August 12, 2021

By Cora Jackson-Fossett

Staff Writer

Jimmie Woods-Gray, a veteran educator and community activist, is the new president of the City of Los Angeles Fire Commission and she faces some pressing issues in her new assignment.

Recent headlines about L.A. Fire Department reveal an agency charged with racism, favoritism and sexism.  Another complaint is the lack of promotional opportunities for people of color.

Confronting these grievances could turn a less courageous person away, but not Woods-Gray. Throughout her career, she boldly tackled challenges to find solutions to problems and she aims to apply that strategy in this leadership role.

“I definitely like to look at what the issue is and then work from there because the issue is bigger than any one person.  It’s not about a person, it’s about a group culture or concept, so we need to look at the real issue and figure out ways we can solve them.

I’m convinced that there are ways to solve issues,” said Woods-Gray, who has served as a member of the commission since 2013.

“My goal is to work with groups in our department like the Stentorians (African American firefighters group), Women in Fire Service, Los Bomberos (Latino firefighters group), and the union to build a relationship. What we all want is to have the best department in the world, so there is no time to fight about different little issues that are not a part of the big picture,” she explained.

“I want to bring everybody in under that ‘big picture’ tent so that everybody has a part to play. I’ve met so many firefighters who are just excellent public servants. They never complain, they just keep moving and just do the job. I always found that a fascinating thing and I look forward to working with them.”

Also, Woods-Gray plans to focus on improving inclusivity and diversity in LAFD by recruiting more African Americans, women and people of color to the ranks.  The numbers have definitely improved from 1974 when 97% of the department was Caucasian males. 

Today, half of the staff is comprised of minorities. Hispanics make up 31.4%, African Americans are 11.3%, Asians are 5.8% and Native Americans are 2.4%.   Women are 3.4 %, but the department’s goal is 5% and the new president wants to help the agency reach that level.

“This is a great profession for women, but we have to work on making it inviting and helping them to stay in the program. It’s the same thing with African Americans. We need to recruit, retain and we just help them get promoted.  We don’t want them to work as firefighters only, we want to see firefighters in leadership as well,” she insisted.

As for accusations that the department is racist towards minorities and sexist regarding women, Woods-Gray said she takes those claims seriously and will work with Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas, along with her fellow commissioners, to address the concerns.

She added that the agency would be conducting a survey among employees to ascertain impressions and information about job satisfaction, workplace culture and upward mobility.  Using the results of the report, LAFD executive management will develop strategies to enhance the work environment to benefit all staff.

“I find that the chief is open and he does sit and listen and talk with me about issues. We’ve done this many times in the past. So, I’m looking forward to working with him and learn what employees are thinking, how they feel about who they work with, where they work to do their jobs and exactly what department staff is thinking about different issues,” she said.

Working closely with staff is familiar ground for Woods-Gray, who amassed an abundance of experience in that area through her union background.  As an educator for more than 30 years, she was active with United Teachers Los Angeles serving as the organization’s chapter chair, in the UTLA House of Representatives, on the California Teachers Association State Council and the National Education Association’s Board of Directors.

She received additional exposure as a delegate for the California Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers/American Federation of Labor/Congress of Industrial Organizations conventions as well as a delegate to the L.A. County Federation of Labor board. Most recently, she was a member of the NEA Standing Committee on Legislation and chaired the UTLA Political Action Council of Educators for six years. 

In the community arena, Woods-Gray has been just as busy. She’s been elected multiple times to serve on the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the California State Democratic Central Committee and the California Democratic Party Executive Committee. She was the first person of color and only the second woman to be elected chair of the L.A. County Democratic Central Committee.

Mayor James K. Hahn appointed Woods-Gray to the Neighborhood Empowerment Commission in 2001 where she served five years. In 2011, then-Council President Eric Garcetti named her to the LAUSD Redistricting Commission.

Anticipating her tenure as president, Woods-Gray said, “I’m excited. It’s a real challenge because there’s a lot of work, but I’ve always loved to volunteer for positions where there was a lot of work. I’m also excited that Mayor Eric Garcetti supported me for this position and just excited to try to work from a different perspective because I have a different background than some of the others who’ve been president before.

“The need for inclusivity and diversity is so important.  I hope that having leadership that’s diverse has an impact on future recruits and the community,” noted Woods-Gray, who shared that Dr. Jimmy Hara, a Japanese American and professor at Charles Drew University and UCLA, is vice-chair of the L.A. Fire Commission.

For the immediate future, she said her agenda will be concentrated on “working on recruitment, the issues with the different constituency groups, and building a unity that I hope will transcend into developing greater policy and greater activities and a comfort level for all firefighters that the department belongs to them and it’s not just some people who get access. Everybody will have access to the benefits of LAFD,” said Woods-Gray.

Also, she encouraged young people to consider joining LAFD. “You only need a high school diploma to become a firefighter in Los Angeles and we need firefighters of every ethnic group. There’s room for everybody in our fire department.”

In addition, Woods-Gray urged the public to share their concerns and their compliments about the fire department with her. “We have a 106 fire stations and so I invite the community to communicate with me if they have a need or question about anything by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,” she said.

July 29, 2021

By Cora Jackson-Fossett

Contributing Writer

Top staff of the Los Angeles Police Department made an earnest plea for help with increasing the number of Black law enforcement officers during the African American Community Forum recently hosted by the agency.

LAPD Chief of Police Michel Moore and senior Black police executives shared the recruitment message with faith leaders, social activists, and South L.A. residents attending the Zoom meeting on July 21. The gathering is part of the department’s ongoing effort to encourage and maintain communication with minority, faith-based and youth communities.

