August 2, 2018
VOL. 31, No. 77
LeBron James: CLIPPERS ARENA: A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR INGLEWOOD I Promise School in Akron, Ohio
By MIKE LAYTON, Op-ed
By Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor
On Monday, LeBron James, the three-time NBA champion, opened his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio. In November 2017, the LeBron James Family Foundation approached the Akron school board about assisting in the creation of a school designed to help at-risk kids who are lagging behind in their studies and struggling at home. The I Promise School is a joint venture between the foundation and Akron Public Schools. The school board oversaw the creation of the curriculum and ensured the school would meet educational standards, while James served as the primary donor to help shape the outsidethe-classroom goals of the school. The school will operate with a longer-than-normal school year, with a focus on accelerated learning to bring kids up to speed who otherwise might be lagging. In addition, there is a focus on combating factors outside of the classroom
2
The California economy is booming at a record pace. The State’s unemployment rate is at an historic low of 4.2 percent, with investments in technology, health care, transportation and construction projects helping lead the way. But the Golden State’s success has been uneven. The economic wave of prosperity missed some of California’s most vulnerable populations, leaving some of the most diverse and socio-economically disadvantaged communities behind. Today, we have a unique and historic opportunity to revitalize Inglewood – creating thousands of quality jobs and improving local services in the process. The City of Inglewood is one of those communities. I know, I was born there, and over the past few decades I had to watch this once-thriving area fall into decline. Located in the shadows of the Los Angeles glitz and glamour, Inglewood has been plagued with high unemployment and growing poverty while private investment and economic opportunity for residents seemed scarce. According to American Community Survey (ACS) statistics, the average unemployment rate in the area rose to 11.3 percent, with nearly 30 percent of the children there growing up in poverty. We must do better. We can do better. Today, we have a unique and historic opportunity to revitalize Inglewood – creating thousands of quality jobs and improving local services in the process. The LA Clippers want to build a state-of-the-art basketball arena and entertainment complex in the heart of Inglewood.
The privately financed project will include a new practice facility and corporate headquarters for the Clippers organization, along with public basketball courts, open community spaces and retail opportunities. This innovative community-focused project is designed to complement the ongoing construction of an NFL stadium, which would make Inglewood the site of one of the largest privately financed construction projects in the country. This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in Inglewood. The development project will help train skilled laborers while creating quality jobs with valuable health and welfare benefits. These are exactly the kind of jobs we need to lift people out of poverty and into the middle class, while developing long-lasting career opportunities. That’s why labor is strongly behind AB 987, legislation by Assembly member Sydney Kamlager-Dove, which will help ensure the Inglewood arena project can move forward. AB 987 will help speed up legal review of the LA Clippers arena project, giving Inglewood the same opportunity afforded to sports franchises in more affluent areas like San Francisco, downtown Los
Angeles and Sacramento. Specifically, AB 987 will pave the way to: –Create an estimated 10,000 construction jobs in the City of Inglewood and surrounding region. –Generate more than 1,000 permanent jobs for ongoing arena operations. –Hire and train local residents. The
Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with the City of Inglewood includes a “local hire” goal, which will help ensure the local labor force is able to work in the community where they live. The Southern California Pipe Trades Council is proud to stand shoulder-toshoulder with the people of Inglewood to support this project and support AB987. With 100 percent private financing and a strong commitment to the local community, this project is a slam dunk for the region.
