California
Campa-Najjar vs. Hunter is now a ‘toss-up’
Devoted Christian challenges anti-LGBT culture of corruption
Ammar Campa-Najjar. (Photo courtesy Campa-Najjar)
Stonewall Democrats laughed when Ammar Campa-Najjar described himself as Donald Trump’s “worst nightmare”— a Latino, Arab-American millennial who talks unabashedly about morality, under-representation of minorities and the administration’s “assault on our values” and “country over party.”
“Whether you’re Latino or Middle Eastern or LGBTQ or maybe both–or all three–it’s a really defining time for our country. We have to stand for our values. An assault on any one of us is an assault on all of us,” said the 29-year-old challenging anti-LGBT Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter in California’s 50th congressional district, covering northeastern San Diego County.
“We’ve seen how Donald Trump has really enabled the worst of the worst to come out of people. And right now it’s really about bringing people back together again,” Campa-Najjar told the Los Angeles Blade last July, noting that he has an LGBTQ stepsister and his stepfather, a Vietnam veteran, is a Trump supporter.
Though the 50th CD is on the list of GOP seats Democrats are hoping to flip to win back the House, this race is a steep climb. Though Hunter was the target of an FBI investigation before the June primary, a San Diego Union-Tribune poll showed Hunter with 43% of the vote to Campa-Najjar’s 10%.
Then the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego released a 47-page indictment charging the Hunters with 60 criminal counts, including illegally using $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses such as flying their pet rabbit across the country and purchasing clothing itemized as “golf balls for a wounded warriors” nonprofit, as well as conspiracy, wire fraud and falsifying records. Hunter blamed the Democrats for the “witch-hunt” and threw his campaign manager wife under the bus: “Whatever she did, that’ll be looked at, too, I’m sure, but I didn’t do it.”
Unlike Trump, Hunter doesn’t wear corruption and irresponsibility well. A Monmouth University Poll subsequently revealed that Hunter was still leading with 49% but Campa-Najjar had jumped to 41%, with 10% undecided.
Hunter could lose his legacy seat, handed down from his anti-LGBT father, Duncan Hunter Sr., who won reelection from 1981 to 2009 largely because of his position on the powerful House Armed Services Committee. Hunter Jr. has used his seat on that committee to collect campaign money and posit anti-LGBT legislation like the proposed ban on transgender military service, advocated by the Family Research Council.
House Speaker Paul Ryan temporarily removed Hunter from three House committees after the indictment. But he still uses his committee connections to wield political power. On Oct. 15, Hunter released a letter labeled “Security Alert” from retired brigadier general Terry Paul and two retired major generals, Randall West and T.L. Corwin—all three lobbyists with business before the House Armed Services Committee. They allege Campa-Najjar is a “national security risk” who would use “secret information on U.S. military operations” to protect disengaged family in the Middle East.
“Mr. Hunter’s ongoing attacks on me, his wife, and the Justice Department aren’t just political; they’re pathological,” Campa-Najjar said in a statement. VoteVets encouraged 148,000 Twitter followers to complain to the Marine Corps.
But Hunter went even lower. “Ammar Campa-Najjar is working to infiltrate Congress,” says the narrator of Hunter’s ad on YouTube. “He’s used three different names to hide his family’s ties to terrorism.”
That outraged the conservative San Diego Union-Tribune: “We endorse Campa-Najjar for Congress. He is far superior to the troubled incumbent. This fact is underlined by the despicable ad that Hunter has begun to air in recent days suggesting that his ‘Palestinian Mexican millennial’ opponent was linked to terrorist groups and was ‘working to infiltrate Congress.’”
Ammar Campa-Najjar with his mother Abby Campa and his “abuelita,” Abigal Campa, in 2017. (Photo courtesy the Campa-Najjar campaign on Facebook)
The Union-Tribune disputed the allegation that Campa-Najjar—who was raised by his single Catholic Mexican mother after his Palestinian father left when he was a boy—is a risk to national security because his grandfather, who was killed by Israeli commandos 16 years before Campa-Najjar was born and whom he has strongly disavowed, was a terrorist who helped plan the 1972 attack on Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics.
“It’s also well-known that Campa-Najjar, a Christian, has had literally nothing to do with his grandfather. As Campa-Najjar notes, when he worked at the White House, he was ‘given a security clearance by the Secret Service after a thorough background check.’ With this smear, Hunter continues to demolish his own reputation,” said the Union-Tribune editorial.
Ammar Campa-Najjar with gay California Assemblymember Todd Gloria (Photo via Facebook)
An Oct. 15 Washington Post editorial also noted that the “ad’s claims have been thoroughly discredited, earning a four Pinocchios rating from The Post’s Fact Checker, which concludes the Hunter campaign ignored or distorted basic biographical facts about Mr. Campa-Najjar.”
