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EYE ON THE CITY Lakers December 5-11, 2019
Rams
Chargers
Clippers
& Forum
VOL. 34, No. 48
Mayor Butts lauds Clippers arena approval Inglewood is exceeding the wildest of dreams
Mayor James T. Butts Jr. franchise bolted in 1999 to downtown Los Angeles, leaving behind the outdatWhen Inglewood Mayor James T. ed Forum and legions of loyal fans who Butts Jr. was elected to office in 2011, were left with antiquated Hollywood the city was marred in 17 percent ris- Park racetrack. Inglewood was essentially bankrupt, ing unemployment and gang violence with an $18 million deficit and many dominated the landscape. On top of that the Lakers storied felt the best way forward was retail and
Proposed Clippers Arena Inglewood is on the cusp of becoming property taxes. “I didn’t buy that,” Mayor Butts ex- the sports and entertainment capitol of plained to Inglewood Today during a the world. Unemployment has dipped to about wide-ranging interview this week. “We had a plan and our goal was to 4 percent, lowest among major cities in strengthen and provide economic op- the State of California and a swelling surplus. portunity for the city,” he said. Ironically, Continued on page 2 Here we are eight years later and
Wesson goes all in on County Supervisor race
Inglewood Unified School District: The Canary in the Coal Mine
By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
Picks up another big endorsement along the way IT News Wire
Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
For the past 7 years Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson has arguably been the most powerful and effective official in the state of California, and recently he announced his resignation from his post as council president to focus on the L.A. County Supervisor election in March 2020. While, Wesson will step down as president he will continue to serve out his term as councilman till December 2020. He will continue to serve on the City Council until his term expires in December 2020. Among his many accomplishments, Wesson is responsible for multiple increases in the city’s minimum
According to the California Education Code, all California school districts will have to submit a first interim budget report by December 15. This report compares the school district’s ongoing fiscal condition to what was projected in the budget they submitted in July. The report includes the latest student enrollment and attendance figures, data on staffing, yearto-date accounting, and projections of expenditures and cash flow. Through this review, districts assess whether they will be able to meet their obligations and are required to selfcertify whether their fiscal condition is positive, qualified, or negative (i.e.,
wage, passage of a $1.2-billion bond measure to battle homelessness and a shift in the city’s election schedule to even-numbered years, a step aimed at boosting voter turnout. Continued on page 2
will meet, may not meet, or will not be solvent over the next three years). Most schools districts will certify that they will meet their financial obligations for the current and two subsequent fiscal years, but there are a growing number of districts that will assign themselves qualified or negative certifications. Large school districts, based on their July budgets, that may be on the list of qualified and negative include Los Angeles Unified, Sacramento City Unified, Sweetwater Union, and Oakland Unified. Districts with negative and qualified certifications must come to terms with the fact that unless Continued on page 7 JOIN US ON
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December 5-11, 2019
Continued from page 1: Mayor Butts lauds Clippers arena approval...
just as the Lakers left 20 years ago for downtown Los Angeles, the Clippers have pledged to leave downtown L.A. in favor of Inglewood where plans to build their new area passed another major hurdle. The team recently won approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to build a $1.2 billion arena in Inglewood. While the CARB approval was huge victory for the city and the team, it will still take another nine months before the actual groundbreaking can begin, but according to Mayor Butts the arena should be on schedule to open for the 2024 NBA season. The Clippers cleared the CARB hurdles by agreeing to spend tens of millions to make the arena a net-zero greenhouse gas emitter: planting 1,000 trees in Inglewood; installing solar arrays on the arena’s roof and possibly over parking lots; installing 330 electric vehicle chargers at the arena’s parking lot and 1,000 residential EV charging stations in Inglewood; providing 10 electric vehicles plus two electric shuttle buses to the city of Inglewood. Furthermore, the mayor revealed estimates of 7,500 construction jobs are anticipated, another 1,500 permanent jobs of which 35 percent of those are earmarked for Inglewood residents. Thirty percent of the construction will be designated for minority owned or disadvantaged business enterprises. Butts had already engineered the renovating of the Forum that currently
boast a robust concert menu. His blockbuster move was convincing the Rams to relocate and come to Inglewood where both the Rams and Chargers will open home field at SoFi Stadium in the fall of 2020. The SoFi Stadium project brought along with it 3,000 construction jobs of which 1,200 went to Inglewood residents. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Philharmonic invested $50 million in Inglewood and will unveil a youth choir here and legendary rap icon Snoop Dogg will be moving his production studio to the city. There are some critics who question the economic boon and massive renovation of the city and stoke fears of gentrification, but the Mayor scoffed at such rhetoric. “We’re a city that historically has 51 percent Hispanic, 46-47 percent Black and 3-4 percent other. All of them are still here. Those who want to stay here can and those who want to cash in on their property because of this economic boon have the right to do so.” Mayor Butts spearheaded a unanimously approved permanent rent control measures that will block property owners from increasing rents more than 5 percent annually, though there are exceptions, and the cap in some cases will be 8 percent. Asked if he envisioned all this some 8 years ago and the mayor’s reply was most sincere. “It has exceeded our wildest dreams,” he stated. Imagine that. And he’s not close to being done yet.
