November 12, 2020
By Steven Herbert
City News Service
Supporters conceded defeat today of a union-backed initiative that would have resulted in higher property taxes for commercial and industrial property to provide additional funding for local governments, schools and community colleges.
Proposition 15 trailed 51.8%-48.2%, according to figures released Tuesday by the Secretary of State's Office.
“California's challenges are not going anywhere, and this election result has shown that there is strong public demand for closing the corporate tax loopholes which cost our local communities billions every year,'' said Alex Stack, the communications director of the campaign on behalf of Proposition 15.
Said Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable and a co-chair of the no on Proposition 15 campaign: ``From day one, we knew that if voters understood the harm this deeply flawed tax hike would impose on California's economy and its families, farmers and small businesses, voters would reject this ill-advised effort.
“Today's victory should send a clear message to the proponents and warn all politicians that voters will continue to reject attempts to dismantle Prop 13.''
What supporters dubbed the “Schools and Communities First'' initiative would have allowed for annual unlimited reassessment of commercial and industrial properties to their fair market values.
Under terms of Proposition 13, the landmark property tax reduction and limitation measure approved by voters in June 1978, increases of assessed value of real property are restricted to 2% per year except if the property is sold or there is construction.
Proposition 15 would have mainly applied to large and older businesses, as it would have exempted owners of commercial and industrial properties with a combined value of $3 million or less. There were also exemptions for all residential and agricultural property.
The initiative additionally would have exempt from taxation $500,000 of combined tangible personal property and fixtures from small businesses.
Proposition 15 would not have changed Proposition 13's tax limit of 1% of the property's full cash value.
Passage of the initiative would have resulted in a net increase in annual property tax revenues of $7.5 billion to $12 billion in most years, depending on the strength of real estate markets, according to an analysis by Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek and state Director of Finance Keely Martin Bosler.
The analysis also found after backfilling state income tax losses related to the measure and paying for county administrative costs, 40% of the remaining $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion would be allocated to kindergarten through 12th grade schools and community colleges, with the remaining 60% going to other local governments.
November 05, 2020
By City News Service
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority today reminded Metro riders that there's still time to join a committee that will focus on community-based approaches to policing and re-envisioning transit safety.
Metro's Public Safety Advisory Committee applications are open until Nov. 13. The transit agency is seeking 15 members and three alternates who:
• are regular riders of the Metro system;
• are committed to ensuring that Metro follows best practices for the public with safe transportation; and
• can offer relevant knowledge and expertise as a ``resident, advocate for racial justice and/or safety reform, law enforcement expert, mental health provider or expert, or social services provider or expert.''
Members should be able to meet twice per month, virtually, until June 2022, according to Metro, which said meetings will likely be during the late afternoon or early evening hours.
“Following the George Floyd protests earlier this year, the Metro board is seeking recommendations on how to reform the agency's policing practices,'' according to a Metro statement. “The PSAC will be part of this effort working in partnership with community leaders to re-envision transit safety and community-based approaches to policing.''
Those wishing to apply for the committee can get more information at https://bit.ly/3jOToBl.
October 22, 2020
By City News Service
The Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation will begin accepting applications for licenses for cannabis delivery, distribution, non-volatile manufacturing and testing labs beginning at 2 p.m. Tuesday and continuing until further notice.
Unlike storefront retail and cultivation licenses, DCR officials said Los Angeles has not placed a limit on the number of cannabis delivery, distribution, non-volatile manufacturing and testing lab licenses that may be issued citywide.
Delivery application processing will be available only to previously verified Social Equity Applicants program applicants, DCR officials said. Information regarding how to be verified as a Social Equity Individual Applicant under the expanded eligibility verification criteria will be provided later this year.
The DCR's Licensing Portal was temporarily disabled around noon today and is scheduled to be offline until noon Tuesday for internal maintenance in preparation for new application processing.
During that time, DCR officials said existing users will be unable to log in and new accounts cannot be created. In addition, any partially completed 2021 annual renewal applications will be cleared from the system, which will require any applicants who were in the process of completing a 2021 temporary approval renewal application to restart the renewal application process.
