December 17, 2015
City News Service
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said he supported the decision to close Los Angeles schools in response to an email threat, and he directed his staff to work with the district to prevent the loss of millions of dollars in state funding due to the mass closure.
“Creating and maintaining a safe environment for students, teachers, parents, administrators and classified employees is our top priority,” Torlakson said.
“I urge school districts to check their school safety plans to make sure they are up to date,” he said. “The California Department of Education stands ready to assist school districts in enhancing and improving their safety plans. We have a variety of available resources for districts, including on our website.”
Torlakson said he instructed state DOE officials to work with the Los Angeles Unified School District so it can qualify for relief from a loss of Average Daily Attendance funding from the state. The amount of money schools receive from the state is based in part on how many students attend class on a daily basis. A drop in attendance leads to a drop in funding — and a full closure of the district for the day could be particularly costly. Torlakson said the LAUSD could lose about $29 million due to this week’s closure, but he said he will work to ensure that does not happen.
“We are nearly 100 percent certain that we can take the steps to restore those funds to the district,” he said.
According to the state, a district can receive special ADA credit for days lost due to an “emergency closure.”
Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said the Senate staff will also work with the LAUSD to ensure that schools receive funding for the day.
“Loss of funding should never be (a) factor in keeping students safe,” de Leon said via Twitter.
December 17, 2015
By Juliet Linderman and David Dishneau
Associated Press
The first trial in the death of Freddie Gray ended in a mistrial Wednesday, with jurors saying they couldn’t determine whether a Baltimore police was criminally responsible for the man’s death. Officials appealed for calm in the aftermath of the trial, and small crowds of protesters demonstrated along streets lined with police officers.
Officer William Porter’s trial was the first test of prosecutors’ case against six officers in a city struggling to rein in violent crime. The case hinged not on what Porter did, but what prosecutors said he didn’t do. He was accused of failing to get medical help for a critically wounded Gray and was charged with manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. Gray’s injury in police custody sparked weeks of protests and fueled the nation’s scrutiny of how police treat black suspects.
The charges against Porter carried maximum prison terms totaling 25 years. It was not immediately clear whether Porter would be tried again. An administrative hearing was scheduled for Thursday to discuss a possible retrial date. Porter waived his right to appear at that proceeding.
Wednesday was the third day of deliberations for the jury of seven women and five men. They deliberated for a total of about 15 hours. On Tuesday, they indicated they were deadlocked, but the judge told them to keep working.
The jurors made several requests since they began deliberating Monday. On Wednesday, they asked for a copy of a transcript from a witness, but the judge refused.
“It is clear you will not come to a unanimous agreement on any of the four charges,” Circuit Judge Barry Williams told the jurors before declaring a mistrial. Before dismissing them, he said, “You have clearly been diligent.”
During deliberations Wednesday, a handful of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, chanting “send those killer cops to jail.” Upon learning of the mistrial, people chanted “No justice, no peace,” and the demonstration spilled from the sidewalk and onto the street. Police officers lined the streets outside the courthouse.
At least one activist was arrested in the immediate aftermath of the mistrial. Television footage showed Baltimore sheriff’s deputies taking Kwame Rose into custody, putting his arms behind his back and marching him into the courthouse
Earlier, he told The Associated Press: “This is an injustice, and we are going to fight for justice until it becomes a reality in our lives. A mistrial means that the prosecution did not do their jobs good enough.”
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake repeated calls for Baltimore residents to respect the outcome of the trial.
“In the coming days, if some choose to demonstrate peacefully to express their opinion, that is their constitutional right. I urge everyone to remember that collectively, our reaction needs to be one of respect for our neighborhoods, and for the residents and businesses of our city,” she said in a statement.
After court adjourned, Porter conferred solemnly with defense attorney Joseph Murtha, then walked from the courtroom ahead of his lawyers. A female supporter joined Porter on a marble bench in a corner of the hallway. Courthouse deputies blocked reporters from approaching them.
Murtha declined to comment, citing a judicial gag order barring lawyers in the case from making public statements.
So did Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “Gag order,” she said, smiling and shaking her head as she waited with an entourage for a courthouse elevator.
Gray, who was arrested while fleeing from police, died April 19, a week after his neck was broken while the seven-block trip turned into a 45-minute journey around West Baltimore. The autopsy concluded that Gray probably suffered the injury from being slammed against the compartment’s metal wall during cornering or braking.
Gray was black. Porter is also black, as are two of the other five officers charged.
It wasn’t clear how the mistrial would affect the state’s cases against the other officers. Prosecutors had planned to use Porter’s testimony against two of his fellow officers.
Several other recent cases against police officers charged in deadly confrontations with black men have ended similarly. In August, a North Carolina jury deadlocked in the trial of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Randall Kerrick. Prosecutors said they won’t retry the white officer for voluntary manslaughter in the September 2013 shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell, who was unarmed.
In June, a South Carolina jury couldn't reach a verdict in the retrial of former Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs, who is white. His lawyer said Combs acted in self-defense in the May 2011 shooting of Bernard Bailey, who was unarmed.
