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Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 25, No. 8
February 25, 2016
Dems Woo Black Voters With Star Power By Veronica Mackey
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overty, mass incarceration and other issues impacting African Americans took center stage on Feb. 21 when BET aired “Black Votes Matter.” The town hall special featured Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in separate interviews discussing their records of helping the black community. With 76% of black votes going to Clinton in the Nevada Democratic caucus, Sanders clearly has a lot of work to do. He continues to tout his early involvement with civil rights, however, and told BET host and Harry Belafonte CNN contributor Marc Lamont Hill that the 1996 welfare reform bill signed by former President Bill Clinton, was “an attack, by and large, on low income African-Americans,” which he voted against. Endorsed by top black lawmakers like South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking AfricanAmerican in Congress, Clinton told journalist Jeff Johnson on BET, “I feel very supported by the large majority of the African-American community, I feel trusted by them.” African Americans will continue to be a major Democratic voting bloc for the candidates as they seek to Rev. Al Sharpton clinch the nomination. Fortunately,
On The Inside: • News • Community • Entertainment • Health • Real Estate • Business
Morgan Freeman both candidates are benefitting from black star power.
Harry, Morgan and Spike Singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte is backing Sanders. “I think he represents opportunity,” Belafonte said in an online interview. “I think he represents a moral imperative. I think he represents a certain kind of truth that’s not often evidenced in the course of politics… [He will] be able to turn this ship of state called America around and place it on a new course.” Morgan Freeman has lent his vo-
Spike Lee cal talent to the Clinton campaign. The veteran actor who was the voice of God in “Bruce Almighty” said in the TV ad, “Her life’s work has been about breaking barriers and so would her presidency, which is why for every American who’s not being paid what they’re worth, who’s being held back by student debt or a system tilted against them, and there are far too many of you, she understands that our country can’t reach its potential unless we all do.” Filmmaker Spike Lee is on Team Sanders, and recently endorsed his (Continued on page 10)
George Dotson Unveils ‘New Inglewood’ Plans at Town Hall
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By Thomas Bunn
ver the weekend, Councilman George Dotson hosted a packed auditorium of residents and stakeholders for his District 1 Town Hall meeting held at Center of Hope Church. Eager to discover the latest developments happening throughout the community and surrounding areas, residents were briefed on developments happening on Century Blvd., the new LAX, rising of record-low crime. mation. A lot of the folks in my home values, and how Inglewood “One of the reasons why I hold district don’t have emails, so with (Continued on page 8) has seen its 5th consecutive year my town hall meeting is for infor-
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February 25, 2016
Community
Butts’ Leadership Praised in St. Louis
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t. Louis’ loss of the Rams is a major victory for Inglewood, California and its AfricanAmerican Mayor James T. Butts. The L.A. suburb he governs has a population of 110,000, of which more than 90 percent of those residents are minorities. Latinos comprise about 50 percent of its population and black 43 percent, according to 2014 U.S. Census data. The median income for Inglewood is $50,000, while L.A. County averages $56,000 and the state of California $62,000, respectively. Rather than wait on Rams owner Stan Kroenke or the NFL to lead them by the hand—or nose—Butts and city leaders had experts compiling economic and environmental impacts of a major stadium project. This was BEFORE Kroenke officially announced his stadium plan. Several of these reviews had been completed by the time we ever heard of our “task force.” If Kroenke had sought public funding, Butts was adamant that it was not going to happen, saying the city’s plan “doesn’t ask for, nor will ever be offered, any public funds.”
Vice President Gloria Kennedy Assistant Editor Veronica Mackey Contributing Writers Veronica Mackey Thomas Bunn Anne Cheek La Rose Staff Photographer Thomas Bunn PRODUCTION Manager Dené Glamuzina Quality Control Manager Gloria Kennedy Inglewood Today Weekly is a legally
Butts displayed leadership skill sorely lacking in our region. He won. We lost. His trophies include an estimated $1 billion per year for the local economy and 40,000 new jobs, many of which will continue long after the stadium is complete. The ancillary restaurants, retail outlets and concert venue will create thousands of permanent jobs.
The project is expected to bring as many as 2,500 new residential units and a 300-room hotel, plus office and retail space, multiple lakes, and 25 acres of public park space. Inglewood, its black mayor and its 90 percent minority population are moving forward. We should be happy for them. Source: Alvin Reid, StLouis American.com
Burke Introduces Environmental Justice Bill
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n Monday, Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke (D-Inglewood) introduced legislation to achieve large-scale, comprehensive investments in California’s most vulnerable communities. AB 2722 will create a new statewide program that aims to help California achieve our climate goals through a new “Transformative Climate Communities” program. “This is a time in California’s history that we can truly make a difference in communities that have been heavily polluted and repeatedly marginalized,” said Burke. “We have ambitious goals to meet, and it’s going to take every community to get there.” AB 2722 gives $250 million to fund Transformative Climate Communities program at the Strategic Growth Council, in coordination with the California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary for Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs. The program will award large grants to develop and implement neighborhood-level plans that include multiple, coordinated greenhouse gas reduction projects that provide local economic, workforce, environmental and health benefits. By making this comprehensive public investment in local communities, private resources can be effectively catalyzed to support
President/Publisher/ Editor Willie Brown
Autumn Burke innovative community and climate transformation in disadvantaged communities. The investments will be focused on communities most impacted by pollution and vulnerable to climate change. It emphasizes community engagement in developing and implementing a suite of beneficial projects, while promoting sustainable community development. “Many community-based organizations have been doing the exact type of community-led planning that this new program would support, or are in need of this type of program. Residents in overburdened communities face a range of challenges, and we need state programs that promote solutions to all of these issues in a holistic manner.
And we need these programs to be directly connected to and led by the residents most impacted. AB 2722 accomplishes this, while helping California to achieve our climate goals,” said Amy Vanderwarker, Co-Director of the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), the bill’s sponsor. The new program will promote an integrated, collaborative approach. It breaks out of the project-specific silos that have characterized most Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund spending thus far. It also seeks to promote multi-stakeholder collaborations and leverage a range of funding sources, including private sector, to achieve large-scale impact. California Environmental Justice Alliance is a statewide, communityled alliance that works to achieve environmental justice by advancing policy solutions. We unite the powerful local organizing of our members in the communities most impacted by environmental hazards—lowincome communities and communities of color—to create comprehensive opportunities for change at a statewide level. We build the power of communities across California to create policies that will alleviate poverty and pollution. Together, we are growing the statewide movement for environmental health and social justice. www.caleja.org
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February 25, 2016
Inglewood Today
Page 3
Opinion-Editorial
Leveling the Playing Field: A Response to the Los Angeles Times By Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza, Inglewood Unified School District Board Member
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t is an exciting time in Inglewood and I am thrilled about the potential and much needed investment the new stadium will bring to our community. While I’m excited to root for the LA Rams, I also believe there is another group of people Inglewood should promote with great pride—our students. Inglewood Unified is home to a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and six California Distinguished Schools. I am rooting for our students from Monroe Magnet Middle School who lead in statewide Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) competitions and are strong in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) performance. I am rooting for our students at City Honors High School, where they have consistently created high achieving graduates attending colleges such as UCLA, UC Berkeley and USC. I am rooting for our Law Academy students at Inglewood and Kappa League students at Morningside High schools.
