Viewpoint—Lawyers, Traci Park and Erin Darling, Are Needed to Represent All – Including Criminals

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

When this editor first started refereeing AYSO, one of the people she worked with was a criminal defense attorney. She was surprised at one of his notorious clients, who seemed particularly “disgusting.”

This editor asked, “How could you take that case?”

He responded with a question “Do you believe in the American system?” This editor answered, “Yes.”

He said, “The American way means that all are entitled to a defense.”

He added, “it doesn’t matter how I feel about this person or the crime, I’m defending the law that everyone is innocent until they have a trial by their peers, and those people reach a verdict.”

Currently two lawyers, Traci Park and Erin Darling, are candidates for Council District 11.

Darling has taken out ads accusing Park of racism because she represented a client, who allegedly made a racist comment. Park could take out ads accusing Darling of misogyny and pedophilia because of the clients he’s represented. She has not.

DARLING – LOBOS CASE:

Erin Darling

Darling represented an alleged gang member named Edgar Alexander Lobos who was charged with assaulting a woman in Lincoln Heights. Lobos, whose record included multiple domestic violence and gun convictions dating back to at least 2008, had just been released early from prison on previous gun possession charges.

Within 12 hours of his release, public documents show that he allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, raped, and forcibly sodomized a woman at gunpoint in a public bathroom in Lincoln Park.

Darling defended Lobos on the gun charges, initially as a full-time Federal Public Defender with two colleagues and later as a private attorney under a federal law that enables qualified lawyers to represent clients in federal criminal cases. The other lawyers withdrew from the case in February 2017. Darling continued as sole counsel.

Darling filed a motion to suppress evidence, alleging the victim’s photographic identification was tainted and unreliable. The district court disagreed, and Darling appealed to the Ninth Circuit.

Publicly available court documents show that Darling repeatedly attacked the woman’s credibility as a rape victim both in federal district court and before the Ninth Circuit.

He also attacked the alleged rape victim’s recollection of traumatic events, telling the court, “The lack of witness credibility likely led to the dismissal of the charges against Lobos.”

The record shows prosecutors voluntarily dismissed the case for failure to timely prosecute. Nothing in the court record suggests the case was dismissed due to the victim’s credibility.

Darling repeated his assertions again in briefs in the Ninth Circuit, referring to “the fact that the complaining witness who identified Lobos appeared to LAPD detectives later in the investigation as if she ‘was not telling the truth’ and that the state criminal case against Lobos based upon her allegations was dismissed the photographic display procedure used to identify Lobos was unduly suggestive and unreliable.”

In their decision rejecting Darling’s arguments, a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit said flatly, “We disagree.” Lobos was found guilty and sentenced to 77 months in federal prison.

The victim’s fate remains unknown.

Darling, who could have chosen to not represent Lobos, claimed that this had nothing to do with the rape or sexual violence against a woman, but rather he “represented my client in a federal case in which he was charged with being a felon in possession of a gun, nothing else.”

Darling has also represented at least two separate convicted child pornographers, a convicted child rapist, an MS-13 gang member who allegedly kidnapped and killed an innocent person with a machete and a convicted felon who illegally transported 558.6 grams of methamphetamine into a local jail.

PARK – CITY OF ANAHEIM

Traci Park

Park, a partner in the firm Burke, Williams @Sorenson, provides legal services for California cities, counties, municipalities, school districts and special districts.

For example, the law firm handles case such as: a city’s code enforcement officer voluntarily resigned his full-time position to take a higher-paying full-time position at another city. When the officer was not selected by his prior employer for re-hire on its graveyard shift, he sued for race discrimination.

The code enforcement officer was highly-qualified for the graveyard shift and had more experience than other applicants.

The case proceeded to trial on the sole claim of race discrimination. After three weeks of jury trial in Orange County Superior Court, the jury unanimously sided with the city and awarded the employee nothing. The court also awarded the City its costs.

Those are the kinds of cases that Park litigates. She was tasked with defending the city of Anaheim after a Black employee, Andrew Harrell accused a fleet supervisor of using the “n-word.”

According to the L.A. Times report about the case, “The only thing close to a specific allegation is the allegation that [the supervisor] had used the ‘n-word’ in front of Plaintiff,” Park’s brief in the case said. “However, further details on his use of the word, including any context, date or frequency, are absent. While an allegation of the use of this single word is serious, plaintiff does not allege the term was ever directed at him or that he was targeted with its usage.”

The judge said Harrell’s lawyers’ amended lawsuit “sufficiently alleges a claim for harassment.” Harrell ended the dispute with Anaheim last year, accepting a settlement payment. The L.A. Times said, his attorneys did not respond to a request for comment.

Park has repeatedly said, “I do not condone the use of racially charged language, or harassing or discriminatory conduct, under any circumstances.”

 

It appears that Darling is using the mess at L.A. City Hall (in which Nury Martinez, the president of the city council, resigned for her racist comments) as a way of trying to paint Park as racist. She is not.

