October 21, 2021

C e l e b r a t i n g 2 7 Ye a r s o f Service in Inglewood, Airport area Communities

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Temptations Legend Otis Williams Give.. See Page 5

Inglewood’s Beckmen YOLA Center celebrates with ribbon cutting ceremony

Director Gustavo Dudamel. The event also included an optional guided tour throughout campus, giving the public their first inside look at YOLA students’ new home.

The Inglewood YOLA Center provides free music education to students throughout Los Angeles County communities. Mayor Butts recalled negotiating with LA Phil CEO Chad Smith during the beginning stages of this initiative. Butts had insisted that, at minimum, 51 percent of the Beckmen YOLA Center students would be Inglewood residents. At the Saturday ceremony, the mayor was proud to announce that the center has far exceeded that goal. In this incoming class of students at the Beckmen YOLA Center, 81 percent are Inglewood residents.

Architect Frank Gehry, Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, Mayor James T. Butts, YOLA student, and LA Phil CEO “We have looked forward to this day Chad Smith at the BYC Ribbon Cutting. Photo by LA Phil. for so long, and our anticipation was only amplified during the pandemic

By Brea Mitchell, Staff Writer Beckmen YOLA Center held its long- the center, included a brief musical when children were unable to attend in-person classes. This building, and INGLEWOOD – After months of awaited ribbon cutting ceremony on performance from YOLA and LA Phil musicians, along with words from the YOLA program, bring so much delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday, October 16.

The morning celebration, which took Mayor James T. Butts, LA Phil CEO Continued on page 8 Inglewood’s Judith and Thomas L. place just outside the front entrance of Chad Smith, and Music & Artistic

Colin Powell Remembered as a ‘Good Man,’ and ‘Great American’

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Colin Powell has died from complications from Covid-19, his family members have confirmed.

The first Black US secretary of state was 84.

“General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19,” the former General’s family wrote on Facebook.

“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” the family wrote.

They reported that Powell had been fully vaccinated.

Powell became the first Black national security adviser during the end of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

He also counted as the youngest and first African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush.

Powell was thrust into the global

spotlight after leading the United States to victory during the Gulf War, with many even considering him as a presidential candidate.

“Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Colin Powell. He was a great public servant, starting with his time as a soldier during Vietnam.

Many Presidents relied on General Powell’s counsel and experience,” former President George W. Bush stated.

“He was National Security Adviser under President Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under my father and President Clinton, and Secretary of State during my Administration.”

Bush continued: “He was such a favorite of Presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice. He was highly respected at home and abroad.

“And most important, Colin was a family man and a friend. Laura and

I send Alma and their children our sincere condolences as they remember the life of a great man.”

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., said the Black Press of America will fondly remember General Powell’s contributions.

“We pause to express our profound condolences to the family of The Honorable Colin Powell,” Dr. Chavis remarked. “Secretary Powell was America’s military general and, at the same time, the nation’s conscience as U.S. Secretary of State.”

He continued: “We in the African American community mourn his passing and rededicate ourselves to ensure that the legacy of Colin Powell will live on.”

General Powell had a reputation for generating bipartisan support, being a trusted military adviser, and putting country over party, added Spencer Continued on page 4

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October 21-27, 2021

Together, We Can Save Our Water and Our Future

By Nichole Morgan, California Water Resources Control Board Member

For some reason, the day we learned about the water cycle in science class stayed with me. Then, many years later when deciding on a career I knew that I wanted to help bring clean water to homes that currently didn’t have access to safe and reliable drinking water and to protect the environment for future generations.

Now that I serve on the board of the state agency that is responsible for protecting and managing California’s water resources, my view of what it means to ensure people have access to water has expanded, especially as we grapple with another drought.

California is only getting hotter and drier. We’re seeing it all over the news as the water crisis hits closer and closer to home. Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, put our harsh reality into perspective when she said, “the challenge is there is no water.” As Californians, we’re no strangers to the drought, but as we anticipate another dry year, it’s more important than ever for all of us to take action to save our water for today and years to come.

