C e l e b r a t i n g 2 6 Ye a r s o f Service in Inglewood, Airport area Communities
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EYE ON THE CITY Rams
Chargers
May 28-June 03 , 2020
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& Lakers “Promise to South L.A.” See Page 4
VOL. 35, No. 22
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp makes major donation to IUSD
Mayor Butts selected among Business Journal top 500
Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr.
IT News Wire
District (IUSD) students and their By Kenneth Miller, Publisher one of the most influential leaders and Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver families. Kupp’s donation, which was Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, executives in Los Angeles by the Los Cooper Kupp is donating $15,000 announced via video message, will Jr. has been selected for the fifth Angles Business Journal. worth of Nike product to support atconsecutive time to yet another Continued on page 8 Continued on page 3 promise Inglewood Unified School prestigious list after being honored as
Rep. Waters Statement on the Murder of George Floyd
Will Effective K-12 Education Survive Gov. Newsom’s May Revise Budget? Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media
Inglewood Today News
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued a statement on the murder of George Floyd of Minneapolis, MN. George Floyd was an unarmed African American man who died in police custody after Minneapolis police officers forced him to the ground
and one officer pinned his knee on George Floyd’s neck for five minutes. Floyd was recorded on video pleading for help and repeatedly telling the police “I cannot breathe” to no avail. Her statement follows: “George Floyd is yet another unarmed Continued on page 2
At his presentation of the 2020-21 May Revision budget, Gov. Gavin Newsom testified to the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on California’s economy. He said in a little over 100 days the coronavirus pandemic precipitated a 22.3% reduction in the state’s revenues. As a result of shelter-at-home orders issued to slow the coronavirus spread and save lives, millions of Californians have lost their jobs, schools have suspended classes and businesses have closed. According to Newsom, the pandemic created a $54.3 billion gap between projected state revenues and expenses since his January budget presentation. In order to rebalance the budget as required by law, he employs a number of financial maneuvers, including targeted spending reductions, redirecting aid from the federal government, creating new revenue sources, instituting deferrals, and drawing from the state’s
Buppie is Back! See Page 6
rainy-day reserve fund. There is a possibility that funding could be restored to original budget levels if the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion stimulus bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, gains Senate and presidential approval. The projected drop in revenues significantly impacted how Newsom plans to fund California’s K-12 public education system. General funds for public education are projected to be down about $12 billion in 2020-21. About $1.6 billion in budget augmentations the governor proposed in January are rescinded. However, a $645 million increase to special education funding is being retained. The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which awards state money to school districts, is cut by 10 percent or a $6.4 billion reduction. Career technical education programs Continued on page 4
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
Blacks, Don’t Fall for the President’s “Rope-A-Dope” on Churches Reopening Special to California Black Media Partners | Hardy Brown, Publisher Emeritus, Black Voice News and co-founder of California Black Media Inglewood Today News
Pres. Trump is tempting Christians to crowd into churches, implying your God will protect you. You have been pent up for three months now and you deserve to be free. This is a free country. The President boasts that we had one of the greatest economies the world has ever seen before COVID-19, so you should deny the fact that the virus is threatening your life and get out, cut loose, sing, pray, shout and hug your friends. Your God will protect you. His attempt to persuade “the saved” among us to just get out and go back to their beloved churches carries more weight for African Americans. Trump knows that Coronavirus/ COVID-19, “Rona” as it is called in the hood, is killing more Blacks than any other race of people. Across the United States, Black Americans represent nearly 13% of the total population, but African Americans living in counties where the Black population ranges between 13% and 85%, account for more than half of all COVID-19 infections, and they make up almost 60% of deaths. Those numbers were released earlier this month by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, the University of Mississippi, and Emory
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University. Here in California, Black COVID-19 patients are 2.7 times more likely to be hospitalized than their Non-Hispanic, White counterparts, and they “tend to arrive at healthcare facilities sicker and with more severe symptoms,” according to a study released just last week by Sutter Health, a non-profit healthcare network based in Sacramento. Knowing that Blacks are at a higher risk of dying and getting hospitalized from COVID-19, what should we make of the President’s push to get us back into our churches? At best, we might assume that the President is trying to till the ground in preparation for a grassroots religious uprising against popular Democratic governors like Newsom and Cuomo across the country who have become models, for many Americans, of efficient leadership in response to the coronavirus crisis. So far, President Trump’s instigation and dog whistling against state-imposed shutdowns have taken root across the country mostly among White hard-Right wing groups. Earlier this month, about 1,200 pastors, mostly White, in California vowed legal action against the state and told the governor they would open up their churches on Pentecost Sunday, which is May 31, with or without the governor’s blessing or approval. But Black clergy and Civil Rights organizations are putting up a wall of resistance, remaining cautious about the reopening of churches, businesses, and public spaces, considering the
havoc COVID-19 is wreaking in our communities. “I’m appealing to all my men and women of faith to reject that because, clearly, we are not in the position to safely tell congregants of any faith to come in person and worship without risking their lives and risking their health,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, President an CEO of National Action Network. “We’ve already seen churches that have prematurely opened up and people got have gotten sick and some have even died.” Fortunately, this past Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Gov Newsom’s ban on in-person church services, after President Trump reclassified churches as essential last week. Several other Black members of the clergy have echoed Sharpton’s position against reopening. In the worst-case scenario, African Americans might assume Trump is hoping to reduce the Black voting population of seniors by using “Rona” to do his dirty work, allowing him to escape the blame. This may seem cynical to some, but it is not a far-fetched notion among African Americans watching how callously so many are approaching a return to business as usual without factoring how this disease is impacting Blacks of all ages. We love religion and we tap into our Christian faith for so much of the power that takes us through life’s challenges from day to day. So I liken Trump’s proposition to a famous story of
seduction in the Bible: What Satan was doing to Jesus after Jesus had fasted for forty days all alone in the wilderness. Like the frustration we’re feeling under this shelter in place order, Satan knew Jesus was lonely and hungry and wanted to be around people because that was His main reason for being on earth as a human. So don’t fall for the President’s “Rope-A-Dope” stay home for just a little longer until we figure out that its safer for us. The only way Black people should go back to church like the President is suggesting is if they see the Blood of the Lamb painted over the door and they personally hear God speak loud and clear, “you will be safe in this church building.” Otherwise, they should stay home and wait for COVID-19 (the death angel) to pass us by. My friends, this is what the angels will do for you if you believe, keep the faith and trust in HIS WORD. My family’s pastor, the late Rev. William Jacks at St. Paul AME in San Bernardino, taught me that when our son was lying in the hospital bed in an induced coma for 19 days. Friends were advising me to go home get some sleep, and Rev. Jacks said to me, “follow Jesus, He will provide everything you need in times like these.” And he sure did. Our son miraculously pulled through and survived that ordeal, as we stood by his side, praying, and knowing that we would get to the other side of that crisis, together, as family.
