Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............3
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................4
Classifieds............................3
Entertainment......................2
Food.......................................5
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Lawndale..............................4
Legals............................. 4,6,7
Pets........................................8
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Sunny
77˚/65˚
Saturday
Sunny
75˚/64˚
Sunday
Sunny
76˚/64˚
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 - September 13, 2018
Flynn Is In and Happy as Can Be
With Finances Flush, City Council
Promotes Some Upcoming Events
By Haleemon Anderson
It was business as usual at Tuesday’s Inglewood
City Council meeting, as the members
acted quickly to pay bills and move forward on
development projects. Notable actions included
purchase of seven Ford and Chevrolet trucks
and vans in the amount of $242,580; acceptance
of a $212,000 safety grant to the police department;
consent of a grant agreement for $20
million in federal aviation funds for residential
sound insulation; and an extension agreement
for environmental studies on a proposed Hilton
Hotel to be built at 11111 S. Prairie Ave.
The City of Inglewood’s deal with Beverly
Hills-based Kruger development will result
in a 6-story, 120-room construction in close
proximity to the emerging NFL stadium, set
to open in 2020.
City Treasurer Wanda M. Brown gave a
glowing financial report: “As of June 30, the
City holds $198 million in total cash and investments,”
she said. Brown touted her extended
tenure and the vastly improved economic
outlook. “When I started 31 years ago, it was
$38 million. This is what can happen with the
Council on the same page. This city has been
on the move, especially in the last 10 years.
Brown also noted that the total funds include
$58 million in successor agency monies, plus
$12 million in public finance.
Brown announced a community financial
workshop to begin in November. The multisession
event will focus on various aspects of
financial literacy -- including debt elimination,
IRAs, investing and reverse mortgages. Another
upcoming program will give students in eighth
through 11th grade classes an overview of city
government that will look at various departments
as well as the Council positions.
In public comments, resident Rodney Davis
gave tribute to the first responders who perished
in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers.
Diane Sambrano, a resident and frequent critic
of the Council, objected to the brevity of the
meeting, which moved through numerous agenda
items including a 17-item consent calendar in
under 20 minutes. Sambrano chided the Council
for its budget process. She requested a community
budget study session and questioned
the lack of a third quarter financial report.
Resident Aldean L. objected to the special
meeting held on Monday, Aug. 27, and the
subsequent cancellation of the regular Tuesday
meeting. “This is to be a democracy,” said
Aldean, before making the claim that the
Council had “joined forces with Sacramento.”
She seemed to refer to the recent approval of
AB-987, which streamlines the process for the
required Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
on the proposed Clippers arena in Inglewood.
The construction won unanimous Senate and
Assembly support in August.
Mayor James T. Butts requested the appointment
of Renee A. Fox to the Arts Commission.
Butts reported on the recent 92nd anniversary
of 1st Lutheran Church. He noted actress Della
Reese was a former pastor. Butts added that a
police citizens’ academy will start this week.
The 10-week civilian training program will
give resident exposure to police procedures.
Councilmember George Dotson announced a
document shredding event this Saturday. A Back
to School Tennis Day will be held Saturday,
Sept. 22 at Edward Vincent Park. The event
will feature tennis lessons and other fitness
workouts. Students will receive school supplies.
Councilmember Alex Padilla announced
the winner of his annual Chili Cook-off:
Resident Jim Vaughan. Padilla thanked his
sponsors, including 7-11, Rotary Club, Lions
Club, AT&T, City Clerk Yvonne Horton, the
Inglewood Area Chamber of Commerce and
Paletas Michoacán.
The Inglewood School District will host a
Wellness Fair at Morningside High on Friday
from 2 to 5 p.m.
This Saturday, the City will host the Hispanic
Heritage Festival. The event features music, live
entertainment and a classic car show, and will
be held at Crozier Middle School at 11 a.m.
Councilmember Ralph Franklin reported on
the block club meeting in Century Heights
where Maxine Waters gave the keynote speech.
Franklin’s district will hold a Town Hall meeting
Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hollywood
Park Turf Club.
Councilmember Eloy Morales noted the City
has been committed to block clubs for many years.
“They have turned into very positive events,”
he said. He also announced Coffee with a
Cop on Oct. 3 at Randy’s Donuts at 5:30 p.m.
Padilla asked the meeting be adjourned in
honor of long-time resident Jodean Sparling,
who passed this week. He was 94.
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. •
Hey, Flynn! Is that your new K9 vehicle? He just might be the happiest K9 ever. Photo: Inglewood PD.