Your Community Connection since 1994
Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 24, No. 14
April 2, 2015
Labor Protest Over Stadium Is Over By Veronica Mackey
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hen a running back is “in the zone,” he is unstoppable— much like plans for the new Inglewood stadium. Despite critics, questions about safety and a petition that could have stopped the project altogether, the Inglewood stadium keeps gaining ground, moving toward the end zone. Within days of the Inglewood City Council voting unanimously to push the project forward without a special election on Feb. 24, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor took action to reverse the decision. Arguing that there were no guarantees of local, unionized jobs at the stadium, the group began a campaign to collect signatures that would have forced
Chavez Inspired Former Inglewood Teacher
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nspired by the life and legacy of labor rights icon Cesar Chavez, a woman from Inglewood has made it her life’s work for the past 14 years to pass on his legacy to younger generations. Arlene Williams, author of C is for Change: The Story of Cesar Chavez, One Person Can Change Many Lives (2014), said she wrote the book to show children what a difference one person can make in the lives of many. Now an author, illustraMayor Butts addressing the media about the plan to build a stadium in Inglewood. tor and educator in Seattle, a citywide vote unless their ment with developers. But Many non-suspecting voters Williams toured schools demands were met. it wasn’t drama-free. There were told that their signatures throughout the month of Shortly before the March were reports that anti-stadi- would push the stadium proj26 deadline for signatures the um workers lied to residents ect forward when the oppoFederation reached an agree- about their true intentions. site was true. Voters who felt tricked by petitioners had to file paperwork to have their signatures removed. “Over 9,000 voters who were tricked by paid referendum signature gatherers to sign petitions to overturn the Mayor and City Council’s unanimous vote to move forward with the Stadium Chris Meany, senior vice president of Hollywood Park Land Company, says in a Initiative turned in recension Cesar Chavez statement that stadium construction in Inglewood would feature union jobs. (Continued on page 9) March, and culminated her journey on March 31 (Chavez’s birthday), participating in a day of service On The Inside: and remembrance honoring By Thomas Bunn the late civil rights leader. e know the story far Inspired by the man who too well: “My son went on hunger strikes to • News won’t stop texting,” protest working conditions “My daughter won’t stop of fellow farm workers, • Community using Facebook in class,” Williams, herself, has be“Why won’t these kids get come an inspiration. • Entertainment off the Internet?” She calls the book a “labor What if I told you that the of love” and a “calling.” It is • Health device and thing your son or born from her passion to see daughter loves so much, could the next generation embrace • Real Estate be the same device that makes principles of social justice • Business them financially independent? and equality. It is also a reIt may sounds like tradiminder for children to dream (Continued on page 10) (Continued on page 2)
How the Internet Can Save Communities
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