November 28, 2013 by Inglewood Today News

Your Community Connection

Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 22, No. 48

November 28, 2013

Inglewood Most Charitable South Bay City By Veronica Mackey

nglewood is the most generous city in the South Bay, according to a study on giving in America. Findings in the report, “How America Gives,” were released by The Chronicle of Philanthropy last year. The “How America Gives” can be found at http://philanthropy.com/ section/How-AmericaGives/621/. Despite being the least affluent city in the South Bay, Inglewood ranked highest in generosity. It was given a rating of 11.1 percent, which more than doubles the statewide average of 4.4 percent. Affluent Manhattan Beach ranked 3.6 percent, despite its considerable wealth. A similar comparison made between Hawthorne and Palos Verdes affirmed that income has little to do in proportion to how much people give. Hawthorne had a giving rate of 6.4 percent, which outranked the wealthy Palos Verdes Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes communities, both

On The Inside: • News • Community • Entertainment • Health • Real Estate • Business

at 4.8 percent. In Los Angeles, households earning $50,000 to $100,000 donated an average of 8.5 percent of their discretionary income, while those earning at least $200,000 donated nearly 5 percent. The report suggests there is something other than money that motivates people to give or withhold their gifts. Being around needy people and receiving benefits of charity makes one more sympathetic to others. Wealth can become a

barrier that insulates highincome individuals from impoverished conditions. They don’t have to deal with the challenges that low-income families do, and are not aware of the pressing needs for survival on a daily basis. The study revealed the relationship of income to generosity regionally and nationally. It found: Households with similar incomes give differently depending on their ZIP codes. For example, those earning $200,000 a year

President’s Visit: A Mixed Bag

resident Barack Obama returned home to Washington DC Tuesday night after a 3-day fundraising blitz which covered Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The expected goal was $2.5 million. The visit was a standard mixed bag of praise and criticism, which usually accompanies such trips. Appearing in San Francisco’s Chinatown on Monday, the president was heckled by a 24 year-old man standing on a riser behind him during the speech. Ju Hong was upset that he has not been able to see his family due to deportation laws. He came to the U.S. from Hong Kong when he was 11.

or more within a particular ZIP code in South L.A. gave three times as much as those within a Beverly Hills ZIP code, with a similar income. Wealthy people who live in economically diverse ZIP codes with varying incomes donate more of their disposable income than wealthy people who live in wealthier ZIP codes. The data from the report is a valuable tool in helping charities decide where to target their funding efforts. Inglewood’s record of giving is a good indication of a city that cares about its poor, and a green light to philanthropists that much more is needed. As Inglewood continues to grow in wealth, it will most likely fare better than its South Bay neighbors in this respect: Inglewood knows what it is like to struggle. As long as it can remember the painful President Obama lessons of the past, it will “My family has been sepachieve wealth in its truest arated for 19 months now,” form, having the resources and the compassion to give. Hong shouted. “I need your help. You have a power to stop deportation for all undocumented immigrants in this country.” “Actually, I don’t,” Obama said, “and that’s why we’re here.” The Secret Service started to remove the man but Obama held them off. “And so the easy way out is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws,” Obama said. “And what I’m proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve the same goal that (Continued on page 5)

Thousands Attend Inglewood Job Fair

By Thomas Bunn

t’s six in the morning on November 21. It is Day One of a two-day job fair at the Madison Square Garden Forum. The sun has yet to peak over the horizon, and a line is already forming in the parking lot. The ground is damp from the light rain shower of the night before, but that’s never stopped, and never will stop, a determined spirit. By ten o’clock, an estimated 1500 people are eagerly waiting to end their employment searches and be part of the monumental changes taking place in (Continued on page 2)

Coming Soon – Our brand new website! www.inglewoodtoday.com

Happy Thanksgiving

from Inglewood Today

Inglewood Today

Page 2

Everybody’s Talkin’ By Veronica Mackey

A new feature about topics in the news to get you involved in the conversation.

Don’t Get a Black Eye on Black Friday

was never one to get up at the crack of dawn chasing Black Friday sales. I work hard so the thought of a day off with nothing expected of me—my clients also taking a break—is a gift from Heaven. I did go to Best Buy about 7 years ago with my sister around 5am. It wasn’t too bad really. Folks were super excited and I got why people are willing to get up so early.

counting a wad of cash. The title says “White Saturday” (a term coined for the day after Black Friday) and the comment: “Thank you 99%!” But we all know that, no matter what, Black Friday is going to have its way. There will be throngs of people, going at it like animals just let loose from a cage. There will be some pushing and shoving, but also squeals of delight as shoppers discover gold and walk off

Good luck!