Right now, you see bulldozers and cranes gracing the grounds of the Hollywood Park site and very soon, our school campuses will push forward with $90 million in Measure GG bond money and $44 million from the Los Angeles World Airports to improve and modernize our schools. When you discover your favorite athlete played at UCLA or CAL, know that students earning degrees at those prestigious colleges once sat in classrooms at Inglewood, Morningside and City Honors High schools. However, if you read last week’s Los Angeles Times article entitled, “Can Inglewood’s NFL-Fueled turnaround be a success if its schools are failing?”you would not have known about any of these incredible accomplishments. Instead, the Times concentrated on an overly simplistic narrative that has encouraged private interests to dismantle education for years and failed to recognize the achievement taking place in our schools, the hard work of our teachers, the dedication of
Attorney General Harris Says ‘No’ to Supreme Court Rumors
to do, the new leadership on the school board and our highly qualified state administrator are pushing our district forward. I disagree with the assessment made by the Los Angeles Times and here’s why: Let’s start with the data. While pushing a negative narrative about Inglewood Unified’s performance, the article did not fully explain the recent change in standards. The newly adopted Common Core State Standards have changed the ways in which teachers teach and stuDr. D’Artagnan Scorza dents test. According to the Califorour staff, and most importantly, the nia Department of Education, State outcomes of our students. Superintendent Tom Torlakson arI am very proud of our city’s re- ticulated that “Because 2015 is the cent success in securing a huge first year of the new tests and beboost to our local economy. I be- cause they are substantially differlieve the stadium will greatly ben- ent from their predecessors… the efit our schools, with resources and California Assessment of Student opportunities for our students. Performance and Progress (CAASBut I won’t stand by without set- PP) results will serve as a baseline ting the record straight about In- from which to measure future progglewood Unified School District’s ress and should not be compared progress. Our schools are on the rise to results from the state’s previous (Continued on page 10) and while there is still more work
The INGLEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY invites pregnant and parenting teens ages 20 and younger to join us for...
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he sudden death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Feb. 13 created a firestorm of political opinion about possible successors. California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ name was one of many floated in national media circles. However, she made it clear last week that she has no interest in being considered. “I’m not putting my name out there, I’m running for United States Senate,” Harris said during a campaign stop in Silicon Valley. “Let’s put that out there right now. That’s not where I’m headed.” Harris, who is a personal friend of President Barack Obama, was adamant that she will not be a nominee on the short list when it is presented to the Republicancontrolled Senate. Outside of the media, Harris’ name has not been mentioned as a serious candidate. One with ties to California, who has been mentioned, is Stanford law school graduate Sri Srinivasan, a federal appeals court judge in Washington, D.C., considered a frontrunner by many. If confirmed, he would become the Supreme Court’s first Asian-American justice.
The STeP program welcomes teen moms and pregnant teens, ages 20 and younger to attend a series of ten life-skills workshops at the Crenshaw-Imperial Library. These FREE workshops will change your life and help you succeed at being the best mom you can be. STeP participants will meet from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons from now through April 6, 2016 at the Crenshaw-Imperial Branch Library, located at 11141 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA. 90303. STeP will provide free licensed child care at each workshop.
Kamala Harris Other possible candidates with links to California include two Pasadena-based judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Paul Watford and Jacqueline Nguyen. Both are relatively recent Obama appointees who had bipartisan support in their previous Senate confirmation votes. Nguyen was confirmed by a 97-0 vote. Watford is African-American, and Nguyen is an AsianAmerican. Harris is seeking election to the U.S. Senate, replacing U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, who retires this year.
Workshop topics will include: Introduction to STeP, Healthy Relationships, Introduction to Personal Finance, Nutrition for You and Your Family, My Life Plan, Stress Management, Dressing for Success and More! Registration will be limited to the first 20 teens. There will be free snacks at each workshop. Participants may also receive free items, such as backpack, children’s books, diapers, and one free professional outfit valued up to $75.* (*while supplies last)
For more information or to sign up, contact Angela Citizen, Principal Librarian or Dawn Fetcher, This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Inglewood Public Library 101 W. Manchester Blvd. Inglewood, CA. 90301 (310) 412-5645 http://library.cityofinglewood.org
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Inglewood Today
February 25, 2016
Eye on the City
Generosity Rewarded By Veronica Mackey
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nglewood business owner Arash Danialifar received a special commendation from the Inglewood City Council on Tuesday. The owner of General Discount Store in Inglewood since 2010, Danialifar recently donated $10,000 worth of retail goods to 148 families, including toys, outdoor gear, automotive supplies and more. Danialifar is a sponsor of the Annual District 4 Christmas Toy & Food Drive and also contributes to the Inglewood Community Services Corporation, the City’s nonprofit. “It’s wonderful to have businesses like General Discount in our city,” said Parks, Recreation and Library Services Director, Sabrina Barnes. “On behalf of all the families that benefited from your generosity, we want to say thank you.” General Discount Store is located in Councilman Ralph Franklin’s
1st Row: Councilman Alex Padilla, Mayor James Butts, Arash Danialifar, Parks, and Recreation and Library Services Director Sabrina Barnes; 2nd Row: Councilman George Dotson, Councilman Eloy Morales, and Councilman Ralph Franklin
District 4. Franklin praised Danialifar’s efforts and generosity.
