C e l e b r a t i n g 2 7 Ye a r s o f Service in Inglewood, Airport area Communities
City of Champions Your Community Connection Since 1994
EYE ON THE CITY Rams
Chargers
Clippers
Forum
& Lakers ‘I’m Not Buying Chargers players chatter’... See Page5
January 13-19, 2022 VOL. 37, No. 02
A Legacy Scorned
King Family Request No Celebration Amid Voting Rights Impasse NNPA News Wire
King’s family has requested no celebration unless federal lawmakers pass voting rights legislation, a task that appears out of reach as President Joe Biden and several Democrats have faced stiff Republican opposition. Prayer breakfasts, marches, parades, and an uptick in volunteer efforts to support the annual Day of Service have remained staples of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But the late civil rights icon family has asked that observers strike a different tune in 2022. King’s family has requested no celebration unless federal lawmakers pass voting rights legislation, a task that appears out of reach as President Joe Biden and several Democrats have faced stiff Republican opposition. Democrats have also been hampered by members of their own party, notably West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, whose vote is crucial in an evenly split chamber. “President Biden and Congress used their political muscle to deliver a vital infrastructure deal, and now we are calling on them to do the same to restore
the very voting rights protections my father and countless other civil rights leaders bled to secure,” Martin Luther King III said in a statement. “We will not accept empty promises in pursuit of my father’s dream for a more equal and just America,” King III, the oldest son and oldest living child of King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. King III, his wife Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda King said they plan to mobilize activists on MLK weekend – January 14-16 – to demand a voting rights bill. In numerous Republican-led states like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, lawmakers have passed or are attempting to pass tight voter suppression laws that would disenfranchise many voters of color and the elderly. Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), promised that the U.S. Senate would vote by Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17) on whether the chamber would adopt new rules to circumvent the draconian filibuster to enable the passage of voting rights and social
justice bills. “We must ask ourselves: if the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate and pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote, but not allow the United States Senate to do the same? We must adapt,” Sen. Schumer demanded. “The Senate must evolve like it has many times before. The Senate was designed to evolve and has evolved many times in our history.” Sen. Schumer continued: “The fight for the ballot is as old as the Republic. Over the coming weeks, the Senate will once again consider how to perfect this union and confront the historic challenges facing our democracy. We hope our Republican colleagues change course and work with us. But if they do not, the Senate will debate and consider changes to Senate rules on or before January 17, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to protect the foundation of our democracy: free and fair elections.” Meanwhile, King III insisted that
President Biden and members of Congress use the same energy and force they mustered in 2021 to pass the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. “You delivered for bridges, now deliver for voting rights,” King III asserted. Reportedly, the King family plans to join local groups in a rally in Phoenix on January 15, the date of King’s birthday, “[We wish] to restore and expand voting rights to honor Dr. King’s legacy,” the family wrote in a statement. Further, the family and others plan to march across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington, DC. They also plan to hold a rally and march across a bridge in Phoenix, reportedly to draw a comparison to the 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, for voting rights for African Americans. “The Senate must pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and ensure the Jim Crow filibuster doesn’t stand in the way,” the King family
JOIN US ON
Page 2
January 13-19, 2022
EYE ON THE CITY GEORGE DOTSON
ALEX PADILLA
JAMES BUTTS
ELOY MORALES
DIONNE FAULK
AROUND THE CITY
A Message from County Administrator Dr. Erika Torres
Dear Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) Students, Staff, and Families, As we have all seen on the news and in our community, the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus has led to a surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide. As our schools have returned from the winter break this week, IUSD has seen an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in both staff and students. There have been more staff and students absent this week than there have been all year. Despite our best efforts to ensure a safe environment on campus with masking, testing, and social distancing, we realize that this variant will continue to spread. Our staff is
doing their very best to balance the safety of our students and staff with the quality of the educational experience for our students. As the number of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County continues to increase, we can expect to see our staffing shortages continue, and possibly worsen. Despite these circumstances, our schools will remain open and students who attend school in person will report to classes that are not under quarantine. In order to remain transparent, we want to share some critical information about our internal process and the steps we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff and school community. Please note that our COVID-19 Compliance Task Force Team will continue to follow Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) guidelines and share updates as they are received. Quarantine Protocol When students and staff come into contact with a person that has tested positive for COVID-19, they will quarantine, at home, for 10 calendar days. During this time, they will receive their instruction virtually. Once staff or students have quarantined for 10 days, they can return to school, provided they have been symptomfree for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medicine. At-Home Testing Kits The State of California has provided