His campaign managers must feel that Darling is running behind or why would the campaign stoop to name calling, especially using the “r” word, which is now one of the most politically charged words in America?

This editor feels that name calling is for candidates that don’t have plans: name calling is for losers.

Both lawyers can be applauded for defending the American way, taking cases that many of us might find repugnant.

 

Posted in Viewpoint | 9 Comments

Kilbride Addresses Homeless Count in Pacific Palisades

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

This young homeless man, sleeping in the park, has been resistant to help.

Co-president of the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness Sharon Kilbride spoke to the Palisades Rotary Club on Tuesday and detailed the number of homeless that the nonprofit volunteer group had counted during the annual Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Count that was done in February.

That count, released by LAHSA on September 8, has come under city-wide scrutiny (“Los Angeles Homeless Count Raises Doubt about Accuracy. Is It Time for a New Way?” L.A. Times September 24.)

According to the Times, “those with knowledge of Venice were incredulous. LAHSA said there were no unsheltered people — no tents, no inhabited cars or RVs and no people living outdoors — in the northwest quarter of Venice, which is notorious as ground zero for homelessness.”

LAHSA’s communication director said, “During the Count, we received several reports of user and technological errors resulting from a lack of training and poor internet connectivity. Despite these errors, we are confident in the accuracy of this year’s homeless Count because LAHSA and its partners took several steps to account for what was happening in the field.”

This year, for the first-time, all volunteers were given an app to use on cell phones to record the number of people counted.

This editor participated in the count, and with three other volunteers went down Temescal Canyon and along Pacific Coast Highway to Sunset. On several occasions, that information did not go through on the app. Palisades volunteers scouring the hillsides and Highlands are well-aware of cellular transmission issues in this area.

Volunteers were also asked by the PPTFH to record numbers on paper, so there was a backup of locations and the count, which has led to certainty here about the number of homeless.

“There was no change in the homeless count in Pacific Palisades since 2020,” Kilbride said, but noted that there was an increase in the cars along PCH.

When doing the homeless count, it is often hard to tell if a car/RV contains a homeless person, or someone, a surfer, for instance, just parked for the night. During Covid, all parking enforcement was put on hold, which could have been one of the reasons for the increased number of people sleeping in cars along PCH.

JANUARY 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30

Through September 30, the PPTFH have offered services to 452 homeless, which includes a kit and bars. “Most people want the goodies, but don’t want the help,” Kilbride said, regretfully.

She noted that it was only with Los Angele Police Department’s help has the organization been able to accomplish as much as they have. She also gave a shout out to the two social workers, Glanda and Jesse, for their constant efforts to engage the homeless.

During this time frame, the PPTFH volunteers have cleaned up 262 abandoned camps in the Palisades and engaged 95 new vehicles dwellers.

They helped six individuals that needed to be hospitalized. Volunteers saw a warming fire and called LAFD.  Firefighters put out the fire. Volunteers have found 45 areas where there has been fire activity.

To date, the PPTFH has helped 162 people off the street with 104 going into permanent housing.  They currently have eight outstanding vouchers to help people get housing.

“We have three people who have lived on the street here more than a year and are service resistant,” Kilbride said. “We have three people in vehicles, who are service resistant.”

The PPTFH has raised enough money to hire a clinical case manager, which will help those with the mental health issues, but so far have not been able to fill the position.

Kilbride said there are three young men, who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but don’t want to take their meds. They have returned to this area, where they grew up, and PPTFH is trying to work with them.

The PPTFH has 43-volunteers and because of its success, is now being duplicated in other communities, such as Malibu and Westwood.

On November 14, the PPTFH community meeting will focus on “success stories,” those that have been housed. To volunteer or donate, visit: Palisadeshomeless.org.

 

 

Posted in Community, Homelessness | 2 Comments

Bonin Noticeably Silent about Palisades, Venice Fires

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s note: This story appeared on the Westside Current on October 18 and is shared in cooperation with Circling the News.)

CD 11 Candidate Traci Park spoke to fire officials during the October 16 fire that occurred below Corona del Mar in Pacific Palisades.

BY JAMIE PAIGE – Editor – Westside Current

Two significant fires in the last several weeks have put two CD11 communities on high alert, and noticeably absent from both, Councilmember Mike Bonin.

It took more than 85 firefighters about an hour late Sunday, Oct 16,  to stop the forward progress of a brushfire that shut down Pacific Coast Highway at Corona del Mar.

The fire was reported at 8:46 p.m., burning uphill in steep terrain in medium to heavy brush between Pacific Coast Highway and homes on Corona del Mar, said the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Brian Humphrey.

By 9:25 p.m., helicopters were brought into the firefight and Santa Monica and Los Angeles County firefighters were assisting city counterparts, Humphrey said.

Remarkably absent, Bonin, who spent his time on his “personal” Twitter account on Monday attacking Council District 11 candidate Traci Park and never even acknowledging the fire and its impact on the community.

Park, conversely, who visited both fire scenes, did comment.

