It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bradbury Building gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Los Angeles, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Carrie is amazing. Very knowledgeable about Senior living, lifestyle, and care. Super responsive and phenomenal”
“Always Best Care was there for us after my wife's surgery. We had a caregiver”
“Loli demonstrated a level of professionalism that stood out, and her service and follow through”
“My dad came home from the hospital, then to hospice care for 4 months, then”
“Excellent service. Professional staff and wonderful caregivers.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of”
“Loli is very caring, worked with us to get the best caregiver match for my”
“We are deeply grateful to Loli and to two of the ABC caregivers in particular,”
“I needed to find an assisted living community for my dad in a hurry, and”
“Always Best Care was an excellent caregiving service for the short time they tended to”
“reliable with excellent oversight”
“We have had 24/7 care for my mother with ABC for over 2 years. The”
“Loli Ramezani and her staff are top notch when it comes to the service they”
“Loli was excellent to work with. She really took the time to understand my father”
“This was a wonderful experience. The care giver did a fantastic job taking care of”
“Loli and the staff at Always Best Care were very professional, compassionate, and resourceful in”
“Outstanding service. I would recommend Manhattan Beach Always Best Care to anyone who needs to”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my poor mom without being worried.”
“Loli truly cares about her clients and their families ! , She is compassionate professional”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my mom without being worried. When”
“Always Best Care and Carrie Bianco go above and beyond the call of duty to”
“I can't say enough good things about Always Best Care! Carrie is so professional.”
“What a pleasure to meet Carrie and be introduced to her at Always Best”
“Carrie truly cares about her clients and their families. She is compassionate professional”
“Carrie is amazing. Very knowledgeable about Senior living, lifestyle, and care. Super responsive and phenomenal follow up. An incredible resource for all things "Senior".”
“Always Best Care was there for us after my wife's surgery. We had a caregiver come each day for two weeks to help bath, feed, walk, and tidy the house during working hours so that my wife was not alone. Our caregiver Naomi was a God sent and so delightful. I often overheard my wife and Naomi singing together. What a joy! Thank you Loli and ABC Senior Services for making this service available to Beach Cities.”
“Loli demonstrated a level of professionalism that stood out, and her service and follow through made our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services stress free. We had a unique situation that required a specific type of caregiver and Loli was able to make a great match! Overall a great experience.”
“My dad came home from the hospital, then to hospice care for 4 months, then passed at home. Loli helped our family during multiple transitions of his care. She is professional and efficient, but also compassionate and empathic. She was a core contact for our family from in- and out-of town, and always responded quickly to calls, emails or txts. Dad's caregiver needs and schedules were ever-changing and Loli was always able to adjust, helping us to coordinate needs from hospice and family. We are so thankful Dad was able to spend his last months at home. We continue to use Loli's services for our mom. The caregivers are trained well and often became friends to my folks. I highly recommend Loli's services.”
“Excellent service. Professional staff and wonderful caregivers.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of your loved ones in their senior years of need. We called them when we found out my 92 year old mother in law was due to be released from the hospital but clearly not able to care for herself upon her release. It was a stressful situation but Loli new exactly the right questions to ask and heard our needs and pointed us in the right direction with all that needed to be done. She set up a call with hospice who arranged for all necessary equipment to be delivered in less than a 24 hour period. She also set up 3 very competent experienced care givers to be at the home in that same 24 hour period. The speed and professionalism in which this all happened could not have handled any better in my opinion. Working with Loli at Always Best Care Senior Services put our minds at ease and got everything set up for us to care for my mother in law. Loli was hands on in meeting with us and introducing the care givers and involved with speaking to doctors and hospice and everyone involved with my mother in laws care. She made a highly stressful time much more manageable and guided us every step of the way. She also followed up and made sure all that was supposed to be done was being taken care of. You are in good hands when calling on them for your loved ones care. I am happy to speak to anyone directly if you would like to ask any questions I give my permission for Always Best Care to give my personal phone number out to speak to anyone who is considering using their services.”
