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 - March 8, 2018
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This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................2
Classifieds............................3
Film Review..........................7
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale .............................4
Legals................................ 5-7
Pets........................................2
Food.......................................8
Weekend
Forecast
The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Rams Visit Inglewood Schools
for Read Across America Day
On Friday, March 2 the Los Angeles Rams visited two Inglewood schools -- Claude Hudnall Elementary, shown above; and Frank D. Parent Elementary -- as part of the “Read Across America Day” celebration
on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The Rams delivered books to the two campuses to enrich classroom libraries. Photo by Hiro Ueno.
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
66˚/56˚
Saturday
PM Light Rain
63˚/57˚
Sunday
Mostly
Cloudy
65˚/55˚
Inglewood City Council Takes Up
Transit Future at Latest Meeting
By Haleemon Anderson
The Inglewood City Council looked to the
future of people moving and traffic mitigation
at its meeting this week, receiving an
extensive report on transit service options.
Consultant Lisa Triffiletti presented a comprehensive
transit plan, saying her team
looked at multiple ways to “synergyze the
city’s ongoing transformation.”
In particular, the report looked at several
scenarios, including an opening day plan
for the NFL stadium; a rail connection from
Inglewood to major destinations throughout the
LA basin; reducing traffic through residential
neighborhoods; and a long-range mobility
plan to year 2040. “One key component is a
transit connector,” said Triffiletti, who noted
that Mayor James Butts, Jr. requested that
Metro study this project.
The study considered four routes for a
proposed people mover, connecting already
existing routes or those currently under construction.
Crenshaw and Century boulevards
are the main thoroughfares in play, as heavy
traffic is expected from both. Proposed routes
include connecting lines from LAX via Arbor
Vitae or Century, and connecting Crenshaw
via Fairview or Market Street.
The goal, according to the report, is to efficiently
connect all three venues--The Forum,
the NFL stadium and the coming basketball/
entertainment center, while providing access
from multiple connection points throughout
Los Angeles. The challenge, according to
the report, is in coordinating these multiple
factors: existing and proposed infrastructure;
existing and proposed regional development;
right-of-way acquisition and utility conflicts.
The study provided a matrix of four possible
routes for transit connection, entitled “Alignment
Alternatives Comparison.”
Councilman Eloy Morales, Jr., acknowledged
the study’s magnitude. “Inglewood has the
kind of leverage to bring that kind of study
here,” he said. “It helps that the mayor is on
the MTA [Metro Transit Authority] board.
Butts also spoke to the study’s scope.
“The average city will never receive such
a presentation,” he said, noting the cost of
$300,000 to conduct the study was provided
by LA Metro.
The mayor said his reception at local
governing boards has been different lately.
“I was introduced recently at a meeting of
SCAG [Southern California Association of
Governments], as a “celebrity, he said, adding
that this was the first time he had been invited
to address the 80-member board.
“It shows how far we’ve come,” Butts
continued, projecting that over the next 10
years, the City of Inglewood will be able to
cap production costs and build its financial
portfolio, as property and sales taxes will be
generated. “We have a seat at the table. We
have the right to self-determination.”
Regarding the transit proposal, Councilmember
George W. Dotson remarked,
“Inglewood is thinking ahead, trying to get
ahead of these problems.”
The Council also honored construction
and design company TEC with a special
commendation. “We honor your outstanding
community service,” Butts said. TEC provides
program and construction management for the
City, and is responsible for increased local
hiring on construction projects, said the mayor.
During public comments, local resident
Diane Sambrano took exception to Inglewood’s
extensive development projects. “You’re supposed
to be serving the residents you asked
to vote for you,” she said.
Two members of the City’s parking traffic
commission thanked the Council for
its work. Michael Benbow, who chairs the
commission, said he liked the Market Street
alternative proposed in the study for the
transit connection.
Councilmember Alex Padilla congratulated
the La Tijera charter school for its Read
Across America program. He reported on
the Celebrate Soul concert he attended with
his wife, saying it was a great event. Padilla
invited the community to come out to the
Miracle Theatre for another concert this
Saturday night.
Councilmember Ralph L. Franklin thanked
Christine Roberts and her company for their
work in engaging the community, and asked
that the meeting be closed in honor of Anthony
Oren Maxwell, a resident who recently died
in a car accident.
Butts adjourned the meeting in honor of
residents Marlene Bail, Jerome Carrier, Taeko
Velasquez-Kinoshita and Maxwell.
The Inglewood City Council meets every
Tuesday, unless otherwise noted, at 2 p.m.
in the council chambers on the 9th floor,
Inglewood City Hall. •