the spread of the virus and prevent person-to-person transmission, LACDPH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our District, strongly recommend that staff and students be tested for COVID-19 on a regular basis. We currently offer free testing for students and staff at varying school sites throughout our District. However, if you have been exposed or suspect that you might have COVID-19, please do not test at your school site/work location. You should get tested at the District Office in order to eliminate potential exposure to others. Free testing is offered at the District Office, B-7, on a daily basis from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. To access the onsite testing schedule, please click here. Weekly Onsite COVID-19 Testing STUDENTS EMPLOYEES Student Registration Must be completed by Parent/ Guardian, if under age 13
our District with At-Home Rapid COVID-19 Tests. These tests will be provided by each school to students who have been identified as close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases or are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Each student that meets this criterion will be provided with a testing kit that contains two rapid COVID-19 tests. The tests should be taken in the following manner: Due to a limited number of available At-Home Testing Kits, these tests are only intended for IUSD students in an effort to keep our schools as safe as possible. Staff members who are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, should report to the District Office for testing. Please click here to access an instructional video on how to use the Rapid COVID-19 Test. COVID-19 Testing Advisement & IUSD Testing As a method to contain and mitigate
11-year-olds. We strongly encourage all of our families to get their school aged children vaccinated. As we have seen, the higher the vaccination rates, the less impact COVID-19 has on our day to day lives. To help in the vaccination process, IUSD is working with the county to schedule additional vaccine clinics where those who are eligible, can receive the COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster. COVID-19 Boosters The CDC now recommends that adolescents ages 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial vaccination series. Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and COVID-19 variants. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed the available safety data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents and determined that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. For more
Student COVID-19 Testing Website Employee Testing Registration Employee COVID-19 Testing Website COVID-19 Procedures, Contacts, Forms, Schedules, FAQ’s Vaccinations The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have authorized the COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to
information regarding COVID-19 Boosters, please click here. Employees should click here to upload their proof of vaccination, if recently vaccinated or boosted. Remote Learning During Quarantine While learning from home during quarantine, students will participate in a short term Independent Study Program. The short term Independent Study Program will include virtual instruction, independent practice, and project based activities Our IUSD teachers are prepared to continue to provide students with quality instruction while learning from home. We are working with the Inglewood Teachers Association to develop the instructional guidance document. Inglewood Unified School District is committed to our 1:1 device program for all students as they prepare for college, career, and life. In order to ensure that all students have the technology needed in school and at home, please click here to complete the Technology Survey for IUSD Families by Wednesday, January 12, 2021. Based on survey results, technology will be distributed by your school site. Additional information will be provided regarding technology distribution. Afterschool Programs Providing a high-quality afterschool program is an essential function of our District. Currently, the COVID-19
PRESIDENT/ EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Willie Brown PUBLISHER Kenneth Miller VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Kennedy PRODUCTION Kenneth Denson 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.
surge has caused the closure of the following after school sites: Centinela, Hudnall, Parent, Warren Lane, and Worthington in accordance with District COVID-19 protocols. Parents will be notified when the after school sites can reopen and remain informed on the status of the after school program sites. The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly changing situation. As guidance and regulations change, IUSD will need to change our practices as well. We appreciate our community’s support and understanding throughout the pandemic. We assure you that we are doing everything we can to keep our students and staff safe, while continuing to provide our students with the best education possible. For any additional questions, please contact your school site. Sincerely, Erika Torres, Ed.D., MSW County Administrator
Page 3
January 13-19, 2022
Gov. Newsom Proposes $2.7 Billion for COVID Response; Activates National Guard Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media
On Jan. 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he is proposing a $2.7 billion investment to boost the state’s COVID-19 response efforts. The request is included in the state budget Gov. Newsom is sending to the State Legislature this week. He is asking lawmakers to take action on it immediately. The emergency response package includes money for more testing, more vaccinations, including boosters, and support for health care professionals. “From day one, California has taken swift and direct action to battle COVID-19 with policies that have saved tens of thousands of lives, but there’s more work to be done,” Newsom said. “Our proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Package will support our testing capacity, accelerate vaccination and booster efforts, support frontline workers and health care systems and battle misinformation, with a focus on the hardest-hit communities,” the governor added.