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LMU Welcomes Democratic Presidential Debate
Continued from page 1: Wesson goes all in on County Supervisor race Picks up...
PRESIDENT/ EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Willie Brown PUBLISHER Kenneth Miller VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Kennedy SENIOR WRITER Francis Taylor PRODUCTION Kenneth Denson QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER Gloria Kennedy Inglewood Today Weekly is a legally adjudicated newspaper of public circ ulation, published weekly by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. News and press releases may be submitted for consideration by mail to 9111 La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 100, Inglewood, CA 90301 or by email to itnetworks@msn.com.
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“I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a unified council over the last eight years,” he said in a statement. Wesson is campaigning to replace County Supervisor Mark RidleyThomas, who is facing term limits after 12 years in his post. Meanwhile, the Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) joined a long list of supporters backing Wesson’s bid for County Supervisor. Following an outpouring of support from numerous local leaders from Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Los Angeles, and Lynwood, today, Wesson received an influential endorsement from the Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD), the largest Armenian-American Democratic Club in Southern California with nearly 500 members. In an official press release, the President of the Southern California Armenian Democrats (SCAD) Araz Parseghian issued the following statement: “Mr. Wesson is our choice to succeed Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas and represent the 2nd District. For the last 30+ years, Herb has fought alongside Armenian-Americans and continues to be an advocate for our community. Whether in Los Angeles City Hall or on the floor of our capitol, Herb has always proven to be a successful and proactive legislator and public servant. He has the experience and commendable dedication necessary to represent
The Democratic National Committee announced that Loyola Marymount University’s Gersten Pavilion will be the venue for the sixth Democratic presidential candidates’ debate on Dec. 19, 2019, co-hosted by PBS NewsHour and POLITICO. LMU President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., released the following statement: “We welcome the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to campus, continuing LMU’s long-standing tradition of rigorous inquiry, debate, and civic engagement. As a nationally renowned, highly ranked university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions,
LMU is a destination for world leaders whose ideas confront humankind’s most challenging issues. Together, we seek to create the world we want to live in.” As a leading intellectual center, LMU values diversity, a principle expressed through varying viewpoints. Our educational environment is enriched by a free exchange of ideas as LMU seeks to model a culture of inclusivity, honoring multiple perspectives and championing civil discourse, which is often missing in the current political climate. For information about the DNC debate at LMU, including ticketing, media credentials, and other details, please visit lmu.edu/debate.
the interests of Armenian-American Democrats on the LA County Board of Supervisors.” For over three decades, Herb Wesson has worked with community leaders and grassroots advocates to improve the lives of all Angelenos, as Chief of Staff to legendary LA County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, the 65th Speaker of the California State Assembly, the 1st African American President of the Los Angeles City Council and as a youth coach, mentor and father. During his tenure as Council President, Wesson has presided over monumental policy initiatives that have
made Los Angeles a better place to live, work and raise a family. These initiatives — which include raising the minimum wage, pension reform and consolidating city elections to increase voter turnout — have not only positively impacted local residents, but in many cases, sparked legislative responses at both the state and national level. While real progress has been made in the last decade, Herb Wesson knows that there’s still more work to be done. That’s why he’s running for Los Angeles County Supervisor: to empower people and make a difference in the lives of local residents.
