Why Term and Age Limits Should Not Be Optional
By Willie Brown
Should there be term and age limits for elected and appointed officials? It’s one of those issues that most Americans support, then forget about… until something happens. Uproar over 81-year-old Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger, however, brought the issue back to life last week when it was discovered that she had been MIA
for 6 months.
How could it be that a sitting U.S. Congresswoman could miss out on crucial votes and no one seemed to notice? No one heard from her. No one even checked on her. It took the curiosity and persistence of a reporter to unravel the mystery that apparently no one even knew existed.
Rumors swirled that the CD-12 Texas representative, whose district
includes Fort Worth, was found walking around in her neighborhood aimlessly and confused. She soon moved into Traditional Senior Living in Fort Worth, TX, a facility for memory care.
Meanwhile, she continued to receive her $174,000 annual salary and has paid her staff almost $1 million in salaries within the past year for a job she was actively engaged in for only half a year. Had it not been for Dallas Express Reporter Carlos Turcios, who knows how long it would have taken for the public to find out what was really going on.
Turcios inquired about Granger’s whereabouts through neighbors. He visited her local district office, which was apparently closed last month, and finally interviewed two employees at the senior facility who confirmed she was a resident. Despite Granger moving into the $4,000-a-month facility, Granger’s son, Brandon denied that she had memory problems. Instead, he said his mother is happy and socially engaged at the facility, and there is nothing wrong with her moving there.
On Dec. 22, Granger broke her silence, thanking those who prayed for and supported her. She said she is no longer able to physically meet the demands of commuting to Washington DC. She will be replaced by Craig Goldman when the new Congressional class is sworn in on
January 3.
The public outcry was swift and loud when the news broke. Missing 6 months of crucial votes, as a U.S. member of Congress and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, being unable to do your job, with no one at the wheel to take over, yet continue to collect a salary for 6 months, paid for by tax payers is mind boggling and outrageous.
One would be hard pressed to pull this off in the private sector and still keep their job. The standard age to retire in America is between 65-70. Elected state officials and even the President have 4-year term limits. But Congressional leaders can stay in office as long they can win elections. Supreme Court Justices can hold their positions for life. Age, mental and physical capacity don’t seem to be a factor.
The story of Kay Granger is a cautionary tale that people, left to their own devices, don’t always do what is best for the collective (constituents, customers or employers) despite signs of mental and physical decline. Kay’s staff had to have known about her condition, but speaking up would have meant losing their jobs.
It’s time to turn up the volume again on term and age limits for everyone regardless of position.
Inglewood Today Announces Internships
Inglewood Today (https://inglewoodtoday.com) has announced immediate internship opportunities for aspiring journalists and data/research assistants. The 31-year old media company is considering college and high school students for 3-6 month internships working hybrid 4-8 hours per week.
Journalist interns will have an opportunity to build their writing portfolios while interviewing celebrities, elected officials and other community leaders. They will also cover issues related to Inglewood and surrounding areas. Data/research assistants will work behind the scenes maintaining databases and helping to organize and launch a new blog.
Interested candidates may apply by submitting resumes to veronica@ inglewoodtoday.com. If applying for the journalist internship, candidates must also submit their best 2-3 writing samples.
Merry-Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa
Looking to prolong your holiday fun? Well, you’re in luck this year, as Christmas Day coincides with the first day of Hanukkah on Dec. 25. The last time this rare event occurred was back in 2005, and the time before that was 1959. So, the stars are all aligned for learning other holiday traditions, and doing something new. Hanukkah will last for 8 days, from Christmas Day, Dec. 25 through New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. Kwanzaa is observed for 7 days from Dec. 26 through Jan 1. The best way to learn about other holidays is to jump right in and participate. Why just celebrate one?
Here are a few local events to keep you celebrating through the remaining days of December, and beyond.
