May 02, 2019 by Inglewood Today News

May 02, 2019

VOL. 34, No. 18

Cinco de Mayo:

May 5th

By Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor

Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5. The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the

Mayor Butts’

Unparalleled Trajectory to Future S. E Williams, Contributing Writer

In late March, many Inglewood residents were not shy about their disappointment over the chamber of commerce’s decision to move the State of the City address from its former location to a site near LAX where the cost of admission with lunch was $100 per ticket. Some expressed further exasperation because this would be the first State of the City address in two years, and with the city’s rapid growth and concerns over issues like gentrification and rent control, interest in this year’s address was elevated. The event, sponsored by Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, also featured comments from Simon Woods, CEO, L.A. Philharamonic; Kevin Demoff, CEO, L.A. Rams; and L.A. Clippers President, Gillian Zucker. Despite early concerns, however, those who gathered at the Hyatt Re-

gency on Century Boulevard, received Mayor James T. Butts Jr.’s description of the city’s current status and his vision for its future with optimistic enthusiasm, commending his efforts to date and offering full-throated confidence in the mayor’s ability to deliver on the vision he foretold. During his presentation, Butts discussed all the city’s current economic and performance indicators while also highlighting plans for future develop-

ment. And, just as he’d promised in a pre-delivery interview, he laid out a vision he stated showed, “The city is on a trajectory unparalleled by any in the nation.” There are many concerns boiling at and just below the surface as the mayor navigates the waters of historic growth and change in his city, including issues related to gentrification, rent control and job opportunities coupled with the need for living wages and the list goes on. Yet, amid these challenges the “promises of possibilities were palpable,” even more so in the wake of his presentation. Politicians, community and business leaders, members of the clergy and citizens-at-large were aligned in their support of his leadership and steadfast in their support of his vision. As Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson declared, “Some elected officials believe that if you manage things prop2

Los Angeles County Moves to Oscar-nominated director

Protect Endangered John Singleton dies Museum Collection at 51 following stroke

Newswire

USA TODAY

Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of the smaller Mexican force to defeat the 4

Los Angeles County has commenced legal proceedings against the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum after its leaders rejected multiple offers over a decade to help them vacate the old Culver City Courthouse in favor of a more appropriate permanent home for their important collection of rare books, films, documents, photographs, artifacts and works of art related to African American history and culture. The County leased the old courthouse to

JOIN US ON

Page 2 Continued from page 1: Mayor Butts’

erly, you make things happen. Other elected officials believe you should lead. The mayor of this city is a leader and I think the people of Inglewood elected him and the rest of the council to lead and this is a direct result of their leadership, not management—leadership.” State Senator Steven Bradford who represents California’s 35th District was also not shy in his praise or pride relative to, “A city of Black and Brown, determining their destiny…having a voice.” He reminisced about the 60’s when, “Blacks couldn’t live in Inglewood, now you see a council made up of Black and Brown individuals determining their own destiny, bringing prosperity to the city, bringing jobs, bringing a whole new life…a whole new look to a city that many people walked away from.” Adding, “They’re doing it and if we continue to do what we’re doing— both locally, on a state level and a federal level,” he remarked about the city’s residents, continuing, “If they believe in it, it will happen. It is happening. We see the transformation.” Commenting about the challenges faced by Mayor Butts and the City of Inglewood, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, affirmed her belief the City of Inglewood can overcome them. “Inglewood is the city of Champions,” she affirmed. “They have overcome so much over the years. They have great stock, great people and most importantly— great infrastructure under great leadership. I know that they’ll continue

May 02, 2019 to thrive. I am so impressed with my good friend’s efforts. He is a visionary. He stands strong. He has the influence to work together as a team with his team in the city of Inglewood and of

sents for our veterans in terms of vocational opportunities—opportunities to partner with some of the major corporations that are moving into Inglewood. And, we’re hoping that our vet-

course, with all of the stakeholders that have come together to do such a great investment in the city.” The enthusiastic receptions of the mayor’s address, offered by politicians in attendance, were further echoed by members of the business community. Businesswoman Akilah Templeton, Executive Director of U.S. Vets, a veteran service organization was born and raised in Inglewood. She said, “We’re excited about the growth and the opportunity coming our way. Most importantly, we’re excited about the opportunity that the expansion repre-