The deals were phenomenal—big screen TVs for $200 or less. I got my daughter a great deal on an Ipod (which she lost 6 months later, thank you very much). By the next Thanksgiving, however, I had slipped back into my old ways—relishing sleep more than even that sweet potato pie the day before. As always, Facebook has plenty of unsolicited commentary on Black Friday. I love this post which bears a sketch of a 1950s era woman with these words: Black Friday Survival 1. Make a list 2. Find someone crazy enough to battle the crowds 3. Give them your list 4. Sleep in Another is a political commentary which hints that consumers should boycott Corporate America and refuse to buy into Black Friday. There is a picture of a well-suited man

with their treasures at unbelievable prices. They’ll feel good inside, proud of themselves for being so smart, and convinced that the early morning journey was well worth the effort. So what did you do on Black Friday? Did you hit the malls? Wait for Cyber Monday or bypass shopping altogether? If you decide to join the shopping crowds, don’t forget to bring plenty of kindness and patience. Take a deep breath if you feel yourself becoming irritated. Remember, it’s a stressful day for some people. But it can also be fun, so enjoy yourself. As for me, you will probably catch me at a mall near you on Panic Tuesday (Christmas Eve) I know, I know, it’s just how I roll. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Let me know what you did on Black Friday. Write me at veronica@ inglewoododay.com.

Thousands Attend Inglewood Job Fair (Continued from page 1) Inglewood. District 1 Councilman George Dotson welcomes applicants to the fair as we walk through the blocklong waiting line. Dotson stops occasionally to shake hands with familiar faces who thank him for the hard work and dedication he’s putting forth in the community. He returns the gratitude with strong words of encouragement. I met a couple of applicants, Shelli Boone of Inglewood’s Carlton Square, and Clyff Francis of Compton, who were both anxious to take advantage of the opportunities at the Forum, and were open to me following them through their application process. Shelli is a bartender at Chili’s on Century, and an aspiring actress, who is looking for an opportunity with Levy’s Restaurant, while Clyff works part-time at the Action Factory Studio in El Segundo, and is looking for a career opportunity with Contemporary Services Corporation. They moved forward in line, and chatted with the many other candidates. The common thread among them all was the lack of available jobs, and their readiness to work. We reached the head of the line and the ushers pointed us toward a shorter one which led to the sign-up table. This line moved relatively fast and led to a preinterview with the potential employer, and into the tent where applicants waited for their names to be called. “I can’t explain how ready I am to get a job where I can grow, and start knocking my career goals off the list,” said Francis, as he sat waiting. “I’m feeling very confident right now, I have several years of experience in the restaurant industry, so I’m looking forward to my interview,” Boone explained. The wait for the candidate’s names to be called was much less intense than the wait outside. Clyff was even able to find a free Wi-Fi signal to upload the photos he snapped to Instagram. Shelli was called first, and my access to the interview area was denied for obvious reasons. Clyff was called shortly after. After interviewing, Shelli said, “This was a really smooth process, my fingers are crossed that I get a job now.” Clyff said, “It’s a beast out here right now, so I’m trying to get it done. I hope by the grace of God my application gets pulled. It was a cool experience, I’m just gonna keep pushing forward, and hopefully I can get in.” Standing in the rain at the crack of dawn until late in the afternoon for a chance to get a job, shows determination and a will to better one’s situation. The MSG and CSC teams were highly professional, courteous, and well organized, as applicants were ushered through a strategic course, up until the very last handshake. Today laid to rest the negative stereotypes that plague the black community, because a few thousand people showing up for a few hundred jobs doesn’t sound like laziness, it looked like people ready to contribute.

November 28, 2013

President/Publisher/ Editor Willie Brown Vice President Gloria Kennedy Assistant Editor Veronica Mackey Contributing Writers Veronica Mackey Thomas Bunn Brooke Stanley Staff Photographer Thomas Bunn PRODUCTION Manager Dené Glamuzina Quality Control Manager Gloria Kennedy Inglewood Today Weekly is a legally

adjudicated newspaper of public cir culation, published weekly by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. News and press releases may be submitted for consideration by mail to 9111 La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 100, Inglewood, CA 90301 or by email to itnetworks@msn.com.

You can reach us at 310-670-9600 or by fax 310-338-9130 www.inglewoodtoday.com The artistic contents of Inglewood Today Weekly are copyrighted by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. and permission to reprint any article herein must be obtained in writing from the Publisher. Display Advertising 310-670-9600 X107 Classified Advertising 310-670-9600 X104 Subscription Information Subscriptions are available by mail for $100.00 per year. Home Delivery may not be available in all areas, or gated communities.

We want to hear from you! Tell us what you think about local issues. Letters should be addressed “To the Editor” and include your name, address and phone number. (Only your name and city will be published.) Email: itnetworks@msn.com Online: www.inglewoodtoday.com Mail: 9111 La Cienega Blvd., Suite 100, Inglewood, CA 90301 Fax: 310.338.9130 Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Not all letters will be published. Submission of a letter to the editor constitutes permission to publish the letter in the printed version of Inglewood Today Weekly and on www.inglewoodtoday.com.