TRUMP CALLS ON SESSIONS TO STOP MUELLER PROBE By Yahoo News
Mueller, a registered Republican, recently charged 12 Russian intelligence officials in connection with the 2016 hack of the Democratic National Committee’s computer server — bringing the total number of individual indictments to 32. Five people, including former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and ex-campaign aide George Papadopoulos, have pleaded guilty to charges and are cooperating with Mueller. Trump has frequently taken his frustration with Mueller’s ongoing investigation out on Sessions, who recused himself from the probe in March 2017 after it was revealed he had had
undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador. According to the New York Times, Trump asked Sessions to reverse his decision during a March 2017 meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort — a confrontation that is being investigated by Mueller as part of a potential obstruction case. The president now says he regrets picking Sessions as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. “The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax continues, all because Jeff Sessions didn’t tell me he was going to recuse himself,” Trump tweeted in June. “I would have quickly picked someone else. So much time and money wasted, so many lives
ruined.” The president has been attacking Mueller and denouncing his investigation for months. But Wednesday’s tweet
marks the first time he directly called on Sessions to shutter Mueller’s probe. Trump’s call also comes as his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort is standing trial in Alexandria, Va., on
7
SEE INGLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL LIVE ON WWW.INGLEWOODTODAY.COM
JOIN US ON
August 2, 2018
Page 2
COMMUNITY
BUG BITES
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER/ EDITOR Willie Brown VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Kennedy
Summer is definitely here and with it comes the annoyance of bug bites. While we can’t stop all bites, we can do specific things to lessen the number of bites we experience. We all know folks who swear all they have to do is walk outside and bugs flock to them and start biting. Truth is, coloring, age, or gender has nothing to do with our attractiveness to bugs that bite. It’s all about how we smell and what we wear. No, biting critters are not fashionistas, but they do gravitate to sweet smells and certain colors. Think of it like this – bugs are attracted to sweet-smelling and bright colored flowers, so why shouldn’t they be attracted to us if we share those traits? If you’ll be outside for an extended period of time, use fragrance-free skin and hair products and, by all means, forego using perfume. You might also want to think about using a laundry detergent that has no fragrance. Wearing muted or earth tone colors instead of brights or patterns with large bright flowers can save you from the itchies later on. Sparkly and colorful jewelry is also attractive to bugs, so take it down a notch when you’ll be outside for a while. Picnics, concerts, sports events and the like are all great fun, but if you are enjoying a sweet beverage, do look in your cup be-
a house, the crook of a tree, or in a shrub. Wasps tend to nest in the eaves of a house, but they can also call a shrub home. This is a toughie for anyone with a fear of insects. If you are buzzed, stay calm. Don’t wildly swat. It makes the insect mad and with your hands flailing about, you run a very real risk of getting stung. Either stand still and have someone gently wave their hand between you and the insect to shoo it away or you do it. Here’s a couple of great problem solvers for a backyard event: Give each guest a cupcake liner to put over their drink glass. Poke a hole in it for the straw and voila! no more bugs. fore taking a sip. Swallowing a stinging bug is NO fun and really painful. Bees, wasps, and mosquitoes all love the sweet things. One of the major joys of summer is to go barefoot. However, if you’re in a low-growing and flowering ground cover, watch for the bees gathering nectar. Also, yellow jackets live in the ground so you never know when they may be coming or going from home. While you’re outside enjoying the day, always keep an eye out for a beehive or wasp’s nest. Bees take up residence in the darndest places – in the wall of
OPERATING A LEMONADE STAND WHILE BLACK By: Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor
Victor Stevenson, the owner of a high-end lemonade stand in San Francisco’s Mission District said that he was approached by officers with the San Francisco Police Department several days ago as he was opening his business after someone in the neighborhood thought he was breaking into his own business. Stevenson, a black man who is the owner of Gourmonade, said that he was checking to see if the security system for his lemonade stand was working when four cops approached him. He said one of the officers had his hand on his gun. The unpleasant incident came to a
swift end when the police officers asked if he could prove that it was Stevenson’s business. He said he had the keys and opened and closed the doors. SFGATE reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for comment, but weren’t able to reach anyone at the department when they first reported the incident. Stevenson’s experience is the most recent in a string of instances of black Bay Area residents getting the cops called on them while doing innocuous acts. In June, a woman named Alison Ettel called the police on an 8-year-old black girl for selling water in San Francisco.
Set up a fan near the primary seating area to ward off mosquitoes – they are really weak flyers. Don’t forget to include citronella tiki torches and candles around the seating. Now, go and enjoy the rest of your summer.
ASSISTANT EDITOR Francis Taylor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Francis Taylor Anne Cheek La Rose 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.
You can reach us at 310-670-9600 or by fax 310-338-9130 www.inglewoodtoday.com The artistic contents of Inglewood Today Weekly are copyrighted by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. and permission to reprint any article herein must be obtained in writing from the Publisher.
DISPLAY ADVERTISING 310-670-9600 X107 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 310-670-9600 X104 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Subscriptions are available by mail for $100.00 per year. Home Delivery may not be available in all areas, or gated communities.