erans will benefit.” Adding, “I want to sit at the table and make sure that those coming in are aware of the needs of our veterans’ community, our homeless community and of course those numbers are dropping because we’re doing a great job at really giving everyone in Inglewood opportunity.” Mayor Butts received even stronger praise and support from the City’s religious community. Pastor Geremy Dixon of Center of Hope LA in Inglewood said, “I know it’s a lot of moving pieces… and so the ability to persist, to negotiate this type of space and to

be opportunistic and to seize moments that have presented themselves, it takes a lot of keen understanding. Apostle Beverly Bam Crawford of the Bible Enrichment Fellowship expressed her concerns about the importance of rent control to ensure people who have been faithful to community are not priced out of the city, noting how she is looking forward to the mayor’s plans in this regard. Crawford commended the fact so many are now gainfully employed in the city “on these projects along with other resident of the city, in addition to how the effort supports small businesses—it’s very, very important, very significant. [Of the mayor,] I could not be more proud.” Perhaps, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church, most thoroughly summed up the sentiments of many in attendance. “There’s a passage in the Bible where it talks about a person being sent to an area…to a city for such a time as this,” he said. “I think that’s what I would say about the mayor. I think that God had sovereignly timed his coming to this place, to this city. I’m impressed with the vision. I’m impressed that he could see so far ahead. I’m impressed that he can see what can be. .that has not been yet, that he could see where this city could go. What it could be and that’s a good thing. I think Inglewood has already overcome its challenges,” Ulmer proclaimed. “The question for Inglewood is how far will we go? This city has made history. It has risen like a phoenix out of ashes primarily due to our mayor.”

Page 3

May 02, 2019 Continued from page 1: Oscar-nominated director John Singleton

John Singleton, the Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter behind films like “Boyz n the Hood” and “Poetic Justice,” has died after being taken off life support following a stroke this month, his spokesperson Shannon Barr told USA TODAY Monday. He was 51. His family said in a statement that Singleton “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends.” Singleton’s family said that “in his private life, John is a loving and supporting father, son, brother, and friend who believed in higher education, black culture, old school music and the power of film.” Earlier Monday, Singleton’s family revealed the director would be taken off life support. Appreciation: How John Singleton’s stunning ‘Boyz N the Hood’ changed Hollywood ‘His vision changed everything’: John Singleton mourned by Samuel L. Jackson, Jordan Peele and more Acclaimed director John Singleton’s Continued from page 1:Los Angeles County Moves to Protect Endangered Museum

Culver City in 2006. Culver City then sublet the courthouse to the Museum, with the understanding that the arrangement was for a year only. Until that time, the collection had been housed in a private garage. The County’s legal action comes 12 years after the Museum’s rent-free lease expired, and six months after the Museum rebuffed one final opportunity to remain in a portion of the old courthouse while completing a relocation plan. The rental value of the space is estimated at $93,000 a month. The County has been working continually with Museum officials to understand what is needed to halt the

stroke: African-Americans face greater risk “This was an agonizing decision, one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John’s doctors,” the family stated. “We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the (outpouring) of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received.” The family also said in the statement that Singleton “like many African Americans … quietly struggled with hypertension.” His family revealed he’d suffered a stroke on April 17. Singleton was nominated for two Oscars for 1991’s “Boyz n the Hood,” becoming the youngest best director nominee and first black person nominated for the same award. His other films include “Poetic Justice,” starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, “Shaft,” “Baby Boy,” “2 Fast 2 Furious” and “Four Brothers.” Singleton’s recent projects include creating and executive producing the deterioration of the collection, and to potentially identify partners that can help to properly preserve the collection for future generations. Despite the legal action, the County and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas remain committed to protecting the collection, and endorsed an offer by California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) to receive, catalogue, and house the collection within its library. “This collection is one of the premier assemblages of African American ephemera, documents and historic memorabilia west of the Mississippi,” CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D. said. “We would be honored to give it a home and are confident that

CLIPPERS LOSE COURT

BATTLE CHALLENGING NEW NBA STADIUM Newswire Judge Rejects Clippers’ Argument that their Exclusive Negotiations with City of Inglewood Do Not Violate California’s Affordable Housing Laws – Rules Case Can Proceed The Uplift Inglewood Coalition scored a significant victory in court yesterday over the Clippers organization in a lawsuit challenging the team’s plans to build a new NBA stadium on publicly owned land in the City of Inglewood. Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel ruled in favor of allowing Uplift Inglewood Coalition’s lawsuit alleging that the City of Inglewood violated the California Surplus Land Act to proceed. The law requires cities to give first priority to affordable housing development when selling public land. Uplift Inglewood filed the claim in June of 2018 because the City did not comply with this state law before it entered into formal negotiations to sell over 22 acres of city-owned land for the development of a Clippers Arena. “Today’s ruling is a step forward for our neighbors in Inglewood who are simply asking the City of Inglewood to follow California’s affordable housing laws,” said Dr. D’artagnan Scorza, member of Uplift Inglewood, “In the midst of booming development