“Our public safety partners are understaffed and underfunded, but no one is standing up for them. And while Mike Bonin is busy sending slanderous emails about me, I’m here doing his job or him. We deserve better than #BoninDarling to keep us safe,” Park stated in an social media post on Monday.

Erin Darling, backed by Bonin and running against Park, was not at the fire but did acknowledge it on social media as well.

“Thank you to the brave firefighters of Station 69 for their swift response in keeping people safe from last night’s fire in Pacific Palisades. Fire safety is a top priority for me. I will be laser-focused on keeping our environment and communities safe from fires.”

Bonin also never acknowledged a fire that destroyed four homes in the Venice canals in early October. Among the loss was the home of a 71-year-old woman and her 82-year-old-husband.

“I am heartbroken for my friends and neighbors on the Venice canals who lost homes and property in the massive fire,” Park said while visiting the destruction the next morning. ” I will do everything I can to ensure incidents like these do not continue happening in our community.”

That fire began in a three-story home under construction that residents say became a permanent fixture for transients since building at the location started. It took over 100 firefighters to put out the blaze.

Many residents in the area blame Bonin for his hands-off approach to dealing with the ongoing homeless crisis.

“For me, this has been waiting to happen. This has been a ticking time bomb,” said Devon Daley, who lives just a few houses away from the charred homes. “Many of the homeless live out of our garbage cans. We hear noises all the time, yelling and screaming. I can listen to it from my bedroom. People are rattling through the trash cans.”

Park, who several firefighters’ associations back, highlighted this on Twitter Monday.

“I’m honored to be the only candidate in this race that our firefighters trust to lead on fire safety. But, unfortunately, the current status quo is destroying CD11. Mr. Darling is supported by the politician who made this mess; we need to fix it.”

 

Posted in Accidents/Fires | 1 Comment

Fire Races up Corona Del Mar: Contained at Two Acres: PCH Closed Over Night

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The October 16 fire raced up the steep hillside threatening homes in the  Huntington Palisades.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an 8:46 p.m. alarm of a brush fire below Corona de Mar, between Chautauqua and Potrero Canyon

on October 16.

At 9:25 p.m., LAFD reported “LAFD helicopters have joined LAFD ground crews in the assault on the terrain-driven flames involving ‘more than’ one acre of medium-to-heavy brush between Pacific Coast Highway and Corona del Mar, burning uphill. LAFD crews are positioned to protect and defend the homes at the top of the bluff.

“No structure damage or injures have been reported. Though there are no formal evacuation orders, residents are asked to follow the lawful orders of uniformed public safety personnel in the area.”

Pacific Coast Highway was closed to all traffic between Chautauqua Boulevard and Temescal Canyon Road.

A Huntington resident, John Alle, wrote CTN “Our property is up the street, so I and other neighbors were concerned about life, family and property.

“Our crews from Station 69 were outstanding and backup support arrived from Westwood and other stations in LA,” Alle said. “There were numerous water drops, great overhead lighting from helicopters and crews on the ground and the immediate set-up and organization were nothing less than impressive and spectacular.”

This shot of PCH and the water-dropping helicopter was captured from the Via de las Olas bluffs.

At 9:45 p.m., LAFD released this report “85 LAFD personnel, including those aboard a trio of helicopters, joined by hand crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and units from neighboring Santa Monica Fire Department, have stopped all forward progress of the terrain-driven flames to two acres of medium-to-heavy brush in very steep and rocky terrain between Pacific Coast Highway and Corona del Mar. No injury. No structure damage reported. No formal evacuation.”

LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey said, “The LAFD Helicopters assigned to the incident made a total of 18 water drops on the fire.” (The helicopters filled up at the Highlands reservoir).

Alle said that once the fire was under control, fire crews continued to use hoses to hit potential hot spots and that additional crews were brought into cut down brush.

“They had to descend steep and winding hillside at great risk of slipping or falling,” he said and sent a thank you to firefighters. “Watching the dense fire from on-site, I never had a doubt it was any match for the professional work and command of our First Responders.”

Pacific Coast Highway was closed last night and remained closed until about 6 a.m. this morning.

Humprey was asked if the source of the fire had been identified. “The specific cause (emphasis) of the fire was undetermined (e.g. following an investigation, not able to be definitively determined),” he said.

This morning, CTN received photos of two fire pits and a large homeless tent that was set up just south of where the fire started. The photos were shared with LAFD’s Humphrey.

This tent was found close to where the fire started. It contained two fire pits.

 

The LAPD beach detail was behind the wall on Friday and it was clear at that time. Unfortunately, the beach detail, which consists of four officers and provides 6 to 7 days coverage of the Palisades, which includes tramping through the brush, has been pulled the past week to help with protests that have occurred over racist remarks by City Council members.

West Los Angeles Captain Jonathon Tom was contacted, and said in an October 17 email to CTN, “We receive priority requests from the Department and short of going under our minimum deployment, we have to send almost everyone we have available.

