October 10, 2013

Page 1

Your Community Connection

Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 22, No. 41

October 10, 2013

Obamacare Comes to Inglewood

P

resident Barack Obama’s health care overhaul got its public unveiling Oct. 1, when those marketplaces, also called exchanges, opened for business, allowing consumers to comparison shop between insurance plans online. The Affordable Care Act will dramatically change the way many Americans will get health insurance and marks the most extensive change to the nation’s health care system since Medicare and Medicaid became law in 1965. Polls have shown many Americans remain mystified by the law, and Obama (L-R) Chief Executive Howard Kahn with staff member and Mayor James Butts. acknowledged the change had the nation on edge: “The To Howard Kahn, chief ex- the law means to the millions including Medi-Cal, the devil you know is always bet- ecutive of L.A. Care Health of people it will affect. state arm of Medicaid. ter than the devil you don’t Plan, the biggest challenge L.A. Care Health Plan held “People are going to be know,” he said. will be communicating what a health information fair Oct. confused,” he said. 5 at its Inglewood office, California will see about 3111 W. Cemtury Blvd., to $300 million in federal bring the public up to speed money for outreach and on new coverage options. advertising, some of which “By definition, it will be a is going to a wide array of bit messy on the way,” said groups that are trying to Kahn, whose group serves promote the law. Yet unmore than 1 million Los certainty remains. A Kaiser Angeles County residents Family Foundation survey through free or low-cost of 2,000 uninsured Califor(Continued on page 5) health insurance programs,

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

I

Leaders of the “DO” School By Thomas Bunn

t’s that time again! October is here and the Leaders of The Do School have yet another set of challenges for those of us looking to #DoSomething! Challenge #1 was born out of our need for financial literacy. Black and brown communities make up the largest pool of spending power among any other ethnic groups in the nation, yet (Continued on page 2)

Check out our easy to navigate website! www.inglewoodtoday.com

Civil Rights Icon Arrested in Immigration Protest

D

emocratic leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus were taken away in handcuffs on Tuesday for blocking the street on the National Mall in Washington DC. John Lewis (D-GA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), and Al Green (D-TX), joined colleagues Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Raul Grijalva (DAZ), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) in an act of civil disobedience as onlookers cheered “Si se puede!”—Spanish for “Yes, we can!”

John Lewis Lewis went to the Mall to demand that Congress stop stalling the passage of immigration reform, even as his Democratic Party finds itself in a political quagmire within the Republican-led House. The standoff has forced a week-old government shutdown and default crisis. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was surrounded by lawmakers on stage, told the crowd that immigrants “make America more American.” Lewis, who marched with the (Continued on page 5)


Inglewood Today

Page 2

Inglewood Police Seek Lone Gunman, 3 Critically Wounded

P

olice are searching for a lone gunman who critically wounded three people with gunfire in the courtyard of an Inglewood apartment complex. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Scott Miller says paramedics transported three people to the hospital Tuesday in critical condition. Initial reports from fire officials were that a child had been transported, but Miller says all three were adults. KTLA reported the shooting happened just before 1 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 11700 block of Crenshaw Boulevard, according to Inglewood Police Department Lt. Jackie Layne. Two men and a woman were shot and were in critical condition, Layne said. In contrast to police reports at the

scene of the shooting, a man who identified himself as a relative told KTLA the victims were an older woman, and a younger man and younger woman who were dating. He said the two women had been killed. Inglewood Police have confirmed that the two women have died. Shawn Williams said one of those killed was his mother-in-law, and he speculated that there was a conflict with an ex-boyfriend. Perhaps the older woman got “caught up in the middle of it, trying to stop what was going on,” Williams said. A Los Angeles County Fire Department official initially said a child was among those wounded. Follow this story on inglewood today.com.

Leaders of the “DO” School (Continued from page 1) populate more prisons, suffer from more disease, and own less real estate than any others. This month, LODS is challenging that reality by asking everyone to write down a financial or purchasing goal and create a budget to get you there. Challenge #2 is a challenge for everyone. It’s no secret that America is the fattest nation on the planet. Our addiction to sugar and fast food has tipped the scale in the wrong direction for decades and it’s time to continue to advocate for a healthy mind, body, and soul. This month’s 2nd challenge is to eliminate one or all of the following from your diet: fast food, soda or fruit juice, alcohol/ wine, meat, and or junk food. Challenge #3 is put in place to remind us that we are all human beings on this planet, and we possess inalienable birth rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. LODS is asking all of us to familiarize ourselves with this doctrine, share it with friends and family, among your social networks, print copies and pass them out to people, and create videos of yourself reciting it and post it on YouTube. Don’t just know your civil rights, know your human rights! If you feel like you want to get involved and #DoSomething, but you may not know what, or how, begin by challenging yourself. These are challenges that you, your family, and friends can take. Are you up for it? Post photos of yourself “DOING SOMETHING” via Instagram or Facebook and Hashtag #DoSomething, #LODS or #DoSchool. Ready? Go!!!!

Crazy Effects of the Shutdown

W

ith 800,000 government jobs being affected, countless agency doors closed and the country on pins and needles about what will happen next, you’d think our leaders in Washington would get a clue. After all, sooner or later, we will vote again. Some folks may actually remember who’s responsible for them not getting the services they paying for with their tax dollars. It seems like years since the standoff between the Republicanled House, President Obama and Democratic Senate began. The mood so far is mostly peaceful. But that is because the situation is still fairly young. Now is the time to smile while you can and hope for a miracle before things become worse. We know the obvious effects of the shutdown. But the situation reaches farther than most people might think. Take retirees Joyce and Ralph Spencer, for example. CNN reports that the couple was kicked out of

By Veronica Mackey

their Nevada home in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area because their cabin is on federal land. They were given 24 hours to vacate and have to stay out until the government reopens. Alaska may lose millions of dollars if the shutdown doesn’t end soon because federal employees are not available to monitor the fishing season. “Crab fleets in Alaska are in limbo—unsure whether they’ll be able to head out in pursuit of lucrative crab,” CNN said. Let’s hope things straighten out in time for the upcoming Asian holidays. Folks on Twitter are making light of the situation with government shutdown pick up lines. Here are a few of the less raunchy (but still cheesy) ones: “Forget the National Debt, the only number I care about is yours.” “The national library might be closed but I’m checkin you out.” “I’m sorry for staring, but with the national parks closed I had to find something beautiful to look at.” MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry

commented on the shutdown with a nursery rhyme (excerpt) two days before the shutdown: Though Obama’s plan won the favor Of the highest court in the land The GOP hated Obamacare For they did not care for Obama the man. And so, we the people Must helplessly watch Our government near shutdown With each tick of the clock Paying our nation’s bills Had always happened on time But “This,” said the minions “Is where we draw the line” If it means punishing the people Then suffer they will! For we must remain in power Upon this Capitol Hill. On Tumblr, people from other countries are making fun of our government. Of course, not knowing if or when you’ll receive your government benefits is no laughing matter. It sucks. But try and smile anyway. What else can you do?

October 10, 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.

October 17, 2013

SoLA Business and Economic Forecast As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Community Financial Resource Center (CFRC) will host the Unveiling of the First SoLA Business and Economic, 4060 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The event begins with a complimentary Breakfast (9:30 am to 10:30 am); followed by the Unveiling and Business & Economic Forecast (10:00 am to 12:00 pm); and “Taste of Microenterprise” - CFRC’s Micro Entrepreneur’s Food Sampling & Vendor Faire (12:00 pm to 2:00 pm). Free and open to the public. Please RSVP to events@bellamypr. com or call (213) 673-1433. Corporate sponsorships are available. For more information contact Malanna Marioneaux at (323) 846-1478 or malanna@cfrcla.org.