INGLEWOOD STAR RISING, BUT ALSO
SHINES LIGHT ON ECONOMIC DISPARITY By: Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor Drivers making their way to Los Angeles International Airport may have never noticed Inglewood or thought about stopping for a visit, but that will change thanks to a development boom spurred by city leaders and developers. New entertainment projects are sprouting up across the city, boosting property values and bringing in construction jobs. And while rents are lower here than in other parts of LA County, more residents are receiving rent increase notices – leading many to worry they’ll be pushed out by projects they had little say in crafting. Inglewood sits on the southwest side of the county, a short drive from Venice Beach. The city sits near the 405 and 105 freeways and lies directly under the LAX flight path. Visitors will soon be able to ride in and out of Inglewood on Metro’s underconstruction Crenshaw Line, which will offer the first public transit option to LAX. Professional sports have also turned its eyes to the area: Hollywood Park, a 2,500-home residential community, will be part of the $2.6 billion Rams stadium project expected to open in 2020. The community will feature a revamped Hollywood Park Casino, a luxury hotel and an artificial lake.
An elevated tram line will connect visitors to all attractions, including a proposed NBA stadium for the LA Clippers. Mayor James Butts told Courthouse News he envisions the city becoming a place where local kids can grow up, go to college and have “gainful employment without having to leave” the city. “We want them to rise economically but also lift up residents that have lived
here,” Butts said. There’s no doubt Inglewood’s star is rising. But a county health report said economic conditions are worsening for the city’s 116,000 residents, 20 percent of whom live at or below the federal poverty line. The majority of residents, 65 percent, rent in Inglewood and have seen housing costs climb by 25 percent since 2013, according to the county report. Only 35 percent own homes.
3
August 2, 2018
Page 3
COMMUNITY
TO YOUR HEALTH By Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor
BLUEBERRIES have the highest amount of antioxidants. They contain plant compounds called anthocyanins that have been shown to have antioxidant power by combating oxidative stress. Research suggests that eating foods with anthocyanins may also help to fend off diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer and aid in health maintenance. Blueberries are high in fiber, low in calories and carbohydrate, and contain almost no fat. They are definitely one fruit that you should be adding to your diet, especially if you have diabetes. Plus, they’re so easy to enjoy, either on their own, added to smoothies, or as part of a meal. One cup of blueberries contains about 80 calories, 21 grams carbohydrates, 3.6 grams fiber, and 1 gram of protein. This serving is considered a tad more than one serving of fruit. If you are looking to stick to one serving of fruit per sitting, keep your portion to about 3/4 cup, which is about 60 calories, and 15 grams of carbohydrate. Blueberries are rich in heart healthy, filling fiber. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, providing 25 percent in a cup’s worth. Blueberries are rich in heart-healthy, filling fiber. Fiber is the indigestible part of carbohydrate that aids in satiety, helps to regulate bowels, pulls cholesterol away from the heart, and can stabilize blood sugar. Blueberries also contain resveratrol, a compound (that has antioxidant properties) which has been associated with treatment and prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenative diseases. One cup of blueberries provides 25 percent of your daily needs for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important water soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant, aids in wound healing, boosts immunity, and has anti-aging properties.
STRAWBERRIES are an excellent source of vita- to arthritis. Cherries are fat-, cholesterol- and min C and manganese, and also contain decent amounts of folate (B9) and potassium. Strawberries are very rich in antioxidants and plant compounds, and may have benefits for heart health and blood sugar control (1, 2). Strawberries mainly consist of water (91%) and carbohydrates (7.7%). They contain only minor amounts of fat (0.3%) and protein (0.7%). One cup of whole strawberries (150 grams) contains less than 50 calories. The table below contains information on all the main nutrients in strawberries (3). Fresh strawberries are very high in water, so their total carb content is very low (less than 12 grams of carbs per cup). Most of the carbs in them come from simple sugars, such as glucose, fructose and sucrose, but they also contain a decent amount of fibers. The net digestible carbohydrate content is less than 6 grams for every 100 grams of strawberries. Strawberries have a glycemic index score of 40, which is relatively low. This means that strawberries should not lead to big spikes in blood sugar levels, and are considered safe for diabetics. About 26% of the carb content of strawberries is in the form of fibers. 1 cup of strawberries provides 3 grams of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Dietary fibers are important to feed the friendly bacteria in the gut and improve digestive health. They are also useful for weight loss, and can help prevent many diseases.5 Bottom line: The carbohydrate content of strawberries consists mainly of fibers and simple sugars. They score relatively low on the glycemic index and should not cause big spikes in blood sugar levels. Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese, folate (B9) and potassium, and contain small amounts of several other vitamins and minerals. CHERRIES are one of the top antioxidantrich foods, contain melatonin for a good night’s sleep, and fight inflammation and pain linked