It is imperative for us to understand that the drought truly impacts everyone. From our state’s ecosystems to its economy, we all rely on an ample water supply; without it, we all suffer. Climate change is ultimately driving these threats to California, including the dire drought conditions,

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low reservoir levels and parched landscapes seen throughout the West. Unfortunately, we can already see some of the consequences of the overuse of water. California’s fish and wildlife are facing severe challenges, threatening the survival of species, including our iconic Chinook salmon. The drought also affects businesses across California, especially small business, like family-

owned restaurants and hotels. Many business owners are already struggling to reconcile dried out wells and limited water supply, in addition to still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Water is essential not only to keep our economy healthy, but to keep our communities thriving with business that foundation to many of our communities.

Now is the time to strengthen conservation efforts and make active changes to save water.

We know that it can be hard to change our habits when it comes to conserving water, but the smallest changes really can make a difference. If we all make little changes in our daily routine to save water, it adds up. Below are some simple steps we can all follow to conserve water both indoors and out.

Inside the Home: 1.Wash your produce in the container instead of under running water.

2.Only use your dishwasher and washing machine for full loads.

3.Install low-flow shower heads as well as taking shorter showers.

Showers under 5 minutes can save about 15 gallons, saving you money and the planet!

4.Turn the water off when brushing your teeth and soaping your hands.

5.Install a high-efficiency (HET) 1.28 gallons-per flush toilet. Check with your water supplier for current rebate information.

Outside the Home: 1.Water your yard in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.

2.Check your sprinkler system and adjust them so that only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street to eliminate any wasteful runoff.

3.Plant drought-resistant trees and plants! There are so many options to create a beautiful landscape that conserves water - succulents and California poppies are great options.

4.Use a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks, patios and walkways instead of hosing them down.

5.If you have a pool, install a pool cover to reduce evaporation and filter backwash. And, if draining your pool is necessary, make sure to find a use for that water.

We know it won’t be easy, but it’s up to us to make the necessary changes to conserve the water that we need.

Let’s make sure our kids and future generations get to enjoy the California that we know and love. Together, we can make our water last. Visit www. saveourwater.com to learn more about what you can do to help.

The Lookout: What You Need to Know About California’s New Sexual Assault Laws Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Watching your tax dollars, elected officials and legislation that affects you.

Before the Oct. 10 deadline to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several sexual assault bills into law.

They include Assembly Bill (AB) 453, AB 1171, AB 939 and Senate Bill (SB) 215.

AB 453, authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (DBell Gardens), makes the act of nonconsensually removing a condom, also known as “stealthing”, illegal.

Under this new law, stealthing would be considered a form of sexual battery.

However, it does not criminalize it.

“We have stepped up in a major way in California & I hope other state legislatures follow suit,” tweeted Garcia. “But more importantly, I hope people will build on this & continue engaging in discussion around the continuum of consent.”

The governor’s office tweeted about the bill’s passing and what kind of legal actions can be taken given that it is still not technically a criminal act.

“With @AsmGarcia’s #AB453

signed, victims of stealthing will be able to take civil action against their perpetrators. By passing this bill, we are underlining the importance of consent,” read the tweet.

AB 1171, also authored by Garcia, will remove the distinction between rape and “spousal rape” in California law.

Before AB 1171 was signed into law, California was one of only nine states that still included the distinction between rape and spousal rape.

“Rape is Rape, & this bill makes it clear that a marriage license doesn’t change that. No more asking victims if they are married or not. TY to all the advocates who worked on getting this bill to @CAgovernor & pushing to get it signed,” Garcia tweeted.

SB 215, co-authored by Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino), will allow survivors of sexual assault to track and receive information regarding their sexual assault evidence kit.

Tracking will take place through a new online portal that allows survivors to access the SAFE-T database.

“As the author of SB 215, I am so proud that we are once again prioritizing and empowering rape

survivors by making sure that they able to easily and privately find out where their rape kit is in the process,” Leyva said.

“A rape kit exam is invasive and retraumatizing, so survivors should absolutely be able to track their rape kit every step of the way. I would like to thank our amazing coalition of sponsors—District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, Joyful Heart Foundation and Natasha’s Justice Project—and supporters for testifying, Tweeting, writing and speaking out about the critical need for this legislation.

With today’s signature by Governor Newsom, SB 215 will help to empower survivors, hold rapists accountable and strengthen public safety across California,” she continued.

AB 939 bans a survivor’s clothing from being used as evidence of consent in a sexual assault case.

The bill, also known as the Denim Day Act of 2021, is named for a day recognized during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. Denim Day focuses on amplifying the Continued on page 8

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October 21-27, 2021

EYE ON THE CITY AROUND THE CITY A Message from County Administrator Dr. Erika Torres GEORGE DOTSON

Dear Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) Staff, Students, Families and Community: In our continued commitment to serving our community and providing current information, we have some important updates in this week’s message.

