Buppie Returns Home to Inglewood |Inglewood Today Digital Edition March 12th, 2020

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March 12-18, 2020

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VOL. 35, No. 11

By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

It was roughly six years ago when I first interviewed Kelli Bernard. That was when she served as deputy mayor of economic development for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Extremely private and blessed an abundance of humility, the soft spoken Bernard shared carefully, but with utter certainty as the person being responsible for business growth, economic development and job creation in Los Angeles. She was the top economic advisor to the mayor, in charge of eight city departments, including Los

Angeles World Airports and The Port of Los Angeles, managing a budget of $6 billion and overseeing 7,000 employees.

Many public servants and some in the private sector saw Bernard as a rising star at City Hall, one that could potentially chart her own course in government if she decided to.

So, when infrastructure giant AECOM knocked on her door with an offer to join their global empire, Bernard took a deep long sigh and Continued on page 3

Mayor Butts calms Coronavirus disease anxiety Mayor James T. Butts Jr. Mayor James T. Butts Jr. Statement:

“The Public Los Angeles County Health Department has announced a declaration of a local health emergency.

I want to take a moment to emphasize that this declaration should not drive unnecessary alarm. This is simply a preemptive measure to ensure the county local government and allied

agencies are coordinated and strategic in their preparedness efforts and to ensure federal and state funding is appropriately directed.

We are aware that several new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been identified in L.A. County.

However each of those cases came from a confirmed source and not from a communal spread. Again the declaration of a local health emergency was made out of abundance of caution and to strengthen our ability collectively to protect our communities.

The city of Inglewood maintains strong partnerships at the federal, state and local levels and is actively engaged in the strategies and preventative measures being discussed and implemented across the county.

Finally, there is no immediate threat to the general public, nor to our work place. As you move about at work and home we recommend that practice good public health hygiene to reduce the spread to any and all respiratory diseases.�

START SPEADING THE NEWS: Cristina, an Inglewood native is shown reading her favorite newspaper, Inglewood Today. As the City is expanding, so too is Inglewood Today and its all because of our dedicated readers like Cristina. (Kenneth Miller/ Photo)

Buppie is Back!

See Page 7

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March 12-18, 2020

EYE ON THE CITY

AROUND THE CITY

Inglewood Secures first $233 Million For People Mover GEORGE DOTSON

ALEX PADILLA

JAMES BUTTS

ELOY MORALES

RALPH FRANKLIN

By Francis Taylor, Sr. Writer

Thc council meeting got underway with a surprisingly low community turnout. The council approved a professional services agreement with Placeworks, an environmental consulting firm, to prepare the necessary environmental documents required for the four (4) proposed electronic billboards and approved Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 18-204 with CSG Consultants, Inc., to continue providing Building Safety plan check services The council approved Amendment Seven of the Elderly Nutrition Program Services Subaward Number ENP162008 with County of Los Angeles Workforce Development Aging and Community Services to reflect award of additional funding in the amount of $180,600 for provision of the Elderly Nutrition Program and authorized the Chief of Police to approve Encroachment Permits with the State of California – Department of Transportation (CalTrans) for use of their properties to perform training, with prior review and approval from the City Attorney’s Office.

The council awarded a contract with a three-year agreement with KJServices Environmental Consulting (KJServices) to administer the City of Inglewood’s (City) Used Oil Block Grant Program, per Bid No. RFB0121 and rejected all bids received on January 8, 2020, in response to the La Cienega Inglewood Art Wall Project.

Council approved the Measure M Funding Agreement No. 9200000000M550203 between the City of Inglewood (City) and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA),

to facilitate receipt of an $11,491,352.71 reimbursement grant for the Inglewood Intermodal Transit/Park and Ride Facility from LACMTA and approved Funding Agreement MM5502.02 between the City of Inglewood (City) and Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to allocate $13,500,000 in Measure M Funds for the ITS Gap Closure Project.

Council adopted a resolution establishing a new Investment Committee and dissolving the prior Investment Committee and approved an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement between the City and 317 La Brea LLC. The council adopted a resolution amending the Annual Capital Improvements Plan Budget for Fiscal

Year 2019-2020 for budget adjustments needed due to scheduling changes and/or additional proposed Capital Improvement Projects and approved additional Recognized Obligation Payment Schedules (ROPS) funds of $1,154,668 to close out of Century Boulevard Mobility Improvement Project No. P212, Phase 1.

Member Padilla thanked all those who supported the grand opening of the Jack in the Box Restaurant on Centinela Blvd., and thanked those responsible for organizing and attending the Emergency Preparedness Event where information was disseminated around Earthquakes the Corona Virus and a myriad of related topics. He also acknowledged a generous $2,500

donation to the High School’s ROTC training program.

Member acknowledged the 60 plus parents and players who attended the little league launch.

Mayor Butts read the County Health Department’s Advisory related to keeping the community safe during the Corona Virus and announced that the city had secured the first $233 million allocated to begin the Florence Station People Mover and indicated that he is scheduled to travel to Sacramento to secure an additional $200 million.

Univ. of California Health System Considers Limiting Access to End-of-Life Care IT News Wire

University of California (UC) Board of Regents is considering whether or not to allow their expansive UC Health Systems (UCLA, UCSD, UCSF, etc.) to affiliate with religious hospitals and healthcare facilities that would deny Californians access to a full range of options, including end-of-life care options for the terminally ill.

