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 - December 7, 2017
Inglewood Resident Turns 105!
Luke Dixon celebrated 105 years of life on Saturday, December 2 at a gala dinner at the Renaissance Hotel LAX. The former “Buffalo Bill” army veteran is surrounded by his children (L to R): Doris McCall,
Shirley Dixon and Quincy Watts. Mr. Dixon has been a resident of Inglewood for 72 years.
City Council Ends Boom Year
with Thanks, Bonuses and Cheer
By Haleemon Anderson
the issuing of new licenses.
The Inglewood City Council focused on
Trena Lawson, Executive Director of Children
end-of-the-year business at its meeting this
of Promise Charter, presented the Council with
week, inviting the community to attend an
a mural created by students from the school.
extravagant tree lighting ceremony and with the
Lawson said the children documented many
announcement of bonuses for its executive team.
local landmarks in the mapping activity. The
City Manager Artie Fields explained the staff
Council roundly thanked the group, with Mayor
report, recommending action for merit-based
Butts announcing that space would be allotted
bonuses for the City of Inglewood’s executive
to display the mural in the City Hall lobby.
team members. Councilmember Ralph L.
“I applaud your efforts. You are why we built
Franklin asked that the action be amended to
Inglewood,” said the Mayor.
include the City Manager, City Attorney and
Mr. Davis, a resident in the 2nd District, said
Police Chief. Mayor James T. Butts recommended
he supported the Council’s decision to buy
the one-time bonuses be at the 10 percent level.
American-made cars. “I consider Ford the last
The action was approved unanimously, with
American car company,” said Davis, noting many
Councilmember Eloy Morales, Jr., District 3,
others are actually foreign-owned and operated.
absent.
Another resident noted the new FedEx location
Closed sessions at the start of the meeting
in Inglewood is “fully operational.” He thanked
resulted in discussion of potential litigation, a
the Council and gave “kudos” to citizens who
status report to the Council and direction to
were able to find jobs there.
the staff, according to General Counsel for the
Councilmember George W. Dotson, District
City Kenneth Campos.
1, reported on the grand reopening of the newly
In public comments, Resident Willie A.G.
revamped Vons grocery store on Manchester.
expressed support for the merit payments to
“It was a wonderful experience,” said Dotson,
staff. “You need a raise and I hope you’ll work
noting the store made a donation to Kelso
a little harder next year,” he said.
School of $1,000. “You must go see this store,”
Consent calendar items were approved in
he said. “It’s something special.” Dotson also
entirety, including an agreement for residential
thanked the community members who came
sound insulation at $742,000, and a lease
out to help wrap toys last week at the toy drive
agreement with Ford Motors for 15 vehicles for
in his district.
the Inglewood Police Department. The four-year
Councilmember Alex Padilla, District 2,
agreement will cost $826,600, or $206,600 for
attended a recent police academy graduation.
each of the four years of the agreement.
He said the top two graduates were from the
In other public comments, a resident thanked
Inglewood Police Department. Padilla invited the
the Council for “not following LA’s lead” in
community to come out to the Christmas tree
promoting marijuana dispensaries in the city. A
lighting on Wednesday. He asked for volunteers
recent amendment to Inglewood’s municipal code
to donate unwrapped toys on Saturday at the
will retain an exemption for medical purposes,
community center on Fairview and La Tijera.
but will otherwise ban sales or cultivation of the
Councilmember Ralph Franklin, District 4,
substance in the community. The action was a
announced the 13th consecutive year of his food
preemptive measure, as statewide legalization
and toy drive. The event will be held at the
of the substance takes effect in January with
newly renovated Crenshaw Plaza at Imperial
and Crenshaw boulevards, in the Citibank
Building, Suite 508.
Butts thanked the Council members for their
holiday spirit. “It looks like every child in
Inglewood will have a toy this Christmas,” he
said. He reported on the City’s Thanksgiving
drive, noting that 1,500 families were provided
turkeys and fixings for a full holiday dinner.
In concluding his report, Butts noted that
the one-time merit payments to the Inglewood
executive team are well-deserved. “Our director
and executives are underpaid compared to
comparable cities,” he said and added, “They
have done so much more than we could have
imagined.”
Butts gave a comprehensive list of notable
achievements that have been accomplished
through the efforts of staff—under the direction
of Council. The City will host the Super Bowl
in 2022 and the national college championship
game in 2023. The ENA (exclusive negotiating
agreement) with the Clippers in now in effect,
as well as the ENA for the Youth Orchestra LA
program sponsored by the LA Philharmonic.
The LA Phil will install its fourth youthfocused
program at the site of the old AMAN
Inc., Building, on La Brea Avenue. Lauded
architectural giant Frank Gehry will design
the building.
Inglewood is set to host the 2028 Olympics.
Los Angeles was officially awarded the games
in September. Events will be held at existing
venues, like the Coliseum and Staples Center,
as well as at the Rams’ stadium, currently under
construction in Inglewood. Finally, The Girl
Scouts of America will move their headquarters
from Marina Del Rey to Inglewood in 2018.
The Inglewood City Council meets every
Tuesday, unless otherwise noted, at 2 p.m.
in the Council chambers on the ninth floor,
Inglewood City Hall. •
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Finance..................................4
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Legals............................... 6-7
Looking Up...........................2
Pets........................................8
Police Reports.....................3
Seniors..................................4
Sports....................................5
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
72˚/53˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
78˚/55˚
Sunday
AM Clouds/
PM Sun
79˚/54˚