sodium-free. One cup of cherries is less than 90 calories. That same cup of cherries has 3 grams of fiber, which aids in digestion, lowers cholesterol, controls blood sugar and can help with weight loss. Cherries are a good source of vitamin C, with 16% of the daily recommended value in one cup. Cherries also contain vitamin A, calcium, protein and iron. Potassium in cherries keeps the body functioning and plays a key role in muscle, heart, kidney and nerve cell functions. One cup of cherries has 260 mg of potassium. Cherries are one of the top antioxidantrich foods and may prevent the onset of several chronic diseases. Anthocyanins in cherries give the fruit its red color and help protect the heart and surrounding tissues. Boron in cherries helps maintain calcium balance and promotes bone health. Boron may also prevent osteoporosis. Research has found that eating cherries reduces pain and inflammation associated witharthritis and gout. Cherries contain melatonin (which regulates sleep cycles) and may be a helpful food for fighting jet lag and insomnia. Researchers from the Agriculture Research Services and University of CaliforniaDavis teamed up in 2004 to study the effects that consuming fresh cherries could have on reducing pains caused by gout,... It’s no secret cherries contain quite a bit of nutritional value. By consuming one cup of cherries, you’re reaping the benefits of natural melatonin, vitamin C, and antioxidants as well. Cherries contain several different antioxidants. Cherries rank among the top 20 foods with the highest concentration of antioxidants. One cup of sweet cherries contains 3 grams of dietary fiber. It is recommended that adults consume between 20 and 30 grams of fiber each day.
INGLEWOOD STAR RISING, BUT ALSO SHINES LIGHT ON ECONOMIC DISPARITY Continued from page 2
A closer look reveals bleak figures: 56 percent of residents spend 30 percent or more of their annual income on housing, and nearly a third spend 50 percent or more on housing costs. Butts said housing costs are rising throughout the state but new development will lift all boats. “What prices are rising in Inglewood that are not rising in other places,” he said. The city is 53 percent Latino and has a larger black population – 43 percent – than the county as a whole, at just 8 percent. “We’re not really united but there’s no tension between us,” said Hector Cervantes, whose family has owned a home in Inglewood since 2001. Cervantes, who lives within walking distance from the renovated casino, said he’s worried about new projects increasing traffic. “These projects are going to turn this city into another parking,” he said. David Dang, a resident of Inglewood
since 2012, said jobs are the “main selling point” of the projects but may not pay enough to allow residents to stay long term. “Pretty soon these stadiums will kick people out and bring in new people,” Dang said. Ivan Villanueva has lived in Inglewood for nearly 20 years. He says he can see both sides. “Depending on who you talk to, neighbors say [development] is good because it raises property values while others hate the traffic and say it will bring in [outsiders],” he said. “They’re both right.” Villanueva said “mom-and-pop laundromats and panaderias” are gone. Buy Low and other local markets he grew up going to have been replaced by big-box stores. Along Century Blvd., giant high-definition screens blast ads all day, blanketing local liquor stores, payday loan shops and pupuserias in bright lights. “[Development] here doesn’t follow typical gentrification logic,” Villanueva
said. “There are no hippy coffee shops.” He recalled one his former students inviting their uncle Mayor Butts to speak to the class. Butts “went right into political mode,” Villanueva said, saying that he wanted the city to be the entertainment capital of the West, rivaling downtown LA and “bigger than Vegas.” Butts denies making that claim. Derek Steele, a resident and affordable housing advocate with Uplift Inglewood, said a majority of residents won’t benefit from new development. Steele said “culture bearers” are pushed out and minimum affordable unit requirements are stripped from housing projects. Residents “make it work” by doubling or tripling up in homes, he said. Uplift is not antidevelopment, he said. Many coalition members led efforts to bring the stadium and other projects to the city. “The city is being sold wholesale and
it’s being made to believe there is no opposition,” Steele said. Uplift backs the county’s proposed rent freeze and is pushing for a local tenant rights agreement. The group also took part in an effort to put a local rent control measure on the ballot in November. The initiative didn’t collect enough signatures, but Steele said the county’s signature count is being challenged. Butts said he would “gladly support” rent control if voters passed a measure but won’t unilaterally push for rent stabilization. The group is also working with Public Counsel, a public interest law firm, to challenge the city’s use of public land for construction of the Clippers arena. A lawsuit filed June 19 claims the city violated the California Surplus Land Act by not first seeking out proposals for affordable housing construction on the site.