Michelle Gibbons, Executive Director of the County Health Executives Association of California, said the new influx of cash comes at a “pivotal time” when the state and country are confronting a new surge in Omicron variant cases. Currently, California has a positivity rate of 21.7%, according to the California Department of Public Health. Omicron variant infections accounts for 80 % of those cases. And over the last seven days, there has been an average of 124.5 cases per 100,000 people. “We commend the Governor for taking these decisive actions to help protect the health and well-being of local communities through the expansion of vaccines, testing, and booster shots and efforts to combat misinformation that has caused unnecessary deaths and illness, Gibbons said. “These actions will ultimately help save lives, which remains a top priority for local public health. This weekend, Gov. Newsom also
deployed 200 California National Guardsman at testing sites to assist with the state’s response. “California is deploying the National Guard to testing sites to help expand capacity. If you’re feeling sick, don’t hesitate to get tested,” Newsom tweeted. Last Monday, the FDA approved booster eligibility for children ages 12 to 15. Newsom expressed support for this expansion on Twitter. “Great news -- more protection for more people. Boosters are our best defense against Omicron. If you’re eligible, get yours today,” the California governor tweeted. As people experience COVID-19 home test kit shortages across California, the state has announced plans to remedy the situation. “California is expanding access to testing for students by providing 1–2 rapid tests for each K–12 public school student to keep our schools safe and open,” tweeted Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Surgeon General of California.
Harris emphasized that, “Testing is a critical part of California’s pandemic response and a key reason our cumulative COVID-19 death rate is the lowest of the large states.” Newsom’s office said the tests are already on their way. “More tests are enroute for California’s students! These athome test kits arrived last night at our warehouse and will immediately be sent to counties for distribution through county offices of education,” Newsom’s office tweeted. The California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) responded to this claim with anticipation. “Great news! Our county offices are ready to have the torch passed so we can get these important test kits out to our students,” The California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) tweeted. “We pledged to help keep schools open and having these kits distributed quickly is another way our county office teams are stepping up to make this happen.”
Local Black Media in California Will Benefit From New Funding Tanu Henry | California Black Media
Black communities across the United States: The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the National Newspaper Publisher Association (NNPA), and the LaGrant Foundation (TLF). Experian donated a total of $375,000 to the organizations. “Nonprofits have been a critical resource for underserved communities and continue to be resilient in the face of the health and financial crises caused by the pandemic,” said Abigail Lovell, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at Experian. Globally, the company employs 20,000 people in 44 countries. “In addition to our work together and reaching out with the message of financial inclusion for all, this is an opportunity to provide real support with their general operating expenses. We hope the funds will enable them to strengthen their impact in the communities that need help the most and lessen the wealth gap in society,” Lovell said. Experian says the company’s donation to the four nonprofit organizations will directly support African American communities at a time when so many people are recovering from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will be used to cover operating expenses and to contribute to the development of innovative programs that improve the lives of people in those communities.
Two organizations have made commitments to invest in local Blackowned media in California. Last year, The California Endowment, a foundation dedicated to promoting environments that support healthy living in the state, committed $300,000 to California Black Media (CBM) for the next two years. The money will be used to expand a program that provides direct grants to support the local news reporting capacity of Black media news outlets across the states. “Information is as important as the air that we breathe and the water we drink,” says Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media. “Supporting our Black Media Sustainability Initiative (BMSI) helps our partners across the state continue the work we do to empower the public with information and news that are vital to the decisions Black Californians make and it determines how – and how well -- we live,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director of CBM. Last week, Experian, one of the country’s top credit and information services companies, also donated 75,000 to CBM to support the program. The gift is part of a broader global initiative the company is undertaking to “empower vulnerable people to improve their financial health through education and action.” CBM’s BMSI program currently Experian supported three other supports local news reporting at nonprofit organizations that serve
four Black-owned-and-operated news publishers across the state, including the Sacramento Observer, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, Inglewood Today and the Inland Valley News. Over the last six months, local news reporting at media outlets participating in the program has increased by more than 90 %. More than 130 original news stories have been published. Wilson says this year she expects to regrant money to more news publishers to support their local news reporting. “When we began raising money to support the Black Press about 10
years ago, pitching the idea of how important it is to help sustain strong and accountable local media -- and Black local media in particular -- was a much harder sell than it is today,” says Wilson. “There is so much more interest and understanding of how critical those things are to the strength of our communities and democracy now,” Wilson added. “We look forward to working with more organizations to continue to do this work to strengthen journalism that serves the public interest.”