Inglewood Today

October 10, 2013

Page 3

One Million Veterans to March on Washington DC Sunday

I

Posted by 2012TheBigPicture.Wordpress.com

f you haven’t heard, the U.S. government has closed Washington war memorials and parks and shut out veterans who came to visit them. Only the radical efforts of a select few removed the barriers and allowed those delicate souls entry to pay homage in the past few days since the “government shutdown” was announced. It may, however, be the last slap in the face the government gives war vets. The much maligned veteran—and I can’t even write about this without getting choked up—have been human guinea pigs in war, drugged, gassed, vaccinated, mind-controlled, refused adequate medical treatment, targeted as dissidents if they protest, coerced to sign documents which then make them ineligible for medical benefits, and sent off to be mutilated and murdered in wars that were started by greedy governments bent on population reduction. Those who survive are made to wait so long for benefits they are more than entitled to that some end up on the street, homeless, addicted to drugs, psychotic, disabled, starving and begging for handouts and with no reason to live. The suicide rates are appalling.

What kind of government does that to its soldiers? It’s unforgivable. Does America not see what is going on? I have seen it with my own eyes. My heart aches for them in a way that the twenty bucks I hand them cannot diminish. Are the trite slogans, “No guts, no glory” and “Semper Fi” so mind-numbing that the people of this country just don’t get it? Read this to learn the truth about the utter travesty that is the American Military. We have reached the point of no return. Now—NOW! United States veterans and their caregivers are standing together and will march on Washington in concert with the ‘Million Trucker March’ this coming weekend—October 11th to 13th. This, my awakened friends, is what we have been waiting for. This uprising is the sign that Humanity is awake—just enough—and ready to put an end to the tyranny. I believe this coming weekend will be a watershed moment in our fight for sovereignty. The consciousness of the awakened ones is (Continued on page 10)

Affordable Banking for Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) Communities By Riqo Fraser, Union Bank, N.A.

Riqo Fraser Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager Manhattan Beach Branch 400 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-374-9746

Union Bank is creating positive change in our communities with its new Union Bank Access Account. One of the first of its kind, the new account helps illustrate the bank’s commitment to providing products that serve the needs of the lowto moderate-income (LMI) segment and other consumers, including those on ChexSystems, who may not qualify for a traditional bank account.

The Union Bank Access Account is a direct response to requests from consumers and community groups regarding the needs of the LMI customer segment that includes the unbanked and underbanked population. According to the 2011 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households, 8.9 percent of U.S. households are unbanked, which represents 1 in 12 households in the nation or nearly 10 million in total, while 20.1 percent of U.S. households are underbanked, which represents one in five households or 24 million in total (http://www.fdic.gov/householdsurvey/). Union Bank continues to honor its legacy of public service through a commitment to responsible products and practices, one of its five tenets of responsible banking. The Union Bank Access Account is a low-cost product that offers features and functionalities to allow customers easier access to their account and the opportunity to establish a banking relationship with Union Bank.

“The ongoing feedback we receive from our community partners and customers is critical to our product development,” said Union Bank Vice President and Senior Product Manager Rogger LaCruz. “We are proud to respond with an affordable product that offers the features typically offered on consumer checking accounts, while avoiding the risk of incurring overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees.”

“We know that empowering consumers and businesses, and providing them access to affordable financial services is what helps communities thrive,” said Union Bank Senior Executive Vice President Julius Robinson, head of Corporate Social Responsibility. “That includes identifying opportunities where we can serve the LMI market segment.”

…empowering consumers and businesses, and providing them access to affordable financial services is what helps communities thrive. The Union Bank Access Account is a checkless For more information on the Union Bank account and is available in California,Washington Access Account please visit your local Union and Oregon. Customers may visit a Union Bank Bank branch for further details. branch to learn more or to open an account. Riqo Fraser is an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of There is no set up fee and direct deposit of a Union Bank’s Manhattan Beach Branch. Headquartered in Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding payroll or benefit payment is not required. Once San company with assets of $102.3 billion at June 30, 2013. Its the account is open, customers can make deposits primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., provides an array of services to individuals, small businesses, middleand withdrawals in a branch or at an ATM. They financial market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 422 may also use the account’s ATM card to perform branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, and New York as well as two international offices, on June 30, 2013. point-of-sale transactions (with a personal iden- UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of tification number) at participating merchants. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud Providing customized financial services and member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, one of the world’s largest financial organizations. In solutions has been the heart and soul of Union NYSE:MTU), July 2013, American Banker Magazine and the Reputation Bank throughout its nearly 150-year history. Institute ranked Union Bank #1 for reputation among its Whether we’re helping a family buy its first customers. Visit www.unionbank.com for more information. home, supporting small businesses or the vital work of affordable housing developers, or providing affordable financial services to LMI consumers, fair and transparent banking is a fundamental Union Bank commitment. ©2013 Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.


Inglewood Today

Page 4

October 10, 2013

Eye on the City Working It Out

Y

oung readers from Inglewood were honored by Mayor James Butts and Inglewood Council members for their participation in the Inglewood Library’s 2013 Summer Reading Program. “Super readers” received certificates of achievement for reading more than 100 books! A public hearing to conduct a preliminary review of General Plan Amendment 2013-01, the Draft 2013-2021 Inglewood Housing Element, has been continued to October 22, 2013 at 7p.m. The council approved an agreement with SMF Consulting to provide consulting services to assist with accounting processes and procedures in the amount of $43,750. An agreement to provide citation processing to the City of Los Baños

By Veronica Mackey

Inglewood City Council was also approved. $7,080,818 shortfall, the City The Salary Ordinance for Fiscal Manager’s Office recommended Year 2013-2014 was adopted. Each the Council approve a Workforce fiscal year, the City adopts salary Reduction Plan for Fiscal Year ordinances to provide authority to 2013-2014. The plan requires $2.2 continue to pay salaries and make million in layoffs. Other recomadjustments in salaries, titles or job mendations include the use of reclassifications. serves ($2,477,818); freezing vaTo help close that nagging cant police department positions

($1,500,000); operational savings ($300,000); Forum revenue ($250,000); development user fee increase ($150,000); and the elimination of Fiscal Year 2013-14 merit increases ($203,000). The Workforce Reduction Plan sent residents to the podium, asking the mayor and council to put their salaries on the chopping block. “You continue to have the highest salary in the South Bay. I think you’re wrong in the way you pay yourselves,” Leroy Fisher said. “I think that the fact that you get paid for what you do in this city is good. We want you to make decisions based on what is good for the city, (and) based on benefits you get,” another resident commented. Diane Sombrano objected to a (Continued on page 11)