Mayor James Butts appeared on ABC’s “Newsmakers” show last
weekend. Leroy Fisher said claims made on the show by Butts regarding property values in Inglewood were not true. “You told Adrienne Alpert (host) that property went up 51%. “It didn’t go up 51%?” Butts asked. Fisher then recanted and said values did go up, but they would have gone up anyway because the economy is improving. According to independent sources, in addition to the 51% rise in value since 2012, properties have also increased by 86% since 2013. Claims for personal injury and property damage between September 15 and November 15, 2015 were denied. All bids submitted for the Center Park Improvement Project were rejected. Staff was authorized to rebid the project. (Continued on page 5)
Pick up your copy of Inglewood Today at one of these locations: 1 Stop Mini-Mart, 420 E. Florence Ave. AAA, 1234 N. Centinela Ave. A-Man Inc., 101 La Brea Ave. Airport Gas, 501 Hillcrest St. Allstate, 2300 W. Manchester Bl. Anthony’s Autobody and Painting, 259 N. LaBrea Ave. Bayou Grill, 1400 N. La Brea Ave. Big 5 Sporting Goods (1), 301 S. Market St. Big 5 Sporting Goods (2), 11310 Crenshaw Bl. Boston Cream Donuts, 2576 La Brea Ave. Bourbon Street Fish & Grill, 601 S. Prairie Ave. Brass/Brass Enterprise, 2639 Manchester Bl. Briarwood, 3500 Manchester Bl. Broadway Federal Bank, 170 N. Market St. Brolly Hut Barber Shop on 109th & Crenshaw Bruno’s Pizza, 450 E. Manchester Bl. Budda Market, 3753 Slauson (Rimpau) C&J Beauty Supply, 11252 Crenshaw Bl. Carlton Square, 8700 Carlton Centinela Hospital, 555 E. Hardy St. Chili’s, 3490 W. Century Bl. Chile Verde on Crenshaw Choice Berry, 599 1/2 S. La Brea Ave. City One Stop, 110 Queen St. Copy City, 3818 Crenshaw CVS Pharmacy, 222 N. Market St. D’Menace Copies, 254 North Market St. Darby Park, 3400 W. Arbor Vitae Diamond Beauty Supply, 1300 N. Centinela Ave. Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen #1, 202 E. Manchester Bl. Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen #2, 3249 W. Century Bl. Edward Vincent Park Senior Ctr., 700 Warren Lane El Super, 3321 West Century Blvd. Fabulous Burger, 1315 Centinela Ave., Fabulous Forum, 1 West Manchester Bl. Faithful Central Bible Church, 333 W. Florence Ave. Family Fish Market, 1300 Centinela Ave. Fatburger, 3020 W. Manchester Ave. Fiesta Martin Mexican Grill, 1330 N. La Brea Ave. Flip It Cafe, 441 E. Manchester Bl. Freequote Insurance, 257 N. La Brea Gateway Tax Service, 11200 Crenshaw Gin’s Liquor, 11001 Crenshaw Bl. Gonzales Northgate Market, 10801 Prairie Ave. Happy Time Liquor, 730 E. La Brea Ave.
Heart & Soul Grill, 128 N. Market St. Hollywood Park Casino, 1050 S. Prairie Ave. House of Tacos and Pupuseria, 254 North Market St. Inglewood Airport Area, 330 E. Queen St. Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 E. Florence Ave. Inglewood Community Police Ctr., Manchester/7th Ave. Inglewood City Hall, 1 West Manchester Bl. Inglewood Library, 101 W. Manchester Bl. Inglewood Meadows, 1 Locust St. Inglewood Park Mortuary, 3801 W. Manchester Bl. Inglewood Police Station, 1 West Manchester Bl. Inglewood Today, 949 S. La Brea Ave. Inglewood Unified School District, 401 S. Inglewood Ave. Instant Print, Inc., 425 E. Manchester Bl. In the Kut Barber Shop on 109th & Crenshaw J P Cleaners, 253 La Brea Jamba Juice, 5305 W. Centinela Ave. King Fish Market, 10901 Crenshaw Bl. Kings & Queen’s Hair Salon, 921 N. La Brea KJLH Radio, 161 N. La Brea Ave. Kwin Service Gasoline, 1235 W. Centinela Ave. L&L Paralegal Services, 171 N. LaBrea Ave. Ladera Physiotherapy, 409 S. La Brea Ave. LA’s Auto Insurance, 11240 Crenshaw Lan’s Nails, 10901 S. Crenshaw Bl. Lavender Blue, 3310 W. Manchester Bl. Lawrence Carey Barber Shop, 10901 S. Crenshaw Bl. Liquorette Liquor Store, 1400 Centinela Ave. M&M’s Soul Food on Manchester Market Street Bar & Grill, 224 Market St. Martino’s Liquor, 706 E. Manchester Bl. Metro PCS, 11244 Crenshaw Mike’s Deli, 4859 W. Slauson Ave. Moby’s Breakfast & Lunch, 3008 W. Manchester Bl. Morningside Adult Day Care, 3216 W. Manchester Bl. Ms. Kitty’s Smoke Shop, 421 Manchester Bl. New Image Dental, 1608 Centinela Ave. Nix Check Cashing, 140 E. Manchester Nix Check Cashing on Crenshaw & 110th Orleans & York (1), 400 E. Florence Ave. Orleans & York (2), 4454 W. Slauson Ave., LA Osage Senior Villas, 924 S. Osage Pann’s, 6710 La Tijera Bl. Pay Day Loans on Crenshaw & 110 Pep Boys, 200 E. Spruce Ave.
R-Kutts Barbershop, 10901 Crenshaw #D Red Lobster, 3400 W. Century Bl. Regal Cleaners, 700 E. Manchester Bl. Regency Towers, 123 Locust St. Regent Plaza, 201 Regent St. Roger’s Park, 400 W. Beach Ave. Roscoe’s Chicken’ n Waffles, 621 Manchester Bl. Rusty Pot Cafe, 324 Market St. Scottie’s Gumbo & Grill, 945 S. Prairie Ave. Sizzler’s, Manchester/Prairie Smoke 4 Less, 925 N. La Brea Smoke & Gift, 4725 Market St. Spa 313 Salon, 313 La Brea St. Mary’s Academy, 701 Grace Ave. Starbucks, 5301 Centinela Ave. Starbucks, 941 N. La Brea Ave. Starbucks on Century Stuff I Eat, 114 N. Market St. Sunrise Groceries, 1400 N. Centinela Ave. Super Fish Market, 11007 S Crenshaw Bl. Superior Groceries, 11202 S Crenshaw Bl. TenderCare Child Development Center, 335 E. Spruce Ave. The Serving Spoon, 1403 Centinela Ave. TGIFriday’s, 6721 La Tijera Bl. Tobacco Shop, 11232 Crenshaw True Vine Baptist Church, 1437 Centinela Ave. Union Bank, 6719 La Tijera Bl. Vons, 500 E. Manchester Bl. Walgreens on Century Water 4 U, 254 W. Market St. Westchester Villa Senior Living, 220 W. Manchester Bl. Whitehorse Fish Market, 3119 W. Imperial Hwy. Whole Foods, 4508 Overhill (Slauson) Wilder’s Preparatory Academy Charter School, 830 N. La Brea Ave. Winchell’s Donuts, 2601 W. Manchester Bl. Winchell’s Donut Shop on Crenshaw near 108th St. Wings Stop on Century Wise Tires & Brakes, 949 S. La Brea Ave. Woody’s Barbeque, 4751 S. Market St. Yvonne B. Burke Senior Center, 4750 62nd St. (La Brea) Zahra’s Books “N” Things, 900 N. La Brea Ave.