Continued from page 1: Rep Waters...
African American man who has been killed at the hands of the police. George Floyd’s murder is a painful and tragic indication that we have, in fact, entered into an era where some law enforcement officers, white supremacists, and other radical extremists are feeling empowered to target, brutalize, and kill unarmed African Americans with impunity. I extend my sincere condolences to George Floyd’s family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. “As our community reflects on the actions by police officers that led to George Floyd’s death, we cannot help but be reminded of Eric Garner, another unarmed Black man who, like George Floyd, cried out ‘I can’t breathe’ but was ignored by New York City police offices and died as a result of their negligence and excessive use of force. We think of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Botham Jean, Atatiana Jefferson, Breonna Taylor, and countless other African Americans who have been killed at the hands of officers who swore an oath to protect and serve their communities. “I am grateful to those who captured video footage of the inhumane and unconscionable treatment that George Floyd was subjected to by law enforcement officers. Just as we have
witnessed with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery by armed white vigilantes who were not arrested until video footage was released publicly, were it not for the video footage of George Floyd being pinned to the ground by the knee of a police officer for five minutes, the swift action by the City of Minneapolis to remove the four officers from the police department may not have occurred. “While I am pleased with the firing of the officers involved in this incident, George Floyd’s death must be properly investigated by an independent counsel, and all who were involved must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Such injustice at the hands of the police must not be tolerated. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, African Americans cannot trust the current U.S. attorney general or the current
president of the United States to provide leadership and use the power of their offices to confront the racial bias, targeting, and use of excessive force by police officers across the country. In the absence of leadership from our nation’s highest office, I will be in contact with the nation’s leading civil rights organizations and criminal justice reform advocacy groups as we unite and confront this epidemic of violence head on, and with one strong voice.”
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
EYE ON THE CITY GEORGE DOTSON
ALEX PADILLA
JAMES BUTTS
ELOY MORALES
RALPH FRANKLIN
AROUND THE CITY
City Council Extends Eviction Protections
By Francis Taylor, Sr. Writer
During this week’s short city council meeting, continuing without the presence of community members in deference to the social distancing imposed by COVID-19, the council approved an initiative by Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., recommending adoption and approval of Executive Order No. 20-04 extending eviction protections to residential and commercial tenants through June 30, 2020. The council set future public hearings to consider an ordinance amending the Inglewood Municipal Code to establish policies for Short Term Rentals and another to consider the adoption of a resolution affirming Categorical Exemption EA-CE-2020-036 and approving General Plan Amendment 2020-001 (GPA 2020-001) to adopt an Environmental Justice Element for the
Inglewood General Plan. The Council adopted a resolution affirming Categorical Exemption EACE-2020-037, and approving General Plan Amendment GPA 2020-002 to amend the Land Use Element of the Inglewood General Plan to clarify existing population density and building intensity allowances for all land use designations. As a result of a staff recommendation, the council approved an amendment to Agreement No. 20-032 (the California Cities Gaming Authority Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement) to admit the town of Colma. The council approved Program Supplement Agreement No. F019 to Administering Agency-State Agreement for Federal Aid Projects No. 075164, for the Pedestrian Countdown Signal Heads Project. The council adopted a resolution
amending the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Annual Capital Improvements Program Budget for the ITS Phase IV Project to include funds in the amount of $568,785.43, to be funded from Measure R Highway Program Funds. The council approved the Fourth Amendment to CEQA Funding Agreement No. 18-055 with Murphy’s Bowl to include an additional $96,133.59 to cover costs of certain Legal activities and services (Phase II) provided by third party consultant at the request and on behalf of the City with regard to the proposed development of a National Basketball Association Arena and associated facilities (Project) near the intersection of Prairie Avenue and Century Boulevard; necessary to provide certain environmental and legal services on behalf of the City as required and/or contemplated by the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement
City Treasurer Wanda Brown alleged a gross misappropriation of Public Funds and called for a thorough investigation of the $195,983 associated with her assertion. Mayor Butts later confirmed that the order to extend medical coverage to council members was a lawful ordinance. The council members in attendance all urged everyone to remain safe and have a good weekend. Mayor Butts closed the meeting after announcing that over 1,000 persons had been tested for COVID-19 including the city staff at the Forum Testing site. He and his council colleagues are considering the extension of modified restrictions in the City of Inglewood but explained that, as of now, the City will resume operations on June 8, 2020.
