Do Not Comply: Torrance Residents Attend School Board Meeting Without Masks, Board Can't Stop Them

This weekend, Dr. Rand Paul declared to the public: Do Not Comply. 

Check out his full statement here:

We are at a moment of truth and a crossroads. Will we allow these people to use fear and propaganda to do further harm to our society, economy, and children?

Or will we stand together and say, absolutely not. Not this time. I choose freedom. pic.twitter.com/XrI2tjdAHW

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 8, 2021

The COVID-19 restrictions have been going on for a year and a half now. A number of states have rolled back the mandates and the restrictions. Some state legislatures have gone so far as to curtail the emergency powers of their governors, in red and blue states!

However, some more authoritarian regions of the United States, like the state of California, and specifically Los Angeles County, are determined to ratchet up and reimpose the mandates, the orders, and very likely the lockdowns.

This is madness. This is truly shameful. The COVID-19 strains have no more serious impact on a person than the common flu. I have not gotten the flu in years. Only one serious bout hit me in 2019, and even then I was back up and working within two weeks. Yes, it's bad, but what's worse is allowing government tyranny and relentless bureaucratic bullying.

In the words of Neil Oliver: "I choose freedom."

Besides, the latest research does not support these renewed measures. People should not wear masks. Not only that, but the people catching COVID-19 right now are people who have already received the vaccine! It's time for people to stop giving into fear and to stand for truth in faith!

So, on August 8th, 2021, a group of parents organized a protest in front of Torrance High School (my alma mater!). Parents and children showed up to speak out against the ongoing mask mandates, especially in the public schools.

The turnout was great!

Lots of people showed up to support us, and lots of cars were honking along Carson St. Two ladies who were walking their dogs in the area saw our protests, too, and they were so grateful. One of them returned later that evening to join us at the Torrance school board meeting.

Pastor Derrick Gates also arrived on scene. He was so happy to have the chance to support as many parents and residents as possible who want to stop these unconstitutional, unhealthy, immoral mandates. Check out his comments here.

Sam Gallucci, a gubernatorial candidate, also showed up to show his support for the parents. Check out his comments here.

The Torrance school board moved their meeting to the Torrance High School auditorium, as they anticipated a larger audience. 

And indeed, we were a larger movement committed to pushing back on this.

All of us lined up outside of the Torrance High School main assembly hall, an Art Deco structure built in the 1920s. Two security staff stood outside, telling us all to put on our masks in order to enter the building.

All of us refused to do so. The security personnel asked us a second time to put on our masks, and we refused. One of them threatened us: "All right, then I will ask the police to remove you."

Instead of letting the school staffers bully us, we walked into the auditorium to find our seats:

Once we all got settled in, Dr. Keith Butler, the chief academic officer, reminded us that there is a health order (which is unlawful and unconstitutional) and that we needed to put our masks on. We told him that we are not going to comply with that unfounded, unlawful order.

He was not pleased! He stormed up the aisle to the front lobby of the auditorium to speak with the school security and Torrance Police Officers who were on duty at the time.

Yes, there were two police officers on site when the parents and I walked to the school auditorium. Check out our video walking up to the school board meeting here, and you will see two Torrance police officers on duty.

Here the school security and the chief academic officer are trying to collaborate with the two police officers on duty to remove law-abiding citizens:

NOTHING HAPPENED. The police did not follow the unlawful directives of the school board, because they were trying to push the unlawful health orders from the Los Angeles County Department of Health.

Barbara Ferrer is not our king, and neither is the LA County Board of Supervisors!

We won! We the People pushed back. We followed the encouragement of Dr. Rand Paul and we refused to comply with these ridiculous health directives!

It felt good to push back on this lawless tyranny!

Let's just say that the school board was not too happy with us that day! A number of times during the first few announcements, they tried to shame us and intimidate us. The presiding school board member, Betty Lieu, said that we were risking the school district entering into legal liability.

Board Member Betty Lieu was really frustrated!

We were not moved and we refused to be intimidated.

It was kind of funny to hear the school board members and senior administrative staff talk about the imposed mask mandates in the schools, when the audience in front of them knew the truth and acted on it: we refused to comply! It was so funny. Check out their preliminary remarks here.

Finally, public comment began, and every person who spoke out, whether at the dias or via Zoom, condemned the school board's decision to continue with the mask mandates.

Summer

Summer helped organized the "Let Them Breathe" Rally.

Raphael

Raphael invited me to come. I spoke after him.

Check out our remarks here.

Someone cut a great video with our remarks, including great sound effects. Check out that video here.