- which has caused skyrocketing rents and the loss of affordable housing- it simply does not make any sense to prioritize an NBA arena over the needs of

FX Networks TV series “Snowfall,” as well as directing the fifth episode of the network’s “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” “We are heartbroken about the passing of our friend and partner, John Singleton,” John Landgraf, chairman of FX Networks, said in a statement. “For almost three decades, John was one of the most important filmmakers in this business, dating back to his masterwork, ‘Boyz n the Hood.’ Over the course of his illustrious career, John remained steadfast in telling stories that illuminate the daily challenges faced by African Americans, particularly those living in the inner city.” Landgraf said the network was “honored and fortunate to have worked with John … I know that the cast and crew loved John as much as we did, and that they are heartbroken over this news. Today we lost an incredibly talented artist, leader, activist, partner and friend — far too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.” When news broke of Singleton’s stroke, prominent celebrities took to the librarians at CSUDH can preserve and present the collection in such a way that protects valuable and delicate items for posterity.” “It is my hope that the Mayme Clayton Library and Museum will accept this outstanding offer from CSUDH,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “There is a synergy and suitability to having this collection – so expertly and lovingly assembled by Dr. Mayme Clayton, a ground-breaking, AfricanAmerican librarian — come under the care of one of the best library systems in California so that it is accessible for generations to come.” “Although the Museum does have to leave its present location, I remain committed to helping the Museum Inglewood residents without investing in the needs of residents. Public land should be used for the public good, and access to housing is central to building strong communities.” Uplift Inglewood’s lawsuit argues

social media to wish him a speedy recovery. “His films helped form me. His kindness lifted me up,” Ava DuVernay wrote. “I remember him coming to the premiere of my indie years ago. Showing love/support for a fellow black director from LA. He is a lovely man. Pray with me.” Neil deGrasse Tyson, Snoop Dogg and Guillermo del Toro also sent well wishes.

move into its next phase of growth and development,” the Supervisor continued. George O. Davis, executive director of the California African American Museum in Exposition Park, said, “The Mayme Clayton Museum should take advantage of every opportunity to preserve its collection, and to think outside the box to ensure that future generations can appreciate its historic and cultural significance.” Once vacated, the old courthouse will undergo extensive renovations. Currently, there is a long list of deferred maintenance items that require urgent attention.

fore being offered to the Clippers. The state law Uplift Inglewood is enforcing was enacted to help address the crisis of acute housing shortage like Inglewood’s In declaring that unnecessary city property must first be made available for affordable housing before selling it for another use, the Legislature said “a decent home and a suitable living environment for every Californian is a priority of the highest order.” More than 80 percent of Inglewood’s population qualify for some form subsidized housing but Inglewood has not done what it should to get it built. Inglewood’s residents are losing the housing they have now in the face rent increases upwards of $1000. “This ruling allows the residents of Inglewood to have their day in court to prove that the city has violated state law by prioritizing a new NBA arena over affordable housing,” said Antonio Hicks, an attorney with the non-profit law firm Public Counsel. “The ruling should also serve as a wake-up call to cities across the state that California has strong affordable housing laws on its book, and community groups and advocates are watching to make sure they follow those laws and serve as responsible stewards of our public land.” Trial will proceed in September. At trial, Uplift Inglewood will also seek to enforce several other state housing that, due to the Surplus Land Act, the laws meant to address Inglewood’s and land should have been offered first for other cities’ housing and homeless criaffordable housing development be- ses.

Page 4

May 02, 2019

Continued from page 1: Cinco de Mayo: May 5th

larger French force was a boost to morale for the Mexicans. A year after the battle, a larger French force defeated Zaragoza at the Second Battle of Puebla, and Mexico City soon Fell to invaders. Battle of Puebla In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico.[3][4][5][6] More popularly celebrated in the United States than Mexico, the date has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. These celebrations began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1863. The day gained nationwide popularity in the 1980s thanks especially to advertising campaigns by beer and wine companies. Today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl. In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with an arts festival, a festival of local cuisine, and re-enactments of the battle. Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day—the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores, which initiated the war of Mexican independence from Spain

LEGAL NOTICES

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER/ EDITOR Willie Brown VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Kennedy ASSISTANT EDITOR Francis Taylor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Francis Taylor Anne Cheek La Rose QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER Gloria Kennedy Inglewood Today Weekly is a legally adjudicated newspaper of public circ ulation, published weekly by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. News and press releases may be submitted for consideration by mail to 9111 La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 100, Inglewood, CA 90301 or by email to itnetworks@msn.com.