7
August 2, 2018
Page 4
EYE ON THE CITY
G E O R G E D OT S O N
A L E X PA D I L L A
J A ME S B U T T S
E L OY MO R A L E S
RALPH FRANKLIN
THE IMPORTANCE OF AIR QUALITY IN INGLEWOOD By Francis Taylor, Assistant Editor
The weekly Inglewood City Council meeting was convened as scheduled and the members swiftly dealt with the agenda items. The largest single issue on the agenda was a presentation by the Harry Frisby, chief superintendent of the public works department related to the City of Inglewood partnership with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to implement high quality AQMD strategies. With respect to routine business matters, the council approved an Advance Funds Agreement between the City of Inglewood and Ward Schurr LLC, to cover City costs and activities associated with a Planned Assembly Development, and a residential condominium proposal for 113-133 West Plymouth Street. The council adopted a resolution affirming the list of projects for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 that will be funded with monies awarded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The council adopted a resolution authorizing staff to submit an application for the award of incentive funds in the
amount of $148,720 from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction. The council approved the initiative by Council Member Padilla recommending City Sponsorship approval of the 5th Annual District 2 Picnic and Chili Cook off Event to be held on Saturday, September 1, 2018, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at North Park. The council approved an agreement with InTime Services, Inc., for use of scheduling software (for five years). Staff report recommending adoption of a resolution affirming the list of projects for Fiscal Year 2018 - 2019 that will be funded with monies awarded by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.There were several comments from council members regarding the level of road repairs that the city has realized during Mayor Butts tenure. It was reported that prior to his arrival in office the city had been spending approximately $1 million per year on road repairs and is not spending between $122-13 million per year. It was also reported that the most severely damaged
roads were being improved in priority order and that most of the unpaved alleys have been re-finished with concrete. The council received a presentation from the Public works department on the proposed agreement with the SQMD and adopted a resolution authorizing staff to submit an application for the award of incentive funds in the amount of $148,720 from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC). The MSRC was established by the California Legislature in 1990. Its sole mission is to invest funds to reduce air pollution generated by mobile sources (i.e. cars, trucks, busses, etc. These funds are generated by the surcharge on motor vehicle registrations. The MSRC works closely with the SQMD even though it is not a regulatory agency. They merely invest in clean air projects that support Southern California AQMD objectives and priorities. With the approval of the City of Inglewood’s application, they will be in posi-
tion to receive $148.270 under the local government partnership program that is charged with reducing NOx emissions by 45 percent by 2023. During the council member comments portion of the meeting, Member Dotson alerted the city to the upcoming August 24th block party and the September document shredding event. Member Padilla reminded those in attendance about the National Night Out event next Tuesday and acknowledged the successful Fire Department Pancake Breakfast. He invited everyone to view the art exhibit at the Inglewood Public Library. Member Franklin acknowledged the improvement throughout the city and encouraged citizens to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. Member Morales also acknowledged the enormous progress in the city and commended the chamber for a successful golf tournament... He also reminded the citizens to participate in the Taste of Inglewood celebration this weekend.
COMMUNITY MEETING LOS ANGELES STADIUM & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AT HOLLYWOOD PARK Thursday, August 16, 2018 • 7:00 p.m. Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 9300 South Crenshaw Boulevard Inglewood, CA 90305 Key representatives of the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park will host an informational meeting regarding stadium construction. Learn more about the upcoming work and project progress on the 298-acre development. The project team will be available to answer constructionrelated questions from the community. Mayor Butts acknowledged the council meeting attendance of Inglewood resident and Naval Petty Officer First Class Lexus Johnson. Officer Johnson said that he was proud to be an Inglewood resident and indicated that he looked forward to joining the Inglewood Police Department upon completion of his military service. Mayor Butts also echoed the voices of pride that were spoken by his council colleagues on behalf of the progress the city continues to make and he thanked the city manager, the department heads and their staff as well as his fellow council members for the work that they do. He also said that he was honored to serve and that his position in the City of Inglewood is the pinnacle of his long career of public service.
