December 19, 2019 

By City News Service 

Funeral services were pending today for Earl Paysinger, the former first assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, and later vice president of civic engagement at USC, who died at the age of 64.

Paysinger died Monday surrounded by family and friends, according to the LAPD.

The 41-year LAPD veteran had battled cancer and died at a hospital, LAPD Cmdr. Al Labrada told the Los Angeles Times.

“Tonight we lost a champion,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore tweeted Monday evening. “ECP will always be three letters for a man with a tireless work ethic who knew cops count.

Who cared deeply for our communities’ youth. A professional I respected for his dedication to his family, faith and convictions.

“Rest in peace my brother.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti echoed Moore's sentiments, tweeting that Paysinger ``embodied everything a police officer should be: a strong, humble, selfless leader who always put young people and the community first.

“My thoughts are with his loving family and all who loved and admired this (LAPD) giant,” the mayor wrote.

City Attorney Mike Feuer shared his thoughts on Twitter.

“Earl Paysinger was a terrific public servant,” Feuer wrote. “He dedicated his life to public safety. I was honored that he served as a member of our Blue Ribbon Panel on School Safety. I was privileged to know him. He will be deeply missed.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn recalled Paysinger from her time on the Los Angeles City Council.

“I worked with Chief Paysinger... to reduce crime in Watts and the Harbor Area,” Hahn tweeted. “He dedicated his life to serving the communities he loved and he earned their respect every day. My prayers are with his wife and sons. May he Rest In Peace.”

Former Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky tweeted his memories of Paysinger.

“Saddened to learn of the passing of former LAPD Asst. Chief Earl Paysinger,” Yaroslavsky said. “He was a true partner in making (Los Angeles) a safer place through community policing and respect for all our citizens. A class act with a great legacy. RIP.”

A release from the LAPD said Paysinger “dedicated his life to making Los Angeles the safest big city in America with his laser focus mission to reduce violence and victimization.”

“But he will mostly be remembered by Angelinos for his ability to foster public trust,” according to the LAPD. “Community policing was in his DNA as he championed youth programs, meaningful community engagement and greater police accountability. Paysinger was particularly proud to be the architect of the ‘Youth First’ campaign which provided mentorship, resources, and opportunities to more than 10,000 youth in our city. He also revamped the LAPD Cadet Leadership program that promotes education, leadership, self-esteem, and a sense of well-being for the youth in our communities. Under his direction the cadet program grew from fewer than 500 cadets in the 2000s to nearly 1,500 today.”

Paysinger retired from the LAPD in 2016, “but service was still in his soul as he joined the University of Southern California in the role of vice president of civic engagement,” according to the LAPD.

In 2016, then-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck congratulated Paysinger on his retirement and appointment at USC.

“I am very proud of the achievements Paysinger was able to achieve during his career with the Los Angeles Police Department,” Beck said. “He has truly left his mark upon the LAPD, and we are all grateful.”

During his time with the LAPD, Paysinger focused on crime prevention and community engagement, according to LAPD spokesman Tony Im.

“It is fitting that Paysinger is appointed to the position of vice president of civic engagement (for USC), because that is exactly what he has demonstrated throughout his career with LAPD,” Im said. “His leadership and sensibilities will serve both the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Police Department, as we continue to partner to build a stronger community where people live, work, educate and thrive without the fear or incidence of crime.”

December 05, 2019 

LAWT News Service 

December 2019 - Celebrating 51 years of service to the LA community, Brotherhood Crusade has set a goal to raise $1M. The amount is what the organization has determined necessary to sustain and build upon existing programs and services for at-risk youth in South Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

Proceeds will support more than 3,000 South Los Angeles youth.  Additionally, Brotherhood Crusade has expanded its youth development programs to the City of Lynwood. In 2020, the organization will expand its programming into the cities of Inglewood and Pomona.

Charisse Bremond Weaver, Brotherhood Crusade President and CEO said, "We are setting a goal to reach a number that will sustain the quality of our programs and outreach, Brotherhood Crusade currently has in the Los Angeles community. We have been fortunate to build longstanding relationships with partners who share our vision to fortify our youth with the tools they will need to navigate bright futures. We are truly grateful to all of our partners and friends who have been key in helping us reach our mission as an organization. One hundred percent of the support from the Annual fundraiser will support the expansion and continued services to students and families who have the least."

The Brotherhood Crusade was founded in 1968 by civil rights activist Walter 'Walt’ Bremond. For 35 years, businessman, publisher and civil rights activist Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. led the organization. Today, Brotherhood Crusade President and CEO Charisse Bremond Weaver continues the legacy of her late father Walter Bremond and mentor, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., as she maintains partnerships and forges new alliances to build on the organization's historic impact.

An organization with a rich legacy for making an impact in the Los Angeles community, Brotherhood Crusade's principal mission is to champion equality and equity by removing and/or helping individuals overcome the barriers that deter their pursuit of success in life and facilitate opportunities for a better quality of life via health & wellness, providing and enhancing educational opportunities, cultivating economic growth and building community agencies and institutions.

Board Chair, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., said, "We thank our donors for a rich history of partnership to serve the community with pride, compassion and commitment. Thank you for your generosity and for being a part of this community-changing work that ultimately benefits not just our present, but our future."

To learn more about Brotherhood Crusade please call 323-846-1649. To donate to support, please click here or here igfn.us/f/2kl6/n. Thank you!

November 28, 2019 

By Betti Halsell 

Contributing Writer 

Voter suppression is a term used to describe underlying attempts to influence the turnout and demographics around an election. Voting times set during prime working hours, limited language assistance in polling locations, and obscure information on voting methods are just a few living testimonials that plague the current ballot system.

L.A. County has studied multiple cases and conducted a number of diverse focus groups in search for a repellant to negative voter experiences. California is a pioneering state, it is only natural for Los Angeles to enter a new frontier of casting ballots.

Introducing the Vote Center Placement Project, an innovative answer to the question on how to improve voter turnout.

From digital user friendly polling stations to mobile voting trucks, Los Angeles is leaving no room for a missed ballot opportunity in 2020.

The current voting system is outdated. The equipment is not accommodating and in many cases, machines that are designed for the disabled are limited to one per location.

Finding the right time to vote is also challenging, days for early voting are only available at selected locations in the county.

There is only one assigned voting location between the times of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. There is no assurance if the mailing-in method is used with no physical drop off locations provided.

There is a vital need for reshaping the balloter accessibility.

Through a number of forums and conferences across LA, Congresswoman Maxine Waters partnered up with county clerk Dean C. Logan to educate Angelenos of a solution to the previous disruptions during electoral seasons.

Starting in 2020, L.A. natives can cast their local and federal ballots at any Voting Center throughout the county. For polling increase, there is a way to register the same day at any location. There will be unrestrictive equipment that is helpful for people with disabilities to operate independently.

With a touchscreen display, the font size and screen lighting can be adjusted; there is also  an option to use a tactile control with braille labeling.

There will be an adjustable audio connection to hear the instructions through the headphones readily available at each station. The user friendly digital system has the benefit of changing the ballot and instructions to 13 different languages.

Instead of having only one day available to get to a polling location, there are now up to eleven days to vote at any voting center across greater Los Angeles. L.A. County will also be making the ballots mobile by using vehicles specifically designed for driving up voter turnout. The new voting model will uproot the reliance on the obsolete past tense way of voting and move toward a future where it is second nature to weigh in on city and  state contests.