I write this column as the vice president of the ILWU Local 13, but more importantly, as a 46-year resident of San Pedro (born and raised). My story is not unique, which is why I am writing on behalf of myself and community.

I wanted to inform you on what is happening in the longshore industry and the effects it will have on our community. APM Terminal, a subsidiary of Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company that operates in 130 countries with core profits estimated last year to be between $3.6 to $4 billion, is looking to fully automate its terminal and eliminate thousands of jobs. The only reason why they want to automate is to get rid of labor, not to be in compliance with the Clean Air Act, because we can achieve those same goals with human-operated machines.

Unlimited automation at the port will eventually destroy thousands of good jobs and that will cause real harm to the greater community and region surrounding the port. Transitioning the largest terminal on the country’s largest port to full automation will have major and significant impacts on the port and surrounding environment. Concerned business owners, service providers, and nonprofit agencies all depend on good jobs at the port.

When machines replace human workers, it inflicts great damage on the community and weakens the country. Robots do not shop in the community. Robots do not pay rent, buy homes, or deposit money in banks. Robots do not pay taxes. And robots do not vote! People do!

Facilities such as the port are public resources that must be held in trust for the public good. The residents of the port cities and the citizens of countries that traffic international trade should derive some benefit from their public infrastructure. The residents must ensure the conservators of these assets allocate a portion of the prosperity generated at the port for the people of the community and state.

Behind the thousands of jobs per day that will be eliminated by this human-less automated equipment, are thousands of workers that contribute to our local and state economy. If we don’t take a stand against automation that eliminates jobs, then essentially, we will be eliminating the human race.

Technology is supposed to enhance our lives, not eliminate jobs that make our lives better. APM can do well by the community and the environment without getting rid of labor. The Union supports clean air for our port and home environment while maintaining a strong workforce with the same clean air equipped machines, with us operating them. This is a direct attack on the middle class and surrounding communities.

The machine that is replacing the workforce has to run off the highly debated 5G network. There are numerous concerns about 5G and the effects it has on humans and wildlife. APM will not have to do any Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which is troublesome because the 5G network is known to cause cancer and many other health-related issues to humans and wildlife. The 5G network is also in debate as there have been concerns about the vulnerability it puts on the ports. Not knowing who is directly in charge opens our ports to security breaches and possible terrorist threats.

The corporations that are pushing for human-less automation are all foreign-owned and don’t have a stake in our community. They are displacing American jobs while their country and corporations benefit at our expense.

The community rallied together on March 21 and showed that we are not going to let Big Business destroy our communities. There were signed petitions and letters of support to do an Environmental and Economic Impact Report to protect our community. Here are some of the numbers: a.) More than 11,000 signatures were signed; b.) More than 200 local businesses signed letters in support; c.) More than 50 legislators have written letters in support; d.) Neighborhood councils from the surrounding communities have written resolutions in support; e.) Local and county democrat parties have written resolutions in support; f.) About 2,500 community members showed their support on March 21.

On April 16, the community rallied again to appeal and reject the permit that would allow for automation. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti asked that there be a 30-day pause to keep the dialogue open between the Union and Maersk.

The community has spoken. This fight is bigger than the ILWU. I will continue to keep the community engaged and informed as we strive to protect our communities and future.

There are facts that prove that humans have produced record-breaking years in the longshore industry, which creates a healthy and prosperous community because workers are giving back and patronizing local businesses. People are buying homes, paying rent and paying for little leagues, softball leagues, dance classes, drama classes, and art classes, because they have good jobs.

Human-less automation will have a domino effect on the workforce, the community, the country, and the future of our children. We must take the time to evaluate the effects of human-less automation and protect the human race now and for the future. Our communities deserve a fighting chance. spt

Gary Herrera is the Vice President of ILWU Local 13 and is a lifelong resident of San Pedro.

At a time when so many important issues such as immigration, race, trade, corruption, taxes, etc. are at the forefront of our conversations and local/national news, I share this excerpt from a speech given by a past inhabitant of the White House in the hope we all will consider his words as we try to find common ground and the common good.