Page 4
January 13-19, 2022
Area Communities S e r v i n g L a d e r a , H a w t h o r n e , W e s t c h e s t e r, L a w n d a l e , G a r d e n a , C a r s o n
Angelou coin to celebrate the accomplishments of American women NNPA News Wire
Famous author and noted civil rights leader Maya Angelou became the first African American woman featured on the 25-cent coin. The U.S. Mint began shipping the quarters on January 10. Reportedly, the Angelou coin is the first in a series designed to celebrate the accomplishments of American women. “Each time we redesign our currency, we have the chance to say something about our country — what we value, and how we’ve progressed as a society,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in a statement. “I’m very proud that these coins celebrate the contributions of some of America’s most remarkable women, including Maya Angelou.” Angelou, whose works include such classics as “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” “And Still I Rise,” and “The Heart of a Woman,” died in 2014. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Barack Obama. The commemorative new coin features Angelou with her arms uplifted a bird in flight and a rising sun behind
her. “They are images inspired by her poetry and symbolic of the way she lived,” officials at the U.S. Mint said in the statement. To the right are the words “e pluribus Unum,” Latin for “out of many, one,” a
California Lawmakers Introduce Bill Aimed at Gunmakers
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, joined forces with two other legislators to craft a bill that holds gunmakers liable for injuries or death caused by weapons they manufactured. On Jan. 4, Gipson, Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), and Chris Ward (D-San Diego) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1594. The legislators are hinging the passage of their bill on a loophole in a 2005 federal law that otherwise
protects gun manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits. “This is absolutely personal to me,” Gipson said, referring to AB 1594. “I will not rest until we put an end to senseless gun violence. Part of the solution is focused on how particular guns are manufactured and distributed in California.” Congress passed the “Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA)” in 2005. The law shields Continued on page 7
phrase also on the national seal. The flip side features a portrait of George Washington. “Excited to announce that Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a U.S. quarter,” California Democratic Rep. Barbara
Lee wrote on Twitter. “The phenomenal women who shaped American history have gone unrecognized for too long – especially women of color,” Rep. Lee wrote. “Proud to have led this bill to honor their legacies.”
PVJOBS Profile Kathy Brown elated to be working at SoFi Stadium
IT News Wire
Construction laborer Kathy Brown can’t imagine working in any other field. Being a part of a construction crew for the SoFi Stadium development project was just an added bonus of working in the industry. “I was elated to work at SoFi Stadium,” said Brown, a Los Angeles native. “I like to see the
buildings I put my sweat into. To see the stadium now… Wow!” Brown has worked as a laborer for more than a decade, although she began her construction career later in life. Fifteen years ago, Brown worked as a pediatric nurse assistant Continued on page 7
Page 5
January 13-19, 2022
Sports & Entertainment I’m Not Buying Chargers players chatter Head Coach Brandon Staley made terminating mistakes By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
Black Monday has come and gone and Chargers head coach Brandon Staley’s name was not among the list of coaches who got fired. However, there is growing speculation around the league that he probably should have. Plain and simple this is a team that was talented enough to compete for the Super Bowl, but Staley is the primary reason they will not be. The season finale in Las Vegas against the rival Raiders on prime time television was a clear cut example of the abysmal failures Staley has made in his first year as coach of the Chargers. However, if you go back and examine the entire season there were several others. When the Chargers moved on from Anthony Lynn because of the team defensive meltdowns in the fourth quarter of games in 2020, they brought Staley in the change that. Staley was hailed because of his work in his first and only year as defensive coordinator of the Rams. So, the hire was made because he could fix that side of the ball. Why then was this team among the worst in the history of the league in allowing points in the fourth quarter? Then there was that AFC West showdown against the Chiefs, a team
the Chargers had beaten on the road. On a Thursday Night primetime game at SoFi, Staley denied his team points by going for it on fourth down. The Chargers lost that game and just like in a game with their playoff aspirations on the line botched a win as he decided to make the tragic decision to go for it on fourth down at his own 18 yard line. Most people are talking about the unnecessary time out he called with the clock winding down in overtime and the Raiders seemingly willing to allow it to do so that would have advanced both teams to the post season on a tie, but that was merely the icing on the cake. Granted, Staley’s short sample as a head coach is just one season, but I am not so inclined that things will be better next season.