CONTACT US
phone: 310-743-5186 email: lastadium@tcco.com
LAStadiumAtHP.com
August 2, 2018
Page 5
PASSING OF FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN
RON DELLUMS
COMMUNITY PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE
The nation mourns the death of former U.S. Congressman and former Mayor of Oakland, California, Ronald V. Dellums:
HERE’S HOW TO GET THE
MAXIMUM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT
The biggest Social Security benefit that will be paid in 2018 is $3,698 per month. Many of my friends are receiving Social Security Benefits and I wanted to share some info that arrived on my desk a few weeks ago. The maximum Social Security Benefit is $3,698 per month in 2018. Social Security payments are determined by a combination of your Social Security wages over 35 years and the age you take Social Security (those who wait until age 70 to file receive more benefits). I’ll get into the math below, so read on to find out how Social Security estimates your retirement benefit, and for tips on what you can do now to increase your future Social Security payments. Social Security is meant to be a safety net for retirees and it typically replaces about 40% of a workers pre-retirement income. In 2018, the average Social Security benefit paid to retired workers is $1,404 per month. However, the amount of money each retired worker receives in Social Security benefits widely. Most people receive between $700 and $1,800 in Social Security income per month. In order to qualify to receive a Social Security benefit in retirement, you must accumulate 40 credits, which work out to about 10 years of work. Once you qualify, Social Security calculates your maximum benefit using a complex formula. First, your income history -- up to specific limits -- is adjusted to current dollars. Then, the highest 35 years of adjusted income are totaled and divided by 420, which is the number of months in 35 years. The result is a person’s average monthly indexed earnings. Once that’s done, multipliers are applied to specific intervals of a person’s average monthly indexed earnings to calculate the maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age. For example, someone born in or after 1954 would multiply the first $895 in indexed monthly earnings by 90%, any amount between $885 and $5,397 by 32%, and any amount above $5,397 by 15%. The resulting numbers are then added together and rounded down to the nearest dollar to get Social Security’s estimated monthly retirement benefit at full retirement age. I urge my Social Security eligible friends and colleagues to ask for a meeting with your Social Security advisor and ensure that you are maximizing your Social Security benefits.
First elected to represent California’s 7th district in 1970, Dellums was a strong advocate for people of color, the LGBTQ community, organized labor, women, and other vulnerable communities during his 13-term tenure in the U.S. Congress. In 1971, Dellums joined with 12 Members of Congress – including Louis Stokes, Bill Clay, Sr., and Shirley Chisholm – to found the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Understanding the unique problems facing our community, these civil rights giants had the fortitude and wisdom to create a caucus that would provide the advocacy and leadership required in order to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities have the opportunity to achieve the American dream. True to its creed, the CBC remains the ‘Conscience of the Congress’ today, and has grown to a historic 48 members. Dellums, a Marine Corps veteran, was one of the most outspoken opponents of the Vietnam War in Congress, and was at the forefront of the effort to educate the American public of war crimes that were committed during the Vietnam War. Dellums was also the first Member of Congress to call for the integration of gay and lesbian Americans in the U.S. military. As a result of his leadership and expertise on issues related to the military and defense policy, Dellums made history by becoming the first African American Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He was also the recipient of numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Peace Action, the nation’s largest grassroots peace network, and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Medal for Distinguished Public Service. However, one of Dellum’s greatest achievements is one that is also dear to my heart: ending apartheid in South Africa. As a member of the California State Assembly and a national board member of TransAfrica, one of the most prominent anti-apartheid advocacy groups in the United States, I had the privilege of working with Dellums to fight for legislation at
the state and federal level that forced the United States to divest from the apartheid regime in South Africa. As I fought for the 1986 passage of my bill, Assembly Bill 134, which made California the first state to divest its $12 billion in state pension funds tied to the apartheid regime in South Africa, Dellums was simultaneously championing similar legislation in the U.S. Congress. As a result of a 14-year battle, his historic bill, the Comprehensive AntiApartheid Act of 1986, gained enough support to not only pass in both chambers of Congress, but to also override President Ronald Reagan’s veto. Though he retired from Congress after 27 years of service, Dellums maintained his dedication to his community and was elected mayor of his hometown, Oakland, California, in 2007. During his tenure, he focused heavily on educational initiatives, public safety, and economic growth in the City of Oakland. He is still celebrated for securing $23 million in federal stimulus funds for the City of Oakland through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under President Barack Obama – second only to Chicago, Illinois, the president’s hometown. Dellums was an unabashed, progressive champion with an unwavering commitment to peace, equality, and justice. He left an indelible mark on the City of Oakland and in the hearts of many people across the nation. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, captured the essence of her legislative colleagues in her statement regarding Dellums’ passing.“The incomparable Ron Dellums, a passionate drum major for peace, inspiring community leader, effective politician, and lifelong public servant, left an indelible mark on the City of Oakland and in the hearts of so many people across this country, who also loves him,” Waters said. “Though our hearts are heavy, I join the Congressional Black Caucus and the entire U.S. Congress in celebrating his life and legacy. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.