November 28, 2013

Inglewood Today

Publisher’s Message

Word for the Wise Summer Special! Tires Repaired At No Charge Now Until December 31, 2013 With This Ad

What Are the Nay-Sayers Sayin’ Now?

f you had listened to Mike Stevens about the job situation in Inglewood, before he was voted out of office, you would have thought Inglewood had gone to hell in a hand basket. It was a negative verdict on the city, and totally unacceptable for someone sitting on the dais. The last time I checked, public officials are supposed to focus on their city’s positive aspects, and to encourage commerce. Stevens acted more like an enemy of Inglewood than a friend. At one particular meeting, he reported that only a handful of applicants showed up for a job fair at the Forum because they did not know about it. He criticized the Forum for not hiring enough residents. None of what he said was true.

Page 3

949 So. LaBrea Ave. Inglewood, 90301

(800) Wise4Tires Call (800) 947-3484

Just Saying... Willie Brown, Publisher, Inglewood Today Weekly In-N-Out Burger, and a whole lot of other eating places on Century Blvd. Even mini marts and liquor stores are going to benefit from the traffic because regardless of the type of business, people are going to stop and spend money.

Some people give much and get back even more, others don’t give anything and they wonder why nothing is given back to them.

Yvonne Horton

Fake Unemployment Numbers or Fake Story? Did President Obama “cook” the unemployment numbers to get re-elected?

T Thousands attended the Forum Job Fair. I am happy to report that SteThe success of the Forum job vens’ discouraging words appar- fair is just another reminder that ently fell on deaf ears. No one paid Inglewood is a city on the move attention because 11,000 people that cannot be stopped. Nay-sayshowed up for 250 jobs openings ers can try and bash Inglewood at the Forum last week. It goes to and say the city is declining, but show you how many people are signs of progress are too numerstill out of work. It also shows ous and obvious to ignore. how many people have confidence It’s sad that a few die-hards rein Inglewood as a good place to fuse to support the city they say find employment. With the re- they love. It would be much more opening of the Fabulous Forum fun to get behind the mayor and in January 2014, and Hollywood council members instead of pickPark Tomorrow breaking ground ing fights with them. in the spring, there has been a As Inglewood continues to desurge of interested job seekers. No velop, there will be thousands of one wants to come around a dead new jobs added not only at the environment So it is clear that the Forum and Hollywood Park but activity surrounding the Forum is all over the city as a result of new a magnet drawing thousands of traffic. people to it. So where are the nay-sayers And while the Forum is a huge now? Where is Morningside Park draw in the city, it is not the only Chronicle editor Randall Fleming spoke in the wheel of economic and his bunch? Eleven thousand development. Once the Forum job applicants means someone is gets back in business, it’s going to obviously paying attention to how help a lot of Inglewood merchants. Inglewood is growing. The sound It will bring a fresh wave of new of progress speaks far louder than business to Chili’s, Red Lobster, anything any nay-sayer can say.

hat’s the latest accusation launched by conservative media . The story is the .3% drop in unemployment one month before the General Election was the work of the U.S. Census Bureau, apparently in cahoots with the Re-elect Barack Obama campaign. Allegations are based on an article by New York Post columnist John Crudele, citing one anonymous source who worked for the Census Bureau in 2010. According to that source, employees were ordered to make up responses when surveying

households for the Labor Department’s monthly unemployment report. Crudele concludes that fraudulent responses are probably why unemployment rates dropped from 8.1 in September 2012 to 7.8 in October 2012. Never mind the fake numbers were recorded two years before the election, that’s quite a stretch in logic for Crudele. That employee was accused of faking the numbers on the surveys, but not necessarily raising or lowering unemployment figures. (Continued on page 7)

Dr. H. Milano Mellon Need a checkup? Have health questions? Call (310) 673-3133 • Diabetes • Geriatrics • Personal Injury • Holistic Medicine We accept almost all insurance plans except for Kaiser. H. Milano Mellon, M.D. has over 35 years experience as a medical professional, and he has served the local community for 25 years. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Fisk University and his Medical Degree from Meharry Medical College. He completed his postgraduate training at L.A. County USC Medical Center. Dr. Mellon is an Associate Member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a medical staff member of Cedars Sinai and Centinela Hospitals, while maintaining a private practice in Inglewood.

915 Myrtle Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 Email: pcphmm@gmail.com • Fax: (888) 730-4070 • Website: drhmilanomellon.com

Inglewood Today

Page 4

November 28, 2013

Sandy Hook Tragedy Remembered by Youth Football Team

t has been almost one year (Dec. 14, 2012) since that terrible shooting happened in Newtown, Connecticut, which took the lives of 20 innocent children. One of those amazing children was Jack Pinto – a vibrant, loving, 6-year-old boy who loved football, basketball, baseball, skiing and wrestling. Above all else, he loved people. The one quality that most defined Jack was his giving spirit. Jack only lived 6 short years, but those years were full of love, life and joy. The Pinto family is determined to ensure that Jack’s death is not what defines him and have partnered with KIDS in the GAME to help low-income kids around the country gain access to sports. The family believes there is no better way to make sense of losing Jack than to use his death to help kids who are less fortunate. Tricia Pinto, Jack’s mom, believes that this is what Jack would have wanted. “He had such joy for other people and was the first to celebrate when one of his friends achieved a goal,” she said. KIDS In The GAME (KITG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing underprivileged children across America with the resources they need to “get in the game” and thrive in life through sports. As a result of the generous con-

