The LAUSD All City Jazz Band was the opening act for the 2011 Central Avenue Jazz Festival.
Controller will launch audit of L.A. Coliseum
July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Allegations of conflict of interest, poor oversight and requests for questionable pay raises, has prompted L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel to call for a comprehensive audit of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The stadium, home to USC football, is jointly operated by the state, Los Angeles County and the city of Los Angeles.
A press release from Greuel’s office says “The audit assesses internal and management controls regarding financial decision making and reviews the Coliseum’s financial operations from 2009 to present.”
Greuel decided to start the audit after getting a request from an “office manager” to increase the salary of 20 of the department’s 32 employees, including a $25,000 pay hike for the Coliseum’s finance director.
“This request raises many red flags,” stated Greuel. “Given the allegations of conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds, I find it hard to believe that officials at the Coliseum think this would be an appropriate request. It begs for us to review the Coliseum’s books with greater scrutiny.”
According to the L.A. Times, Coliseum Commission President David Israel said he rescinded the $25,000 salary boost for finance director Ronald Lederkramer (who made about $195,000 last fiscal year), after Greuel raised questions about it last week.
Grand opening for West Adams community park
July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
More than 500 community residents joined Councilmember Herb Wesson and other city officials for the grand opening of the new Westside Park this past Saturday.
The new park, located on a three acre site on Clyde Avenue between West Adams Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard, was once the location for the annual African Marketplace. In recent years it was a graffiti and crime magnet. Now, with the just finished $9 million revitalization project, Councilmember Wesson hopes to provide “a safe and clean place for residents and their families.”
The project, which took more than a year to complete since its groundbreaking in May of last year, was financed primarily through funds from the voter-approved Proposition O water quality improvement measure. An important feature of the park is its new state of the art water reclamation system.
The park also has new perimeter fencing, jogging paths, and a sensory garden and the installation of a Universally Accessible Playground, fitness equipment, solar lighting and drinking fountains.
Multi-racial coalition relieved by latest redistricting map
July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
There was panic last week when “visualization” maps drafted by the Citizens Redistricting Commission had redrawn the 33rd Congressional District lines in such a way that many activists charged it would reduce the political power and representation of communities of color in Congress and the State Legislature. There were accusations of racial segregation, because the proposed map would have cut out key African-American and Latino neighborhoods creating a white majority district. This prompted members of several community organizations to form a multi-racial coalition to present a united front in the battle to keep the 33rd District in its current form. Their efforts paid off.
 Former Congresswoman Diane Watson speaks during multi-racial coaltion press conference. |
Leaders from several community organizations, including S.C.O.P.E., Community Coalition, the Korean Resource Center and former Congresswoman Diane Watson, gathered in front of the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) High School this morning to celebrate the Redistricting Commission’s vote last night to keep District 33 almost intact.
“Latinos, Whites, Asian Pacific-Americans, and African-Americans have worked together for over a generation to elect progressive leaders who meet our needs,” said Gloria Walton, Executive Director of S.C.O.P.E. “”The Commission talked honestly about race yesterday, and they did the right thing to keep us together.”
“Together” is a key word for the coalition. As S.C.O.P.E. Senior Organizer Manuel Hernandez points out, “all the communities of color working together, staying on top of the issue, making sure our voices are heard and being vigilant until the final vote was cast, made a difference.”
 Current 33rd Congressional District map |
The current make up of California’s 33rd Congressional District is 34.6 percent Hispanic, 29.9 percent African-American, 19.9 percent White and 12.1 percent Asian. Democrat Karen Bass is the area’s Representative. She wasn’t at today’s event, but retired Congresswoman Diane Watson, who represented the District until January of this year was present, emphasizing the importance of unity and of tolerance “in a nation of immigrants.”
According to S.C.O.P.E., the lines will be slightly shifted to the West and the Northeastern area of Los Feliz will no longer be part of District 33.
Santee Education Complex teacher asks for help
July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We noticed this simple request on Donors Choose: “AP Materials Needed for Highly Motivated Inner-City Students.”
DonorsChoose.org Donors Choose is an online site that connects teachers who want to fund a project with donors who want to support education.