You are not obligated
to your thoughts, your mind has the power to select the thoughts you process and act upon.
August 2, 2018
Page 6
SPARKS PLAY TWO OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WNBA Its crunch time for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. They have eight games remaining in the regular season and only three of those games are at home. Two of those games come within the next five days. They battle two of the best teams in the WNBA when they take on third place Minnesota tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. and fourth place Phoenix on Sunday at 4 p.m. Both of those games will be played at home at the Staples Center. The Sparks are currently in a fourth place tie with Phoenix and nine teams are battling for eight playoff spots. Seattle is on top with a record of 19-7, Atlanta is second at 16-9, and Minnesota is in third place at 15-10, followed by the Sparks and Phoenix at 15-11. Dallas and Washington are
tied for fifth at 14-11 and Connecticut, 14-12 and Las Vegas 12-14 are at the bottom of the playoff bracket. One of the reasons the Sparks are in fourth place is two of their best players, defensive specialist Alana Beard and All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike have not played in two weeks. Other teams know the Sparks are not at full strength so they push the ball up and down the court for three quarters knowing the Sparks may run out of gas in the fourth quarter. If Beard and Ogwumike are still not available head coach Brian Agler will have to trust his bench players. Maria Vadeeva, Karlie Samuelson, Sydney Wiese and Riquna Williams need to be ready when their number is called.
UCLA football players, left Theo Howard and Josh Woods are all smiles at Pac-12 Media Day last week in Hollywood. Last year, Howard caught 56 passes for 594 yards and that included 11 catches against USC while Woods had 30 tackles last season in seven games. UCLA’s first game of the season is against Cincinnati in the Rose Bowl at 4 p.m. on September 1.
Sparks center, Jantel Lavender, left, tries to put a move on Atlanta Dream rookie and former UCLA great Moninque Billings last week at the Staples Center. The Sparks battle Minnesota tonight and Phoenix on Sunday at home.
USC inside linebacker Cameron Smith returns to the lineup for his senior year. Smith, who is one of the best players in the nation made 112 tackles last year. The Trojans open their season at the Coliseum against UNLV at 1 p.m. on September 1. Last week he answered questions at Pac-12 Media Day in Hollywood.
August 2, 2018
Page 7
LEGAL NOTICES
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME
PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Clyde Gatewood CASE NO. 18STPB06206
Case # BS174452
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or ESTATE, or both, of CLYDE GATEWOOD A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by THOMAS M. ALEXANDER, JR. (188803) in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that SANDRA K. WOODWARD be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held on August 8, 2018, 8:30 A.M. Dept 2D, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR of contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1)four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2)60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statues and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. In Pro Per Petitioner Thomas M. Alexander, Jr., S.B.N.: 188803 468 N. Camden Drive, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 July 19, 26; August 2, 9, 2018 INGLEWOODTODAY CN: 102
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS Petitioner: Armando Ramirez Parra, 2112 S. Bronson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90018, has filed a petition with the Superior Court Of California, County Of Los Angeles, 111 North Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, to change his name. FROM: Armando Ramirez Parra
TO: Aaron Parra
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing on September 11, 2018, 10:30 am, Dept 44, Room 418, to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Pub: July 26; August 2, 9, 16, 2018
DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND. GET YOUR ADS AND INFORMATION IN BY 5:00PM EVERY TUESDAY TO BE PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
INGLEWOOD STAR RISING, BUT ALSO SHINES LIGHT ON ECONOMIC DISPARITY Continued from page 3
Butts says affordable development is “forbidden” on that land because it lies in the LAX flight path and has been “deemed incompatible” for housing projects. But Steele said the entire city is a flight path. “These arguments don’t make sense – not even common sense,” he said. The city wants the Legislature to pass Assembly Bill 987, which Steele says would “bypass” state environmental regulations in order to fast-track construction of the Clippers arena. Butts said it’s not a “fast-track bill”