Jack Pinto tributions made to the Jack A. Pinto charitable gift fund that his family created, more than 400 low-income kids around the country have been given a chance to play sports, just like Jack did. The Pinto family, in partnership with KITG, are working on an awareness campaign, called “Jack Pinto…Getting kids in the game,” centered around the importance and challenges of youth sports. The campaign addresses a critical need for children to stay active by engaging in sports. According to statistics, 62% of kids 9-13 do not participate in any organized physical activity during school hours due to financial constraints; 70% of kids do not play sports by the age of 13; and one-third of kids in elementary school are obese or overweight.

Jack Pinto Bowl L.A. area kids around Jack’s age at his passing will honor and celebrate Jack and all kids’ passion to play sports across America on November 30, 2013 at the Jackie Robinson Stadium/Rancho Cienega Sports Complex, 5001 Rodeo Rd., Los Angeles CA 90016. KITG has partnered with Keith Johnson and the Southern California Falcons Youth Football Team to host a football tournament. The games, renamed “The Jack Pinto Bowl,” will feature top teams of

kids ages 6-7 from four Los Angeles County Pop Warner organizations. The first game begins at 10am, followed by a ceremony at 11am, and a second game at 12:30pm. During the game, a moment of silence will be called out to “celebrate the child, protect the child and remember all children who were taken from us before their time.” Monetary donations are accepted to support the program. For more information, call 323-864-8781 or visit www.fyfs.org.

Southern California Falcons

Waters, Waxman to Lobby for Boeing Jobs

.S. Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Henry Waxman are on a campaign to bring thousands of new jobs to the South Bay, courtesy of Boeing. The aerospace giant is currently looking at various sites on which to build its new 777X airliner, including Long Beach. The company is currently wrapping up its work there on the C-17 military transport plane. Appearing at the State of the Region event, organized by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Waters and Waxman vowed to lobby hard to bring Boeings next project to the South Bay. “We are going to do everything

in Long Beach would strengthen “all of the different businesses involved in the aerospace industry.” While both were upbeat and enthusiastic about California’s recovery, they noted that the recent shutdown—which forced work furloughs affecting government workers—has hurt the aerospace industry and cost jobs. Waxman called the 16-day shutdown “ridiculous” and said he hoped Congress will pass a budget by the end of this year. Maxine Waters Harry Waxman Waters serves as the Ranking we can to gather as many elected We want the jobs.” Member of the House Committee officials as possible to bring BoeWaxman said “aerospace is so on Financial Services. Waxman is ing to California,” Waters told the important to our community” and the Ranking Member of the House Daily Breeze. “We need the jobs. establishing a 777X assembly line Energy and Commerce Committee.

Clean Christmas trees up to 10 feet in length, without stands and ornaments, will be picked up at curbside on your regularly scheduled service day beginning December 26th and continuing through the second Saturday in January

Please Note:

This service is for approximately Two Weeks Only!

November 28, 2013

Inglewood Today

Page 5

Health&Fitness T•O•D•A•Y

Congresswoman Waters Introduces Bill to Reduce Diabetes Disparities in Honor of National Diabetes Month

n Thursday, Nov. 21, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) reintroduced the Minority Diabetes Initiative Act (H.R. 3591) in honor of National Diabetes Month. This bill will establish an initiative to provide grants to physicians and community based organizations for diabetes prevention, care, and treatment programs in minority communities. The bill is cosponsored by 41 of the Congresswoman’s congressional colleagues. “Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and it is having an especially severe impact upon minorities,” said Congresswoman Waters. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among persons over the age of twenty, 8.4 percent of Asian Americans, 11.8 percent of Hispanic Americans, 12.6 percent of

nglewood Police and neighboring law enforcement agencies responded to a domestic dispute call after shots were fired and two officers were reported injured. The alleged male suspect was said to have been in a physi-

President’s Visit (Continued from page 1) you want to achieve. But it won’t be as easy as just shouting. It requires us lobbying and getting it done.” Hong has a history of civil disobedience. The president got more love during his 16th visit to Los Angeles. On Tuesday, he arrived in Hancock Park to attend a breakfast fundraiser at the home of producer Marta Kauff-

African Americans, and 14.2 percent of American Indians/Alaska Natives have been diagnosed with diabetes. Among Hispanics, the rates are 13.3 percent for Mexican Americans and 13.8 percent for Puerto Rican Americans. “Diabetes can lead to serious and sometimes deadly compli-

cations, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage, and lower-limb amputations,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Minorities with diabetes often lack access to quality health care and are more likely to suffer from complications.”

