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“‘Inglewood Clothing Store’...” See Page 4
In Drought, Don’t Take Water for Granted Thirty-nine, homeless with 10 kids A pandemic casualty, woman prays for miracle
By Gloria D. Gray, Chairwoman, Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors
HOPING FOR A MIRACLE: This Riverside County family of a mother and 10 children have been homeless since November 2020. Their plight is one that many have already suffered. By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
Starting at the teen age of 16, Tabitha Modzelewski got married, a job and begin birthing children. She and her husband, whose name is withheld because he’s incarcerated and unable to comment for this story, are symbols of the American dream and nightmare. A doting couple, in love and committed to paving a good life for their family and all was going well until drugs and the pandemic came along to ruin it all. The family would propagate to eventually reach 11 stretching both Modzelewski and her husband to work and babysit in alternating shifts. “There were a couple of times that we needed assistance, but for the most part if I was working, he would stay and care for the children and vice versa,” she explained to Inglewood Today. As she somberly reminisced about the good old days, Modzelewski turns to her infant son of which there are two of them, and lifts the car seat to Continued on page 8
We have one agency, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, that imports water for all of us. Metropolitan invests in local projects, supports conservation programs for all of us and plans for our uncertain future. And in partnership with literally hundreds of local water agencies, together we keep our water reliable. As the chair of Metropolitan, this is both an honor and a tremendous responsibility. And now, we are in a drought, the result of a dry year in 2020 followed by a historically dry one so far in 2021. Droughts are common in California and they are a test. They test the capability of our water system. They test our individual ability to conserve more. They test how we serve and plan
for challenges as a region, with broad needs to support our economy, our environment and our way of life. The good news is that, thanks to our regional planning and your continued conservation, this summer may not feel like a challenge to us as water users. Metropolitan has ample supplies in reserves. But this drought is an immediate challenge to others. Already Governor Newsom declared drought emergencies in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. There is also going to be tremendous hardship in the Central Valley, as farmers who grow our food simply have less water to farm. There is less water behind Hoover Dam, as the Colorado River faces the likelihood of its first-ever shortage declaration next year based on the long-term drought in that watershed. We do not know when this drought
will be over. We in Southern California are not expected to face mandates to lower water use this summer, but we should take this as a challenge to see how we can be even more respectful of, and more efficient in, our use of water. Conservation is now a California way of life, an ethic that was advanced successfully in the last drought cycle. The daily wise use of water, year in and year out, creates tremendous benefits. Now in this drought, take the moment as an opportunity to rethink all your uses of water. If you use water more wisely, it benefits everyone. It helps our economy. It helps the environment. We are in this together.
New Racial Justice Bureau at Cal DOJ Will Support State’s Reparations Task Force Tanu Henry | California Black Media
Last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he has created a new bureau within the Department of Justice (DOJ) dedicated to fighting discrimination and investigating hate crimes. Bonta said the new Bureau of Racial Justice, which will be housed under the Civil Rights Enforcement Section, will also support the California task
force that the state has charged with studying the impact of slavery and Jim Crow and coming up with reparations recommendations for Blacks in California and around the country. In September last year, Gov. Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 3121 into law. The legislation, introduced by Continued on page 8
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May 20-26 2021
Rep. Waters Leads Call for Fox News to Stop Deceiving Its Audience
IT News Wire
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, issued the following statement after Fox News, The New York Post, and The Daily Mail have failed to inform their audiences of Rep. Waters’ full response to their false claims about her. “Fox News and other publications
like the New York Post and the Daily Mail published absolute lies and cited sources that claimed I had requested that Capitol Police, Secret Service, and U.S. Air Marshals travel with me on an April 17 flight. I immediately issued a statement refuting those false claims, highlighting how dangerous lies can be, and challenging Fox News to reveal the truth to its audience – something they continuously fail to do. “Since I have publicly refuted their claims and called for a retraction of the article, these publications have chosen once again to continue in their mission to deceive their audiences and withhold the truth. Still, Fox News has kept the article online and, rather than inform their viewers of the truth, has decided to gloss over the fact that they deceived readers. Today, the article’s only addition says that myself, Capitol Police, and Secret Service denied the claims. That’s a cop out. How about stating that your sources were wrong and that you published a completely false story? Maybe even take it down and try again? “Surprising no one, they have not apologized nor retracted the article or even attempted to back their claims up with factual information. The reason
being? The claims are based neither on truth nor on facts. “If we learned anything from January 6, 2021, it should be that the truth matters. The truth is the one indisputable factor in our society that binds us together and helps us to move forward. News organizations and journalists have played a most important role in disseminating the truth, countering lies, and helping to establish a clear baseline of facts. Unfortunately, Fox News has abandoned the sacred duty of truth telling and instead, deceives its audience without consequence, and has endangered our democracy, and
the safety of those Fox News deems its targets. “And so, I will not simply disappear and drop this issue. I am going to pursue the fact that Fox News charades as a news organization. Moving forward, on behalf of all good people who cherish the truth, I will continue evaluating the best course of legal action. In any good and functioning democracy, we must have the courage to confront lies and champion truth in any and all circumstances. This is no exception.”