IT News Wire
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December 5-11, 2019
EYE ON THE CITY GEORGE DOTSON
ALEX PADILLA
JAMES BUTTS
ELOY MORALES
RALPH FRANKLIN
AROUND THE CITY
Clippers teamwork at the table for giving
Clippers.com
The St. Joseph Center bustled with life at this year’s Teamwork at the Table event on Tuesday, November 19th. Los Angeles residents of all ages joined the LA Clippers for an afternoon of community. As part of the Clippers’ Season of Giving initiative, players and members of Clipper Nation distributed Thanksgiving meals at the St. Joseph Center. Guests enjoyed nourishing meals and had the opportunity to meet the team. The LA Clippers provided hot Thanksgiving meals and clothes to 50+ families. Clipper Nation and local partners, including the 99 Cents Only Store, generously donated to the event. “A lot of the athletes – kids consider mentors and they look for them for guidance. I know that they themselves are very young and don’t always have the words to give children for what they need to go on. For them to come out for this event is very responsible of them. Taking time out their lives to make sure that people who have less than them have a good Thanksgiving. That I greatly appreciate.” -Pam Richardson, Los Angeles resident They say, “You can’t teach size” but here Ivica Zubac and Moe Harkless demonstrate that community and human connection are things we can practice every day. Moe Harkless with the assist. The big man, Ivica Zubac shows off the deft soft touch. Montrezl Harrell’s heart for community extends all the way from LA to North Carolina, where his youth foundation is based. Here Montrezl
and Moe lead the charge in handing out turkeys. “A lot of us have been volunteering with the Clippers community for 10-12 years or more, so we’ve been part of this for a long time. As citizens of the community it’s great to share the food and needs of this community and meet and greet NBA players who care.” -Eddie Lew, Clippers MVP member Veteran player, JaMychal Green patiently assembles and delivers a bag full of Thanksgiving supplies to a member of the West LA community.
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December 5-11, 2019
News
Thanksgiving in Inglewood It’s All About Families By Francis Taylor, Senior Staff Writer
As families across the nation prepare for one of the most popular annual celebrations in the United States of America, the Penate family, who established roots in the City of Inglewood 15 years ago, is no exception. Father Jose, Sr. and wife Nora are planning a traditional Thanksgiving feast for their three sons, nine-year old Jose, Jr., four-year old Kevin and the latest family addition, one-year old Daniel. It is not generally known that President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. But the Penate’s learned quickly, upon their arrival in the United States for father Jose from El Salvador and Nora from Mexico, that America’s favorite Thanksgiving dish is turkey. The family, who will also host the family’s paternal matriarch from El Salvador and Nora’s family who reside in Los Angeles, will devour one of the estimated 46 million turkeys that will be killed for Thanksgiving this year. Nora explained that in addition to the roasted turkey, stuffing and cran-
berry sauce, the family will also enjoy sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, salad, rolls and Mexican Bread for dessert. Since no alcohol will be consumed, ginger ale will be available for the adults and a special chocolate drink will be prepared for the young ones. She indicated that the family will not include the most frequently introduced alternatives to turkey on Thanksgiving – ham, chicken or roast beef.
Jose and Nora met in Inglewood shortly after his arrival. While they are teaching their children the customs of their native country, the family assimilated effortlessly into American culture. The oldest son, Jose Jr., is an above average student in elementary school and has already earned a yellow belt in his Inglewood Karate class. He reports that his favorite holiday is Christmas because all of the family is able to get
together. For Thanksgiving, he said that he is thankful for his mother and father, his two little brothers, and that his grandmother is visiting from El Salvador. Giving thanks is a significant element of the Thanksgiving celebration and Nora said she is thankful that she has a very nice and united family that is able to spend enjoyable and unforgettable days with her family. Jose said he is thankful for having his family all together with three healthy sons, a beautiful and committed wife and a mother who decided to spend two months with the family this year. The Penate’s are thankful for much the same as what families throughout the nation are thankful for. 88 percent are thankful for family, 77 percent are thankful for health, 71 percent are thankful for friends, 57 percent are thankful for memories and 53 percent are thankful for fun experiences. Thanksgiving in Inglewood is all about families. Happy Thanksgiving to the Inglewood and adjacent community families from the staff of Inglewood Today!