You can reach us at 310-670-9600 or by fax 310-338-9130 www.inglewoodtoday.com The artistic contents of Inglewood Today Weekly are copyrighted by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. and permission to reprint any article herein must be obtained in writing from the Publisher.

DISPLAY ADVERTISING 310-670-9600 X107 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 310-670-9600 X104 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Subscriptions are available by mail for $100.00 per year. Home Delivery may not be available in all areas, or gated communities.

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019101180 The following person is doing business as:

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019076753 The following person is doing business as:

Macknificent Custodial Services 2140 West 108th Street Los Angeles, CA 90047

The Twee Project 13517 Flatbush Ave. Norwalk, CA 90650

Registered Owner(s): Angeles. CA 90047

Gerod Mack, 2140 West 108th Street, Los Registered Owner(s): Thuy Trang Nguyen, 12062 W. Edinger Ave., # 58, Santa Ana, CA 92704

This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on April 16, 2019. above on March 26, 2019. 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.) Gerod Mack, Owner.

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.) Thuy Trang Nguyen, Owner.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on April 16, 2019.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on March 26, 2019.

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 April 25; May 2, 9, 16, 2019 IT004223012002057 Inglewood Today

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 April 18, 25; May 2, 9, 2019 IT004223012002056 Inglewood Today

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019078425 The following person is doing business as:

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2019085342 The following Person is doing business as:

Nashcam Nashcam Productions 1011 N. Chester Ave., Apt. A Inglewood, CA 90302-1748

New On Earth New On Earth Clothing 4181 West Kling Street, Apt 28 Burbank, CA 91505

Registered Owner(s): Darrell R. Nash, Jr., 1011 N. Chester Ave., Apt. Registered Owners: Bibiana Hurtado Ibanez, 4181 West Kling Street, A, Inglewood, CA 90302 Apt. 28, Burbank, CA 91505; Pablo Hurtado Gonzalez, 3237 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) This business is conducted by individuals. The registrants commenced commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on April above on March 27, 2019. 1, 2019. 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.) Darrell R. Nash, Jr., Owner.

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.) Bibiana Hurtado Ibanez and Pablo Hurtado Gonzalez, Owners

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on March 27, 2019.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on April 1, 2019.

MAYOR BUTTS’ INVOLVED IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT Los Angeles Times

A Los Angeles police sergeant was seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash Tuesday morning near USC involving Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., law enforcement sources told The Times. Butts was attempting to make a left turn onto the USC campus, possibly against a red light, when his vehicle was struck by another car, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the case with the media. Butts’ vehicle then spun and collided with the sergeant, whose motorcycle was parked on the sidewalk. The force of the collision sent both the sergeant and his motorcycle into a nearby fountain, the law enforcement official said. The crash is under investigation. No one has been cited in the incident at this time. Butts could not be reached for comment by phone, text message or email, and one of the mayor’s assistants declined to comment. Officer Jeff Lee, an LAPD spokesman, said a sergeant from the department’s Central Traffic Division was injured when he was struck by another vehicle near the intersection of Exposition Boulevard and Figueroa Street at 8:47 a.m. The sergeant’s motorcycle was

stationary at the time. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition, according to Lee, who said the other driver stayed at the scene. No one else was injured. Lee declined to comment on Butts’ involvement and referred additional questions to Inglewood officials. LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza, a department spokeswoman, confirmed the vehicle that struck the officer was registered to the city of Inglewood. The accident occurred when a black sport utility vehicle made a left turn, and a gray Honda traveling west struck the SUV as the SUV was negotiating the turn. The impact caused the SUV to hit the motor officer who was stopped in front of the water fountain, Espinoza said. Sources said the sergeant suffered several broken bones after being struck by the SUV. David Carlisle, assistant chief of USC’s Department of Public Safety, said the crash occurred near the Pardee Way entrance to campus and tied up traffic in the area all day. No students were involved in the incident, Carlisle said, adding the LAPD will solely handle the investigation. A USC employee who asked to remain anonymous said she was walking from the bus stop to campus when she heard the screech of brakes and tires and a bang. She