Award-Winning Children’s Book Celebrates Families of All Shapes, Colors and Sizes 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.
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New York, NY— In her fifth book, which is published to coincide with , by award-winning author Nadine Haruni, helps kids understand that families come in all shapes, colors and sizes. But it isn’t a book just for children with samesex parents or for kids in the LGBTQ+ community. Says Nadine Haruni, who
is also an attorney: “The common thread of all the books is to not only be helpful to kids and families who can relate to these specific situations, but to help all kids recognize that no two families look the same, and encourage an environment of awareness, empathy and inclusivity.” In the book, the tadpoles are surprised and filled with questions when they first meet their new neighbors, Jessica and her parents, Morgan and Irene. Why does Jessica have two mommas? Does not having a mommy and daddy like most kids make her feel weird? But their momma, Freeda, encourages Frannie, Frank and Jack to get to know Jessica’s two mommas. Before long, the tadpoles discover that Morgan and Irene are a lot like other mommas they know. Through spending time with Jessica and her mommas, the tadpoles realize that families can have two mommas or two daddies—because what really makes a family is love. For toddlers, preschoolers and older kids too, the world of grown-ups is often confusing and sometimes scary. In her
Freeda the Frog™ children’s book series, author Nadine Haruni makes coping with various life challenges easier for little ones with the help of a momma frog, Freeda, and her three little tadpoles, Frannie, Frank and Jack. The first four books deal with common issues: divorce; a parent’s remarriage and becoming part of a blended family; moving to a new city or town and starting a new school; and the loss of a pet or loved one. The Freeda the Frog™ series also serves as a tool to help parents, educators and school counselors open up conversations about difficult topics with children in an upbeat and non-scary way. Toward that goal, each book offers discussion questions at the end. The entire series has been leveled for schools to align with National Education Standards, and all five books have received Readers’ Favorite 5-star reviews and Gold Mom’s Choice Awards for excellence in the family-friendly picture book category. “We are happy to award deserving books like Freeda the Frog and the Two Mommas Next Door,” says Dawn Matheson, CEO, Mom’s Choice Awards. “Our panel of judges really felt this book merited a place on our list of the best in family-friendly products that parents and educators can feel confident in using.” Each book reinforces Nadine Haruni’s mission of “helping families of all species, one tadpole at a time.”
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May 20-26 2021
EYE ON THE CITY GEORGE DOTSON
ALEX PADILLA
JAMES BUTTS
ELOY MORALES
RALPH FRANKLIN
AROUND THE CITY
A Message from County Administrator Dr. Erika Torres
Awareness Month”. This month’s edition focuses on providing you with resources to promote your mental health which is essential to our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. 1 in 6 U.S. youth between the ages of 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The importance of mental health has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic as grief, isolation, job loss, food instability, and sickness have negatively impacted people’s mental health. In a study conducted by the Centers for Inglewood Unified School District Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizes May as “Mental Health
U.S. adults reported considerably elevated distressing mental health conditions associated with COVID-19. Younger adults, people of color, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately adverse mental health outcomes, increased substance abuse, and elevated suicidal ideation. The Inglewood Unified School District is committed to empowering students, staff andfamilies coping with mental health, social and emotional struggles to reach out and leveragemental health services provided through the District and mental health community partners. For Mental Health support or services, please contact the following:
For students or families, please contact your school’s counselor or Student Support Services at (310) 419-2798. For employees, please contact Employee Assistance Services for Education (EASE) at (800) 882-1341. For a list of additional resources, please click on the image below for the complete list or you can click here. Thank you for your commitment to self-care. We again extend our extreme gratitude to our students, staff, families and community. It is because of you that we are on the rise!