“I’ve spoken of the Shining City all of my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw and when I said it.”

Our nation is currently at odds and too often fueled by our politics. Mostly through words, however too often through acts of aggression over what and who should participate in the Shining City. We shut down the government over trivial matters, compared to what is important and needs to be improved in our neighborhoods and country. The Shining City is a much-needed aspiration, but we have a long way to go.

“But in my mind, it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace. A city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity.”

We truly have “people of all kinds” living in this country, which is as it should be given how it was designed and promoted. But the “living in harmony and peace” part is another matter. The hate we give and the hate we teach our children over race, religion, differences of opinion, and putting “getting mine” far ahead of promoting the collective good – these are all current factors competing against said harmony and peace.

“And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”

We must have a functional immigration system that can meet the challenges we face today, but this will require more than a wall. We need a functional and empathetic system, plan, and deployment that does not change due to which political party is currently in power. Practically all of our predecessors were immigrants looking for this Shining City to provide them and their families with a better life. Sadly today, to be an immigrant is often a punching bag for too many of those who already got theirs.

“That’s how I saw it and still see it…and she’s still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness towards home.”

So who is this past inhabitant of the White House who dreamed of the Shining City as a beacon for those “who must have freedom”? The author of these words and aspirations was none other than President Ronald Reagan, who initiated an amnesty program for those undocumented souls during his presidency, and even raised taxes to better balance the budget. Here’s to hoping for pragmatic leadership once again.

In writing about San Pedro’s Korean War deceased last year, I mentioned Pivo Fallorina, who remains MIA after 68 years, and Edmond “Micky” McDowell, whose background was unknown to me at the time. It turns out there is much more to their story, and it involves a third San Pedran, with their lives intertwined by friendship, fate, and tragedy. 

Fallorina and McDowell were childhood friends. They attended Barton Hill Elementary, Dana Junior High School, and San Pedro High School together. They are there in the 1950 Black and Gold yearbook in the 10th grade, and within days of school ending, the Korean War broke out. Neither returned for their sophomore year – they joined the Army. Fallorina, one of eight children, was already 19, but McDowell, two years younger, needed his mother’s signature, which must have been hard for her; McDowell’s father was killed in WWII when his troopship was bombed and sank in 1943. 

On February 13, 1951, Fallorina was a corporal with Battery A (105mm howitzers) of the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. They were in a valley north of Hoengsong in today’s North Korea, supporting Republic of Korea forces, when a massive Communist Chinese counteroffensive overran their positions. In what some call “The Hoengsong Massacre,” the 15th suffered 208 deaths; 106 were killed in action and another 102 who were taken prisoner, died in captivity. Fallorina died on July 31, 1951, in a prisoner of war camp, and his remains were never recovered. He was 20. 

There is no way of knowing if McDowell ever learned of the fate of his childhood friend. McDowell was a corporal with the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry when he was killed in action in North Korea on November 8, 1951, eight years to the day his father died. 

McDowell’s niece, Julie Witthuhn, emailed me after seeing the earlier column, saying: 

“I never had the honor to meet either my grandfather or uncle, as I was born in 1956 to Rita McDowell Bojorquez, his sister. My grandmother spoke frequently about both my grandpa and Micky. She never fully recovered from her grief, even up until her passing in 1994. 

I heard Micky ‘begged’ my grandma to let him join the Army. She had to sign papers as he was only 17 when he joined. He was due to come home when he was killed. I have every letter he wrote from Korea, and the one from the government that came on Thanksgiving telling her [that] her son had died. The letter stated, ‘saving his comrades as he went back to get more needed ammunition.’ He was only 18 when he lost his life. 

Growing up, I felt like I knew my uncle as my grandma kept him alive with her memories, but I never understood until I became a mom why she still cried every time she spoke of him. I keep him alive for her by keeping his uniform dress jacket with his toothbrush and wallet in the pocket hanging in my closet to this day, as she kept it in hers. My grandma died the day after my daughter was born…[she] was a great lady, and gave two people she loved dearly for this country.” 

