Evan J. Lancaster

Irvine Weekly writer Evan J. Lancaster reports that the Orange County Board of Supervisors have voted unanimously to continue the county’s agreement with the Irvine-based Orange County Power Authority. What sealed the deal was a motion that allows the county to perform a third-party open book audit on the green energy agency.

“The motion, presented by 2nd District Supervisor Katrina Foley and modified by 5th District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett was in response to a request to withdraw from the community choice energy program immediately,” writes Lancaster. “In her opening remarks, Bartlett explained that the aspect of withdrawing from the agency came with the support of Chairman Doug Chaffee and was heavily influenced by an Orange County Grand Jury Report that was released in June. Bartlett added that O.C.’s 5th District has the largest number of unincorporated areas within the county, which will represent the majority of OCPA customers.”

Read more on Irvine Weekly here. 

L.A. Weekly writer Isai Rocha reports that California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a state bill that, as a from of overdose treatment, would allow safe and sterile injection sites. Senate Bill 57 was authored by Senator Scott Wiener in 2020, and stated that the sites would provide a “hygienic space” for supervised and controlled drug consumption.

“It is possible that these sites would help improve the safety and health of our urban areas, but if done without a strong plan, they could work against this purpose,” Newsom said. “These unintended consequences in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland cannot be taken lightly. Worsening drug consumption challenges in these areas is not a risk we can take.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

Newsom Vetoes Controversial Overdose Prevention Program Bill

In his latest movie review in L.A. Weekly, writer Michael Atkinson shares his thoughts on the film The Immaculate Room. Starring Emile Hirsch as Michael and Kate Bosworth as Kate, the film follows the hip millennial couple as they take part in a low-tech psych trial. Viewers are taken on a ride as the two are locked in a all-white room together for 50 days in order to win $50 million.

“Sometimes, high concept means an absence of concept altogether,” writes Atkinson. “Like a sensory deprivation tank, the new non-thriller The Immaculate Room is so empty it dares you to fill it up with your own ideas and narrative stuff. Whether you’d like to bother is, of course, a personal matter.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

Get a Room: A Bored Couple Does Time in The Immaculate Room

L.A. Weekly writer Isai Rocha reports that White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci will officially retire from his position come this December 2022. The doctor, who is 81, has committed more than 50 years of federal service in his career.

“After more than 50 years of government service, I plan to pursue the next phase of my career while I still have so much energy and passion for my field,” Fauci said in a statement. “I want to use what I have learned as NIAID Director to continue to advance science and public health and to inspire and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders as they help prepare the world to face future infectious disease threats.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci To Step Down In December

Asher Luberto reviews Day Shift, a film starring Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, Dave Franco and Karla Souza. This Netflix release has a cast list jammed-packed with top talent, but according to Luberto, the end product isn’t any better for it.

“Bland from its opening moments to its long-delayed close, this film is an example of genre filmmaking at its least inspired, a reminder that just because a movie has vampires doesn’t mean it has bite,” writes Luberto. “Day Shift doesn’t know if it wants to be Blade or Men in Black, and winds up being neither.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

Crass Vampire Comedy Day Shift Offers no Real Stakes

L.A.Weekly Music Editor Brett Callwood’s music pick of the week is tonight’s concert featuring Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The Led Zeppelin frontman Plant and bluegrass queen Krauss will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 18 at the Greek Theatre Los Angeles.

According to the press release, “Backed by an ace band of guitarist JD McPherson, who is also opening all of the US performances, plus drummer Jay Bellerose, bassist Dennis Crouch, multi-talented string player Stuart Duncan, and Viktor Krauss on keys and guitar, setlists have included favorites from both Raising Sand and Raise The Roof, as well as reimagined arrangements of Led Zeppelin cuts like ‘The Battle of Evermore,’ ‘Rock & Roll’ and ‘When The Levee Breaks.’ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are currently nominated for Duo/Group of The Year at the 2022 Americana Honors & Awards, in addition to Album of The Year for Raise The Roof, which was produced by T Bone Burnett and spent over 20 weeks at #1 on the Americana chart.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Together Again

In her latest piece for L.A. Weekly, editor Shana Nys Dambrot profiles artist Rick Carter. A painter that one may argue is best known for his Oscar-winning production designs (including visual masterpieces and cultural touchstones like Goonies, Avatar, Lincoln, Forrest Gump, Jurassic Park, Amistad, Star Wars), his sprawling installation at El Segundo Museum of Art proves that Carter is a master of many mediums. Titled “TIME,” this immersive exhibit is built of Carter’s original portraits, paintings and process drawings.

“On view through March 25, ESMOA hosts a series of creative events, workshops, tours and presentations with Carter and the other artists,” writes Dambrot. “Carter responded to L.A. Weekly’s questions from his garage studio, where, despite the epic scope of the installation at ESMOA, he continues to ‘just have tons of stuff, thousands of paintings.’”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

Meet Artist Out of Time Rick Carter 

In his latest piece, film critic Nathaniel Bell reviews Fall, deeming it a “corny yet satisfying new thriller.” Directed by Scott Mann and adapted from a screenplay by Mann and writing partner Jonathan Frank, Fall explores the primal terror that is the fear of falling from extreme heights.

“[The film] giddily exploits this fear, wringing every last drop of suspense from its stripped-down scenario,” writes Bell. “It overstays its welcome, but honors its basic commitment to giving you sweaty palms…Fall’s main attraction, and the primary source of its visual pleasure, is the freestanding, red latticed tower itself, identified as the “B-67” and possibly inspired by the WHDH-TV tower in Massachusetts. Improbably built and impossibly tall, it’ll give even the steeliest moviegoers a dizzy spell.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

Fall Reaches Some Suspenseful Heights

L.A. Weekly reporter Isai Rocha writes that the effort to recall Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón has failed. The team pushing the initiative forward was unable to gather the required signatures to have it put on L.A.’s official ballot. According to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the required amount of signatures stands at 566,857. Those behind the recall effort were only able to acquire 520,050 signatures, making them 46,807 short of meeting the minimum goal.

“The recall campaign sought signatures from L.A. residents, accusing Gascón of having a ‘pro-criminal agenda,’” writes Rocha. “In February, the Association of Deputy District Attorneys voted in favor of supporting a recall of Gascón, with 83% of its 800 members participating…Gascón is a former LAPD patrol officer and took office in 2020, being voted in to replace former District Attorney Jackie Lacey. In 2011, before his tenure in Los Angeles, Gascón was then San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s pick to replace then District Attorney Kamala Harris.”

Read more on L.A. Weekly here.

‘Recall Gascón’ Signatures Fall Short, Will Not Go To Ballot

Irvine Weekly writer Evan J. Lancaster reports on UC Irvine’s New Swan Shakespeare Festival celebrating a decade of taking center stage with a a 120-person gala at the Barclay Theatre Plaza in Irvine on Friday, July 15. It was a welcome event, as it’s been paused with a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person Shakespearean performances resumed this past April. 

“The occasion of our gala was cause for celebration on so many levels,” says Chancellor’s Professor Eli Simon, artistic director, New Swan Shakespeare Festival,. “I was filled with gratitude that the campus and community embraces New Swan so passionately, that there’s joy at our return to live theater, and that so many people care so deeply about the success of our artistic endeavors. In the words of the Bard, ‘What more can I say but thanks, thanks, and ever thanks.’”

Read more on Irvine Weekly here.