The Post pointed out that Campa-Najjar’s job in the Obama White House “reviewing letters sent to the president” and his public affairs position at the US Department of Labor “required him to pass FBI background checks (something the Fact Checker noted Mr. Hunter would be unable to do because of his indictment)…. The only danger posed by Mr. Campa-Najjar is to Mr. Hunter’s reelection chances.”
Nonetheless, Hunter doubled down, enlisting his father after an Oct. 4 Los Angeles Times/University of California-Berkeley poll showed Hunter with only a 2% lead, well within the margin of error. “Mr. Najjar is a security risk,” Duncan Hunter Sr. said at an Oct. 16 press conference. “As an American congressman, he would have the right to know about American troop movements in the Middle East.”
Campa-Najjar didn’t wait for a call from reporters—he went to the news conference and charged the former congressmember with “race-baiting” and promoting “disinformation.”
“This is an act of desperation,” Campa-Najjar said. “Daddy had to come out and save him…. I’m my own man and the people of my district respect people who fight for themselves.”
It’s a flash of anger from a contemporary Christian gladiator. Campa-Najjar speaks with such authentic empathy and thought about the biblical principles of love, as well as the distortions caused by “toxic masculinity,” he sounds like an updated version of Thomas a Kempis’ “Imitation of Christ.” In fact, the real “nightmare” Campa-Najjar may pose to Trump and anti-LGBT religious right hero Mike Pence is his grasp of humanity and real morality.
“You have to extend love to those who you may not maybe share views with. That’s how we have to deal with Trump,” Campa-Najjar tells the Los Angeles Blade. “Even that slogan that ‘love trumps faith.’ I think that is something that is rooted in our humanity but also can be found in our Christian teachings.”
Agape, for instance, is “unconditional love. That no matter what you do, what you believe in, how different you may look or feel or love or live—that is irrelevant to the fact that you have to show people love,” he says.
“The opposite of love is condemnation and then putting that condemnation into action by persecuting others is very far away from what God died for, in my view,” Campa-Najjar says.
“In the Bible, there’s only one time where Jesus was angry, like outright angry, uncharacteristically outraged and it was the event that led to his crucifixion. It was when he went to the temple and there were the money changers, the tax collectors, and those who were trying to basically get money out of everybody to give them something to leave at the alter for God,” he says. “And literally homeless people and widows and people with no money—the least of these—were giving pennies, whatever they had to scrape together, to get some commodity to offer to the alter to God—a pigeon,” a valueless “rodent with wings.”
Campa-Najjar continues, as if recalling a memory: “And Jesus was so angry that he turned over the tables and the money and he said to them, to the religious elites: ‘you’re white washed and beautiful on the outside but you’re dead inside.’ And he was so outraged that it led to his crucifixion” since Pontius Pilot saw this act as meaning that “Jesus was no longer containable,” that he was a rebel who posed a threat to the elites.
“I see that moment as today’s tax plan where it’s basically taking away from those who have almost nothing just to give more to those who are at the very top,” he says. “The income inequality that turns into gender and racial and generational inequality—that’s the kind of thing that morally outraged Jesus so much that it led to his crucifixion. And I think right now we have an administration that is doing the same thing— but in the 21st century, in the form of giving tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of those who are really, really struggling,” the lower and middle class.
“That’s the kind of outrage that I think even Jesus would express,” Campa-Najjar says. “And it’s OK and healthy and I think within our bounds as Christians to speak truth to power when there is gender, generational or income inequality, when the least of these are either religious minorities, or any minority, be it women or orientation, we have an obligation to speak out and defend them. On that grounds, we do have, as Christians, an obligation to speak up against the moral bankruptcy of all of this today.”
Besides, Campa-Najjar says, “ I made a promise to my mom that her future granddaughter, her life would be fairer, her opportunities would be more equal and her rights would be more protected. And I can’t keep that promise with the way the world is going today. So I’m desperately looking forward to getting involved and making sure that we hold people accountable in Washington.”
For more, visit campacampaign.com
Los Angeles
LAPD asking for public’s help with murders of homeless persons
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section
LOS ANGELES – Flanked by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, LA Mayor Mayor Karen Bass and Martin Estrada, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, Los Angeles Chief of Police Michel Moore, held a news conference Friday where he announced that three homeless people had been fatally shot while they slept within the past week.
Moore added that authorities believe one suspect is responsible for all three murders.
Detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division are investigating three separate murders that occurred between November 26, 2023, and November 29, 2023. In each case, the victims were experiencing homelessness.