McDowell’s body was recovered, and he is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles. 

The story doesn’t end there. Also captured on February 13, 1951, at Hoengsong, along with Fallorina, was 1st Lt. Bert W. Justus Jr., a WWII veteran who was acting as forward observer for Battery B of the 15th artillery. He died as a POW on May 31, 1951, age 31, leaving behind a wife and three small children. Like Fallorina, his remains were never recovered. 

Justus’ widow ended up in San Pedro, where she was part owner of Cook’s Kitchen Center. Her daughter Mary, now Mary Castaldi, graduated from Mary Star of the Sea High School in 1962. Haunted by her father’s death, she wrote a poem, titled “The Last Resort,” and posted it on the Korean War Project website (koreanwar.org/html/ Korean_war_databases.html) in 2004. Here’s how it ends: 

‘Twas Christmas Day, and he was gone. Korea was the name.
Two months later MIA. No words can share the pain.
Fifty years have come and gone since we received the letter.
He never came back home to us, it never does get better.
I need to tell the story because old men forget.
It’s not just soldiers that we lose, their families are bereft.
They hold a family update to pacify our hurt,
And then they send more babies out to die on foreign dirt.
It’s not that I’m a pacifist; I’m not against all war,
But I’m for talk and talk and talk, and then you talk some more.
The wars may be inevitable, and we will be prepared,
But war should be the last resort so little girls are spared. 

Reading that, I not only thought of the Fallorina, McDowell, and Justus families, but of Linda Zazueta, Linda (Barnes) Krammes, Rachel Kahn, Colleen Bauer, and Dick Molpus – five San Pedrans who lost their fathers in WWII. (Zazueta and Barnes were friends in elementary school, and Zazueta went to Mary Star with Mary Justus.) 

Memorial Day should be meaningful to all Americans, but let’s never forget that for many, it’s personal.

Steve Marconi can be reached at spmarconi@yahoo.com. 

God is a city planner. He cares about cities. Some people dream of a quieter, rural life, but at least in the Christian view, God is dreaming of a city (Revelation 21.1-4). God’s dream city is teeming with people. The word “multitude” is repeated again and again in the last book of the Bible. The city God dreams about, and some of us have been joining him in his dream, is described as “new” and “prepared” and “adorned.” It is a place where God dwells with his people, and they no longer have tears. Death, mourning, pain, and “the former things have passed away.” 

There are conceptual drawings of a new San Pedro Public Market in the old Ports O’ Call. There is new focus on a “Little Italy.” The former Ponte Vista, now named Highpark Development, is taking shape. There will always be strong opinions connected to how cities change, density intensifies, and driving slows. A Duffy Nelson proverb is always timely, “Make change a friend, and you will have a friend for life.” There isn’t just one Old San Pedro story. There are numerous stories. One thing is consistent in San Pedro’s history: change. Persistent change can be a lifelong companion that ultimately gets us ready for the biggest change that the “making all things new” city-planning God will bring down from heaven one day. 

In the meantime, we participate in the city amid all her changes through faithful citizenship, loyal dissent, heartfelt support, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. We can also pray. I’ve been sitting out in my Peanuts-style Lucy booth, and finding myself praying for the city of San Pedro. As I’ve come to know some of my neighbors, I find myself praying “insider” prayers, rooted in real people, names, faces, problems, and allies. 

Here is a sample “Prayer for San Pedro” that you might want to join me in praying: 

Gracious God of San Pedro, we pray for our city. We love her, and we know you love her. Thank you for her natural beauty and fair climate. Thank you for the various cultures that helped build San Pedro into the city it is today. Thank you for hard working, industrious, and committed folks that created and improved and built and rebuilt this great city to be a place that has attracted many to our shores. Thank you also for new communities that bring new gifts, sounds, tastes, and personality to San Pedro. 

