Your Community Connection since 1994
20 Y EA RS
Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 23, No. 50
December 11, 2014
Inglewood Celebrates Historic Holiday Tree Lighting By Thomas Bunn
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n true community fashion, close to 4,000 residents showed up to bring in the city’s very first Holiday Lighting Ceremony at the Forum. Lines of overly anxious youngsters stretched across the parking lot, waiting their turn to give Santa Claus their holiday wish list. The holiday program opened with a presentation of the colors from the Inglewood Boy Scouts Troop 636, Inglewood Girl Scout Troops 5915, 10195, and 9715, followed by a hip mix of Christmas jams and carols. Live entertainment was provided by Inglewood darlings, Fantasia Dance Ensemble, who performed
Mayor James Butts and a few of Santa’s helpers throw their holiday inspired numbers for families in attendance. Inglewood Mayor James. T. Butts, council members, and city officials greeted the community to the inaugural event at the Forum. Mayor Butts said, “You’re witnessing the first annual and largest Christmas celebration
Holiday Season in Upward Swing
On The Inside: • News • Community • Entertainment • Health • Real Estate • Business
the switch to light the tree. in the history of the City of Inglewood at the Fabulous Forum, which is now LED Green and Red.” Councilman Eloy Morales added, “I have to say, welcome back to the City of Inglewood, the City’s Fabulous Forum allowed us to be here on the site and set up (Continued on page 2)
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By Veronica Mackey
espite the backdrop of racial, social and political unrest defying Christmas spirit, there is positive news in America. The jobless rate is steady at 5.8 percent, the housing market and the stock market are showing nice gains. In some places, according to the American Automobile Assn., you can even buy a (Continued on page 2)
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Hall Takes the Senate
nglewood now has a state senator. Former Democratic Assemblyman Isadore Hall III of Compton won a special election for the 35th District state Senate seat on Tuesday, left vacant by former Sen. Roderick Wright, who resigned in October. Hall captured 54.98% of the vote—enough to avoid a Feb. 10 runoff—against opponents Louis L. Dominguez of San Pedro and Hector Serrano of Wilmington (both Democrats) and Republican James Spencer of Inglewood. All precincts reported. Name recognition and hefty campaign contributions helped make Hall the forerun-
Isadore Hall, III ner throughout the contest. In fact, few voters seemed to know the other candidates who ran against him. According to the Daily Breeze, “State financial disclosure statements show that, since the start of the year, Hall has raised almost $480,000 for his campaign— and has another roughly $360,000 already in the bag for his 2016 re-election bid.” “I am deeply humbled and sincerely thankful for the confidence placed in me by the voters of the 35th District,” Hall told supporters (Continued on page 10)
Happy Holidays
from Inglewood Today