While some similarities have been identified, detectives are working to determine if these murders are related. A community alert bulletin has been issued to make the region’s unhoused population and the community stakeholders aware of these recent murders.
The suspect in these homicides is described only as male. The suspect was seen in a dark-colored sedan. It is unknown if he was alone or there were any additional suspects.
Police have spotted who they believe the shooter is on surveillance footage — Moore said they believe it’s a man in a hoodie — and they also have images of the suspect’s vehicle, though Moore would not describe it in an effort to avoid misinformation.
“People will see different types of cars, different types of models,” he said. “I don’t want someone to say ‘You called this a Kia and it turns out to be a BMW or Mercedes,” he said.
“A single individual approached each one and shot and killed each one as they slept,” Moore said, though he avoided use of the term “serial killer.”
“The Los Angeles Police Department is employing all available resources to bring justice to these murder victims. I am thankful for our City partners who are working with us closely to ensure the safety of this vulnerable population as we pursue the criminal investigation,” said Moore.
“I want to be very clear about what we’re facing today: This is a killer who is preying on the unhoused,” Mayor Bass said, adding that homeless people should not sleep alone.
“As we always do in the face of a challenge or crisis, our region is mobilizing to respond to this issue. We will work tirelessly to find the individual responsible, arrest them, and hold them accountable. I have met with our partners at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Housing Department and we are moving immediately to get the word out to our unhoused neighbors in housing networks. Our message to our unhoused community is clear – try not to be alone tonight. We will do all we can to make shelter and services available. To the many Angelenos who have friends or family who are unhoused, please let them know the danger that exists. We must stay safe. We will work diligently to bring those responsible to justice,” the Mayor said.
“To the person responsible: We will find you, we will catch you and you will be held accountable,” Bass said.
“I commend the LAPD for creating a dedicated task force to uncover the identity of a potential serial killer preying on the most vulnerable in our community. I’ve assigned our Major Crimes Division, Bureau of Victim Services and our Bureau of Investigation to assist with these efforts. Today, we demonstrate our collective resolve and stand united in our pursuit of justice, unwavering against the darkness that preys on the most defenseless among us,” said LA District Attorney George Gascón.
Related:
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section, at (213) 486-6890. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
San Diego
‘Christmas Bags of Hope’ event to support homeless kids
“Christmas Bags of Hope” – These bags will be filled with essential items including toys, hygiene kits, books, and food items
SAN DIEGO – The 14-year-old founder and CEO of San Diego-based non-profit Sports4kids, Arden Pala and his volunteers are kicking off this holiday season to support and make a difference in the lives of homeless kids with the annual 1000 “Christmas Bags of Hope” campaign.
The volunteers will be assembled for area local homeless kids. These bags will be filled with essential items including toys, hygiene kits, books, and food items. More than 10,000 people in San Diego are facing homelessness- 20 percent being kids. According to a study published by Point-in-Time Count homelessness in our region increased by at least 14% this year and kids are especially vulnerable.
Event Details:
· Date: Saturday, December 9th
· Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
· Location: Perkins Elementary School, 1770 Main St, San Diego, CA 92113
Hundreds of volunteers (both youth and adults) will be assembling “Christmas Bags of Hope” for low income and homeless families in San Diego. Volunteers will decorate and then fill bags with essentials to include nutrition items, toys, books, and goodies.
Sports4Kids was founded by Arden Pala 3 years ago and is a San Diego-based nonprofit that supports individuals and youth who are facing homelessness. The organization does this by providing volunteer opportunities for kids of all ages.
Over the past three years, the organization has raised over $140,000 to help over 7500 needy people. Its youth volunteers have spent a combined amount of 6500 volunteer hours serving our homeless population.
Southern California
Triple A: Most SoCal average gas prices drop below $5 a gallon
The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.85, which is seven cents lower than a week ago
LOS ANGELES – For the first time since July, most Southern California gas price averages are now below $5 a gallon after continued price drops during the week after Thanksgiving, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.85, which is seven cents lower than a week ago. The average national price is $3.25, which is two cents lower than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.95 per gallon, which is eight cents lower than last week, 45 cents lower than last month, and seven cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.98, which is seven cents lower than last week, 48 cents lower than last month, and the same price as this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.98, which is eight cents lower than last week, 46 cents lower than last month, and the same as last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.77, which is eight cents lower than last week, 48 cents lower than last month and 12 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.04 average price is seven cents lower than last week, 38 cents lower than last month, and 26 cents lower than a year ago today.
