Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............4
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................7
Classifieds............................4
Election 2018........................3
Entertainment......................2
Food.......................................5
Hawthorne Happenings....4
Legals.................................6,7
Pets........................................8
Weekend
Forecast
National Coffee with a Cop Day
Inglewood police officers, community leaders and local neighbors came out to Randy’s Donuts on Oct. 3 to chat and enjoy cups of Joe as part of National Coffee with a Cop Day. Photo: City of Inglewood
Election 2018
Inglewood Mayor Faces Slate of
Challengers in November Election
By Haleemon Anderson
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts will face
some challengers in this fall’s mayoral race, with
four other Inglewood residents appearing on the
November ballot. The five official candidates
for mayor include three businessmen, a retired
healthcare professional and the incumbent. All
have met residency requirements and the Aug.
10 filing deadline.
Butts is considered the frontrunner, with
the City of Inglewood flush in cash reserves
and booming in new developments under his
watch. Yet, his competitors have some contrary
ideas about how they believe local government
should be run.
Twenty-year resident Mohamed Benamor
wants to make improvements that will help
homeowners and renters. He pointed to the
newly-minted FedEx headquarters on Eucalyptus.
“That is federal land -- why give it
to FedEx?” he asked. “Housing is a problem
here. I would build housing and homes for
people who make 10 or 11 dollars an hour.”
The candidate, who lives in District 2, feels
that not a lot has changed. “I’ve been here 20
years -- I don’t see any improvement,” Benamor
said. He went on to mention that Mayor Butts
and the City are being sued by Madison Square
Gardens. He believes not much has changed
for the betterment of the youth of Inglewood.
“I want to help the people here.”
Benamor came to Inglewood after a 10-year
stint at the state’s department of health. Under
Governor Jerry Brown’s first administration,
he oversaw early childhood health programs
throughout Southern California. He then spent
20 years in the district as a school nurse, working
at La Tijera and Inglewood High.
It was at Inglewood schools that Benamor
noted that he began mentoring and inspiring
young people. He explained that friends from
the schools encouraged him to run for mayor.
“They know I am an honest person,” he said.
Benamor added that he wants to clean up the
drugs in the city and make the streets safer.
“I’ve seen drugs selling inside the schools—I’ve
seen it all. I want to stop all that.”
Benamor pointed out that with the right
mentoring, students can improve and succeed
beyond their wildest dreams. He remembered
three Inglewood students who went on to be
doctors. “I gave them guidance and encouraged
them,” he said. “I relate to the kids. That’s why
I want to work with them.”
Benamor is currently retired. He lives with his
wife, a medical doctor, and is devoted to using
his time in the service of the people of Inglewood.
Brandon George Myers is an entrepreneur who
has lived in Inglewood for the past eight years.
He resides in District 2. Myers said that he is
running for mayor to change the direction of
the city. “The city is not community-oriented,”
he explained. “Big investors and developers
are literally re-gentrifying the community as
we speak. I’m the David to face Goliath and
knock him off the field.” According to Myers,
the number one priority is stabilizing rent.
“That’s the first initiative -- the majority of
Inglewood residents are renters.”
The candidate described Inglewood as a
“Beverly Hills” for the minority community.
“Inglewood has that identity, that drive,” Myers
said. “It’s a close-knit community, so with
the four districts, everything is tangible. We
See Inglewood Mayor, page 8
James T. Butts Mohamed Benamor Brandon George Myers
Friday
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The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 67, No. 41 - October 11, 2018