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December 5-11, 2019
Sports & Entertainment Rams host Seahawks for Sunday Night Football By Stu Jackson, Rams.com
The Los Angeles Rams host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football in the second and final regular season meeting between both teams. In advance of the matchup, here’s an early look at the Seahawks, including notable additions, their top statistical performers in their most recent game, where they rank in certain statistical categories and key storylines. First_Look_Seattle_ Notable additions Claimed WR Josh Gordon off waivers in early November. The former New England Patriot has caught four of five targets for 47 yards in three games with the Seahawks so far. Traded for safety Quandre Diggs in late October. With starter Bradley McDougald (back) and backup Lano Hill (elbow) sustaining injuries in their Week 7 loss to the Ravens, the position needed to be addressed. Seattle did so by acquiring Diggs and a 2021 seventh round picker in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick. He has seven total tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery while starting in each of the Seahawks’ last three games. Top performers in Week 13 QB Russell Wilson completed 21 of 31 pass attempts for 240 yards with two touchdowns and one interception
in a 37-30 win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football. RB Chris Carson led the Seahawks with a game-high 23 carries for 102 yards and one touchdown. RB Rashaad Penny was effective as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield, with 15 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown plus four catches for 33 yards and one touchdown. Rookie WR D.K. Metcalf led all Seattle receivers with a team-high 75 yards on six receptions. WR David Moore, who finished with two catches for 65 yards, was on the receiving end of Wilson’s other passing touchdown. Defensively, LB Bobby Wagner posted a team-high 10 tackles, while
The Sport God
By Dave Smith, Columnist
While reading a column in the San Jose Mercury News this week, I found a very interesting opinion from USC President Carol Folt; who allegedly told USC trustees and donors to “mind their own business” on the subject of firing Clay “Gomer” Helton and hiring Urban Meyer. If true, a few of these influential donors should arrange a meeting with Folt and explain the facts of life to her; she either fires Gomer and hires Meyer or they collectively shut their check-
books and never give USC another nickel. If that happens, Folt will fold quickly and Urban will be hired in about five minutes. Because if there’s one thing elitist, ivory tower hypocrites like Carol Folt understand, it’s the repercussions of billionaire donors closing their checkbooks. As of this writing, despite reports he’s on his way out, Helton is still USC’s coach and supposedly out recruiting. Think about this for a minute. With attendance down 20,000 per game this season and USC currently ranked #76 in recruiting, 11th in the Pac-12, Folt and new AD Mike Bohn are leaving Helton twisting in the wind; so why would any recruit sign a letter of intent with the Trojans when they have no idea whom the coach in going to be? Folt and Bohn’s incompetence is on full display, because a decision needs to be made immediately, for Continued on page 6
CB Tre Flowers had a key interception early in the fourth quarter. On special teams, kicker Jason Myers made all three of his field goal attempts and all four of his extra point attempts. WR Malik Turner’s forced fumble and RB Travis Homer’s recovery on the Vikings’ kickoff return with seven seconds left sealed the game. Homer also took a direct snap on a fake punt in the fourth quarter 29 yards for a fourth-down conversion. It was his first career rush attempt. Rankings Seattle Offense Points Per Game: 5th (27.4) Yards Per Game: 3rd (390.2) Passing Yards Per Game:
10th (246.6) Rushing Yards Per Game: 3rd (143.7) Defense Points Allowed Per Game: 23rd (24.4) Yards Allowed Per Game: 24th (368.9) Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 29th (269.3) Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 8th (99.6) Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams Considering where the Seahawks fare statistically on both sides of the ball, it still might be somewhat surprising to see they enter this week’s game with a 10-2 record. If you’ve watched any game besides their first one against the Rams this season, though, it really shouldn’t be. Including that Thursday night football game against Los Angeles on Oct. 3, nine of Seattle’s 12 games have been decided by seven points or less. It is 8-1 in those games. Given their propensity for timely plays offensively and defensively this season, there has been little margin for error against the Seahawks. It places a premium on execution and discipline, especially when it comes to maintaining an early lead if one of their gets out to one.