Pick up your copy of Inglewood Today at one of these locations: 1 Stop Mini-Mart, 420 E. Florence Ave. A-Man Inc., 101 La Brea Ave. Airport Gas, 501 Hillcrest St. Allstate, 2300 W. Manchester Bl. Bayou Grill, 1400 N. La Brea Ave. Boston Cream Donuts, 2576 La Brea Ave. Bourbon Street Fish & Grill, 601 S. Prairie Ave. Briarwood, 3500 Manchester Bl. Broadway Federal Bank, 170 N. Market St. Brolly Hut Barber Shop on 109th & Crenshaw Bruno’s Pizza, 450 E. Manchester Bl. Budda Market, 3753 Slauson (Rimpau) C&J Beauty Supply, 11252 Crenshaw Bl. Carlton Square, 8700 Carlton Centinela Hospital, 555 E. Hardy St. Chili’s, 3490 W. Century Bl. Chile Verde on Crenshaw Choice Berry, 599 1/2 S. La Brea Ave. City One Stop, 110 Queen St. Cranford Scott, M.D., 211 N. Prairie Ave. CVS Pharmacy, 222 N. Market St. Darby Park, 3400 W. Arbor Vitae Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen #1, 202 E. Manchester Bl. Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen #2, 3249 W. Century Bl. Edward Vincent Park Senior Ctr., 700 Warren Lane Fabulous Burger, 1315 Centinela Ave., Family Fish Market, 1300 Centinela Ave. Fiesta Martin Mexican Grill, 1330 N. La Brea Ave. Gin’s Liquor, 11001 Crenshaw Bl. Gonzales Northgate Market, 10801 Prairie Ave. Heart & Soul Grill, 128 N. Market St. Hollywood Park Casino, 1050 S. Prairie Ave. Inglewood Airport Area, 330 E. Queen St. Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 E. Florence Ave. Inglewood Community Police Ctr., Manchester/7th Ave. Inglewood City Hall, 1 West Manchester Bl. Inglewood Library, 101 W. Manchester Bl. Inglewood Meadows, 1 Locust St. Inglewood Park Mortuary, 3801 W. Manchester Bl. Inglewood Police Station, 1 West Manchester Bl. Inglewood Today, 949 S. La Brea Ave. Inglewood Unified School District, 401 S. Inglewood Ave. In the Kut Barber Shop on 109th & Crenshaw Jamba Juice, 5305 W. Centinela Ave. King Fish Market, 10901 Crenshaw Bl. KJLH Radio, 161 N. La Brea Ave. Ladera Physiotherapy, 409 S. La Brea Ave.

Lan’s Nails, 10901 S. Crenshaw Bl. Lawrence Carey Barber Shop, 10901 S. Crenshaw Bl. Liquorette Liquor Store, 1400 Centinela Ave. Louisiana Fried Chicken, 170 La Brea Lucy Laundromat across from Sizzler’s on Manchester M&M’s Soul Food on Manchester M&M’s Soul Food (new) on Crenshaw Martino’s Liquor, 706 E. Manchester Bl. Mike’s Deli, 4859 W. Slauson Ave. Moby’s Breakfast & Lunch, 3008 W. Manchester Bl. Morningside Adult Day Care, 3216 W. Manchester Bl. Nix Check Cashing, 140 E. Manchester Nix Check Cashing on Crenshaw & 110th Osage Senior Villas, 924 S. Osage Pann’s, 6710 La Tijera Bl. Pay Day Loans on Crenshaw & 110 Pep Boys, 200 E. Spruce Ave. Red Lobster, 3400 W. Century Bl. Regal Cleaners, 700 E. Manchester Bl. Regency Towers, 123 Locust St. Regent Plaza, 201 Regent St. Roger’s Park, 400 W. Beach Ave. Scottie’s Gumbo & Grill, 945 S. Prairie Ave. Sizzler’s, Manchester/Prairie Smoke 4 Less, 925 N. La Brea Spa 313 Salon, 313 La Brea Starbucks, 5301 Centinela Ave. Starbucks, 941 N. La Brea Ave. Starbucks on Century Stuff I Eat, 114 N. Market St. Super Fish Market, 11007 S Crenshaw Bl. Superior Groceries, 11202 S Crenshaw Bl. The Serving Spoon, 1403 Centinela Ave. TGIFriday’s, 6721 La Tijera Bl. True Vine Baptist Church, 1437 Centinela Ave. Union Bank, 6719 La Tijera Bl. Vons, 500 E. Manchester Bl. Walgreens on Century Westchester Villa Senior Living, 220 W. Manchester Bl. Whole Foods, 4508 Overhill (Slauson) Winchell’s Donuts, 2601 W. Manchester Bl. Winchell’s Donut Shop on Crenshaw near 108th St. Wings Stop on Century Wise Tires & Brakes, 949 S. La Brea Ave. Woody’s Barbeque, 4751 S. Market St. Yvonne B. Burke Senior Center, 4750 62nd St. (La Brea)


October 10, 2013

Inglewood Today

Publisher’s Message It’s Time to Be Autonomous

T

he new federal fiscal year is upon us, and once again, politicians are playing with our future. For some of us, it will mean having no money available to send our kids to college. For others, it could mean having no access to much needed emergency services. How long the latest budget standoff lasts is anyone’s guess. Democrats are refusing to defund President Obama’s health reform bill, which will offer affordable health care coverage to millions. Republicans want to take the money out of Obamacare in exchange for allowing federal funding to continue. It’s a selfish, childish game. If the money stops flowing at the top, it is just a matter of time before cities and states—already hard hit—will feel an even tighter pinch. Without the ability to borrow money, keep the doors open to government services, and people at work, the country will eventually come to a standstill. In times like these, cities have to look in their own pantries, so to speak, and see what’s available. This is where the rubber meets the road, where fiscal responsibility becomes much more than a buzz phrase. No city or state is wealthy enough to be economically independent. However, some will be able to fare better than others. While Inglewood is dealing with

Page 5

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

949 So. LaBrea Ave. Inglewood, 90301

(800) Wise4Tires Call (800) 947-3484

Just Saying... Willie Brown, Publisher, Inglewood Today Weekly a $7 million plus shortfall for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, it is a far cry from Detroit. People complain about commitments made to big developers, but we must realize this is where the largest tax revenues come from. The City expects to recoup about $250,000 from the Forum in the coming year— money it would not have otherwise had. Every bit helps to close the shortfall. We have seen the budget stalemate tactic used by Republicans to try and manipulate the president many times before. It’s time to put our thinking caps on and figure out ways to become less reliant on big government. Yes, we must be prudent and put taxpayer dollars to good use. But cutting corners is only half of the puzzle. What are we doing to generate new dollars? That is the question.

It is time to be creative and figure out ways to align ourselves better with private industry. We need to use our city brand to its fullest. Things are clicking for Inglewood now, and we need to seize the day. Our struggling schools, homeless veterans, young people, seniors and low income families deserve our city’s support. And those who can do better should be given a chance to come up. There are clearly things that only our federal government can do,

like provide funds for our roads, and airport noise mitigation. But we can work locally to improve the quality of our schools through business sponsorships, by shopping within the city and supporting our nonprofits. Unless we support our own, we will never see our potential as a city. This is all the more reason to support the Forum and Hollywood Park as well as local small companies. No one can do for Inglewood what it can do for itself.

the Sudan protesting genocide in Darfur and today he was arrested to demand dignity and respect for immigrants,” Lewis spokeswoman Brenda Jones said in a statement. “We know the votes are there,” Gutierrez said at the rally. “They know the power of our vote, they know the popularity of immigration reform, they know the hunger and passion in our community, and yet we still have not seen immigration reform signed into law by the President because rested more than 40 times alone dur- other Republicans are holding it up.” ing the Civil Rights movement, and The rally, organized by a coalition five times as a member of Congress. of immigrant rights groups and la“He was arrested twice at the bor unions, featured speeches from South African embassy protesting dozens of politicians. apartheid, twice at the Embassy of

Obamacare Comes to Inglewood (Continued from page 1) nians over the summer found 70 percent said they did not have enough information to understand how the law will affect their families. “We’ll find people have not been covered for 15 to 20 years,” Kahn said. Beginning in 2014, virtually all Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay an annual penalty to the government. For residents who have health coverage through an employer, not much is expected to change. Actual coverage through insurance purchased on the exchanges will start Jan. 1. Those currently covered by Medicare will see no change in coverage. However, a pilot program is being launched next year by L.A. Care that will give Medi-Cal recipients an opportunity to opt out and join the exchange, Kahn said.