Here is what Mr. J says he needs for his students:
My students need this study guide and the flash cards to accompany the collegiate textbook required by my district for this course. One of their biggest challenges is reading and comprehending academic material. Since the textbook is written for college students without the guide they have a severely diminished chance of success on the AP Exam. The guide highlights specific themes and important points in each section, which greatly increases student access to the material. The guide also contains multiple choice questions and primary source questions, which facilitates student understanding and retention of the material. Since the students get to keep the study guide, they can make notes and flag pages for easier review.
Success in the Advanced Placement program for high school students is one of the factors that college admissions counselors consider when they evaluate applicants. The study guides and flash cards I am requesting for my students will allow them access to the material that they will need to know not only for this class, but also for subsequent AP classes. The more AP classes my students take and the more success they achieve the more attractive they will be to college admissions officers.
To read more about Mr. J’s classroom needs and to donate, visit his page on DonorsChoose.org
Multi-racial coalition urges redistricting commission not to segregate community
July 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
MULTI-RACIAL COALITION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS URGES REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO “KEEP US TOGETHER!”
Leaders Call On the Commission to Rise Above Racial Segregation
LOS ANGELES – Much of the discussion following this year’s redistricting process has focused on racial divisions, but at least one multi-racial coalition of leaders – located in the 33rd Congressional District – is demanding that the Redistricting Commission promote diversity, not segregation. “Our community has a 30-year history of coming together across racial lines to find solutions for our common challenges,” exclaimed Gloria Walton, Executive Director of S.C.O.P.E “Latinos, Whites, Asian Pacific Americans, and African-Americans, have worked together for over a generation to elect progressive leaders who meet our needs. Breaking this district up along color-lines would take our country and community in the wrong direction.”
WHAT: Unity Press Conference to Promote Diverse Congressional Districts
WHO: Leaders from Community Organizations – Korean Resource Center, S.C.O.P.E., CHIRLA, The Honorable Diane Watson, and other diverse community organizations & leaders from across the 33rd Congressional District
WHERE: Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) – 5931 West 18th St, Los Angeles, CA 90035 – A high-achieving school that represents the success & diversity of the 33rd Congressional District
WHEN: Monday, July 25, 10:00 A.M.
Indeed, the 33rd Congressional District is one of the most diverse districts in the State – it is one of only four in California that has at least 10% representation from across four racial groups. The District’s boundaries stretch from Culver City in the West, through Mid-Wilshire to parts of Koreatown in the East, and South through Baldwin Hills to capture chunks of South L.A. The current Representative for the district, Karen Bass, is African-American, as have been the previous two congressmembers – the Honorable Diane Watson and Julian Dixon.
“What we have in this district represents California.” said Dae Joong Yoon, Executive Director of the Korean Resource Center “Asian Pacific Americans are a part of the 33rd District and we share common concerns that cross racial lines, issues like public safety, access to quality health care, effective transportation, and the desire for more green space and public parks. We would be sorely disappointed if the Commission decides to separate us from our neighbors.”
The coalition of leaders say they were spurred to speak-up by map “visualizations” released by the Redistricting Commission that propose radically shifting the make-up of their district.
“I don’t know what they’re thinking.” said Daniel Henrickson, a business owner from Culver City “If you look at some of their maps, supposedly I have more in common with white people 20 miles to the North in Topanga Canyon, than my African American neighbors two miles to the East in Baldwin Hills. They must only be looking at skin color. I thought we had moved passed that type of thinking, but some people seem bent on bringing us back to the 1950’s.”
Community Coalition partners with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution to fight childhood obesity
July 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
COMMUNITY COALITION PARTNERS WITH JAMIE OLIVER’S FOOD REVOLUTION TO TEACH SOUTH LA YOUTH HEALTHY LIVING, COOKING
WHAT: Community Coalition is one of several local organizations partnering with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution to teach African American and Latino youth how to cook and eat healthy this summer.
WHEN: The next class is this Friday from 12 to 2 p.m. at Challengers Boys and Girls Club [5029 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90037]. The sessions will last for five weeks.