A Night to Remember: The Glass Slipper Foundation gears up to host prom night for high school students– community donations will help this event reach its full potential By Brea Mitchell, Staff Writer
For high school students, one of the most exciting and anticipated nights of the year is the Senior Prom. On Friday, May 21, The Glass Slipper Foundation will host ‘A Night To Remember’, which will give students a fun, safe, alcohol-free and drug-free evening celebrating the end of the school year and all of the hard work that our students have accomplished. The Glass Slipper Foundation, founded by Inglewood native Cinder Eller-Kimbell in January of 2021, will provide mentorship to the community’s youth by supporting and nurturing their social, emotional, and cultural well-being. When it comes to youth outreach and involvement throughout the city, organizing and hosting A Night To Remember is just one of the many initiatives for this nonprofit organization. There is much more on the horizon. Eller-Kimbell, an alumnus of Inglewood’s Morningside High School, has worked for the city of Inglewood for 27 years. She is now the city’s Senior Community Affairs Liaison. With the desire for more community outreach, she
Courtesy of Organization Founder Cinder Eller-Kimbell, young men and women pick out their tuxedos and dresses for the upcoming prom hosted by The Glass Slipper Foundation.
launched The Glass Slipper Foundation with the hopes of elevating and educating young people in and around Inglewood. “If you know me, then you know that I am the community. I have always advocated for those who couldn’t and didn’t know how to speak for
themselves,” says Eller-Kimbell. On May 21, A Night To Remember will be exactly what the name implies– a joyful event that students can look back on for decades to come, and some day, may even tell their own children about. The ‘mini-prom’ will consist of
students from Morningside High School, Animo Inglewood City of Champions, Youth Build Continuation School, Fairfax High School, and Colony High School. There will be 30-32 high school seniors, along with an additional small number of juniors. The Glass Slipper Foundation looks forward to curating this event, and any help from the community would be so greatly appreciated. If you are in the position to donate, your contribution will help fund entertainment, food, and a commemorative gift for the graduates. Money donations will make all the difference in the world, but The Glass Slipper Foundation will also gladly accept supplies, products, gift certificates, cards, or door prizes. A pickup can be scheduled for any of these items that you would like to donate. Ways to donate: •Checks made payable to “The Glass Slipper Foundation, Inc.” & mailed to: The Glass Slipper Foundation, Inc. 14008 Cadmus Ave Los Angeles, CA 90061 •Venmo: @glassslipperlosangeles •CashApp: $glassslipperLA
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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
The ‘Inglewood Clothing Store’ is a community favorite. Owner Steve Cotton’s story of triumph makes it even better
For Steve Cotton, creator and owner of “Inglewood Clothing Store”, it all began as a singular clothing rack inside of a barbershop. Cotton began selling his merch out of a local barbershop after an overwhelming positive response by the public during the very early stages of his creative journey. Now, the popular Inglewood-logo merch line is a brand that has risen to become a community staple, operating out of its own brickand-mortar store at the corner of La Brea Avenue and Plymouth Street. The merchandise aesthetic is a perfect mix of trendy, simple and fresh. From t-shirts, to hoodies, sweatpants, hats, coffee mugs, backpacks and more, you’ll always find the red “Inglewood” lettering on it. One of his best-selling items is the “Inglewood-opoly” board game– similar to Monopoly, except each landing spot is an Inglewood territory, such as Centinela Park, The Forum, Florence Avenue, etc. The company continues to grow, and we love a brand that represents our city, but what tugs the heart strings even more is the origin of Inglewood Clothing Store. It’s a story of relentlessness and triumph. It was five years ago when Steve Cotton was down-and-out, battling depression and physical pain after a traumatic car accident. He had spent the past 13 years working for Marriott Hotels when his life seemingly came to a screeching halt. “I was depressed. I couldn’t work. I was at home, and we came up with this logo, and we just ran with it. I never went back to work after that accident. God wanted me to do something different.” During some of Cotton’s darkest days, he made a career pivot that turned into more than he could have ever expected. The idea for the beloved logo was inspired by Cotton’s favorite
Steve Cotton outside of The Inglewood Clothing Store located at 900 N. La Brea Ave. (Brea Mitchell/Photo)
cigars, Backwoods. If you look at the Backwoods font on their box of cigars, you’ll see the similarity to the Inglewood Clothing Store logo. “Everyone knows Backwoods. I put my logo in the Backwoods font, and it just took off.”