Inglewood Today
February 25, 2016
Page 5
P u b l i s h e r ’ s Me s s a g e
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Income a Major Factor in Life Expectancy
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omedian George Burns once said if he knew he was going to live so long, he would have taken better care of himself. This statement, of course, assumes one has the wherewithal to stay healthy and live long. New research by the Brookings Institute indicates that rich people live longer than the poor. This is not a newsflash, but what needs to be addressed is why. We know that factors such as smoking, stress, diet, exercise, education and the environment have a big impact on life expectancy. Until we begin to close the gap economically, however, the health discrepancy between high and low income earners will only broaden. Income inequality correlates to life expectancy inequality. Research indicates that the chronic stress of being poor impacts people both psychologically and physiologically, affecting their ability to climb out of poverty. It’s a vicious cycle. MedicalDaily.com reported that “Poverty can leave lasting impressions on a person’s DNA, even after money stops being a factor… Even with the necessary grit and dedication, environmental factors often pose too great an obstacle for families, forcing them to choose between a life of law-abiding suffering or success built on illegal means…” Some conservative writers have suggested that the poor lack the discipline to take care of themselves properly, blaming social programs for taking away the incentive to work. I don’t agree. Poor people work harder than anybody, which only contributes to their shorter live span. Being on the lower end of income earners, the poor have to get by on cramped living spaces, expo-
Willie Brown, Publisher, Inglewood Today Weekly sure to more environmental toxins, and lower quality food. They are more prone to heredity illnesses, and having to work multiple jobs, “Poverty, research has come to understand, isn’t a choice as much as it is a congenital disease, packed with hormone imbalances and genetic handicaps. The only way out is a helping hand offering treatment,” the report concluded. According to Gary Burtless, one of the study’s researchers, law makers need to seriously rethink how Social Security should be reformed. As it stands now, benefits promised after 2030 will not be provided due to funding problems. The fact that people are living longer is catching up to fiscal reality. The proposal to cut Social Security across the board does not fully address the life expectancy gap. Poor people tend to retire earlier, so their benefits are not as much as their wealthier counterparts. More consideration should be given to those at the economic bottom to compensate for their shorter life spans. Those who earn the least collect the least amount of benefits, and can least afford the cuts. For further information on the study, visit www.brookingsinstitute.org.
Eye on the City (Continued from page 4) The council approved payment for several invoices on behalf of the Public Works Dept., including: vehicle detailing services in the amount of $14,605; auto body repairs services in the annual amount of $15,178.32; emergency repairs to the Lecture Hall climate control system in the amount of $13,508; and general automotive repair services in the amounts of $12,152.03 and $12,623.74. Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. was awarded a contract for the City Hall Elevator Modernization Project in the amount of $1,568,850. Funds
will cover construction, maintenance, and a two-year warranty. Inglewood’s Park Projects Priority List was approved as part of the Los Angeles County Countywide Parks Needs Assessment. Treasurer Wanda Brown reported the Central State Pension Fund recently cut benefit payments by as much as 61%. Regarding the banking industry, “About half of banks reported an increase in profits. Ninety-one percent were profitable over the previous year.” Stuart Bailey wanted to know when the City will start work on (Continued on page 7)
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Inglewood Today
Page 6
February 25, 2016
Community
Recycling for Home, Businesses, and Apartments By Anne Cheek La Rose
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ecycling has become a way of life. We all recycle glass, plastic, and aluminum bottles and cans. However, there are many people who only recycle these things. In doing so, they overlook a great deal more that can and should be recycled— newspapers, junk mail, paper and plastic plates and cups, plastic utensils, and tin cans. Clean aluminum foil and trays; milk, yogurt, dairy and margarine tubs; shampoo and conditioner bottles; window, kitchen and bathroom cleaner bottles, detergent and fabric softener bottles; and nonprescription bottles round out the list. Don’t forget cereal and other food boxes and cardboard boxes which need to be flattened. Hazardous waste such as garden and pool chemicals and household cleaners; paint, hobby glue and artist‘s paint and automotive waste are on the no-no list for home recycling. By the way, each city has been mandated to reduce their recyclable waste. Inglewood’s reduction is 75% of our total trash hauled. If we do not
Anne Cheek La Rose reach or exceed that percentage, the city can be fined. Fortunately, meeting our goal can be achieved by the contents of our blue recycling cart or by recycling glass, aluminum, and plastic for money. As long as the recycling is done within our city limits, it counts toward our city percentage. Electronics should go to an electronics recycler. Our trash hauler has an E-Waste event coming up on Saturday, March 19, from 9 am-1 pm on
Grevillea Ave. in front of Inglewood High. You may bring all non-working household appliances, computers, TVs, cell phones, and any electronic device that you no longer want. If this date isn’t good for you, they will also sponsor two others on Saturday, June 11, and Saturday, September 17 at the same location, same times. Batteries and light bulbs may be recycled at City Hall, at the first floor Information Desk or 3rd floor Public Works, or at your Council District Police Community Centers. There are two paper shredding events coming up. This coming Saturday, there is one at the District 1 Police Community Center, 2901 W Manchester, from 9am to noon. The second event is in conjunction with the E-Waste noted above. Document shredding is only for Inglewood residents (ID is required). A maximum of 3 boxes or bags per car is allowed. If you need injections for a host of medical reasons, a container for the sharps (needles) can be obtained FREE by calling our trash hauler at
(800) 299-4898. The container will be delivered to your door within the week. When it is full, it can be mailed back postage free. Businesses and apartment buildings with five units or more are required to recycle by state mandate issued July 1, 2012, if they produce four or more cubic yards of solid waste per week. Bulky items such as furniture, water heaters, washers, and bundled wood and metal will be picked up on your regular trash day at no additional charge. Just call (800) 299-4898 the day before your scheduled trash day. Illegal dumping is a crime, is unsightly, can lead to other crimes, and reduces property values and quality of life. If you see illegal dumping or see things that have been dumped, call (800) 299-4898. Scavengers are still among us, but they are committing a crime. Please call the City Hotline (310) 502-8971 to report it. It’s a new day for Inglewood and we all need to pull together to make our city look and feel its best.
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February 25, 2016
Inglewood Today
Page 7
Celebrating Black History Month
Black Women In Charge of Wealth First and Only Black Woman U.S. Treasurer Azie Taylor Morton was a teacher, politician and the only African American to hold the position of Treasurer of the United States. Taylor was born to Fleta Hazel Taylor, who was deaf and mute, on February 1, 1936 in the small community of St. John Colony of Dale, Texas. Taylor did not know her father and was raised by her maternal grandparents on a small farm. Dur-
Azie Taylor ing her adolescence, Taylor worked in the cotton fields. Although she was not blind, deaf or an orphan, she attended the Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School during her high school years because there was no high school for African Americans in Dale. She graduated at the top of her class at age 16. In 1952 Taylor enrolled in HustonTillotson University, an all-black college in Austin, Texas. Four years later she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in commercial education. Taylor then attempted to enroll in the University of Texas’s graduate program but was denied admission on the grounds that she had insufficient undergraduate courses. Because of the state’s segregationist policy barring the enrollment of blacks in undergraduate programs, she was not able to complete the admission requirements.