We also ask for forgiveness for taking our blessings for granted. Forgive us for taking the easy road of blame, cheap criticism, and uncommitted selfishness. We have expected a few to fix our problems. Forgive us for participating in the darkness, or cursing the darkness instead of shining the light. We turn to you for a fresh start. 

We pray that the children of San Pedro may grow up in a community that cares more about whole homes than property prices. We pray for their schools, teachers, coaches, mentors, and neighbors. May they be people and places of safety and authentic love. 

We pray for the youth of San Pedro. Many are “under construction” on the inside as they discover who they are, how they have been made, and for what and for whom they are made. Give them a profound sense of their own value in your eyes and in ours. 

We pray for the adults of San Pedro. Give freedom to those bound by something, a clear sense of calling for those who are aimless, provision for those in any kind of need, healing for every kind of ailment. We ask you to find any who are lost. 

We pray for the elders of San Pedro. May they feel the honor that befits their age. Take away the ungodly philosophy that makes any of our grandparents say, “I don’t want to be a burden.” Help them know that they are the opposite of burden, but that their very presence is a blessing. 

Now, we ask for your amazing grace to fill every inhabitant, every home, and every neighborhood in San Pedro. Amen. 

Nathan Hoff is the Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro. Follow his blog at trinitypastor.blogspot.com.

It seems like every year there’s a new “fad” diet making waves in the weight loss community. The latest happens to be the ketogenic diet (aka keto), which has participants raving about the dramatic results. Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet, which forces the body into ketosis, a state in which the body uses fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.
While some might write off every diet trend as a passing weight loss fad with little to no value, or perhaps even as dangerous, some people are actually turning to these diets for the potential health benefits. These include increasing energy levels, boosting mental clarity, improving cardiovascular health markers, and managing various medical conditions. For example, according to a 2016 Healthline.com article, keto has been shown to help treat conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, some cancers, and numerous neurological disorders.

I understand this concept personally because several years ago, I launched my own quest for a healing diet. In my desperate search to find something to help with my Crohn’s disease management, I eventually discovered Paleo (what some might call a “fad” diet) and never looked back. Years later, I still follow a modified version of Paleo, and it’s still the most effective anti-inflammatory tool I have in my arsenal to help keep my flares at bay.

Still, some critics insist that such diets are universally unhealthy, and many try to discourage people from falling “prey” to them. But here’s the thing: any diet can be unhealthy if it’s approached in the wrong way. And just because something is a trend, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a passing fad.

So the question looms: can a “fad” diet be healthy in the long term? I think the answer is yes. But it depends on the person and how you approach it. Instead of generalizing and discouraging people from making potentially positive changes in their eating habits (like breaking the patterns of sugar addiction or working to lower inflammation), I think it’s more important to focus on the right way to approach any new nutrition plan.

Whatever diet or nutrition plan you’re thinking of trying, here are some general rules to keep in mind for those looking to achieve long-term optimal health:

Eat Real Food – Avoid processed foods and additives, and seek out foods that are as close to their natural form as possible: ditch factory-farmed proteins and seek out pasture-raised meats, poultry, and eggs. Look for produce that has been harvested with the least amount of pesticides. Instead of farmed fish, consume wild-caught seafood. Toss out those highly refined “vegetable” oils (like canola, corn, soybean oils), and go for cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, unrefined coconut oil, pastured butter, or ghee. If you eat grains, choose whole grains and avoid refined versions.

Eat Lots of Colorful Veggies – No matter what your diet, it should ideally include a large number of colorful vegetables. In Paleo, for example, many like to follow the “three-quarter rule,” with three-quarters of your plate consisting of veggies and plant-based foods. The more color, the better to ensure you’re getting a wide variety of phytonutrients.

Remember We’re All Different – This is important: what works for one person may not work for the next. Just because someone you know is enjoying success with a particular diet, doesn’t mean it will be ideal for you. Keto is proving to be successful for many people, but it’s not right for everyone (Diane Sanfilippo has a helpful section about this topic in her book, Keto Quickstart). Furthermore, it’s important to use a lifestyle diet like a template and modify it to fit your individual nutritional needs.

