MAYOR'S MESSAGE
 September 15, 2017
 
 
The City of Inglewood, a City that was once mere months away from bankruptcy is now becoming a place where millions will soon choose to be their destination of choice to shop, dine and and play.  In less than 6 years we have:    
  • Stabilized our finances (In 2 years - February 2015 and June 2017 - 3 combined credit and bond rating upgrades between Moody's Investor Service and Standards & Poor);
  • Renewed our infrastructure (water system,  roads, sidewalks, trimming our trees, completing ongoing deferred maintenance at our libraries, parks, & City Hall);
  • Improved public safety dramatically - six consecutive years of the lowest crime recorded
  • Upgraded children facilities at our parks (New Baseball Fields; new basketball courts; rebuilt, modernized and re-opened the Willie Agee Inglewood Playhouse after 15 years of closure
  • Kept promises made long ago (New Senior Center/New Community Center/Century Blvd reconstruction)
  • Sound insulated more homes in 3 years than the prior 15 years combined
  •  Negotiating housing production, both market rate and affordable;
  • Bringing credibility and community pride resulting in the return of entertainment & sports to Inglewood (Forum/Rams/Chargers)
  • Increased housing in the City (both market rate and affordable)
We are in negotiations to bring the Clippers to Inglewood who would build a world-class NBA arena across from the LA Stadium at Hollywood Park project. This arena will be completely privately funded with no City subsidy.  This piece combined with a mass transit connector from the Florence LaBrea Champions Metro station would cement Inglewood's connectivity to LAX and the greater Los Angeles area.  In short, Inglewood would have Concerts, VMA's, Boxing, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, Auto Shows, and other events in new venues unmatched in the greater Los Angeles area.
 
However, we have entities that have spent considerable (in the millions of dollars) money on lobbyists, misleading mailers, and television ads to defeat a legislative bill in Sacramento that would provide the same definite timeline (9 months) for challenges to our CEQA analysis ( e.g., Traffic , Air Quality,  and Noise and any other significant Impacts Review) and mitigations to be heard and decided in cour t that they themselves have received!
 
Why was this done for these cities?  Many times competitors to projects use CEQA challenge s not for the purpose of actually improving the environmental analysis  but  to stall a development with the objective of making the project financially unfeasible due to delays and disruption of construction timelines-
 
This is THE SAME TYPE OF LEGISLATION approved in 2012 for FARMERS FIELD IN LOS ANGELES, in 2015 for THE WARRIORS ARENA IN SAN FRANCISCO
and 2016 for THE GOLDEN 1 ARENA IN SACRAMENTO.     
 
We are seeking to make sure that abuse doesn't happen here, while making sure that the true and important purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act are followed, we are seeking only  the same respect and consideration for INGLEWOOD that these 3 cities received.  I and the City Council will settle for no less for our residents.   These projects translate into tens of thousands of jobs for the region, both during construction and post-construction.   
  
So far in the one year of construction of the NFL stadium, $166,000,000 (you read it right - that's millions of dollars) in contracts have gone to minority and woman-led disadvantaged businesses.   These contractors hire locally.  Since the construction began on the Forum, more Inglewood residents have been employed at one time on local construction projects over the past 3 years, than in the entire history of Inglewood .  This is one of the reasons that our unemployment rate has plummeted from 17.5% in 2010 to 5.5% as of April of 2017, the lowest rate in the last 3 decades. 
 
There are two groups that are sending emails and using social media to promote what I think are false narratives:  One organization that calls itself IRATE-- that seems without an Inglewood location, identified leaders or purpose   - but produces expensive mailers and funds attorneys from a Southbay city that produce VOLUMES of letters and procedural protests for every action the City takes regarding even agendizing items leading to negotiation ; the other is someone who was a huge leader in the NFL initiative process, and now opposes a full and robust , but not abusive CEQA process for a project we predict would   conservatively yield $15 million dollars per year in property taxes.  A portion of which would go to the State of California to increase funding for the Inglewood Unified School District.  What a difference a day makes.....  
 