The CDC calculated that compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics were 1.5 times more likely to die from diabetes; American Indians/Alaska Natives were 1.8 times more likely to die from diabetes; and African Americans were 2.2 times more likely to die from the disease. The Minority Diabetes Initiative Act will provide grants for a variety of diabetes-related health services, including public education on diabetes prevention and control, routine health care for diabetic patients, eye care, foot care, and treatment for kidney disease and other complications of diabetes. “The Minority Diabetes Initiative Act will help reduce the incidence of diabetes among minorities and enable those affected to live healthy and productive lives,” added Congresswoman Waters.

Inglewood Standoff cal altercation with his girlfriend. The suspect was reported dragging his girlfriend by the hair, and when cops arrived at the scene, the suspect fired shots at the police officers hitting one of the officers in the vest, and injuring the other.

The shootout was short lived as the suspect barricaded himself in a house on 5th Avenue and 108th Street. The suspect had two hostages, one minor female and his girlfriend. Negotiators were said to have been in talks

with the suspect in hopes of getting the hostages released. The story was unfolding at press time, please go to www.inglewoodtodaynews.com for full details, photos, and video.

man, co-creator of the TV series “Friends,” and visited DreamWorks Animation studios in Glendale. In a short speech he said, “You can say, ‘May the force be with you’; they know what you’re talking about. Hundreds of millions of people may never set foot in the United States, but thanks to you, “Magic” with President Obama Photo by Saul Loeb/Getty they’ve experienced a small part of what makes our country special.” among the inspirations for “Shrek,” He also joked that his ears were the animated film about an ogre

who has protruding ears. On Monday evening, the president’s motorcade made its way to Beverly Park, an exclusive enclave in Beverly Hills. Obama attended two receptions in the gated community—one at the home of Laker legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the other at the mansion of entertainment mogul Haim Saban. After introducing the president (Continued on page 6)

Inglewood Today

Page 6

November 28, 2013

LEG A L NOT I CES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Mayor and Council Members of the City of Inglewood, California will conduct a public hearing on December 10, 2013 to consider comments on the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2012 and ending September 30, 2013. Interested persons may address the City Council on the issue during the public hearing at the date, time and place listed below: Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Inglewood City Hall City Council Chambers, 9th floor One West Manchester Boulevard Inglewood, California 90301 The CAPER is presented annually to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the City of Inglewood in compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements for reporting program performance and accomplishments for HUD Consolidated Planning Grant Entitlement Programs. The City participates in three entitlement programs: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Act (HOME) and the Homeless Emergency Solutions Grant (HESG). The required major components of the CAPER include assessments of the City’s performance in meeting the following: Consolidated Plan Goals and Objectives, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, Providing Affordable Housing Opportunities, Continuum of Care Support Services, Leveraging Resources, Citizen Comments, and Self-Evaluation. The narrative statements summarize the community development and housing goals and objectives listed in the Consolidated Plan and provide a description of the activities undertaken during fiscal year 2012-2013, to meet those goals. The financial summary indicates all program expenditures and information to identify the source and amounts of funds utilized during the fiscal year. A copy of the draft CAPER is available for review in the Office of the City Clerk on the first floor of City Hall and the document is also available, online, at www.cityofinglewood.org.

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2013 233823 The following Person is doing business as: Wortham’s Adult Res. Care Facil Velma’s Guest Home A Healthier Choice Day Program Bernice’s Senior Retreat Facility Located at: 2709 W. 109th St., Inglewood, CA 90303 P O Box 5417, Inglewood, CA 90310 Registered owner: R L Harris Wortham, 2709 W. 109th St., Inglewood, CA 90303 This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on November 12, 2013. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) R L Harris Wortham, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on November 12, 2013

NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State or common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.) Original Nov 14, 21, 28; Dec 5, 2013 ITO0422301011 Inglewood Today