“Health disparities in the African American and Latino communities are only exacerbated when healthcare

systems create roadblocks to people getting the care they want, especially at the end of life,” said Brandi Alexander, Compassion & Choices’ National Director of Constituency. “Such a move will undoubtedly impose unnecessary obstacles on people who are already suffering terribly.”

The warning comes as the UC Board of Regents determines whether or not they will stand with integrity and not allow the UCs to affiliate with hospitals and healthcare facilities that would deny terminally ill Californians access

to the full range of end-of-life care options.

Only 50 percent of African Americans have talked with family members about their end-of-life care and 20 percent have not talked to anyone about it, according to a study by Duke University.

Fewer than 10% of those enrolled in hospice are African American.

“Black hospice enrollees are significantly more likely than white enrollees to be admitted to the hospital, visit an emergency room and withdraw

from hospice,” said Alexander. “Latino seniors also have little knowledge about their end-of-life care options, and are far less likely to enroll in hospice.

One option available in California, eight other states and Washington DC is medical aid in dying; which was authorized in California through the passage of the state’s End of Life Option Act. The law, which took effect June 9, 2016, gives mentally capable, Continued on page 4

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March 12-18, 2020 Continued from page 1: Celebrating...

pondered whether she would finish with Garcetti during his term or expand her horizon and impact on communities she deeply cares about.

“I was part of team Garcetti and its one of those things that, regardless of what hat I wear, I am always going to be a part of team Garcetti. I was leading Mayor Garcetti economic development and it was the culmination of almost 20 years in public service and I don’t know if there was a better job as a public servant for me to have,” Bernard explained to Inglewood Today during an exclusive interview.

She admitted that she was quite happy at the Los Angeles Civic Center and was not seeking any other opportunities and believed that she would be there until the end of the administration.

However, all that changed in May 2016, when she was approached

by AECOM to join their Southern California office.

She knew little about AECOM other than it being a large infrastructure company.

“I didn’t really know a lot about them, I knew they were headquartered in Los Angeles and two things; one they were helping the City of Los Angeles with winning the Olympics, then they moved their headquarters to Century City and became the largest private company headquartered in Los Angeles,” Bernard added.

As director of economic development she had always been very grateful of AECOM for the work they did with Los Angeles.

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AECOM was reimagining how they wanted to run their offices, they had a Designed Consultant Services Practice, they had regions in New York, D.C. Metro region and were establishing a Los Angeles Metro Region and they wanted someone who understood the business and understood the geography.

When AECOM began to ask around who that individual could be, the focus pointed to Kelli Bernard.

Hence, Bernard would have many conversations with AECOM to run their Southern California office, but after months of talks she decided to accept and now serves as Executive Vice President of National Cities, responsible for addressing challenging problems by leveraging AECOM’s integrated delivery platform with innovative models across various sectors.

It is a position that allows for AECOM to benefit from the best of both of Kelli Bernard’s worlds.

One where she is ultra sensitive to the needs of a city, careful with its budget and committed to its constituents, then also have her unique skill set and vast acumen from the vessel of urban planning experience and vision to orchestrate the two for the benefit for all parties involved.

A graduate of University California Berkley, Bernard holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. She lists as one of her primary mentors, the late Marva Smith BattleBey, an urban planning expert who was at the center of efforts to rebuild damaged stretches of the Los Angeles after the 1992 riots.

Bernard says that Battle-Bey was first to hire her and mentored her throughout the many years of her illustrious career, connecting Bernard to a bevy of stakeholders.

She also credits Juanita Tate, a late community activist who advocated green space for the poor citizens of South Los Angeles.

Of course it was her mother Erma who deserves most of the credit for nurturing and molding Bernard.

When ask where she wanted to be in the next five years, Bernard scratched her braided hair and then calmly responded.

“I didn’t know that I would leave City Hall, so I honestly don’t know the answer to that.

AECOM is hoping she is still in the fold with them.

you speak, they listen

“What is your reaction to the Super Tuesday election results?”

By Francis Taylor, Senior Writer

Treetha Boyd (brown flower dress) “Even though we are given the opportunity to vote, I don’t think that my vote matters and that the winners have already been determined.”

Clementyne Sledge (long fingernails) “I am very pleased with Biden’s performance on Super Tuesday. I believe he is the best candidate for the presidency.”

Belinda Johnson (striped tee shirt) “I was very happy with Biden’s performance and I sincerely hope he will beat Trump in the General election in November.”

Nathalie Walker (black and white sweater) “I was surprised that Sanders did not fare as well as the polls indicated and Lacy was hindered by her husband’s use of a gun to warn protesters.”

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March 12-18, 2020

Census Day arriving quickly

By Anthony Russell Jerry, Special to Inglewood Today (Anthony Jerry is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology University of California, Riverside)

Census day is quickly approaching and political and media campaigns are in full swing to reach out to millions of Americans in an effort to count the entire population. As part of the heightened attention on the mathematics associated with the nations demographics – Race, Ethnicity, Sex (not gender or sexuality), Homeowner or Renter – the question of the “Hard to…” once again arises. The Census has determined that there are a number of communities that are Hard to…locate, interview, persuade, and/or count. The issue then, is what makes a community Hard to Count? In short, the answer to this question is, anyone who has been marginalized in some

form or another. This marginalization could be a consequence of any number of experiences. Being a renter, having not achieved a high school diploma, having some form of “disability”, being low-income, experiencing homelessness, being a member of a cultural or linguistic minority, being undocumented, or being a racial or ethnic minority. While it is easy to identify these specific populations, addressing the specifics as to why these populations continue to be Hard to Count is more difficult. For some, it may be that barriers such as language limit the effectiveness of traditional methods of reaching and counting communities.