“Gas price reductions are slowing down, but it appears there is some room for prices to drop further as long as wholesale prices do not significantly rise,” said Auto Club Spokesperson Doug Shupe. “The main reasons for the downward pressure on retail prices include an ample supply in the market and a continual recovery from the September price spike. Also, as we get closer to winter, gas demand historically drops and retail prices follow.”
The Auto Club reminds drivers of the following tips to save money on gas:
- If you use premium unleaded fuel, make sure it is required for your vehicle, not just recommended. The Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center found that vehicles with recommended premium fuel performed safely with regular unleaded gasoline.
- Make sure your tires are properly maintained and inflated to the correct level.
- Maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular service will ensure optimum fuel economy.
- Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard accelerations. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption.
- Slow down and drive the speed limit. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speed increases. Reducing freeway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
- Use cruise control on the highway to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on slippery roads because you could lose control of the vehicle.
- Minimize your use of air conditioning.
- Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine, even in colder temperatures. It’s unnecessary and wastes fuel.
- Remove unnecessary and heavy items from your car.
- Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use.
- Download the AAA App to find the cheapest gas prices near you.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov. 30, averages are:
Los Angeles County
Beach Cities Toy Drive begins 31st year
The annual wrapping party will take place on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 10:00 AM until the toys are wrapped at Joslyn Community Center
By Kevin Cody | HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. – Beach Cities Toy Drive organizers and Manhattan Beach firefighters gathered Saturday at the Manhattan Beach fire station to launch the local toy drive’s 31st year.
The Beach Cities Toy Drive is held to provide toys to underprivileged children in the County of Los Angeles who would otherwise do without during the holiday season. All toys collected go directly to charities who in turn give those gifts to families in need.
Unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the Hermosa and Manhattan Beach fire departments. Toys will also be collected Saturday evening, November 18 on Pier Plaza prior to the Jeremy Buck Band’s Rock for Tots Concert, which starts at 6 p.m.. Toys may also be brought to Pier Plaza on Sunday, November 19 prior to the holiday tree lighting at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, December 2, and 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. toys may be brought to the Hermosa Beach City Hall Parking lot. The Toy Wrapping party will be held Saturday, December 16 at the Manhattan Beach Joslyn Community Center from 10 a.m. until the toys are all wrapped. Firefighters and toy drive.
Help spread the joy by donating unwrapped new toys at any of the locations below:
- Hermosa Beach Police Department: 540 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach (open 24 hours)
- Los Angeles County Fire Station No. 100: 540 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach
- Manhattan Beach City Hall: 1400 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach
- Manhattan Beach Fire Department: 400 15th Street, Manhattan Beach
Drive-thru toy drop-off opportunities:
- Dates: Saturday, December 2 and Saturday, December 9, 2023
- Times: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Location: Hermosa Beach City Hall Parking Lot, 1315 Valley Drive
The annual wrapping party will take place on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 10:00 AM until the toys are wrapped at Joslyn Community Center, 1601 N. Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach.
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The preceding article was previously published by Easy Reader & Peninsula and is republished with permission.
Kevin Cody is the publisher & owner of Easy Reader, Beach & Peninsula Magazine
Los Angeles County
New on the LA County Channel
You can watch on Channel 92 or 94 on most cable systems, or anytime here. Catch up on LA County Close-Up here
New on the County Channel
Thanks to a gift to the L.A. County Parks Foundation by the L.A. Clippers, LA County Parks will have 117 renovated basketball courts at 60 locations by the spring of 2025. L.A. County parks courts host 57 Jr. Clippers youth basketball league locations, as well as everything from volleyball and dance to community events and other programming. LA Clippers Guard and hometown hero Russell Westbrook was in attendance at the opening of one of many new basketball courts at Jesse Owens Park where he learned to play as a youth.
You can watch more stories like this on Channel 92 or 94 on most cable systems, or anytime here. Catch up on LA County Close-Up here.
In Case You Missed It
Adopt A Family in Need for the Holidays
Join the heartwarming campaign by sponsoring a family in need this holiday season. Today, Los Angeles County residents who want to join the charitable movement, are encouraged to sponsor a family receiving benefits from the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) as part of the department’s holiday Adopt-A-Family Program.
For over 30 years, the department has partnered with the community to match sponsors with low-income families for the annual campaign. In 2022, Adopt-A-Family sponsored approximately 1,300 families.
Sponsors are matched with a family and given a wish list. The wish list may include clothing, gift certificates, or toys. Adopt-A-Family is a great project for families, co-workers, organizations, clubs, and schools. It is a rewarding way to lift communities and a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday season.
Those interested in sponsoring a family may apply online today at http://bit.ly/DPSSAAF. Sponsors may adopt one or multiple families. Information on the size of the family and location will be provided. For additional information, email: [email protected].
