Your Community Connection since 1994
Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 24, No. 3
january 15, 2015
2014: A Banner Year for Inglewood By Veronica Mackey
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f you saw Thomas Bunn’s video presentation either on the City of Inglewood’s website (www.cityofinglewood.org) or at the Jan. 13 council meeting, it revealed living proof that Inglewood is emerging as a future destination city. Here is the print version of what has transpired over the last 12 months, and what has major media buzzing about possibilities that lie ahead for this city—a city that used to be a place folks only drove through on the way to LAX. Except for the recently re-opened Fabulous Fo-
L The Forum became fabulous again with historic headliners, including a visit from the Dalai Lama.
rum, the visual landscape hasn’t changed much. Some streets have been repaved and new businesses have come in, but for the most part, the city remains in various stages of construction. Signs of momentum are being reflected in rising home prices. This trend can only get better with the completion of upscale condominiums underway at the old Daniel FreeMayor James T. Butts man Hospital site.
Here’s a brief look at 2014, and why folks are calling it Inglewood’s banner year: • Historic Eagles Tour Kicked off the Fabulous Forum’s Reopening • Residential Sound InsulaThe Dalai Lama tion Goals were Exceeded • The City’s Deficit was Reduced by More than 50 • Inglewood Made the Percent Cover of the Los Angeles • His Holiness, the Dalai Business Journal Lama Came to the Forum • Inglewood Named “2014 • Inglewood Got Adopted Curbed Cup Neighborby Snoop Dogg hood of the Year” by • The Biggest Christmas Tree LACurbed.com Lighting Ceremony Ever • Ground breaking for the • Inglewood Selected as Hollywood Park Tomorrow Host City for Special Project (Continued on page 7) Olympics in 2015
A City Revitalized
On The Inside:
By Thomas Bunn
• News • Community • Entertainment • Health • Real Estate • Business
“Selma” Teaches Kids About MLK
O
ver the weekend, a collective of Inglewood residents and community leaders initiated a signature-gathering campaign for the City of Champions Revitalization Initiative at Faithful Central Bible Church. (Continued on page 5)
COMING SOON THE BEST OF INGLEWOOD
Visit www.inglewoodtoday.com and see page 7 ➤
By Veronica Mackey
ast year, school-aged children got an up close and personal look at democracy, injustice, free speech and free assembly through the lens of civil unrest following the Michael Brown and Eric Garner shootings. For children raised in the 60s and 70s it was déjà vu. Racial segregation and discrimination stirred Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders of their day to organize marches to the nation’s capital. Their efforts eventually led to equal voting rights and the end of discriminatory laws.
David Oyelowo as MLK Now younger generations are learning more about King’s civil rights movement and the many struggles and sacrifices made on their behalf. Paramount Pictures says business leaders across the country have joined the effort to allow students to see “Selma” for free. The film chronicles events leading to the historic passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, including the relationship between King and President Lyndon Johnson. The big screen history lesson is being offered in such cities as New York, Boston, (Continued on page 6)