April 13, 2023

LAWT News Service

 

The Inglewood City Council today approved a relocation plan for businesses impacted by the Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC). With a design that is envisioned to move over 11,000 passengers per hour during peak travel periods, the 1.6-mile transit system will alleviate gridlock and disruptions in Inglewood neighborhoods and connect the Metro system to the City’s newest housing, retail, and sports and entertainment venues.  

 

Forty-one (41) businesses along the ITC route will be required to move to different locations, and the relocation plan approved by the council details how the City will assist them. It also explains how relocation procedures are implemented to facilitate the fair, uniform, and equitable treatment of displaced businesses. As outlined in the plan, every business that must be relocated will be assigned a dedicated relocation consultant who will work with the business owner to identify potential relocation sites, advise on negotiations with new landlords, facilitate actual relocation, and assist with reimbursement or advances for costs associated with relocation. These services and benefits are in addition to compensation received by the property owner for the property acquired by the City that is needed to facilitate the project.  

The Mayor and City Council delayed a vote on the plan over the past few weeks in order to make way for an alteration that locates the maintenance and storage facility at the Market Street Station instead of next to the Vons Supermarket, as had initially been conceived. This change was implemented to prevent any potential closure of or disruption to the supermarket and other businesses located in the plaza on Manchester Blvd.  

The Council also voted on an addendum to the Environmental Impact Report that acknowledged that this alteration would not create any additional environmental impact. 

“The City Council and I understand that any construction on the Vons site would be disruptive to businesses residents and employees” said Inglewood Mayor James Butts, “To put it succinctly, we heard our constituents, and we made the project better based on their input.”  

The ITC alignment is primarily located in the public right-of-way and does not require the acquisition of any residential properties in the City. However, there are a limited number of private business properties that must be acquired to accommodate construction and operation of the new transit line; 41 businesses which employ approximately 305 individuals will need to be relocated.  

“First and foremost, we are committed to making sure each business has every resource available, and we will work tirelessly with businesses to see that their needs are met,” said Councilmember Dionne Faulk.

Project staff  have been communicating with impacted owners and businesses over the past 15 months to understand their concerns, get feedback and begin creating personalized, tailored solutions.  To prepare the relocation plan, all owners and tenants were contacted via multiple letters, calls, and personal visits. Twenty-three of the businesses completed and returned a relocation survey or completed the survey during in-person interviews. Just last month, the project held two open houses with more than eighty stakeholders in attendance. 

“Each and every one of these businesses is part of the City’s culture and community. Our team will go to great lengths to ensure that the relocation effort is as smooth and straightforward as possible,” said Councilmember Eloy Morales. 

The City’s top priority is keeping these businesses within the city limits and helping them thrive, and the project team is actively looking for potential replacement locations in or near Inglewood, but the decision about where to relocate ultimately lies with each business.

The Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC) is an elevated 1.6-mile transit system that will reduce traffic and parking congestion in Inglewood neighborhoods and connect the Metro K Line (Crenshaw/LAX Line) to the City’s housing, retail, and sports and entertainment venues including the Forum, SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park, and the Intuit Dome. Its route would include three stations at Market Street and Florence Avenue, Prairie Avenue and Manchester Boulevard, and Prairie Avenue and Hardy Street, providing safe, reliable and convenient access to the City’s new major employment, commercial, and activity centers for local residents and the region. 

Community benefits include less traffic and overflow parking in neighborhoods on event days, positive environmental impacts such as reduced  greenhouse gas emissions and advance sustainability goals; transportation and mobility impacts that improve ease of travel within Inglewood; and equity and access benefits that allow affordable community access.  

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that over the course of ITC construction, the project will create over $1 billion dollars in direct construction spending; 10,950 total jobs and a fiscal impact of $261 million across LA County; with 9,060 jobs inside the City of Inglewood and a fiscal impact of $166 million within Inglewood. As the ITC becomes operational, the system, as well as its maintenance, will create an ongoing economic impact of $14.5 million annually. Ridership would have an estimated annual economic impact of more than $400 million for Inglewood in 2027 and this is estimated to grow to $485 million by 2045.  

For more information, visit www.envisioninglewood.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Category: News

April 13, 2023

By Jonathan Mattise, Travis Loller and Kimberlee Kruesi

Associated Press

 

One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashville’s governing council voted to send him straight back to the Legislature.

The unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council took only a few minutes to restore Rep. Justin Jones to office just four days after Republicans stripped him of his seat.

Moments later, Jones marched to the Capitol several blocks away. He took the oath of office on the steps and entered the building while supporters sang “This Little Light of Mine.”

 

A loud round of applause erupted as Jones walked into the chamber with Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who was also targeted for expulsion, but spared by one vote.