CITY OF INGLEWOOD INVITATION TO SUBMIT BID (Specifications and Conditions Governing Bid Award) Project Subject to Bid: “LA BREA TRAFFIC LIGHT SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT ON LA BREA AVENUE BETWEEN 64th STREET TO ARBOR VITAE STREET” The City of Inglewood invites and will receive bids duly filed as provided herein for the furnishing of labor and materials and/or the completion of the abovedesignated project. A mandatory job walk meeting for interested bidders will be conducted on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the Public Works Department, on the Third Floor of Inglewood City Hall, One Manchester Boulevard, CA, 90301. Interested bidders who arrive for the meeting after 10:30 a.m. will not be eligible to submit bid proposals. Call the project Manager Alan Mai at (310) 412-5333 should you require further information. Each bid to be considered must be delivered to and received by the City Clerk no later than 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the Office of the City Clerk, First Floor of Inglewood City Hall, One Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, CA, 90301. Each bid shall be submitted and completed in all particulars using the form entitled, “Bidder’s Proposal and Statement” attached hereto and must be enclosed, together with the requisite bid security, in a sealed envelope addressed to the City Clerk with the designation of the project “LA BREA TRAFFIC LIGHT SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT ON LA BREA AVENUE BETWEEN 64th STREET TO ARBOR VITAE STREET” appearing thereon. Each bid shall state the unit price of each item if called for on the Bidder’s Proposal and Statement form. In the event alternative bids are called for in said form, each alternative bid shall be completed. Each bid shall be submitted as one (1) original set and two (2) copies. Bids will be opened in public in the City Clerk’s Office and will then and there be announced to all persons present. Specifications and other Bid Documents for the above items are on file in the Public Works Department and may be obtained upon request. Each bid must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of cash, a cashier’s or certified check made payable to the City of Inglewood, or a bid bond, for an amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate of the bid, as a guarantee that the successful bidder will, within the time specified, enter into an agreement as provided in the Bid Document and furnish bonds when required in the Special Provisions: one for Faithful Performance in the amount of the Contract Sum, and one for Contractor’s Labor and Materials in the amount of the Contract Sum. The City Council reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any irregularities in any bid, and to take bids under advisement for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from and after the date bids are opened and announced. Attention is directed to the provisions of Sections 1777.5 and 1777.6 of the Labor Code concerning the employment of apprentices by the Contractor or any subcontractor under them. The Contractor or any subcontractor shall comply with the requirements of said sections in the employment of apprentices. Information relative to apprenticeship standards and administration of the apprenticeship program may be obtained from the Director of Industrial Relations, San Francisco, CA, or the Division of Apprenticeship Standards and its branch offices. Notice is hereby given that the City Council has ascertained the prevailing rates of per diem wages in the locality in which the work is to be done for each craft or type of workman or mechanic needed to execute the Contract in accordance with the provisions of Section 1770, et. seq. of the Labor Code; said prevailing rates are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are incorporated herein by reference. Copies shall be made available to any interested party on request. Attention is directed to the provisions of Public Contract Code Section 10164 concerning Contractor’s licensing laws. This Contract requires a Class A and/ or C10 Contractor License. The successful bidder must obtain, and maintain current until completion of the Project, an Inglewood City Business License. This Notice is given by order of the City Manager of the City of Inglewood, California, and is dated this 28th day of November, 2013. Artie Fields, City Manager City of Inglewood, California

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2013 222595 The following Person is doing business as: Pearl Whites Located at: 1311 W. 68th Street Los Angeles, CA 90044 Registered owner: Cheyenne Covington, 1311 W. 68th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90044 This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on October 25, 2013. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Cheyenne Covington, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on October 25, 2013 NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State or common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.) Original Nov 7, 14, 21, 28, 2013 ITO0422301010 Inglewood Today

President’s Visit (Continued from page 5) as “the greatest leader in the world,” Johnson took to Twitter to describe Obama’s visit. “I gave him a tour of my Laker Trophy room where we talked basketball and I even gave him some tips on how to improve his jumpshot! LOL,” he wrote. Earlier in the evening Monday, the president met with relatives of Gerardo Hernandez, the Transportation Security Administration agent who was shot and killed by a gunman at LAX on Nov. 2. Obama also met with two other TSA employees who were wounded in the shooting.

November 28, 2013

Inglewood Today

Page 7

Dates in December December 5, 2013

2 Toy Drive. Your generous gifts will go to Inglewood children that might otherwise not receive a gift this Christmas. The councilman’s office is working with One for All (OFA), an Inglewood non-profit organization, to make sure no child goes without a gift. This event will take place from 10am to 2pm. Your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Holiday Tree Lighting Get into the holiday spirit by joining Mayor James Butts and members of the Inglewood City Council for the City’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. The event will take place at City Hall - South Mall, One Manchester Blvd., at 5:30pm. The event will include entertainment, refreshments for all and a special holiday visit by Santa. The entire community is encouraged to Thru December 22, 2013 Hollywood Park Horse Racing attend this festive holiday event. Betfair Hollywood Park has beDecember 14, 2013 gun its 33rd and final Autumn Meet. District 2 Toy Drive Horse racing in Inglewood will end District 2 Councilman Alex Pa- on December 22, 2013. To mark dilla is asking everyone who can to 75 years of premier racing, Betfair donate toys to the 1st ever District Hollywood Park is giving away dif-

ferent limited edition commemorative pins every Saturday. To view the racing schedule, visit their website at http://www.betfairhollywoodpark.com.

Ongoing Counseling for Anxiety, Depression Get free help for anxiety, depression, stress and anger. Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve life-coping skills. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Monday at 6:00 p.m. at

SHARE! 6666 Green Valley Circle, north of Centinela Ave., (2nd building on the right). Call 310-322-6411 for more information, or visit www. lowselfhelpsystems.org. A donation is requested but not required.. Bingo Games Operation 3801 hosts Bingo every Sunday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. We are a drug and alcohol free environment. We are a nonprofit looking for your support. Cost is $1 per game. Anyone mentioning BlackNLA will get 5 free games. Located at the Bingo Hall, 3801 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA. For more information, contact Jimmy Jam, 323777-2422, jimmyjam@vel.net.