Yet for others, the lack of a permanent address might hinder Census efforts to locate and document the existence of millions of homeless or housing insecure. However, a more difficult question to answer is what makes Black

Communities Hard to Count? Perhaps a better question is, how to address the specifics around a shared mistrust among Black communities?

Black communities may experience housing insecurity. Black families may have one or more incarcerated family members. Black communities may even have a large number of speakers of a language other than English.

These issues are all reasons that could potentially make a community Hard to Count. However, it should come as no surprise that the issue of mistrust is an important common thread uniting Black communities in their feelings towards the census and their unwillingness to let the government know specifics about where they reside. Whether Black folks are highly educated or have yet to achieve a high school diploma, whether these same folks are living under the poverty line or have gained access to the middle class, or whether or not these folks utilize any number of public services, the issue of mistrust of government and government intervention continues to unite us as Black people. This mistrust seems to exist as part of a collective shared memory. For example, during the 1970’s census, the use of the word genocide seemed to be a common way for Black communities to talk about the dangers associated with the census.

This feeling (if that is indeed a strong enough word) that the Census could be used to undermine Black communities continues to exist in the contemporary Black conscious.

This feeling is even more pronounced in those of

Continued from page 2: Univ...

terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to request prescription medication they can decide whether or not to take to die peacefully in their sleep if their suffering becomes unbearable.

Amanda Villegas witnessed her late husband, Chris Davis, suffer horribly before his death from bladder cancer at age 29, the result of his hospital’s decision to deny him access to the medical aid in dying that he requested so that he could die peacefully.

“A religious hospital in Southern California failed my husband by denying him the aid-in-dying medication that he begged for, as tubes drained bodily fluids that protruded from his stomach, kidneys, and chest,” Villegas said. “That medical facility that claims compassionate care for their patients failed my husband, because of their religious ideology, denying him peace they could have easily allowed him to have, as his swollen skin was bursting from the pressure of edema.

No dying patient should ever have to suffer that way.”

“End-of-life care decisions should never be dictated by a hospital’s religious affiliation trumping the patient’s religious beliefs,” said Rev. Madison Shockley, pastor at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad.

“The law put that decision where it belongs: firmly in the hands of the terminally ill,” he added.

Tom Whaley, whose wife Christine died at age 42 in 2018 after a sixyear battle with an aggressive form of skin cancer, fully supported his wife’s decision to access medical aid in dying when her disease got to the point where she was having trouble swallowing and breathing.

But Christine’s first request to her doctor was denied because the doctor was affiliated with a religious hospital that prohibits its physicians from

helping terminally ill patients access the law.

“The hospital said medical aid in dying was against their values, but what about Christine’s values? Whaley said.

“Hospitals should not deny treatment based on their ‘religious reasons’ to patients who most need it,” Whaley added.

Although three out of four Californians across the demographic spectrum support the End of Life Option Act, serious obstacles to accessing it remain.

One-third of terminally ill patients

us that represent the most vulnerable of California’s Black communities.

Ironically, these same communities seem to recognize that the Census could potentially help California’s vulnerable, under-represented, and underserved Black communities. The question that remains; will the Census help build our communities?

It is commonly known that the Census is an important tool for determining how communities receive federal funds for programs related to broad number of social services, or the ways that the Census determines how communities will be represented at the state and federal levels. When it comes to Black communities, the rhetoric around the Census is commonly about the one-way transmission of services and funds from the federal government, to the state to our communities. But, is there another way? How might we as Black communities interested in building our own communities from within utilize the Census as a tool for collecting data; data that we can then put to work towards starting a business, towards conducting research in our communities, towards serving our own communities? How might we benefit from knowing the size of our own populations, both locally and nationally? What might we do with this information? The power of data is not simply about knowing the numbers.

The power comes from knowing how to put those numbers to work. How might we make use of the Census this year?

at Kaiser Permanente Southern California who requested medical aid in dying were unable to complete the process before they died, according to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The UC’s Working Group on Comprehensive Access (WGCA) was charged with offering recommendations to the Board on whether or not to allow the UC health systems across the state to be able to affiliate with prohibiting facilities but could not reach consensus. ate with religious hospitals.

Alexander urged concerned Californians to email the UC Regents to tell them to reject any policy that includes affiliating with facilities that prohibit doctors from supporting patients in all available options.

“Empowering our communities to make informed decisions that fit their values is critical, particularly during the end-of-life process,” she said. “UC Regents must not make access worse by supporting hospitals and healthcare systems that suppress information that terminally ill people need and have a legal right to.”

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March 12-18, 2020

Sports & Entertainment Lakers stamped as NBA title favorites ‘D’ IS THE REASON: LeBron James locks up Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in their NBA showcase rivalry on March 8 at Staples Center.

The Lakers beat the Clips for the first time this season 112-103. (Photo

by Nick Koza for Inglewood Today)

categories, including blocks (6.9) and steals (8.6) per game, all the while If defense wins championships as holding teams to just 34.2 percent.