“This includes detectives that should be working their cases, school and juvenile officers that should be following up on juvenile related crimes, our senior lead officers who should be following up on community issues, and yes, our beach detail,” Tom said. “There is no one that has been exempted from these details.

“Alternatively, when we have large protests in West L.A., we request officers from all over the city to come help us and they do,” Tom said. “As you know, I always do my best to deploy the beach detail. I believe in it and know it’s important, but my hands are tied.”

(Editor’s note: From the Nancy Drew detective book of how to solve crimes. Two fire pits were behind the Caltrans wall, there was a tent and evidence that someone had camped there. It seems the LAFD arson squad in doing their investigation into the cause of the fire might be able to rule out spontaneous combustion, faulty wiring, smoking in bed and candles left burning. Hmmm? What else might start a brush fire? Perhaps an illegal warming/cooking fire in a very high fire severity zone?)

Posted in Accidents/Fires | 6 Comments

Yeehaw Day Promotes Community Spirit and Fun

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

This pony was at the petting zoo at Yeehaw Day.

 BY CHAZ PLAGER

 

 Palisades Elementary School held its annual fall carnival, Yeehaw Day, on Saturday, October 15.

 

Whether the event would be held or not seemed dubious at first due to a sudden rain shower, but it let up just 30 minutes before the afternoon festivities that started at 1 p.m.

 

Bunnies were at the petting zoo.

To speak personally, Yeehaw Day holds a lot of memories for me, because I attended Palisades Elementary, which is a kindergarten through fifth grade school, located on Via de la Paz.

 

Event organizers Johanna Minassian and Emma Klein feel the same way. Minassian attended her first Yeehaw Day, as a parent, eight years ago.

 

Yeehaw Day, started in 2004, was the brainchild of Nancy Fracchiolla, who was a parent at the school. She is now a visual and performing arts teacher at Palisades High School and recently directed “Mamma Mia!”

 

“A school builds bonds, and this event is to ensure those bonds stay connected, even into middle or high school,” Minassian said. “Specifically, our volunteers from Pali High– let them know we adore them and are grateful for their help.”

 

Attractions this year were apparently standard, however, they were far more lavish than when I was in elementary school. A petting zoo? Giant hamster balls for people? Kid me, would have killed for those, especially the hamster balls.

 

Beads were woven into this girl’s hair.

Aside from those, there were also unique attractions such as hair braiding and rides on a small train. Normal attractions such as a haunted house, cake walk, bouncy houses, and carnival attractions like bottle rings and darts were also there.

 

Catering was done by the Mexican restaurant Frida, which Ms. Minassian was kind enough to let me try for free. (It was delicious.)

 

Principal Juliet Herman is a replacement for Joan Ingle, who was principal while I was attending Pali elementary.

“Yeehaw represents the best of our Pali Elementary community, and it brings together parents and children to celebrate community spirit,” Herman said. “Some people believe this to be a fundraiser– it’s not. It’s a community builder. It’s an irreplaceable tradition for many, and I plan to have it continue for many years to come.”

Students could go in the life-sized hamster ball.

Students tried out their muscles in the carnival games at Yeehaw Day.

Posted in Kids/Parenting, Schools | Leave a comment

VIEWPOINT: Adversaries Unite in Support for Park

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

 

Venice Median project would destroy this historic portion of the town. Columnists argue that the City will use this as a test case to deny community involvement with local projects.

By ALIX GUCOVSKY and BARRY CASSILLY

(Circling the News has tried to remain impartial in the upcoming election and on the ballot measures, presenting readers with information, so they can make their own decisions. This column appeared October 14 in the Westside Current. CTN has pulled out two of the topics for readers—particularly to highlight the Venice Median Project. The Project would be 140 units of housing built on the Venice Median. It is the last parcel of open space in Venice and one block from the beach in the Venice Canals Historic District. Councilman Mike Bonin bypassed a PLUM hearing and took it to the Committee on Homelessness, so that it could go directly to the City Council.)

Local politics attracts a group of passionate engaged stakeholders who dedicate their time to community councils and stakeholder groups.  Two of the most passionate adversaries are former LUPC Chair Alix Gucovsky, and LUPC committee member Barry Cassilly.  Barry was an early supporter of Mike Newhouse, Alix has always supported Traci Park.  Today, we are writing as a unified voice, one that is not defined by our differences but by our love of our community and to stress the importance of putting aside partisanship to rally behind Traci Park in the November election.

Ballots for the November 8, 2022, election have been mailed.  What is at stake in these elections?  The soul of CD 11 and Los Angeles, and the future of the Democratic Party.

CD 11 long considered one of the most staunchly blue areas of Los Angeles will have to choose between Traci Park, a moderate common sense liberal Democrat, and Erin Darling, the far-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) endorsed candidate.  Both democrats, both with radically different ideas of how to work through the problems and challenges facing the district.