All applicants for the licenses available beginning Tuesday are required to complete a pre-application review process. After being deemed eligible for further processing, applicants will be required to complete the temporary approval process in order to receive temporary authorization to engage in commercial cannabis activity.
Prospective applicants can get information to prepare for both the pre-application review process and the temporary approval process ahead of time at cannabis.lacity.org/licensing/licensing-information/application-procedures- and-resources.
October 08, 2020
By Betti Halsell
Contributing Writer
Breaking bread is the most unifying act between friends and loved ones, and in the Hawkins household, those moments were shared between 14 children who James and Elsie Hawkins shared together.
According to the baby of the family, now leader in operations, Cynthia Hawkins said, “The Hawkins family have proudly been an institution in Watts / Willowbrook for over 80 years.”
She continued, “For years being a beacon of light for the community, providing free meals to our neighbors when the need arises. We believe that it is incumbent upon us to offer a helping hand to our neighbors and we are honored to do so, following the tradition.”
The journey began in the late 1930’s, located at 11603½ South Slater Street, in Los Angeles California. The Hawkins House of Burgers reflects the growth in the culture, and the rich flavor of the community.
Creative innovations like the “Whipper Burger,” a double burger with pastrami and hot link on a brioche bun, are found on the same menu as the more traditional options like the Salmon Croquette Dinner.
There is such breath within the selection items to choose from with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Hawkins House of Burgers leaves a window open for creativity with the “Build you Burger your way!” and “Make any Item a combo.”
Such creativity came from within the Hawkins family according to Cynthia. One of the brothers, Elton, comes up with the mixology of the burgers that are on the menu.
She said, “Every item that he has thought of has been our best sellers.” This includes, “The Leaning Tower of Watts” and the “Farmer Otis Burrito.”
Cynthia explained the first bite into these burgers feels like “the first time a kid goes to Disneyland,” a magical moment with an explosion of happy emotions running through the body.
When asked to pick her favorite item off the menu, Cynthia said, “There are so many delicious dishes that our customers crave for, that it’s hard to choose!”
She continued, “We have the best fried chicken this side of the Mississippi! The applewood bacon with cheeseburgers that customers die for!
Catfish that make you wanna’ holla! Strawberry lemonade that customers drool for and Chicken and Waffles that are second to none!” She ended with explaining the mission of the Hawkins family is to cater to the needs of the community, and that includes the needs of comfort from a hardy meal.
Father of 14 children, James Henry Hawkins, made sure to install these words and base the Hawkins legacy on this motto, “Take care of your community and they will always take care of you!”
The children between James and Elsie Hawkins include, Ola, Thelma, Katheryn, Rosie, Maesoa, Mattie, Alberta, James Jr., Yancey, Newton, Otis, Eugene, Elton, and Cynthia.
Hawkins House of Burgers looks for ways to include the community.
The produce used in their dishes are locally sourced and bought on a daily schedule to guarantee freshness.
With close attention to detail, the veggies are examined and only the best are used in the dishes.
Cynthia stated, “Hawkins never cut corners on the product that is served to our patrons.”
What sets Hawkins House of Burgers apart from a lot of other burger joints is the commitment and love for the community. Cynthia shared that the well-being of the collective culture will always be “the bottom line.”
That philosophy has been passed down through the Hawkins line, as Yancey Hawkins, Cynthia’s grandfather, built the establishment in the late 1930s.
She shared memories of her grandparents setting up chairs and tables outside to feed the neighborhood at no cost.
James “Papa” Hawkins gave away 1,000 turkeys and hams, and designed a local garden for Watts / Willowbrook residents to pick produce from at no charge.
The love for the residents in their neighborhood is the core ingredients to Hawkins success in the hospitality industry.
The community is a part of every step that goes into making the Hawkins Burger, one can taste the rich history that reflects the unity of breaking bread in the community.
Hawkins House of Burgers can be found on Postmates, Grubhub, DoorDash, and UberEats. One can find their menu at the Hawkins Burgers website.
Much love and peaceful thoughts goes to the siblings who passed: Thelma, Alberta, Yancey, and Otis. Their legacy, alongside the Hawkins philosophy of loving the community through nutrition will continue living, through every passing generation to come.