Continued from page 1: Mayor Butts...
Established in 1979, the Los Angeles Business Journal is a powerful weekly newspaper and online outlet that covers local business news with combined circulation of 64,000. Named LA500, the fifth annual edition pays tribute to the most influential leaders and executives in the Los Angeles region. Even during the chaotic COVID-19 pandemic the LA500 are individuals who have continues their dedicated public service and some instances instrumental in addressing the pandemic through innovation. Butts was among a list that included the likes of Patrick Soon-Shiong who bought St. Vincent Medical Center and is searching to discover a vaccine for the virus, as well as executives Thomas Priselac, Cedars-Sinai Health System Chief Executive and others. Before and during the Pandemic, Butts has proved to be a steady, smart
and pragmatic leader for a city that is one the cusp of arguably the greatest renovation during modern times. Inglewood has gone from a city plagued by a massive deficit, crime and high unemployment to one with a $54 million surplus, prosperity and thousands of well paying jobs. The Business Journal credited Butts with being the primary mover in securing two NFL teams and constructing the $6 billion SoFi Stadium. LA500 pointed to the stadium project as being the centerpiece to an extensive entertainment-commercial-residential development at the former Hollywood Park racecourse site. In addition to serving at mayor of Inglewood, Butts also is the newly elected chair of the Los Angeles County Metro Transit Board that he spearheaded $233 million for overhauling lines that will connect the Crenshaw-LAX light rail line to SoFi stadium.
The list also includes leaders like Netflix Inc. Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos; Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke; and Hollywood heavyweight and Walt Disney Co. Executive Chairman Bob Iger, who showed that an old studio can learn new tricks with the hugely successful launch of Disney Plus. LA500 rundown is complete with the region’s real estate power players. The industry drives much of the local economy, and it makes up the largest category on this year’s list. While business may have slowed, it hasn’t stopped. People still need places to live. Cargo still has to be stored and distributed. Properties still need to be developed. This year’s list, as always, represents the full range of the real estate industry, with high-flying residential brokers like Compass agent Chris Cortazzo, developers like Rick Caruso and
Rexford Industrial Co-Chief Executives Howard Schwimmer and Michael Frankel. And while this edition of the LA500 contains the full complement of 500 names — including nearly 100 new members — the list still feels short by two names. The first would be the recently departed developer Jerome “Jerry” Snyder, who held a revered place on the list during its first four years. The other name, of course, is Kobe Bryant, who inspired much of the planet as an athlete and a businessman before leaving us far too soon earlier this year. But just as the city rallied following the tragic loss of Bryant, it’s likely it will do the same in the coming months as businesses figure out how to work through the coronavirus. LA Business Journal contributed to this article
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
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
Let’s keep our promise to South L.A.
services will be dramatically reduced. The quality the hospital is known for throughout the state and nation will diminish. We are not naive. We know Gov. Newsom and California legislators face terrible choices to keep our state going during this economically perilous time. And we know that the federal government is stalling on a relief package to support state governments. It is critical that we assist the Governor and our state lawmakers in advocating for federal support for California and other states. Both federal and state lawmakers need to ask themselves two questions. The first is: How vulnerable is the
population that will be affected? By any measure, South Los Angeles is one of the most vulnerable communities in California—and the nation. Decades of neglect and lack of access to care have produced a population that is sicker than most on almost every measure. The poverty rate in South L.A. is double the rest of California. There is a huge burden of chronic disease – diabetes prevalence is more than three times higher than the state average. Life expectancy is 10 years lower. Much of this has to do with decades of economic and social neglect. Underinvestment has taken its toll. Medi-Cal, the public insurance for the poor, pays doctors such a low rate that few can afford to work in South L.A. Not surprisingly, the gap in physicians is 1,200. It could now grow even larger. A lack of doctors to treat our community means poor outcomes, advanced chronic conditions and preventable disability and death. MLKCH was created to change these outcomes, by bringing high-quality doctors and healthcare professionals
into our community through a unique funding arrangement with the state. We also opened clinics to offer the kind of primary and specialist care that can prevent and manage the chronic conditions that plague and undermine our patients. If this funding arrangement goes, so too will the doctors that this community desperately needs. Here’s the second question lawmakers should ask: Is this an effective way to help the most vulnerable? There’s no point, after all, in funding things that don’t work. But MLKCH does work. Further, it is the embodiment of a promise: that South L.A. would never again be left without a hospital and without access to the kind of care it needs and deserves for all its communities. Behind that promise was the acknowledgment that something was owed to a place that had survived riots, racism, and the repeated failure of the institutions that were supposed to protect them. It’s rare when a clear need and an effective remedy exist together. It does in South L.A., right now. If you care about South L.A., find your federal Congress person and ask them to support federal legislation to help the states. Also, find your assembly member and state senator and tell them to support our hospital. Contact Gov. Newsom and urge him to protect the health of South Los Angeles: https:// govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/ It’s not too late. If we raise our voices now in a clear and urgent protest, we can help our leaders keep the promise they made when our hospital opened just five short years ago. We can continue the process of healing not just patients, but an entire community.
