Black Myst
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 21 January 20, 2011
School Safety ReviewedFrom page 3
Budget Cuts Could Impact Senior ServicesFrom page 3
photo by Rafael Guerrero
The JFS facility on Fairfax provides a variety of services that may beimpacted by the proposed state budget.
girls’ team before he was trans-ferred to teach at Roybal HighSchool in 2010. He was transferredback to Hollywood High Schoolthis year and was given anotheropportunity to coach the boys.Maldonado admitted he did notexpect much when he first tookover the team.
“I didn’t have high expecta-tions,” Maldonado said.
Maldonado did not know muchabout the team he was inheriting,
but his expectations changedwhen he saw them in action.
“I wasn’t familiar with the teamat first,” Maldonado said. “Butonce I saw them on the field, I wassurprised to find that there was alot of talent on this team.”
The team kept working andMaldonado instilled a new workethic, emphasizing that the gameneeded to be played “mentally aswell as physically.” His emphasison discipline drew a positive
response from the players and wassomething the team sorely needed.
Assistant coach Edwin Sinecioechoed the team’s appreciation forMaldonado’s more structuredstyle.
“It’s a totally different year,”Sinecio said. “With coachMaldonado, the first priority isdiscipline and that’s what youneed in order to have a goodteam.”
Sinecio has been involved withthe boys soccer team atHollywood High School since1995. He has assisted the variouscoaches for most of those yearsand was the head coach for the2007-08 season. He led the Sheiksto a 10-2-5 record that year, losingto Taft High School in the thirdround of the playoffs. Sinecio saidthe team could go far this season.
“My expectation is for this teamto take the league championship,”Sinecio said.
One key player is senior for-ward Andy Sandoval. Maldonadohas known Sandoval since hisfreshman year and has beenimpressed with him ever since.
“He has showed tremendous tal-ent since he was in ninth grade,”Maldonado said.
Sandoval is in his second seasonplaying varsity and leads the teamwith six goals this season.
Jimmy Espinal is another playerMaldonado expects to carry theteam. The five-foot-two Espinal isalso in his second year on the var-sity team and the senior midfield-er takes all of the free kicks for theSheiks. He has scored three goalsthis year and is tied for second onthe team.
“He may be small but he is atremendous player,” Maldonado
said. “He has a tremendous shotand great knowledge of how toplay soccer.”
Maldonado expects the road to aleague title to be very difficult.They recorded a tie in their firstCentral League contest againstBelmont High School and had tocome back from a two-goal deficitto defeat Kennedy Community
High School 4-3 on Jan. 12.“There are really no weak teams
in our league,” Maldonado said.“Everyone of these teams couldpotentially become the leaguechampion.”
Still, Maldonado is confidenthis team’s talent will carry them tothe top of the Central League andmaybe further.
Soccer Team Hopes for Championship From page 1
photo by Rafael Guerrero
Senior mid-fielder Jimmy Espinal is one of the standout players on theteam. He takes the free kicks for the team.
photo by Rafael Guerrero
Hollywood High School soccer coach Jorge Maldonado (left) has rein-stituted a sense of discipline in the team.
program was eliminated and 2,289,or 18 percent, of MSSP clientswere placed in nursing home care,it would wipe out any savings tothe state.
If MSSP is eliminated, the costof providing care could be passedon to local governments, butCastro said most MSSP clientswould likely be forced to find bedsin nursing homes or they wouldjust stay at home
“These seniors are probablygoing to have to stay home andthey will die,” Castro said.
Brown’s proposed budget seeksfor spending cuts to reduce thestate’s budget deficit, which isprojected to be $24.5 billion overthe next 18 months. People withMedi-Cal would have their doc-tor’s visits capped at 10 per yearunder the proposals and a five dol-lar office co-payment and $50emergency room co-paymentwould be added. Caps on annualbenefits for items such as hearingaids and other medical equipmentwould also be added. Other spend-ing cuts include reductions in wel-fare, social services and increasedfees at community colleges anduniversities.
With all of the proposed cuts,Brown has taken a lot of criticism,but he did gain support fromMayor Antonio Villaraigosa, whocommended the governor for tak-ing an aggressive approach todealing with the state’s massive
deficit.“The magnitude of the state
budget crisis is unlike anythingwe have experienced since theGreat Depression,” Villaraigosa
said. “The governor presented anhonest budget and showed hiswillingness to make the difficultdecisions necessary to balanceour state’s budget.”
department and parents would becalled. A counseling session wouldtake place where they speak withthe student and determine why thegun was brought to the school in thefirst place. Burns said in most
instances, the student may havebrought the weapon to school forprotection.
