Page 2 September 9, 2021 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Alec Hodgman from front page
Police Reports
Monday, Aug 30th
A grand theft report was taken at 1230
hours from the 600 block of North Pacific
Coast Highway. Golf clubs were taken from
the business.
A petty theft report was taken at 1456 hours
from the 2100 block of East El Segundo Boulevard.
Unknown suspect(s) stole the victim’s
cell phone.
An identity theft report was taken at 1505
hours from the 700 block of West Pine Avenue.
Unknown suspect(s) opened a loan in
the victim’s name.
One female adult was detained at 1441 hours
from El Segundo Boulevard and Pacific Coast
Highway and transported to Harbor General
Hospital for a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation.
An identity theft report was taken at 1532
hours from the 800 block of North Douglas
Street. The suspect fraudulently altered checks
and deposited them into his account and withdrew
the funds
An identity theft report was taken at 1641
hours from the 700 block of South Pacific
Coast Highway. Unknown suspect(s) used the
victim’s credit card to make fraudulent purchases
One male adult was arrested at 2030 hours
from the 700 block of Loma Vista Street for
driving a stolen vehicle.
One male adult was arrested at 2352 hours
from Main Street and Palm Avenue for driving
a stolen vehicle and one Inglewood P.D.
misdemeanor warrant.
A stolen vehicle report was taken at 0229
hours from the 500 block of Loma Vista Street.
Taken was a 2004 Chevrolet truck.
One male adult was arrested at 0324 hours
See Police Reports, page 4
Strokes, and the next day he is talking with
the Taxpayers, a DIY punk band on the rise.
“It’s this dichotomous situation where
you’ve always wanted to focus on those
smaller artists, who would benefit the most
from exposure…but we also try to drive the
popularity of the channel by getting involved
with some bigger artists,” says Hodgman. He
strikes a balance, alternating between artists
who already have a following and those just
starting out.
It’s not just the artists he works to humanize.
Through his show, Hodgman has learned to be
vulnerable in front of an audience, discussing
his own life, and bringing to light issues surrounding
mental health. Having gone through
depression himself, he hopes that speaking
freely might allow for a greater discussion.
In addition to his radio show, Hodgman
films his sessions and performances from
artists and posts them on YouTube episodically.
Sometimes, about once a month, he
says, he will read a comment on one of his
videos saying, “This saved my life.” A heavy
comment, Hodgman is grateful that someone
could find solace in his show and the punk
community.
The punk community is one of radical
acceptance. It is a safe space where those
who haven’t fit in other places in society can
come and be who they are and be accepted.
Members and fans don’t tolerate judgment,
bigotry, or any abuses of humanity and will
effectively blacklist anyone who violates this
unspoken code.
Many punk artists have survived or are going
through some sort of internal or societal
struggle, be it drug addiction, gender transitioning,
abuse, or depression and anxiety.
“To have a musical reflection of that that
the artists poured their soul into…I think is
the thing that creates a generally uplifting
atmosphere or sympathetic atmosphere,”
Hodgman says. For the audience to draw
parallels between their life and the music is
a raw and vulnerable experience. It’s what
the audience brings to the music that makes it
art, in Hodgman’s opinion. The discussion of
separating the art from the artist to Hodgman
must include those interacting with it. “Art,”
he says, “is the thing that happens with an
audience and a performance interact.”
Hodgman does not get paid for his radio
show. “We make jokes about how we’re
revenue negative radio, in the sense that it
costs us money to produce, and we don’t
take any of it,” he laughs. The show is run
completely on a volunteer basis, fueled
by a passion for the music and the people
involved in it.
Having attended Loyola Marymount University
as a business student, Hodgman was
taught that the way to success and happiness
was to get a good job and make a lot of
money. What he’s learned from his work
on A Fistful of Vinyl revolves largely around
being shown that success and happiness look
different for every person. Getting to know
people from all walks of life, all of whom
are creating art that can be enjoyed by the
same community, has provided Hodgman
with a wider view of humanity.
Hodgman’s dream interviews are Josh Ritter,
who he contends is the greatest lyricist
working today, and Tohkay, who is famously
reclusive, but whose solo acoustic career has
impacted Hodgman greatly.
Though Hodgman would love to grow the
show, he is wary of adding funding into the
mix. He would be open to the prospect, he
says, with the caveat that he can continue
to do the show as he is and keep the heart
behind it. Completely self-taught, he welcomes
collaborations with video artists and
recording professionals, and of course, anyone
interested in punk.