But the most impressive aspect to this forecast by sports pundits, then the Lakers squad is LeBron James! LeBron Lakers are very much the favorites to bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy this season.

The entire basketball universe was served notice by the Lakers in their emphatic home victories over the Clippers and Bucks.

“It’s a really good weekend for us, playing against two of the best teams, the top two teams in the league with us as far as record-wise,” LeBron James said. “I just think we kept our composure throughout the whole game.”

The Lakers put hushed lips mark on all the chatter that unfolded before facing two of the top teams in the east and west last week. They won both is playing some of his best basketball at of them in a playoff like atmosphere 35-years-old.

“Probably one of the smartest against the Clippers and Milwaukee. players to ever play basketball,” Rivers But not only did they win both games, they did a great job at exploiting the said. “I think we get lost in LeBron’s Bucks and Clippers weaknesses on physicality too much, and we should think about his brain more. His brain is defense.

In fact, the Lakers are showcasing what makes him great. There are a lot their defensive muscle on every team of people in the league with LeBron’s league right now. James and Davis have body. There’s no one in the league with quickly emerged to be two of the best his brain.”

Needless to say, the Lakers are a great defenders in the NBA. Numbers don’t defensive team. This is similar to the lie. The dynamic duo’s are listed in the defense Vogel installed while coaching top five of most defensive statistical the Indiana Pacers, and that D got them

By Tamara Latta, IT Contributor

to the Eastern Conference Finals. Most noticeable t about the Lakers defense is they’re maddeningly consistent. And their defense keeps them in a lot of games even if they do not play well on offense. They have won the last 11/12 games.

Though, we haven’t heard many mentions about Davis arguably being the best defensive (defender) in the NBA. He’s been all about that action. He makes plays defensively precisely when the team needs it the most and protects the rim when a teammate is beat on drives.

He’s a great weakside shot blocker, disruptor, makes steals and deflections in nearly every game. He does it all and should more than likely win the DPOY this year.

The Lakers will need to put together another prominent defensive scheme this week as they face two solid teams in the west; Denver and Houston. At the moment, the Rockets and Nuggets are brimming with confidence and are competing at a high level, so the Lakers will need to duplicate the same energy they played with against their top two foes.

African Essence

Coloring for Health, Self and the Culture Who said coloring is just for kids?

Definitely not Erinn Sneed, illustrator of “African Essence,” a unique coloring book for grownups. There are many adult coloring books on the market … but few will engage the mind and the culture of the African American audience quite like “African Essence.”

An array of African symbolism including masks, drums, artifacts, people and mandala is incorporated into the various designs of this 60-plus page coloring tome. Whether at home, work or on the go, “African Essence” is the perfect pick-me-up from the day-today hassles of adulting. You can’t write checks with colored pencils, but you can surely color some stress away!

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population.” And racial disparities have life long stress effects on African Americans from pediatric to geriatric years. Coloring books have been shown to have many health and psychological benefits for adults that include: • Release of depression, anger, sadness and other negative emotions • Helps one to be present • Benefits people with PTSD • Helps with focus using the areas of the brain that deal with concentration • While coloring the brain goes into a meditative state.

• Calming and relaxing • Enjoyable and fun • Relieves boredom • Lower stress levels After attending HBCUs Wilberforce and Howard Universities, Sneed – an artist and graphic designer – began living by the idea that“we must tell and teach our own stories, create our own images and write our own history.”

Dedicated to bringing high quality books that can be passed down from one generation to the next, Sneed has created several other coloring books that teach children about black history.

Now, she has decided to let adults in on the fun with this latest venture, “African Essence.” The book is available now on Amazon.com.

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March 12-18, 2020

Area Communities S e r v i n g L a d e r a , H a w t h o r n e , W e s t c h e s t e r, L a w n d a l e , G a r d e n a , C a r s o n

Life Coach Dawn Kasey Lovelace Aspires to tap into your greatness

By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

Transition and evolution are two words that best describe the essence of which Dawn Kasey Lovelace is, but if you just stopped there you would be missing the total ingredients, which inspire the veteran Life Coach to cultivate the greatness of the individuals she encounters.

Throughout her life, Lovelace has learned from scratch how to tap into her inner resources for the courage and talent to adept to almost any situation.

A 1984 graduate of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, she got her first job working at Drexel Burnham, where junk bond king Michael Milken made his fortune before he was indicted for racketeering and securities fraud in 1989 in an insider trading investigation.

Lovelace says she more like Forrest Gump, the slow-witted character played

by Tom Hanks who never thought of himself as disadvantaged and thanks to his supportive mother led a remarkable life.

During the 1980s she toiled as an under aged club promoter for free and then subsequently landed an internship at Arista Records by the early 1990s.

“Radio was changing at that time so there was this merging of independent artist, labels and promoters and I was in that circle of independent promoters at that time,” Lovelace explained to Inglewood Today.

She gave birth to her first daughter Sunnie Swann in 1992, a promising make-up artist in Washington D.C., all the while climbing up the ladder at Arista.

After elevating into management and artist development, she launched The Acoustic Black Showcase to promote the untapped potential of local minority talent.