He printed them on t-shirts, and then headed off to Coachella, where he tested his theory that the “Inglewood” lettering in the Backwoods font is something that people would get a thrill out of. His theory seemed to stand. Cotton gave away nearly six thousand
dollars’ worth of merchandise that weekend. Not only did the crowds love it, but even the musicians were wearing his t-shirts on the Coachella stages while they performed. After Cotton’s successful Coachella weekend, it occurred to him that he had a lucrative business opportunity at the palm of his hands. The rack in his friend’s barbershop was now his official headquarters and operating destination. After continuous sales and community interest in his brand, Cotton eventually moved to the building he is in now, except not quite the exact space. Initially he was on the second floor, directly above where he is currently. Cotton describes it as a closet. Below him, was the historic Inglewood bookstore, “Zahra’s Books and Things”. Around the start of the pandemic, the bookstore owner decided it was her time to explore other avenues. She closed Zahra’s Books and Things, and gave Cotton the green light to move downstairs. He now had a store. Not a rack, nor a closet– but a store! “You have to appreciate small beginnings. I had a little closet upstairs; I never knew I was going to have a store!” Cotton lights up as he reminisces, and the gratitude is clear as day. Now, he rents out the upstairs space whenever he can. Whether to groups who are looking for office space, or artists looking for a place to film. He’ll also host events and gatherings, which helps to alleviate some of the pressure of needing to sell enough merch to pay his monthly dues. During the pandemic, as Cotton was settling into his downstairs store, online sales continued to rise. While many retailers experienced bumpy rides during these months, Inglewood Clothing Store sales were continuing smoothly, thanks to Cotton’s effective and easy curbside pick-up feature. “So many people are making a conscious effort to spend their money on small businesses. People are asking, ‘Where can I go in my community to spend money?’ They want to support us.” During some of Steve Cotton’s darkest days, Inglewood Clothing Store was born. There’s an old saying along the lines of “When it seems like life is melting you, it’s actually preparing to mold you into something better.” Perhaps this is true.
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May 20-26 2021
Ed Waters is back doing what he loves Crenshaw coach nearly died on the sidelines in 2020
Crenshaw Coach Ed Waters By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
It was more than a year ago and Crenshaw High School basketball coach was pacing the sidelines as his team trailed rival View Park 48-47 in January 2019 at Angelou High with 31 seconds remained on the clock.
Waters then collapsed in front of his bench as a hush and eerie silence befell the gymnasium. Stunned players and coaches rushed to his aid, but ultimately it was certified athletic trainer, Ellen Kelly who is likely responsible for saving his life. The man who replaced legendary Willie West after he retired and had captured a pair of City titles was suddenly in the greatest fight a human can endure. One for his life. His mother Congresswoman Maxine Waters rendered powerless as her son’s health was in peril. Coach was the last thing on anyone’s mind as Waters lay hospitalized following the incident not knowing what doctors would discover if anything that would allow for him to stay alive. A month later a COVID-19 pandemic would rivet the nation and the world, cancelling life as we knew it, thus shuttering gymnasiums, closing schools and sidelining athletes, paralyzing our political system from which all determinations are made. As fate would have it, the pandemic forced Waters to focus on just his health because there would be no basketball
season and title chases. Recently Waters returned to the Crenshaw High School basketball team bench, doping what he loves monitoring and mentoring young men at one of the most storied high schools in America. There he was at Crenshaw last week as the Cougars hosted Washington Prep, crushing the outmanned Generals 78-26 to improve to 2-0. “It’s been over a year and the pandemic actually helped me because it gave me time to rest and think about what I wanted to do and as time got towards the basketball season, I had to figure out what I wanted to do,” Waters told Inglewood Today. “I started thinking of the kids, especially our seniors. I have a great point guard (Kevin Bradley) who really hasn’t gotten the exposure he deserves. A lot of what I am doing is for him. He came out in his first game and scored 38 points and he’s one of the best guards in California. So, I’m really doing it for him.” Many private schools have attempted to pry Bradley away from Crenshaw, but he remained loyal to the school where his father Kevin Sr. starred under West.
COVID has prevented the seniors from playing a full season, but Waters is anxious to make the most of it. The players from both teams wore face mask for the duration of the game. “That’s (wearing mask) has been really strange. We have parents who are concerned about it and we are concern about it, but we got them some specialized mask that part has been very difficult, but what’s more important is we came out here for the mental health of the kids. I have kids that quit playing basketball because of the pandemic. We as a coaching staff decided that even if we don’t have a season, we are going to practice with them and be with our players.” He said the greatest victory is seeing the kids happy. “That’s what it’s all about and we feel it’s making more of an impact on their lives.” The Cougars are off to a roaring start and the opportunity to contend for yet another championship. Bradley Sr. was a member of the last Crenshaw championship under West in 1997 and now his son is part of that history as well.
Kobe Hall Pass Marred by Absent Parents Did widow Vanessa Bryant lie during speech?