“The Latino population is the biggest uninsured group,” Kahn said. “African Americans already have Medi-Cal.” Those who are employed but do not receive health benefits from their jobs are prime candidates for the coverage. An estimated 5.3 million Californians will be eligible for coverage through the state-run exchange, officials estimate. The current budget crisis, which has healthcare reform at the center, has complicated the flow of information about plan coverage. Will Obamacare disappear before it gets started? “That’s not going to happen. We are too far down the road now,” Khan said. To compare coverage and find out how much it will cost to purchase health insurance in 2014 and what financial assistance is available, use the online calculator at www.lacarecovered.org or call 855-222-4239.

Civil Rights Icon Arrested in Immigration Protest (Continued from page 1) late civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has now been arrested 45 times. The congressman was ar-

Your Friends can determine your Faith, your Fortune and Your Future so choise wisely. Yvonne Horton


Inglewood Today

Page 6

Fed Reserve Rolls Out New $100 Dollar Bills

October 10, 2013

Knock, Knock—The Health Care Exchange Now Open for Business As Covered California rolls out the state’s new health insurance exchange marketplace, getting the information to African-American consumers remains an elusive goal.

T T

he United States Federal Reserve has begun circulation of a new $100 note, packed with security features aimed at making it impossible to counterfeit. The $100 bill is the world’s most commonly faked banknote. The new measures include a blue 3D woven security ribbon running through the bill, and a new holographic logo that the Federal Reserve says will be very difficult to replicate. The hologram changes from images of the number 100 to images of a bell when the note is turned, and move in different directions depending on how you bend the paper. Shifting the note also reveals a green bell within a copper inkwell, and turns the colour of the large 100 in the lower right corner from copper to green. The note uses several traditional countermeasures, including a security thread that glows pink under UV light, and a watermark of Benjamin Franklin. Other features include embossed,

or ‘intaglio’, printing that is intended to give the notes a very distinctive feel, and microprinted words that cannot be read with the naked eye. The redesign is the first change to the $100 since 1996, and has come three years later than planned - due to “unexpected production challenges” with the new technology. The US has gradually been replacing all its paper currency over the past ten years, with new $20, $50 and $10 banknotes released in 2003, 2004 and 2006 respectively. According to data provided by the US Secret Service, counterfeit money accounts for no more than 0.01% of US currency in circulation - or approximately $100m worldwide. The average counterfeit note circulates for less than a year, and the majority are detected soon after being introduced to the financial system. The average lifespan of a genuine $100 note is eight years.

Go ‘Super Readers’!

O

n Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Inglewood City Council honored 12 “super readers” from the Inglewood Library’s 2013 Summer Reading Program with certificates of achievement. The youngsters who took part

in the program spent their summer enjoying books while improving their reading skills. Collectively, they read more than 100 books! Congratulations to the super readers—and future leaders—of Inglewood.

By Charlene Muhammad, California Black Media Contributor

he six-month open enrollment period for Covered California—the state’s health insurance exchange marketplace—kicked off Oct. 1, making the benefits of Obamacare available to millions of Californians. In the early stages, Covered California is working to ensure that Californians can better understand how the exchange will deliver affordable healthcare to their families and troubleshoot computer glitches that left some unable to properly access its online offerings in the early going. At a kickoff event at Los Angeles’ Union Station, executive director, Peter Lee said, “Welcome to affordable care. Welcome to security. Welcome to peace of mind … where we as a nation say for the first time, health care is a right not a privilege.” Meanwhile, African-Americans are chief among those standing to benefit from what is offered during the enrollment period—as consumers are implored to use www.CoveredCa.com to determine whether they are eligible for Medi-Cal, premium assistance or if they can sign up for private insurance plans. “For Black folks, it means more access to healthcare,” said Jan Robinson Flint, executive director of the Los Angeles-based nonprofit health advocacy organization Black Women for Wellness. “A lot of us have had chronic illnesses, so now they can’t send our premiums through the sky and cut us off.” But are enough black consumers sufficiently aware of the benefits of California’s new healthcare marketplace? “Covered California has a little way to go with getting the word out to our community,” acknowledged Flint, whose organization is among a handful contracted to help spread the word. “In a way, I’m saying there’s good and there’s bad. There are a multitude of Black organizations and Black media that all need to be involved in the process of moving us forward. It can’t be just one or two organizations. … So far, they’ve not done a great job of making that happen, but I’m hopeful. I’m hopeful that they’ll listen to the organizations that they are in partnership with to say, ‘Let’s do that, then.’” In terms of outreach, California Black Media executive director Regina Brown Wilson noted that Covered California’s multicultural marketing firm has begun seeking proposals from Black media outlets, which have long been regarded as the most effective medium for dis-

seminating information in the African-American community. As those talks proceed, she hopes that African-Americans who need health insurance immediately aren’t forced to “stumble onto [the benefits of Covered California] and figure out how to go about getting them.” Rather, it would be optimal for those information sources most trusted by black consumers to be in close partnership with the forces behind this historymaking healthcare marketplace. “I think it’s going to happen over a gradual period of time, as they start to figure out how this whole thing’s going to work,” said Wilson. “As of right now, do I think there’s going to be a full-blown marketing campaign to African Americans? No. But we look forward to seeing a comprehensive strategy that is fully inclusive of our community.” When the word does get out, there will be plenty of good news in it for African-Americans in California. Among some of the basic benefits people can expect when coverage under Obamacare starts on Jan. 1, 2014 are: statewide access to preventative care; reduced maximum out-of-pocket costs for doctor’s visits; and the ability for children to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until age 26. For black small business owners —those with up to 50 eligible employees—who purchase coverage for workers, there may be eligibility for federal tax credits. Though businesses of that size are not required to provide coverage for their employees, they are required to inform workers of the available health coverage options. Employees already insured through their companies don’t have to purchase extra insurance or leave their employer-sponsored plans. But if doing so would result in a lower premium, they may switch from employer-based coverage to plans on the Covered California exchange site. These are welcome developments in this state—where more than 16 percent of black Californians are completely uninsured, according to a 2011 report by the California Healthcare Foundation. “We’re doing a lot of education around what it is and how it’s going to benefit us and how to get our community engaged,” said Sandy Cook, a certified Covered California educator and a program manager for Sisters With Options. “The number one thing people say they don’t know is [how much it will cost]. That’s a real concern, so it’s challenging.”