The Monster on the Median

The elephant in the room, is the infamous median project.  A housing project paid for by taxpayers and low-income tax credits, that will, if built, create a mere 140 units of affordable housing with only seven for very low income at a cost of $1 million plus per unit.

This project will displace several low-income families of color who have lived in the area for 15 plus years. This housing project is currently being appealed by the Coastal Committee, which has been vigorously opposed by the community: it faces two lawsuits. It was a project awarded with no transparency through a no-bid process.

For seven years the community has battled Councilman Bonin who has refused to listen or engage with the community.  Erin Darling enthusiastically supports this project.  Traci does not and will fight to ensure that this ecologically sensitive area, and last remaining bit of open space is protected.

While this may seem like a local Venice issue, the rest of the district, especially our neighbors to the north should be paying close attention to this project. Make no mistake, the city is using this process as a test.

Should the median project come to fruition, it will open the doors, or shall we say floodgates to similar projects throughout the district. The new state and local laws will make it next to impossible for communities to engage and oppose these types of projects that are vastly unsuitable and overpriced.

Traci recognizes that we need to look for solutions to build and create affordable housing for our workforce and those who are housing insecure, but Traci wants to empower builders and service providers who are solution oriented. She realizes that housing needs are not one size fits all.

Traci uses the term granular when speaking of our unhoused population which consists of seniors, youth aging out of foster care, families, addicts, and victims of domestic violence.  Each group requires different types of housing and Traci is committed to ensuring that each group is serviced appropriately.  Her opponent Erin Darling has one solution which is to build, build, build, with no consideration to specific needs within the unhoused population.

 DSA endorsement

The DSA endorsement of Erin Darling may be one of the most troubling parts of the Darling candidacy.

Looking at the political landscape, we can see the two-party system has been taken over by extremists, the DSA on the left, and Trump on the right.

Neither is helping us move forward as a nation, and more importantly should the DSA continue its assault on the Democratic Party we risk empowering the extreme right on a national level.

This is just not speculation; the numbers support this hypothesis.  According to an analysis by Axios, moderate candidate in seats that Dems won 14 out of 22 congressional primaries when a progressive candidate challenged a more moderate candidate in seats Dems can win.

In a Gallup poll, liberals makeup the smallest share of the electorate.  Gallup found that a 37% plurality of voters identified as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 25% as liberal, which means that the Republicans can play to their base and still manage to win elections with a minority of moderates.  What does this mean for the party?

Democrats need moderate support to win outside the bluest parts of the county. Why does this matter in Los Angeles, and CD 11? We cannot allow the Democratic Party to be hijacked by an extreme faction of the party, we do not have the support for this to play out on a national level.

Translation, we could see a growing conservative movement. And on a local level, this means we need all hands-on deck to support or pragmatic hard working Democratic candidate Traci Park.

(Gucovsky’s and Cassilly’s entire column can be read on westsidecurrent.com)

Venice Median Project

Posted in Community, Councilman Mike Bonin, Homelessness | 3 Comments

New California Law Ensures Chips in Dogs List Those Who Adopted

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

 

By JAMIE PAIGE

(This October 5 story is printed in cooperation with Westside Current.)

It took years for Vaquera to be returned to its owner.

Vaquera the pit bull is back at home with her rescue mom and siblings, but it took four years, a legal battle and exorbitant bills to get to this happy ending.

And, because Chiara Tellini says she doesn’t want her storied history to be anyone else’s, she worked on getting a new law enacted that gives pet owners rights over “rogue pet rescue groups.”

Before Vaquera’s Law, existing laws failed to ensure that pets are returned to their rightful owners.

Vaquera’s Tail

In 2015, Tellini went looking for a companion dog for her Jack Russell/Dachshund cross. She had her mind made up that she would rescue one of the many pit bulls in shelters that desperately need homes.

After navigating through hundreds of dogs in humane societies and animal control shelters from Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles, she hesitated to adopt because at each location she was restricted from introducing her little guy to any potential pup mates without the barrier of a fence between them.

After one long day of searching, she stopped by her local pet supply store where she had shopped for several years to pick up dog food. The owner, Marina Baktis, also ran a rescue called Mutts & Moms and often had adoptable dogs in her store.

That day, Tellini recalls, there was an enthusiastic wagging tail attached to almost the exact dog she had imagined right behind the counter. “She was a brown, female, blue-nosed pit bull that was just about a year-old named Rosebud.”

The pit bull just happened to be spending the day in the store. The owner said yes to Tellini’s dog meeting the pit bull face to face. “The meeting was storybook,” says Tellini. “The two dogs, Zeffirelli and Rosebud, chased each other around playing.” Tellini adopted Rosebud on the spot and named her Vaquera.

Vaquera became friends with Chiara Tellini’s JackRussell/Dachshund cross.

During the adoption process, Tellini said that Baktis told her she would remain the first person to contact on the microchip for the dog. Microchips are embedded in pets to provide a form of permanent identification.

