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July 2018
SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING
When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, my family always hosted a big Fourth of July party for friends and family. In truth, it was a combined celebration, both for Independence Day and my brother’s birthday, which landed on the seventh. My parents figured it was easier to host one big barbecue than organize two parties within a week of each other. My brother didn’t mind; after all, how many kids could say they had fireworks at their birthday party? REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY LOOKS LIKE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REMEMBER HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE VALUES OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO WHO WE ARE. Thankfully, we had a big backyard to host everyone. Our house was on an acre of land, which ran down to the Delaware River, just 10 miles south of where General Washington made his famed crossing in 1766. In many ways, it was the perfect spot for a Fourth of July celebration.
Of course, living in La Jolla these past 23 years has certainly given my childhood Independence Day celebrations a run for their money. We may not have a historic river running through our backyard, but the nationally renowned Fourth of July parade runs right past our front door every year. Despite garnering more and more national attention over the years, I’m happy to say the parade itself has maintained its local DIY feel. It’s very much still a neighborhood event at heart. If you’ve ever been to that morning march through La Jolla, you know it’s quite the sight! People in costumes and homemade floats line the streets, and the whole neighborhood is decorated in wild themes. We even won “best decorated house” one year. I believe the theme was Dr. Seuss that time. Taking a page from my childhood, we end up inviting plenty of family and friends over every year to celebrate with us. We typically have people over for breakfast, then make our way outside to enjoy the parade. Eventually we make our way down to the block party at the end of the street and do our best not to get too sunburned before the fireworks erupt over La Jolla Cove.
here in San Diego, the few things that stay constant are the ideals I celebrate every Fourth. Regardless of what your Independence Day looks like, it’s important to take a step back and remember how fortunate we are to live in a country where the values of liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness are foundational to who we are. As a lawyer, I get to see these ideals in action almost every day. Under the legal system created by the Constitution, making mistakes doesn’t lead people to dead ends. Being accused of a crime or negligence does not make you a bad person, and our laws account for that. Of course, the system is far from ideal. While Lady Justice is meant to be blind, there are still plenty of institutional biases we have yet to overcome. The silver lining is that we live in a democracy with the freedom to engage in civil discourse and to work constantly toward those ideals we celebrate every year.
Happy Independence Day,
-Elliott Kanter
From my childhood celebrations on the Delaware River to our current traditions
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Law Office of Elliott Kanter APC | (619) 231-1883
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
HOW MUCH SUNSHINE IS TOO MUCH?
KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE
SPEND LESS TIME IN THE SUN
To many people, summer is all about heading outside to enjoy the weather. But getting too much sun can be dangerous. To have a fun-filled summer with your family this year, remember that it’s essential to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.
or turns red, it’s a result of the epidermis reacting to damage caused by UV rays. Both are symptoms of harmed skin. While vitamin D is important, the sun does not contribute to its creation as much as you might think. Doris Day, a New York City dermatologist, explains that if your skin were to constantly produce vitamin D from being in the sun, it would reach toxic levels. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that your body can produce on its own, through a common form of cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol. Spending time in the sun does help vitamin D form, but you need far less exposure than you think. Knowing how to protect yourself from UV rays is the first step to having a safe, fun-filled summer!
If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time in the sun, consider your environment. Will there be plenty of shade? Will you have to bring your own? What’s the best way to step out of the sun for a few minutes? Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing are great ways to shield yourself from UV rays, but it’s important to avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods. Taking a break from the sun gives your body the time it needs to recuperate and helps prevent sunburn and heatstroke.
COVER UP
Covering your skin is one of the best ways to avoid skin damage. Wide-brimmed hats, long- sleeved shirts, and long pants or skirts can protect your skin from direct exposure to UV rays. While this tactic protects you from the sun, it offers poor defense against the heat. So, if you opt for cooler attire, it’s important to cover all exposed skin with a copious amount of sunscreen. Be sure to reapply every two hours for maximum skin protection.
COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SUN EXPOSURE
Many people think that a tan is better than a sunburn, but the result of tanning is still sun damage. When your skin tone changes due to the sun, regardless of whether it tans
PROPOSITIONS 47 AND 64 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
On Nov. 4, 2014, California voters sent a clear message: Nonviolent drug offenders are not felons. The passage of the landmark Proposition 47 reduced the sentencing for possession of controlled substances from a felony to a misdemeanor. Two years later, Proposition 64 took things a step further, decriminalizing the possession of marijuana entirely. So what do these measures mean for those already serving or who have served time for former felonies? ARE SENTENCES AUTOMATICALLY REDUCED? Sentences can be reduced in certain situations. Here in San Diego County, the district attorney’s office took proactive steps to get ahead of the curve by reducing sentences and cleaning records of hundreds of people charged with drug possession. The individuals automatically selected were deemed “high priority” by the public defender’s office. However, the office estimates hundreds of thousands of cases are eligible for adjustment. HOW DO I GET MY CASE HEARD? If you are serving or have already served a federal sentence for possession of controlled substances or marijuana, you’ll need to do
some paperwork. Currently, those looking to adjust their sentence need to make a formal motion to do so. An expert San Diego criminal defense attorney can help you with this process, whether you are filing a motion for a reduced sentence or looking to get a marijuana possession charge expunged entirely. ARE ALL DRUG SENTENCES AFFECTED? No. These propositions only affected nonviolent possession charges. Felonies related to the sale of controlled substances are unaffected by these propositions. Furthermore, those found guilty of violent or sex- related crimes are not eligible for reduction or dismissal. WHAT IF I’M FACING A DRUG CHARGE RIGHT NOW? If you’ve been charged with a drug-related offense, the circumstances of your case can be the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony charge. There’s a lot of ambiguity between “possession” and “intent to sell.” An expert criminal defense attorney like Elliott Kanter can help you find the best avenue of defense against these serious charges.