but would simply set the same schedule that other major projects – including Oracle Arena in Oakland – operated under. Antonio Hicks, an attorney at Public Counsel, said the groups want the city to be more transparent and include residents in the planning process. “To extend the city intended to benefit community members, they haven’t actually engaged community,” Hicks said, who added that speedy City Council meetings are often the “only entree” for residents to voice concerns. “It doesn’t seem like there’s many op-
LeBron James: I Promise School could cause children to struggle. Services are available to help students deal from stress related to parents who are struggling to make ends meet. In addition there are activities to prevent kids from having too much idle time that potentially contributes to them getting in trouble. The school also provides services to families, which includes job placement assistance for parents and an onsite food bank that will provide meals that the parents can pick up and prepare at home. James often credits his bicycle as a huge factor in his childhood that gave him an escape from his dangerous parts of his neighborhood and the opportunity and freedom to explore – every student will receive a bicycle when they arrive
Continued from page 1
at I Promise School. The LeBron James Family Foundation raises and donates money for several charities. These include Boys and Girls Clubs of America, After-School AllStars, the Children’s Defense Fund, Gabriel’s Angle Foundation and ONEXONE. In 2015, the foundation donated $41.8 million to Ohio’s University of Akron to help pay for scholarships for students.
portunities to have a say in how these things play out,” he said. Even if the Clippers arena is stopped or affordable housing is added to the project, Inglewood will need to build still more. City plans, so far, don’t come close to reaching the number of units needed: The Department of Housing and Community Development said Inglewood will need to add at least 500 units of affordable housing for low-income residents by 2021. Butts said his administration is working with county officials to build at least
170 units on city-owned parcels in the next three years. The City Council and Housing Authority share the obligation of developing affordable housing – including replacement of any units destroyed or removed from the housing market – as a successor to the city’s redevelopment agency, which was dissolved in 2012. “I have a hard time trusting that city will do it right way,” Steele said.
TRUMP CALLS ON SESSIONS TO STOP MUELLER PROBE Continued on from page 1
bank and tax fraud charges relating to his work as a political consultant for a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party in 2014. Manafort’s indictment was among the first brought by Mueller’s investigation. Manafort faces related federal charges in Washington, D.C., where his trial will begin in September. “Paul Manafort worked for Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other highly prominent and respected political leaders,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. “He worked for me for a very short time. Why didn’t government tell me that he was under investigation. These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion — a Hoax!” Trump continued to fume on Twitter about the probe, reviving his longheld complaints about former FBI Director James Comey, Deputy Director
Andrew McCabe, and FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, as well as the controversial dossier prepared by British spy Christopher Steele. “Russian Collusion with the Trump Campaign, one of the most successful in history, is a TOTAL HOAX,” the president tweeted. “The Democrats paid for the phony and discredited Dossier which was, along with Comey, McCabe, Strzok and his lover, the lovely Lisa Page, used to begin the Witch Hunt. Disgraceful!”
Page 8
Page 8
August 2, 2018
(L-R) Sam Pena, Executive Vice President IACC, 1st Place Team Trophy Winning for Gross Score, Team of Ray Berry, Nikita Wilson, Willie Brown, Publisher Inglewood Today. At right Eric Holley IACC.
Overall, the reviews from the golfers were tremendous as they enjoyed lunch provided by the Rotary Club of Inglewood and in-cart empanadas from Continental Gourmet Market. The Tournament was supported by Major Sponsors of BYD, The Los Angeles Rams, Turner/Aecom Hunt, Inglewood Park Cemetery, Valley Vista, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Centinela Hospital Medical Center. The IAACC Golf Tournament was also greatly supported by 12 VIP Sponsorships, 8 Tee Sponsors, Delux Motors who Sponsored for the Hole-In-One Car and Aztlan Athletics who sponsored the golf towel. Over 30 Raffle and Goodie bags for EVERY GOLFER who participated. One lucky contestant was chosen to take a shot for $1 million (came within 30yds pin high to the right to claiming his riches!) Part of the proceed go to fund the Inglewood Chamber Scholarships to Inglewood Seniors attending College/Universities and the Job Shadowing event to introduce high school juniors and seniors to the work pace in Inglewood.