Hawthorne Press Tribune
The Weekly Newspaper of Hawthorne
Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - January 11, 2018
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Hawthorne PD SWAT Team Gets
a Memorable Training Session
This past weekend, Hawthorne Police Department SWAT and K9s participated in a grueling three-day training geared toward tactical trauma care in the field. This facility in San Diego had actors wearing
body suits mimicking severe injuries, explosions, fires, gunshots, and lots of other distractions meant to create a realistic and stressful environment through which officers had to negotiate. The officers
returned to Hawthorne with new skills and knowledge. Photo/Content Courtesy of Hawthorne PD.
City Council Approves Billboard
Replacement, Looks at Blight Fee
By Derrick Deane
James said. “I don’t know how many times
Continuing to develop businesses and
we’ll use the sign, if at all, so I don’t really
expanding on ideas on how to increase revenue
anticipate a conflict -- but we should be able
was the main focus for the Hawthorne City
to get an advertisement we want on there.”
Council in its first meeting of 2018. One of
Vargas remained concerned with the time
those revenue methods will consist of the
frame of advanced notice, especially in cases
replacement of the electronic billboard next
when an event is brought together under the
to the 405 Freeway by South Bay Ford.
45-day period. “I understand the need of the
The new sign will be a double-sided billboard
businesses to market their product and that’s
that will bring in $70,000 annually to the City
the primary purpose of this, but if we had an
of Hawthorne and adjust every five years in
event that comes up in three weeks, would
conjunction with the Consumer Price Index.
we be able to talk to the owners and get
Hawthorne currently does not receive any
that scheduled for the billboard?” she asked.
revenue from the current sign there.
Interim City Manager Arnie Shadbehr
The new sign will be 7 feet taller than the
explained that big events that brought a large
current 90-foot tall sign that stands on the
number of people from outside the city saw
east side of the 405 and will feature automatic
planning begin six months in advance. He
dimming at night. “It will be 3-foot candles
added that smaller events like Good Neighbors
above ambient light,” Planning Director Brian
Day still require at least three months of
James said. “A foot-candle is the amount of
planning. Additionally the representatives for
light a candle gives off from a foot away.”
the sign and South Bay Ford also agreed to
The new sign will only feature static
work with the City if the need arises.
advertisements that change every four to eight
While the billboard will bring in a steady
seconds. No flashing, blinking, or animation
stream of revenue, it is just the beginning for
will be allowed. “We’ll also have space
what looks to be a very aggressive revenue
available for public service announcements on
seeking year for the City Council. Mayor
a space-available basis as well as emergency
Pro Tem Hadir Awad mentioned that in the
notifications,” James said.
early part of the year, he wants to draft up a
The advertising of community events became
fee for buildings that are non-operational or
a discussion item as Councilmembers Olivia
abandoned. “If I’m an investor and I come
Valentine and Angie Reyes English as well
into a city and see a lot of blighted buildings,
as Mayor Alex Vargas all addressed James
I’m not going to want to invest my money
about various aspects of getting events and
there,” he said.
services displayed on the billboard. “In the
What has unofficially been called the
agreement, it says that we have to give [the
“blight fee” has been put into practice in
sign owner] a request 45 days in advance,”
Berkeley and Long Beach. Hawthorne will
look to those cities as examples in drafting
rules for its own version of the fee.
The proposal already has an early supporter
in Valentine, who said she didn’t consider the
blighted properties as part of the economic
development and revitalization of the city. “I
hadn’t thought about that and I realized that
we’re trying to promote economic development
and this is important,” she said. “We want
businesses to come in. We don’t want them
to be discouraged because they see a lot of
blighted properties. I support that proposed
blight fee whenever it comes up.”
The abatement of blighted properties in the
city coincides with the third annual Hawthorne
Business Expo, which Valentine oversees. “I
am so proud to be bringing the Hawthorne
Business Expo back for the third time,” she
said. “This is a collaboration between the
Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce and the
Hawthorne City Council and it’s all about
growing and sustaining our businesses.”
Valentine noted that almost 50 Hawthorne
businesses applied and got accepted for the
expo that will take place Jan. 24 from 3 to
7 p.m. at the Hawthorne Memorial Center.
The event, which is free to the public, will
feature networking opportunities, keynote
speakers, and food sampling from Hawthorne
restaurants. The event precedes English’s
annual Service Provider Fair, which occurs
in April. “It is my hope that this year, we
continue to be aggressive when it comes to
economic revenue for our city,” English said
in her closing remarks. “I think it’s a great
start in January that we’re doing that today.” •