“I’m always advocating that ifstudents have problems, they shouldfeel free to talk to administration,”
Bill Will Ensure Women HaveAccess to MammogramsState Assemblymember
Anthony Portantino (D-LaCanada Flintridge) has introducednew legislation that would ensuremore women have access tomammograms.
The bill, AB 137, requireshealth insurance companies toprovide women with informationon when they should start screen-ing for breast cancer, and elimi-nates guidelines in the insurancecode that limited coverage formammograms for youngerwomen. Doctors will be allowedto determine the need for mam-mograms on tests based on a listof risk factors for breast cancerinstead of a woman’s age underthe new legislation.
“While many PPO’s do allowfor this kind of coverage, this billwill ensure that all Californiainsurers provide life-saving mam-mograms,” Portantino said.“There has been a lot of confusionin recent years over when a
woman should and shouldn’tbegin receiving these screenings.This measure cuts through thatconfusion and gives patients anddoctors maximum flexibility sothat women are afforded earlydetection opportunities. It is goodfor the patient and in the long run,good for the insurance provider asearly detection helps save livesand certainly saves health caredollars.”
The current law required insur-ance companies to provide abaseline mammogram at age 35,and mammograms every otheryear after age 40. The updating ofthe insurance code will allowwomen to get tested earlier forbreast cancer and could lead toearlier detection and more effec-tive treatment.
“I am introducing this bill againthis year because it’s an importanthealth measure that will givewomen more control over theirlives and health,” Portantino said.
22 January 20, 2011 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
Waxman Addresses Local ConstituentsFrom page 1
Answers From Page 16
your cigarette butts.”Restaurants with bars that also
serve food on the patios will not beexcluded.
“If food is being served on thepatio, it will be a no-go for asmoke,” said Todd Leitz, spokesper-son for LaBonge.
Starbucks has taken the ban a stepfurther and now prohibits patiosmoking at all of its stores through-out California.
“We appreciate CouncilmembersSmith and LaBonge for recognizingour commitment to providing acomfortable environment for ourcustomers to enjoy their Starbucksexperience. We made this changebecause an increasing number ofcommunities across California arerestricting smoking in outdoor areasand we’re pleased with how ourcustomers have responded,” said aspokesperson for Starbucks in astatement.
Other restaurants in Los Angeleshave also been proactive at banningsmoking on their patios. UlyssesVoyage, a Greek restaurant at theOriginal Farmers Market, has notallowed smoking on their patio forsix years. A manager at the restau-rant said they allowed it the firstyear they opened but many cus-tomers complained about thesmoke.
Another restaurant that will makechanges to its smoking policy is
Monsieur Marcel Pain Vin EtFromage, a French restaurant alsolocated in the Farmers Market. Therestaurant currently has a designatedsmoking section on the patio thatwill be eliminated when the bantakes effect.
As for the Farmers Market itself,all of the businesses aim to besmoke-free by the time the ban
takes effect, according to theirspokesperson Ilysha Buss.
Many other cities, such asBurbank, Malibu, and Calabasashave enacted similar bans. The Cityof West Hollywood is also consider-ing drafting an ordinance to bansmoking in outdoor dining areasand will review the ordinance at thecity council’s next meeting on Feb.7. Provisions in the proposed ordi-nance include excluding bars andnightclubs from the ban.Establishments that operate a
restaurant and bar will be allowed tocreate smoking operation plans, toallow smoking on the patios duringcertain hours. Hotels will also beencouraged to establish smoke-freeareas around their pools throughincentive plans.
The ban on smoking outdoors isaimed at reducing exposure to sec-ondhand smoke, which has beenclassified as a carcinogen by theEnvironmental Protection Agency.According to the American CancerSociety, secondhand smoke isresponsible for 3,400 lung-cancerdeaths in non-smoking adults, and50,000 to 300,000 lung infections inchildren under 18 months everyyear.
The enforcement of the ban inLos Angeles could prove tricky.Many people may still smoke onrestaurant patios until and Leitzacknowledged it would be up torestaurant owners to keep smokersfrom lighting up.
“We are hoping the ban will beself-enforcing,” Leitz said. “Ifsomeone lights up and a managerasks the person to put it out, wehope that would be the end of it.Most people are usually courteousenough to put the smoke out.”
If a smoker refuses to put out thecigarette, the manager would haveto involve the police to deal with thematter.