A decade had disappeared and Lovelace was giving birth to her second daughter, Savannah LovelaceSwann, currently a student at Hampton University in Virginia, but she

She is certified with the International Coaching Federation through Ideal Coaching Global, where she now serves as a Staff Coach. Her private practice includes Individual and Group Coaching in the areas of Personal/ Professional Development, Organizational Coaching, Leadership, Career Change and Self-Care, with an emphasis on Work/Life balance.

A life coach is responsible for encouraging and counseling clients on a range of professional and personal issues, from giving advice, consulting, counseling, continued to invest her time and energy mentoring and administering therapy. into programs she steadfastly believed in.

By this time she was working at The Crystal Stairs Head Start Program, a family services program aimed to improve the lives of families through child care services, research, and advocacy, providing comprehensive child development services for lowincome children and their families.

She spent countless of hours lobbying for childcare in Sacramento, learning from political figures such as Holly Mitchell.

From there she worked at St. Barnabas Senior Services, which has been serving economically vulnerable older adults in Los Angeles County for over 100 years.

Since 2015, she has been an organizer for SEIU Local 721, with some 90,000 members strong, but her flowing fountain for humanity is focusing on tapping into human potential, more specifically African American human potential.

She feels the most effective way to achieve that is through her work as certified Ontological Coach. She has been doing it for over 10 years.

“ Good people are rich in many ways but those who are evil get nothing but trouble.”

Lovelace describes the span of her career as a journey that demonstrates a high level of leadership and the development of innovative programs and initiatives across sectors throughout Los Angeles County and the State of California.

“My commitment to effective communication and relationship building are keenly highlighted in the types of projects and initiatives that I have implemented in the non-profit and for-profit sectors. My personal responsibility to Equity and justice for working families and professionals has fueled my journey and inspired me to think outside of the box in order to develop solutions, through programs and legislation, for many of the challenges facing California,” according to her statement on website dawnkaseylovelace.com.

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March 12-18, 2020

BUMPIE | BUSINESS

BUPPIE Returns to Inglewood The word BUPPIE (Black Urban Professional. Black professionals and executives in their late twenties and early thirties) had its roots in the mid 1980’s with the word yippie, derived from hippie and later to yuppie.

However the word has developed, the City of Inglewood is positioned to be a centerpiece for the proliferation of Black and Brown, and minority upwardly mobile professionals who will capitalize on the new jobs, commerce and culture that has already arrived in the city and continues to develop with projects that have been approved but not yet completed.

Diana Rivera, a recent college graduate who was interviewed in one of the city’s local coffee shops believes that Inglewood’s job and economic development growth will attract young people to the city. She said that more murals, shopping centers and coffee shops will be a boost to attract more young people to the City of Inglewood.

Monica Santos agrees with Rivera and suggested that more social gathering places will attract more young people.

Inglewood Today is committed to growing BUPPIE in the City of Inglewood as a flashpoint for our urban community coming together, increasing jobs, commerce and culture that attract economic investment and fosters community pride. BUPPIE was derived from the word yumpie, for young upwardly mobile professional that was current in the 1980’s. The term fizzled out over time, but Inglewood Today, the city’s most prominent weekly news

economic development activity that is due in large measure to the foresight that Mayor James T. Butts Jr. and the city council have ushered into Inglewood, before Butts was elected, Inglewood was on the verge of bankruptcy. Presently the city has the highest bond rating of any city in the nation, has discharged its delinquent debt and amassed a General Fund surplus, has nearly completed significant infrastructure improvements, is overseeing the construction of a futuristic, state-of-theart NFL stadium, completing negations for a new NBA arena and very recently

publication, is bringing the term back into the lexicon and BUPPIE, for the City of Inglewood’s purposes, means Black and Brown upwardly mobile professional.

Inglewood is exploding with

announced that significant funding has been secured to begin plans for a nearly one billion dollar people mover system that will connect the pending Florence Avenue transit station with the Forum, NFL stadium and NBA arena.

By Francis Taylor, Sr. Writer

The mayor and city council members’ foresight in negotiating construction contracts continues to have a significant impact on increasing employment opportunities for Inglewood residents. With minimum local hiring requirements, Inglewood residents are positioned to participate in a broad range of living-wage job opportunities that will support locals and bring young people back to Inglewood.

Kat Hyltan, a recent grad school graduate, agrees that the city’s growth activities will attract more young people and she suggested that the city add more events such as festivals, fitness classes, and anything that promotes outside community activities.

Kennedy McDuffie and Jonathan Jones agreed and said that in addition to the jobs that are coming, the city needs to ensure that more affordable housing is available for those who are returning to the City of Inglewood.

It is significant to note that even though Inglewood has experienced the Continued on page 10

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March 12-18, 2020

H e a l t h COVID-19 Safety Update: Sing Stevie Wonder’s (Black) “Happy Birthday” (2X for Clean Hands)

By California Black Media Staff

Experts say you should wash your hands with water and soap for about 20 seconds to prevent spread of the Coronavirus.

How do you keep track of hand sud time without risking water damage to your smartphone-slash-timer?

Easy. Let’s start with a song every Black person in America knows.

Now, getting through it will take about enough time (you’ll go a little bit over in fact to about 26 seconds) to get in the standard three-line “Happy Birthday” repetition in Stevie Wonder’s version of the birthday song — at least two times. So, a total of six lines after which you’ll be good. And safe. And fresh. And clean. And protected.