Vaquera’s next four years were filled with extensive training, hikes and trail runs with Tellini. The two also took trips to dog parks and went on weekend adventures. “Vaquera loved everyone and every animal she met and was popular among the neighbors,” says Tellini. “She earned her good canine award in training and had quite a fan club. When I would go away for work about once a month, Vaquera stayed with Marina, so they never lost touch.”

After four years of companionship, the story took a turn when Vaquera escaped Tellini’s backyard after a worker didn’t properly latch the gate. “She didn’t go far. I later learned that a Good Samaritan greeted Vaquera and was able to secure her.”

“As anyone would do,” says Tellini, “they called one of the numbers on Vaquera’s many tags.” That number was for Mutts & Moms.

Tellini says she started calling the rescue number but got no answer—and no one called her back.

“I kept texting Marina asking for the microchip number so I could reach out to area shelters,” says Tellini. Tellini said Marina then replied with the microchip number, but the accompanying message read: “You don’t even deserve this dog.”

After visiting nearby humane societies and even calling her city council member, nothing was coming up. Tellini began to suspect that Baktis had her rescue dog.

“There was nothing, not a clue, as to her whereabouts.” Tellini called the microchip company frequently over those first few days, and they requested proof of purchase, adoption paperwork, vet records, and anything else verifying that Tellini was indeed the owner of Vaquera.

Almost two years passed. Tellini got a call from the microchip company, which had finally updated the microchip to show that she was now in the first position as owner—not Baktis.

“The Avid [Identification Systems] rep asked me if I was still looking for my lost dog. They told me that someone was trying to change the chip information.” Tellini asked the rep to call that person back to find out more. Ten minutes later, the rep called and gave her the name and number of a new rescue operation that had her dog.

“I called several times that same day. The rescue sounded surprised that there was another person looking for the dog,” says Tellini.

During this time, Tellini said she received an email from Baktis that read:

“Dear Chiara, Rosebud was recovered, and for her safety, I made the decision to abide by the terms of our agreement and a new adoptive home was found. Rosebud is happy as a clam and lives her days loved by her new family. She loves the kids she lives with, and they love her.

Thanks for your understanding. Regards, Marina, Mutts and Moms”

That was Oct 30,2020.

Within two weeks,Tellini retained an attorney, Jill Ryther of Jill Ryther Law Group, after she said Vaquera’s new adopters refused to return the dog when she confronted them.

A six-month legal battle that involved all three parties ensued over the custody of Vaquera. “Legal bills piled high but with no end in sight and a jury trial perhaps years away,” said Tellini during this time. Eventually, the defense decided to settle, but as Tellini describes it, “It wasn’t quite as simple as, ‘Here’s your dog back, and leave us alone.’”

Tellini insisted on some concessions during the settlement because she didn’t want this to ever happen to anyone else. “I wasn’t the first person to go through this almost exact same scenario, but I wanted to be the last.”

Legal Troubles

According to an LA Daily News story, Baktis took a dog back after Ellen DeGeneres rehomed her dog to her hairstylist.

According to the story, DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, adopted Iggy, a Brussels Griffon mix, from Mutts and Moms on Sept. 20, 2008. But when the dog and the couple’s cats clashed, DeGeneres rehomed the dog to her hairstylist in violation of the adoption contract the comedian had signed.

The story states that an agency representative went to DeGeneres’ hairdresser’s home and took Iggy back.

On her show, DeGeneres cried and begged the group to return the dog, which she said had bonded with her stylist’s two daughters, ages 11 and 12.

The report stated that Baktis declined to provide details of where the dog was living at the time.

Vaquera’s Law

Chiara Tellini worked to get adopters of pets on the first position of the microchip, so they can get the pet back if it ends up in a shelter.

While Tellini was fighting her legal battle, she was intent on protecting the rights of future pet owners. “We need pet ownership to be clear. Our financial and emotional investment in our pets goes far beyond the fee we pay at the point of adoption,” said Tellini. “The investment over times makes them bona fide members of our family and we need them to be protected and safe.”

So, she began working on getting a state bill passed that would ensure that adopters of pets would always be in the first position on a microchip, making it easier for them to get their pet back if they end up in a shelter. Essentially, the law prevents rogue rescue groups from trying to make claims on pets that have been previously adopted by private parties.

“When I first adopted Vaquera,” she told the Current, “I was told that keeping the rescue on [the microchip] would make it easier for me to get the dog back. I had no reason to think otherwise.”

On February 1, 2022, AB2723—Vaquera’s Law—was introduced before the California State Assembly. On March 3, Tellini, along with a former longtime animal control officer who is now an attorney specializing in animal law and cruelty cases, presented testimony to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

“It’s a tragedy when your family member/pet goes missing, and this bill would prevent bad actors of reclaiming pets while their loved ones are still searching for them,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden, the author of Vaquera’s Law. “Many Californians have welcomed animals into their families, and we want those pets to be safe.”