“I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Servicesto help you navigate the care of your loved ones in their senior years of need. We called them when we found out my 92 year old mother in law was due to be released from the hospital but clearly not able to care for herself upon her release. It was a stressful situation but Loli new exactly the right questions to ask and heard our needs and pointed us in the right direction with all that needed to be done. She set up a call with hospice who arranged for all necessary equipment to be delivered in less than a 24 hour period. She also set up 3 very competent experienced care givers to be at the home in that same 24 hour period. The speed and professionalism in which this all happened could not have handled any better in my opinion. Working with Loli at Always Best Care Senior Services put our minds at ease and got everything set up for us to care for my mother in law. Loli was hands on in meeting with us and introducing the care givers and involved with speaking to doctors and hospice and everyone involved with my mother in laws care. She made a highly stressful time much more manageable and guided us every step of the way. She also followed up and made sure all that was supposed to be done was being taken care of. You are in good hands when calling on them for your loved ones care. I am happy to speak to anyone directly if you would like to ask any questions I give my permission for Always Best Care to give my personal phone number out to speak to anyone who is considering using their services.”
“Loli is very caring, worked with us to get the best caregiver match for my parents, was able to schedule someone when we needed a caregiver on short notice and she always made suggestions to us to help make things better and more comfortable for my parents.”
“We are deeply grateful to Loli and to two of the ABC caregivers in particular, María Flores and Soledad, for their professionalism, dedication and superb service over the course of nearly two years. They provided coverage on evening shifts on weekends and some weekdays —as well as on occasional overnight shifts— for my mother who was in the early-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer’s. (We recently moved her into an assisted living facility.) Because our need for ABC's services was sporadic and variable, Loli and her staff often had to juggle quite a bit to accommodate us — for which we are grateful. Occasionally we’d be assigned a caregiver who wasn’t the best fit but Loli was always responsive to our concerns and would work with us to find a different caregiver. We also appreciate the “added value” that Loli brought to the table — her overall expertise on elder care, knowledge about related resources, and guidance on how to make our home safer for my mother. We are pleased to highly recommend Loli and ABC for your in-home eldercare needs.”
“I needed to find an assisted living community for my dad in a hurry, and knew that I didn't have as much time as I'd like to do all of the research on my own. I was very relieved when I found Loli to help us as a consultant for our search. She was very detail-oriented in acquiring the necessary info from us, and helped us to find a few places with availability that we could visit. I very much appreciated her knowledge of so many various communities, her professionalism, her efficiency, and the wide range of items that she suggested we consider, that we may not have thought of on our own. I would highly recommend her placement services.”
“Always Best Care was an excellent caregiving service for the short time they tended to my ailing mother, a late-stage pancreatic cancer patient. She passed away shortly after we began the caregiving service. In the short time that Always Best Care tended to my mother, the caregiver Maria demonstrated excellent experience. She tended well to my mother and assisted in any other way that she could. Thank you Maria and Always Best Care for your service. I wish you all the kindness and wellness in the world. Colin”
“reliable with excellent oversight”
“We have had 24/7 care for my mother with ABC for over 2 years. The care and compassion they showed for her really touched my heart. I have had to ask for last minute help when another caregiver (not from ABC) could not show up for a shift, Loli and staff always came through for me. She has always been available to work out problems and last minute requests, I can't say enough about how important that has been to me when I live out of state.I have really been able to rely on their judgement once they got to know my moms likes and needs, they always tried to match her with a caregiver that she would also feel comfortable with personally.The caregivers were long term, they did not come and go, mom really became attached and appreciated them. The caregivers speak highly about Loli as their employer, they have mentioned to me they really feel like she cares and looks after them as well. Touches like Loli dropping by for a visit to chat with mom, or remembering her birthday with a bunch of flowers was so great. I would definitely recommend!”
“Loli Ramezani and her staff are top notch when it comes to the service they provide. They are very accommodating on all levels from helping you think things through from start to finish, as well as remaining flexible through each process with the ultimate changes that always seem to arise. I highly recommend them and will be using them again if/when the need presents itself”
“Loli was excellent to work with. She really took the time to understand my father in-law and the family's needs. We had a wonderful caregiver for my father in-law and when it came time to move him from our home, Loli was instrumental in finding a Room and Board that was a great fit. We had used a different service and we can tell you Always Best Care is MUCH higher quality.”