WHY: The goal of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is to fight childhood obesity and help make communities healthier by teaching people – both kids and adults – how to cook and prepare healthy food. A mobile truck kitchen is stationed at the Challenger Boys and Girls Club where youth from various South LA organizations, including Community Coalition, L.A. Urban League, the Brotherhood Crusade, West Angeles Community Development Corporation and the Challenger Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp, are participating in classes and demonstrations on healthy cooking and living
“I like the classes because it’s really fun eating. We made pancakes – but we learned the good way to make pancakes,” said Joshua Ham, 16, a junior at Manual Arts Senior High School. Joshua is one of 10 members from Community Coalition’s youth program South Central Youth Empowered Through Action, participating in the Food Revolution program. “If you don’t know how to cook it’s good to learn – to know what you’re putting into your body. And it’s good to have homemade food so you know exactly what you’re eating and how much you’re eating.”
“This program shows that South LA parents, youth and residents in general want to be healthier and that in fact that there is great demand for healthier food options in South LA,” says Coalition President and CEO, Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “As an organization that has been working to improve the overall health and safety in South LA for the past 20 years, we want to support every opportunity to make it easier for people to live healthier lives – whether its through individual education such as programs like this or changing public policy and environmental conditions, such as reducing the overconcentration of liquor stores and increasing access to grocery markets in our community.”
So far, they’ve learned how to read nutrition facts found on labels of boxes like cereal to know how many calories and fat they consume and how many servings they should have a day. The cooking classes are led by chef-instructors that focus on hands-on, step-by-step cooking. “They’re really patient with you and teach you steps to make healthy and good food,” said Ham.
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El Camino College Boundary Review Committee Schedules its First Meeting
July 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
N E W S
El Camino College | Public Relations & Marketing Department
16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506
Contact: Ann M. Garten, Director, Community Relations
Telephone: (310) 660-3406 | E-Mail: agarten[at]elcamino.edu
For Immediate Release July 19, 2011
El Camino College Boundary Review Committee Schedules its First Meeting
The recently appointed El Camino Community College District Boundary Review Committee (BRC) will hold its inaugural meeting on July 21, 2011, at 3:30 p.m. in the El Camino College Board Room, 16007 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance.
The committee comprises at least one member from each of the El Camino Community College District’s (ECCCD) five trustee areas. Members include: John Edward Alter, a Torrance attorney; Heidi Ann Koch Ashcraft, CFO of Ashcraft Design, Torrance and former member of the Torrance Unified School District; Marché L. Boose, a business development and client relations manager from Inglewood; Nilo Michelin, history teacher and member of the Hawthorne School District Board of Trustees; Nathan M. Mintz, an engineer from Redondo Beach; Steve Napolitano, a former mayor of Manhattan Beach and representative for Supervisor Knabe in the South Bay; and El Segundo publicist Susan W. Truax, a board member of the El Segundo Education Foundation and former El Camino College Bond Oversight Committee member for Measure E.
The El Camino Community College District, along with many other public agencies and school districts in California, has begun a public process to review and modify its elected trustee area boundaries. This process includes utilizing 2010 census data to review current trustee areas to ensure they are representative of the District’s constituents.
In fall 2010, the ECCCD Board of Trustees initiated discussions on the process required to modify trustee area boundaries and change from “at large” to “trustee area” elections.
Currently, trustees in the El Camino Community College District must live in the trustee area they represent, however residents of the ECCCD vote for trustee candidates “at large;” that is, voters cast their vote for all candidates on the ballot. When voting by “trustee area,” residents would only vote for candidates who reside in their trustee area.
The BRC will schedule public hearings in the fall, with plans to present a recommendation to the ECCCD Board of Trustees in 2012.
City Council approves $50,000 reward for info on murder
July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to renew a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the murder of 20-year-old Cesar Garcia two years ago. Garcia was riding his bike in the 600 block of West 81st Street on Aug. 10, 2009, when a young Latino male approached him and shot him several times. Garcia died at the scene of the shooting.
According to City News Service, LAPD Detective Bertha Durazo said past reward offers have brought few leads. Durazo says the victim was not a gang member. It’s not clear if the shooter was affiliated with a gang.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Criminal Gang Homicide detectives Durazo or David Ross at (213) 485-1383.