Vikings vs. Chargers Game Flexed to Afternoon
Chargers.com
The NFL announced Sunday evening that the Week 15 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Chargers has been flexed to Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1:05 p.m. PT. The game from ROKiT Field at Dignity Health Sports Park will be broadcast on CBS and will be the final NFC North opponent for the Bolts in 2019 before they finish their season against two divisional teams. Related Content Recap: Chargers Lose to Broncos,
23-20, on Last-Second Field Goal Highlights from the game include two long Philip Rivers touchdown passes, a one-handed fourth-down catch by Mike Williams to extend the game and a diving interception by Denzel Perryman. Junior Seau Named to NFL 100 All-Time Team The Chargers legend and Hall of Famer was one of 12 linebackers voted to the team. Best of Week 13 on the Chargers Podcast Network
Page 6 Continued from page 5: The Sport God
two reasons: 1) To save this recruiting class, the recruits need to know who’s going to be in charge of the program and whom they’ll be playing for. 2) This is cruel and unfair to Helton, who needs to know if he needs to keep recruiting or find a new job. Without question, Helton seems to be of high character and a nice guy, but the bottom line is he can’t coach and 13-12 over his last 25 games is completely unacceptable for a storied program with a great history. He needs to go and he needed to go yesterday. Folt delaying this, telling trustees and donors to “mind their own business” and leaning toward retaining Gomer is a double middle finger to all USC students, fans, alums, season ticket holders and donors. She’s telling them she knows better than them what’s best for the football program and they should all shut up, accept mediocrity and keep those donations coming. Folt’s entire adult life has been spent in academia; from student, to graduate school, to professor, to administrator, to college President. And living up in that elitist, condescending ivory tower her entire life means she lives in a theoretical world of unicorns and rainbows. She lives in a fantasy world of tenure and not having to produce results, so thus has no idea what’s it’s like to live in the real world, how to meet a payroll or face the reality the rest of us face; either produce results or watch your business fail.. This week should be fascinating and let’s hope Folt and Bohn are convinced to do the right thing; fire Helton, hire Urban and watch USC compete for National Championships again. Anything else and the billionaire donors should cut her off. SPORTSGOD’S FASTBREAK: ESPN’s Dan Rafael and Yahoo’s Kevin Iole both wrote that after his recent K.O. of Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder is now the hardest punching Heavyweight Champion of all time. This is patently absurd, because of the collection of tomato cans and club fighters Wilder has faced throughout his career. Back in the 1970’s or 1990’s, the two Golden Eras of Heavyweights, Deontay is a hard hitting journeyman on the fringe of the Top-10. But in this era, arguably the worst in Heavyweight history, he holds a championship belt. I’d have Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, Earnie Shavers, Rocky Marciano, Jack Johnson and Gerry Cooney as harder hitters than Wilder....As a 49ers fan, my biggest fear about Kyle Shanahan was a repeat of the 28-3 Super Bowl game; when he was offensive coordinator for the Falcons in their loss to the Patriots. In that game, he single handedly cost Atlanta a win with some of the worst play calling and game management I’ve ever seen. And last Sunday against the Ravens, Shanahan butchered the clock at the end of the half and the game and cost San Francisco a win. He seems to have learned nothing and now the 49ers are up against it again with a road game this Sunday against the Saints...My current NBA MVP list: 1) LeBron 2) Luka Doncic 3) Greek Freak 4) James Harden...
December 5-11, 2019
Rep. Waters: Commemorates
World AIDS Day 2019
Inglewood Today News
WASHINGTON -- As a congressional leader in the fight against HIV/ AIDS, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day, which is celebrated every year on December 1: “World AIDS Day is a time to reflect on the progress we have made in our fight against HIV/AIDS, honor those who have died, and unite in worldwide solidarity to give hope to the 1.1 million Americans, and the 37.9 million women, men, and children worldwide who are living with HIV/AIDS. “Throughout my career, I have been a strong advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and treatment, and I continue to work with national organizations and community leaders to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS initiatives. I spearheaded the creation of the Minority AIDS Initiative, which has significantly expanded HIV/AIDS prevention, screening, and treatment efforts among racial and ethnic minorities, and reduced the tragic AIDS disparities affecting minority communities in the United States. I am pleased to report that funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative has increased from the initial appropriation of $156 million in fiscal year 1999 to more than $400 million per year today. “Earlier this year, my House Democratic colleagues and I successfully fought for the passage of a series of fiscal year 2020 Appropriations bills, which include robust federal funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, including $410 million for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program and $2.4 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Earlier this year, I also reintroduced legislation, H.Res. 504, which honors National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day and highlights the critical role that doctors, nurses, dentists, and other clinicians play in HIV/ AIDS awareness, testing, and treatment efforts. By encouraging their patients to be tested for HIV, doctors and nurses can enable infected individuals to access appropriate medical care and begin taking action to avoid spreading the virus to others. “While we have made progress, we must not forget the struggle that remains before us in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In honor of World AIDS Day, let us all rededicate ourselves to stopping the spread of this devastating disease, to caring for those who are infected, and to finding a cure.”