Thanks for the continued support of this worthwhile program!
At Your Service
Preparing for CARE Court
On December 1, 2023, Los Angeles County will implement the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act. Beginning December 1, 2023, qualifying individuals or entities can petition the Superior Court of Los Angeles County to help connect eligible individuals to a broad array of services, including mental health and housing services, via a voluntary CARE Agreement or CARE Plan established and overseen by a judicial officer. For additional information on Care Court visit dmh.lacounty.gov/court-programs/care-court/.
Residents and family members can access other LACDMH programs, services, and resources today through their website, calling the 24/7 Help Line at (800) 854-7771, or calling/texting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Out and About
Holiday Boat Parade
Visit Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey on December 9th for the annual Holiday Boat Parade! From 4pm-8pm you can take part in various activities including a fireworks show, strolling carolers, photo opportunities, food trucks and kids crafts.
This event is free to the public. For more information, visit beaches.lacounty.gov.
Photo Finish
(Los Angeles County / Mayra Vasquez)
Click here to access more photos of LA County in action.
West Hollywood
City of West Hollywood turns 39 years old
At 7:00 p.m., the City’s annual State of the Community Program will celebrate WeHo’s accomplishments & preview next year’s major projects
By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood turns 39 years old today. The City was officially incorporated as an independent City on November 29, 1984. A coalition of LGBT activists, seniors, and renters proposed a Cityhood with progressive policies and strong tenant’s rights protections.
The City is hosting the annual State of the Community Reception & Mixer starting at 6 PM at the West Hollywood Aquatic and Recreation Center (8750 El Tovar Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069). The mixer will allow West Hollywood community members to mingle with residents, elected and appointed officials, and City staff. Appetizers and beverages will be served and there will be live music by the Harrison Jazz Ensemble.
At 7:00 p.m., the City’s annual State of the Community Program will celebrate West Hollywood’s accomplishments this past year and preview next year’s major projects and new initiatives.
The State of the Community presentation will be followed by the NextGen Mixer at 8:00 p.m. The evening will end at the Respite Deck where community members can connect with fellow attendees and enjoy some beats by DJ Asha and a special performance by the City’s Inaugural Drag Laureate, Pickle.
To RSVP click on the link here and here CelebrateWeHo23.eventbrite.com.
And here are some highlights of the past 30+ years in West Hollywood:
- The first West Hollywood City Council established West Hollywood as the first City in the nation to have a majority openly gay governing body. This was a landmark development in LGBT rights in the United States as well as globally.
- The ordinances adopted by the West Hollywood City Council within the first year of Cityhood included landmark legislation such as the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (which, upon its adoption was one of the strictest rent control laws in the country); Ordinance prohibiting discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS; Domestic Partnership Ordinance; and Ordinance prohibiting discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation. Today, many of the City’s landmark ordinances have been duplicated and have become mainstream policies nationally and globally.
- In 1985, the City Council established its Social Services program to provide much-needed services to residents. Over its history, the City has provided millions of dollars in grants to fund programs for people in need. These services have included services for seniors; people with HIV and AIDS; members of the LGBT community; people with disabilities; alcohol and drug use recovery programs; support programs for Russian-speaking immigrants; services for people who are homeless; food programs; and health care services for people who are uninsured. Today, the City’s Social Services Division budgets approximately
$5 million per year in funding critical support to programs that impact thousands of people in West Hollywood; City residents live longer and have lower rates of chronic diseases than residents of L.A. County as a whole. - The onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic had a significant impact on the City of West Hollywood due to the disease’s elevated infection rate among gay men which caused a devastatingly high number of deaths in the City. The City of West Hollywood was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local AIDS and HIV organizations. The City sponsored one of the first AIDS awareness campaigns in the country in October 1985 and the City’s response to the AIDS crisis has been recognized as a model for other cities, nationally and globally. Today, 12 percent of households in the City have a person living with HIV/AIDS.
- The City has been one of the most outspoken advocates for the legal rights of LGBT people. In 1985, the City of West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the country to adopt a Domestic Partnership Ordinance. In October 2014, the City marked an exciting milestone as the City Clerk’s office at West Hollywood City Hall filed its 10,000th couple as registered Domestic Partners. The City also created the nation’s first municipal Transgender Task Force in 2001; in 2009 this became the City’s Transgender Advisory Board.