Following a series of hearings and passage in the Assembly, the bill went to the State Senate. On June 14, Tellini gave testimony again, this time to the Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development, when Senator Josh Newman commented: “I want to thank you on behalf of four of my constituents—Homer, Wally, Hugo and Simon, four rescued Chihuahuas living in my house, all microchipped…so thank you for bringing this. I can only imagine the pain and the hassle that [you] went through.”

He added, “I would love to be added as a coauthor if only to impress my wife when I come home this week because I’ve done something good.”

The bill passed unanimously at each subsequent stage and was presented to Governor Newsom on August 29.

On September 26, AB2723 became law, ensuring that all shelters, humane societies, breeders and rescue operations are required to update the microchip of any dog (or cat) with the adopter’s contact information and list them in the number-one position as the “owner.”

“I will never forget my amazing friends from California to Washington who helped me search for and find every bit of evidence we needed to win the battle,” says Tellini. “Thank you, universe, for bringing the best people together for the sake of one lovely little pit bull who has thrown her noose around my heart for life.

 

Posted in Animals/Pets | Leave a comment

Money Can Be Found in Sports: Esports

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Kyle Giersdorf won $3 million playing Fortnite.

By CHAZ PLAGER

With the advent of the digital era, more and more forms of entertainment have sprung up. One of which, video games, has been a huge hit with young and old alike.

However, as with most things, humans want to know: Who’s the best?

Thus, came along esports, a general term for competitive video games. The most well-known esports games are Counter Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and, of course, Fortnite, where the winner of a recent Fortnite tournament, Kyle Giersdorf, walked away with $3 million.

Giersdorf, who is only sixteen, managed to reach a level (and paycheck) most minor league players can only dream of seeing. However, going it solo can be difficult, and most esports games, like League of Legends and DOTA are team-based.

Esports teams were created, and names like FaZe and Panda Global began to take over competitions, striking fear into the hearts of the unlucky souls who happened to run into their scouted and trained members.

The market has become a bit oversaturated for shooting games, though. And so avid gamers determined to make their hobby a living turned to fighting games.

Thousands of eager spectators tune in or show up to watch top players play games like Smash Bros, Guilty Gear, and Tekken on a big stage, with money on the line.

Rosario Syndicate logo.

One man, who goes by Electric-Wind Raman online, runs an up-and-coming esports team called the Rosario Syndicate. The name comes from Lady of the Rose in Spanish, a Christian term, and Syndicate, which sounds threatening.

The group was created during covid, which slowed them down, but they’ve regained sponsors willing to fund tournament entries and host tournaments to get their names out there. Currently, 56 members are on Raman’s team, each playing a variety of games.

“I’m 21, and I live in Canada,” Raman told this writer. “My dream is that one day, I can lead this team to become a tier 2 or 1 team and stand on the stage alongside strong teams like Panda (Panda Global) and TSM.

“I’d also like to dive into other game genres like FPS (first person shooters) and MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arena, like League of Legends),” he said.

When it comes to esports, some might be dismissive of the sport, believing it just to be people worked up over some silly game.

“What I wish more people knew about esports is that it isn’t so easy– you need to put a lot of dedication into it, just like any other sport,” Raman said. “If you want to start your own team, or compete, I just want to say that you have to be committed and in love with this hobby if you really wanna do it for a living. It’s not easy at the start, but once you reach your destination, it’s even more satisfying to look back at how far you’ve come.”

Raman encourages those with an interest in esports to try games like Guilty Gear Strive or Tekken 7 if they have an interest in fighting games.

Rosario Syndicate is still accepting applications as well, from team members and sponsors alike. For more information, contact Rosario Syndicate through Twitter (twitter.com/RosSyndicate).

 

(Editor’s note: The author plays Blazblue Centralfiction and Persona 4 Arena. Plager met Raman online after meeting a Rosario Syndicate player at a local tournament in Vancouver. “I was interested in fighting pros to improve,” Plager said.)

BlazBlue Centralfiction

Posted in General, Sports | Leave a comment

Betts Bakes Delicious Homemade Cakes

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Homemade Halloween Whoopie Pies can only be purchased at Betts Bakes.

If a resident is having a Halloween party and needs a special desert, try Betts Bakes Whoopie Pies or the ghost/mummy cupcakes.

Try vanilla or chocolate mummy cupcakes.

Launched in August, this new Palisades home business, Betts Bakes, was the result of Betty Morin’s love for baking and the demand for her tasty homemade treats, such a carrot, chocolate or vanilla cake, cupcakes or lemon meringue tart.

Baking goes back to her childhood and started with an Easy Bake Oven. “I used to make things for my dad, mom and brother,” she said.

Next it was chocolate chip cookies. “My mom had a typed recipe card that is similar to Toll House cookies, but I don’t know where she found it. I’ve used that recipe so many times that I have it memorized!”

Morin said, “Most of my cookie recipes come from a cookie cookbook that my mother passed down to me from the early 1960s that is falling apart but has the most amazing memories tied to it. It’s full of handwritten notes on favorite recipes and modifications that my mom or I made. I will never get rid of that book.”

She calls herself a huge fan of the “Great British Baking Show.”