By Kenneth Miller, Publisher
Late Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was enshrined into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame during an elaborate ceremony at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Uncasville, Conn., on May 15th and since his death Bryant widow Vanessa Bryant has been the center of heartfelt attention. During an emotional riveting speech Vanessa said; “He didn’t really talk about upcoming awards, but he did mention this one a week before he and Gigi passed. My husband and I were sitting at our kitchen island, and he and I had a conversation about my mother-
and father-in-law attending tonight’s enshrinement.” She went on to add; “I invited my mother- and father-in-law in this enshrinement to thank them for bringing one of the most amazing human beings into this world. Pam and Joe, thank you for raising Kobe to be exceptional. Thank you to all of Kobe’s family. Sharia, you’ve gone above and beyond. I love you.” It was wonderful gesture to Kobe’s parents who have been mere footnotes in the legacy of their only son since he died, but the irony is Joe and Pam were not at the ceremony and according to a
source were not invited. They could have come if they were willing to pay for their own flight, hotel and ticket to the ceremony, according to the source who spoke with Joe following the event and only spoke to Inglewood Today on the condition their name not be mentioned. The source went on to add that Kobe’s parents who are most responsible for his being and basketball journey, but Vanessa is doing exactly what Kobe didn’t want her to be which is in the public sphere. Kobe was extremely private and protective of Vanessa and their daughters
whom he loved more than anything. Joe and Pam would desire a relationship with their grandchildren which has been denied by Vanessa, according to the source. The source indicated that as time advances beyond the honeymoon of the public’s love affair with Vanessa that some ugly truths will be revealed. The so stated the true orchestrater of Kobe’s post life odyssey is Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, who was a dear friend to the late star.
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BUPPIE | BUSINESS
Why Malia Cohen Announces Is Running for State Controller in 2022
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Nearly three years after her successful run for a seat on California’s Board of Equalization (BOE), Malia Cohen now has her sights set on a higher office: State Controller. The election for State Controller will be held in November 2022. Cohen is one of two women -- and the only African American -- serving on the BOE, the state agency responsible for representing taxpayer interests and making county-by-county tax assessments and adjustments across the state. She announced her candidacy for State Controller during the California Democratic Party (CDP) 2021 convention, held online from April 29 to May 2. “I am running because I am committed to equity, empowerment, hope and opportunity for all Californians,” Cohen told California Black Media. During the Democratic Party convention, current State Controller and BOE member Betty Yee gave her blessing. She endorsed Cohen to occupy the seat she was first elected to
in November 2014. Yee was re-elected for a second term in 2018. Yee, who is termed out from running for State Controller in 2022, was elected vice chair of the CDP at its recent convention. Taisha Brown, chair of the California Democratic Party Black Caucus, said she’s ready to support Cohen and see more African American women, the most loyal voting bloc in the Democratic Party, in leadership roles. “I’m happy to see more Black women moving in the direction to lead California as statewide officers. We have always been capable and have put in the work. I’m excited and ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for Malia Cohen to be our next State Controller,” Brown said. Cohen and Yee recently participated in a discussion the CDP’s Women’s Caucus, titled “Honoring Trailblazing Democratic Women on the Frontlines.” They discussed how they have both worked hard to find innovative solutions to longstanding problems, broken stereotypes and lead while facing various challenges in their respective careers. If Californians vote Cohen the next State Controller, she will become chair of the Franchise Tax Board and serve on the boards of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) as well. CalPERS and CalSTRS manage financial investments totaling more than $620 billion. The controller’s office is the state’s independent fiscal watchdog, providing
oversight and managing more than $100 billion in receipts and disbursements of public funds a year. The state department also offers fiscal guidance to local governments and uncovers fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. It is also charged with protecting the state’s coastline and helping to build hospitals. As a member of the BOE, Cohen represents 23 counties and 9.5 million constituents in the Second District, an area that stretches along California’s coast from the top of the state down to Santa Barbara County. Before that, Cohen represented the 10th District on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors from January 2011 to January 2019. Cohen, born in the Richmond District of the “Golden Gate City,” was also president of the Board of Supervisors, succeeding London Breed, who was elected the San Francisco’s mayor in 2018. Cohen, 43, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Fisk University in Tennessee and a Master’s in public policy and management at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. For more than a decade now, Cohen has been an influential figure in California state politics, taking on a number of high-profile issues. In 2017, she introduced legislation to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including, menthol cigarettes in San Francisco. The measure was approved. She celebrated last month when the Biden administration announced its intention to make that prohibition national. “I knew if we had a victory, it could
start something big. But I did not know just how far it would go,” Cohen said. “After our ordinance passed in San Francisco, 75 other cities in California passed similar bans.” After she was re-elected to represent the 10th District in 2014, Cohen gained national attention when she defended San Francisco’s “sanctuary city” policy. The ordinance shields undocumented immigrants living in the city from deportation. Bill O’Reilly, then a conservative commentator for FOX News, took issue with Cohen and her pro-immigrant stance. He said on his show, The O’Reilly Factor, that Cohen was a disgrace and should be apprehended. “If I were the attorney general of the United States, I would place her immediately under arrest,” O’Reilly said at the time, “That woman is a disgrace.” The former FOX News talking head made the comment while blaming the policy for the death of a 32-yearold woman who was killed by an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Cohen expressed horror at the woman’s death and called the incident a tragedy, but she did not shy away from O’Reilly’s attack. “We cannot allow one event to dictate 25 years of our city’s policies towards undocumented immigrants in our city,” Cohen responded. “And more importantly, we cannot allow hateful conservative news stations to drive how we respond to incidents in our city. I’m not afraid of Fox News and they don’t influence how I make my policy decisions here in San Francisco.”
