Being Mary Jane is a highly watched series on Black Entertainment Television (BET). The show is written by Mara Brock Akil who is also behind Girlfriends. The show follows Mary Jane, a journalist, on a national cable news network.
Why am I bringing this up?
In the last episode, “Primetime“, the Inglewood (NFL) stadium project was discussed. Plus Ms. Akil let a secret out of the bag that developers use to gain favor in exchange for contracts, which eerily helped lead to the demise of former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Mary Jane’s brother, PJ, is trying to secure funding for a development he wishes to build. His would be investor instead brings up another project she is working on and wants his help with. The project happens to be the Inglewood stadium project. She offers to put him up in a nearby home, for free, along with a multi-million dollar salary, to be her eyes and ears.
As you may recall, Ray Nagin was convicted for living for free in a Houston townhouse, courtesy of the developer, who was awarded a contract to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Related article: Ray Nagin trial: Live coverage, day 5
Coincidentally, a lawyer wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times discussing how Inglewood residents lost their right to vote on the project and how Carson residents will suffer the same fate.
Related article: Op-Ed Lack of transparency on NFL stadium proposals
BET discussed Being Mary Jane’s 2nd Season back in November 2014.
How did Mara Brock Akil know about the Inglewood stadium before Inglewood residents and the public found out January 5, 2015?
7 Comments
“BET discussed Being Mary Jane’s 2nd Season back in November 2014. How did Mara Brock Akil know about the Inglewood stadium before Inglewood residents and the public found out January 5, 2015?”
ESPN was writing about Kroenke owning the 60 acre parcel in January of 2014. Given that there was rampant speculation at that time that he would build a stadium, it’s reasonable to assume that Akil used that info when writing the lines for her fictional characters to say. It’s timely, it’s interesting – and that’s what makes for compelling TV. That doesn’t make it true however.
Next you’ll be saying that Shonda Rhimes based Grey’s Anatomy on the goings-on at a real hospital.
I inquired of Ms. Akil and didn’t get an answer, although she responded to the question prior. Either way there are many details that have been overlooked on the Inglewood project and its also amazing to know how many people haven’t read the initiative in the first place.
This is a great connection. I noticed that it seemed familiar but couldn’t get my barrings on why?
We have worked hard at maintaining urban middle class neighborhoods and soon as the city does well……gentrification.
Same is occurring in Highland Park too.
So….are you suggesting that what is being built at Hollywood Park is bad? Would you have preferred to see a cluster of 99 Cent and other down-and-dirty type discount stores, fast food outlets, perhaps an EDD office, a Salvation Army Thrift Store, a 7-11, a laundromat, a Subway and an auto parts store with a grease stained parking lot – with the other half of the storefronts being vacant? Because I see a LOT of that type of stuff when I drive around what you longingly refer to as our “urban middle class neighborhood”.
Inglewood needs structures and businesses that will generate tax revenues. Housing won’t provide enough revenue so the city needs to pursue car dealerships, large retailers, hotels, performance venues, fine dining restaurants, etc. THESE are the things that I expect in a middle class existence. As it stands now, I have to leave town to find it. A nice middle class existence also includes having your streets paved, your trees trimmed, your sidewalks fixed, your water and sewer infrastructure maintained and upgraded. To do that the city needs tax revenue.
I mean we do have to look at a 99cent store across from Big Lots on Manchester. How many do we have in Inglewood now?
Hate to disappoint you but according to the U.S. Census Bureau the average woman in Inglewood makes $26k per year which is 120% of what men make. How is that “middle class”? Sounds like that’s why we have all of what you described.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/04/08/u-s-cenus-women-make-more-than-men-in-inglewood/#.VSXkwpvH6EM.twitter