“Hopefully it doesn’t come to
that,” Leitz said. “The police havebetter things to do, but if someonerefuses to cooperate, then that’swhat will happen.”
While there may be some earlyresistance to the ban by some, Leitzsaid people will get used to it, likethey did for a previous smoking ban
inside restaurants and bars.“People freaked out when they
banned smoking in bars,” Leitz said.“But now it’s the way we live andeveryone adjusted.”
For more information on thesmoking ban, call (213)978-3569 orvisit www.lapublichealth.org/tob.
Patio Smoking Ban to Go Into EffectFrom page 1
photo by Rafael Guerrero
Starbucks has inplemented a no smoking rule on the patios of its estab-lishments. The City of Los Angelesʼ ban will go into effect in March.
photo by Edwin Folven
Congressman Henry Waxman spoke at the NCJW/LA headquarters onJan. 13, and discussed a variety of topics, including healthcare reform,and the shootings in Tucson.
“Smoking is apersonal
decision, but sois the decisionnot to smoke.
-Councilmember ToimLaBonge, 4th District
healthcare reform is one of themost important issues currentlyaffecting people, and that therepeal effort by the Republicanmembers of the House is furtherevidence that more civil discussionneeds to occur. He also challengedthe Republican assertion that the
legislation will cut jobs, and addedthat millions of Americans willbenefit from the provisions in thehealthcare bill.
“The Republicans took office inthe House, and the first thing theysaid they wanted to do was makethe whole process more open,more transparent,” Waxman said.“With the bill they want to pass torepeal healthcare reform, there hasbeen no openness, no chance tooffer amendments, and no oppor-tunity for an open process.”
Waxman hailed many compo-nents of the healthcare reform leg-islation, including he eliminationof the “doughnut hole”, which isthe difference between the amountsenior citizens are subsidized forprescription drugs and the actual
cost of the drugs. He also applaud-ed provisions that require insur-ance companies to offer coverageto people with pre-existing med-ical conditions, and to children. Headded that if a repeal of the legis-lation were to occur, it would be aserious setback for the Americanpublic.
“They will take away the abilityfor people to have coverage, theywill take away the ability for peo-ple to get insurance without life-time limits,” Waxman said. “Theywill take away tax credits for smallbusinesses, and they will makeinsurance more expensive for largebusinesses as well. That’s whatthey are arguing is the best solu-tion, against what they describe asa ‘job-killing health bill’.”
Waxman also said he hopes thatthe federal DREAM Act will beresurrected, which would give stu-dents who have immigrated to theUnited States a chance at citizen-ship, and hailed the repeal of thefederal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”policy as a major step in securingindividual rights. Waxman alsodefended the federal stimulus bill,which he said generated thousandsof jobs and pumped billions of dol-lars into projects throughout thecountry.
“It provided jobs for people whowere about to lose them,” Waxmanadded “It wasn’t as strong as itcould have been, but it was asstrong as President Obama couldhave gotten.”
Waxman said in the days ahead,he will be working with othermembers of Congress to preservethe healthcare bill and move for-ward on other issues that directlyaffect the American people. Headded that he hopes members ofboth political parties will put aside
governor Sarah Palin, who used theterm “blood libel” in referring tomembers of the media who blamedher rhetoric for inspiring the suspectin the shooting.
“I don’t think any new laws needto be passed, I’ve been in govern-ment for 40 years, and I’ve neverfelt threatened. I think we have tolook at it as an aberration,”Waxman said. “We have to takereasonable precautions, and per-haps the weapons ban would havehelped. I hope the rhetoric will bereplaced by honest debate, and Ihope President Obama’s remarkswill remind people to step back andunderstand that we need to talk in away with others, that even thoughwe might disagree, we don’t demo-nize.”
Waxman also addressed the cur-rent situation involving the repealof federal healthcare reform legis-lation. The congressman said heexpected the Republican majorityin the House of Representatives toapprove a repeal, which occurredWednesday, but added that it willnot be passed in the Democratic-controlled Senate or approved byObama. Waxman added that
“The goal shouldbe to figure outwhat we can doto improve theeconomy, andwhat will helpthe Americanpeople move
forward.”
-Congressman Henry Waxman
their differences and work togeth-er.
“We can stop them from doingbad things, and they can stop usfrom doing good things,” Waxmanadded. “It means we have to listento one another, and I hope that’swhat we do. The goal should be tofigure out what we can do toimprove the economy, and whatwill help the American peoplemove forward.”