Hispanic Heritage Month In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to highlight some of the significant contributions Hispanics and Latin American figures have made throughout history.

This week we celebrate engineer and former astronaut, Dr. Ellen Ochoa.

Born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Ochoa attended San Diego State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in physics, and a master’s degree and doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Dr. Ochoa began her career as a research engineer at National Laboratories and NASA Ames Research Center, and became the co-inventor of three patents in areas of optical information processing, which contributes to computer performance. In January of 1990, Dr. Ochoa was selected by NASA to become an astronaut, making her the first Hispanic woman to go into space. She served on a nine-day mission on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993, where the focus of the mission was to study the earth’s ozone layer.

Dr. Ochoa has recorded 1,000 hours in space, working as a mission specialist, payload commander, and flight engineer.

According to nsf.gov, Dr. Ochoa has given more than 300 presentations focusing on the importance of a science, technology, engineering and math education. She has six schools named after her, several books written about her, and has been profiled in textbooks and on websites that encourage women to pursue technical careers. Thank you to Dr. Ellen Ochoa, for inspiring our youth to reach for the stars! To learn more about Dr. Ochoa, please click here.

Parent Volunteers Our District is excited to share that parent volunteers are now allowed back on our campuses! Parent volunteers offer a huge resource and support base for our school community by advancing student achievement, providing support to District teachers and staff, and showing their kids the importance of engagement. Interested parents are required to complete a new volunteer application and follow the application process. Once approved, volunteers will need to submit proof of vaccination or be tested on a weekly basis, adhere to temperature checks before entering any school site, and must wear a mask at all times. Please click here to access the volunteer application, resources and

ALEX PADILLA

JAMES BUTTS

commitment form.

ESSER Funds Survey Our District is seeking feedback regarding the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. We recently hosted virtual workshops where participants received information regarding ESSER funds, and how they are utilized to

ELOY MORALES

DIONNE FAULK

remaining workshops will be held through February 16, 2022. To view a list of additional dates and workshop details, please click here. For additional questions, please contact Monica Hernandez at (310) 419-2788.

October is College and Career Readiness Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month As we continue to commemorate October as College and Career Readiness Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I invite all staff and students to participate in our #IUSDPinktober activities, which can be found here. For the week of October 18-22, we are encouraging students and staff to decorate a pumpkin in Pinktober theme to display support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In addition, students and staff are encouraged to wear a t-shirt from a university or college to promote higher education on Wednesdays.

Share a picture on social media using #IUSDCollegeShirtWednesdays. Please click here for additional College and Career Readiness Awareness activities.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Our District is hosting vaccination clinics for students, parents/guardians

and families and daily COVID-19 testing. We are excited to announce that we are extending our weekly COVID-19 testing to parents/guardians and families, in addition to students and staff. Vaccine Clinics at school sites have begun on a rotating schedule, hosting two vaccine clinics per site. The next first round of vaccine clinics will take place on October 19, 2021 at Morningside High School from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. For questions regarding the Vaccine Program, please contact Project Coordinator, Marvin Lawton, at (310) 912-9164 or vaccines@ inglewoodusd.com.

COVID-19 Testing Please click here to access our school site based COVID-19 Testing schedule. You may access additional information regarding the vaccination clinics schedule, COVID-19 testing and more here! For questions regarding the COVID-19 Testing Program, please contact Project Coordinator, Jenny Fuentes, at (213) 476-3667 or submit an email to COVIDTaskForce@ inglewoodusd.com.

Thank you staff, parents, students, and community members for your ongoing support and commitment to the success of our district. #WeAreInglewoodUnified Sincerely, Erika F. Torres, Ed.D., MSW County Administrator

address the academic impact of lost instructional time as well as respond to the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of all students. As we determine ways to best support our students with these funds, we want to ensure that our school community has provided input, as your suggestions are greatly appreciated and valued.

Please click here to complete the survey and share your thoughts.