“To the people of Tennessee, I stand with you,” Jones said in his first statement on the House floor. “We will continue to be your voice here. And no expulsion, no attempt to silence us will stop us, but it will only galvanize and strengthen our movement. And we will continue to show up in the people’s house.

“Power to the people,” he shouted, to cheers. Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton told Jones’ supporters in the galleries to “please refrain from disrupting the proceedings.”

Republicans banished Jones and fellow lawmaker Justin Pearson over their role in a gun-control protest on the House floor in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting.

Pearson could be reappointed Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby County Commission.

The expulsions on Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy and propelled the ousted lawmakers into the national spotlight. In the span of a few days, the two had raised thousands of campaign dollars and the Tennessee Democratic Party had received a new jolt of support from across the U.S.

Jones’ appointment is an interim basis. Special elections for the seats will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they plan to run in the special election.

At the end of Monday’s evening session, Jones stood on the House floor and asked Sexton if he would be reappointed to legislative committees after being stripped of assignments last week. Jones also asked to receive full access to legislative buildings, which includes the the parking garage, and health care benefits. While Sexton referred some of the questions to human resources, the Republican leader said that traditionally in the past that appointed lawmakers do not receive committee assignments.

Pearson, meanwhile, told reporters Monday that “the lessons that we’ve gotten here is that people power works.”

“It is because thousands — millions — of people have decided that they will march, they will lift up their voices and elevate them to end gun violence to protect our communities and ensure that the voice of the people that we care to represent us are heard in the state Capitol and all across this country,” Pearson said.

As Jones was restored to his position, Nashville scored a win in court over a different move targeting the city by state-level Republican officials. A three-judge panel temporarily blocked implementation of a new law that would cut Nashville’s metro council in half, from 40 to 20 members.

Before the special session of Nashville’s governing council was to begin Monday, a couple of hundred people gathered in front of the Nashville courthouse, and more were pouring in. Some held signs reading, “No Justin, No Peace.” Inside the courthouse, a line of people waited outside the council chambers for the doors to open.

Rosalyn Daniel arrived early and waited in line to get a seat in the council chambers. She said she is not in Jones’ district but is a Nashville resident and concerned citizen.

“I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement, so I understand why this is so important,” she said.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison said they will welcome back the expelled lawmakers if they are reinstated.

“Tennessee’s constitution provides a pathway back for expulsion,” they said in a statement. “Should any expelled member be reappointed, we will welcome them. Like everyone else, they are expected to follow the rules of the House as well as state law.”

Jones and Pearson quickly drew prominent supporters. President Joe Biden spoke with them, and Vice President Kamala Harris visited them in Nashville. The expelled lawmakers have filled out their legal teams. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under former President Barack Obama, now represents Jones.

“The world is watching Tennessee,” attorneys for Jones and Pearson wrote to Sexton in a letter Monday. “Any partisan retributive action, such as the discriminatory treatment of elected officials, or threats or actions to withhold funding for government programs, would constitute further unconstitutional action that would require redress.”

Johnson, the third Democrat targeted for expulsion, also attracted national attention.

Political tensions rose when the three joined with hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol last month to call for passage of gun-control measures.

As protesters filled galleries, the lawmakers approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant. The scene unfolded days after the shooting at the Covenant School, a private Christian school where six people were killed, including three children.

Johnson, a white lawmaker from Knoxville, was spared expulsion by a single vote. Republican lawmakers justified splitting their votes by saying Johnson had less of a role in the protest — she didn’t speak into the megaphone, for example.

Johnson also suggested race was likely a factor in why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her. She told reporters it “might have to do with the color of our skin.”

GOP leaders have said the expulsions — a mechanism used only a handful times since the Civil War — had nothing to do with race and instead were necessary to avoid setting a precedent that lawmakers’ disruptions of House proceedings through protest would be tolerated.

Expulsion has generally been reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents.

Category: News

April 13, 2023

City News Service

 

The lobby of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southwest station will remain closed for a while and some personnel will be relocated after an arson incident last week, Police Chief Michel Moore announced on April 11.

Mishauna Eaton, 30, was arrested Friday morning and booked on suspicion of arson. She was being held on $250,000 bail. Eaton remains in custody, Moore added.

Eaton allegedly pushed a burning shopping cart into the lobby of the station in the 1500 block of West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at approximately 11:25 p.m. Thursday.

The flames caused more than $1 million in damage to the front and interior of the station, Moore said. No injuries were reported.

 

“According to the video evidence that was gathered, it appears that she had set a cart on fire with combustibles that were inside of it,'' Moore said during Tuesday's Police Commission meeting. “The Fire Department responded and was able to extinguish the fire in approximately half an hour.''