When he started the show, Hodgman
says he was playing a character of what he
thought a radio DJ should act like. It wasn’t
until he let this character fall away that he
hit his stride and found the true direction of
the show. If there’s anything listeners can
take away from it, he hopes this is the bit
of wisdom they keep.
“If there’s something that people can
take away from the interviews and the performances,
it’s that there is validity to just
being yourself and authentically, unwaveringly
committing to being yourself… There’s a lot
more space for us to accept ourselves and
be kind to ourselves.” •
Alec Hodgman hosts the show, A Fistful of Vinyl, on 88.9 KXLU.
City Council Receives Hyperion,
Air Quality Update; Considers
Enforcing a Smoking Ban
By Liz Spear
The El Segundo City Council addressed
several hot topics Tuesday night, including
a proposed cannabis initiative and possible
cannabis tax measure, the impacts of the July
Hyperion plant emergency and the progress
to remedy those impacts, and a smoking
ban in all outdoor public areas and certain
common open spaces.
As was done at City Council’s last meeting
on August 17th, high-level representatives
from government agencies involved in the
Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant’s sewage
spill on July 11-12 and its aftermath, answered
questions about the plant’s cleanup, operation
and emanating odor, which continues
to affect residents. On Tuesday night, in a
report, El Segundo Development Services
Director Elias Sassoon said the plant was
back to “normal maintenance” and “resumed
its normal operation” earlier in the month.
He noted that LASAN had added 11 people
to help process the applications and reach
out to applicants for missing receipts and
other issues.
Four executive staff members from the Los
Angeles Sanitation & Environment department
appeared via Zoom to answer questions
and provide information. They were Barbara
Romero, director and general manager; Traci
Minamide, chief operating officer; Lisa Mowery,
chief financial officer; and Tim Dafeta,
executive Hyperion plant manager. Dafeta
said plant operations were back to normal.
Mowery noted that 3,200 applications for
reimbursements stemming from the sewage
spill had been received from El Segundo
residents, with approximately $276,000 in
checks having been sent to 266 residents. In
addition, 24 applications have been approved
for payment, and 1,810 requests were being
processed “at this time.” She also noted that
2,100 of the applications had been submitted
correctly, with receipts included.
Councilmember Scot Nicol asked Romero,
if steps had been taken to prevent the same
triggers that happened in the July 11-12
incident. She explained that LASAN has
consultants working on assessments that will
then go for a third-party review with final
recommendations for short-, interim, and
long-term resilience implementation activity.
Romero noted that Sassoon is part of the
third-party review process. LASAN intends
to have a report developed that includes an
action plan, she said, noting that the Los
Angeles City Council will be involved in
the process since LASAN is part of the LA
city government.
Dafeta said that an “exhaustive review” is
and would be taking place with manufacturers
involved, a review of standard operating
procedures, and “how we activate the emergency
bypass.” He said an audible alarm had
already been installed in the building to alert
staff to issues.
Nichol asked about residents being notified
for “smells outside of the realm of acceptable.”
He wondered why Nixle alerts had not been
previously issued for flaring events when the
methane could not be used at the Hyperion
plant. He said residents have complained of
a “very, very bad potent smell” that “burns
their eyes and their throat,” and he wondered
why residents couldn’t be notified in advance
or in real-time so they could “vacate or be
prepared for it.” Dafeta explained that bleach
and sodium hydroxide are presently used to
clean air filters but that LASAN is moving
toward the use of biotrickling filters that
use microorganisms to clean the air. Nichol
noted that residents needed to be informed
of activities so that “they don’t assume
the worst.”
As for communicating better when incidents
occur, Romero said, “We know we have to
do better on that front… how we monitor and
report moving forward.” She noted LASAN
is working with SCQMD on communication
and air quality. She noted that LASAN had
participated in a tabletop exercise with the
City of Los Angeles, the County of Los
Angeles, and the City of El Segundo.
South Coast Air Quality Management
District officials were in attendance as well
to address air quality concerns. City Council
is looking into the installation of air quality
monitors along the fence line of Hyperion
and the city border.
Resident Corrie Zupo, who is a secondterm
member on the city’s Environmental
Committee, brought forward several issues
during her public comment, one of which
See City Council, page 11
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