Real Talk- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Edition & Paying for College Edition Real Talk, a virtual college When: Saturday, November 6, 2021 exploration initiative designed to 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM* or until trucks reach capacity connect African American students Where: On Grevillea Avenue off Manchester Blvd. and families with African American (in front of Inglewood High School) representatives from universities and college access organizations across the country, is hosting a 2-night NO-CONTACT DRIVE THROUGH DROP OFF event that will allow incoming To comply with mandatory county regulations, students to connect with experts this will be a no-contact event. Shredding material about scholarships, financial aid, loans, grants and more! This virtual must be placed in rear of vehicle for removal. event will take place on October 27, 2021 and October 28, 2021 at 4:00 Document shredding is limited to p.m. To register, please click here.

To view the event flyer, please click Inglewood residents only. here.

ID is required.

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Workshops No more than three (3) boxes or bags of shredding In collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of material per vehicle.

Mental Health (LACDMH) and This event is on a first-come-first-served basis United Mental Health Promoters, *Event will conclude once all shredding trucks reach our District is hosting a series of educational workshops for anyone capacity. seeking resources regarding mental health prevention and early For more information, please contact the City intervention. Some of the workshops of Inglewood Public Works Department at include, Symptoms and Treatments (310) 412-5333. of Depression, Stages of Grief and Loss, Drug and Alcohol Prevention and more! The next workshop will take place on October 20, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. at the Inglewood Unified Parent and Resource Center. The

FREE Document Shredding Event!!!

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October 21-27, 2021

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

Gov. Newsom Stands Firm on Mandates as State Reaches COVID Milestone Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

California Gov. Gavin Newsom took to Twitter earlier this month to praise Californians for getting vaccinated when the state’s COVID rate dropped to 57.3 cases per 100,000 people, the lowest in the U.S. “85% of eligible Californians have received at least one COVID vaccine shot. The result? California continues to have the lowest case rate in the nation,” he said.

California’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is currently 16th in the country with 71.8% of the population fully vaccinated.

For now, students will be required to be vaccinated for in person learning starting the term following FDA full approval of the vaccine for their grade span (7-12 and K-6).

The coronavirus vaccines will be added to other vaccines like ones for measles, mumps rubella, tetanus, and whooping cough, for example, that are required without exception for all students in the state. For those and other shots explicitly stated in California law, no waivers are allowed for any reason, even religious or philosophical ones.

But even though the state’s COVID-19 rates have flattened and the numbers of hospitalizations and deaths have significantly dropped, the governor is facing mounting protests from people opposed to governmentimposed vaccine mandates, including parents who do not want their children to take the shot.

Responding to those critics, Newsom’s campaign sent out a letter that included a survey asking

recipients for feedback on his vaccine mandate for schoolchildren.

“As you have probably heard, California is the first state in the nation to require our students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This will go into effect following full FDA approval,” Newsom said in the letter. “Why did I make this decision? Because it’s the right thing to do, and it will keep our kids safe. This decision may not be popular with some of the people who protest vaccination sites and are opposed to mask-wearing in almost any circumstance, but it will save lives.”

On Oct. 8, Newsom also signed several bills that give dentists, podiatrists and optometrists the authority to administer COVID-19

vaccines.

Those bills are Assembly Bill (AB) 526, 691 and 1064.

The governor also tweeted his advice on vaccine booster shots.

“Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Get your booster when it’s your turn,” tweeted Newsom.

As it currently stands, booster shots are not required but are authorized for “individuals 65 years of age and older, individuals 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19, and individuals 18 through 64 years of age whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARSCoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19 including severe COVID-19,” according to the FDA.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock highlighted the fluid nature of the nation’s pandemic response.

“This pandemic is dynamic and evolving, with new data about vaccine safety and effectiveness becoming available every day,” Woodcock stated in a press release.

“As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed,” Woodcock continued.

California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.

Americans from all backgrounds.

“His memory will live on as a testament to the importance of working across party lines for Black communities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to General Powell’s entire family, including his wife Alma Powell and son Michael K. Powell, a former FCC Chair, who served as the initial chair of the Joint Center’s National Advisory Committee of its Media and Technology Institute.”

President Joe Biden remembered Powell as the son of immigrants, born in New York City, raised in Harlem and the South Bronx, and as a graduate of the City College of New York.

Powell believed in the promise of America because he lived it, President Biden asserted, noting that the general devoted much of his life to making that

promise a reality for so many others.

“As a Senator, I worked closely with him when he served as National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as Secretary of State. Over our many years working together – even in disagreement – Colin was always someone who gave you his best and treated you with respect,” the President reflected.