Detectives and officers will continue to work out of the station while repairs are made to the lobby.

“Community members who would like to meet with an in-person officer of detective may visit any local station,'' police said in a statement issued last week. “We encourage people to utilize online reporting at LAPD@online.''

Category: News

April 06, 2023

By Shelby Stephens

Contributing Writer

 

Getting out the box and into the media, Serene Agency is a Los Angeles based, women-founded, and women-led creative agency, specializing in public relations, brand management, and social media content.

Founder and professional media strategist, Nia Rice, built her agency on purpose and intention by executing brand campaigns without compromising the integrity of her clients. Working with emerging marginalized brands, influencers, and non-profits like The Blueprint and the Pico Youth & Family Center, Serene has a diverse company client list, including Emmy award-winning company, Issa Rae Productions, and national organizations like the African Chamber of Commerce.

The agency also represents high profile individuals like L.A. native and singing sensation Elle Varner, 3x Grammy award-winning artist and producer Hit-Boy, P-Valley’s Shannon Thornton, The Billionaire Chef Tolu Eors, and internet personality Yvng Swag. Rice connects the dots between entertainment, lifestyle, technology, and hospitality.

Disrupting the traditional approach to media content and brand management, Serene is responsible for transforming multicultural owned businesses into globally respected entities. With more than 10 years in the industry, Rice is changing the narrative of how major corporations and studios cater to minority audiences and projects.

She is a professional media strategist because of her dedication to advancing her clients by connecting them with lead industry executives using multiple digital platforms. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, Rice, and Account Executive Vice President Jasmine Young, opened up about Serene’s start, success, and next steps for the future.

After graduating college with a Hospitality Management degree, University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumni Nia Rice aspired to be an event planner, but quickly found her passion in public relations while working with Priscilla Clarke of Clarke PR.

During her senior year until the age of 23, Rice worked in radio, sharpening her skills in advertising, public relations, events, making connections with established personalities, and building her reputation in the D.C. area.

When asked about her start in the industry, Rice shared, “I knew in D.C. I was hitting a cap, so I moved to New York and when I started working at The Chamber Group and Hunter PR, and that’s when I truly saw my capabilities as a media strategist.

I knew how to tell stories and I understood how to pair people based on their personality and who to best match them with to tell their stories correctly, I saw my talent for connecting individuals. I began to build my contacts and resources, then when I moved to Los Angeles everything hit.”

The Huffington Post listed Serene as the top rising agency in the nation for securing their clients in top media outlets like People Magazine, Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon, AdWeek, CNN, and Good Morning America.

They have created exposure for their clients by placing brands on carpets such as the Golden Globes, People's Choice, and the Grammys.

 

The agency has secured multicultural brand partnerships and assure brands are solidified with corporate awards and listed at the top of the industries with others and has been listed by Huffington Post, Medium and more. 

 

To keep operations organized and communication tight, the agency hosts weekly briefings to prioritize clients and their needs. The briefings determine the strategies for the week including brand development, event coordinating, and scheduling. Serene has a variety of clients, which promotes diversity in the agency’s representation and assists in expanding the brand.

 

Working with multicultural brands that deserve massive and high-level media consumption, VP Jasmine Young explained, “Every day is different as we have a lot of different clients ranging from athletes to film directors. We start our day prioritizing and focusing to see if the day will be about outreach or if we have to do in-house research for a client and we move from there.”

As the agency continues to grow, Rice and Young have made it a point to be intentional with their work-life balance, reminding each other and their staff, to work towards being better professionals each day. With increased success comes increased responsibility.

 

Rice embraces mistakes and understands the importance of learning as you move through industry challenges. “I tell my team; your mistakes are going to come as the experience happens.”

 

In the next 10 years, Rice hopes to connect with high engagement production companies in the film industry to work on projects in television, advertisement, and documentaries.

 

“To be the most highly sought agency to flawlessly direct brands in the right direction for maximum reach and complete our offices in the states and then becoming global to Africa and London are the ultimate goals. Making sure my staff and my team are well taken care of, generational wealth is important internally for our employees and externally for our clients,” she said.

 

 

 

Serene Agency is currently active in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta.

 

Rice is working on opening workspaces in L.A. and New York to continue to expand their reach across the country.

 

Rice and Young encourage upcoming public relation agencies and individuals looking to break into the field to get started with their ideas, invest in themselves, and seek mentorship.

 

“Don’t be scared, invest in yourself, go to workshops, take a class, you will get the money back.

All my peers, including myself, have a mentor. Really get out there!”

 

Connect with Serene Agency online at Publicity | Serene Agency, or on Instagram at Serene Agency (@serenetheagency) • Instagram photos and videos.

 

Category: News

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