Eye on the City (Continued from page 5) the parking structure on Locust. “Have we found an actual contractor?” he asked. Mayor Butts confirmed that an operator has been selected. Councilman George Dotson, who held a town hall meeting last weekend, described it as “the best I’ve ever had.” Even the L.A. Rams mascot showed up. “You missed a great meeting,” he said. Dotson will host his District 1 Shred Day this Saturday, February 27, from 9am to noon,
Taylor instead took a job as a teacher in a state-sponsored school for delinquent girls. She held that position for a year and then was hired as Huston-Tillotson’s assistant to the President. She remained at HustonTillotson for a few months until she was hired to work at the Texas AFLCIO state headquarters in Austin. In 1961 she was invited by President John F. Kennedy to work for the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. She remained with the committee for 20 years, filling various positions. Taylor married James Homer Morton in 1965. In 1977 Morton accepted President Jimmy Carter’s invitation to serve as the 36th Treasurer of the U.S. She held the post from September 12th 1977 until January 20th, 1981. In addition she was a member of the American Delegation to Rome, Italy for the Enthronement of Pope John Paul II in 1978; Chair of the People to People Mission to the Soviet Union and China in 1986; and an Election Observer for Presidential elections in Haiti, Senegal and the Dominican Republic. She also was a representative to the first African/African American Conference held in Africa. After returning to Austin, Morton served on the Austin Housing Authority Board of Commissioners (HACA) from 1999 to 2001. In honor of her service, the HACA created the Azie Morton Scholarship Fund for low-income students at Huston-Tillotson. Azie Taylor Morton died in December 2003. Source: BlackPast.org The Trillion Dollar Black Woman of Wall Street When most people think of Wall Street titans, they think of rich, white men who garner very little interest from our young people. This may be true, but it isn’t completely accurate because swimming with the sharks is a queen our young people should know about. at 2901 Manchester Blvd. Bring your old documents for free shredding. Butts reiterated statistics confirming Inglewood’s rising property values at the close of the meeting. The council gave a big shout-out to the Inglewood High basketball team. “Inglewood High is playing at Chino Hills, which is the number one team in the country, so it would be nice to go out there and cheer for our boys,” Councilman Eloy Morales said.
Suzanne Shank In 2014, Suzanne Shank became one of, if not the first, black woman to head a publicly traded financial services institution. Shank was promoted to CEO of Siebert Financial Corporation (a broker/deal institutional investment bank founded by Muriel Seibert). A monumental feat indeed, but it nowhere near defines the career and future of this extraordinary woman. In addition to holding this post, Shank is also the CEO of Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. LLC. It seems like a lot of work, but Shank
splits her time between the two businesses and is doing very well. As you can imagine, Shank’s resume is power packed, impressive and mind blowing to say the least. Shank was a Wharton MBA graduate in finance, class of 1987, has a civil engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, and is President, Municipal bond trader, and CEO of Siebert Brandford Shank & Co, LLC, the largest minority-owned municipal finance firm in the United States. Since the start of her firm, the company has acted as managing underwriter for municipal bond transactions exceeding a whopping $1.2 trillion dollars and ranks among the top 10 in seven key infrastructure categories for underwriting municipal bonds in the world. This powerful, black woman is one to remember as her trailblazing ways will continue to inspire, develop, nurture and create more and more great minds in our community. Source: BlackEnterprise.com
FREE E-Waste Drop Off and Document Shredding Event Saturday, March 19, 2016 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM On Grevillea Ave. off Manchester Blvd. (in front of Inglewood High School)
DRIVE THROUGH DROP OFF Bring all of your non-working household appliances, computers, tablets, cell phones, TV’s and any other electronic devices that you would like to get rid of. *NOTE: Document shredding is limited to Inglewood Residents ONLY- ID Required (3 boxes or bags per car ONLY)
For More Information Call The Public Works Department at 310-412-5333
Inglewood Today
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February 25, 2016
He a lt h & F i t n e s s
Strong Men Put Their Heart Health First By Centers for Disease Control
H
eart disease is the leading least 3 times each week and make cause of death for men and your favorite recipe lower sowomen. While Americans of dium. For example, swap out salt all backgrounds can be at risk for for fresh or dried herbs and spicheart disease, African American es. men, especially those who live in • Take steps to quit smoking. If you the southeast region of the United currently smoke, quitting can cut States, are at the highest risk for your risk for heart disease and heart disease. Additionally, more stroke. Learn more at the Centhan 40 percent of African Ameriters for Disease Control’s (CDC) cans have high blood pressure, a smoking and tobacco website leading cause of heart disease and (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ stroke. That’s why this February HeartMonth/index.html). during American Heart Month, • Take medication as prescribed. Million Hearts® is encouraging AfTalk with your doctor about the rican American men to take charge importance of high blood presof their health and start one new, sure and cholesterol medicaheart-healthy behavior that can help tions. If you’re having trouble reduce their risk of heart disease taking your medicines on time or and stroke. if you’re having side effects, ask your doctor for help. Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference Strong Men Make Heart African American men can make Health a Priority a big difference in their heart health After undergoing triple coronary by taking these small steps during bypass surgery in 1999, Louisiana the month of February and beyond. native, Clarence Ancar made the • Schedule a visit with your doctor decision to make his heart health to talk about heart health. It’s im- a priority. Before he had surgery, portant to schedule regular check- Clarence knew he had high choups even if you think you are not lesterol but had dismissed his docsick. Partner with your doctor and tor’s advice on adopting a healthy health care team to set goals for lifestyle and taking his medication. improving your heart health, and Clarence’s cardiologist, Dr. Keith don’t be afraid to ask questions C. Ferdinand, taught him that heart and trust their advice. disease was not a death sentence • Add exercise to your daily rou- and that he could still live a long, tine. Start by walking 15 min- healthy life if he committed to utes, 3 times each week. Then, making a few changes and respectincrease your time to 30 minutes, ed his heart condition. Working 3 times each week. together with his health care team, • Increase healthy eating. Cook Clarence developed a plan to start heart healthy meals at home at and stay heart healthy.
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By setting small, achievable goals and tracking those goals, Clarence made a big and lasting difference in his health. He learned the importance of taking his high blood pressure and cholesterol medications. With the help of a dietitian Dr. Ferdinand referred him to, he started eating less of the fatty, salty, and greasy food and added more fruits and vegetables. He also began walking 2-3 miles each day. After his surgery, Clarence lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off. Today, Dr. Ferdinand continues to motivate and support Clarence in his heart health journey. By having a strong and trusting relationship with his doctor, Clarence was able to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Clarence encourages African American men to be strong and commit to making one heart-healthy lifestyle change during American Heart Month. Healthy Is Strong To help address the health disparity that exists in African American men and heart disease, the CDC Foundation partnered with Pfizer and Quest Diagnostics to launch the Million Hearts® Healthy is Strong initiative. The goal of the initiative is to raise awareness about prevention, particularly among AfricanAmerican men, as well as promote patient engagement with the healthcare system. The Healthy is Strong initiative provides African American men a suite of culturallytailored materials to help them learn how to live heart healthy.