Qualitwee 12062 W. Edinger Ave., #58 Santa Ana, CA 92704

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 April 18, 25; May 2, 9, 2019 IT004223012002055 Inglewood Today

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 April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 2019 IT004223012002054 Inglewood Today

looked up and saw a gray sedan and a black SUV in the street. The SUV then slammed into a stationary police motorcycle, pinning it against the fountain. “I see an officer in the fountain and people run up and try to help him, but they can’t move him because he’s really injured,” the employee said. “If he hadn’t had his helmet on, he would be dead,” she added. The USC employee said she ran to the female driver of the sedan, who was sitting on the curb with her young child, visibly shaken. She said that she also saw a man in a suit who she thought had been driving the SUV, and that the airbag had deployed. She believed he was the only person in the car. “I didn’t know who he was,” she said. “I asked ‘Are you OK?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, thank you, thank you.’” The woman driving the sedan had only minor injuries. As she sat with the USC employee, she described how she had been driving west on Exposition Boulevard when the SUV made a left turn into her car onto the USC Pardee Way driveway. “She told me, ‘I was driving to day care. I had the green light and this car cut in front of me and I couldn’t brake fast enough,’” she said.

PLACE YOUR DBAS, PROBATES, TRUSTEE NOTICES, LEGAL NOTICES, SUMMONS AND MORE IN

SAVE MONEY AND SUBMIT ONLINE AT WWW.INGLEWOODTODAY.COM

OR CALL: 1.888.676.1011 5

Page 5

May 02, 2019

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

WHY DO SOME

UNDOCUMENTED KIDS

GET HEALTH CARE IN CALIFORNIA

By Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor

BRITISH PEOPLE

NOT LIKE DONALD TRUMP?

As the democratic candidates line up to take on Trump in the next presidential election, if he is able to hold on without being impeached, I wanted to explore why he has been able to maintain his support from the dedicated republicans who have not found any fault in our president whatsoever. From his incessant lies and immature name calling to his apparent lack of humility and charm, it escapes me as to why his supporters feel he can do no wrong. A friend shared a well-written summary of why some British people do not like Trump and many of author, Nate White’s observations are spot on! White said “Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no

when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a sniveling sidekick instead. A significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that, Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are and you don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man. This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Pi-

wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honor and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. While Trump may be laughable, White noted, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever. Trump doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, or a casual act of cruelty. Tossing paper towels to Puerto Rican victims of a devastating hurricane is crass, insulting and cruel. Trump doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness. There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth, White noted. It’s all surface and it projects a man with no inner world, no soul. Trump is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully. That is, except

casso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum. God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart. In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump. And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumps of hair and scream in anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I… created? If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.” Nate White is an incisive British writer and while his critique will not likely be viewed by our president’s peanut gallery, his expose’ presents a view that is mostly shared by me and a host of others.

During his budget presentation in January 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined his plan to expand subsides for health care coverage to more Californians by restoring the individual mandate. He also plans to expand health care for undocumented residents. R. Lopez moved to the United States from Mexico when she was 3. By the time she was in high school, the aspiring Spanish teacher from Oxnard needed glasses to drive and to see the whiteboard in her classes. Although her family’s low income qualified her for governmentfunded health coverage, she wasn’t eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal for much of her childhood because she lacks legal status. But that changed in 2016. Lopez became eligible for California’s version of Medicaid, the state- federal health insurance program for the poor, under a new law that expanded coverage to more than 250,000 California children and teens who could newly qualify regardless of their immigration status. The program is a success for families who use it, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed expanding Medi-Cal to undocumented adults younger than 26. That would help young people like Lopez, who lost her eligibility this year when she turned 19 and aged out of the children’s program. Covering undocumented children and teens costs the state more than $360 million a year. Newsom’s

proposal would add $260 million to the bill. But advocates argue it would be a cost-effective investment in preventive and primary care services that can identify problems such as diabetes early and reduce costly services as people get older. Some state lawmakers want to go further and spend an estimated $2.3 billion a year to extend Medi-Cal eligibility to Californians of all ages regardless of their immigration status, provided they meet the income requirements. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who supports that idea, led the effort to expand health coverage for children when he was a state senator. He calls the resulting program a “major accomplishment.” Lara grew up without health insurance in East Los Angeles. He dreaded holidays as a kid because in his family “vacation” meant traveling to Mexico to see doctors and dentists, he told a conference of health care researchers in February. “It’s something that’s very personal to me,” the child of two former undocumented immigrants told The Sacramento Bee. “I knew this was an important issue because I lived it.” Eligible kids aren’t getting care California offers emergency Medi-Cal services to undocumented immigrants, which covers some emergency procedures and care for pregnant women. Before 2016, some undocumented chil8