Improve Academic Outcomes through Access to Health Care Coverage Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
With each school year, parents dust off their annual checklists that help them organize their needs as their kids head back to the classroom. This school season, make sure one priority at the top of your to-do list is ensuring your children have health insurance. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, studies have shown that children who have health coverage miss fewer classes and perform better in school than those who are uninsured. With the proper health coverage, children can get the immunizations, check-ups, eye exams, dental visits and preventive care they may need to fully participate in school and remain engaged both in the classroom and extracurricular activities. Health coverage can also prove beneficial when a child is sick or injured. In fact, millions of children and teens already qualify for free or lowcost health coverage, including dental coverage, through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs can help those who qualify get the coverage they need to excel in the classroom. To help ensure their kids make the grade, parents need to first do their homework when it comes to health coverage. To make sure you have assessed your coverage options, keep in mind these health care coverage questions and answers:
Photos courtesy of Getty Images What do Medicaid and CHIP cover? Medicaid and CHIP provide comprehensive coverage for children and teens nationwide who qualify. This includes routine check-ups, doctor visits, prescriptions and immunizations, dental and vision care, and emergency services, all at little or no cost to you or your family. How do I know if my child is eligible? In most states, children and teens up to age 19 are eligible to enroll. Depending on your income, many families qualify for free or low-cost health coverage. Once enrolled, how long is my child eligible for coverage? Children and teens can stay covered for as long as they qualify. You’ll need to renew their coverage once a year. How do I apply? You can apply online, over the phone, by mail or in-person with your state’s Medicaid or CHIP agency or visit the “Find Coverage for Your Family” section on InsureKidsNow.gov. For more information, call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669). When can I apply for enrollment? Since there is no special open enrollment period for Medicaid or CHIP, you can enroll at any time. For more information, and to learn about the coverage options available for you and your family, visit InsureKidsNow.gov or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669). Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
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December 5-11, 2019
LEGAL NOTICES
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019300858 The following Person is doing business as:
Annual Credit Solutions 905 South Orchard Drive Inglewood, CA 90301 Registered Owner(s): Jonathan Cotledge, 905 South Orchard Drive, Inglewood, CA 90301 This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on November 15, 2019. I (We) declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Jonathan Cotledge, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk on November 15, 2019. NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State or common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.) Original November 28; December 5, 12, 19, 2019 IT0042230120020101 Inglewood Today
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OR CALL: 1.888.676.1011 Continued from page 1: Inglewood Unified superintendent appointed three adminSchool District: The Canary... istrators, two interim administrators
they find new revenue sources or better control their expenditures they will have to request a state loan to avoid fiscal insolvency. According to Assembly Bill 1200, called the Eastin Act, the state of California is required to maintain the financial soundness of public school districts. Since 1991, when the bill passed, nine districts have been given emergency loans. Four are still repaying loans they accepted. Under AB 1200, a district secures a state loan through Legislative action. A state-appointed administrator takes over, the superintendent is fired, and the board of education becomes an advisory body. All decisions about the district’s operational priorities are taken away from the local level until the state loan is paid in full. State intervention has not been a guarantee that the school district in receivership will be better managed. This has to concern school districts facing this prospect. Inglewood Unified is currently the only school district in state receivership. Its experience is “the canary in the coal mine” that districts on the verge of accepting a state loan need to look at closely. In September 2012, the governor approved Senate Bill (SB) 533 authorizing an up-to $55 million loan to Inglewood Unified to allow it to avoid fiscal insolvency. The State Superintendent and California Department of Education (CDE) took over Inglewood’s schools and drew down $29 million from the loan, obligating the school district to pay $1.8 Million a year for 30 years to retire the loan. Between 2012 and 2017, the state
and one trustee. During this period of unstable leadership, the district’s finances and operations did not significantly improve and little progress was made toward being able to return to local control. In 2015, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved an audit concerning the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s oversight of the Inglewood Unified School District. A key recommendation the State Auditor made to the Legislature was “any future state emergency funding for a school district appropriated by the Legislature should specifically require the state superintendent to document the selection and appointment process of a state administrator, including the rationales for progressing certain candidates once screened or reasons that particular individuals were ultimately selected to serve as state administrator.” So far, the Legislature has failed to implement the recommendation put forth by the audit. It’s clear that Inglewood’s progress has suffered because of a lack of stable leadership provided by the State. A similar experience happening to any other school district in the future is unacceptable. In 2018, Assembly Bill (AB) 1840 provided financial relief to Inglewood Unified and Oakland Unified as both school districts struggled to balance their budgets and pay off state loans. In that legislation, responsibility for managing a school district under state receivership was removed from CDE and given the responsible County Office of Education. The last State Administrator ap-
