Daily News on a Weekly Basis - Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - August 23, 2018
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............3
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................7
Classifieds............................3
Entertainment......................2
Food.......................................5
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale..............................4
Legals............................. 4,6,7
Pets........................................8
Weekend
Forecast
The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
The Force Was With Them….
National Night Out a Big Success
The Inglewood Police Department recently hosted National Night Out behind City Hall. The festivities included food, music and family fun as parents and children had the opportunity to interact with the
officers who keep local streets safe. And a few recognizable characters also made an appearance… (Photo: Inglewood PD)
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
76˚/66˚
Saturday
Sunny
76˚/66˚
Sunday
Sunny
76˚/66˚
Confident Inglewood City Council
Activates Its Financial Might
By Haleemon Anderson
The Inglewood City Council flexed a bit
of financial muscle at Tuesday’s meeting by
initiating a minimum wage increase, boasting
a hefty reserve and detailing plans to
increasing affordable housing.
The wage increase initiative, brought
by Mayor James T. Butts, will effectively
raise the wages of hourly workers to $13
on October 1, with another increase in
July 2019 to $15.05. Butts said the City of
Inglewood will reach the state-mandated
minimum wage increase three years ahead
of schedule. “I recommend the Fiscal Year
Salary Ordinance be amended to include the
proposed changes,” said Butts. The Council
voted unanimous approval.
Delivering notes from the agenda packet,
Butts said the City has been a leader in the
region in stabilizing municipal finances. It
has steadily raised the salaries of full-time
workers, making Inglewood comparable to
neighboring municipalities. “We now have
the opportunity to provide our lowest paid,
part-time employees a livable wage,” said
Butts. “It’s a proud accomplishment for a
once struggling city. We are projected to
finish the 2017-18 fiscal year with over a
$30 million surplus and over $55 million
in general fund reserves.” Citing investment
interest from major sporting entities and art
and entertainment organizations, along with
fiscally responsible practices, Butts gloated
that the City has “quintupled its unobligated
reserves since 2011.”
Assistant City Manager David Esparza gave
a brief report on the general fund reserve,
noting the 2017/18 budget included a $17
million shortfall projection. “We reduced that
to $11.5 million through healthcare savings
and vacancy savings,” he said.
Esparza also explained that the City did
not include funding projected from state and
local revenues in that budget. Being fiscally
conservative was important, he pointed out.
“On July 31, the year-end fiscal snapshot
includes a projected year-end surplus of
$30.6 million and a projected general fund
reserve of $55.5 million,” said Esparza. Butts
commented, “That represents a $48 million
turnaround,” adding that total reserves are at
an approximate $87 million.
Councilman Eloy Morales, Dist. 3, reported
that the raise will affect about 44 positions.
“It makes sense,” he said. “Many of them
have been with us for a long time.” Esparza
added, “Most of these positions are seasonal
or part time.”
Councilman Ralph Franklin, Dist. 4,
thanked Council staff for the effort put into
the report, saying, “I’m glad we are making
a significant notification publicly.”
Councilman Alex Padilla, Dist. 2, emphasized
the Council’s goal to give employees
a sustainable wage. “I was elected during
that period while were struggling. But we
told our workers, ‘We’re gonna make you
right,’” he said
Butts said the total impact on the 2018-19
budget is $131,000. “We will draw that from
our reserves,” he said.
Harjinder Singh, deputy to the director of
the Inglewood Housing Authority, unveiled
a home buyer assistance program aimed
at providing loan financing to a limited
number of qualified buyers. The program
will be funded with $2 million in redevelopment
housing bond funds. The Council
approved the program unanimously, setting in
motion a process whereby five to six
moderate income families will receive loan
assistance. An extensive qualifying process
and lottery will decide the participants.
See City Council, page 6
Heavy Foot Traffic Convinces
DMV to Open on Saturday
By Rob McCarthy
Welcome to the Department of Motor
Vehicles. Watch for slowing ahead.
The department notorious for its long
lines and agonizing wait times is now open
on Saturdays in Hawthorne and Culver
City. The DMV began its extended hours
in early August, a move necessitated by a
surge in applications for the new federally
approved driver’s license and ID card.
Not all DMV offices are open on
Saturdays, and weekend services do not
include driving tests. Still, South Bay
residents who can’t resolve their vehicle
or licensing transactions online can visit
these DMV offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
any Saturday. The extended hours started
on Aug. 6.
DMV Director Jean Shimoto echoed the
sentiments of many drivers and vehicle
owners who’ve spent hours waiting for
their numbers to be called at the motor
vehicle licensing office. “Today’s wait
times are unacceptable and we are continuing
to take action to improve service
for all Californians,” Shimoto said in
announcing Saturday hours at 60 DMV
offices around the state.
Behind-the-wheel driving tests won’t be
offered as part of the Saturday effort to
deliver motor vehicle services at a faster
See DMV, page 6