Your hard end can come right after you hit that last ‘happy birthday” – the one unpunctuated with the standard “to you” at the end. Yes, you can cut before you get to the bridge and go all out with the dragged out haaaaaaaaaa peeeeeeeeee birth … day … haaaaaaaaaa peeeeeeeeee birth … day …you know the part.

Thank us, later. We appreciate you, too.

‘In other COVID-19 related

information: As the he US Census Bureau sends out forms this week to homes across the country asking people to participate in the 2020 Census, the agency is assuring workers, officials and the general public that it is taking necessary safety precautions to conduct a safe and successful national count.

“The safety of the American public and our employees is job one,” said Steven Dillingham, director of the US Census Bureau, in a statement released last week.

Although the Census Bureau did not yet share the details of its safety plans, Dillingham says his team is working with national health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the President’s Task Force, as well as state and local health departments “to ensure all of their guidance is incorporated into our operations.”

“Operations for the 2020 Census and our ongoing household surveys have procedures built in that specifically anticipate epidemics and pandemics, and we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to keep those up to date,” his statement continued.

California is among the four states that are most likely to be undercounted.

Our state is also, sadly, one of the state’s hit hardest by COVID-19 cases.

So far, with 124 confirmed Coronavirus cases in California, the state has just under one-fourth of the roughly 566 total confirmed cases in the United States.

There has been one death in the state, a Placer county man who had been on a Princess cruise ship authorities have been holding off the northern coast of California, and is expected to dock in Oakland this week. The 2,500 passengers on board have been confined to their cabins.

On Sunday, Gov. Newsom announced plans to isolate all passengers when they disembark and provide immediate medical attention to the 11 passengers and 10 crewmembers who have exhibited symptoms of the mysterious virus.

Another 10,250 Californians across the state have self-quarantined.

Last week, 17 U.S. Senators sent a letter dated March 3 to the Census Bureau asking it to develop a plan that addresses the Coronavirus’ potential impact on worker safety and public

participation.

“We urge the Census Bureau to be prepared to assess whether public health concerns about novel coronavirus are depressing census response rates, and develop contingency plans for mitigating measures to help ensure a full and accurate population count,” the senators wrote.

Across California, in big cities and small towns, there are growing concerns, too, about safety.

Stanford University has moved all classes online, and several school districts have temporarily cancelled classes, including Elk Grove Unified School District in Sacramento, where a student’s family has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus,” Gov. Newsom said last Wednesday when he declared a State of Emergency. “ This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly.”

A Deadly Mix: Hip Hop Mashed Up With Opioid Abuse in California

By California Black Media Staff

About two years ago, Sacramentobased hip hop artist Timothy Patterson, who goes by the street name “Mozzy,” released a video letting his fans know that he was roughly two weeks into recovery. He had just kicked his drug addiction, the rapper said.

In the 52-second clip, strong language laces raw emotion as Mozzy lets down his guard going public with a personal struggle that he had been hiding behind the glitz of celebrity hustling and high rolling.

“It’s been hard,” Mozzy confesses into the camera as he breaks the seal and turns the cap to open up the bottle he is holding. “Any young [person] doing that [expletive]: bro, you understand me, this should force you to stop,” he says as he pours the thick, purple liquid out onto the ground.

Mozzy’s former drug of choice: “syrup,” also known as”sizzurp,” “purple drank,” or “lean.”

Promethazine Codeine-based prescription cough syrup mixed with soda, usually Sprite, are the main ingredients in the potent and highlyaddictive concoction hip hop songs have popularized. Throw in some Jolly Ranchers for extra thickness and a fruitier taste.

Mozzy, who is based in the historic African-American section of the Oak Park neighborhood in California’s capital city, is known for his 2017 hip hop hit “Sleep Walkin’” and another banger, “Seasons,” which is featured on the soundtrack of the 2018 movie “Black Panther.”

The rapper says his intentions in the video are clear. He wants his fans who abuse drugs to quit, too.

At the end of the video, Mozzy walks away - both a literal and figurative “bouncing” from his addiction. But his decision to give up syrup contrasts with the posture of many rappers and singers who have only glorified “lean” in their music and videos.

Syrup first popped up in hip hop culture in the Southwest and Deep South states. Songs by Three 6 Mafia (“Sippin on Some Sizzurp”), Lil Wayne (“Me and My Drank”), and Future (“Dirty Sprite”) toasted the drugged-up drink.

DJ Mustard’s song, “Ballin‘” with Roddy Ricch, which is currently in high rotation on radio and trending on digital music platforms, dedicates a line to indulging in syrup.

Syrup’s main ingredient codeine, considered an opioid, is deadly. Misuse of it and other opioids — including

Heroin and synthetic prescription ones like Fentanyl — are on the rise, particularly among African Americans.

And there and more overuse deaths than ever before.

For many, prevention information and treatment, are still out of reach.

“We have seen a sharp rise in communities of color and urban communities of overdoses and deaths related to illegal opioids, including heroin,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of The Center at the Sacramento-based Sierra Health Foundation (The Center).

Hewitt’s organization is managing the state of California’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Access Points Project in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services (CDHCS), the federal government and a number of media organizations, including ethnic and other niche news outlets.

The Center’s MAT public awareness campaign titled “Choose Change California,” provides information on opioid use disorder and a list of statewide community organizations providing wraparound and prevention and education services and centers where people addicted to opioids can go for Medication Assisted Treatment,

a trusted treatment using medications and counseling.

