Rams Get Planted in Inglewood
In light of Earth Day, the Rams partnered with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps to plant trees on Prairie Avenue by the LA Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park (LASED), Manchester
Avenue by the Forum, Osage Avenue and La Palma Drive in Inglewood. Photographer credit: Hiro Ueno.
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............3
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Entertainment......................2
Finance..................................7
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale..............................4
Legals............................. 4,6,7
Looking Up...........................5
Pets........................................8
Seniors..................................7
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Sunny
62˚/55˚
Saturday
Sunny
63˚/54˚
Sunday
Sunny
65˚/55˚
The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
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 - April 26, 2018
Inglewood Makes a Start to Support
the Local Homeless Population
By Haleemon Anderson
The Inglewood City Council took steps
to address homelessness in the community,
approving a resolution for $50,000 in grant
funds from Los Angeles County at Tuesday’s
meeting. The grant award cements a partnership
with the County under the Measure H
Homeless Initiative to facilitate early-stage
planning to address homelessness. Passed in
March 2017, Measure H approved a quartercent
sales tax increase throughout the county
and will raise an estimated $400 million
annually for the next 10 years.
While the action effectively adds the funding
to Inglewood’s 2017-18 budget, the City
has moved ahead in tackling the problem by
contracting with the nonprofit Shelter Partnership.
The agency, according to documents
available at the meeting, has been gathering
information on Inglewood’s homeless population
through interviews with service providers,
City staff and business owners.
Next steps include retaining a planning
body from among those representatives to
be tasked with developing a strategy “to
prevent and end homelessness in Inglewood.”
Planning sessions will take place in May
and June.
According to the document, Inglewood
residents will be afforded input after the
draft plan is developed. Also in the document,
Inglewood’s homeless population was
estimated at 335 individuals. The action item,
presented as part of the consent calendar,
netted no discussion and passed unanimously.
In public comments, local resident Diane
Sambrano noted agenda item H-E and made
a request for more “transparency” in the
agenda items in general, saying that people
want to know more details on specific violations
and payments.
Damon Johnson, a resident of Council
District 3, asked for clarification on an
upcoming community development block
grant meeting.
Michael Benbow, a member of the Parking
Advisory Committee, congratulated the
Council and staff, saying there are more
reasons to have a good time in Inglewood.
In Council comments, there was a round
of praise for the Earth Day Jazz Festival
at City Hall on Saturday. Mayor James T.
Butts thanked the event planning committee
and staff members. He said he has received
enthusiastic calls and emails from attendees
and reported that many expressed regrets
they missed the well-received music and
entertainment event.
Councilmember Ralph Franklin, District
4, reported on the reopening celebration of
Center Park. He also announced the recent
ribbon-cutting ceremony at Imperial Plaza,
which has added several new casual and
family dining restaurants, including Chipotle,
5 Guys, Jamba Juice and Ono Hawaiian.
Franklin added that a Norms Restaurant is
scheduled to open this fall.
Butts noted that the $18 million renovation
of the retail property on the southeast corner
of Crenshaw and Imperial boulevards has
netted 100 percent retail occupancy and
90 percent of the office space. The mayor
also attempted to dispel the public notion
that the City has given millions to private
development projects. He addressed public
comments, saying, “We had $18 million in
redevelopment bonds and used that as an
incentive to entice business here.”
Butts explained that the funds are earmarked
for specific projects and will return to the
State of California if not used. In addition,
he said, “That investment nets $1.2 to $1.5
million a year to the City in business revenue.”
Councilmember Eloy Morales, Jr., District
3, announced a prescription drug drop-off this
Saturday at City Hall. The DEA TakeBack
event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
People are encouraged to turn in expired or
unused medication for safe disposal. “I’m
very proud of our events and very proud
of the City,” Morales said. “We’ve never
lost our community feel even through the
tough times.”
A public hearing to consider restrictions
on parking oversized vehicles will be revisited
at the May 1 City Council meeting.
The matter has been carried over from two
consecutive meetings.
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. •