Our Children are Not for Sale: Hundreds March Against Sex Trafficking

hants of “Our children are not for sale!” echoed loudly along a stretch of Long Beach Boulevard as nearly 400 residents, members of church organizations, community activists and elected officials marched from Compton to Lynwood, ignoring a light evening drizzle to bring attention to the plight of children who are sexually trafficked. “Every day, children as young as 12 are bought and sold by adult men,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who organized the march. “We will shine a light on this despicable behavior. You, who come here days, nights, weekends to buy these girls, we see you. And we will bring changes throughout Los Angeles County and the state of California.” The march, which began at Palmer Avenue in Compton and ended at Helen Keller Elementary School in Lynwood, was attended by State Senator Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, attorney and social justice advocate Sandra Fluke and other local officials as well as community residents. Marchers followed a 1.6-mile route that is often the site where “johns” and “pimps” buy and sell young victims. Seedy motels and some businesses along the corridor also contribute to this activity.

Human sex trafficking is a $32 billion dollar business increasingly run by gangs. The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that 100,000 children in the United States are sold for sex each year. In Los Angeles, it is estimated that as many as 3,000 children are trafficked. Sheriff Baca pledged that his department would arrest the men who have sex with underage girls. “These young girls are victims. Our strategy is not to put them in a prosecutorial place but to save them from those who should be prosecuted,” he said. At the event, survivors moved the crowd by telling their stories and calling for action. “As a child, I was bought and sold

here on these streets,” said D’Lita Miller, who was kidnapped and raped at 11 and ultimately forced into the life of sexual exploitation. Miller, who is now an advocate for girls, with the organization Saving Innocence, urged the crowd to look at girls on the street with compassion and love. “I stand here as a voice for the voiceless. These are not prostitutes. These are children of God. Stand up because they need you. All of you here are making a statement.” Maria Suarez, with the National Council of Jewish Women, was purchased for $200 at the age of 15 and endured years of beatings and sexual exploitation, thanked the crowd. “It is so beautiful to see everyone here,” she said. “We are human be-

ings. We are not disposable. I encourage all of you to keep on fighting.” Many residents said they turned out for the march after witnessing too many lewd acts committed by men with young victims in parked cars, or coming in and out of a row of seedy motels and the adjacent alleyways. Much of the activity occurs in front of the school or in the school parking lot when children are getting in and out of school. The march even drew residents from Long Beach, who said that what happens on the stretch of boulevard in Compton and Lynwood can also affect their own community as well. “We are neighbors,” said Carlos Valdez of the Coolidge Triangle community in Long Beach, noting that whenever law enforcement cracks down on the trafficking activity in Lynwood and Compton, it gets pushed into their neighborhood. “We know that this can be a cat and mouse game. So we like to get involved.” Senator Mitchell pledged to the crowd that her first pieces of legislation in January would attack the issue of sex trafficking in California. “If you are here tonight, that means you intend to do something about this travesty happening in our state and our country,” she said. “Thank you for making a public commitment to do the right thing for our children.”

Fake Unemployment Numbers or Fake Story? (Continued from page 3) Just looking at all that would have to happen to make the theory stick is tiring. First, it would take literally thousands of Census employees working together to pull it off. According to the Huffington Post, surveys were completed by an average of 60,000 households per week, “a massive task involving about 2,200

workers.” It’s not likely that such a huge undertaking would have been perpetrated just to move the unemployment needle. “This fraud would have to be so widespread, to affect enough of the survey takers to affect the top-line numbers, that it seems implausible on the face of it,” said Heidi Shierholz, an economist who studies unemployment at the Economic Policy Institute, a leftleaning think tank.

Besides that, if Obama was really going to mess with the numbers, he would have made them come down lower and quicker. He might as well. This has been the slowest job-market recovery since World War II. One month’s unemployment report did not change that. But why be bothered with facts when you can create a scandal? For that matter, why would conservative lawmakers roll up their sleeves and go to work to reduce

unemployment when they could raise suspicion over the numbers coming down too fast? Heaven forbid that the recovery might actually begin to pick up momentum. We can’t have that! With challenges of the Obamacare roll out and the immigration battle coming on the heels of that mess, it’s doubtful the would-be fake numbers story will get much traction in mainstream news. But it gives reporters like Crudele something to do.

Protecting Your Home from Burglars During the Holidays

h, yes, the holidays. A time for celebrating with family, ripping into presents ... and getting burglarized? Apparently so. According to the FBI, nearly 400,000 burglaries occur in the U.S. during November and December each year. And the reason for that should be as obvious as the beards on “Duck Dynasty’s” male stars’ faces: Those are the months when so many of us are either away from home—whether on vacation or getting together with loved ones—or busy accumulating piles of shiny new gifts. “Burglars are opportunists looking for a score, and the holidays are a perfect time for it,” says Robert Siciliano, a security expert whose work with major businesses has earned him the title “the Lifesaver.” So what can you do to keep from being one of the 400,000? Read on. The Perils of Social Media. Admit it: You laughed at the stupidity of gang members outed in the news for bragging about their crimes on Facebook and Twitter. So why are you sharing your travel plans on such sites for all the world to see? Duh.

