Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC - October 2020

Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC - October 2020

www.enkanter.com

Oct/Nov 2020

THE PATH TO ENDING ANXIETY IS SHORTER THAN YOU THINK MY REVIEW OF ‘21 LESSONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY’

It’s not an overstatement to say that we’re living in an age of anxiety. For the last eight months, a pandemic, political unrest, and protests against racial injustice have pummeled this country. In the background are other worries: climate change, an upcoming presidential election, and technology that updates so quickly it seems impossible to keep up. Where can we turn for advice during difficult times? Personally, I always look to the wisdom of books. This summer, I dove into the latest book by Yuval Noah Harari, an author and historian I’ve admired for years. You may remember him from past newsletters, where I reviewed two of his other books, “Homo Deus” and “Sapiens.” While those two texts looked at the past and the future, his latest, “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” is all about the present. The back cover describes the book as “an exploration of what it means to be human in an age of bewilderment,” and that pretty much sums it up! In the book, he tackles 21 big questions, like “How can we protect ourselves from nuclear war or ecological catastrophe?” and “How should we prepare our children for the future?” This might seem like pretty heavy reading when life is already difficult outside our windows, but I found Harari’s calm dissection of each problem reassuring.

One thing that was particularly interesting was Harari’s discussion of what he calls “the four C’s”: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. He argues that emphasizing these things might solve a lot of our problems, but he doesn’t actually offer solutions. Instead, he leaves it up to readers to figure out where their priorities lie and invites us all to look inward in order to decide what we value and want to engage in. It turns out we might just have been carrying around the secret to ending anxiety all along. I think Bill Gates may have described the book best in his review for The New York Times. He writes, “The trick for putting an end to our anxieties, [Harari] suggests, is not to stop worrying. It’s to know which things to worry about and how much to worry about them.” There’s so much going on in the world that it’s easy to allow worries to overwhelm us. I’ve struggled with this over these last few months of isolation and division, and I’m sure you have, too. That said, at the end of the day, I’m an optimist. I believe that it’s never too late for anyone — including an entire society — to change their life and their mindset. I see this all time in my office. It never fails to inspire me when a young offender I’m working with takes the opportunity of a dismissal or reduced sentence to change the direction of their life.

If you’ve felt like giving up in these last few months, pick up a copy of “21 Lessons for the 21st Century.” It will remind you of how much power you have and reassure you that there’s still hope for change. As we head into the holiday season, I hope you keep looking for the positive things in the world around you. No matter what challenges you’re facing, it’s never too late to overcome them!

Wishing you safety and good health,

-Elliott Kanter

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The Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC | (619) 231-1883

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR INDOOR HUMIDITY LATELY? THE NOT-SO-SECRET SECRET TO A HEALTHY HOME

Sometimes, the best way to keep your family healthy, your indoor air quality high, and your skin hydrated isn’t found in a complicated solution. It’s found in the relative humidity of your home. When was the last time you checked your indoor humidity? How do you know if your house is too humid or too dry? WHAT SHOULD I CHECK FOR? Hygrometers — devices used to measure humidity — are very inexpensive, easily found at a local or online retailer, and can help you save money in the long run. According to the Mayo Clinic, the ideal range for relative humidity levels is between 30%–50%. Keep in mind that many air conditioners remove humidity, since nobody wants to deal with lingering summer heat and humidity. However, they commonly remove too much moisture and could be the

culprit if your indoor humidity is lower than the ideal range.

system. They can even multiply into colonies within hours.

WHAT IF IT’S TOO DRY? It’s common for dry indoor air to irritate your throat and sinuses and lead to sneezing and congestion, which causes people to believe they have allergies. However, it could actually be what some doctors call nonallergic rhinitis. Typical allergy treatments won’t help because not all allergy-like symptoms are caused by true allergies. Dryness can also worsen the symptoms of asthma or existing allergies. IS HIGH HUMIDITY BETTER? Not necessarily. Too much moisture can make your home a breeding ground for mildew, mold, dust mites, bacteria, and more. These allergens can become irritants as they circulate through your home’s ventilation

Naturally, high humidity can also crack and destroy the wood in your house, like your home’s framing, hardwood flooring, furniture, and musical instruments, which require expensive repairs. WHAT DO I DO NOW? If you’re struggling to get the right humidity levels in individual rooms, put portable devices to work. For your whole house, though, humidifiers and dehumidifiers can be installed in your HVAC system! This is a convenient fix, and with a whole-home humidifier linked to a smart thermostat, you’ll never have to worry about missing out on the perfect, healthy humidity level for your home and family.

YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST DRUG TRANSPORTATION CHARGES HINT: IT’S NOT A PUBLIC DEFENDER California doesn’t mess around when it comes to penalizing drug crimes. In 2018, police in the state made almost 192,000 misdemeanor arrests and more than 28,000 felony arrests for drug-related offenses. If you’re charged with a crime like drug trafficking, you could end up facing steep fines, jail time, and a permanent criminal record. THE CHARGE According to federal regulations, drug trafficking occurs when a person manufactures, distributes, or dispenses any amount of prohibited or controlled substances. It can also apply to a person who possesses substances with the intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense them. The quantity of drugs that triggers the crime varies from substance to substance. If you’re under investigation or have been charged with drug trafficking in California, you could face 3–9 years in jail and/or a fine of up to $20,000. YOUR OPTIONS When you’re staring down the barrel of drug trafficking charges, there are a few ways to defend yourself in court. For example, you could claim:

• •

The controlled substances were for your personal use.