Across the United States in 2018, more than 10 million Americans misused opioids, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). About 67,000 people around the country died from overdoses.

That same year, about 6,800 African Americans in the United States died from overdoses, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

The death rate from overdoses of the synthetic opioid Fentanyl, often used to lace marijuana cigarettes and other drugs, is rising fastest among African Americans.

“Unlike Syrup, a fixed fabrication of sorts, health providers often prescribe opioids, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, like pain relievers,” said Munta Davis, a physician and health officer for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

He said that the prescription can easily become addictive if patients stay on the drug after they have healed.

Opioids generate “strong and pleasurable feelings,” Davis said.

However, over time, the more the Continued on page 10

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March 12-18, 2020

National News FILM REVIEW: Burden ‘Hollywood Hernandez Live’

By Michael Hernandez, Entertainment Reporter & Texas Metro News Columnist

Burden is the true story about the life of Mike Burden, played by Garrett Hedlund. He is a Grand Dragon in the Ku Klux Klan and his life takes a turn for the worse when he decides to leave the KKK. He loses his job and his home after his evil, racist boss seeks revenge on him for leaving the Klan. Tom Griffin (Tom Wilkinson) does everything in his power to make Mike regret leaving the Ku Klux Klan.

Wilkerson does an excellent job of playing someone who is pure evil.

Forest Whitaker’s character, Reverend Kennedy, gets involved when the Klan opens up a KKK museum right in the middle of town.

Reverend Kennedy fights back not with hate or violence. His weapon is love and through protests by his church members, he hopes to show the Klan the error of their ways.

Burden takes place in 1996 in Laurens, South Carolina, a place where blacks were treated as second class citizens and racism was commonplace in the small town. The movie is a “no holds barred” true story about race that

shows the ugliness of hatred toward our fellow man. Meanwhile, Mike falls in love with a single mother and when the two become homeless, against the wishes of his family, Reverend Kennedy takes them in.

To see the evolution of Garrett Hedlund’s character is like watching a drug addict go through recovery. He has his moments of kindness where he

“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it.

After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden…,” Bloomberg said in a statement announcing the suspension of his campaign on March 4th.

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor

With his highly problematic policies of racial profiling when he was Mayor of New York, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg already faced an uphill climb. Bloomberg’s rationale for running was that former Vice President Joe Biden was failing to show he could beat President Donald Trump. That rationale ended on March 3 — Super Tuesday.

Propelled to a comeback by African American voters in South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and other states, Biden defied much of the conventional wisdom that his campaign was low energy and on the brink of failure. Biden has run for office two times before and had never won any state’s presidential primary until the South Carolina primary. Biden also did well with older voters across the board.

The former Vice President won

treats black people with respect and then he’ll sometimes slip back into being the old Mike, using the “N-word” when talking to blacks and showing them total disrespect. It’s the Reverend Kennedy who convinces him that all men are brothers. Burden is a real story about love winning over hate and the subject matter is just as relevant now as it was then. It’s an important movie

for the times we are living in now. It reminds us not to forget what happened in the past or we’ll be doomed to repeat it.

The movie is rated R for harsh language, including frequent use of “The N-Word,” and runs for 2 hours and 9 minutes. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale” I rate Burden a JUMBO.

Mike Drop:After Joe Biden’s Big Super Tuesday Wins, What’s Next for Bloomberg? in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Arkansas, Maine and Oklahoma. Sen. Bernie Sanders won California, Vermont, Colorado and Utah. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who spent over $100 million in ads alone, won the territory of American Samoa.

With little money available to spend, Biden’s numerous victories on Super Tuesday fueled a stunning comeback after he lost in Iowa and New Hampshire.

By comparison, Bloomberg’s campaign will likely be remembered as one of the biggest and most expensive presidential campaign-level political efforts in U.S. political history. Bloomberg, generally considered the fourth of fifth richest person in the world, spent over $100 million on advertising alone for a race he entered late, yet won no states.

“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden.

I’ve known Joe for a very long time.

I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country – including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs,” Bloomberg said in a statement announcing the suspension of his campaign on March 4th.

Democrats turned out in record numbers for Super Tuesday as many are citing their desire to remove President Trump from office as a motivating factor. In the Super Tuesday state of Virginia, primary turnout was the highest ever and surpassed the 2008 primary 12 years ago when former President Barack Obama challenged former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Over 23 percent of registered voters cast ballots on March 3rd.

The record turnout trend that was first seen in 2017 and then in 2018 when Democrats flipped the U.S. House in their favor two years after the election Continued on page 10

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March 12-18, 2020

Real Estate/Classified Fictitious Business Name Statement

PUBLIC NOTICES Fictitious Business Name Statement

File No. 2020040070

File No. 2020049128

The Following Person Is Doing Business As:

The following Person is doing business as:

Gracious Creations

Harvey Insurance Group

5449 Crenshaw Blvd., #140

725 South Hindry Ave., Suite 336

Los Angeles, CA 90043

Inglewood, CA 90301

Registered Owners: Johnathan Givens, Kathy Houston, 1151 East 67th Street,

Registered Owner(s): Focus Plan, Inc., 725 South Hindry Ave., Inglewood, CA 90301

Inglewood, CA 90302 This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to This business is conducted by two individuals.