Analyst’s Office (LAO), the actions taken by Newsom achieved overall school funding that is “roughly flat year-over-year.” Acknowledging Newsom’s efforts, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said,” I want to thank Governor Newsom for working hard to prioritize and preserve public education … as we weather this economic downturn. Today’s updated budget proposal includes a variety of measures designed to avoid permanent cuts to education, which otherwise could have lasting impacts on a generation of students.” California Teachers Association (CTA) President E. Toby Boyd said, “Governor Newsom’s leadership and commitment to safety in our public schools and colleges has been clear and much appreciated since the coronavirus surfaced in our communities 10 weeks
ago.” He also says, “But the proposed education cuts for the 2020-21 budget will be devastating at a time when students need more support.” The issues that plague K-12 education in California have only been magnified since the education budget was proposed in January. Then, Newsom expressed a clear intent to address the African American student achievement gap, to promote more diversity among teachers, and improve access to early childhood education programs. Parents have given school districts across the state high marks for how they’ve responded to the pandemic. A statewide poll, conducted by Global Strategy Group for The Education Trust–West, finds that 81% of respondents rate school leaders’ general handling of the closures as “excellent” or “good.” But nearly 9 in 10 California parents are worried about their children
falling behind academically due to coronavirus-related school closures. The governor, state superintendent of public instruction, county superintendents, school superintendents, school boards, charter school operators, corporations, foundations and individual citizens have all joined in a monumental effort to bridge the digital divide needed to achieve student equity in participating in the distance learning programs school districts developed to take the place of classroom instruction. According to the Department of Education, student enrollment is 6.2 million students, but 450,000 students are still without computers. 345,000 are in need of access to an internet connection.
By Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH, Special to Inglewood Today
There are certain things you just don’t do. You don’t run with scissors. You don’t stick your finger in a light socket. And you don’t cut funding for a hospital doing a great job serving one of the sickest communities in California. Yet soon, state lawmakers may vote to do precisely that, forced into a corner for lack of federal support. The results will be devastating for Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH), which serves a safety-net population of over 1 million highly-vulnerable people in South Los Angeles. MLKCH has been a shining success story. It has repeatedly received an “A” grade for patient safety from the prestigious Leapfrog group. Its patient satisfaction scores rank in the top 10% of hospitals nationwide. Its all-digital, state-of-the-art systems puts it among the top 6% of hospitals nationwide for technological excellence. Its compassionate care and excellent results have garnered headlines nationwide and been a source of pride for our community. That could end soon. Currently lawmakers are considering a proposal by the Governor to revise the State Budget. Part of that revision involves stripping MLKCH of supplemental funding that enables it to provide high-quality care—funding established as legislation in 2010, key to making the dream of quality health care for an underserved community a reality. Those cuts may be reversed if federal funding comes through. MLKCH patients are 80% Medi-Cal and uninsured. Without that, the scope of Continued from page 1: Will Effective...
are cut in half, saving $100 million, and the After School Education and Safety Program will be cut by $100 million. To make up for the forced cuts in general fund contributions, Newsom is proposing several offsetting mitigating actions. $4 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund and $355 million from the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund will be provided to school districts for learning loss mitigation. $1.6 billion is appropriated from federal Title 1 funds for school programs and another federal program will provide $714 million for child nutrition. $2.3 billion is being redirected from state funds to reduce pension contribution rates and deferred payments will be used to make about $5.4 billion available for school districts spending. According to the Legislative
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
Sports & Entertainment Privacy Bill: Kobe Bryant’s Death Inspired Moves Forward
Photo: by Antonio Ray Harvey Kobe Bryant taking questions at a press conference in Sacramento January, 2016 Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
On May 20, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee approved a bill that would make it illegal for first responders to take pictures or record video of a deceased person at the scene of an accident or crime. Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Los Angeles) authored the bill, AB 2655, titled the “Invasion of Privacy: First Responders” act. AB 2655 is one of the few noncoronavirus-related bills that has moved in the legislature since the global pandemic began. Now that the Public Safety Committee has approved the legislation, it has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for review. “No person, including our first responders, should ever take photos of a deceased person for their own
personal gain,” Gipson reacted to his colleagues’ yay vote. “I am grateful that the Assembly Public Safety Committee agrees and helped move this bill forward.” First responders like police officers, fire department personnel, emergency medical technicians, and medical examiners have special access to the scenes of accidents and other incidents involving deaths. Those public employees have many legitimate reasons to capture images of a deceased person, but AB 2655 draws a line, pushing the notion that obtaining photos for personal purposes exceeds the scope of their duties. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is sponsoring the legislation. “I was very pleased our bill cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature today as it seeks to address a significant deficiency