Why Job Seekers Should Vet Employers To Find the Right Fit Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Hiring managers routinely vet job candidates, weeding out those with questionable skills or who might prove a bad fit with the rest of the team. But vetting isn’t a one-way street and job seekers should do a little of their own, says Bob Slater, co-author with his son, Nick Slater, of Look Out Above! The Young Professional’s Guide to Success (www.bobandnickslater.com). “You need a place to work that offers more than just a job,” he says. “Anytime you are deciding whether to work for someone, you should look for evidence of three things: capable leadership, a compelling business model with ample profits and margins, and a supportive culture where your contributions will be recognized.” When you are out of work, accepting a job – any job – can seem like the right move, but that doesn’t mean regrets won’t await you once you realize something doesn’t quite click between you and your new bosses, Nick Slater
says. Plenty of people have experienced just that situation – much to their chagrin. A Gartner Inc. survey released in 2019, for example, found that 40 percent of Gen Z workers regretted accepting a job offer. In the rush to find a job, the Slaters suggest taking a moment to do the following: Compare what is said to what is done. Either through observation, research or by asking current or former employees, you can piece together whether what your leaders say about the company lines up with reality, Nick Slater says. “The company might claim that its growth provides opportunities for advancement, but in truth the hours demanded are suffocating, pay is low, and turnover is high,” he says. Determine whether the company aligns with your values. You don’t want to find yourself in a job where the company’s values are in opposition to your own, Bob Slater says. Maybe you
have strong environmental views, but the company has no concerns about its environmental impact. “If you decide to turn down an offer because your values and the company’s aren’t a match, you won’t be alone,” he says. A survey by Jobvite found that 42% of those polled said they would reject a job offer if the company lacked diversity or clear goals in improving diversity in hiring. Make sure the job is legitimate. If lassoing a job isn’t difficult enough, job seekers have something else to worry about. The FBI has warned of cyber criminals posing as legitimate employers by spoofing company websites and posting fake job openings on popular online job boards. The aim: gather personal information from the victims, such as bank account numbers. One way to dodge such scams and be certain the job is legitimate is to research the company. Which, of course, you should be doing anyway, Nick Slater says. If you’re suspicious, verify websites and phone numbers
independently. Find a mentor. A trusted counselor can help guide you through a job search, provide advice, and serve as a sounding board after you land the job, Bob Slater says. This person could be a college professor, a boss from a summer internship, or anyone else who has the experience to give you guidance and hopefully provide you with contacts. “If you do end up in the wrong job, you can always move on to another job that uses more of your best skills, gets you closer to finding your niche, and perhaps even pays more,” Bob Slater says. “But don’t quit your job before you get another one. You don’t know how long the downtime between jobs will be and, if a recession hits while you’re job hunting, you could be out of work for years. “That said, eventually you will want to move on so you can align your fortunes with a team worthy of your time and talent.”
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PUBLIC NOTICE COVID-19 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPTIONS Due to the existing COVID-19 health emergency and the social distancing measures currently in effect, and pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20((https://www.gov.ca.gov/ wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3.17.20-N-29-20-EO.pdf)), please note that members of the public will only be allowed to observe and address the Planning Commission Meeting of June 2, 2021 at 7:00 P.M. by telephone, video and other electronic means, as follows: Viewing and Listening to the Meeting without Making Public Comments: • On Spectrum Cable Local Channel 35 with audio and limited video. Please check with your cable provider for details. • Live on-line through Facebook Live, with audio and limited video, at https://www. facebook.com/cityofinglewood/ • The above access options provide the public with the opportunity to both observe and listen to the meeting. • However, members of the public who wish to orally address the Planning Commission must use the public access options noted below:
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
to take paid time off work for COVID-19 related reasons.
Listening to Meeting and Oral Public Comments: The meeting’s telephone number and access code will be provided no later than 72 hours before the meeting on the meeting agenda published at https://www.cityofinglewood.org/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4 Please observe the following tips when phoning in: • When you call-in, the operator will provide further instructions on how you can make public comments via phone. • If you are calling from a cell phone, please call from an area with good reception. • If you are watching the meeting on Facebook or Channel 35 while also accessing the phone line, it is requested that you mute the sound of your video feed as it is offset by 3 seconds from the phone transmission. Additionally, when you are making public comments on the phone line you will be inaudible due to feedback.
COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is now available for workplaces with 26 or more employees and is just one of many leave rights for workers in California. If you or a family member are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19, supplemental paid sick leave can cover: •
Up to 80 hours of leave in addition to permanent paid sick leave
•
Care for yourself or a family member with COVID-19
•
Getting tested, vaccinated or recovering from vaccine side effects
Written Public Comments: Members of the public can submit comments electronically for consideration by the Inglewood Planning Commission by sending them to the Case Planner indicated below. To ensure distribution to the Commissioners prior to consideration of the agenda, please submit comments prior to 12:00 P.M. the day of the meeting, and in the body of the email, please identify meeting date and subject matter. Comments received after 12:00 P.M. on day of meeting will be made part of the official public record of the meeting. Contact the Planning Division at 310-412-5230 with any questions. Accessibility: If you will require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact the Planning Division Office at (310) 412-5230, One Manchester Boulevard, 4th Floor, Inglewood, California 90301. All requests for accommodations must be received 48 hours prior to the day of the hearing.
Ask your employer what rights are available to you.
The Planning Commission of the City of Inglewood, California, will hold public hearings on June 2, 2021 at the hour of 7:00 p.m., to consider the following:
Learn more at saferatwork.ca.gov
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WEST BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT WATER STANDBY CHARGE
Inglewood Today - Vertical - LWDA21 Sup Paid Sick Leave 5.0625x7.875 BW-ENG.indd 1
5/4/21 2:18 PM
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) continues to expand its water recycling program. The program’s projects increase the supply of drinking water to property owners within West Basin’s service area by using recycled water for non-drinking water purposes (e.g., irrigation, parks, industrial cooling towers). West Basin has adopted a resolution of intent to levy water standby charges. A copy of this resolution is available for public review by contacting West Basin’s Board Secretary at secretary@westbasin.org or by submitting a written request to West Basin’s below specified Avalon Boulevard Office. The resolution describes how West Basin will fund the debt service obligation on West Basin’s water recycling facilities by the proposed levying of a water standby charge. The proposed annual standby charge for a single-family home or duplex shall not exceed the equivalent of $2.00 per month per acre or per parcel of less than one acre; $1.33 per month per condominium unit, apartment unit, and hotel/motel room; and $10.00 per month per parcel or per acre for parcels larger than one acre for all non-residential uses. NOTE: THIS CHARGE WILL NOT EXCEED THE CHARGE THAT IS AS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. THERE IS NO STANDBY CHARGE INCREASE WHATSOEVER. The charge, if adopted, will be collected on the annual property tax bill, or as directed by West Basin’s Board of Directors. PLEASE NOTE that the Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on May 24, 2021, at 1:00 pm by teleconference at 1-872-240-3311 (Access code #789-349-573) to receive comments and written protests, if any, on continuing the proposed water standby charges for West Basin’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021. In addition, the Board will review all public protests and/or written comments before considering adoption of the proposed standby charge. Any person may email or file a written protest with West Basin’s Board Secretary, at the street address below or by emailing secretary@westbasin.org, to be received no later than 12:30 pm on May 24, 2021. The protest must identify the landowner and contain a description sufficient to identify the land owned by the landowner. West Basin Municipal Water District 17140 S. Avalon Blvd., Suite 210 Carson, CA 90746 (310) 217-2411 Patrick Sheilds General Manager West Basin Municipal Water District
1. A public hearing to consider an application by Bernadette Rodriguez, representing B. Rodriguez Permanent Makeup, for Special Use Permit No. 2021-004 (SP-2021-004) to allow: 1) a beauty salon, within 300 feet of a similar use; and 2) a tattoo parlor (for permanent make-up)within an existing multi-tenant commercial building on an approximately 5,000 square-foot, C-2 (General Commercial) zoned property at 8410 South 8th Avenue and legally described as Lots 139 and 140 of Tract No. 11156 (AIN 4010-007-025) A Notice of Exemption (EA-CE-2021-028) has been prepared stating that the proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a copy of which is available for public review in the first floor lobby of City Hall and via email request to mfewell@ cityofinglewood.org 2. A public hearing to consider Zoning Code Amendment 2021-001 (ZCA-2021-001) to Chapter 12 of the Inglewood Municipal Code to modify regulations for Smoke Shops. A Notice of Exemption (EA-CE-2021-020) has been prepared stating that the proposed amendment is exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a copy of which is available for public review in the first floor lobby of City Hall and via email request to bmccrumby@cityofinglewood.org. 3. A public hearing to consider Zoning Code Amendment 2021-002 (ZCA-2021-002) to Chapter 12 of the Inglewood Municipal Code to modify signage regulations for banners in the Public Right-of Way. A Notice of Exemption (EA-CE-2021-043) has been prepared stating that the proposed amendment is exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a copy of which is available for public review in the first floor lobby of City Hall and via email request to bmccrumby@cityofinglewood.org. 4. A public hearing to consider Zoning Code Amendment 2021-004 (ZCA-2021-004) to Chapter 12 of the Inglewood Municipal Code to establish regulations for Hookah Lounges. A Notice of Exemption (EA-CE-2021-04) has been prepared stating that the proposed amendment is exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a copy of which is available for public review in the first floor lobby of City Hall and via email request to bmccrumby@cityofinglewood.org. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge any of the public hearing items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. In the event that the Planning Commission meeting of June 2, 2021 is not held, or is concluded prior to a public hearing agenda item being considered, the public hearing will automatically be continued to the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting. “Si no entiende esta noticia o si necesita mas informacion, favor de llamar a este numero (310) 412-5230.”