“This was a wonderful experience. The care giver did a fantastic job taking care of my mother. I would recommend them to anyone. The care giver was kind, helpful, and provided all the help we needed. Their service was instrumental in my mother being able to get her independence.”
“Loli and the staff at Always Best Care were very professional, compassionate, and resourceful in providing in home care for my Mom. Loli was responsive when I needed to talk to her about changes or adjustments to my Mom’s care. With her experience and knowledge in the field of senior care she always had recommendations and resources to reach out to when we needed to consider options and alternatives for my Mom’s care. Loli was very compassionate and respectful of my Mom’s wants and needs. I would highly recommend Loli and Always Best Care for senior care services.”
“Outstanding service. I would recommend Manhattan Beach Always Best Care to anyone who needs to have care for a family member. I've had personal experience with Carrie’s organization and was very impressed with her and her caretakers.”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my poor mom without being worried. When I talked to Loli I got the feeling she understood and she went through A to Z on everything with me. Care and quality care is truly what she delivers.”
“Loli truly cares about her clients and their families ! , She is compassionate professional”
“I needed to find someone for taking care of my mom without being worried. When I talked to Carrie I got the feeling she understood and she went through A to Z on everything with me. Care and quality care is truly what she delivers.”
“Always Best Care and Carrie Bianco go above and beyond the call of duty to really find the perfect fit for your loved one at a price that is affordable. Their customer service and attention to detail is unparalleled.”
“I can't say enough good things about Always Best Care! Carrie is so professional. She was able to find a great caregiver for my Grandmother on very short notice. The communication has been outstanding as well. When it comes to family, you want to know that they are being taken care of by someone that you can trust. We are so happy to have found Always Best Care.”
“What a pleasure to meet Carrie and be introduced to her at Always Best Care Senior Services. Rarely have a met someone that offered so much warmth, care, and genuine concern for the well-being and happiness of her clients. Carrie will be my first call when my family members need assistance.”
“Carrie truly cares about her clients and their families. She is compassionate professional”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Griffith Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar or visit Hollyhock House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Los Angeles, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Los Angeles, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Los Angeles, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The artifact gifted to LA in 1982 will be on display at the Convention Center, where thousands of visitors are expected to view it.City News Service, News PartnerLOS ANGELES, CA — Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials Tuesday unveiled a newly restored, tabletop-size replica of a Korean turtle ship, an artifact gifted to Los Angeles in 1982 that will be on display at the Convention Center, where thousands of visitors ...
City News Service, News Partner
LOS ANGELES, CA — Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials Tuesday unveiled a newly restored, tabletop-size replica of a Korean turtle ship, an artifact gifted to Los Angeles in 1982 that will be on display at the Convention Center, where thousands of visitors are expected to view it during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
"The Turtle Ship is a powerful symbol of our enduring friendship with Busan and the Korean community," Bass said in a statement. "I'm honored to celebrate this moment with our Korean American community, whose contributions enrich our city every day.
"We look forward to visitors from all around the world seeing this artifact while attending events at the Convention Center, especially as a venue for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games," Bass added.
The mayor led the unveiling of the artifact alongside City Council members John Lee and Heather Hutt, as well as members of the Korean-American community. The celebration also featured a traditional Korean drum performance by the Hwarang Youth Foundation
Lee, who represents the 12th District, encompassing the northwest communities of the San Fernando Valley, and is the only Korean American City Council member, described the turtle ship as a "generous gift" and a "powerful symbol" of friendship and cultural exchange between L.A. and its sister city, Busan, South Korea.
Last summer, after Bass and the City Council approved a plan to move decades-old artifacts out of City Hall to make way for Olympic flags and other exhibits that highlighted the 1932 and 1984 Games, two groups of predominantly Japanese-American and Korean-American activists criticized that decision and urged elected officials to return them.
The two previous Summer Olympic host cities, Paris and Tokyo, also displayed the official Olympic flag at their main municipal building.