Your intentions were misunderstood.

• You didn’t offer to transport or sell the controlled substances. • The controlled substances were found during an illegal or unauthorized search and seizure. • There was a set-up or other police misconduct. These defenses all have promise, but if you try them on your own — or even with the help of a public defender — you may be setting yourself up for defeat. YOUR BEST DEFENSE That brings us to our last point. If you’ve been accused of drug trafficking in California, the best thing you can do to fight the charges is hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. Here at Law Offices of Elliott Kanter, our team knows the California criminal justice system inside and out. We’ll defend you aggressively in court with a level of experience and strategy you won’t get from a public defender. If you fear the worst, call us today to schedule a free case evaluation. We’ll review your case and build a strategy to minimize your penalties.

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The Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC | www.enkanter.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com

5 RED FLAG WARNINGS OF ELDER ABUSE

Did you know that 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 or older has experienced a form of elder abuse? It’s a sad truth that’s unfortunately even more worrying right now in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you’ve likely seen on the news, the virus has hit nursing homes and long-term care facilities particularly hard. These outbreaks create a tense, hurried atmosphere that makes it easier for abuse to occur accidentally or even go unnoticed. If you have a loved one in this type of facility, it’s vital that you keep an eye out for signs of elder abuse right now. Elder abuse isn’t just physical violence — emotional abuse, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, confinement, neglect, and deprivation all fall under the umbrella. Unfortunately, in a long-term care facility, your loved one could be a victim of the very caregivers who are supposed to help them; even another resident can perpetrate abuse. If you’re worried that your elderly parent or friend is being mistreated, look out for these red flags. 1. Unexpected injuries, including cuts and bruises, or a decline in overall health 2. Fear or anxiety when the topic of money comes up 3. Poor hygiene, bed sores, and/or a refusal to shower or bathe 4. Depression or withdrawal from social situations 5. Changes in personality like an increase in belittling words, threats, or arguments Of course, there are more than five red flags for elder abuse, but these are the most common. To learn more about elder abuse, the most likely abusers, and the impacts of poor treatment, visit the National Council on Aging’s elder abuse website, NCOA.org/Public-Policy-Action/Elder- Justice/. It’s a fantastic resource that will answer common questions and guide you toward next steps. That said, if you’ve already noticed one or more of these red flags, you should take immediate action. Contact our team of experienced elder abuse attorneys today at (619) 231-1883. We can help you protect your family and hold the abuser accountable for their actions.

CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP

Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

INGREDIENTS

• • • •

1 tbsp olive oil

• • • • • •

1 cup canned light coconut milk

2 shallots, diced

2 tbsp honey

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)

•

2 cups vegetable broth

1/4 tsp nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!

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The Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC | (619) 231-1883

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com

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The Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC 2445 Fifth Ave., #350 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 231-1883

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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ELLIOTT REVIEWS ‘21 LESSONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY’

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR INDOOR HUMIDITY LATELY?

YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST DRUG TRANSPORTATION CHARGES

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CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP

5 RED FLAG WARNINGS OF ELDER ABUSE

Think you have a claim for OxyContin? Check out our article on Page 2 to learn more!

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WEIRD AND WACKY HALLOWEEN LAWS

SPOOKY CITY REGULATIONS

BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS: NO 8TH GRADERS Trick-or-treating is most often viewed as an activity reserved for younger generations, but how do you determine what age is “too old” for this type of generally good-natured fun? Well, the city of Belleville settled the ambiguity by passing a law restricting teenagers who are past the eighth grade — generally older than 13 — from going door to door on Halloween. WALNUT, CALIFORNIA: NO MASKS WITHOUT PERMITS In a simpler time, there was no paperwork required to celebrate Halloween to the fullest. But in the city of Walnut, no one can wear a mask or other disguise on public streets without a permit from the sheriff. The law doesn’t specify any exceptions, so residents are left to assume that everyone from age 5 to 100 must abide. Whatever your Halloween celebrations might look like this year, it’s important to have fun, but remember to abide by any rules or laws your city might have in place in an effort to keep its citizens safe.

Halloween can be a mischievous holiday. The most innocent of us reserve it for backyard parties and trick-or-treating, but some like to get a little rowdier than others. That’s exactly why various city councils across the U.S. have passed some seemingly unusual laws to regulate spooky festivities. REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE: NO SUNDAY TRICK-OR-TREATING If Halloween falls on a Sunday, children in Rehoboth Beach are required to trick-or-treat the night before. The explanation in the city code is simple, but ambiguous: to prevent children and their guardians from going door to door on Sunday evenings. Rehoboth Beach law also forbids children from roaming the streets on Halloween “with the intent to cause trouble,” but what exactly that means is ambiguous as well. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: NO SILLY STRING The Los Angeles City Council has banned Silly String and all other brands of aerosol string from use on Halloween in the Hollywood area. From midnight on Oct. 31 until noon on Nov. 1, no one is allowed to spray, sell, or distribute Silly String in public locations. Use of Silly String got so popular in the city on Halloween that the mess left behind became a strain on sanitation workers, and the city sympathized with them.

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The Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC | www.enkanter.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com