pointed by CDE to lead Inglewood Unified, Dr. Thelma Melendez, recently retired. Under the guidelines of AB 1840, a new County Administrator, Dr. Erika Torres, was announced by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). All that is known about how this appointment was made is that the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT pronounced Fick-mat) identified 26 candidates to be interviewed, a LACOE interview panel made a recommendation and it was approved by County Superintendent Debra Durado, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and President of the Board of Education Linda Darling-Hammond. Before her appointment, Torres was acting interim County Administrator and, for about a year, she was the LACOE Deputy Superintendent charged with working with Melendez. So she takes the job already knowing what needs to be prioritized and what resources she will need to succeed in turning around the school district. This may be the model that should be adopted for future state takeovers. Instead of firing the superintendent of the school district, a reasonable transition period should be observed. Prior to the appointment of Torres, each state administrator had to figure out on their own how they would lead. That process failed to produce satisfactory progress. It is time for the Legislature – hopefully, during the upcoming session - to craft legislation that will provide better direction on how school districts under state receivership are managed. The future of the students in those districts will be the beneficiaries of the legislation they approve.
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December 5-11, 2019
Serena Williams Builds Schools in Jamaica, Africa By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
While many deep-pocketed philanthropists and celebrities will write checks to support worthy causes, Tennis megastar Serena Williams routinely goes the extra mile. In a recently released video, Williams donned a pair of jeans, workboats, a hardhat and went to work on Salt Marsh Elementary School in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica. Williams, who has won a total of 39 Tennis Grand Slams – including Doubles titles, has also built grade schools in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Williams built the Marsh Elementary through a partnership with the nonprofit Helping Hands Jamaica, while the schools in Africa were in conjunction with Build Africa. It’s part of the mission of Williams’ Serena Williams Fund and her other charitable efforts, which include the Serena Williams Venture, where the tennis champion seeks to boost the bottom line of individual companies. “In 2014, I launched Serena Ventures with the mission of giving opportunities to founders across an array of industries. Serena Ventures invests in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity, and opportunity,” Williams said in a statement posted on her organization’s website. “Serena Ventures focuses on earlystage companies and allowing them to be heard. As we grow, we hope to men-
tor young founders and take burgeoning entrepreneurs to the next level,” she stated. “Serena Ventures extends relationships, encourages collaboration among portfolio companies, and expands partnership opportunities across my vast
network. Similar to many of the companies we have invested in, we are just getting started and are hoping to make a difference.” Also, according to Charity Buzz, the Serena Williams Fund was established to promote equity; through education,
gender, race, disability, or anything else that stands in the way of someone achieving their goals and living their best possible life. “The mission of this charity is to help the individuals or communities affected by to violence, and [to ensure] equal access to education,” Williams stated. Knowing the value of creating strong partnerships with organizations with expertise in their fields, Williams counts as a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador. She has partnered with organizations such as Beyond the Boroughs Scholarship Fund, The Equal Justice Initiative, The Caliber Foundation, and Build Africa Schools. Jessica Curney of Borgen Magazine reported that before each of her matches, Williams reads and writes affirmations out loud from her diary about wanting to help people, kids, and work in Africa. “Through the Serena Williams Fund, Williams dedicates her off-season time improving access to education by building schools in underprivileged areas of the world,” Gurney reported. “She has done extraordinary tasks using her own resources and through partnerships with the Serena Williams Fund and other foundations dedicated to providing and improving education for those in difficult conditions or developing countries. Her active role has notably left a mark on those who have had their lives changed significantly through this act of kindness.”
Assemblywoman Burke leads turkey giveaway at Lennox Academy in Inglewood IT News Wire
Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, DSouth Bay, helped hand out roughly 800 turkeys Tuesday morning, Nov. 26, to local families at the Lennox Academy, in Inglewood, as part of the fifth annual Project Gobble. The assemblywoman, along with the Lennox Coordinating Council, led the event — sponsored by local businesses and associations — to supply the turkeys on a first-come, firstserved basis at the charter school.