The Black community was well represented by clergy and lay people who have long histories of both working in concert with law enforcement and holding LAPD accountable for its treatment of African Americans.  The participants included Pastor J. Edgar Boyd of First AME Church of Los Angeles, Pastor Shep Crawford of Experience Christian Ministries, Pastor James Thompson of Living Word Community Church, L.A. Civil and Human Rights Commissioner Kandee Lewis, Our Weekly Editor Lisa Fitch, Shari Foreman, James Williams III and the Rev. Oliver Buie of Holman United Methodist Church.

Regarding recruitment, Moore insisted, “If you have a qualified candidate, we are interested. Everyone will be treated fairly. There’s no secret code to be a member of this organization.” He also introduced Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton and Commanding Officer Aaron McCraney from the LAPD’s Recruitment and Employment Division.

“We are hiring and reaching out to the African American community because in the next few years, if we do not keep this pipeline open, our numbers in the department will continue to decrease,” said Hamilton, who added that LAPD has approximately 885 African American officers out of about 9,300 sworn members.

“We are looking to increase those numbers [to reach a] diversity of thought, ideas and perspectives. These are the intangibles [that come to light] when people of the community come into the department bringing a fresh set of eyes, a different viewpoint, a different cultural background. All of these will make for a better product from our department. Come and join this agency and make a difference,” Hamilton said.

McCraney noted, “LAPD has a commitment to hire from the African American community. More than ever, we need the help and participation of organizations in the African American community, and especially of the clergy, to help us move this agenda forward and get more African Americans in the Los Angeles Police Department.” 

He also said that the starting pay for police officers is $70,000 per year and the benefits include healthcare and tuition reimbursement. In addition, candidates are offered mentorships with existing officers to aid recruits in completing the hiring and academy processes.

Moore also called on various staff to update attendees on some of the more pressing issues capturing LAPD’s attention and resources. Homicides and human trafficking were among those areas and Deputy Chief Regina Scott provided telling statistics that illuminated the policing challenges that officers face.

“Violent crime is up all over the nation and South Bureau is not immune to that. We had 79 homicides in just the South Bureau this year compared to 60 last year. Of the homicides, 62 were gang-related. We’ve made 109 arrests of homicide suspects and 83 are African American, 29 are Hispanic and nine were under the age of 17. Forty-three are between 18-to-49,” said Scott, who noted that the emotions and rumors triggered by social media are influencing contributors to the rising murder rates.

She said that human trafficking and prostitution have increased in the Figueroa corridor and is negatively impacting businesses in the area.  LAPD is consulting with the Office of the City Attorney to institute programs to counter the negative effects as well as planning to partner with neighborhood nonprofits for assistance in wrap-around services to aid young people, particularly foster children ensnared in those activities.

“Our number one recruiters are other children in the foster system. It starts out with them talking to them (other foster youth) and saying there are people who care about you and we are family. They get with them and treat them wonderful. They buy them expensive things and it starts out with a small favor. From those favors, they find themselves in a system that they can’t get out. The key is trying to break that cycle,” Scott said.

“The department is looking to rescue these victims, not prosecute them. But, we do want to prosecute the perpetrators. These are sophisticated individuals who are raising thousands of dollars in the selling of people,” declared Moore.

Reports were also given on LAPD’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by Commander Ruby Flores, and traffic safety by Deputy Chief Gerald Woodard and South Bureau Commanding Officer Curtis McIntyre.

The attendees included two African Americans who serve on the Police Commission – Vice President William Briggs, who practices law in the entertainment and sports sectors, and Commissioner Dale Bonner, executive chairman of Plenary Concessions, an investor and developer of public infrastructure. Both commissioners expressed their commitment to improving the department’s relationship with Blacks, immigrants, and people of color.

Briggs, who was born and raised in South Los Angeles, stressed, “I am quite familiar with the [South L.A.] area and extremely interested in how we get back the trust between members of the community and of our police department. I think that everyone recognizes that we want public safety, but when we don’t have trust in those that are providing the public safety, there’s a break.  I want to learn how we help restore that [trust].”

Voicing similar comments, Bonner said, “In the three-and-one-half years that I’ve been on the Commission, I have been searching for the one or two things that will rebuild trust and help us all see a day when this tension between the police department and communities of color is not the dominant  discussion. But, it is clear that there is no one easy solution.

“It’s a lot of complicated issues that will require a lot of thought and input. That’s why it’s so important to engage with you – and many others who are not here - in these types of conversations. I appreciate the opportunity to hear what’s going on in the community and how we can work together to make things better,” he said.

Working together with all ethnicities and groups is Chief Moore’s goal in holding forums, according to Senior Lead Officer and African American Community liaison, Kathy Williams, who noted that LAPD liaisons are designated for the clergy, LGBTQ, Latino, Asian Pacific, Muslim, Jewish, and youth communities and Moore meets twice a year with each group.

“Chief Moore does a lot of outreach. We try to reach as many community members as we can and not just through the forums, but also by having the Chief speak at churches, activities sponsored by community groups, and at prevention and intervention events,” Williams said.

“We like to hear everyone’s concerns and issues, so we can understand the things we need to do in our community to make it better and we can work together in partnership.”

July 22, 2021

NNPA Newswire Reports

Kamau Marshall, President Joe Biden’s former chief spokesman who helped to guide the 2020 presidential campaign, has taken a top communications job at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

Marshall is now the top deputy assistant for media and public affairs at the USTR, which is led by Ambassador Katherine Tai.

With extensive experience in politics and communications, Marshall served as a speechwriter and communications advisor for the Department of Agriculture during former President Barack Obama’s administration.

He also worked with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where he was a team member that helped to win back the U.S. House in 2018.

It marked the first time in 12 years that Democrats controlled the House.

Marshall also earned accolades for his work with Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), and late Democratic Reps. John Lewis and Elijah Cummings.

He also counts as a friend to the Black Press.