Then came Aaron, another parent in the city of Torrance:

An awesome young lady named Alexa spoke out against the mandates, too. She came armed with facts and figures, as well as her own experience. She did a GREAT JOB! Check out her statement here.

And this awesome lady came armed with a great deal of research, too! Here are her comments. What was really irritating at this point, however, was that Board Member Betty Lieu demanded her first and last name. That is a violation of the Brown Act. No one is required to list or record their name for the record at the podium or anywhere else in order to address the city council.

At the podium, I told the board that I would be urging parents to send their kids to school without masks. The school board cannot, the schools cannot suspend students just for mere "defiance." A new wrinkle in the California Education Code severely limited school authority on this matter.

It's time for parents to fortify their children to rebel against these outrageous mandates!

Final Reflection

We did it!

Residents, parents, citizens in the city of Torrance didn't just stand on the street, hold a rally, and protest. We fought back against these unconstitutional, lawless mandates in our own city, before our own governing board which works for We the People, and WE WON!

We need more people to share this story. We need more parents, more outraged citizens of all backgrounds to push back against this madness and DO NOT COMPLY.

It's great to hold a rally.

It's great to protest.

It's great to speak out against lawless behavior and unruly politicians.

It's nice to post pictures, posts, and memes.

But what is needed now more than ever is action, proper, concentrated civil disobedience.

And WE DID IT!

Regarding the Homelessness Plans for the City of Torrance (June 22, 2021 Meeting)

To the Torrance City Council:

First of all, I share that it is very frustrating that the city dragged its feet for nearly two years to solve the homelessness problem in the city of Torrance, which has only grown increasingly worse. Manhattan Beach, CA addressed this problem very effectively three years ago. This kind of delay for necessary policy direct cannot become the norm in the city of Torrance.

Based on the documents in Item 9C, overall homelessness in the City of Torrance increased from 79 to 322 people. This is unconscionable. 

Regarding the three specific Administrative Agenda items:

9A: "Staff has recommended pursuing one of the two concepts that can be located entirely on City property, with the 34-space parking lot immediately adjacent to the Police Department as the preferred activation."

If this is the best location that the city can find, entirely within city property, thus removing the need to spend more funds to purchase property, then so be it. If a better lot, in an abandoned industrial location in the city, can be obtained, then that would be a better choice.

9B: I am glad to see that the anti-camping ordinance will preclude individuals from setting up tents in the park, as well as in other public locations throughout the city, including the beaches. In Wilson Park, over the last few months I have noticed a homeless person would routinely take up tables on the East side of the park, and this person would just leave a shopping cart full of bags. It was unsightly and disruptive. Thankfully, it appears that that person and the person's belongings have been removed.

Will this ordinance ensure that homeless individuals do not loiter in the public parks, as well, taking up multiple benches and tables with collected bags and other junk? This is still a possible problem that should be addressed and prevented.

9C: I am vocally opposed to any programs in connection with the South Bay City Council of Governments (SBCCOG). The last thing that any city needs is to form a further incestuous relationship with larger government agencies and bureaucracies. Frankly, the city of Torrance should exist the SBCCOG and retain our city funds for our own purposes. This is a terrible part of the plan which needs to be rejected outright.

This passage alone shows that our tax dollars not helping our local purposes:

In 2020 - 21, Measure H funds were made available to Council of Governments (COGs), including the SBCCOG, which covers a number of cities in the region, including Torrance, as part of "Innovation Grants." The SBCCOG received $739,685. The City of Redondo Beach received $245,287, and the Torrance received $50,000 to support retention of an Outreach Worker. The remaining $444,398 was used by the SBCCOG for regional projects, including education and outreach, development of a home sharing program, and providing client aid funds.

The vast majority of the monies are going to "regional projects." This is outrageous!

I strongly suggest that the city of Torrance maintain the strongest relationship connections with the city of Manhattan Beach and continue to follow their example, to the extent that they have successfully dealt with this homelessness issue while retaining the quality of life and character of their community.

I notice that the PLAN TO PREVENT AND COMBAT HOMELESSNESS stresses an extensive amount of education. I do not see the relevance or use of training every city employee how to deal with homelessness. Perhaps the police and fire departments, but that's it.

Furthermore, a simple plan which identifies that for many people on the streets, they are there because of drug use/abuse or mental health issues. Will there be any enforcement mechanisms to require chronically homeless individuals to receive help, get sober, etc. so that they can get back to living fulfilling and productive lives? I did not see any provided or even considered in the plan.