“Colin embodied the highest ideals of both warrior and diplomat. He was committed to our nation’s strength and security above all. Having fought in wars, he understood better than anyone that military might alone was not enough to maintain our peace and prosperity,” President Biden declared.

“From his front-seat view of history, advising presidents and shaping our nation’s policies, Colin led with his

personal commitment to the democratic values that make our country strong.

Time and again, he put country before self, before party, before all else – in uniform and out – and it earned him the universal respect of the American people.”

Above all, President Biden said General Powell was a friend.

“I am forever grateful for his support of my candidacy for president and for our shared battle for the soul of the nation. I will miss being able to call on his wisdom in the future,” the President continued.

“Colin Powell was a good man. He will be remembered as one of our great Americans.”

Continued from page 1: Colin Powell...

Overton, the president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

“General Powell was a true leader and a man of many firsts – the first Black U.S. Secretary of State and the youngest officer appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Overton reflected.

“We will remember General Powell’s commitment to public service and Black communities. General Powell was a friend of the Joint Center and participated in various events.

“He always remembered where he came from and tried to ensure that opportunities would remain open to others – as evidenced by his support of affirmative action and other programs designed to facilitate economic mobility and the full participation of

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October 21-27, 2021

Sports & Entertainment Reunions in order for Goff as Rams return to SoFi

seems likely that quarterback Matthew The Rams return to SoFi Stadium Stafford’s dominance in New York this Sunday, Oct. 24, to take on the against the Giants will carry into this winless Detroit Lions(0-6), and it week’s matchup against his former

By Brea Mitchell, Staff Writer

“It will be just another football game once the ball is snapped,” said Stafford.

The Lions have been off to a rough start this season, as they are currently the only winless squad in the league. The 5-1 Rams, however, have showcased brilliance almost every week thus far, only falling to the undefeated Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.

Rams head coach Sean McVay will also be up against a familiar face in Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who played for McVay and the Rams from 2017-2020. The reunion has garnered much attention from football fans.

“I think there’s going to be a lot made of it because he’s the quarterback and it’s such a significant position,” McVay said of Goff, adding, “but it’s about the Lions versus the Rams, and we’re going to put together a great game plan to be successful and try to Detroit team. And although this will go get our sixth win.” be Stafford’s first time facing the Kickoff is this Sunday at SoFi Lions, he’ll be treating this week just Stadium, at 1:05 p.m. PST. like any other.

Temptations Legend Otis Williams Give Black Press Unprecedented Access During ‘Ain’t Too Proud’

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

The scintillating Broadway musical “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” have plenty of highlights – perhaps too many to recount for a review or feature news article.

The two-and-a-half-hour masterpiece provided a microscopic view of the group from the lens of Otis Williams, the founder and only living member of The Temptations.

And for those who may have seen the 1998 television miniseries “The Temptations” and believe you already know the story – you may have to reconsider and take in the Broadway show that reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered production.

Perhaps the one line in the Broadway production that best sums up the global impact of the Temptations come near the end when Nik Walker, who portrays the legendary Williams, reflects that “The only thing that lives forever is the music.”

Indeed, the music has lived on, even as Williams has gone through 24 members after the departures and deaths of the Classic Five original members, including Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin.

“I hope that the music is the same

Sparks center Amanda Zahui B. wins assist award WNBA News

kind of soothing ointment for people the musical, I said, ‘Oh, this is getting today,” Williams, 80, told the National ready to be real,’” Williams recounted.

Newspaper Publishers Association “Then when the director said that (NNPA) in an exclusive interview on stage at the Imperial Theater.

Continued on page 7 “When they gave me the book on

NEW YORK– Los Angeles Sparks center Amanda Zahui B. earned the Seasonlong WNBA Community Assist Award presented by State Farm in recognition of her dedication and commitment to health and wellness, women and girls empowerment and social justice.

Zahui B. was previously named the May WNBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by State Farm recipient this season.

Zahui B.’s passion and focus in the community includes the education of young people through reading. This season, she started a book club with a 14-year-old girls AAU basketball team that focused on reading books written

by Black authors and held group meetings on Zoom to read together and discuss the chapters.

Additionally, Zahui B. is passionate about working with the homeless population in Los Angeles, spending time donating and helping in the community, working in soup kitchens, and handing out water and necessities like feminine hygiene products. Zahui B. is focused on making the LA Continued on page 8

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October 21-27, 2021

BUPPIE | BUSINESS Coming Soon to Cali: A “Zero-Fee” Public Banking Option Edward Henderson | California Black Media

On Oct. 4, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation paving the way for a new public banking system in California.