- West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the country to pass a resolution in support of marriage equality, paving the way for same-sex marriage initiatives all over the county. In a monumental moment in U.S. history, the City, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder Clerk, began to issue marriage licenses and perform civil ceremonies for same-sex couples in June 2008, following the Supreme Court of California ruling on Proposition 8. After a legal stay, in June 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in Hollingsworth v. Perry and the City of West Hollywood launched a marriage celebration. West Hollywood City Councilmembers and City Officials performed hundreds of civil ceremonies. On June 25, 2015, West Hollywood hosted a community rally at West Hollywood Park attended by thousands of jubilant revelers celebrating the Supreme Court declaring marriage between same sex couples legal.
- Following the election of President Trump in 2016, the West Hollywood City Council affirmed the City of West Hollywood’s commitment as a Sanctuary City and reaffirmed the City’s commitment to its core values, which includes Respect and Support for People.
- In 2017, the West Hollywood City Council approved a Resolution that calls on the U.S. House of Representatives to initiate proceedings for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. This came as a response to numerous violations of the Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, multiple violations of federal law as it relates to the employment of relatives, serious national security concerns resulting from potential interference with federal elections in 2016, and amid investigations of obstruction of justice.
- The City of West Hollywood is one of the first municipalities to form a Transgender Advisory Board, which addresses matters of advocacy on behalf of transgender people in the areas of education, community awareness, and empowerment, and makes recommendations to the West Hollywood City Council. Through its Transgender Advisory Board, the City of West Hollywood regularly co-sponsors programming and recognizes Transgender Awareness Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance each November. For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s Transgender Awareness Month events.
- The city was a soap box for the Black Lives Matter movement with several marches and demonstrations calling for racial justice taking place on Santa Monica Boulevard in 2020.
- In 2021, The city begins recovery from a long COVID-19 Shutdown.
- in 2022, the City hosted its inaugural WeHo Pride event, completed the Aquatic and Recreation Center at West Hollywood Park, installed inclusive Pride Crosswalks, responded to the monkeypox outbreak with vaccine clinics and a town hall, urged COVID-19 vaccination boosters leading to more than 87% vaccinations rate amongst residents, provide more than 1.7 million dollars in COVID-19 rental assistance, expanded the City’s Block by Block program with 30 new security ambassadors and more than 100 businesses opened since 2021.
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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.
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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
West Hollywood
WeHo Arts unveils new holiday banners by artist Joey Deruy
Deruy was selected through an open call. He created a series of 8 paintings highlighting iconic West Hollywood buildings & landmarks
By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division unveiled new holiday banners by artist Joey Deruy. Each year, the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division commissions an artist to create an image to celebrate the holidays, West Hollywood style. These images are printed onto street banners which decorate major streets in the city.
Artist Joey Deruy was selected through an open call. He created a series of 8 paintings highlighting iconic West Hollywood buildings and landmarks.
His artwork features the following familiar WeHo spaces:
Lloyd Wright House and Studio
Pacific Design Center
Plummer Park Community Center
Sal Guarriello Veterans Memorial
Schindler House/MAK Center
Sunset Tower
West Hollywood City Hall and Automated Garage
West Hollywood Gateway
West Hollywood Library
West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC)
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The new banners can be found on street pole banners along Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, La Brea Avenue, Fairfax Avenue, and San Vicente Boulevard. The city is also displaying banners from previous years. Previous artists include Shag (Josh Agle), Steven Rahbany, Mona Tanksley, and Sophie Morro.
About artist Joey Deruy:
Artist Joey Deruy was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico; was raised in Kenya and Montana; and is currently based in Palm Springs, California. A self-taught painter, Deruy has forged a specific, line-driven, figurative style all his own. Deruy’s artwork combines the playfulness of late 20th-century Street Art with the geometric, African-inspired abstraction of Cubism, often with witty references to pop culture and geographic places. More information on the artist can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/joeyderuy.
The City of West Hollywood is also celebrating the holidays through poetry. Newly appointed West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng has written a holiday poem called ‘Joyous’ and is organizing a Holiday Poetry Hotline and holding a series of poetry workshops:
‘Joyous’
by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng
Joyous tunes sing brightly
Orbits of lights string the streets
Yellow candles stir meditations with tea
Olive branches ask for peace
Upward arches forge iconic memories
Sweet glances swing love into the new year
To learn more about the City’s Holiday Artwork, click on the link: (Here)
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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.
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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
Los Angeles
Project Angel Food Thanksgiving, a remarkable group of volunteers
Project Angel Food provides daily meals to 2,500 critically ill individuals & 1.5 mil medically tailored meals annually across Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — Project Angel Food saw a remarkable gathering of celebrities and 200 dedicated volunteers coming together to prepare and deliver 2,000 traditional turkey meals to critically ill clients on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. The initiative culminated in a total of more than 5,000 meals prepared and delivered throughout Thanksgiving week.
Thanksgiving Day at Project Angel Food was not just about distributing meals but also about the spirit of giving back while cherishing moments with family and friends.
