Lawndale Tribune
AND lAwNDAle News
The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale
Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - September 21, 2017
LA Rams, Special Olympics
Team Up for Football Camp
On September 14, the Los Angeles Rams and Special Olympics Southern California hosted a FUNdamentals Football Camp and Punt, Pass and Kick Challenge. The event featured 70 Special Olympics athletes
and 15 coaches from Los Angeles, with a special appearance by Rams’ all-pro punter Johnny Hekker (facing the group in the photo). Photo by Will Navarro
Lawndale City Council Hits Wall In
Honoring Unsung Heroes
By Haleemon Anderson
The Lawndale City Council hit a snag in
confirming this year’s nominees for the Wall
of Distinction, taking exception at Monday’s
meeting to the list of names submitted this year
by the nominating committee. City Manager
Steve Mandoki said clarification is needed
on specific criterion for the honor. “The staff
recommendation is to review the names provided
by the Nominating Committee,” said Mandoki.
“The intent was to de-politicize this,” said
Councilmember Jim Osborne. He pointed to
the original language of City Council Policy
101-16, noting guidelines establishing the
wall as a means to honor “unsung heroes”--
individuals who had not been and would not
likely be honored by other means.
City Director of Community Services Mike
Estes explained that applications were screened
and proposed nominees were made ineligible
if a facility or building was named after them.
Confusion arose in part because many elected
officials of the city do not have buildings named
after them, but have been honored with plaques
and other postings throughout town. “We
need to go back to the original intent,” said
Councilmember Bernadette Suarez. Osborne
agreed. “We need to adhere to what was said
by the Council at that time,” he said.
Discussion and public comment on the
matter continued after Mayor Pro Tem Daniel
Reid’s motion to approve the agenda item, with
Councilmember Pat Kearney giving the second.
Doris Hofman, resident, said she agreed with
Councilman Osborne. Resident Pam London
questioned the wording of the policy. “How
do you interpret ‘spirit?’ she asked, referring
to another subjective term associated with the
policy. “Let’s make sure the wording is clear
and not open to interpretation.”
Resident Steve Koontz said, “If the Council
wants to debate it, don’t forget the initial
understanding of ‘unsung hero.’” Koontz said
the decision should focus on the criterion of
someone who contributed greatly to the city.
Melanie Bell, also a resident, focused on the
issue of de-politicizing the honor. “If you want
to recognize members of this council, call it a
wall of fame, not a wall of distinction,” she said.
Charmaine Doty, a member of the nominating
committee, questioned whether only non-elected
officials fit the criterion.
The vote was taken, with Mayor Robert
Pullen-Miles and Councilmembers Osborne
and Suarez opposing approval of the item.
Staff was directed to bring back a policy that
reflects the original intent of the honor. “We will
revise the policy to reflect no elected officials,”
said Mandoki.
“We have implemented this policy as it is,
several times,” said Reid. “I totally disagree.”
In the public safety report, Captain April
Tardy gave the Council a detailed presentation
on recent legislative measures AB109 (2011) and
Propositions 47 (2014) and 57 (2016). Targeted
to reduce penalties and jail time for non-violent
crimes and ultimately reduce overcrowding in
California state prisons, Tardy said an uptick in
crime state-wide may be an unintended effect
of these measures.
“I’m not surprised,” said Osborne. “Voters
bought a bad bill of goods when they voted
this in,” he added, noting the Council opposed
both propositions. Reid agreed, saying the
conversation needs to get started on “how do
we get this repealed.”
In other business, agenda item number six
asked for Council direction on regulating
recreational vehicles parked on city streets. The
request was brought by Councilmember Kearney,
who said vehicles should be required to have
a DMV printout and utility bill connected to
a residence to legally park.
Municipal Services Director Debbie Holland
addressed the issue, saying, “We do have an
ordinance.” She explained vehicles need to have
a City-issued visitor’s permit and that permits
are issued for a particular residence for a limited
time. Violations are frequent, however, said
Holland. “We receive weekly complaints and
several are from the same locations.”
Kearney said this is a persistent issue throughout
the area, and it is exacerbated by the homelessness
crisis. He noted Torrance allows no RV parking
except by permit, and allows only a three-day
permit. Kearney asked the Council to implement
a code change, and issue residents two parking
passes a month and only five per year.
Pastor Murray, of Christian Heritage Church,
informed the Council that his congregation had
purchased 12 special tactical vests for the Los
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Murray
said he was thrilled to provide this level of
protection to the department. He presented
Captain Tardy with one of the vests, saying
the gear gives Lawndale a bit of an edge over
some of the other local departments.
Mayor Pullen-Miles reported on a statewide
youth advisory committee that is being proposed
by legislators. He said he observed a youth
engagement program that included a professional
development component. He would like to see
this implemented in the Lawndale Youth Advisory.
Library Manager Jose Parra announced a series
of computer classes for adults at the Lawndale
library beginning on October 11. Teen Read week
starts October 9. There will be daily activities
including poetry and a scavenger hunt.
Estes gave an update on the Lawndale Blues
and Jazz Music Festival. The all-day fest will be
held at Jane Addams Park, Saturday, September
23, at 11 a.m. Five bands are scheduled,
with four food vendors and seven non-profit
organizations providing food and information
services. Estes said the weather is forecast to
be in the mid-70s.
The Lawndale City Council meets the first and
third Monday of every month, unless otherwise
noted. The next regular Council meeting is on
October 2, at 6:30 p.m., in the Lawndale City
Hall Council Chambers. •
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Finance..................................2
Food.......................................5
Legals................................ 6-7
Looking Up...........................7
Pets........................................8
Police Reports.....................3
Seniors..................................2
Sports....................................4
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Sunny
70˚/61˚
Saturday
Sunny
71˚/60˚
Sunday
Sunny
77˚/63˚