Lighting. High-wattage exterior lighting, set on timers along with indoor lamps, help neighbors spot suspicious activity at night while giving your home what Siciliano calls “that lived-in look.” Adding motion sensors, though, has a downside: “They sometimes ‘ghost’ and give the impression that someone is there when he isn’t,” he says. Burglars, Home Security. who’ve been known to case neighborhoods in broad daylight dressed as contractors in order to fit in, actually jiggle doorknobs in search of cheap, breakable locks.

So it’s essential to protect your home’s main point of entry, advises Siciliano, with a strong one like the new Touchscreen Deadbolt from Schlage (www.schlage. com), the Indiana-based firm that’s been creating technologically advanced security products for more than 90 years. “I like it because it offers the highest-grade residential security available, has a built-in alarm, antipick shield and is even easy enough to install yourself.” Garage Door Openers. Unplug them when traveling, and then

repeat these words: A powerless GDO can’t be hacked with a universal remote. Finally, about those “shiny new gifts.” Yes, the huge box your new plasma TV, say, came in is an eyesore you can’t wait to put out on the curb with the trash. But guess what attracts the attention of crooks on their post-holiday prowls? “The best thing to do,” says Siciliano, “is cut the box up and put it in a big black trash bag. That way, they don’t know you have a plasma TV.”

What’s Wrong With Our Nativity Scenes?

Even Some ‘Religious’ Elements of Christmas Celebrations Stray from the Truth, Says Bible Publisher-Scholar

f you’re in business, you likely don’t even call this the holiday season anymore—it’s “the holiday quarter.” Because for businesses, Christmas is all about making money. “In Western societies, Christmas has largely become a family and commercial celebration for which the historical event—the birth of Christ—is a pretext,” says Christian E. Megrelis, www.christianmegrelis.com, chairman of the French Bible Society, former vice chair of the United Bible Societies and author of “Glossary of Hope,” a contemporary distillation of New Testament teachings and their applications. “When Eastern churches began celebrating the birth of Jesus, they sought to keep the religious event distinct from the family and giftgiving event by separating the dates,” he says. “That’s why in Orthodox churches, gifts are not offered on Christmas Day, but rather on Jan. 2, St. Basil’s Day, and thus are linked to the New Year celebration.” But Western churches, which adopted the Nativity celebration first, meshed the two practices, which led to secularization, Megrelis explains.

“The West’s Christmas celebration is partly responsible for the secularization of Western societies,” he says. Some of our most important religion-oriented holiday traditions don’t even jibe with the story told in the official historical record of Jesus’ birth: the Bible, Megrelis says. He offers these examples. Animals in our manger scenes. The canonical Bible— the books of the Bible considered to be Holy Scripture—does not mention sheep, donkeys or other animals watching over the newborn Jesus. The animals are from the apocryphal gospels, writings by early Christians that were not included in the New Testament because their authors were anonymous, unverifiable or otherwise dubious. These include the “infancy gospels” written during the Second Century to feed a hunger for more detail about Jesus as a baby and young boy. “The Gospels of Matthew and Luke say only that Jesus was placed in a manger—a feeding trough for animals,” Megrelis says. “They do not say whether the manger was in a stable or what animals were about. Those details came from the infancy gospels.”

Our images of a pregnant Mary riding to Bethlehem on a donkey. Again, the New Testament makes no mention of Mary on a donkey. But according to the apocryphal gospels, Joseph saddled a donkey and “set Mary upon it” for the trip to Bethlehem.

“We three kings of Orient are.” Contrary to the popular Christmas carol, the Bible does not say how many wise men visited the infant Jesus. The only reference to “three” is the number of gifts they brought: gold, frankincense and myrrh. The carol has them traveling a great distance and our traditions have them arriving at a stable. “In fact, the Bible says, ‘On coming to the house’—not stable—

‘they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him,” Megrelis says, adding “No one knows where the wise men came from. It could not have been very far, as we are told that Jesus was brought to Jerusalem as soon as Mary has been purified, in keeping with Jewish tradition, and shortly after his circumcision, which would have been at eight days old.” Giving one another gifts was also not part of the biblical Nativity, Megrelis points out. “The wise men brought gifts because it was customary to bring gifts when one visited royalty, but the Bible doesn’t mention an exchange of presents,” he says. Christian E. Megrelis holds master’s degrees in engineering, business and political studies. He is the founder of Exa International, a multinational engineering company, and vice chairman of the International Union of Economists. He is also the former vice chair of the United Bible Societies, a major world publisher of the Bible. He is the first publisher of the Bible in the French-speaking world.