1Voice Summer 2019

Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness
Those are the three “unalienable rights” the
U.S. Declaration of Independence says our Creator
gave to all humans. It’s time to live by that ideal.
The Mueller Report may describe relentless
foreign interference in U.S. elections
and influence over the current White House,
but July 4 is a day to remember our nation’s
birth. Our Declaration of Independence was
a beacon of light when it was signed.
The radical idea that all humans are born
with God-given rights was an opening shot
at royalty and colonialism. In today’s world,
no one
pursues life
and liberty
harder than
the millions
of migrants
and asylumseekers.
Americans
have
struggled to
honor that
vision, but
our country
has also
fallen short:
Black slavery, the near-genocide of Native
Americans, and the dislocation of Japanese
communities are just a few of the stains on
our name.
Trump’s response to families trying to
escape Central American carnage is a new
outrage. The problem goes beyond some
brutal incidents. This is a bona-fide mass
atrocity. He has deliberately, systematically
attacked civilians to deliver a message to the
world: Don’t come, and if you do, this is the
treatment you can expect.
Trump is dragging all of us into dangerous
territory. For example, ICE wants to
comb the State Department of Motor Vehicles
database with facial-recognition technology
in a warrantless search for undocumented
drivers through their AB60 licenses.
By City Councilmember Gil Cedillo
July 4 rally against Trump’s border atrocities.
Crossing that digital line would violate
a promise California made when my AB60
bill was enacted that it wouldn’t share that
information with federal agents. But that
move would also give the government
unprecedented reach into every driver’s
private life.
The City Council supports Assembly
Bill 1747 to put the DMV and other state
law enforcement
databases
off-limits to
U.S. immigration
agents. The
exceptions
are if a judicial
warrant
has been
issued for
an individual,
or if
a court has
ordered the
data to be disclosed.
It’s also time to update the Council’s 2017
vote to exclude contractors who worked on
Trump’s border wall from bidding on City
projects. Private prisons, transportation companies
and others who are profiting from this
atrocity will find no sanctuary in Los Angeles.
This crisis has shined a light on the dark
side of a militarized immigration machine
and for-profit lock-ups:
• About 9,000 minors have reported
being sexually assaulted in detention;
• Police officers have been fired for
texting about shooting Alexandria Ocasio-
Cortez for her defense of immigrants; and
• The FBI is investigating 70 Border
Patrol officials who belong to a secret Face-
Continued on page 7
P ublic Safety
1Voice
Team Cedillo continues to reunify hundreds of Mexican
families; L.A. marches to “Save the Kids” and “Stop the Raids”;
and the walk to Esperanza Middle School is now much safer.
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E conomic Development
An agreement facilitated by Councilmember Cedillo at Hillside Villa
is a real solution to a real problem; and CD1’s Blue House shelter
opens its doors to dozens of homeless women and children.
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A rts and Culture
NELA celebrates Charles Lummis’ cultural legacy with a
broad brush, from film screenings to juggling swords; and
Heather McLarty forges a new Noisemaker Award every year.
Page 4
Muralists have stripped layers of paint that covered a 169-foot
tableau of native cultures below the Southwest Museum; and
Latin music fans are gearing up for the annual festival.
Page 5
Students at University Prep Value High School leave their
mark on Pico Union; and Salvadoran alfombras artists create
masterpieces on Kenmore Avenue during Easter Week.
Page 6
Yolanda Gutierrez’s dolls say a lot about her native Nicaragua;
and OxyArts reaches out to Highland Park.
Page 7
C lean Communities
Lincoln Heights has a state-of-the-art pool to help beat the
heat this summer; and Glassell Bark and Meow sets tails
wagging and cats purring across NELA.
Page 8
E nvironment
Crews are building a bridge across the L.A. River for bicyclists
and pedestrians; and Friends of the River mark Earth Day by
cleaning up for the 30th year.
Page 9
On the Centerspread
Nativo Lopez was born in Boyle Heights to a
working class family with deep roots in California.
He made his name as a tireless advocate for
immigrants, and will inspire new generations of
activists in the ongoing fight for rights.