City officials relocated the turtle ship and a portable shrine called a Mikoshi from Nagoya, Japan, to the Convention Center. The Department of Cultural Affairs assembled a professional team of conservators and art handlers to conduct restoration and reinstall the gifts.
According to the Department of Cultural Affairs, the turtle ship last underwent restoration and conservation treatment nearly 20 years ago.
The Mayor's Office did not immediately respond to an inquiry regarding the status of the Mikoshi.
Additionally, other artifacts such as the Kasuisa Float, and the Karakuri Wall Clock, a bust of Mexican President Benito Juarez and another bust of Juarez's wife, Margarita Maza, were also removed outside the hallway near the mayor's office. The busts are headed to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, according to signage posted at City Hall.
At the time, Scott Suh, former president of the Los Angeles Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council and spokesman for the Turtle Ship and Mikoshi Shrine Restoration Demand Committee, said the city's action was "terribly disrespectful."
Suh did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
The city allocated $500,000 for restoration and conservation, and some of that funding also addressed the marble flooring and walls behind displays at City Hall, which showed cracking and signs of wear.
According to Bass' office, while the city relocated the gifts to the Convention Center, the mayor held community meetings to share updates on the effort. Starting in September 2024, the Mayor's Office of International Affairs worked with Korean leaders and collaborated on the unveiling ceremony.
Meanwhile, Robert Ahn, president of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, supported the city's decision to move the artifacts.
"(It) ensures that the gift from Busan will be more accessible and enjoyed by a much wider audience," Ahn said in a statement. "This cultural artifact has been carefully restored and can be displayed in a manner that respects the sentiments of the Korean American community."
Kim Weedmark, general manager of the Convention Center, added that he was thrilled to house such a "precious gift."
Copyright 2025, City News Service
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.Local Voices"I Can Fix This" joins 11 other winning books and 9 TV/Cable shows and feature filmsCommunity ContributorSanta Clarita, Calif-based author Kristina Kuzmi? won a Christopher Award for the book “...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Community Contributor
Santa Clarita, Calif-based author Kristina Kuzmi? won a Christopher Award for the book “I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child (Viking/Penguin Random House). It is one of 12 books for adults and young people as the Christopher Awards program marks its 76th year.
The Awards celebrate authors, illustrators, writers, producers and directors, whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit” and reflect the Christopher motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
The book tells the story of the emotionally charged and eye-opening account of a mother who navigates the cacophony of best practices and urgent advice from parenting authorities in search of a way to support her teen as he maps his own path to mental health.
When the author started to see signs that her otherwise sunny, resilient teenage son was struggling, she was sure a few simple fixes could right the ship. But over the following months, the issues her family faced became more nuanced, complicated, and pervasive than she could’ve predicted—and what began as a clear to do list spiraled into an emotionally fraught and seemingly endless push and pull between signs of progress and overwhelming fear. Kuzmi?’s book debunks ten “parenting truths” that kept her in crisis, and delves into her insecurities and the mistakes she made to reveal invaluable lessons and transformative approaches that worked.
While her family stands on the other side now stronger than ever, Kuzmi?’s journey calls to parents who have felt the instinct to say “I can fix this” in situations where good intentions far exceed their abilities to enact change.
Kuzmi? never anticipated being a cheerleader for her fellow humans, but after immigrating to America from Croatia during the war in her homeland and later facing challenges such as divorce, single parenting, poverty, and mental health challenges, her goal became clear: to be for others what she needed when she was at her lowest. Now, with well over one billion video views, Kristina is providing her audience with encouragement, hope and humor in a role she never expected to fill.
Since working with Oprah who called her the “it plus girl” in 2011, Kuzmi? has branched out on her own, creating videos about juggling all of life’s challenges, and encouraging her audience to prioritize their mental health. She has over 2.9 million Facebook followers and over 900,000 Instagram followers.
A sought-after international keynote speaker she has also completed two comedy tours, performing in over 60 cities across US and Canada. Her first book, Hold On But Don’t Hold Still, has been translated to eight languages
Christopher Awards were also given to creators of 9 TV/Cable shows and feature films. They celebrate authors and illustrators as well as writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit” and reflects the Christopher motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness” which also guides the organization’s publishing and radio programs.