Inglewood Today

October 10, 2013

Page 7

Health&Fitness T•O•D•A•Y

A

Alicia Keys Steps Up for HIV/AIDS

licia Keys, as part of the “Empowered” campaign, is spearheading a community grants program to help advance efforts focused on women and HIV/AIDS. The grants program will be administered by AIDS United, with guidance from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The “Empowered” Community Grants Program is part of a broader effort by Keys to reach women in the U.S about HIV/AIDS, including a cross-platform public information campaign developed with Greater Than AIDS, called Empowered. Other elements include targeted media messages and community outreach. Greater Than AIDS is a leading response to the U.S. domestic epidemic led by the Kaiser Family Foundation together with the Black AIDS Institute and supported by a broad coalition of public and private sector partners. For more information, go to: http://greaterthan. org/campaign/Empowered/ “Our #EMPOWERED project2 help women w/#HIV across the US is 91% funded! We’re so close! Please

A

join me in helping them http://t.co/ Lr98Ntb5mX.” Keys tweeted. The Empowered Community Grants program looks to play a strategic role in supporting the development of model programs that address the needs of underserved women. The Empowered Community Grants program offers support to the HIV/AIDS community at a critical and historic time—to continue progress of recent decreases in HIV among women. The number of women with HIV in the United States has grown steadily for the last 30 years. In 1985, only eight percent of new U.S. cases were in women. By 1992, it was 14 percent. Today, women account for at least 27 percent of new U.S. cases. The time is NOW for the Empowered campaign! The Empowered Community Grants program is supporting innovative programs for marginalized, underserved populations of women that don’t have or can’t get prevention and care services. To apply for the Empowered Community Grants Pro-

Affordable Care Act Town Hall Meeting

ssemblymember Steven Bradford will host Covered California, the state’s new “health insurance marketplace,” Saturday, October 12, 2013, 11am - 1pm, in the Inglewood City HallCommunity Room, 1 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90301. Covered California was created to meet requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) for Californians. The public is encouraged to attend this important meeting and get healthcare questions answered. The following topics will be covered: • How ACA will affect MediCal and Medicare—Dr. Gerald Kominski, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research • Who is eligible to enroll in Covered California and the MediCal expansion—Krystal Green, Community Liaison, Community Health Councils • How the law will affect businesses, both large and small—Maria Solano, Southern Region Pro-

Assemblyman Steven Bradford gram Specialist, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce • What options exist for the 3-4 million Californians who are projected to remain uninsured— Cynthia Carmona, Director of Government & External Affairs, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available. For more information, please contact Tina McKinnor at Tina.McKinnor@asm.ca.gov or 310-412-6400.

Alicia Keys gram, go to: http://www.aidsunited. org/strategic-grantmaking/empowered-community-grants-program/ An advisory committee will review proposals from communitybased organizations, and will make recommendations to AIDS United, who will make the awards and administer the grants. The advisory committee includes: • Dawn Averitt—Founder and Chair of the Well Project • Dr. Ada Adimora—Professor of Medicine, University of North

Carolina • Paurvi Bhatt—Independent Technical Expert • Tayla Colton—Senior Director of Programs, Keep a Child Alive • Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick—Medical Director, Infectious Disease Care Center at the United Medical Center • Anu Gupta—Director, Corporate Contributions Division, Johnson & Johnson • Vanessa Johnson, JD—National Coordinator, National Women and AIDS Collective (NWAC) • Alicia Keys—Singer-songwriter; Co-Founder Keep a Child Alive; HIV/AIDS advocate • Naina Khanna—Executive Director, Positive Women’s Network – US (PWN-USA) • Terry McGovern—Professor of Health and Human Rights, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University • Leisha McKinley-Beach—Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Assistance, The Black AIDS Institute

Psychological Abuse Is the First Warning: Run, Get Out

P

By Dee Louis-Scott

sychological abuse can be as damaging to the psyche as physical abuse can be to the body, yet little is written about this common problem, which is typically the precursor to physical abuse. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 95 percent of men who physically abuse their intimate partners also psychologically abuse them. Psychological abuse consists of impairing the mental life and impeding mental development. It creates distorted beliefs, taught by the abuser, about the world. Those beliefs become ingrained in the victim’s mind and can interfere with the flexibility that needed to constantly assess the environment and respond appropriately. Knowing the signs of psychological abuse may save women from the physical abuse that so often follows. I experienced psychological abuse through the eyes of a child —part of the stories I share in “Believe in the Magic: Let the Tenacity of Mattie Fisher Inspire You,” (www.mattie-

fisher.com), the story of my mother’s remarkable journey. I watched as my father systematically and maliciously attempted to drive my mother crazy. He would constantly move car keys and other items from the places she normally kept them. He would then pretend to find them in odd places, like the refrigerator. After playing the hero for a month or so, my father would start insulting my mom with degrading remarks. After months of psychological warfare, with her mental state sufficiently weakened, my father would begin the physical abuse. For the rest of her life, my mother was inconsolable and shaky whenever something went missing. Signs of psychological abuse include: • Your partner uses finances to control you. • He often threatens to leave. • She seeks to intimidate using looks, gestures or actions. (Continued on page 11)


Inglewood Today

Page 8

October 10, 2013

Today Is Your Company Posting Without a Plan?

M

Eleven Essential Components of a Successful Social Media Strategy

ost businesses need a structured road map to create and manage successful social media programs. Social media strategy consultant Neal Schaffer shares eleven essential components your company’s social media strategy should include. Many company leaders understand that in order to survive in today’s business world, their companies must have a social media presence. But to the detriment of many organizations, strategy is lagging (way) behind. In fact, a 2013 survey showed that creating a social media strategy is still a major concern of 83 percent of marketers. And when no strategy is present, says social media strategy consultant Neal Schaffer, here’s what happens: Individuals from different departments tweet at will, using the company’s official handle. Some of these 140-character messages are loaded down with cumbersome language from the company’s Web copy guidelines; others are peppered with abbreviations like “u,” “r,” and “2.” On Facebook, users who “like” the company’s page find that their newsfeeds are bombarded with promotions, surveys, and so called “news.” Meanwhile, clients are posting positive and negative feedback on both sites. Sometimes these comments receive responses; sometimes they don’t. (And that’s not even taking into account LinkedIn, Pinterest, the company’s blog, and more!) “In using such a scattershot approach to social media, these organizations are missing out on major opportunities to engage with potential and current customers, manage their reputations, and more—and they may be alienating social media users in the process,” says Schaffer, author of Maximize Your Social: A One-Stop Guide to Building a Social Media Strategy for Marketing and Business Success (Wiley, 2013, ISBN: 978-1-118-65118-6, $25.00, www.maximizeyoursocial.com). “Without a social media strategy, how do you know what you’re trying to achieve, what you should be doing, how well you’re doing, what you should be measuring, and what the ROI of your social media program is?” In Maximize Your Social, Schaffer helps readers answer those questions—and many more. The book explains how companies can create

a strategic social media framework, leverage opportunities that each social media channel offers, and implement a data-driven approach to monitor the success or failure of their social media programs. “If your company is going to enter the social media world, you need a strategy because it standardizes messaging, determines how resources are used, defines which tactics you will and won’t pursue, serves as a road map, and will still carry on its purpose through personnel changes,” Schaffer explains. “When formulating a strategy, be sure to look at the implications it will have on all of your internal stakeholders and include them in the planning.” Here, Schaffer shares eleven essential components of a comprehensive social media strategy: Branding: Be consistent across all channels. Most businesses already have brand guidelines (including naming, color scheme, and imagery), and these should be applied to your social media properties as well. After all, branding is all about consistency, right? The challenge, though, is that most branding guidelines don’t include any guidance for the most important part of your brand in social media conversations: your voice. “Although your brand guidelines might make mention of tone and vocabulary for use in Web copy, social media will challenge those guidelines when you need to have a conversation with an average person,” Schaffer points out. “In most instances it’s okay to be less formal on social media channels—just make sure that your updates, statuses, comments, etc. ‘speak’ with a unified voice. In the planning process, be sure to ask who represents the voice of your company in your social media branding guidelines.” Content: Engage in conversation. Although cynics might dub it a mindless vacuum, social media is really about the convergence of communication and information. That being the case, what you share and talk about with social media users is important. Content provides the medium to help you engage in conversation—and creating content that is truly resourceful and shareable can have many long-term benefits to your company’s social media presence. “Keep in mind that content isn’t just about blog posts, photos, and