To finish 9-8 with this team is worse than the 7-9 campaign of 2020 with Lynn. The spectacled Chargers owner Dean Alexander Spanos was on the sideline in Las Vegas and I can’t imagine what was going through his head when his team succumbed in the fashion in which it did. Everything was in spin mode for the Bolts this week with his players singing Staley’s praises, but Justin Herbert also loved playing for Lynn and he still got canned. Just read some of the dreaded comments from Chargers players. Keenan Allen: In 16 games, 106 receptions for 1,138 yards and 6 touchdowns “I thought it was good. I thought the culture has changed. I think we’re transitioning into a winning
organization, getting back to winning the division and stuff like that. I think we’re trending in that direction. [Head Coach Brandon Staley] is building a lot of confidence in the culture and the coaching staff. We just have to be ready and do better next year.” Joey Bosa: 10.5 sacks in 16 games, compared to 7.5 sacks in 10 games in 2020 “I’m going to definitely do my best to have a really good offseason this year. In my mind, I think my best year is to come next year. I want to have a really good offseason. I think I learned a lot this year about my game. I’m happy with the production that I had, getting those forced fumbles is good. I’m happy that I’m moving in the right direction on that front. It’s a new system, like I said, so I have to keep getting better in the two-point [stance]. I think I need to be more aggressive coming off the ball in a two-point stance in the run. I could be better in the run and definitely in some areas. I just have to keep improving. I’m happy I made it feeling alright. I’m happy I was able to have some production.” Justin Herbert: 17 games with a remarkable 5,014 yards, 35 TDs against 15 interceptions. That’s 66 touchdowns in just two seasons. Continued on page 8
Oscar & Grammy Stars game in SoFi Stadium’s history Highlight TV One MLK Event
Rams host Cardinals in first playoff
Inglewood Today News
(SILVER SPRING, MD) – Urban One announced Oscar and Grammy Award-winning singer H.E.R. will open By Stu Jackson what will be just the second postseason this year’s URBAN ONE HONORS meeting between the two teams in with an explosive performance. Hosted The No. 4-seed Rams open the series history. Kickoff from SoFi by Grammy Award-winning singer, playoffs hosting the No. 5-seed songwriter and producer Ne-Yo, the Cardinals in the Wild Card round, in two-hour telecast premieres Monday, Continued on page 8
January 17, 2022, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, at 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT on TV One and Cleo TV, a division of Urban One. H.E.R joins the previously announced lineup of performances by Inspiration honoree Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Kelly Price, Tyrese, Tank, Johnny Gill and Continued on page 8
Page 6
January 13-19, 2022
BUPPIE | BUSINESS
Roads and Reparations: How Highway Construction Hardened Discrimination Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Last month, the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans heard expert accounts explaining how the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 affected residential communities of color in the state. In the last two-day meeting of 2021, the nine-member commission invited guests to help them determine how money from President Biden’s $1 trillion Infrastructure plan, passed into law in November, could be spent to compensate Black Americans for federal and state government decisions that negatively impacted them. Deborah N. Archer, a professor of clinical law and co-faculty director of the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at New York University School of Law, testified. She said the massive federal government highway construction program became a “new system of White supremacy” that sustained “slavery’s legacy.” “The transportation infrastructure has always been a driver of racial inequality,” Archer told the task force. “The benefits and burdens of our transportation system, from highways to roads, bridges, sidewalks, and public transportation have been planned, developed, and sustained to pull resources from Black communities. Resources that were redeployed (and) invested to the benefit of predominately White communities.” Archer, who is also the president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a leading expert in civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice, pointed out that Black communities across the nation and in California have always been “sacrificed” when cities, state or the federal government undertakes transportation infrastructure development projects. There is a growing body of documented evidence, empirical and anecdotal, that confirms how American cities have historically isolated Black communities by the placement of railroad tracks, mandated African Americans to sit in the rear of public buses, and denied them accommodations in restaurants, restrooms, and seating areas at transportation hubs. Planning of the highway system Americans use today, which began in the 1950s, “was often motivated by racism and placed little value on Black lives or Black families,” she said. “Although our transportation is no longer marked by the kind of explicit racist division that we saw in the past, it continues to entrench racial segregation and limit access to jobs, health, and opportunities,” Archer said. “Safe, accessible, and reliable infrastructure is disproportionately built-in White neighborhoods, connecting those