Tony Rossi, The Christophers’ Director of Communications, said, “Our award-winning stories, both true and fictional, highlight people who have the odds stacked against them, but who face their challenges with faith and perseverance, allowing them to move through the darkness into the light and serve a higher purpose than themselves. In other words, these books, films, and TV programs don’t just engage and entertain; they teach, they heal, and they inspire.”
The Christophers, a nonprofit founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.
Social media: #ChristopherAwards, Facebook: The Christophers / X: @ChristophersInc
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
> An updated list of all NFL Players from Birmingham High School in Los Angeles, California Here’s an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Birmingham High School in Los Angeles, California.The list includes only those players who have played in an NFL game.See where it ranks among other schools in the state ...
> An updated list of all NFL Players from Birmingham High School in Los Angeles, California
Here’s an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Birmingham High School in Los Angeles, California.
The list includes only those players who have played in an NFL game.
See where it ranks among other schools in the state here.
| Player | Pos | Teams | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Jackson | DT | DEN,JAX,PHI,CLE | 2012 | 2021 |
| Mychal Rivera | TE | OAK | 2013 | 2016 |
| Marvin Powell | FB | NOR | 1999 | 1999 |
| Richard Ashe | TE | RAM | 1990 | 1990 |
| Lyle Pickens | DB | DEN | 1987 | 1987 |
| Bill Hayhoe | T | GNB | 1969 | 1973 |
| Neal Sweeney | WR | DEN | 1967 | 1967 |
| Jim Boylan | WR | MIN | 1963 | 1963 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
The price of electric vehicles in the U.S. will likely rise due to the Trump administration’s new tariffs, potentially jeopardizing California’s ambitious climate goals.Over the past month, the Trump administration announced it will impose tariffs against many of the U.S.’ largest trading partners, across a range of imported goods.The tariffs would levy a tax — and hike prices — on imported coffee, electronics and other goods. But perhaps no sector of the economy will be more affected by tariffs th...
The price of electric vehicles in the U.S. will likely rise due to the Trump administration’s new tariffs, potentially jeopardizing California’s ambitious climate goals.
Over the past month, the Trump administration announced it will impose tariffs against many of the U.S.’ largest trading partners, across a range of imported goods.
The tariffs would levy a tax — and hike prices — on imported coffee, electronics and other goods. But perhaps no sector of the economy will be more affected by tariffs than the automotive industry, which depends on global supply chains for raw materials, parts and vehicle assembly.
“The supply chain for vehicle manufacturing is pretty tightly integrated across several countries — especially Canada, U.S. and Mexico,” said Danny Cullenward, senior fellow with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. “If a tariff applies every single time there’s a border crossing, that’s going to have massive impacts on vehicle manufacturing.”
Trump last month imposed 25% tariffs on all imported vehicles and certain automobile parts. If the tariffs remain in place, experts expect all vehicles sold in the U.S. — gas-powered or electric — to become more expensive, perhaps motivating drivers to hold onto their older cars.
“I think that we will buy less new cars altogether, which is not good for the economy and the environment,” said Gil Tal, director of the Electric Vehicle Research Center at UC Davis. “Because new cars — electric and gas — are usually more efficient and clean.”
Electric vehicles could be especially susceptible to price increases. Lithium-ion batteries in EVs have traditionally been made with rare-earth metals, such as cobalt and nickel, that are largely found overseas. Although some American automakers are transitioning to new batteries that don’t depend on those scarce minerals, many of the largest EV battery producers are in China, South Korea and Japan.
Trump announced Wednesday on TruthSocial that he will place a 125% tariff on all Chinese goods.
“A lot of the [EV] batteries are still coming from China,” Tal said. “Some car companies will be more impacted by that than others.”
To combat air pollution and stem the proliferation of greenhouse gases, the California Air Resources Board adopted a rule in 2022 to require an increasing percentage of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles over the next decade. The Advanced Clean Cars II regulation culminates in a statewide ban on the sale of new gas-only cars in 2035.