videos,” reminds Schaffer. “Think outside of the box! Presentations, infographics, memes, and even discussions (such as in a LinkedIn Group) are all types of content that should be considered for your social media strategy!” Curation: Share meaningful content. If you’re just talking about yourself in social media, no one wants to listen (much like regular conversation!). It’s only when you begin to curate content that is of interest to your followers and promote it, together with your own content, that your social media accounts begin to breathe new life. “If you work in a business-tobusiness (B2B) company, this will often come down to content that you might already be sharing with your current and prospective clients on sales calls, in newsletters, or during informative webinars,” Schaffer shares. “If you work for a company that sells directly to consumers, it might mean sharing more photos and videos of who is using your product, stories about your brand that have never been publicly discussed, or resourceful information to nudge people into realizing they need your product. “And don’t forget that crowdsourcing content is also a great way of curating—especially if it is from your own fans’ tweets about and photos of your products!” he adds. Channels: Join the right networks for your company. There are currently more than 50 social networks with more than 10 million members. You can’t—and shouldn’t—have a presence on every single one of them. Deciding which social networks to engage in, and creating internal best practices and tactical plans for each of these networks, will form a sizable part of your social media strategy. “While most companies concentrate on the more established social networks, depending on your industry, the new emerging social networks of Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram might be equally important,” points out Schaffer. Frequency: Post strategically, not constantly. No two social networks are alike, and with limited resources, you’ll need to decide how much time you are going to spend on each platform, as well as what you’ll be doing there. (This will help you to maximize your ROI for time and resources spent.) It’s also

important to tweak your frequency strategy for each social network from time to time so as to maximize the effectiveness of your posting. “Believe it or not, frequent posting doesn’t necessarily make your social media more effective,” shares Schaffer. “For instance, research shows that when a brand posts on Facebook twice a day, those posts receive only 57 percent of the likes and 78 percent of the comments per post that a single post receives.” Engagement: Be worthy of being followed. Engagement should be considered in both its proactive and reactive forms. While most companies do well at proactively engaging with their own content— posting both new content and conversations, as well as the sharing of content and information from others—proactively engaging with new social media users and reactively engaging with those who comment or respond to your updates is equally important to create an effective social media presence. “Try to look at your company’s social media profiles from the perspective of an outside observer and ask yourself, Is our engagement with fans worthy of being followed? Would I follow us?” suggests Schaffer. “And remember, engagement is a tactic to help you achieve your objective—namely, expanding your brand, attracting new customers, and growing your company—not the objective itself. But be encouraged: The odds are in your favor. Sixty percent of Facebook fans and 79 percent of Twitter followers are more likely to recommend brands that they’ve ‘liked’ or followed.” Listening: Interact meaningfully with customers. It’s official: The customer service desk has gone digital. From complaints to questions to (yes!) praise, consumers (67 percent of them, in fact) are using social media to convey their thoughts, opinions, and queries. But according to Schaffer, many companies are blowing this golden opportunity. For example, a recent study showed that 71 percent of customers who complained via Twitter were not contacted by the company. “Your company needs to have a listening—and responding—strategy in place,” Schaffer confirms. “Remember that listening means more than merely being on the (Continued on page 9)


October 10, 2013

Inglewood Today

Page 9

Union Bank Partners With Local High Schools to Open Bank’s First Student-Run Branches

T

Crenshaw High School, Lincoln High School students to gain real-world banking experience

he Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, in partnership with Union Bank, N.A., today announced plans to open the bank’s first two Los Angeles student-run branches at Crenshaw High School and Abraham Lincoln High School as part of an innovative program designed to provide students with real-world financial education and work experience. Union Bank opened its first student-run branch in 2011 in Fresno, California at McLane High School. Thirty student bankers have graduated from the program and four McLane graduates are currently employed by Union Bank in the Central Valley. Located on the schools’ campuses, the full-service student-run branches will be staffed by student bankers, who will have an opportunity to acquire skills in finance as well as teamwork and leadership and the hands-on experience of

working in a bank. Traditional banking products and services will be available to students, school staff, school administrators and teachers, and Union Bank will establish a Parents Academy at each school that will offer financial education, in English and Spanish, for parents and guardians of the students at each high school. “We are excited to partner with Union Bank and open the first student-run bank in Lincoln High School and bring programs that help students learn money management skills that prepare them for college and careers after high school,” said District 2 Board Member Mónica García. “I am grateful that an LAUSD alumna is a leader in the industry paving the way for other students.” “As a responsible bank, Union Bank is dedicated to increasing financial awareness within our communities, and we know that educating our youth is critical to building

Is Your Company Posting Without a Plan? (Continued from page 8) lookout for complaints to defuse. Every engagement with a social media user is a golden opportunity, because it can give you real-time feedback on what your customers are thinking, liking, needing, buying, etc. You can also utilize big social data to help understand potential future trends for your products and services. And lastly, remember that a meaningful interaction with a customer—a problem resolved or a question answered, for instance— can win you the type of loyalty that money can’t buy.” Campaign: Regularly introduce new ways to engage customers. Social media campaigns should not be confused with traditional campaigns that are used in marketing to promote new products or discounts. Again, in the social media world, you’re not speaking to or at customers; you’re speaking with them. That being the case, social media campaigns should leverage the social aspect of social media, combined with its viral functionality, to create events that trigger engagement from followers in a new and exciting way. “Think of it less as a promotional marketing campaign and more of an experiment to better understand— and more effectively engage with— your social media followers,” Schaffer recommends. “Create and implement new campaigns on a regular basis (I suggest doing so monthly) around revolving themes, such as those aligned with promotional, calendar, or seasonal events. Remember to make your campaigns platform- and/or content-specific

to help give you more precise data for your future planning. Surveys, quizzes, polls, product giveaways, and crowdsourcing (of photos, videos, and other content) are all good examples of campaign types.” Influencers: Take a cue from other users. There’s no need to navigate the world of social media on your own. Use the examples and successes of other users called influencers to help shape your own strategy and make it more effective. Influencers can consist of individual users, companies, or media outlets that 1) are a part of or serve your target demographic audience, and 2) yield influence online through reporting, blogging, and being active on platforms such as Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and LinkedIn. “You can use website rankings, social numbers (such as the number of Facebook fans or Twitter followers), social engagement, frequency of engagement, and more to identify influencers within your target demographic group,” explains Schaffer. “Furthermore, websites like Klout, which scores 400 million users and analyzes 12 billion social signals each day, can provide data to help you measure influence. “At minimum, influencers provide a source for content curation, and by retweeting their content, you increase the chances that they will notice you and reciprocate the favor, thus broadening your reach in social media,” he continues. “Beyond merely utilizing influencers for content curation and to broaden social media reach, they should also be considered as potential collaborators in future social media campaigns.” Brand Ambassadors: Recruit fans (Continued on page 10)

and sustaining strong communities for the future,” said Union Bank Executive Vice President and Regional Executive Leticia Aguilar, who manages the bank’s branches in the Los Angeles and Central California divisions. “We’ve seen tremendous talent and success from the students in our student-run branch in Fresno and our goal is to replicate that in Los Angeles.” “Union Bank is committed to this partnership, and we look forward to working with the Los Angeles Unified District in our shared mission of providing students and the community with information about how to better manage their personal finances,” said Union Bank Senior Vice President Jan Woolsey, a manager in the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility division who helped manage the bank’s initiative in Los Angeles. “The real impact is in keeping our youth in school and sending them into the world with better life skills

—we’ve seen a 100 percent graduation rate in our student banker population and a greater incident (97 percent) of going to college than the general population.” “Our Lincoln High School community is anxiously awaiting the opening of the Union Bank Lincoln High School Branch. We are honored for being selected among all the LAUSD high schools, as one of the new Union Bank High School branches,” said Lincoln High School Principal Jose F. Torres. “This opportunity will serve as the catalyst that will promote financial literacy for our students and their families. This experience also allows student interns to receive high school credit for their work in the branch as they acquire knowledge and hands on experience with the use of Business and Financial curriculum.” The student-run branches are scheduled to open in 2014.