residents to opportunities while Black communities continue to suffer from underdevelopment.” The Federal-Aid Highway Act created 41,000 miles of highways that replaced unsafe roads and poorly designed routes, as well as eradicated traffic congestions, and other obstacles that impeded safe, travel across the country. Archer said that the U.S. Transportation Department estimates that, between 1957 and 1977, nearly 480,000 households across the country were forced out to accommodate the highway construction, which started under the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. Most of the people displaced resided in urban communities with low incomes and high concentrations of people of color. Black people lost homes, businesses, and significant economic potential to create generational wealth. Poor air quality resulting from the construction also decimated their property value. The highway system, when it was completed in the 1970s, “fundamentally restructured urban America in almost every region in the country,” Archer testified. It contributed to the low access to resources that is still common in some Black and Brown communities in San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, and other California cities. In Los Angeles, for example, Interstate 10 (I-10), the Santa Monica Freeway, sliced the landscape of the predominantly African American “Sugar Hill” section of the West Adams neighborhood to make way for a 10-lane freeway. Sugar Hill was a wealthy enclave where several famous Black people lived, including entertainers Ray
Charles, Hattie McDaniel, Little Richard and Lionel Hampton. The area boasted historical buildings and stately mansions. The famed Black-owned, five-story Golden State Mutual Life Insurance building is at 1999 West Adams Boulevard. Opened on August 1949, the structure was designed by Paul R. Williams, the first certified Black architect on the West Coast. Oakland was severely impacted by the design of the federal highway system, according to an August 2016 article published by Entropy, a website that features essays, interviews, poetry, literature and other forms of creative and journalistic writing. Interstate 880 separates downtown Oakland from the Black neighborhoods of West Oakland. The construction of the highway system encircled (and isolated) West Oakland by placing I-880 on the south and west, I-580 on the north, and I-980 on the east, Entropy reported. By the highway engineers’ design, all the freeways make a beeline to the Bay Bridge, which leads into San Francisco, at the expense of the Black communities they wrap around. The first sign of the new highways’ destruction of West Oakland was in 1960. About 400-plus homes in West Oakland were demolished to build a U.S. Postal Service distribution center. Black residents were forced out the area, many taking with them culture, businesses, and wealth. In Sacramento, I-5, Highway 50, and Highway 99 cut through the city, forming barriers between historic Black and Brown neighborhoods and predominantly White areas. On the southeast of the city, Highway 99, constructed in the 1960s, separated the
once-predominantly Black Oak Park neighborhood from Curtis Park, which is adjacent and mostly White residents. Fresno’s east and west sides were also racially divided by Highway 99 in the 1960s. About two dozen residential properties occupied by Black people were torn down on the West Side to accommodate the construction, Archer said. Today, Fresno has a city population of over 520,000, with Black people consisting of 8% of its residents. At least 42 cities across the country were affected by massive highway construction projects. “Virtually every state has a story about a highway destroying a Black community. Of course, this includes all of California, where through the 1940s to the 1960s, the selection of routes for major transportation corridors in cities like Los Angeles, Fresno, and Oakland had a direct and devastating impact on Black communities,” Archer said. The Biden Administration has set aside $1 billion for its “Reconnecting Communities” plan to improve the country’s transportation system with equity in mind, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in November. The racial practice to push neighborhoods into poverty should be remedied, he added. “It’s going to vary by community, and we have to listen to the community,” Buttigieg said. “Sometimes it really is the case that an overpass went in a certain way that is so harmful that it’s got to come down or maybe be put underground. Other times it’s not that way. Maybe the really important thing is to connect across, to add rather than subtract.” The members of the Task Force are looking at recommendations it can “communicate” to officials “to fix any infrastructure needs” concerning communities of colors, said Task Force Chair Kamilah Moore. “What makes this plan different from other infrastructure plans is the built-in provision that allows states to use these funds to correct any racial inequities that were used to harm Black communities,” Moore said. “Through Biden’s plan (the task force) would like to look at ways we can repair Black California.”
Page 7
January 13-19, 2022
PUBLIC NOTICE
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2022001322 The Following Person Is Doing Business As: The Curly Healer 1011 N. Chester Ave., Apt. A Inglewood, CA 90302
Registered Owner: Janee Williams, 1011 N. Chester Ave., Apt. A, Inglewood, CA 90302 This business is conducted by a company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on January 4, 2022 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.) Janee Williams, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on January 4, 2022 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 January 13, 20, 27; February 3, 2022 IT0042230120020184
PUBLIC NOTICE
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021270898 The following Person is doing business as: Kara-Marie Hall 2900 Sunset Place, Apt. 121 Los Angeles, CA 90005
Registered Owner(s): Kara-Marie Orellana, 2900 Sunset Place, Apt. 121, Los Angeles, CA 90005 This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on December 14, 2021. 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.) Kara-Marie Orellana, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk on December 14, 2021. 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 January 6, 13, 20, 27, 2022 IT0042230120020183 Inglewood Today
PUBLIC NOTICE
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021275138 The Following Person Is Doing Business As:v Naturale Goddace 15552 Gundry Ave. Paramount, CA 90723
Registered Owner: Ashley Watkins, 15552 Gundry Ave., Paramount, CA 90723 This business is conducted by a company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on December 21, 2021 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.) Ashley Watkins, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on December 21, 2021 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 January 13, 20, 27; February 3, 2022 IT0042230120020185
Continued from page 4: California...