Page 6

May 02, 2019

LA RAMS AND LA CHARGERS: WINNERS CIRCLE

ATHLETICS PREPARING KIDS FOR THE PROS AND MORE The Los Angeles Rams and LA Chargers picked up important new players in the NFL Draft this week, and there is a one-of-a-kind charter school in Southern California that trains elementary and middle school kids who dream of one day hearing their names called by the NFL commissioner. Jordan Campbell is the visionary behind the program, and there are NFL players who say the program helped them become better professionals. Kids have to maintain a 3.0 grade point average to continue to train at Winners Circle Athletics. The program has been so successful that there are plans to expand to Orange County, Las Vegas and even Texas. Countless Southern California kids dream of making it to the NFL, but the hard truth is less than one tenth of one percent of high school players make it to the professional ranks. The competition is brutal. So, Campbell is giving kids at Winners Circle Athletics in Corona the edge that could make their dreams become reality. Campbell works to build the perfect environment for kids training to one day make it to the NFL, and he would know what it takes, since he played in the NFL. Campbell says he saw a void during his journey from the Inland Empire to the bright lights of Sunday football. He believed there was a better way to develop student athletes, especially those growing up in tough neighborhoods, like he did. “I always wanted to be the guy to come back and change it,” Campbell says. Campbell says he wanted to share knowledge and training techniques to put kids in better positions to fulfill their dreams. “If you can give these kids the best resources at the college and pro levels at a younger age, they are going to start to develop faster,” Campbell says. And so, Campbell has a 65,000-square-foot campus that looks and feels like a professional sports facility, which is the point. Children start as early as the 4th grade and get access to trainers, sports scientists, nutritionists and more.

Former NFL linebacker Jordan Campbell is working with kids to train a new generation of athletes. Adrian Arambulo and Alex Vasquez tell the story on NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on April 28, 2019. (Published Sunday, April 28, 2019)

Even professional athletes like running back Jamal

Williams of the Green Bay Packers, who is from Rialto, worked out with the program. Williams, like Campbell, is willing to share his knowledge with kids about what it takes to reach the top. “The mental part is what you need to work on with kids,” Williams says. “How are you going to react to certain things like a bad play? Are you going to cry or work hard and keep grinding and make your dreams come true?” Green Bay defensive lineman Kenny Clark, who is from San Bernardino, said the lessons learned at Winners Circle Athletics are invaluable and helped him develop the habits that made him a professional athlete. “The culture, the schedule, the set up is amazing,” Clark says. “The culture of anything is important. Whatever you’re around every day, thats what you’re going to become.” These success stories have spread and kids travel from as far as Calabasas, Orange County, even San Diego. The student body has doubled in size, and the program claims 90 percent of kids have received private school scholarships. “Make sure you have a great attitude, don’t show bad body language because its gonna rub off on other people,” aspiring pro athlete Micheal Matthews talks about what he’s learning in the program. “Hard work” and “respect” are lessons that the student athletes repeatedly emphasize. “With every coach, every teacher, they’re like a mentor,” Madison Irwin, who plays soccer, says. “Like a brother or sister, sometimes they’re hard on you because they know you can be better. They want to get you to where your full potential is.” She adds, “I’ve become a better overall person. It’s been a great experience.” Winners Circle Athletics is connecting young athletes with the best avenues to accomplish their goals, while instilling great attitudes, adding character and sharpening skills that will translate beyond the playing field. “Its about learning great habits at a young age they can take with them through their process,” Campbell says.

Page 7

May 02, 2019

EYE ON THE CITY GEORGE DOTSON

ALEX PADILLA

JAMES BUTTS

ELOY MORALES

RALPH FRANKLIN

ACCOLADES FOR CITY TREASURER

WANDA BROWN’S

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP: GETTING YOUR HOUSE IN FINANCIAL ORDER Francis Taylor, Asst. Publisher

