June 01, 2023
LAWT News Service
The Juneteenth 400, a nonprofit organization presents its annual Juneteenth Celebration from Wednesday, June 14, through Monday, June 19.
The event is a collaboration with the Port of Los Angeles, NAACP Branch 1069, SA Recycling, Economic and Workforce Development Department, Pacific Maritime Association, Water Replenishment District, YWCA, 99 cent Only Stores, Dr. Bryant Institute, ICHOR Strategies, Councilmember Tim McOster, Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center, Women on the Waterfront, Port of Long Beach, ILWU Locals 13,63 and 94 as well as the City of Los Angeles.
Juneteenth is an annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War and has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s. Joe Gatlin, San Pedro resident and activist has hosted an annual Juneteenth Celebration from 2000 to 2018. In 2021, he founded the nonprofit Juneteenth 400 which now has expanded partnerships and collaborations to host the celebration which has attracted thousands of Angelenos to the Los Angeles Harbor area over the years.
The Juneteenth 400 festivities will feature a Dodger Stadium outing for 100 youth from Los Angeles County to celebrate Black Heritage Night on June 14. Youth will receive an exclusive jersey, pay tribute to the rich history of Black Dodger players, and celebrate Black culture.
On June 15, a celebrity charity Domino Tournament takes place at 2 p.m. on the Battleship Iowa. All proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Bone Marrow Registry.
For the first time, the LA Port of Los Angeles is opening its doors to job opportunities on the waterfront in partnership with Juneteenth 400. The Economic and Workforce Development Department Job Fair will be held on June 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, a Family Style Picnic takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The picnic and the job fair will be held at Wilmington Waterfront Park located at the corner of C and Figueroa Streets in Wilmington.
Activities will conclude on June 19 with two activities. First, the Korean Bell Preservation Committee will celebrate Juneteenth with a bell ringing ceremony at the Korean Friendship Bell from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 3671 South Gaffey Street in San Pedro. From 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Juneteenth 400 will host a cruise around the harbor with a cannon and firework display. Space is limited and registration is required.
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June 01, 2023
City News Service
Mayor Karen Bass joined Los Angeles City Council members on May 30, in observing Africa Day, which commemorates the founding of the African Union, an organization representing the continent and its population of 1.2 billion people.
Councilman Curren Price led Tuesday's presentation and said the objective of the African Union is to highlight the collective “African resistance to colonialism and economic exploitation.''
City officials also recognized LA-based entrepreneurs who promote African culture and influence, and make it part of their mission to give back to Africa and the city.
“As we know, Africans have been displaced throughout the globe, and many of us are descendants who may or may not be able to trace our heritage, but that does not hinder us from honoring the continent and the African diaspora,'' Price said.
Bass talked about the history of Africa Day, which was first celebrated in 1963. At that time, there were only 30 independent African nations, whereas now there are 54, the mayor noted.
“There was a large movement in the United States, celebrating the independence of nations, but also some fighting to change U.S. policy,'' Bass said. “I think, it's most famously known as the anti-apartheid movement.''
The mayor explained that South African leaders came to the U.S. south to understand the Jim Crow system -- then went back and set up apartheid.
Bass said the City Council played an important role during that time to divest from doing any business related to South Africa – led by then-Councilman Robert Farrell, and Rep. Maxine Waters, the Los Angeles Democrat who was then an assemblywoman in 1976.
“This movement caught fire around the country and around the world,'' Bass said. “It actually led to one of the many reasons why the U.S. changed its policy and decided to divest and impose sanctions on the country of South Africa.''
Bass expressed her delight in joining the City Council in honoring leaders from the African diaspora. “Los Angeles has so many strong and diverse African communities and our honorees here today represent their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit,'' Bass said.
Councilwoman Heather Hutt added she was happy that “we're at this place, today, where people are fighting for togetherness.''
“We're celebrating something I remember as a child because my mom worked for Robert Farrell, and it was a big controversy to wear a dashiki into the chambers and to really bring the diaspora together,'' Hutt said. “I also remember when (former South Africa President Nelson) Mandela came here, and he really talked about the apartheid. He really talked about the continent and the connectivity.''
May 25, 2023
City News Service
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, is among the seven-person U.S. presidential delegation that will attend next Monday's inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president of Nigeria, according to an announcement by President Joe Biden.
The delegation to the Nigerian capital of Abuja will be led by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. It also includes Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command.
Tinubu was elected March 1, succeeding fellow All Progressives Congress member Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu was governor of Lagos State from 1999-2007.
He received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Chicago State University in 1979. He has worked for Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, GTE Corp. and Mobil Oil.
May 25, 2023
City News Service
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Heather Hutt introduced a motion on May 24, seeking funds for a new park and underground parking project in Koreatown.
The proposed Pio Pico Library Pocket Park at 694 S. Oxford Ave. in Hutt's Tenth District is estimated to cost $26.6 million and it will include a number of amenities, such as a multi-purpose area for public events, a playground, a shade structure, a fitness area, a walking loop, benches and tables.
The pocket park will also connect to the Pio Pico Koreatown Library. It will also include various trees, shrubs and planter areas. In addition, the underground parking structure will accommodate 50 parking spaces, according to the motion.
There are multiple proposed sources of funding for the project, including Quimby funds, fees that developers pay to cities that can be used to purchase and develop land or recreational facilities.
Hutt's motion requests the Department of Recreation and Parks to perform environmental review work, and to prepare and present a report to the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners specifying the actions needed to access up to $3.4 million in Quimby funds for the project.