California Endowment Announces $50 Million Commitment to ‘Sons & Brothers’ Across California Community leaders join movement to get kids back in school and stand up for the health and success of boys of color

T

he California Endowment announced Wednesday an unprecedented commitment of $50 million over the next 7 years to make a difference for boys and young men across California in their “Sons & Brothers” campaign. Foundations, political and religious leaders, students, parents and school faculty will stand up for their shared commitment to the health and success of boys and young men of color. The press conference and student rally took place at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment and Superintendent John Deasy, Los Angeles Unified School District, who spoke at the conference, stressed the critical need to improve the odds of young men of color finishing school. Campaign partners gathered for a “get kids back in school” effort, during which volunteers went into the community to the homes of absent students, to bring them back to school and connect families to any needed social services. Young men face of color face staggering odds, and their health and success indicators are well below what they should be. At the same time, these young men represent the future of America. Over 70% of all Californians under age

25 identified themselves as people of color in the 2010 Census. We won’t succeed without our sons and brothers. Research shows: • Students who do not read proficiently by 3rd grade are 4 times more likely to leave school without a diploma. Over 80% of our young black males cannot read at grade level by 3rd grade. • African American boys are 30 times more likely to be suspended from school in Los Angeles than white girls. Even one suspension doubles your chance of dropping out of school. Third grade reading, high school graduation, and postsecondary certification are three critical markers that research shows are essential for health and success in life. “Sons & Brothers” focuses on these key milestones by supporting youth and parent leadership development efforts, community-school partnerships and policy and systems changes at the local, state and national level. When boys go to school, can read by 3rd grade, and finish their education without getting suspended, expelled or involved in the justice system, they are on a surer path to becoming healthy, productive men. The campaign is sponsored by the California Endowment, Los Angeles Unified School District (Continued on page 11)


Inglewood Today

Page 10

October 10, 2013

LEG A L NOT I CES Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2013 183496 The following Person is doing business as: 1. Sangita Stone Music Publishing 2. Earthenware Records Located at: 2851 W. 120th St., Ste E 360 Hawthorne, CA 90250 Registered owner: Do What You Love Productions, LLC 2851 W. 120th St., Ste E 360, Hawthorne, CA 90250

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2013 190946 The following Person is doing business as:

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2013 177237 The following Person is doing business as:

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2013 177275 The following Person is doing business as:

D M Distributors Located at: 209 ½ E. Ellis Ave. Inglewood, CA 90302

Red Cartel Music Located at: 9724 Glasgow Pl., #6, Los Angeles, CA 90521 PO Box 1804, Hawthorne, CA 90521

Account, Book & Bill; Account, Book and Bill; Account, Book, Bill; Account, Book and Bill Services; Account, Book & Bill Services Located at: 1601 North Sepulveda Blvd., # 740 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Registered owner: Darryl McLemore, 7401 Crenshaw Blvd., #106 Los Angeles, CA 90043

Registered owner: Brandon Darrick Scott, 9724 Glasgow Pl., #6, Los Angeles, CA 90521

This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on September 3, 2013.

This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on September 11, 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.) Do What You Love Productions, LLC, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on September 3, 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.) Darryl McLemore, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on September 11, 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.

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 September 26, 2013; October 3, 10 & 17, 2013 ITO0422301003 Inglewood Today

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 Sept 12, 19, 26, 2013; Oct 10, 2013 ITO0422301002 Inglewood Today

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 Sept 12, 19, 26,2013; Oct 10, 2013 ITO0422301000 Inglewood Today

Veterans to March on Washington, DC (Continued from page 3) about to, I suspect, ignite the awareness of the collective in a synergistic way that will be a jump-start to future events. I believe the lights will begin to come on in the minds of America. How will the mainstream media be able to ignore what is going on in Washington when thousands of big rigs (and other trucks of every size who join in the March)—many of them Canadian—clog the streets and thousands of Veterans and hundreds or even thousands of supporters show up

to take a stand on Sunday? The government didn’t shut down the government— but the people might! And when the trance-like state that envelopes much of America begins to wear off and people see that the shelves in the grocery store are getting lean and they can’t buy bathroom tissue or—heaven forbid—beer, that will be the final wakeup call. I sincerely hope it reaches that point; otherwise they will go on about their slumbering and snoring for another decade. Unfortunately, Americans will not recognize the need for action until

someone takes away their “stuff.” Truckers have the power to wave a magic wand that will cause America to sit up and rub their eyes and see their world for the nightmare it truly has become. I will gladly do without if it means the world will wake up and take their power back. I have more questions than answers. Is the fact that the Border Patrol has been ordered off duty have anything to do with this event? Will officers stand down on Thursday and Friday (October 10, 11) when Canadian truckers spill

This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on August 23, 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.) Brandon Darrick Scott This statement was filed with the County Clerk on August 23, 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.

Registered owner: Beverly Love, 10736 Jefferson Blvd., #105, Culver City, CA 90230 This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on August 23, 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.) Beverly Love, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on August 23, 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 Oct 10, 17, 24, 31, 2013 ITO0422309099 Inglewood Today

across the Peace Bridge in Niagara Falls and other checkpoints to support their brothers south of the 49th? Could the lamestream fail to cover this activity? Whether they do or not, this monstrous show of activism is going to raise awareness and prove to the still sleeping Americans that it is time for ACTION! The apathy must end now. We truckers have watched millions of people participate in rallies, demonstrations and even riots in other countries across the globe as they realized they MUST do something about

Is Your Company Posting Without a Plan? (Continued from page 9) to spread the word. Brand ambassadors are current loyal customers and fans who help spread the word about your brand through their own social networks. They can also act as an advisory board during a crisis. Harnessing and rewarding ambassadors is a very effective way to help spread the word and value of your brand throughout social media because 92 percent of people trust recommendations from friends and family more than all other forms of marketing. “Whether they are current employees, alumni of your company, or loyal fans to your brand, your social media strategy should always be looking for ways to engage—and reward—brand loyalty and amplification in social media,” Schaffer confirms. (Continued on page 11) Private party has 2 double lots to sell in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Cherry Blossom area. $7000 per double lot, Or Best Offer. 760-333-4736

the corruption and tyranny. Now it is our turn in North America. Will America rise and heed the call? This is meant to be a peaceful demonstration. Will it remain one? The way the shadow government’s police state has evolved, it would be a miracle if that were the case. Miracles happen every day, and we need one. It seems that enough citizens are finally realizing that despite the patriotic slogans, they no longer live in the Land of the Free—but America is still “home of the brave,” and I think patriots are about to prove it.