While the city council members promptly discharged this week’s business, summarized below, the council member’s public comments piled accolades on City Treasurer Wanda Brown’s community workshop on Saturday. The free, fourhour workshop provided a compre-

of $670,000 and approved two oneyear agreements for professional oncall water system services. The council approved multiple amendments with approved contractors to complete residential sound insulation work on a total of 357 units,

hensive overview of a wide range of money management and financerelated issues, presented by experts. The city attorney denied about a dozen claims made against the City of Inglewood claiming personal injury and property damage, setting the stage for legal remedies. The council approved the purchase of one Elderly Nutrition Delivery Vehicle from Wonderies Ford using the terms, conditions, and pricing in National Auto Fleet Group Contract No. 120716. The council adopted a resolution to rename Capital Improvement Program “(“P690”) Prairie Avenue Synchronization Project” to “(“P690”) Signal Synchronization & Timing Program, and amending the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Capital Improvement Program Budget by $624,000 for the Signal Synchronization & Timing Program for a total

The council approved the form of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee Lease Rider Agreement template form as revised April 16, 2019 (hereinafter the “Inglewood Approved Rider”) to affix to and amend the Ground Lease between the City of Inglewood (“City”) and PATH Inglewood Pacific Associates (“Developer”), attached, in connection with the implementation of the Amended and Restated Disposition and Development Agreement among the City, Inglewood Housing Authority (“Authority”), and Developer for an affordable senior housing development located at 502 through 508 South Eucalyptus Avenue, Inglewood, California 90301 (the “Project”). The council set a public hearing to receive public comments on the applications from Bryant’s Inglewood Service, Inc., and B & H Ingle-

wood Tow, Inc., to obtain permits to provide City referral towing services and a public hearing to receive input on the Triennial Report on Water Quality Relative to Public Health Goals (PHGs). The council adopted Ordinance No. 19-10 amending Chapter 10 (Public Works) Article 18 (Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Within the Public Right-Of-Way) of the Inglewood Municipal Code. City Clerk Yvonne Horton reported that she was selected to receive the Woman of Excellence Award from the office of Assembly Member Autumn Burke. City Treasurer Wanda Brown thanked the community for participating in her Community Workshop, Getting your House in Financial Order and thanked the mayor, council members and Inglewood City staff for supporting this infor-

mation-packed community event. Council member Dotson applauded Wanda Brown for a successful financial workshop and thanked the community for their support. Member Padilla added his congratulations to Treasurer Brown and invited the community to the Knights of Columbus Hall at 8049 W. Manchester Blvd., on May 5th to the annual fund raiser dinner, with proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Member Franklin applauded Treasurer Brown for a successful event and thanked the city staff for working diligently in the 4th District to eradicate illegal cannabis dispensaries. Member Morales summed up the sentiments of the entire council with the utterance, “Wanda is the best!” Mayor Butts adjourned the meeting

Page 8

CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC SCHOOLS

VYING FOR YOUR BUSINESS Francis Taylor, Asst. Editor

A few owners of online traffic schools in California have taken advantage of loose oversight by the Department of Motor Vehicles to stifle competition and boost their share of customers among the roughly 670,000 ticketed drivers who enroll in the schools every year. State law lets drivers hide minor infractions from car insurers if they complete traffic school courses, which migrated from classrooms to the internet about 20 years ago. The online courses have proved lucrative for some school owners, thanks in part to built-in advertising they get from appearing on a list of randomized schools that is passed out at courthouses and maintained online. The list has tripled in size over the last two years, reaching about 3,000 schools as a few owners added hundreds of identical websites with names such as No Study Traffic School, Five Dollar Traffic School, Shortest Course Allowed and Easy Daddy Traffic School. Many school names differ only by a number at the end of the name, and different

schools often have the same owner, but there’s no easy way for a customer to know that. An Assembly Transportation Committee report found five owners controlled about 74 percent of the schools. DMV records show there were fewer than 1,000 licensed schools as recently as January 2017. The number increased to about 1,400 in January 2018 and leapt to around 2,200 in January of this year. It had grown to about 3,000 by March. The DMV charges about $450 to license a new school, and owners must file a $15,000 bond with the department. The owners must obtain DMV approval for each school’s curriculum, and they can use the same curriculum for multiple schools. They pay about $100 per year to renew schools’ licenses. School owners say they are making money despite the license and renewal fees. About 675,000 ticketed drivers took the traffic courses each year from 2016 through 2018, according to DMV figures. The DMV took over supervision