Free Senior Safety Check Offers Peace of Mind
pproximately 60 percent of adults aged 65 and older living alone or in care facilities receive no regular visitors, according to recent studies. Loneliness is a challenge for older adults, especially during the holidays. Some may have no close relatives; others may have family members and friends too far away to visit regularly. A daily weekday phone check-in service provides peace of mind to family and friends of older adults living alone. The Always in Touch program, offered free from Always Best Care Senior Services, is designed mainly for seniors or disabled adults who are homebound, isolated, living alone or in need of daily contact. It can be temporary for someone recuperating from an illness or surgery, or it may be a more permanent situation, according to Always Best Care.
Here’s how it works: Representatives of Always in Touch call each day and allow the phone to ring up to 15 times. If no one answers, they will call again 15 minutes later. If there’s still no answer, the representative will try to reach the individual’s designated emergency contacts. “This unique program allows us to give back to our communities in a very meaningful way,” says Michael Newman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Always Best Care. Friends and family members who do live near elderly relatives living alone also can help address holiday loneliness by assisting with opening and reading holiday cards, arranging for visits from a representative of a local church, decorating the home, or organizing a party at a senior facility. Loneliness often leads to depres-
sion if ignored. Signs of depression in seniors include loss of appetite, loss of interest in activities or socializing, and problems sleeping. Regular phone calls when family members are distant, as well as when they live nearby, are an important way to combat depression by making older adults feel loved and cared for. Always in Touch is not a substitute for professional medical advice or services, and the company reminds individuals and caregivers to call a personal physician or 911 immediately if help is needed. To sign up for the Always in Touch program, contact a representative from Always Best Care by calling 855-710-2255. For more information about Always Best Care services, visit www.always-in-touch.com. Source: NewsUSA
George Dotson Unveils ‘New Inglewood’ Plans at Town Hall (Continued from page 1) the town hall meeting, they get a full overview of things going on, and they get the information directly from the stakeholder. And it’s so important that these meetings are well attended, because it’s so much information, that’s presented on a personal level.” Mayor James Butts kicked off the meeting with a “Past, Present and Future” themed presentation. In it, he compared what’s happening in Inglewood to a catch phrase from the latest iPhone 6 ad, in the fact that, “The only thing that’s changed, is everything.” “We have a new community center coming at Fairview and La Cienega. We have a senior center that will open in 2017, a new casino, and we’re in the midst of our 5th lowest year of crime in recorded history of this city. Crime is down another 1% in 2015 compared to 2014. Homicides are down 50%, and the chief and the men and women of the Inglewood Police department have done an outstanding job.” Councilman Dotson took time to introduce our newest additions to the Youth Commission, Jade Wheatley and Pedro Silva. “(They) will be representing us on the Youth Commission, they will be giving reports to the mayor and council, as to what they’d like to see done in the City of Inglewood for youth. I think it’s a great thing to have youth telling us what they want instead of us trying to tell them what they want!” Director of Parks, Recreation and Library Services, Sabrina Barnes discussed the new Senior Center. “We brought on a design build entity, Pinner Construction, who has worked with the Senior Center Advisory Committee and City staff, and our Project Coordinator, Gwen Pugh of Urban Studios has helped to complete the designs for the Senior Center.” Brad Roberts of the Metro LAX to Crenshaw outreach team presented the latest updates from the MTA build, taking place off Florence. “We have the La Brea overpass that’s currently under construction, we also have the 405 and La Cienega bridge that’s under construction. We have a few stations in Inglewood, we have the Fairview Heights station that’s located at Florence and West, we also have the Downtown Inglewood station, which is at La Brea and Florence, and we’ll have a station at Hindry and Florence as well.” (Continued on page 10)
Inglewood Today
February 25, 2016
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Business
Re a l E s tat e
New Report on Home Mortgages: Are Black and Latino Californians Locked Out of the Market?
Keeping It REAL Estate
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Study Highlights Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland
new analysis of federal home • Despite being comparable in mortgage data finds a shockpopulation to Fresno and Long ingly low level of lending to Beach, Oakland had less than African American and Hispanic/Laone quarter as many loan applitino borrowers, both statewide and cations and originations as those in three cities examined in detail: cities. Oakland blacks and HisFresno, Long Beach and Oakland. panics, representing 56 percent of The report, Locked Out of the the population, received just 10 Market: Poor Access to Home Loans percent of mortgage dollars lent. for Californians of Color, was preThe top 12 lenders financed only pared by The Greenlining Institute four Oakland home purchases for and Urban Strategies Council using African American buyers and just lending data from 2013. The report seven for Hispanics. was released February 24 on www. • Fresno had the highest lendgreenlining.org. ing volume of the three cities, Key findings include: but again Latinos and African • Statewide, African Americans and Americans lagged behind their Latinos were far less likely to apshare of the population. Latinos ply for or receive home mortgages represent 48 percent of Fresno’s than would be expected based on people, but got just 21 percent their percentage of the population, of mortgages. For blacks the and lagged even farther behind in figures were eight percent and total dollars lent. Blacks and Latithree percent. nos combined represent 44 percent • Long Beach was the only city of California’s population, but rein which Asians lagged behind ceived just 10.6 percent of home their population share in both (Continued on page 11) mortgage dollars.
5 Steps to Building an Attractive Work Culture for Millennial Talent
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s the economy takes a positive turn, a new concern is keeping employers awake at night: culture, including employee engagement and retention. The proof is in the data. • Eighty-six percent of companies rate work culture a top priority, a 20-percent increase from last year, according to Deloitte. • Ninety-five percent of job candidates believe culture is more important than compensation, according to Johns Hopkins University fellow Liz Pellet. • Companies on Fortune’s Best Companies listing are also trending in Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work and LinkedIn’s Most-InDemand Employers. • Only 32.5 percent of employees are engaged at work, according to Gallup. “Culture makes the difference between organizations that are able to sustain themselves and those who will give way to their competitors,” says Debora McLaughlin, CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com), and author of “The Renegade Leader, 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance & Profits.”
“Many organizations are talking about culture, but few are aware of the perception of their current culture or how to change it.” But what do we mean by a company’s culture? Culture is the values, beliefs and behaviors that give meaning to an organization, McLaughlin says. It provides the filter through which people make decisions, how they work and interact with others. Culture is communicated top-down, through leadership, but is observed bottom-up. Business leaders face a special challenge with Millennials, who have high expectations on work-life balance, professional development, leadership opportunities and a personal requirement that your business provides goods and services proven to make a positive difference in people’s lives. “Yes, good pay and the ability to receive and provide feedback, including providing their manager with timely performance reviews makes the list too,” McLaughlin says. McLaughlin offers these tips for creating an attractive, innovative and employer-of-choice culture. 1. Assess your current culture. (Continued on page 11)
I Used to Live in Inglewood!