in current law and brings peace of mind to the families of accident victims,” Sheriff Villanueva said. “I look forward to its continued success through the process.” The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department announced in March that eight of its deputies were responsible for sharing images taken at the site where retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna “GiGi” Bryant died in a helicopter crash. Seven other people, including the pilot, also died in the fatal accident that happened on Jan. 26 in Calabasas, a city nestled in the hills northwest of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Fire Department also became the focus of the investigation of the photos that were posted online and in some public places like bars. Existing law generally prohibits “the reproduction of any kind of photograph of the body, or any portion of the body, of a deceased person, taken by or for the coroner at the scene of death or in the course of a post mortem examination or autopsy, from being made or disseminated.” If passed, AB 2655 would specifically make that prohibition a misdemeanor. This bill would also authorize a search warrant to be issued on the grounds that “the property or things to be seized consists of evidence that tends to show that a first responder has engaged or is engaging in the crime established by AB 2655.” On March 2, Sheriff Villanueva went on record to acknowledge that eight of his deputies participated in capturing and sharing graphic photos of the accident scene after the helicopter Bryant, his daughter and friends were
traveling in crashed into a hillside on a foggy Sunday morning. “When I first got word of this information I just felt devastated,” Villanueva responded to the allegations in March. “To have any action of our deputies compile (the families’) suffering, that breaks my heart. It’s a sense of betrayal because these are my own employees.” A few days after Bryant’s death, U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA-30) introduced a bill in the United States Congress titled, “The Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act.” The legislation proposed tightening federal safety standards for helicopters implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board. The legislation would require that all helicopters be fitted with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System. Currently, these systems are recommended by the FAA but they are not enforced, Sherman said in a written statement. They cost between $25,000 to $40,000 per helicopter. “Kobe Bryant’s helicopter did not have this system when it crashed Jan. 26,” Sherman stated. “Had this system been on the helicopter, it is likely the tragic crash could have been avoided.” Other Assemblymembers who voted yes on AB 2655 are: Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), who is the chair of the Public Safety Committee; Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda); Wendy Carrillo (D-Boyle Heights): Tyler Diep (R-Westminster): Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles): Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles); and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).
NFL takes major steps to hire minorities for top post By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
National Football League teams must now interview at least two minority candidates for head coaching positions under new resolutions that the league hopes will improve diversity among its 32 teams. In an expansion of its Rooney Rule, which had previously called on teams to interview minority candidates, the league said teams must also interview at least one minority candidate for coordinator openings and one external candidate for positions in teams’ front offices. “While we have seen positive strides in our coaching ranks over the years aided by the Rooney Rule, we recognize, after the last two seasons, that we can and must do more,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a media conference call. “The policy changes made today are bold and demonstrate the commitment
of our ownership to increase diversity in leadership positions throughout the league.” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations and second-in-command to Goodell, said the league is now in a better position to not only hire minorities and women but to retain their services. “What the chairman (Art Rooney II) and the commissioner did today and what the ownership voted on today has been a fight for decades to get mobility that has disproportionately affected people of color,” Vincent stated. “Just the ability to get an interview, you don’t get hired unless you have an interview. The mobility resolution today was significant and historic, because it has been a fight for decades. That’s the foundation. Frankly, we would call that the linchpin of these inequalities. With these initiatives, the enhancement of the Rooney Rule, which is a tool; it just allows us to have a broader scope
of how we look at things.” The new rules include a provision that begins in 2021, which states that teams will no longer restrict staff from interviewing with other clubs for “bona fide” coaching or front office positions. Goodell called the commitment to improving diversity throughout the league is “critical” for future success. “While we have seen positive strides in our coaching ranks over the years aided by the Rooney Rule, we recognize, after the last two seasons, that we can and must do more,” Goodell said. “The policy changes made today are bold and demonstrate the commitment of our ownership to increase diversity in leadership positions throughout the league.” Clubs also will be required to “include minorities and, or, female applicants in the interview processes for seniorlevel front office positions such as club president and senior executives
in communications, finance, human resources, legal, football operations, sales, marketing, sponsorship, information technology, and security positions,” according to the expanded rule. Also, league officials stated that they would use an advisory panel to further strategies aimed at fostering an inclusive culture of opportunity both on and off the field. Goodell also promised to improve the league’s pipeline for minority coaching and player personnel candidates with assistance from its Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship. “This fight has been going on for a long time,” said Vincent, who could one day become the league’s first African American commissioner. “The facts are we have a broken system, and we’re looking to implement things to change the direction in where we’re going, and it’s been south. Not a gradual south but a direct south.”