gun manufacturers and dealers from civil suits when crimes are committed using guns they make. Ting said that AB 1594 exposes a loophole in PLCAA, which does not give impunity to gun makers or sellers when a state law is violated. Ting stated that companies manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing of firearms can be held accountable under state law when such activities create a public nuisance -defined as contributing to conditions that endanger the health or safety of others or engaging in unfair business practices. “We must make our communities safer. Almost every industry in the United States can be held liable for what their products do, but the gun industry is not held to the same standard,” Ting stated. “Financial repercussions may finally push them to be more responsible by improving their practices and adhering to California’s strict gun laws.” Ting, Ward, and Gipson expect to finalize the bill language later this month with hearings likely to start in the spring. AB 1594 is co-sponsored by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Brady Campaign. Brady is one of America’s oldest and boldest gun violence prevention groups. “Nearly 40,000 lives are lost to gun violence every year. That’s an average of 100 people shot and killed in the United States every day,” Assemblymember Continued from page 4: PVJOBS...
for a local hospital. But after enduring three consecutive deaths in her family, she felt she could no longer continue working as a nurse. “I needed a change in my life,” she said. Unemployed as a single mother of three, Brown didn’t have the luxury of taking a long break from the workforce. Remembering the joy she once experienced as a teen while working on a construction project for the Conservation Corps, she realized that construction would be her next career move. When a friend told her about PVJOBS, she quickly visited the job program. “As soon as I walked through the doors, PVJOBS made sure I had all the things that I needed,” said Brown. “I got clothing. I got boots. And they paid my union dues.” She worked 12-hour shifts at one of her first assignments, and was assigned to numerous construction projects over the next decade. Eventually becoming a journeyman, Brown was recruited by Kiewit to join its construction crew at the SoFi Stadium development project. Working as the only woman on her crew didn’t intimidate Brown. In fact, quite the opposite. “I don’t let any man out-work me,” she said. “I’m a hard worker. I love doing construction work.”
Ward said. “Until the gun industry decides to play a larger role in reducing gun violence in our communities, it is vital that California takes action now to stem what has become a worsening public health crisis.” In December, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that his administration is working with the California lawmakers to propose a nation-leading law that would allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, or sells unlawful assault weapons, as well as “ghost guns,” ghost gun kits or their component parts. Gipson, who is the chair for the Select Committee on Police Reform, also said he plans to introduce another bill soon that goes after assault weapons and “ghost gun” distributors through private legal action. According to the Brady Campaign, ghost guns are un-serialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home. They are often sold through “ghost gun kits,” which include all of the parts and often the equipment necessary to build these weapons at home. In response to Newsom’s plans, The California Rifle and Pistol Association said in a statement, “The latest attack on law-abiding California gun owners
is Newsom’s response to a recent Supreme Court ruling reacting to a Texas law prohibiting abortion. Lawabiding gun owners and businesses are not the cause of criminal misuse of firearms. Yet, Newsom and other anti-gun politicians seem to believe the threat of frivolous lawsuits will somehow address their own failures.” Organized in 1875, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, based in Fullerton, is the official and only state affiliate of the National Rifle Association. In 2019, the governor signed Gipson’s AB 879 into law. It requires a state background check for purchases of unfinished firearm frames and receivers, and mandates that all purchases happen through a licensed gun dealer. Gipson’s 32-year-old son Devon and his fiancée were shot almost two years ago in the Gramercy Park area of South Los Angeles. The couple survived the shooting, but a 55-year-old man was killed, and another person was injured. “I am proud to team up with and look forward to working with my colleague, Assemblymember Ting, to pass tangible, commonsense legislation to protect our families from those who would do them harm,” Gipson said.
Page 8 Continued from page 5: I’m Not Buying...
“I think you have to look at it that way. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t make the playoffs. That’s the ultimate goal of the NFL, but the way that everyone battled and they worked so hard this year, there’s a lot of good things that have happened this year. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t go the way that we wanted it to, but I’d fight with those guys every day of the week.” That’s what he said this week after arriving home, but after the Raiders games in a quote that went viral, he said. Continued from page 5: Oscar...
