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 - July 19, 2018
Inglewood Police Department
Welcomes Inside Vapor Wake Dogs
This Issue
The Inglewood Police Department recently welcomed its newest bomb-sniffing members to the department: two vapor wake dogs. The dogs are trained to find explosives that are carried on a person in large
crowds of people. Officers Ware and Lisardi recently completed the rigorous training at Auburn University and their dogs will be deployed at all major events to ensure public safety. Photo: Inglewood PD.
Calendar of Events.............3
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................7
Classifieds............................3
Entertainment......................2
Food.......................................5
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale..............................4
Legals............................. 4,6,7
Looking Up...........................7
Pets........................................8
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Sunny
77˚/69˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
76˚/68˚
Sunday
Sunny
79˚/69˚
Transit Plans Coming Into Focus
By Haleemon Anderson
The City of Inglewood unveiled a comprehensive
plan on Monday to link its
burgeoning entertainment district with other
major thoroughfares, including Los Angeles
International Airport (LAX), the Crenshaw
District and Downtown Inglewood. The result
of a month-long study by no less than four
consulting groups, the 96-page document
can be accessed online.
The full report, titled Envision Inglewood,
provides exacting details on a people mover
that would bridge the so-called “last mile
gap” left uncovered by Metropolitan Transit
Authority (Metro) or other existing transit.
Although Metro has committed no funds
to the project, it has partnered with Inglewood
to explore feasible transit connection
options. Metro is scheduled to complete
the Crenshaw/LAX rail expansion in 2019,
with eight stations under construction in or
nearby Inglewood.
With the NFL stadium that will be home
to both the Rams and Chargers set to open
in 2020, Inglewood officials are looking to
maximize transit service to the Los Angeles
Stadium and Entertainment District (LASED)
at Hollywood Park.
The report notes: Inglewood “is wholly
committed to providing world-class transportation
connections to its new state-of-the-art
sports and entertainment center and is working
diligently to define and propose a last-mile
fixed guideway transit connector, referred to
as the Inglewood Transit Connector Project.
Mobility and direct transit access to the City’s
new activity centers are critical top priorities.”
The proposed people mover would be built
above-grade to mitigate the effects on traffic.
The report notes the incremental goals
of updating the city’s existing transportation
infrastructure and circulation system, increasing
capacity on major arterial streets where
possible, enhancing Metro and municipal bus
service, and ultimately, connecting the Metro
Rail to Inglewood’s major activity centers.
Preparation for the draft environmental
impact report (EIR) on the project begins
this week, with the final document not expected
until 2019. Residents who want more
information about the project may attend a
scoping meeting at the Inglewood Senior
Center on Thursday, July 26 from 6-8 p.m.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Inglewood
City Council, the members approved several
big-ticket items, including a $1.3 million
reimbursement to developer K.P. Auto Center
for “project delays and lost development opportunities
caused by the City…” One resident
objected to the large settlement, saying the
City should take care to expedite business
deals so as not to incur such hefty fees.
The Council also awarded a $20 million
construction contract to Excel Paving Company
for the Century Boulevard Mobility
Improvement Project. Funding for the project
includes a ROPS bond, and LAWA and
LACMTA funds to cover the costs.
A sound insulation contract went to S&L
Specialty Construction, Inc. The $1.2 million
budget is allocated to provide residential sound
insulation on 41 homes. The Inglewood Police
Department will receive $180,000 to provide
emergency medical services for inmates.
The City will also hire MGT Consulting
Group to perform a user fee study and cost
allocation plan. The firm will look at all Citydirected
fee structures and do a comparison
study before coming to the Council with
findings and recommendations.
All items were passed unanimously and
swiftly. The Council meeting adjourned within
15 minutes of the call to order.
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. •