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
BUPPIE | BUSINESS The Lion Queen
US Against The World
AUTO NETWORK ON BLACK PRESS USA: 2020 Nissan Sentra SR
By Frank S. Washington, NNPA Newswire Contributor By Michelle Lyons, Columnist
In 1995, Tupac released an album called, “Me against The World”. This hit home for many especially in the African American community because we were recovering from Generation X who was raised by The Baby Boomers (many who were on drugs). Both generations were individualist and naive to the fact that what happens to one affects all. Ironically, in 1992 Tupac got a tattoo “THUG LIFE” an acronym he explained meaning, “The Hate U Give Little Infants F****Everyone”. If everyone had unconditional love between birth to adulthood, how much better would The World be? I didn’t understand how important love was until my twenties. In my late twenties and early thirties I only dated African men. I was drawn to them because of their family dynamic. I loved their families so much it would pain me to have to break up my relationship with them (The men themselves can often times be controlling). If my ex and I were in the neighborhood of his parents or siblings we would just stop by without calling. The first time this happened I was flabbergasted. He would say, “I don’t have to call they are family. In fact, they would be offended if they found out I was in the neighborhood and I didn’t stop by”. In my family, this for certain would have got me cussed out. Christmas, Birthdays and Thanksgiving with my exes would be hundreds of people. He would say, “Because family is expected to be at every special occasions no matter what, whether you lived in Maryland or not (That’s where his family resided)”. If he were on hard times, someone would gladly take him in. If he needed money, Continued on page 7
DETROIT – We did not get as much seat time in the 2020 Nissan Sentra as we would have liked thanks to the lockdown brought about by the coronavirus. But we did spend enough time to come away with an opinion about the car – it is big in a good way. We do not mean physical size but the 2020 Nissan Sentra drove big. That is not bad for a compact car and a new chassis did not hurt. Nissan made what it called extensive upgrades to the Sentra’s platform. The most important was a new independent rear suspension. This opened rear seat room; enough to accommodate a sixfooter. We did not climb in the back seat during our really short time behind the wheel. But we did note the openness of the back seat and we did not need to sit in it to tell that it was spacious and comfortable. To handle the bigger dimensions of the 2020 Nissan Sentra, the car got more oomph under the hood. For 2020, the Sentra’s engine was bumped up from a 1.8-liter four cylinder to a 2.0-liter four cylinder. Horsepower increased to 149 which was a 20 percent improvement over the previous model. And more importantly, torque was improved 17 percent to 146 pound-feet. This engine provided more than enough power for the day in day out routine of driving. We found it responsive and more than powerful enough. About the only thing we did not like was the continuously variable transmission or CVT. But it was not just this one, we do not like them period. Still, for a CVT the Sentra’s was not bad. The car’s acceleration, a weak point for most CVTs, was enhanced with a D-mode step shift program that simulated shifts, giving the Sentry a more natural acceleration feel without holding a high rpm constant, letting rpms build as speed builds. The D-step logic control helps provide enhanced drivability with a stable, natural and crisp shift feel. We had to concentrate on the drivetrain
to make sure the Sentra had a CVT. That is how well the Xtronic transmission worked. Fuel economy was 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined for the S and SV grades and 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined for the SR grade which is the trim line we test drove. It is hard to believe that the Nissan Sentra has been around for almost 40 years. And over that time, it has evolved.
“Life is messy but when we get through the mess we find out who we really are..”
Because of its new platform, the new generation was two inches lower and two inches wider. That gave it a presence that most compact cars in the past just did not have. The press material said the Sentra’s premium presence of the exterior was highlighted by Nissan’s signature V-motion grille, available thin LED headlamps and floating roof. Designers Continued on page 8
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
Classified PUBLIC NOTICE
The City Council of the City of Inglewood, California, will hold a public hearing on June 9, 2020 at the hour of 2:00 p.m., to consider the following: 1.A public hearing to consider General Plan Amendment 2020-01 (GPA 2020-001) to adopt an Environmental Justice Element to the General Plan. A Notice of Exemption (EA-CE-2020-036) 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 Planning Division office, fourth floor of City Hall. An electronic copy can be obtained by emailing fljackson@cityofinglewood.org. 2.A public hearing to consider General Plan Amendment 2020-002 (GPA 2020-002) to amend the Land Use Element of the City of Inglewood General Plan to clarify existing population density and building intensity allowances for all land use designations. A Notice of Exemption (EA-CE-2020-037) 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 Planning Division office, fourth floor of City Hall. An electronic copy can be obtained by emailing fljackson@cityofinglewood.org. FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN REGARDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION that Pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20 and given the current health concerns, members of the public can access this meeting and make public comments in the following ways: Viewing and Listening to Meeting: Live on-line, with audio and limited video, at https://www.facebook.com/cityofinglewood/ Viewing and Listening to Meeting: On Spectrum Cable Local Channel 35 with audio and limited video. Please check with your cable provider for details. Written Public Comments: Should you choose to submit comments electronically for consideration by the Inglewood City Council/ Successor Agency/Housing Authority/Finance Authority/Parking Authority/Joint Powers Authority (Legislative Body) by sending them to the City Clerk/Secretary at yhorton@cityofinglewood.org, and Deputy City Clerk at aphillips@cityofinglewood.org. To ensure distribution to the members of the Legislative Body prior to consideration of the agenda, please submit comments prior to 12:00 P.M. on June 9, the day of the meeting, and in the body of the email, please identify the agenda number or subject matter. Those comments, as well as any comments received after 12:00 P.M., will be distributed to the members of the Legislative Body and will be made part of the official public record of the meeting. Contact the Office of the City Clerk at 310-412-5280 with any questions. Listening to Meeting and Oral Public Comments: Members of the public can participate in the meeting telephonically to listen and make 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 the following link: https://www.cityofinglewood. org/AgendaCenter/City-Council-3. This notice is given by the order of the City Council of the City of Inglewood and is dated this 26th day of May 2020. Yvonne Horton, City Clerk City of Inglewood, California If you will require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (310) 412-5280 or FAX (310) 4125333, One Manchester Boulevard, 1st Floor, Inglewood, California 90301. All requests for accommodations must be received 48 hours prior to the day of the hearing. Pursuant to Government Code section 65009, if you challenge the proposed general plan amendments 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 City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing. In the event that the City Council meeting of June 9, 2020 is not held, or is concluded prior to this public hearing agenda item being considered, the public hearing will automatically be continued to the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. “Si no entiende esta noticia o si necesita mas informacion, favor de llamar a este numero (310) 412-5280.”
