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 - November 9, 2017
Chevron Donates Math, Reading
Materials to Kornblum K Class
New Taxes Will Benefit Lawndale
By Haleemon Anderson
The Lawndale City Council received a
report at Monday’s meeting from Senator
Steven Bradford, including an update on the
legislative year which ended on September
15. Bradford explained that of 21 bills he
introduced, 14 made it to the Governor’s office
and 11 passed. He detailed three of the most
significant impacts, including the gas tax which
took effect last week, a housing bond and a
fund for improving state parks.
People are already feeling it at the pumps,
said Bradford. The tax, which effectively raised
gas 12 cents per gallon throughout the state,
will raise $5 billion a year. Additional fees
for vehicle registration and electric cars will
be implemented over the next several years to
address a $130 billion backlog in transportation
maintenance. “We have over 400 roads and
bridges in dire need of repair,” he said.
Bradford said passing this much-needed
funding bill was not a cakewalk and ultimately
won favor with the inclusion of a “diversity
clause.” It ensures that women and minorityowned
businesses will have a piece of the pie,”
said Bradford, referring to contracts for road
construction and repair. The housing bond
addresses the state-wide housing shortage,
compelling developers to set aside a percentage
of residential units for affordable housing.
State parks will also get a boost, with cities
being eligible for $200,000 to upgrade park
infrastructures.
A public hearing was opened on item H on
the agenda: Marijuana Use Regulations. The
action sought would amend City of Lawndale
municipal codes to be consistent with state
regulations on marijuana sales, cultivation and
usage. Resident Pamela London expressed the
Lawndale Planning Commission’s concern
that the City could miss out on tax revenue.
“This is also an issue of voters’ rights,” she
said, referring to the overwhelming support for
Prop 66, making marijuana legal in California.
Resident Randall Abrams represented the
Planning Commission. “All the Planning
Commission is saying is you should explore
this in more detail,” he said. “The increased tax
revenue could be used for additional staffing
of law enforcement.”
Council members Bernadette Suarez and Pat
Kearney both urged the Council to retain the
group’s original position, which is a ban on
commercial use dispensaries in the city. Israel
cautioned the Council that state laws legalizing
the substance go into effect on January 1.
Mayor Robert- Pullen Miles reminded his
colleagues that the proposition did pass “by a
pretty significant margin.” He said three cities
are negotiating with the marijuana industry to
develop a reasonable-use initiative that would
allow municipalities to shape their individual
responses versus the industry setting the
protocols. Pullen-Miles asked that staff bring
the item back. “With a complete ban, we lose
the public safety abatement funding” included
in the legislation, said the Mayor. “This is an
opportunity to regulate an industry that is not
going away. We run the risk, if we simply
say no, of losing control of regulating it [in
Lawndale].”
Also on Monday, the Council recognized the
Lawndale Rotary Club for participation in World
Polio Day. Republic Services Representative
Sam Pena introduced Resident Elizabeth
Leighton as the winner of the Lawndale Fall
Clean-Up event. Republic Services is the
City’s partner in recycling and waste disposal,
sponsoring a twice-yearly pick-up and drop-off
event. In March, over 67 tons of refuse were
brought in and another 25 tons were collected
at curbside, said Pena. Residents may call the
City’s 800 number to schedule curbside pickup,
year-round, and up to four times in a year.
The Council also honored two residents
for outstanding volunteerism in support of
the SBCOG Environmental Services Center.
The Bronze Sustainability Leadership Award
was presented to Maelyn Evans and Miguel
Vasquez for 262 and 250 volunteer hours
respectively in the areas of energy efficiency
and conservation.
Sergeant Nitz gave the safety report, describing
an arrest on October 30. A hotel manager
discovered a large cache of weapons and
drugs at a local hotel, he said. Several suspects
were arrested and the contraband confiscated.
Sgt. Nitz also cautioned residents to practice
holiday safety, noting that sleep deprivation
happens during the holidays and can lead to
risky behavior.
In public comments, Johnny Castro asked the
Council to remember a homeless resident who
for 30 years was a presence in the city. “Mike”
was most often seen at 166th and Hawthorne,
where a large memorial of flowers, candles
and other mementos were left in his honor.
Mike died on October 23, according to Castro.
A large group of supporters of Brooklyn Bar,
a local watering hole on Hawthorne at 166th
Street, turned out at the Council meeting in
support of the establishment, which has received
a 30-day suspension from the City. Jim, a
manager at the bar, implored the Council to
keep the venue open. With a loyal following
and the holidays coming, Jim said, “It’s gonna
hurt.” An eight-year resident who has worked
at the bar for two years, Jim emphasized that
the place does not attract biker-gang customers.
City Attorney Tiffany Israel said the bar’s
management has the right to an appeal process,
but needs to direct it to the City Manager and
not the Council. Councilmember Jim Osborne
sought clarification. “Didn’t we get email
notification that residents made complaints?”
he asked. “Several,” responded City Manager
Steve Mandoki. He noted that jurisdiction
for these kinds of complaints belongs to the
Community Development department. Code
enforcement contacts the owner, who is given
15 days to appeal the suspension. The group
of more than 20, most wearing Brooklyn Bar
T-shirts, walked out of the meeting at that point.
It was not clear if an appeal to the suspension
had been filed.
Osborne noted the Veterans Day Field of
Honor will be installed on the City Hall lawn
on November 10 and will remain on display
through November 12. Commemorative
flags are still available. The Lawndale City
Council meets the first and third Monday of
every month, unless otherwise noted. The
November 20 meeting was cancelled due to
proximity with the Thanksgiving holiday. The
next regular Council meeting will take place
December 4, at 6:30 p.m., in the Lawndale
City Hall Council Chamber. •
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................5
Classifieds............................3
Film.........................................4
Finance..................................2
Hawthorne Happenings....3
Legals............................... 6-7
Looking Up...........................7
Pets........................................8
Politically Speaking............4
Seniors..................................2
Sports....................................5
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Partly
Cloudy
67˚/56˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
67˚/57˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
68˚/57˚
Chevron representatives visited Ms. Mathis’ kindergarten classroom at Kornblum Elementary School in Hawthorne earlier this week to see their newly funded math and reading materials in action. Classroom
project funding resulted from Ms. Mathis submitting her project through Chevron’s Fuel Your School Program--an annual public school support initiative conducted in partnership with DonorsChoose.org to
provide necessary classroom project materials for enhanced learning. Submissions opened on September 1 and teachers had until Friday, November 3 to submit their projects. Photo provided by Lily Craig,
Chevron External Affairs Manager