Melissa Rivers, who recently got engaged to lawyer Steve Mitchel on Oct. 13, made a notable appearance — showcasing her stunning 5.6 carat, emerald-cut engagement ring as she volunteered alongside adult son Cooper Endicott. She shared, “Sometime maybe in 2025. It would be my second marriage and his second marriage so if anything, we’ll have a party, and a ceremony might break out. But nobody’s in any rush.”
Amanda Kloots, host of “The Talk”, expressed her deep affection for Project Angel Food, stating that she fell in love with the cause while filming a segment for the hit CBS talk show. She returned with Zach Braff and her four-year-old son Elvis, emphasizing, “I think it is so important to show our kids how blessed we are and how we can help one another.”
Joining the ranks, Lisa Rinna and her husband Harry Hamlin continued their annual tradition of giving back at Project Angel Food on Thanksgiving. Harry offered, “It goes without saying the people of L.A. need to be fed, and we’re here to do it, especially on Thanksgiving.” Lisa added, “It makes you feel good to give back, always, and we need to do it more.”
Actor and model Sam Asghari, marking his first Thanksgiving after his divorce from Britney Spears, refrained from discussing the split but reflected “I think it is important when you have a platform and a voice, and you have the ability to help others it is important to do.”
Unlikely friends Charo and Kat Von D were among the initial celebrity arrivals. Von D explained their unique bond, stating, “We’re Yin and Yang and complement each other. Since she had heard of Project Angel Food through Charo, she wanted to join.” Charo expressed her enthusiasm for volunteering, exclaiming, “I love people. This is my passion!”
The event saw the participation of other notable celebrity volunteers, including Amy Yasbeck, singer Em Beihold, Eve Mauro, Jai Rodriguez, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Laura Pierson, Lauren Tom, Lawrence Zarian, Lisa Foxx, Loni Love, Mary-Margaret Humes, Michael Hitchcock, Peter Porte, Rachel Lindsay, Sandra Lee, Tamara Brown, and Tim Bagley.
Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub expressed heartfelt gratitude stating, “Every day is like Thanksgiving at Project Angel Food. But on this day, we are especially grateful to our celebrity friends and hundreds of volunteers committed to bringing a little light to the thousands of critically ill men, women and children we serve.”
The meals were provided through “drive-by” pick-up for volunteers who then delivered them to Project Angel Food clients. The traditional Thanksgiving dinners included roasted turkey, root vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and a slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Additionally, vegetarian meals were also provided. The Thanksgiving Day meals were sponsored by The Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation, with additional support from Joybird, which furnished the Joybird VIP Love Lounge, allowing volunteers to take a break during the morning of service.
(Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Project Angel Food)
Beyond serving meals to 2,000 critically ill individuals, Project Angel Food extended its support by providing Thanksgiving Day meals for 500 people at PATH. PATH works tirelessly to end homelessness by building affordable housing and offering supportive services. Furthermore, actress and director Joely Fisher sponsored Project Angel Food meals, hosting a SAG/AFTRA “Friendsgiving” at Hollywood United Methodist Church for 200+ union members affected by the 118-day SAG/AFTRA strike on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
Project Angel Food remains dedicated to providing daily meals to 2,500 critically ill individuals and delivering more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals annually across Los Angeles. Their clients often grapple with serious illnesses compounded by challenges such as poverty, aging, and isolation. Established in 1989 by Marianne Williamson, the organization has prepared and delivered more than 17 million meals in its 34-year history.
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Project Angel Food serves up Thanksgiving meals for Angelenos:
West Hollywood
WeHo to recognize World AIDS Day 2023 with a series of events
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in support for people living with HIV & to commemorate those who have died
By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood is recognizing World AIDS Day with a series of events and programming on November 30 and December 1, in support of the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS.
Each year, the City of West Hollywood recognizes World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 United Nations World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention and recognition takes place each year on December 1.
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have passed away due to HIV/AIDS. Annually, UNAIDS agencies, governments, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and others across the globe join to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS. The theme of this year’s #WorldAIDSDay is “Let Communities Lead” to shine light on how community-led interventions are central to the end of AIDS.
“The City’s annual recognition of World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to remember loved ones lost over the last four decades to AIDS, to support those living with HIV, and to chart a course to end AIDS,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne. “Far too many people have died far too soon because of HIV and AIDS. In West Hollywood, for many years, we have declared that this is unacceptable. Our Human Services team works to support organizations that facilitate access to medical and emotional care, prevention and treatment, and resources. Our HIV Zero efforts help bring us toward the day we can all celebrate the end of suffering and loss from AIDS.”