Let's go through the false and/or misleading information that has been or continues to be sent to the Inglewood community and to our legislators in Sacramento:  
  1. The project will displace residents by taking residential properties and churches by eminent domain.  FALSE - Both the ENA (Exclusive Negotiations Agreement and the proposed legislation forbid the taking of residential or church property.
  2. The City-controlled property will be given to a billionaire.  FALSE - If an agreement is reached, the land will be sold at FAIR MARKET VALUE as determined by an appraiser selected by the City of Inglewood.
  3. The proposed site should be developed for affordable housing. - NOT FEASIBLE - Our agreement with the FAA for them to finance the acquisition of this land was that the City would not place an aircraft incompatible development on this land - Housing is an incompatible use within the terms of the grant.  Some parcels of this land have been vacant for over 20 years.  Why didn't UPLIFT INGLEWOOD ask that housing to be developed when the City leased it for parking in 2013 or at ANYTIME before the Clippers ENA was announced?  Even if we could do this the net loss in Property Tax receipts would be over 10 million dollars compared to that generated by an NBA arena.
  4. That the bill eliminates CEQA protections for residents.  FALSE - The bill does not eliminate compliance with CEQA law. Primarily it shortens the time that opponents and business competitors can stall a project using court challenges to 9 months as opposed to many years.
Recap of the potential ADVANTAGES of going forward with this Clippers NBA arena negotiation:
 
  • Thousands of jobs for Inglewood residents and the LA region
  • Relocation to Inglewood of Clippers Corporate headquarters
  • Relocation to Inglewood of Clippers practice facilities
  • Increased Property Taxes for Inglewood Schools
  • Revenue for Libraries, Parks, Recreation, Police and Fire Protection
  • 10's of million of dollars for Inglewood Public Arts Program
  • The return of NBA basketball to Inglewood
  • Mass transit to the entertainment corridor removing car trips
  • Other Community Benefits yet to be negotiated
Please view the Channel 2 interview of the Mayor by Jim Hill to hear the overview of this project.  By hard work and sacrifice, we have earned our seat at the table.  Outside interests will not be allowed to take away the prosperity the City of Inglewood has earned for its children.  Not even those interests that co-op illusory local "leaders". 
   
     






 
Inglewood Mayor Discusses
Clippers Deal




Mayor Butts Rebuilds Inglewood Through Sports, Entertainment and Development 
Phenomenal things are happening in the City of Inglewood, from the L.A. Rams and the L.A. Chargers, to recent talks about the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, and the building of a new state-of-the-art stadium. Mayor James Butts, the man behind the City of Champions, spoke with the Los Angeles Sentinel on the city's development and Inglewood's positive and constructive movement forward, during his leadership.

"I don't think that people can fully appreciate what's happened in Inglewood and what continues to happen, without taking a little bit of a retrospective look at the city and what it has morphed into," said Butts.

"It was a place that some would have you believe no one would come back and [attend] concerts ever again, because 'it was in Inglewood'," Butts said. "Well, along the way, we have compiled six consecutive lowest years of crime in history, on record in the City of Inglewood. Not only did people come back to the Forum, it is the number one concert venue in the state of California for booked events, 25 percent more than Staple Center.  Its number two in the country, and number four in the world."





Too many CEQA uses unrelated to environment
A bill to cut red tape for Olympics projects in Los Angeles and a new Clippers' arena in Inglewood has been shelved, but political favoritism in development is not going away.

Senate Bill 789 by state Sen. Steven Bradford, who represents Inglewood, would have exempted Los Angeles transit projects that will be built for the 2028 Olympics from the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. It also would have reduced the time period during which opponents of a new Clippers' arena could file lawsuits under CEQA against the project.

For this effort, Bradford was attacked in online ads. "So-called 'Democratic' state senator Steve Bradford is trying to gut CEQA," read an ad paid for by MSG Forum, LLC.

MSG Forum is the owner of The Forum in Inglewood, a venue that would compete with a new Clippers arena. AEG, owner of the Staples Center, where the Clippers have a lease through 2024, also opposed the bill.





Ugly truth behind attacks on Inglewood's hope for Clippers arena: Steven Bradford
Our community is buzzing with excitement.

The entertainment industry has a longstanding tradition in Los Angeles. Now, as the sports world doubles down on the area, it's Inglewood's turn to reap the benefits.