AB 1177, known as the ‘California Public Banking Option Act’, creates a zero-penalty, zero-fee, and zerominimum-balance platform for basic financial services.

These services include direct deposit from employers and public benefits, automatic bill pay to registered payees, recurring payments and donations to account holders’ organizations or charities of choice, and an infrastructure to support account holders in building credit.

“AB 1177 will help Californians stay protected from overdraft fees and penalties and give them an opportunity to save money and build wealth while fighting the racial wealth gap,” said Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), lead author of the bill.

“California is leading the nation’s public banking movement and we must keep working to provide no-fee banking services to all Californians,” he added.

Santiago wrote the bill with the intention to help close the financial services gap that leaves 1 in 4 Californians unbanked or underbanked.

Modeled after the state’s public retirement program CalSavers, the bill forms a commission of representatives from the Treasurer’s office, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, financial access experts and community members to oversee market analysis on how the program should be implemented.

Proponents of public banking in California say Wall Street banks have failed low-income communities, particularly people of color. They also say the banks will provide easier access

to capital that will be critical to helping small businesses and neighborhoods rebound after the pandemic.

“Financial exclusion and scarcity have been a tool for oppression, discrimination and systemic inequity for too long. Public banking options such as BankCal, along with new technology that allows for free exchange over the internet, are urgently needed to decentralize power, privilege and financial control,” said Briana Marbury, Executive Director of the Interledger Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for standards and technologies that support an open and integrated global financial system.

Opponents of the bill believe that government-owned banks open the door for corruption and that the cost of any mismanagement of funds will come out of taxpayers’ pockets.

A 2015 article published by the Cato Institute critiques past public banking projects, highlighting shortcomings

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and failures.

Mark A. Calabria, who was chief economist to Vice President Pence and former director of the Federal Housing and Finance Agency authored the article.

He cites devastating losses Germany’s public banks suffered during the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2008.

Calabria also points to public banking failures closer to home.

“The recent history of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, quasi‐ public banks at the federal level, illustrates that mismanagement and corruption are alive and well at the intersection of the public and private,” he wrote.

However, Trinity Tran, co-founder of the California Public Banking Alliance, argues instead that AB1177 does not create a new bank but “creates a statewide retail banking option trough which every California worker can access zero-cost services.”

While California is known for its groundbreaking legislation, it will not be the first state with a banking system like this. North Dakota’s public banking system was founded back in 1919.

Marbury believes that the bill is only the first step toward a more broader initiative that would revolutionize accessibility to financial growth and equality.

“This is an exciting development, but not far-reaching enough. Public banking initiatives should be introduced in other states across the US to ensure equal access to financial services for the most vulnerable sectors of our population while elevating the economic health of society as a whole,” she said.

In addition, global financial inclusion should encompass both “brick and mortar” bank access for everyone and a more inclusive internet,” she added.

HI &

Return your mail ballot on or before November 2, 2021 for more information visit inglewoodnow.org

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October 21-27, 2021

Continued from page 5: Temptations...

they were only going to let Otis see the first part and not the second part, I said ‘Oh, I’m getting ready to lose people.’”

The Temptations last surviving original member, Otis Williams’, critically acclaimed autobiography, Temptations, was recently released as an audiobook edition for the first time, with a new introduction by Williams.

The Temptations founder and last surviving original member, Otis Williams.

Williams spent much of the week with the NNPA, beginning with a starstudded Red-Carpet event on Saturday, October 16.

On Monday, October 18, Williams invited the NNPA for a chat on stage, and on Tuesday, he took in the show seated alongside NNPA staff, including NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Williams and Temptations manager Shelly Berger, who has been with the group since its inception, shared insights.

The pair shed light on the group’s formation and how they became the biggest R&B act in music history.

“I knew what was going to happen to the Temptations before anyone,” stated Berger, who also managed The Supremes.

“I saw them, and I said they were beyond words. They’ve got to be the biggest stars in this business,” Berger recalled.

The Brooklyn, New York-born Berger, and the Texarkana, Texasnative Williams, hit it off almost instantly.

Berger remembered that he only received static from David Ruffin.

The musical reveals substance and other problems that sadly would lead to his demise.