This year’s World AIDS Day events and programming are as follows:
The 23rd Annual Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Awards will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The Warrior Awards event is free and open to the public and no RSVP is required. Limited validated parking will be available at the adjacent West Hollywood Park 5-Story structure.
Warrior Awards are given to outstanding employees or volunteers of local agencies that offer HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse prevention and care services. This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Cathy Reback, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of Friends Community Center, who will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year’s Warrior Awards honorees, in addition, will be:
- Michael Buitron – APLA Health;
- Ramon Cervantes-Tadeo – C.I.T.Y. x1 Youth Group;
- Paul Chavez – Los Angeles LGBT Center;
- Kimberly Curtin, Pharm.D., APh – Men’s Health Foundation
- Susan Holt, Psy.D., LMFT – Being Alive;
- Ilene Kasser – The Tweakers Project;
- Prudence Mendiola – Friends Community Center; and
- John Sovec, LMFT – The Life Group LA.
AIDSWatch, the electronic memorial to people lost to HIV and AIDS, will be viewable on www.AIDSWatch.org and on the City of West Hollywood’s WeHoTV broadcast and streaming channels, including Spectrum Channel 10 within West Hollywood, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2023 for 24 hours.
The City of West Hollywood will join STORIES: The AIDS Monument and APLA Health in a World AIDS Day event on Friday, December 1, 2023. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) Respite Deck, located at 8750 El Tovar Place. After a short program with refreshments, attendees will descend the grand staircase of the ARC at 6:30 p.m. in a candlelight procession through West Hollywood Park and along N. Robertson, Santa Monica, and N. San Vicente Boulevards to the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. There, the evening will continue with a screening of the award-winning 2023 documentary Commitment to Life. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the screening will begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. Events are free to attend and open to the public. Limited validated parking will be available at the West Hollywood Park 5-Story structure. Advance RSVP is requested by reserving a spot on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-aids-day-in-west-hollywood-tickets-750017812467.
The onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic had a significant impact in West Hollywood. The disease’s elevated infection rate among gay men caused a devastatingly high number of deaths in the City. The City of West Hollywood was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local HIV/AIDS organizations. The City of West Hollywood sponsored one of the first AIDS awareness campaigns in the country in October 1985 and the City’s response to the AIDS crisis has been recognized as a model for other cities, nationally and globally.
The City of West Hollywood actively participates in the development of programs that can bring awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and services to people living with HIV/AIDS. In January 2015, the City announced its vision to become an ‘HIV Zero’ city. The City is currently implementing its HIV Zero Strategic Initiative.
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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.
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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
Southern California
Triple A: Drivers can keep more in their wallet headed into holiday
The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.94, which is 11 cents lower than a week ago
Editors Note: The Weekend Gas Watch is being published one day early due to the holiday.
LOS ANGELES – Continued price drops at the gas pump are bringing Southern California drivers some relief as they head to and from their Thanksgiving holiday destinations in record numbers, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.94, which is 11 cents lower than a week ago. The average national price is $3.28, which is seven cents lower than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.04 per gallon, which is 11 cents lower than last week, 54 cents lower than last month, and 21 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.07, which is 12 cents lower than last week, 54 cents lower than last month, and 17 cents lower than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.07, which is seven cents lower than last week, 50 cents lower than last month, and 13 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.86, which is 12 cents lower than last week, 58 cents lower than last month and 28 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.13 average price is eight cents lower than last week, 40 cents lower than last month, and 33 cents lower than a year ago today.
“More Southern California areas saw gas price averages drop below $5 a gallon this week and if current trends hold, average gas prices in Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara should be below $5 a gallon in the next week as well,” said Auto Club Spokesperson Doug Shupe. “The Auto Club reminds drivers this holiday to be patient on busy freeways, use seatbelts, obey speed limits, and focus their full attention on the road ahead.”
The Auto Club reminds drivers of the following tips to save money on gas:
- If you use premium unleaded fuel, make sure it is required for your vehicle, not just recommended. The Auto Club’s Automotive Research Center found that vehicles with recommended premium fuel performed safely with regular unleaded gasoline.
- Make sure your tires are properly maintained and inflated to the correct level.
- Maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular service will ensure optimum fuel economy.
- Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard accelerations. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption.
- Slow down and drive the speed limit. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speed increases. Reducing freeway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
- Use cruise control on the highway to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on slippery roads because you could lose control of the vehicle.
- Minimize your use of air conditioning.
- Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine, even in colder temperatures. It’s unnecessary and wastes fuel.
- Remove unnecessary and heavy items from your car.
- Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use.
- Download the AAA App to find the cheapest gas prices near you.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov. 22, averages are:
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