Last of all, my concerns--and the concerns of a growing number of residents in the city--have only grown in regards to government agencies and bureaucracies viewing the homelessness problem as just another way to hire more employees and seek more government funding. Homelessness is not going to solved with massive interventions of government money and material provision. If the city of Torrance gets into the "business" of handing out goods, services etc. the city government jwill not resolve but rather increase the homeless problem.

The city of Torrance, at the very least, must send a clear message discouraging transients and chronic homeless from coming to the city, wandering our streets, disturbing the public and residential areas, and blocking the thoroughfare and commerce of residents and businesses in the city.  Six months ago, I dealt with a homeless individual who was either inebriated or mentally ill. He was walking westbound on Monterey Street five blocks away from the US Post Office. He had a bottle of some kind and threw it a parked car. One passerby, a mother with her child, was very alarmed by the violent behavior from the transient. She was relieved that I called the police. The transient then began wandering eastbound toward Crenshaw Blvd. The Torrance Police arrived, and they confronted the individual for a few minutes, then let him go. 

As I have just related, I have directly encountered his homeless situation, specifically with a potentially violent altercation. Moreover, it has been quite alarming to see homeless taking up space in a number of the bus stop benches throughout the city and even on sidewalks in front of businesses along a number of strip malls throughout the city, too. This problem needs proper controls and enforcement protocols, not a bunch of trainings and overly-funded government junkets. There should be basic strategies in place to discourage transients, squatting, and increased movement of homeless into the city of Torrance, at the very least.

Last of all, I would advise disbanding the Social Services Commission and simply allow the professionals and well-established experts in dealing with homeless issues continue to take the lead on handling issues such as homelessness, as well as veterans issue and mental health concerns in the community. If after all their input and meetings, they have come up with mostly more paperwork and a few "toiletry giveaways", they have long outlived their usefulness. 

Sincerely,

Arthur Schaper

Comments to the Torrance City Council: January 12, 2021

 Dear Torrance City Council:

Here are my comments for the city council meeting:

6A. PROCLAMATION honoring Police Chief Eve R. Berg of the Torrance Police Department upon her retirement after thirty-eight years in law enforcement.

Police Chief Eve Berg could not be leaving sooner. The fact that she put excessive attention on the "Wilson Park Karen", even calling for a press conference, was just crass virtue-signaling without any virtue. In contrast, she did absolutely nothing while Black Lives Matter took over the Torrance City Council chambers numerous times for the last year and a half. She allowed them to over-run and block the streets in front of Torrance city hall on June 23, 2020. Her lack of judgment in these matters all demonstrated that she was not fit to lead. Her perverse decision not to issue CCW permits to those who applied for them (if the applicants were not prosecutors and judges), even when they met all the guidelines listed by state law, is also unconscionable.

Good riddance to Eve Berg.

9A. City Manager – Provide COVID-19 Recovery Update and Determine Direction on Orders from the County of Los Angeles and the State of California Regarding COVID-19. Expenditure: None.

Open up the city. The city of Torrance should issue a blanket proclamation in which they assure all business owners that they are essential, and that the city of Torrance will neither aid nor abet any crackdowns, fines, or forced closures against them. The city should not issue any orders which require businesses, large or small, to compel individual consumers to wear masks. The restaurant industries in the city should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they offer full service, patio dining, or take-out, or all of the above.

It's time for the city of Torrance to take the lead on pushing back on these unconstitutional, unethical lockdown orders.

9G. City Manager and Fire – Discuss and Approve Implementation of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transportation Program. Expenditure: $715,200 (Non-General Fund).

Recommendation of the City Manager and Fire Chief that City Council discuss and approve the implementation of a City Emergency Medical Service (EMS) transportation program within the Fire Department's Emergency Medical Division.

I am not sure it's in the best interests of the city to take this program in-house. There may be cost savings now, but the city is already paying big money to pensions for retired city employees. More city employees mean more pensions, more cost, more debt that the city of Torrance cannot afford.

Saving a little money now, only to pay more money in the future? That is not a wise course of action.

Geoff Rizzo Pled Guilty to Disturbing the Peace

Well, this is some interesting news!

Check out who pled guilty to disturbing the peace while serving as a Torrance PD Officer:

*In 1984, Officer Geoff Rizzo became upset when someone backed into his car in front of a bar. Reiter said Rizzo attacked the driver of the other car and that the off-duty officer was eventually charged with battery, malicious mischief and disturbing the peace. Yim said the other charges were dropped after Rizzo pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and paid restitution to the victim. Rizzo was suspended from work for one day.

For more information, check out this article from the Los Angeles Times archives.

Well, I guess it comes as no surprise that Geoff Rizzo would speak at the Torrance Democratic Club.

They seem to attract lots of criminals and deviants!