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By Odest T. Riley, Jr., President, WLM Financial Services
re you going to be one of the many people who look back on their lives and tell their children and grandchildren that they used to live in Inglewood in the bad ol’ days? Or are you going to be one of the few remaining residents who have stayed, grown and flourished in the community? These two options are available right now with the leadership of Mayor James Butts and the city council. Together, they are turning Inglewood from a city you once drove through to get to the airport, into what now looks to be a destination city, easily accessible from any direction. So now the decision is yours. Do you sell and make some right now money? For some this is a no-brainer. The benefits of selling their home and moving allow them to pocket some money and move to an area they are comfortable with. However, those who choose to stay, invest in their property, and grow with the community may not get paid today. But over the long run, they may become the next generation of people to create generational wealth through land ownership. There is no perfect answer to any situation. It all depends on the individual but just be aware that sometimes you don’t always get everything you want right away. With all this economic improvement and job creation coming to the city, are you going to be one of those people who move away and then commute back to the neighborhood they once called home, to catch a Sunday morning football game or clock in for work? This may sound like some far off future, but with the growth of
Odest T. Riley, Jr. the city moving in such a rapid pace Inglewood could be a whole new city in the next 5 years. So my advice is going to be the same: Don’t Move, Improve. You can do this by looking into the many inexpensive ways to improve your home cosmetically that don’t call for you to sell. The 203k Loan for example allows you to take out up to $35,000 in loans to repair kitchens bathrooms and roofs and a loan like this won’t be something so expensive you end up in financial trouble. And this is just one of many programs available to those who want to stay in the community and fix their homes up along the way. At WLM Financial, our goal and my dream is to teach people how to get in the position to be financially free and with a little bit of hard work and endurance you can get there. If you have any questions on anything from how to find a realtor to how to find the right loan, feel free to call me anytime at 310-905-7420, email odest@ wlmfinancial.com or visit our Facebook page at wlmfinancial. We will be giving money saving tips all year long.
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Leveling the Playing Field: A Response to the Los Angeles Times (Continued from page 3) assessments, the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program”. If the data prior to the adoption of the new standard had been relied upon, the article would have found that many of our schools were improving in academic outcomes, not underperforming. Our schools stay in the game each and every time an English Language Learner or child with special needs requires a dedicated and caring adult. Our teachers and staff go the extra mile when many charter schools will turn them away by the end of the year. Our students and families have faced hard times economically and they push ahead anyway because they understand the opportunities afforded to them through our public schools. Let’s be clear: Inglewood schools, when compared to
state averages, perform near and in some cases better than their counterparts. I believe it’s convenient to misrepresent data when there is pre-existing bias in reporting. According to the paper itself, “The Times receives funding for its digital initiative, Education Matters…from the Broad Foundation to support this effort.” I would argue that there’s a desire to push a more positive narrative for select charter schools. My thought was confirmed when I watched a related video published in the Los Angeles Times just days prior to the publishing of the “Education in Crisis” article. The video entitled, “Animo Inglewood Charter High School known for its high academic standards” praised the charter school’s achievements. I’m not disputing that Animo is making strides with their students but I have a problem with a publication not providing
balanced information about many of the successful activities within Inglewood Unified School District. Both the video and article ignore the many programs offered to our students ranging from dual language immersion programs at Parent K-8 to transitional kindergarten and from our Turnaround Arts Initiative at Warren Lane to smaller class sizes. I’m not surprised that these accomplishments were left out of the story given that the Broad Foundation has created a controversial plan to rapidly expand charter schools in Los Angeles. Bias in the media is not new, but I demand balanced and fair reporting for our schools. Inglewood Unified did not receive a fair review and this adds fuel for those interests who want to dismantle our schools. I am proud to have led a campaign where Inglewood voters adopted Measure GG, a 90-million-dollar measure to improve and modernize our schools. Under the leadership of Dr. Vincent Matthews and a new school board, we’ve adopted our facilities plan, hired architects, confirmed our construction management team and have identified projects
dal transportation facilities, which are basically parking structures, and it’s going to consolidate a lot of the shuttle systems. We’re hoping to have the final phase complete by 2023, and the whole program complete by 2035.” There is so much information that is distributed at our local town halls, so it’s important to attend and stay informed as our community is rapidly transforming. Dotson concluded the day by saying, “I hope this is information that you can and will use. Contact me by email and we can place you on our list to receive our newsletter. Information and the sharing of information, is how we keep together as a people.”
Dems Woo Black Voters With Star Power (Continued from page 1) candidate in a radio ad: “Bernie takes no money from corporations. Nada. Which means he’s not on the take. And when Bernie gets into the White House, he will do the right thing.” The African American vote was the topic of a segment on “The Nightly Show” on Feb. 23. Host Larry Wilmore, the Rev. Al Sharpton and show contributor Mike Yard discussed what candidates needed to do to win. “Does Sanders have a shot at the black vote?” Wilmore asked. “It seems like he’s creating a lot of passion among a lot of voters. What would be the most important issues?” “Black people need good paying jobs. That is the most important thing,” Yard said, adding that some family members have not had decent jobs in years. “We get pinpointed in one area … We want what everybody else wants across the board and when they talk to us like we’re different, that is really condescending,” Sharpton said.
Reasons for supporting Clinton or Sanders varied among celebrities. On Fox Business Network in May 2015, Ja-Rule said that he’d vote for Hillary Clinton because he is a Democrat, but also thought Jeb (Bush) was a good candidate. “Scandal” star Kerry Washington said last year she would be “hitting the stump trail” for Clinton. Last fall, T.I. got into big trouble after an interview with D.J. Whoo Kid, when he said he would not elect a female president. “I just know that women make rash decisions emotionally. They make very permanent, cemented decisions, and then later, it’s kind of like it didn’t happen or they didn’t mean for it to happen. And I sure would hate to just set off a nuke,” he said. The rapper later apologized on Twitter. Beyoncé is going with Clinton, as is Magic Johnson who tweeted: Clinton “will be a great president for the American people and she will make sure that everyone has a voice!” Recent Sanders endorse-
LEGAL NOTICES Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2016028922 The following Person is doing business as: Sapphire Investments 433 East 99th Street Inglewood, CA 90301 8939 South Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 110 Los Angeles, CA 90045 Registered Owner: Sapphire Investments Group, LLC, 433 East 99th Street, Inglewood, CA 90301 This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on February 5, 2016 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.) Sapphire Investments Group, LLC, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on February 5, 2016. 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 Feb 11, 18, 25; Mar 3, 2016 IT00422301094 Inglewood Today
George Dotson Unveils ‘New Inglewood’ Plans at Town Hall (Continued from page 8) Chief Airport Planner at Los Angeles World Airports, Evelyn Quintanilla, revealed plans for a “…very exciting project similar to all the exciting things happening here in Inglewood.” “It’s called the Landside Access Modernization Program, the name is pretty much what it is, we’re trying to modernize access to the airport. As you know, trying to get to the airport—it’s very congested a lot of times during peak time, it’s difficult to get in and out. So this project is looking for ways to give folks a better option to get into the airport. It’s composed of 4 major elements, the train system that is gonna connect the new facilities we’re planning to build east of the airport. There’s 3 new facilities, a consolidated car rental facility, 2 intermo-
February 25, 2016
Copyright notice for: Dr. N.F. Rabb Jr., Dr. Nathan F. Rabb Jr, aka… Dr. Rabb DR. NATHAN FINLEY RABB JR., DR. NATHAN F RABB JR. DR. N.F. RABB JR, DR. RABB JR, Nathan Finley Rabb Jr.; Nathan F. Rabb Jr; N. F. Rabb Jr, NATHAN FINLEY RABB JR, NATHAN F. RABB JR, N. FINLEY RABB JR, N.F. RABB JR, N. FINLEY RABB JR, N.F. RABB JR, and all other variations of this name.