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2020 086948 The following Person is doing business as:
The Aspire Group 412 East Hardy Street, Suite 2 Inglewood, CA 90301 Registered Owner(s): Diane Burbie, 412 East Hardy Street #2, Inglewood, CA 90301 This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on May 21, 2020. 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.) Diane Burbie, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk on May 21, 2020. 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 May 28; June 4, 11, 18, 2020
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the whole family would pitch in (like an offering at church) and if he were visiting from out of town it was literally disrespectful for him to stay at a hotel. No matter how much money or status he had he was expected to stay with his family if he was visiting and there was never a time limit. Family and God were understood to be more important than anything. I attribute this foundation to the reason his family and many immigrants excel in America, and for the same reason why many African Americans families are at the bottom of the totem pole in modern society because of our break down in family. Try marrying an African man, his entire family has to sign off and agree that you are The Queen deserving of this King and vice versa if it’s their daughter. How many of us have families like this? How many have families that will let you drive by unannounced? How many of us have families that will take you in if you are down wanting nothing in return? How many of us have families that will help you out financially if you are low? How many of us have families evaluating our mates making sure we are not blinded by lust heading to divorce or single motherhood? What is great about witnessing a great functioning family dynamic you understand what a dysfunctional family looks like. We like to blame slavery for the issues in the black community, but believe it or not we had families after Slavery. Crack-Cocaine, exploitation of women (b****** and hoes) and the individualism of generation x and the baby boomers are responsible for present day America. So how do we fix it? We can ask the government to fix it, but all they can do is put a bandaid on the problem. The solution has to be US; we have to put love back in society. God is Love and Women are also love, which is why it is so important that we love ourselves, and love and uplift each other because it’s our self-love (which I attribute to realizing you are The Glory of God) that will uplift our communities and ultimately uplift The Nation. This Nation needs to be hugged by our loving hands so it understands; “IT’S US AGA
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PRESS RELEASE City of Inglewood – Recognizes a great incentive program engaged in by the City’s Waste Haul provider, Consolidated Disposal Services/Republic Services to help local businesses, their employees and customers during the pandemic
SUBJECT: Waste Hauler – “Committed to Serve” INGLEWOOD, CA, April 27, 2020, Mayor, James T. Butts, Jr. is pleased to announce a community initiative launched by the City’s waste hauler, Consolidated Disposal Service/Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG). The “Committed to Serve” initiative is designed to help its employees, customers and communities across the United States during this time of crisis. The Company has committed $20 million to support frontline employees and their families, as well as small businesses that are the economic engines of local communities. The program will last for two months. Key elements are: 1) a weekly meal for all frontline employees, a weekly dinner for frontline employees and their families, and; 2) bi-weekly $100 gift cards to all frontline employees (totaling $400 per employee over 2 months). All meals will be purchased from local small businesses to help support the Company’s business customers and to generate local taxes for the community. Finally, Republic Services will donate $3 million to the Republic Services Charitable Foundation to fund our longterm nonprofit partners that operate locally and serve local communities and small businesses. To date, they have used several local Inglewood restaurants and will continue to do so in the future. “This initiative is targeted economic stimulus at the local level, designed to benefit small business customers as well as local employees, their employers and our region.”; says Mayor Butts. CDS/Republic Services has a stable, predictable and resilient business model, and through prudent planning and hard work they are wellpositioned to manage through this crisis. The City has a valuable partnership with this company and applauds their innovative efforts. The Company is taking enhanced measures to help ensure the well-being of its employees by closely following guidance from the CDC, and state and local public health agencies. The Company is also continuing to work closely with public health experts and other advisors and will continue to adhere to OSHA guidelines regarding the safe handling of waste and recycling. For more information, contact - Ms. Dawn Harris-Benton @ dharris@Republic Services.com or 310.628.2115.
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May 28-June 03 , 2020
Metro Pursuing Disruptive Centinela Grade Separation on Nearly Complete Crenshaw Line
By Joe Linton
The Crenshaw/LAX rail is a $2 billion, 8.5-mile light rail line extending from the Expo Line’s Exposition/Crenshaw station to the Green Line’s Aviation Station. The line primarily follows Crenshaw Boulevard up through the heart of Los Angeles’ Black communities. Portions of the line are elevated and underground, though much of it will run at-grade. When Crenshaw/LAX line construction got underway in early 2014, the line was anticipated to open in fall 2019. In late 2018, the expected opening date was pushed back to June 2020. Last month, a Metro letter and committee discussions pointed to an opening date around mid-2021. The L.A. Times reported on numerous Crenshaw construction issues leading
to the delays. For his part, Metro CEO Phil Washington has been alluding to a likely “liquidated damages” lawsuit. Tomorrow, the Metro board Construction Committee will consider approving $120 million in Crenshaw cost overruns. That would include $90 million for the current contractor and $30 million for later close-out costs. That item was scheduled to be approved last month, but proved too contentious. In December, the Metro board approved an initial Crenshaw rail operations plan that favors wealthier, whiter South Bay commuters over South L.A. residents who live along the line and who actually ride transit. Today, the board’s Planning and Programming Committee approved an item to move forward with adding a new grade separation at Centinela Avenue in Inglewood. The Centinela
Continued from page 1: Rams...