“The administration’s newly imposed tariffs put the American auto industry in reverse and hurt domestic manufacturing of all vehicle types,” said Liane Randolph, chair of the state Air Resources Board. “They put workers in peril and impose a new tax on consumers.” The effects will undermine the competitiveness of companies that were once the envy of the world as foreign manufacturers outperform them and continue to chip away at U.S. market share.
EV sales in California are among the highest in the nation, with one in four cars sold in 2024 being zero-emission or a plug-in hybrid. But around 40% of all EVs and plug-in hybrids sold in California in the fourth quarter of 2024 were made by foreign automakers, according to data from the California Energy Commission.
Although Tesla is still by far the best-selling EV maker, its popularity is beginning to wane due to its association with controversial Chief Executive Elon Musk. Tesla reported a 13% drop in sales in the first three months of 2025.
“Tesla has become a toxic brand in California, for many people,” Tal said. “But with a strong enough discount, people may bite the bullet and get one.”
And although the adoption of electric cars has been one of California’s greatest success stories, the state is still struggling to encourage a transition away from fossil fuel-powered heavy-duty trucks and buses. So far, foreign automakers dominate those sectors as well.
Many public transit agencies in Southern California —Los Angeles Department of Transportation and Long Beach Transit — have purchased buses from BYD, a Chinese company and the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles. And although BYD has an assembly plant in Lancaster, the company — like others — will still need to import parts from outside the U.S.
The average cost of a new electric car is about $55,000, which remains several thousand dollars higher than a new gas-powered car, according to Kelley Blue Book, an automotive research company based in Irvine. Although Trump has threatened to remove financial incentives for electric vehicle purchases, the federal government still offers up to $7,500 in rebates to buy a new EV. And the price of charging remains cheaper than filling up a tank of gas in California.
If California wants to continue growing the number of EVs in spite of tariffs, Tal said state officials must keep other costs low — namely the cost of electricity.
“We need to make sure that driving electric will be cheaper than driving gas,” he said.
Will the Jacksonville Jaguars' ties with the Los Angeles Rams lead to draft day movement in 2025?In this story:There is no questioning the ties between the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025.The Jaguars, in their own way and with their own principles, seem to be attempting to create their own version of a thriving and forward-thinking football program similar to what the...
Will the Jacksonville Jaguars' ties with the Los Angeles Rams lead to draft day movement in 2025?
In this story:
There is no questioning the ties between the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025.
The Jaguars, in their own way and with their own principles, seem to be attempting to create their own version of a thriving and forward-thinking football program similar to what the Los Angeles Rams have built.
They are doing so with two leaders with Rams ties in head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone. Coen and Gladstone got their NFL starts via the Rams and each spent several seasons on the coaching staff and in the front office, and there will never be a question of the Rams' influence on their careers.
"We all came up within that organization. I think there's a North Star that we are looking at in terms of how do we want to operate, right?" Coen said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
"Is it going to be identical? No. This is going to be ours. But we can take so many different things that we learned from there, from both personnel, scheme, people, the way that we talk to one another, the way that we communicate and treat one another. I think those are kind of the foundational pieces that we took from L.A., and then now, hey, how do we make it ours, and how do we put this thing all together to truly move forward?”
With the clear connection between the two franchises being so evident, could the Rams and Jaguars join forces for any moves during the 2025 NFL Draft? It is at least fair to assume that negotiating with each other would be easier than dealing with any other team considering how well the two leadership groups know each other.
The Rams, obviously, are unlikely to be looking up for a trade to No. 5. But here is one interesting scenario: what if the Rams are on the board at No. 26 and Snead gets a phone call from Gladstone?
In this scenario, the Jaguars could be looking to move up from No. 36 and get back into the first round, giving them a chance to land a second top-level player and also securing the option of a fifth-year option.
This does not even go into the detail of the other spots in the drafts the Jaguars and Rams could work with each other on. But when working with a short time frame and the need to make quick decisions, it makes sense to assume the two sides would be open to working together.
So if the Jaguars make trades during the 2025 NFL Draft, let's see if the Rams are on the other end of any of them.
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