Christmas Events
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Awoken Christmas Eve’s Holiday Spectacular with Santa 10am-5pm 22601 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, CA 90265
Free
Saturday, Dec. 28
D&D Christmas Party Extravaganza
6:00-10:30pm MacLeod Ale Brewing Co. 14741 Calvert Street
Van Nuys, CA 91411
$65.87 per person
Gospel Skate on Ice
7:00=10:00pm
555 Universal Hollywood Dr North Hollywood, CA 91608
$39.19 per person
Hanukkah Events
Tuesday. Dec. 24
Hanukkah/Xmas Eve Party 10pm -2am 9229 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
$55 per person vibehospitalitygroup@gmail.com
Thursday, Dec. 26
Hanukkah Rooftop Party
8:30pm – 12:30am RSVP for Address Getlitla.eventbrite.com
$40.25 per person
Sunday, Dec. 28
Hanukkah Party for Family and Friends/Menorah Lighting 4:30pm Beverly Canon Gardens (Maybourne
Hotel, Beverly Hills)
241 North Canon Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Free https://jemcommunitycenter.com
Kwanzaa Events
Friday, Dec. 27
Kwanzaa 2024 – Celebration of Family, Community and Culture! 1:00-5:00pm Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
1000 S Owens Street Bakersfield, CA Free
Saturday, Dec. 28
Collective REMAKE Kwanzaa Celebration 11am-2pm
1704 West Manchester Avenue, Room 106
Los Angeles, CA 90047 Free
OpenYour Mic: Christmahanakwanzika 8:00-10:00pm New Musicals Inc. 5628 Vineland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 91601
$12.51, Vendor space available for $40 oymCHK.eventbrite.com
Monday, Dec. 30
Celebrate Kwanzaa 5:30-8:00pm African American Cultural Center of Long Beach Expo Arts Center 4321 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807
IHS Band to Perform at White House, Music Teacher Honored
When Joseph Jauregui took over the band program at Inglewood High School in February of 2021, there were eight kids in his class.
The instruments were in “horrible condition,” he said, and he almost walked away. But he kept going, and three-and-a-half years later, Jauregui is leading a band of around 100 students who will soon be playing at the White House.
“I was left with nothing,” Jauregui said. “... But the district rallied behind (me), got me new instruments and uniforms, so I had to step up. I just didn’t think it was going to happen this fast to be honest with you, so sometimes I’m still shocked that this is happening.”
both size and skill since he took over and he’s made a real difference in the kids’ lives.
This week, Jauregui was recognized as the Rams’ 10th “pLAymaker” of 2024 for his efforts revitalizing the band program at Inglewood High School. The band has grown exponentially in
Cassandra Serrano/ LA Rams/Los Angeles Rams
Jauregui said it was “very surreal” to be recognized for his effort in the community, but added “it’s not about me, it’s about the kids.” Some of the
students had never played instruments before and are now receiving scholarships for music or going to college when they never thought of that as a possibility.
“One thing I’ve learned working in this community is that the need is great and the stories are really sad,” Jauregui said. “So, to be able to be more than just the music teacher is very significant to me. And I can legitimately say that I’ve changed the lives of the kids around me and I’ve changed their path.”
The best part of Jauregui’s job is seeing his students come out of their shell, show passion and enjoy life.
“The best part with music is that you need two hands to play,” Jauregui said. “So, even if they wanted to be on their
cell phones they can’t be, so it gives them an opportunity to just enjoy life, disconnect for a second and look up.”
Cassandra Serrano/ LA Rams/Los Angeles Rams
The condition under which Jauregui was hired was to “keep the traditions of the past alive,” he said. And he’s done more than that, increasing the band’s numbers and abilities exponentially by “seeing people for who they are and treating them with some respect,” he said.
The band program went from around 100 kids to 10 during the pandemic, and Jauregui built it back up with his genuine approach to teaching and love of music.
“Every goal that I had set up for myself when I was in college has been accomplished in such a short time and now we are going to D.C. and it’s crazy to me,” Jauregui said. “I never thought I would do that, and here we are with the worst reputation as a district, we’re always seen as ghetto kids, and here I am taking these ‘ghetto kids’ to the White House.”
Inglewood Today News
Inglewood Today News
Area Communities
Serving Ladera, Hawthorne, Westchester, Lawndale, Gardena, Carson
Life After Domestic Violence: Things My Work With Black Women Survivors Has Taught Me
It was the Monday morning after her husband had a “situation” involving their child, resulting in food flying in the kitchen and a broken plate.
Before that incident, tensions had been escalating, and after years of unhappiness, she finally garnered enough courage to go to the courthouse to file for a divorce.
She was sent to an on-site workshop, and the process seemed to be going well until the facilitator asked, “Have you experienced domestic abuse?” She quickly replied, “No, my husband has never hit me.”
The facilitator continued the questionnaire and asked, “Has your husband been emotionally abusive, sexually abusive, financially abusive, technologically abusive or spiritually abusive?” She thought about how he would thwart her plans to spend time with family and friends, the arguments, and the many years she held her tongue. She reflected on her lack of access to “their money,” him snooping in her purse, checking her social media, computer, and emails, and the angry blowups where physical threats were made against both her and their children. At that moment, she realized she had been in a long-suffering domestic abuse relationship.
After reading this, you might not consider the relationship described above as abusive –or you might read her account and wonder, “How didn’t she know that she was in an abusive relationship?”