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Law Office of Elliott Kanter APC | www.enkanter.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
PARTY RESPONSIBLY
As we celebrate our freedoms this Independence Day, it’s important to remember to do so responsibly. While we think of the holiday as a time for fireworks and hot dogs, it is also the most dangerous time of the year to be on the road. In fact, a staggering 40 percent of highway deaths from 2007–2011 were caused by drunk drivers on Fourth of July weekend. This is a sobering fact. At a time meant to celebrate life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, countless Americans had those rights ripped from them. With families commuting to barbecues, parades, and firework shows, we owe it to our community and to ourselves to do our part to stop this drunk driving epidemic. As a law office that deals in civil and criminal law, we are deeply familiar with the kinds of damage the choice to drink and drive can cause. When you choose to drink and drive, you are putting not only your own life but the lives of your passengers and innocent bystanders at risk. And yes, drinking and driving is always a choice. In this age of Uber and Lyft, on top of previously existing taxi and public transportation services, there has never been so many alternatives to driving. Sure, a $20 cab ride may sound expensive at the time, but compared to the medical, insurance, and emotional costs of having caused a major auto accident, suddenly the cab fare seems like a drop in the bucket. Please, this summer, do your part to make the roads of San Diego safer for everyone. If you’re going to a party, get a ride there and leave the car at home. If you commit to being a sober driver for your friends, make your word ironclad. If you host a barbecue, collect the keys of your guests and keep an eye on the beer cooler. If you see a friend staggering to their car, intervene. Lives depend on it.
BLUE CHEESE BUFFALO DOGS AND CELERY SLAW Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
1 package of your favorite hot dogs
For Celery Slaw: •
1 package hot dog buns
4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced
1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
• • • •
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper.
2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns.
3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw.
Let’s make sure everyone has a great, safe summer in San Diego.
4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve.
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Law Office of Elliott Kanter APC | (619) 231-1883
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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Law Office of Elliott Kanter APC 2445 Fifth Ave #350 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 231-1883
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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REFLECTIONS ON THE 4TH OF JULY
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BATTLING THE SUMMER SUN! ARE YOU UP-TO-DATE WITH CHANGING DRUG LAWS? BLUE CHEESE BUFFALO DOGS AND CELERY SLAW PARTY RESPONSIBLY
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SONGS OF THE SUMMER IN HISTORY
answered “No, not really.” Though there are certainly better jams from the Beach Boys’ tangled, complicated career, “I Get Around,” “Fun Fun Fun,” and their other hits from the early ’60s virtually wrote the blueprint for future songs of the summer. They’re sunny, annoyingly catchy, and filled with youthful exuberance. Even before she led Destiny’s Child to international success and branched out on her own to become the de facto world queen of pop, it seemed Beyoncé was destined to change the musical landscape. Though she’d secured numerous smash hits before, “Crazy in Love” was, to many, the calling shot that signaled her eventual ascent to the throne. With her thrilling, powerful vocals backed by enormous horn samples and undeniable hypeman Jay-Z, it’s arguably the apex of contemporary pop. NME even goes so far as to call it “the best song of the millennium.” 2003: BEYONCÉ, ‘CRAZY IN LOVE’
SONGS OF THE SUMMER
DOMINANT JAMS OF THE WARMER MONTHS
Music is always changing, but one thing’s for certain: There will always be a “song of the summer” when the heat starts rolling in. To be crowned the true song of the season, a track must be everywhere, stuck in everyone’s heads — whether they like it or not — and have a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it part and parcel of the warmer months. Here are two summer slammers (and three contemporary options) that typify this vital trend.
victor just yet, but there are some promising options. First, we have Drake’s “Nice for What,” which is riding high on the Billboard charts but isn’t quite as sing-along friendly as others — though his “One Dance” dominated the summer of 2016. Other options include rap dynamo Cardi B’s spicy “I Like It” — the perfect song to play at a summer cookout — or the boilerplate EDM uplift “The Middle” by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey — the perfect song to play over the loud speakers at Target.
1963: THE BEACH BOYS, ‘I GET AROUND’
TODAY’S CONTENDERS
There’s a good reason that when Brian Wilson was asked whether there were any great summer songs that he didn’t write, he
This year’s contenders seem to be slow out of the gate, making it difficult to declare the
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Law Office of Elliott Kanter APC | www.enkanter.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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