Continued from page 5: Undocumented Kids Get Health Care

illegally, all the funding must come from state coffers. Sally Pipes, president of the conservative San Francisco-based Pacific Research Institute, opposes plans to expand state-funded coverage to more undocumented immigrants, both because of the cost and because she worries it will incentivize illegal immigration. “Why should we be providing medical coverage to people who are here illegally?” she said. “Supporting the whole idea of people who are here illegally and paying for their health care is a tax on people who are here legally.” Newsom’s chief strategist, Daniel Zingale, said the governor wants universal health care but needs to implement it in steps because of budget constraints. “The money isn’t there to do it all in one fell swoop, so I’m actually very pleased with the progress we’re making,” Zingale said. “I think putting undocumented kids on MediCal was a revolutionary step and adding young adults is another huge step, and then we’re halfway there.” Lopez is among those who would benefit from an expansion. She rushed to get new glasses several months ago before she turned 19 and aged out of the Medi-Cal children’s program. Now, the community college student says she can’t afford to go to the doctor. “If I get sick, if I get a harmful disease, I won’t have the money to cover the check-ups,” Lopez said. “That’s one of my biggest fears, that that’s going to happen to me.”

dren and teens could access additional health services through a patchwork of programs run by counties, local clinics and hospitals, depending on where they lived. After the new law took effect, all undocumented children in California could sign up for what is known as full-scale Medi-Cal, including medical, dental, mental and vision care benefits. Getting insurance doesn’t always mean getting needed care. A recent state audit found that roughly 2.4 million California children eligible for Medi-Cal aren’t getting the preventive care they’re entitled to by law. The report doesn’t look at undocumented children specifically, but overall it found fewer than half of children enrolled in Medi-Cal receive preventive services, including lead testing and vision screening. The children who now qualify for Medi-Cal aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. So do the other kids they interact with at school on the playground, their families and the general community, Shapiro said. “When you actually vaccinate the kids that are already here with us and you give preventative services to everyone who needs it, you’re preventing the spread of diseases,” he said. In Democrat-controlled California, the primary barrier to expanding the Medi-Cal program is cost. Because the state generally can’t use federal funds to provide health care to immigrants living in the country

May 02, 2019

of the schools from the courts in 2012. Its regulations prohibit school names that are “so similar to an existing school name so as to cause confusion to the public, courts or the department.” Some school owners say enforcement of that rule has been lax. The rules also prohibit any name that “implies that the school offers

inducements or premiums which derogate or distort the instruction intent of the traffic violator school program.” Most other schools charge $15 to $40 per class. DMV spokesman Marty Greenstein noted the department reviews every school’s curriculum while saying the department is taking a closer look at other elements of the traffic school industry. “The (DMV’s occupational licensing branch) strives to monitor

and regulate the program within the scope of what is allowed by statute and regulations,” Greenstein said in an email. “The branch has begun reviewing these schools and is looking at the types of issues you raise on a case-by-case basis to correct the inconsistencies.” “A lot of schools have closed,” Elkins said. “It’s not worth their time and effort. It’s had a pretty big impact on the mom and pop schools and has for a while.” Soldis has proposed legislation, Assembly Bill 708, to try to reduce manipulation of the list. The bill passed a House committee despite official opposition from GeoSimonian, who said the proposal could create new problems for enforcement while piling on more work and more costs for the already struggling DMV. Soldis said a drop-down menu for the online list, which he proposed in the legislation, helped solve problems with Michigan’s traffic school list. Texas, Florida and New York have used high licensing fees and other regulations to keep traffic schools well below 100 for each of those states, according to the Assembly Transportation Committee report.

LA COUNTY AIMS TO REACH

HUNGRY STUDENTS

ELIGIBLE FOR CALFRESH BENEFITS By City News Service

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed May “CalFresh Awareness Month,” on Tuesday, in an effort to expand access to federally funded food benefits for students and other vulnerable households. About 1.1 million people countywide receive federally funded Cal-

cording to the Department of Social Services. Map: Here’s What Will Be Closed Through May 6 at Griffith Park In June, California is also expanding the CalFresh program to serve older adults and disabled individuals who receive state and federal welfare benefits. More than 206,000

Fresh benefits, but authorities say many more are eligible, including many college students. A 2018 federal study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that 40 percent of students surveyed from UC campuses and 42 percent from CSU campuses have experienced “food insecurity.” The term refers to the lack of reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Food-insecure students are more apt to have poor physical health, depression and psychological stress, leading to higher dropout rates, ac-

Los Angeles County residents are estimated to become eligible under the new rules. A kick-off event to reach students will be held May 7 at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Some individuals and families in need are unaware that they qualify for benefits to help pay for food. Others worry about the stigma of using what was long referred to as “food stamps.” More information on the CalFresh program can be found at https://dpssbenefits.lacounty.gov.