Survivors sometimes lack awareness about the dynamics of healthy relationships, particularly when one has not been modeled for them at home. Media often minimizes domestic abuse, pushing the imagery of loyalty and love for one’s partner above everything –even harm. The normalization of abusive behaviors shown in movies, social media, and television has desensitized us to the harm that people experience every day under the “disguise of love.”
After working with survivors at Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence in San Francisco, California, I have learned a great
deal from a variety of survivors. Here are some insights I’ve gleaned from the stories that have been shared with me:
1) Abuse thrives in isolation. Societal tolerance of abusive behavior is prevalent in the media, workplaces, and even churches although there are widely accepted societal rules about the dos and don’ts in relationships.
2) Survivors are groomed into isolation. Survivors are emotionally abused and manipulated almost from the beginning of their relationships through love-bombing. They are encouraged or coerced into their
own little “love nest,” isolating them from family and friends. This isolation enables the abuse to escalate, and the survivor is groomed to believe that it’s “them against the world”. During this time, survivors often present a perfect picture of their partner to loved ones, making it too embarrassing to later admit they were wrong.
3) People who harm can be charismatic and fun. Those outside the relationship often struggle to believe the abuser would harm their partner until they witness or experience the abusive behavior firsthand.
4) Survivors fear judgment. Survivors fear being judged by family, friends, peers, and coworkers. This fear of judgment and isolation often leads to shame and embarrassment, preventing them from speaking out about their abuse.
5) Survivors often still love their partners. This is not Stockholm Syndrome, it’s love. Survivors remember the good times and don’t want to see their partner jailed; they simply want the abuse to stop.
6) The financial toll of abuse is devastating. According to the Allstate Foundation’s study, 74% of survivors cite lack of money as the main reason for staying in abusive relationships. Financial abuse often prevents survivors from renting a place to stay. Compounding this issue is the lack of availability of domestic abuse shelters. Survivors, especially those with children, face challenges when shelters cannot accommodate family units, and the average six-week stay often isn’t enough.
While this list of lessons that I have learned is not exhaustive, the main thing that I have learned from this work is that survivors are resilient, and they are the true experts of their own stories and their paths to healing. So, whenever you encounter a survivor, please take a moment and acknowledge their journey to healing and applaud their strength and progress. Offer them your love and support because healing from domestic violence is not easy and their healing is our healing!
About the Author Paméla Michelle Tate, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of Black Women Revolt Against Domestic Violence in San Francisco, CA. She is an advocate, preventionist, speaker, and survivor.
By Paméla Michelle Tate, Ph.D. | Special to California Black Media Partners
Sports & Entertainment
By
Versatile, lanky, and aggressive, Jaylen McCollough cut his teeth playing football down south, and the animalistic culture surrounding SEC football has bred some of the best defensive backs in the NFL.
But it’s deeper than that. It’s a football identity formed on the harsh gridirons in McCollough’s native Georgia – a high school recruiting hotbed that McCollough’s play earned him a four-star ranking and an eventual scholarship.
While he fell through the cracks in the pre-draft process, McCollough
brings those experiences and mentality front and center when he shines as the Rams’ newest defensive star. The undrafted free agent out of Tennessee surprised many during training camp and after a strong preseason, McCollough has been an irreplaceable part of the Rams’ defense.
Like another safety from the south, Derwin James, McCullough has been asked to play various roles that have carved out a unique position for him. He’ll fluctuate between getting close to the line of scrimmage and dropping deep, he’s an excellent tackler and has been used to plug the run. He’s often assigned to the running back,
displaying excellent discipline to not get faked out on play actions and wheel routes.
On Sunday, McCollough put in a season-high nine tackles against the Jets but none of those were as crucial as his coverage on Breece Hall in the endzone. McCollough’s discipline and technique forced Aaron Rodgers to throw an uncatchable ball at the end of the first half. The Jets settled for three points to it would be their last score of the game. That play served as a crucial turning point in the Rams’ 19-9 victory and now the team is one step closer to clinching the NFC West.
McCollough is also tied for ninth
in the league with four interceptions, with his ball skills dissuading teams from throwing his way. McCollough’s interceptions have played a pivotal role as his two against Las Vegas kickstarted the Rams’ recent run of success and his pick against Seattle disrupted their offensive strategy to the point of ineffectiveness.
Thanks to one undrafted rookie signing, the Rams have their safety for the future. A gem waiting to be discovered, McCollough is not only one of the best undrafted free agents of 2024, he’s one of the best players in the entire draft class period.