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that give us the best bang for our buck. Further, with the recent awarding of 44 million dollars from Los Angeles World Airports and millions more in emergency repair program funds, our facilities are well on their way to being improved. Our schools are turning a corner. We have persevered through years of state budget crises, where monies owed to us were held as IOUs and charters worked hard to recruit from our schools, in order to deliver the high quality education each and every child deserves. The article would lead you to think that charter schools offer better opportunities. In reality, children do well in an Inglewood Unified school. I would encourage the LA Times to highlight our district’s successes. I am a proud graduate of Morningside High School and a product of Inglewood Unified and this community. There are many other alumni that have gone on to do great things and although we still have much work to do, you should know that we’re making great progress and we stand tall as a district of champions. (Continued on page 11) ments have come from philosopher Cornel West and former NAACP President Ben Jealous. It has been 7 years since America’s first black president was elected. Wilmore asked how the black community feels about what President Obama has done. “When you look at the numbers, (we) have higher unemployment. We can’t get business loans under Obama,” Yard said. “We are now at 8 percent—why are you distorting facts?” Sharpton replied. “That’s a 50 percent cut of unemployment under Obama … If he was walking on water, someone would say ‘I told you the brother couldn’t swim.’ Think of what he has had to deal with.” So, who will the majority of African Americans support? Sharpton is focused on getting black people to vote. “You wonder how Bernie or Hillary could get the black vote? Let Trump be the nominee, we’re all going to vote.” Clinton owns a nearly 30-point edge going into the South Carolina Democratic primary on Feb. 27.
February 25, 2016
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Inglewood Today
Two Dead in Inglewood After Police Involved Shooting
fficers on Sunday morning shot and killed two people in Inglewood after observing that a woman in a stopped car had a gun. The gunfire was at 3:11 a.m. on Manchester Boulevard at Inglewood Avenue, said Inglewood police Lt. Scott Collins. Officers were sent there on a call that a vehicle had stopped in a traffic lane, Collins said, and saw that a woman had a gun. The officers took cover and ordered the people to get out of the vehicle. “An officer-involved shooting then occurred,” he said. “Both occupants were struck by gunfire and
the female occupant possessing the firearm was pronounced dead at the scene.” Paramedics rushed the man to an area hospital, where he died, Collins said. A gun was recovered at the scene of the shooting and no officers were injured. He would not say whether the suspects had refused to exit the vehicle or if the woman shot at or pointed the gun at police officers. Inglewood police asked anyone with any information regarding the shooting to call them at (310) 4125246. Source: CBSLA.com
Leveling the Playing Field: A Response to the Los Angeles Times (Continued from page 10) Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza is the founder and executive director or the Social Justice Learning Institute and an Inglewood School Board
Member. He is a proud graduate of Morningside High School and is an Inglewood native focused on improving conditions for youth and residents. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA and is actively involved in statewide efforts to improve access to higher education.
New Report on Home Mortgages: Are Black and Latino Californians Locked Out of the Market? (Continued from page 9) applications and originations. Whites in Long Beach were the only group that exceeded their population share. • Incomplete data hampered the researchers, with over 15 percent of applications missing race/ethnicity data. Because all Asians and Pacific Islanders are lumped into one category, potentially significant differences between Asian ethnic groups cannot be identified. “Unfortunately, the federal data can’t tell us why black and Latino borrowers are so underrepresented, but the fact that these families are effectively shut out of the home mortgage market should set off
alarms,” said lead author Zach Murray, Greenlining Institute Economic Equity program manager. “It’s time to ask whether banks are doing enough to reach African American and Latino borrowers with loan products that meet their needs and help them gain the benefits of homeownership.” “Our analysis revealed several major concerns regarding the home mortgage market,” said Urban Strategies Council Research and Technology Director Steve Spiker. “We found that applications from, and loans to, black and brown communities were much lower than would be expected given their share of the population, and that too often applicants’ race, ethnicity and income data are either not collected or submitted by lending institutions.”
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D at e s i n F e b r u a ry & M a r c h February 27, 2016 District 1 Document Shredding Identity theft is on the rise. Protect your valuable information from getting into the wrong hands. Councilman George Dotson will host free document shredding at the ICOP Center, 2901 W. Manchester Blvd. (east of Crenshaw), from 9am-noon. You can bring up to 2 boxes of old documents. For more information, call (310) 412-8602. March 9, 2016 Leaf Blower Exchange The Southern California Air Quality Management District is offering a special leaf blower exchange program for commercial gardeners and landscapers. Users of older model leaf blowers can trade in their equipment at RJ’s Demolition, 1135 E. Florence Ave. Leaf blower users will be given battery-operated equipment, which reduces the noise a conventional gas operated leaf blower makes. The equipment also reduces emissions of the amount of pollution in the air, 5 Steps to Building an Attractive Work Culture for Millenial Talent (Continued from page 9) How does your workforce view your culture? Look at your current online reviews and conduct a cultural assessment with all employees. 2. Research and design the culture you need to have—one that positions you for top talent, retains employees and distinguishes you in the marketplace. 3. Create a roadmap including definitions, stories and a core statement that identifies and describes the culture. 4. Begin the journey; cascade the roadmap throughout your organization through leadership, action groups and communication. 5. Build in a review process to
and saves electrical energy. Pre-registration is required to participate. Registration begins on February 23. Call the SCAQMD toll free at 1-888-425-6247 Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ongoing Talk to a Lawyer Online In cooperation with the City of Inglewood, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) now offers a teleconferencing center at the Main Library, where you can speak to a lawyer live, and send them documents. They offer legal advice and guidance on a variety of civil matters, including evictions, divorces, and child custody. They can provide referrals to private attorneys, other legal services, or other resources as needed. Hours for teleconferencing are every Wednesday from 11am to 2pm. Ask the Audio/Visual Desk assistant for help or call ahead for an appointment at (310) 412-5380.
reassess, define and cultivate your distinct culture. “Somehow, among the spreadsheets and reports, it was easy to forget that organizations are comprised of people, which is at the expense of the company,” McLaughlin says. “Focusing on culture, engagement and retention will not only produce financial results, it will create an environment where performance, positivity and possibility flourish.” As a certified executive coach and CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com), Debora McLaughlin helps business leaders ignite their inner renegade leader to unleash their full potential, drive their visions and yield positive results, both in business and in life.
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