We will be more than just the future home of the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. We will provide a welcoming community for these teams and a stimulating environment for fans of all ages to enjoy the captivating world of sports.
As a city, we bask in the opportunity to enhance our place in the realm of entertainment. Inglewood has long played host to world-renowned sports franchises, concerts, lectures, festivals and conventions. In the past, the City of Champions was the legendary home of not only the Los Angeles Lakers but also the Los Angeles Kings and Hollywood Park racetrack.

But our future is bigger; the vision extends long past the stadiums.




Wilson Meany's Janice Thacher Discusses What Hollywood Park Will Bring To Inglewood
It was at the beginning of last year that NFL owners voted for the  St. Louis Rams to move to LA. At the time, they also voted for the  San Diego Chargers to have a one-year option to relocate and join the Rams at the  Inglewood stadium.

Wilson Meany partner  Janice Thacher said her firm's involvement in Inglewood began long before that. Thacher spoke at Monday's Allen Matkins View from the Top event in LA.

San Francisco's Wilson Meany purchased the  Hollywood Park racetrack in 2005 with JV partner  Stockbridge Capital Group.

The company saw the opportunity for the redevelopment of the 238-acre property and liked that it was near LAX and major freeways, according to Thacher.





Celebration of Life: Raymond Leo Johnson, Retired Chief of Police, 1936-2017
Ray Johnson died August 1, 2017 in Sacramento of complications from Leukemia.  Born Raymond Leo Johnson on April 20, 1936, in Wilton, Arkansas to parents Grady and Lucy Johnson, Ray is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Ava Palmer (Terry), grandson Terrell Palmer, granddaughter Kyana Palmer, stepson Michael Hogan, grandson Christopher Hernandez, siblings Marolyn "Jan" Walker, Donnie Johnson (Penny), Ralph Johnson, Patricia Johnson Harris (Donald), Karen Lampkin (Roger), and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Grady Johnson and sister Gwendolyn Carr.

Ray served as a unit leader in the United States Marine Corps from 1953 to 1957.  He graduated from CSU Sacramento, earning his BA in Vocational Education in 1975.

Ray joined the Bakersfield Police Department in 1959, serving as a police officer before joining the California Highway Patrol in 1965.  During his 21 years of exceptional service with the CHP, he performed a wide range of assignments rising rapidly through the ranks from traffic officer to first ever African American Sergeant to first Deputy Chief (division commander) ending his CHP career as Division Commander of the Southern Division.





Centinela Hospital Medical Center Awarded Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Center
Centinela Hospital Medical Center todayannounced that it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. This certification further emphasizes Centinela Hospital Medical Center's mission of delivering compassionate, quality care to patients and better healthcare to communities.
Centinela Hospital Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review in August 2017. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care, and performance improvement.

"In stroke, every second counts," said Linda Bradley, chief executive officer, Centinela Hospital Medical Center. "Obtaining Primary Stroke Center Certification further demonstrates our commitment to provide the highest level of stroke care. Sending a stroke patient to a Primary Stroke Center can help optimize care and minimize death or disability.  We are proud to share this achievement with our community who rely on us for quality care, close to home."

"Centinela Hospital Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers," said Patrick Phelan, executive director, hospital business development for The Joint Commission. "We commend Centinela Hospital Medical Center for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community."

The Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is based on standards derived from the Brain Attack Coalition's "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers" (JAMA, 2000) and the "Revised and Updated Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers" (Stroke, 2011).
Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
 
About The Joint Commission:
 
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
 
About the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association:
 
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke- America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit www.heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 
The familiar Heart-Check mark now helps consumers evaluate their choices in hospital care. Each mark given to a hospital is earned by meeting specific standards for the care of patients with heart disease and/or stroke. The Heart-Check mark can only be displayed by hospitals that have achieved and defined requirements set by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. For more information on the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Hospital Accreditation Program visit www.heart.org/myhospital.
 
About Centinela Hospital Medical Center
 
Centinela Hospital Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, was founded in 1924 as Milton Hospital and since then has been serving the communities of Inglewood and Los Angeles. An award-winning facility, ranking in the top 5% nationally for quality and patient safety, Centinela Hospital is a 369-bed acute-care hospital offering a Level III emergency department, orthopedic care, advanced cardiac services, peripheral artery disease treatment, and OB/GYN services in a caring environment. Centinela Hospital is actively involved in improving the health of the community with programs designed to meet the needs of those that it serves. For more information visitwww.centinelamed.com.




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