Brock Vierra the Rams Wire
Brick and Mortar Closures Continue
By Maya Mackey
Party City and Big Lots are the latest brick and mortar chains to close down their doors. Party City, which has been in operation for 40 years, closed down on Friday, December 20th, with no warning to its current employees. A true “Ebenezer Scrooge” move. Of course, the employees were released with no severance pay and no rollover benefits, regardless of how long or hard they worked to earn money for CEOs and stakeholders.
Barry Litman, the CEO to date, thanked employees for their “valued contributions and service to the company,” reports CNN who sat in on the zoom meeting where
the announcement that Party City was closing its doors took place.
How valuable could one’s contributions be if they’re not even worthy of a severance package?
That’s the true sin of capitalism–the utter disregard for our fellow human beings. Financially, it’s been a long and winding road for Party City. They filed for Bankruptcy in 2023 and Litman, who was hired to resuscitate the company, pulled Party City out of bankruptcy a mere month after he’d been hired. However, even after qualifying for bankruptcy, Party City was still $800 million in debt, a feat too great to overcome inflation and a helium
shortage which killed one of their main services–balloon supply for parties.
The Big Lots chain began filing for bankruptcy in September and reported their wish to sell all assets to Nexus Capital Management or another buyer. They want to save the store, but with no current hope in sight, “we’re going out of business” sales will commence immediately and they hope to get bought out by early January. Up to 555 people are expected to lose their jobs. Inflation is listed as the predominant reason for Big Lots’ closure as well. Big Lots was in business for 57 years.
How California is Pushing Back Against AI-Driven Rent Hikes
By Maya Mackey
Reports have come out recently that point to some landlords using Realpage, a software that tracks proprietary lease information to set rent prices. San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera is taking a stand, exposing how landlords use these tools to drive up rents while avoiding direct accountability. San Diego rental prices are up 47% since 2020. San Francisco and San Jose have already banned such practices. The push to ban this software from driving up prices in Southern California is an ongoing battle. Democratic Senator Melissa Hurtado, whose district includes Bakersfield, introduced a failed bill to ban Realpage usage, but says she won’t give up.
Federal Prosecutors believe Realpage controls about 80% of the commercial revenue management market. What makes matters worse is how Realpage technology earned its funds. Private equity giant Thoma Bravo acquired the funds from California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System as well as a portion of pensions from fire and police departments.
RealPage argues that their software is not mandatory to help landlords set market prices for rent, and therefore all criticism and lawsuits against them should be dropped. That argument is good and well, except for the fact that using RealPage data has, for many landlords, become a no-brainer. The software is contributing to out-ofcontrol rent prices–intentionally or not.
If a landlord can simply plug in a rental applicant’s information into an automated system that will crunch an arbitrary number, and base the rental price on that, why would the same landlord go the extra mile of
checking if that price makes sense? Meanwhile, the fight for fair and affordable housing continues here in LA County. This past summer, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a $65 million budget for affordable housing at 400 Centinela Avenue in Inglewood. The proposal, if approved,
will span a 79,000-square-foot residential building with 120 units (studios to three bedrooms) and an 18,000-square-foot community service facility that will house the new Social Justice Learning Institute’s headquarters. Hoping to create a community vibe, the living quarters will be named Sankofa
Place.
There is no word yet of when these homes will be available to move in and with Califronian’s odd decision to vote against stricter rent-control last month, the struggle to find a semi-decent apartment that won’t cost you half of your paycheck will continue to be real as hell.
New City Treasurer
By Veronica Mackey
Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. and the Inglewood City Council approved an ordinance last week to increase the salaries of City Clerk Aisha Thompson and newly elected City Treasurer Angela Allen. While there is nothing unusual about the City approving the increases, there is pushback. Allen is onboard for an increase of $9,000 a month–from $1,414 to $10,441. Thompson’s salary will increase from $9,604 to $10,661.
The council voted 4-0 in favor of the increase. Councilwoman Gloria Gray did not vote because she had questions about salaries of the department heads.
“There’s a difference in the salaries of department heads and I believe they are equal in their responsibilities,” Gray said.
City Manager Mark Weinberg explained that salaries are compared with other cities of similar size with similar duties and responsibilities. Weinberg also explained, “The duties (of the City Treasurer) were removed and now they are being restored and again in alignment with other positions in the city.”
According to sources, in 2019, former City Treasurer Wanda Brown raised questions about the city’s fiscal health and an alleged overpayment of $77,420 to a city contractor, causing a rift in her relationship with the mayor. She stated in a subsequent lawsuit against the City that the mayor and city council retaliated against her, and that her duties were removed
Gets $9,000 a Month Increase
and her salary was cut by 83% (which reduced it to $1,414 a month). Additionally, her previous multimillion-dollar investment authority was cut to $50,000; and she and her staff were physically locked out of City Hall.