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cradle him to sleep. The two year old cleaves to his mommy legs while eight other children ranging to age 17 pay close attention. Modzelewski is an American with a Polish surname. Her Irish mother was born in Ohio and her Polish father in Lompoc, California. Her husband is Black and suffers from drug addiction. “He has never brought drugs into our home and he has not allowed for it to prevent him from being there for his children, but it is a hindrance and has got the best of him at times.” He landed in jail while the family was living in Riverside County in their camper home and police arrested him for being a felony carrying a gun, she said. That was back in November 2020, after the family was facing eviction and served with a 60 day notice. Modzelewski did not know she had any choice but to leave. However, on January 29, 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to extend the state’s landmark eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, protecting millions of Californians struggling as a result of the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I know that now, but I wasn’t thinking then,” she added. She says she does not share to husband’s addiction nor does she drink alcohol. The 39-year old reluctantly submitted to this interview, all the while clinging to a cigarette
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and holding a can of Coke while monitoring her children. Miraculously, she has kept her children with her as they move from one location for shelter to the next and checked in for online schooling each day. Two of the children require special needs. Because she had worked all of these years as an administrative assistant and accountant, she is eligible to collect unemployment assistance. Currently she receives $1,500 bi weekly, in addition to $1,200 in food stamps. “I lost my job back in March due the pandemic and wasn’t able to pay the rent. My landlord served us with eviction and we vacated and split the kids up between us and my mom house, but a situation occurred at my mom house so we could not stay there anymore and we are now in this situation with no place to go,” she continued. Modzelewski and her family puts a new face on the homeless crisis, images that surely exist already, but are shielding behind the plight of drug/ alcohol addiction and mental illness which merges into each other. As Los Angeles County and the nation eases from the restrictions that COVID-19 forced on us and the government aid that provided temporary protections, Modzelewski and her children await their fate that is no longer in their hands.
current California Secretary of State Shirley Weber when she served in the Assembly, requires the state to set up the task force. Bonta has not yet spelled out how the bureau will contribute to the state’s reparations efforts, but he stressed the urgency of creating it. “Throughout California’s history, too many of us have felt the sting of hate and discrimination,” said Bonta. “The fact is: No part of California is immune to hate. Too many Asian, Latino, Black, Native American, people with disabilities, LGBTQ, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh Californians all across the state are hurting.” According to the DOJ, the bureau will focus on six areas: hate crimes and organizations; implicit and explicit bias in policing; law enforcement best practices; campus climate issues; and the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. Bonta says the DOJ will work with the Big City Mayors, a group of officials from the state’s 13 largest cities, on its anti-discrimination and anti-hate crime initiatives. The cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San José, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, and Stockton. At the end of this month, the DOJ says Bonta will host a virtual meeting with the Big City Mayors. “Drawing on the expertise of local elected leaders, the virtual convening
will seek to raise awareness around regional concerns involving hate crimes, support those who have been impacted by hate, and secure commitments for direct action across California,” the DOJ said in a statement. The California Legislative Black Caucus welcomed the news. The group comprised of African American members of the State Legislature says, “California, after its acceptance into the union in 1850 until the end of slavery in 1865, actively supported the enslavement of Blacks.” The CLBC says the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations will increase understanding among Californians at a time when racial and political divisions divide Americans. “As Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I am humbled to be a part of this groundbreaking task force and look forward to having the difficult but necessary conversations on the age of enslavement here in California and across the nation,” said Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Gardena), who is also chair of the CBLC and a member of the reparations task force. “The remnants of slavery and Jim Crow are still alive and well today and need to be addressed. We have found ways to not only apologize but also provide reparations to every group wronged in America and around the world except for African American decedents of slavery,” Bradford pointed out.