The registrants commenced to

transact business under the fictitious business listed above on February 27, 2020.

transact business under the fictitious business listed above on February 18, 2020 I (We) declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

We 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

(A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is

guilty of a _crime.) Focus Plan, Inc., Owner.

guilty of a crime.)

Johnathan Givens and Kathy Houston, Owners

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on February 27, 2020.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on February 18, 2020

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

NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name

filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section

Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was

17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement

filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of

pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a

Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the

registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the

statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address

expiration.

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

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a

common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.)

Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State or

Original

common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.)

Original

March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 2020 IT0042230120020114 Inglewood Today

February 20, 27; March 5, 12, 2020 IT0042230120020113 Fictitious Business Name Statement

Fictitious Business Name Statement

File No. 2020056265

File No. 2020058395

The following Person is doing business as:

The following Person is doing business as:

Skyhop Global LLC

The Money Studio

1170 Lee Wagener Blvd., Ste 203

437 Elm Ave.,

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Inglewood, CA 90301

Registered Owner{s): Skyhop Global LLC, 1170 Lee Wagener Blvd., Ste 203, Fort

Registered Owner(s): Jorge I Gomez Martinez, 437 Elm Ave., Inglewood, CA 90301

Lauderdale, FL 33315 This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant{s) commenced to

transact business under the fictitious business listed above on March 9, 2020.

transact business under the fictitious business listed above on March 5, 2020.

I (We) declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

I {We) 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

{A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is

guilty of a crime.)

guilty of a crime.) Skyhop Global LLC, Owner.

Jorge I Gomez Martinez, Owner.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on March 5, 2020.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on March 9, 2020.

NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name

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

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

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

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

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

registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the

expiration.

expiration.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a

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

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.)

common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.)

Original

Original

March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 2020

March 12, 19, 26; April 2, 2020

IT0042230120020116 Inglewood Today

IT0042230120020115 Inglewood Today

LEGAL NOTICES

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Continued from page 8: A Deadly...

Continued from page 7: BUMPIE...

body acclimates to the drug, the more it craves that initial feeling. It’s that need to increase consumption that “ultimately drives the physical and mental addiction that comes with the drug,” Davis said.

In California, there were a total of 2,199 opioid overdose deaths in 2017, according to data compiled by KFF, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Blacks accounted for 147 of them; Hispanics, 483; and White deaths totaled 1,397. California has the fourth highest rate of deaths from opioid misuse in the country.

“In order to effectively address the opioid epidemic, it is important to recognize that opioid abuse and overdose is closely tied to other trends in the state,” the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said in a statement.

The opioid epidemic is a contributing factor to California’s homelessness crisis, according to CPDH. In Los Angeles County alone, there was an average of 464 accidental opioid-related deaths each year from 2011 to 2017, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH).

Roll back about seven years before Mozzy went public with his opioid addiction. Award-winning recording artist Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., nearly lost his life to the narcotic cocktail of codeine. In March 2013, a Los Angeles hospital admitted him after “suffering a seizure,” Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (DrugFree.org) reported. His doctors discovered that the rapper’s digestive system was laced with codeine, which triggered the physical convulsion.

Lil Wayne and his passion for syrup went on to make more headlines when he had three more reported bouts of seizures, all related to “Dirty Sprite,” a common name for the liquid opioid cocktail. He specifically plugs the drink on his track “Sucker For Pain.”

Mozzy, who just put out a collab with rapper SpenDoe this month titled “Omertà,” has some advice for people who want to overcome opioid abuse.

“Drink a lot of water at the minimum,” Mozzy instructs his fans. “[Expletive] that cup. They say ‘health is wealth.’ I need mine bad.”

same property value and apartment rental increases that have occurred throughout the region, Inglewood remains the best housing value in the South Bay. It is also significant to note that Steve Balmer, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, who has submitted plans to build a new NBA arena and is reportedly in negotiations to purchase the Forum, has committed $100 million towards the establishment of affordable housing in the City of Inglewood.

The BUPPIEs that will be returning to the City of Inglewood may or may not have attended a Historically Black College or University like Morehouse, Hampton, Howard or Spellman, as they did in the 1980’s. It is more likely that they will come from local colleges and universities as well as from colleges across the nation with graduates who want to return to Southern California.

The Black and Brown urban professionals in Inglewood will likely be trend setters as they matriculate throughout the entertainment industries as professional athletes and entertainers.

The recreational, restaurant and entertainment destinations will surely be world class and likely to attract patrons from not only Southern California but throughout the nation as well.

Inglewood Today will create a social media platform for engagement for the individuals who are seeking food, fun, entertainment and recreation in the City of Inglewood. From the 24-hour Hollywood Park Casino to the United Airlines SoFi Stadium entertainment complex to the Savoy Entertainment Center to Sip & Sonder, Hilltop Coffee Kitchen or The Wood Sports Bar, to name only a few of Inglewood’s destinations, the city is well equipped to accommodate the BUPPIEs and is continuing to grow.

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Continued from page 9: Mike Drop...

of Donald Trump. Additionally, the red state of Alabama elected a Democrat, Doug Jones, who was elected with African American voters pushing him to victory. In 2019, Democrats won in the red state of Kentucky as Andy Beshear defeated Republican Matt Bevin for Governor.

Whether the trend of blue victories will extend to the key electoral college states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina will be the key question moving forward as Democrats consolidate support around Biden and focus on defeating Donald Trump in November.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@ gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

March 12-18, 2020

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