The City argued that she was restricted from the building because she failed to follow COVID work protocol during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
There is also concern about Allen’s qualifications. Allen is considered a “very hard worker” by those who know her. But. does that equate to actual qualifications for the treasurer’s iob? A job that requires accountability for managing approximately $224,372,756 in the current General Fund?
Brown is still listed as City Treasurer on the City’s website. However, Allen’s campaign website states that she has 28 years of experience in education. Additionally, she holds two degrees in education. Experience related to finances includes her recent position as Deputy City Clerk for the past 3 years under Thompson, where she “oversaw financial processes and supported budgetary planning.”
By contrast, Brown served as Inglewood’s treasurer for more than 35 years until she parted ways with the City.
The salary increase is part of a larger issue which is currently
out in Inglewood politics. Allen, who won the Nov. 5 election with 56% of votes, was the Mayor’s pick, while Brown and Congresswoman Maxine Waters endorsed Taylor Bryant. Last summer Waters pulled $200 million in federal funding from the mayor’s pet project–a $2 billion people mover project–crippling the future of the endeavor. Additionally, in September Councilwoman Gray filed a complaint against Butts, alleging the creation of a “hostile work environment” which has
caused her “undue stress.”
According to Los Angeles Wave Newspapers, Weinberg was previously asked about the formula for calculating the increases for the city clerk and city treasurer considering the duties primarily include being members of certain committees and the city clerk serving as a department head. “Neither any of our classified employee position salaries nor electeds’ salaries are established through formula,” he said.
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Racially Motivated Violence Against Black Teen Prompts $10 Million Claim Against LAUSD
A distraught mother and her legal team announced a $10 million lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on Dec. 16, alleging that her son was the target of bullying because of his race.
“CS DOE is a 14-year-old African American student at Verdugo High School. He is a Ninth Grader,” reads a statement the plaintiff’s attorneys shared with California Black Media (CBM).
“Almost from the first day of class (in August 2024), CS DOE was targeted by Latino students who called him racial slurs, physically attacked him and threatened to stab him.”
The family’s identity has not yet been released to the public due to safety concerns, according to their attorneys Bradley C. Gage and Caree Harper. The student’s mother is identified only as A.O. in the complaint.
The first video, filmed in August, showed several non-Black students punching and kicking a Black student in a bathroom on campus while yelling racial slurs. The mother claims that the students who attacked her son were not punished, and the administration asked her to move her son to another
school for his safety.
“They wanted him to leave the school without giving any disciplinary action towards those students,” said the student’s mother. “He’s not going anywhere. He’s going to finish. I wanted him to at least stay until the December winter break, and then I was going to transfer schools for him.”
Before she could enroll her son in a different school the attacks escalated.
In December, a second altercation, on a video shared with news media, showed 4 to 6 boys attacking a Black student and using racial slurs. The video also shows a person in a safety vest trying to stop the fight and telling them to “handle it after school.” Then, the video ends.
CS DOE, a14-year-old freshman, left the school but was followed by a car, according to Gage. Several individuals exited the vehicle, one with a “large butcher knife.” A fight ensued and two people were stabbed. The Black student was arrested for
assault with a deadly weapon but was later released into his mother’s custody.
Harper, who is handling the criminal charges, expressed frustration with the school and the District Attorney’s office. She criticized newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney, Nathan J. Hoffman, for charging a 14-year-old for “defending his life” while reconsidering the resentencing of Eric and Lyle Menendez, brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents in the 1980s.
The high school freshmen is scheduled to appear in juvenile court on Feb. 1, but Harper says she will reach out to the District Attorney and make the case against charging the young man.
“His mama had to go find him because he was hiding and fleeing for his very life,” said Harper. “So, we want to have a conversation with the new district attorney, who will hopefully see it as Bradley and I see it:
this was a man who was defending his life against certain death.”
According to the boy’s mother, the young student is still traumatized and has not been able to return to the area because it remains unsafe. Racial slurs have also been spray painted on their home.
The victim’s mother says that it has been difficult being separated and that her son has been scarred by the incident.
“I’m sad. I’m devastated, you know,” said the mother. “I still feel like they’re after him. I still feel like they can kill him, possibly.”
The LAUSD and principal of Verdugo High School did not respond to CBM’s requests for comment.
If you are – or someone you know is – has experienced a hate crime or hate incident, please visit CAvsHate. org for more information and to find out what you can do about it.
Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media