Keep Long-Term Goals in Mind – While “restart” diets can be helpful in the short-term, they can also lead to yo-yo dieting and challenges in the long run. Keep your long-term health in mind, and choose a nutrition plan that will not only nourish your body, but also one that you can modify to your individual needs and realistically maintain over time.

This information is not meant to replace the advice of your doctor or certified nutritionist.

Follow Lori Garrett’s wellness blog, www.adventuresofasickchick.com.

In this month’s column, we focus on a City of Los Angeles ordinance that may impact many property owners in San Pedro.

As a landlord or property owner, it is your responsibility to be aware of the latest compliance regulations in the City of L.A. As a renter or tenant, it is important to know if the building you reside in meets certain safety requirements. With this in mind, the L. A. City Department of Building and Safety passed Ordinance 183893 & 184081, which officially created the Soft-Story Retrofit Program. The intent of this program is to bring structures, meeting the following criteria, up to current building standards:

• Consist of 2 or more stories of wood frame construction
• Built under building code standards enacted before January 1, 1978
• Contains ground floor parking or similar open space under living units (soft story)

Some may view this as another opportunity for the City of L.A. to collect fees on permits and inspections. However, it is important to consider the potential consequences of living in an outdated structure. We live in a region where the risk of high-level earthquakes is real, with the possibility of causing devastating damage to commercial and residential properties that are not properly reinforced. This may also result in severe bodily injury or death. Take a few minutes to search online for images of structures that do not meet certain building requirements and the amount of damage caused during and after an earthquake. It’s pretty scary.

How do you find out if your property meets the City of L.A.’s Soft-Story Retrofit criteria? The Department of Building and Safety has created a convenient website that allows property owners to plug in their address to see if their property falls under the requirements of this program. Simply head to ladbs.org, search “Soft-Story Retrofit,” and type in the property address into the search field. If your property has been identified as one falling into this program, it will be listed on this site. Property owners will also be sent an order to comply from the City of L.A. Please note that the Soft-Story Retrofit Program does not apply to properties with three or less units.

What if your property has been identified as one that meets the criteria for the Soft-Story Retrofit Program? These are the steps required to bring your property into compliance:

• The property owner must hire an engineer or architect licensed in the state of California to evaluate the strength of the building. The engineer or architect must then develop plans for the building’s seismic strengthening in compliance with this program. The owner must notify tenants in writing per HCIDLA regulations.
• Submit proof of previous retrofit, plans to retrofit, or plans to demolish to the Department of Building and Safety. Plans and calculations will be checked for compliance with the retrofit ordinance. LADBS will provide guidance for all necessary steps to obtain the retrofit permit, which includes obtaining clearances from all pertinent agencies.
• Begin construction and request inspections online using L.A. City Building Online Services.

Deadlines to follow upon receipt of the order to comply from L.A. City:

• 2 years: Submit proof of previous retrofit, or plans to retrofit or demolish
• 3.5 years: Obtain all permits to start construction or demolition
• 7 years: Complete construction/demolition and finalize permits

How much can this potentially cost a property owner? The costs can vary depending on requirements, but it is quite conceivable that it may cost a property owner thousands of dollars, depending on size, condition, etc. As a property owner, you have important options that you will need to consider. Are you financially prepared to cover the cost of compliance and are you willing to complete the work? This is certainly one option that may be viable depending on your short and long-term goals with the property. There is also the option to sell the property without meeting the retrofit standards. Should you do this, it would need to be disclosed to any potential buyer so that they may complete their due diligence before proceeding with the sale.

As a property owner, you may always choose to not complete the required retrofitting work. Opting to not do the required work may be negotiated as part of the sale and could impact your sales price. We recommend that you gather as much information as possible so that you are informed, know your options, and can make decisions that are best for you as a property owner.

Mike Harper & Peter Hazdovac are both licensed local realtors with Keller Williams.