Inglewood Today March 26, 2020

March 26 - April 1, 2020 VOL. 35, No. 13

Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Buys Forum

The $400 million purchase affirms commitment to Inglewood

The long running legal feud between the Los Angeles Clippers and their owner Steve Ballmer and Forum owner Madison Square Garden Co. (MSG) reached a resolution this week when sale of the concert venue was agreed upon for $400 million in cash.

In announcing the deal Ballmer made a short statement, but in it doubled down on his commitment to the City of Inglewood.

“This is an unprecedented time, but we believe in our collective future,” Ballmer said in a statement. “We are committed to our investment in the City of Inglewood, which will be good for the community, the Clippers, and our fans.” During a previous interview, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. praised Ballmer.

“I stand solidly behind Steve Ballmer of the Clippers who have stood shoulder By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

to shoulder with the City to make this a reality.”

The Mayor reiterated the significance of the Clippers new arena construction project to the residents of Inglewood.

“My intent is to have maximum opportunities for residents of Inglewood with all development projects if this (purchase) is consummated,” Butts told Inglewood Today.

The deal will become official before the fall, but The Forum will continue to operate as a live music venue for the foreseeable future. All of the current Forum employees will be extended job offers, according to the report, which was first published by The Los Angeles Times.

According to the published report, consummation of the deal will resolve litigation brought by MSG, whose executive chairman is New York

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How Sol Beauty became a savior in COVID-19 war Inglewood supply store offers protective masks

Diann Valentine acquired Sol Beauty located at 933 North La Brea in Inglewood last November to provide the community with hair care needs such as wigs, cosmetics, body oils, lotions, jewelry and disinfectants.

“We knew we could not compete with the likes of Amazon, but we wanted to provide our customers with products and items for an abundance of their needs,” Valentine explained to Inglewood Today.

What Valentine was not aware of when she bought the store was that four months later the nation would By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

be in the grips of the vastly spreading and potentially fatal COVID-19 coronavirus disease.

A monumental health crisis which has shut down America and most of the world and crippled small businesses like Valentine’s and wreck havoc on a once booming economy.

Sol Beauty normally stocks rubber gloves in abundance, but several days ago Valentine learned that one of her suppliers also had several cases of white medical facemasks.

So, she bought the masks during a time when the nation was scrambling