meet the clothing needs of 23 student families identified by IUSD and provide each with shirts, pants, shorts, shoes and sweatshirts. “Our contribution seems insignificant among the hurt and hardship being felt worldwide,” said Kupp. “The goal for my wife and I is not only to help those in need, but also to thank those who are making unimaginable sacrifices for the good of everyone. It’s times like these where you can be a part of the team and help those that are feeling this the most.” Additional gear purchased by Kupp will be used to reward IUSD students for positive character and attendance as well as provide clothes to homeless or at-risk youth for the 2020-21 school year. “Once the pandemic hit, resulting in the closures of our Inglewood Unified campuses, we knew that many of our students who were already enduring hardships such as experiencing homelessness, hunger and lack of resources, would face even greater challenges,” said Dr. Erika Torres, County Administrator of Inglewood Unified School District. “As we were locating and reaching out to struggling
families to offer support and resources, the Rams organization contacted Inglewood Unified with news that Mr. Cooper Kupp wanted to provide Nike gear to students. IUSD is so grateful for the generosity of Mr. Kupp and the Rams organization, as well as for these right-on-time donations. We will continue to provide the items to families throughout the crisis.” The partnership between the Rams and IUSD has benefitted students and families since the team moved back to Los Angeles in 2016. Since California stay-at-home orders were set in place on March 19, the Rams have worked with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to supplement ‘grab and go’ meals and food kits for IUSD student families, distributed “LA Together” t-shirts to volunteers at meal distribution sites in Inglewood, donated Microsoft Surface tablets to IUSD students lacking the technological resources to engage in coursework, and partnered with Bella Canvas to provide masks to IUSD student families, volunteers and community members. Since 2016, the team has provided more than 1,150 hours of community service in Inglewood, home to SoFi Stadium.
grade separation is championed by James Butts, the Mayor of Inglewood and current Metro Board Chair. Sure, the grade separation will slighty improve the light rail line’s speed and reliability. But the impetus behind the the grade separation is getting more drivers from L.A.’s Westside to Inglewood’s under-construction football stadium. The new grade separation is not a mega-project. It would be statutorily exempt from lengthy environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Metro’s rough estimated cost is $185241 million – up from an early estimate of $100-150 million. The project currently has no funding. Metro CEO Phil Washington stated that the agency is working with Inglewood and the South Bay Council of Governments to
determine how to pay for the project. Washington anticipated returning to the board with funding plans this Summer. Construction is anticipated to begin about a year from now – roughly the same time as the Crenshaw Line is expected to open. If this grade separation project moves forward, which appears likely, it will adversely impact transit riders. There are a few alternatives currently under consideration. These are outlined in Metro’s screening analysis study. For an estimated $200 million, transit riders would have to endure a roughly two-year long partial closure, taking a bus bridge between Crenshaw’s Fairview Heights and Downtown Inglewood stations. For an estimated $241 million, the project could include shoo-fly tracks that would minimize disruption to transit riders. The tracks would occupy several lanes of Florence Avenue and construction would take longer. Some bus bridging would still be needed when the rail line switches to and from the shoo-fly. Potentially further complicating Crenshaw operations will be two upcoming automated people mover projects. The city of Inglewood is planning to build a 1.6-mile three-station automated people mover connecting the Crenshaw Line’s Downtown Inglewood Station to the new stadium. That project recently received a state transit infrastructure grant. The Crenshaw Line will also connect to the LAX’s under-construction people mover. That connection is expected in 2023.
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used sharp creases that blended into the muscular body sides. The rear had a lower roofline and wider shoulders, with wheels flush to the body enhancing the strong stance. We had the top of the line SR, thus, it had LED lights all round: headlights, rear lights, DRLs and fog lamps. Our test car had a two-tone paint job, rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and black heated exterior mirrors. We thought the heated front seats and the heated steering wheel on our test model especially noteworthy. The test vehicle had leatherette seats front and rear. There was a six-way power driver’s seat with a two-way power lumbar support. There were extra things that you would not expect like automatic dimming mirrors, an around view monitor and a quilt pattern interior with orange stitching. The 2020 Nissan Sentra SR was a lot of car for what we thought was very reasonable $25,325 as tested. Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com
Excerpt: It is hard to believe that the Nissan Sentra has been around for almost 40 years. And over that time, it has evolved. Because of its new platform, the new generation was two inches lower and two inches wider. That gave it a presence that most compact cars in the past just did not have. Photo Caption: The 2020 Nissan Sentra (Photo: Frank Washington) Website Tags and Keywords: Frank S. Washington, NNPA Newswire, DETROIT, 2020 Nissan Sentra, lock-down, coronavirus, big in a good way, physical size, drove big, compact car, new chassis, Nissan, extensive upgrades, Sentra’s platform, new independent rear suspension, opened rear seat room, six-footer, Spacious, comfortable, bigger dimensions of the 2020 Nissan Sentra, more oomph under the hood, 1.8-liter four cylinder, 2.0-liter four cylinder, Horsepower, day in day out routine of driving, continuously variable transmission , CVT, car’s acceleration, D-mode step shift program, natural acceleration, holding a high rpm constant, enhanced drivability, Xtronic transmission, Fuel economy, 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, 33 mpg combined, S and SV grades, LED headlamps, floating roof, headlights, rear lights, DRLs, fog lamps Hashtags: @AbooutThatCar @liveautos @NNPA_ BlackPress @NissanUSA @Nissan