Combs pleaded guilty in September to misconduct in office. He was sentenced to a year of home detention.
Prosecutors in Porter’s trial argued he was criminally negligent for ignoring a Baltimore Police Department policy requiring officers to seat belt prisoners, and for not calling an ambulance immediately after Gray indicated he needed medical help.
Porter, who was driving a patrol car the day Gray was arrested, was present at five of the van’s six stops during its circuitous trip.
The defense said Porter went beyond the call of duty in helping the handcuffed and shackled prisoner move from the floor of the van to a bench in the wagon, and in telling the van driver and a supervisor that Gray said he needed to go to a hospital. The defense mainly cast blame on the van driver, Officer Caesar Goodson, whose trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 6.
December 10, 2015
LAWT News Service
Responding to one of the worst humanitarian crises since World War II, the Board of Supervisors voted this week to reaffirm Los Angeles County’s commitment to hospitality while also ensuring the safety of its own residents.
Acting on a motion by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl, the Board declared it would honor the United States’ federal immigration policies and welcome refugees fleeing persecution in their home countries to adjust to a new, peaceful and productive life in the County.
The Board also approved sending a letter to President Barack Obama expressing support of federal efforts to help Syrians fleeing violence and oppression.
The motion noted 12 million people – almost half of Syria’s population – have been displaced by terrorism, religious persecution, war and conflict. This is includes about 7.6 million displaced within Syria’s borders. The rest have been forced to flee to other countries. According to the State Department, seven out of every 10 Syrian refugees are women and children.
In their motion, Supervisors Ridley-Thomas and Kuehl emphasized the County has “a strong tradition of not tolerating hate crimes, racial antagonism, stereotypes, prejudice and bias, especially in the wake of fear.”
They also stressed every precaution would be taken to ensure the safety of County residents.
“Refugees are subject to the strictest form of security screening of any class of traveler to the U.S. before they are allowed to enter, and are subject to extensive background, security and health checks,” Supervisors Ridley-Thomas and Kuehl said in the motion. “The process is slow and long and is considered the toughest way to legally enter the United States.”
They added, “We can protect public safety and honor our best American traditions at the same time.”
December 10, 2015
By Brittany Jackson
Contributing Writer
This past Saturday marked the 4th Annual Black Businesswomen Rock Conference and Expo, where over 600 patrons gathered to network, exchange business ideals, promote their businesses and provide encouragement for both women and men looking for their breakthrough in the entrepreneurial market.
The event featured several speakers, including famed rapper, DJ and voice over talent MC Lyte, marketing genius Ray Dennis, real estate specialist Lisa Hamilton, wealth and finance coach Lynn Richardson and keynote speaker of “Crowns of Excellence,” Jewel Diamond Taylor.
Topics covered throughout the conference included, “Building Your Brand”, “Secrets to Financial Wealth”, “Real Estate, Internet Law & Sales Tips”, “Marketing and Social Media”, and “Confidence and Connection Within”. The multifaceted expo also included a host of vendors who showed up to promote their books, desserts, tax services and sell exclusives items from their fashion lines and hair care businesses.
Speaker Raven Blair-Glover also known as Raven “The Talk Show Maven” gave tidbits about how she overcame being in lack and mustered up enough courage to step out on faith, eventually launching her now successful radio show from her kitchen table. “The quickest way to become an expert is to interview experts,” Glover said. I had been in sales and had a gift of gab, so I began to make a dream list, a vision board. I put pictures on there like Montel Williams, Sherri Shepherd, and Les Brown. I even put Oprah on there. And let me tell you, I began to interview these people,” she continued.
Glover encouraged the women by sharing three major keys to success, to “step up, show up, and grow up.” The Talk Show Maven said that at one point, she was well in her adulthood and had to ask herself why she was only making $10 an hour and only working 20 hours per week. Glover says that it’s important for people to look internally to see where they are to avoid making the same mistakes.
Educator, author and TV personality Tiffney Cambridge also served as on one of the panelists, and described her journey as a single mother once in a high-profile relationship with rapper Game. Cambridge says that despite being in a financially stable relationship with Game, she kept working and moving toward her entrepreneurial goals. “I never quit my job, I continued working, I developed my brand, I developed my own business, and so when things didn’t work out, I wasn’t just standing around and waiting for someone to pick up the pieces. I was able to pick my own self up,” Cambridge said. She encouraged the multitude of women in the audience to also keep moving toward achieving their dreams. “Have your own. Keep your own,” Cambridge said. Cambridge also attended the expo as a vendor to promote her children’s book, “The Little Girl Who Lost Her Smile”.
The Sentinel/ LA Watts Times also caught up with Founder of Black BBWR, Natalyn Randle, who shared with us her vision for creating the dynamic networking, net worth and black business-building platform.
“The BBWR organization is all about uplifting women that are in business,” she said.
“It’s a platform and a mic to celebrate and let us know our visions and our dreams matter. The platform is for me to share it, and by me sharing it, its getting bigger and bigger.”
According to Randle, the event, which boasted over 55 vendors, is designed to “ share their ideas and motivate other women to let them know that they can make a difference here in our community.”