Ralph Tresvant with a special set by D-Nice. Jermaine Dupri, Marlon Wayans and Vashawn Mitchell are tapped to present. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lifetime Achievement; Timbaland, Music Innovation; Gamble and Huff, Living Legends; Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Inspiration Impact; and Oscar, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Jennifer Hudson, Entertainment Icon round out the superstar group of honorees for the annual showcase. Wireless provider T-Mobile, America’s 5G leader with the largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network, serves as Presenting Sponsor of the celebration. “At T-Mobile, we champion diversity by supporting Black innovators and elevating Black history year-round,” said Clint Odom, T-Mobile VP of Strategic Alliances and External Affairs. “We’re thrilled to celebrate Dr. King with Urban One Honors by honoring the music, the magic and the soundtrack of
January 13-19, 2022 “I had never been rooting for a tie more in my life,” Herbert told the Associated Press. “That’s the unfortunate part of being so close. “... It’s tough. The whole goal is to get to the playoffs and eventually win a Super Bowl. It didn’t go our way tonight and that’s the unfortunate part.” This was the first season with fans in the stands and the Chargers blew a big opportunity to establish a fan base, but let’s see how many fans stick around if Staley keeps making the colossal blunders he made this season.
Black America.” TV & Radio Personality Eva Marcille will host a special backstage pass segment, featuring exclusive interviews with the show’s honorees, performers and presenters. URBAN ONE HONORS is presented by TV One and Radio One’s Washington D.C. market’s cluster of radio stations: Majic 102.3 and 92.7, WKYS 93.9, Praise 104.1, WOL 1450, Spirit 1340, and The Team 980 and 95.9. The televised event heralds the accomplishments of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in entertainment, media, music, education, and the community. URBAN ONE HONORS is Executive Produced by Eric Tomosunas and Robert A. Boyd, II of Swirl Films. Marilyn Gill is the show’s Executive Producer. Kim Burse serves as Musical Director. Kashon Powell is the Vice President of Programming for Radio One and Susan Henry is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production for TV One.
Continued from page 5: Rams host...
Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Monday night is scheduled 5:15 p.m. pacific time (ESPN/ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deports, locally on ABC7). Click here to purchase tickets to the game. In advance of the contest, here is your First Look at Rams-Cardinals, presented by Audi: Notable Cardinals additions Signed RB James Conner to a oneyear deal in April 2021: Conner has capitalized on the prove-it deal, his 18 total touchdowns good for third-most in the NFL during the 2021 regular season. However, he left last week’s game against the Seahawks with a rib injury and is still being evaluated as of Tuesday. Signed WR A.J. green to a one-year deal in March 2021: The 33-year-old Green proved to be a valuable veteran signing, recording 54 receptions for 848 yards and three touchdowns while playing in all 16 games during the regular season. Top performers in Week 18 QB Kyler Murray completed 28 of 39 pass attempts for 240 yards and one touchdown in Arizona’s 38-30 loss to Seattle. Conner carried the load for the Cardinals’ backfield with 15 rushing attempts for 52 yards and one touchdown; he also caught Murray’s lone touchdown and added six receptions for 41 yards. TE Zach Ertz was Murray’s top target, hauling in seven catches for 84 yards. Defensively, S Jalen Thompson tied
with LB Isaiah Simmons for the team lead in tackles with six, also recording an interception. On special teams, K Matt Prater made all three of his field goal attempts and all three of his extra point attempts, while P Andy Lee averaged 51.3 yards per punt across three punts. Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams The regular season series was split 1-1, the Cardinals taking the first meeting in Week 4 before the Rams responded with a thrilling Week 14 win. Now, the decisive third meeting comes in the playoffs, and with both teams dealing with key injuries. Arizona on Jan. 7 designated defensive lineman J.J. Watt for return from Injured Reserve, putting him in the 21-day activation window. However, wide receiver De’Andre Hopkins has been on Injured Reserve since Dec. 18 due to the knee injury sustained in Week 14 against the Rams, and Conner is dealing with the aforementioned rib injury coming out of last week’s game against the Seahawks. Similarly, health is a big topic for L.A. this week with Jordan Fuller sustaining a season-ending ankle injury, safety Taylor Rapp in concussion protocol and Darious Williams sustaining a shoulder injury that is still being evaluated. So compared to that Week 14 meeting, the Cardinals’ offense and the Rams’ defense could potentially look a bit different. In order to advance, the Rams will need big performances from their next men up.