October 10, 2013

Inglewood Today

Is Your Company Posting Without a Plan? (Continued from page 10) Crisis Management: Be prepared to handle trouble. Given the speed at which information travels in social media and the fact that social media is now a primary news source for consumers and the media, it is inevitable that some sort of crisis will occur. That being the case, your company needs to always be prepared for the worst (such as an attempted takeover of social media channels by fanatics and others with an agenda). Completely integrating social media into your company’s crisis management planning is a very wise decision: 76 percent of social media crises could have been diminished or averted with the proper social media investments. “Make sure that your crisis communications plan includes messaging for each of the social media channels you’ll be investing in,” Schaffer instructs. “Beyond that, make sure that your employees are proficient at (or better yet, expert users of) the social media tools your organization utilizes so that they won’t inadvertently make a crisis worse. Secondly, you should try to proactively build a community of goodwill with followers of your brand. Over time, your word will become more trusted, and more brand advocates will be born; both

of which will help lessen the potential negative effects of any crisis.” “This list primarily looks at the elements of creating a robust social media strategy from a marketing perspective, but some of these components can be easily expanded to help other internal departments achieve their social media objectives,” Schaffer concludes. “Regardless of your company’s social media goals, though, make sure that you address all of these concepts individually in a written document so that everyone in your company— now and in the future—understands what they are and how they are meant to work together. The clearer you are, the more productive your organization’s social media presence will be.” Neal Schaffer is the author of Maximize Your Social: A One-Stop Guide to Building a Social Media Strategy for Marketing and Business Success. Named a Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencer two years in a row, Neal is the creator of Advertising Age’s Top 100 Global Marketing Blog, Windmill Networking (recently rebranded as Maximize Social Business), and a global speaker on social media who also teaches as part of Rutgers University’s Mini-MBA™ in Social Media Marketing Program. For more information, please visit www.maximizeyoursocial.com.

California Endowment Announces $50 Million Commitment (Continued from page 9) Brotherhood Crusade, Community Coalition, and LA’s Promise.The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people’s health. Through its “Health Happens Here” campaign and ten-year initiative for Building Healthy Communities, The Endowment is creating places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. At its core, The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods and schools, and with prevention. For more information, visit the California Endowment’s home page at www.calendow.org.

Eye on the City (Continued from page 4) $154.000 Recreation Leader I salary. Assistant City Manager/CIO Mike Falkow said that was a typo, and that the figure actually represents salaries of 16 part time leaders. The ordinance passed. Jobs of parking enforcement officers are at stake. Gil Mathieu said the city will need parking enforcement to handle the traffic at the Forum when it opens Jan. 2014. A long time Inglewood resident wanted Mayor Butts to know he appreciates the good things happening in the city. “It’s so wonderful to drive down Manchester and see the results of the space shuttle. It’s so good to drive and see the Forum.” Inglewood received two new trees to compensate for each one being removed, to make room for the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which rode through the city one year ago this weekend. The man told everyone the annual Halloween party for seniors will be held again this year and the Senior Citizens Assn. wants to honor Police Chief Mark Fronterotta for his crime fighting work. Stay tuned for details on the Halloween event. Councilman George Dotson thanked the 79th Street block club coordinators for welcoming the community last weekend. He also thanked the Inglewood Library for putting on such a successful and “organized” 50-year anniversary celebration.

Councilman Alex Padilla reminded the public about the town hall meeting on the Affordable Care Act, to be held by Assemblymember Steven Bradford October 12 at 10am in the City Hall Community Room. His own District 2 town hall will be held on October 19, same time and location. “I also want to thank the library staff for putting together such a wonderful 50-year anniversary for the library,” he said. Councilmember Eloy Morales echoed the good work by library staff in organizing the anniversary event, and addressed an earlier comment about public access to officials. “The best way to get ahold of us is to find out which one of us is your councilman and you should be able to get ahold of us the same day. “ Work on La Brea Ave. is finished except for the striping. The project, thanks to Public Works Director Louis Atwell and his crew, was completed ahead of schedule. Mayor Butts commented on the recent breast cancer event in Inglewood: “In cities of color, we are so often underserved when it comes to early detection and cancer.” The citywide yard sale last weekend is evolving in a positive way, he said. When he first attended the annual event, “people complained about where the city was going. This year, it was universal. People approached me. They wanted to take pictures, and said they were proud of their city.”

Councilman Ralph Franklin reminded everyone that the next semiannual Operation Clean Sweep day is October 12. He also warned: “Don’t bring hazardous waste material or items that are so bulky, it takes two people to handle it.” Remarks from the public and council turned toward the federal government shutdown. Michael Benbow spoke about the government funding standoff and how it will impact Inglewood. “It’s just a matter of time how it affects us,” he said. “We have to take a look at our president and how he has supported us and he has fought for the people and made great steps to taking us to a normal way of life. He has created legislation for the seniors, youth, education, loans and the unemployed. We have to recognize those things he has done.” “I am being subjected to current aspects of the (Obama) Administration’s policies. I’ve been reduced to 28 hours a week,” another man said. “I think (we should) look more inwardly to ourselves, we have become too dependent on Washington.” “If Washington. DC would make decisions, they wouldn’t be where they are today. You guys are on the right track,” Willie Agee said to council members. “You could go to Washington and teach them something.”

Page 11

Psychological Abuse (Continued from page 7) • He smashes things. • Your partner seeks to control you by minimizing, denying and blaming • He makes light of the abuse and does not take your concerns about it seriously. • You are continually criticized, called names and/or shouted at. • She emotionally degrades you in private, but acts charming in public. • He humiliates you in private or public. • They withhold approval, appreciation or affection as punishment. Effects of psychological abuse on the victim, from the Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness: • A distrust of his or her own spontaneity • A loss of enthusiasm • An uncertainty about how she is coming across • A concern that something is wrong with him • An inclination to reviewing incidents with the hopes of determining what went wrong • A loss of self-confidence • A growing self-doubt • An internalized critical voice • A concern that she isn’t happier and ought to be • An anxiety or fear of being crazy • A sense that time is passing and he’s missing something • A desire not to be the way she is, e.g. “too sensitive,” etc. • A hesitancy to accept her perceptions • A reluctance to come to conclusions • A tendency to live in the future, e.g. “Everything will be great when/after ...” • A desire to escape or run away • A distrust of future relationships If you answered yes to even one, you may be in an abusive relationship. Get help! Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. Dee Louis-Scott is the author of “Believe in the Magic: Let the Tenacity of Mattie Fisher Inspire You,” (www.mattiefisher.com), the story of her mother’s remarkable journey. Louis-Scott retired after working 30 years as a federal employee. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. Scott has co-chaired the Black Family Technology Awareness Association’s Youth STEM Fair for nine years; its mission is to encourage studies in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math curriculum in urban communities. Twenty years since the death of her heroic mother, Mattie Fisher, Louis-Scott honors her life, which was experienced in a time in American history when it was a double-curse to be a black woman.


Centinela Hospital Medical Center’s Steps to Vit alit y 4th Annual Communit y

Hea lt h and

Safet y Fa i r

Saturday, October 12th 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

555 East Hardy St. Inglewood, CA 90301

for further information, please call (310) 680-1407

Free Health Screenings PSA test* Glucose test* Cholesterol* Body Fat Pulmonary Function

Wellness Information Disaster Preparedness Games Nutrition Counseling Community Resources Ask a Pharmacist

Diabetes Education Advanced Health Care Directives Planning Maternal and Child Health

Plus get enrollment assistance in the Covered California Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) program

* requires 6 - 8 hours of fasting before test

E. Arbor Vitae St.

Hardy St. Myrtle Ave.

S. La Brea Ave.

Tommy Lasorda

Centinela Hospital

Century Blvd.

S. Prairie Ave.

Meet Dodgers Legend


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.