“I often look up recipes I see on the show and try to replicate them myself,” Morin said. “A few years ago, a friend requested a Hazelnut Dacquoise cake for her birthday. It’s layers of crispy meringue made from hazelnut flour, and I put a light chocolate mousse in between. It’s a tricky dessert but it was beautiful and tasted great.

She’s not afraid to try the confections that only the most talented bakers can create. “French macarons are notoriously difficult,” she said. “I’ve had mostly good luck with them, but they take precision and patience.”

The carrot cake is moist and delicious.

Currently, “I’m only selling cupcakes, cakes and a lemon meringue tart. I’m planning to add more items for the holidays and will likely do cookies as well,” Morin said. “I am a huge fan of cookies and make dozens of different kinds during the holidays to give to friends and family.”

Morin was asked if the cake recipes were family favorites. “The cupcake and cake recipes are not; I’ve found most online.

 

 

This three-layer lemon cake is perfect for dessert.

“One of my favorite places to find recipes is Sally’s Baking Addiction,” Morin said. “I usually tweak the recipes just a little to fit my taste, but I love her recipes for inspiration.”

Morin, who had morphed from film production to music production to a frozen food business, had always dreamed of opening a bakery. It took Covid and virtual meetings to open that door.

She was on the business side of healthy, frozen food entrees, which were sold in Gelson’s and Bristol Farms. That business was put on hold during Covid, because of supply issues.

Then her husband, who has 20 years of sobriety in AA, suggested that she bake a cake to be given to someone celebrating a year of sobriety in that program. One cake led to many cakes.

This marble cake is one of the many selections at Betts Bakes.

Her baked goods were so tasty and became popular, not only for AA members, but for those friends and family members, too. People started requesting cakes for birthdays and other celebrations, and Morin found herself propelled into a new career.

Her experience in the food industry and the health department was vital in opening her home bakery.

She delivers to Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica. “If there is a special request for a large order, I’m happy to make arrangements to deliver to other parts of town,” she said. “I’m hoping to expand the delivery area as I get more established.”

“Depending on how intricate the design is, I usually only need a week’s notice for baking a cake,” she said, noting that “if it was something very fancy, like a wedding cake, that would require several weeks.”

Her love of baking, which was a hobby, has become a full-time job.

“Baking is very satisfying to me. It can be almost meditative, and I love the creative part of it, especially when I’m trying new things or decorating cakes,” the Palisades resident said. “Cakes make people happy, and I love that part of it.

“My biggest concern was whether I would enjoy baking if I ‘had’ to do it, but so far that hasn’t been a problem,” she said. “I still love it.”

Go to bettsbakes.com to see choices and prices. Morin said she’s open to special requests. (310) 310-2983.

This lemon meringue tart is a best seller at Betts Bakes.

Posted in businesses/stores, Restaurants | Leave a comment

Update: Theft of Katie O’Neill’s Paintings: Friends Start gofundme

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

This painting, “Rio Menuo O De La Verona,” was stolen from Katie O’Neill’s studio.

Artist Katie O’Neill’s Fine Art Gallery was broken into on Saturday, October 8 around 10:30 p.m.  Eleven paintings, worth about $35,000, were stolen from her art studio on Antioch.

Around 10:30 p.m., a Gelson’s employee saw a man, who was described as black and about 6 feet tall, use a crowbar on the window. Once the window was broken, he reached in and opened the door to gain access to the studio.

The employee shouted out, but the man was threatening to the employee. Another person drove by and asked the man what he was doing and supposedly he said, “Some burglar robbed my store,” and that he was dealing with it.

An anonymous 911 call was received by LAPD.

O’Neill was alerted to the broken window and break in around 12:30 p.m. when a friend, who was driving by called her.

O’Neill has been working with a LAPD detective, and has also requested and received some footage from cameras in surrounding businesses. Once she receives  the okay from the detective, CTN will print a photo of the car and person who were captured on tape.

The man in question was wearing gloves and a hat when he broke into the store and the detective thinks he’s a professional.

Friends of O’Neill have started a go fund me page.  CTN spoke to O’Neill on October 13, and O’Neill was hesitant at first to take help. But then realized she needed to recoup losses. The money raised so far, will help pay for the board that was used in the window, and now for a window replacement://www.gofundme.com/f/katie-oneill-fine-art-gallery?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

O’Neill did not have theft insurance because she did not have a security system.

She just wants her paintings, “my babies,” back “this is so important to me,” O’Neill said.

The artist is thankful for the community’s help and said if her paintings are recovered, any money raised on gofundme beyond the window replacement will be donated to Free Arts. O’Neill has worked with the nonprofit, which provides free art to children ages 5 to 18, who have experienced abuse, poverty, neglect or homelessness (visit: freearts.org).

If anyone drove or walked by the store during the break-in, and can offer any more information, please contact O’Neill.

“Will Rogers Bullpen and Paddock” was also stolen.

Posted in Arts, Crime/Police, General | Leave a comment