Ultimately, the focus is Williams. And if honesty qualifies as a prerequisite for a Tony Award, then ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ should score dozens of more nominations.

Williams opens up about his late son, Lamont, whom he spent little time with because of his dedication to the Temptations.

Constantly on the road and in the studio, Williams neglects to spend time with Lamont.

When Lamont grows up, the young man explains to his dad that the time lost cannot be returned. Tragically, Lamont died after an accident at the construction site he worked.

Still, it’s the Temptations’ story that packed the Imperial Theater on an idyllic fall Tuesday night in New York.

With a demanding but genius boss, Berry Gordy, an unassuming and dedicated manager, Berger, and what Williams called “the five most singing brothers ever,” the Temptations came of age during the volatile 1960s.

Staring down racism, Berger and Williams recalled how the Temptations had written in their contract that they wouldn’t perform to any segregated

crowds.

“Not only would the Temptations not going on stage, but the contract stipulated that you still had to pay them,” Berger stated.

Williams recalled playing in the South circa 1965 or 1966 to a mixed audience. Half the crowd is African American, the other half white.

A rope separated the crowd, but the music united them.

“We came back later that year, and there was no more rope. Instead, the audience were high-fiving each other and having a great time together,” Williams noted. “That’s the power of music,” he insisted.

On April 4, 1968, the Temptations prepared to take the stage for a concert in Baltimore, Maryland, when the public address announcer revealed startling news.

“Just before we were to go on, this announcement goes over the public address system that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed in Memphis,” Williams recalled.

“We were like, how in the heck are we supposed to go on? People were crying, we had tears coming down our faces, but we went on. And you know what? It helped take their minds off it at that moment. Music,” Williams said.

Adding to the sting of Dr. King’s death was that an assassin murdered the civil rights icon at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis and in the same room Williams regularly stayed while touring.

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Original October 7, 14 21; November 4, 2021 IT0042230120020171 Inglewood Today

Housing Protection Department

“I saw on television that it was the Lorraine,” Williams remarked.

“We stayed there all the time because it was the only hotel in Memphis where Black people could stay, and that room was where I would stay. We could no longer stay there; we’d only drive by and look.”

Throughout their record-setting career, the Temptations released such transformative hits as “My Girl,” “Get Ready,” and “Just My Imagination.”

The musical reveals that another global hit, “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” hit too close to home for some members.

The Norman Whitfield-Barrett Strong produced song struck a chord, particularly with Dennis Edwards.

After a near four-minute instrumental introduction, Edwards sings, “It was September 3/That day I’ll always remember/cause that was the day/ that my daddy died.”

Edwards objected because he said his father died on September 3.

Ain’t Too Proud handles that scene in a humorous but sensitive manner.

The musical will tour the country, while The Temptations have again hit the road with the Four Tops and others to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

And at 80 years old, Otis Williams remains music’s most dynamic force.

He isn’t showing signs of slowing, either.

“Let’s do it,” Williams exclaimed.

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to the Inglewood and Greater Los Angeles communities, not just as students, but as a resource for parents, educators, and administrators as well,” said Mayor Butts.

Classes at the Beckmen YOLA Center began in September and consists of 126 students, Grades 1-5. The building holds spaces for orchestra, sectional, chamber, and

individual practice. There is also a choir room, an ensemble room, and a small practice studio, which are designed with recording capabilities to assist students as they audition for high school and college.

“These are the musicians and the citizens who are going to grow into the leaders of tomorrow,” said LA Phil CEO Chad Smith.

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community a better place by creating a more comfortable environment for the homeless.

“Giving back to the community is a core part of being my authentic self,” said Zahui B. “I’m passionate about inspiring youth and making the world a

better place. This is just the beginning of the impact I plan to make in Los Angeles, raising awareness about mental health and helping make our community a better place for everyone.”

message that manner of dress does not equate to consent.

“I want to thank my legislative colleagues for their support on this important measure. AB 939 makes it clear that an outfit never provides consent, ever. To even consider whether a survivor’s manner of dress should be admitted as evidence of consent wrongly scrutinizes the actions of the survivor, instead of placing that scrutiny where it truly

belongs -- on the actions of the perpetrator,” said Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona).

“Sexual assault is the most underreported and under-prosecuted type of crime. We must ensure that survivors are not subjected to a justice system that re-victimizes and retraumatizes them and that our justice system protects them when they seek justice,” she added.