Is Madison Square Garden (MSG) trying to buy the city of Inglewood? MSG has enjoyed significant perks from Inglewood taxpayers. Most significantly their reduced Admissions Tax and reimbursements for Inglewood Police Officers staffing events at the Forum. Their preferred candidate, Marc T. Little, who they purchased the Forum from, is benefiting from MSG’s current litigation against the city via their campaign contributions to his candidacy.
MSG has benefitted, at the expense of taxpayers, since reopening the Forum in 2014. The initial agreement between the city of Inglewood and MSG allowed for admissions tax remittance made by MSG to be frozen despite the annual increase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). As the Master Fee Schedule increased fees for city residents, MSG didn’t have to pay increased taxes on ticket sales at their events.
Their contract also calls for MSG to not pay for full costs of providing IPD officers at their event.
In essence, Inglewood taxpayers subsidize EVERY event the Forum hosts.
Since their initial $50,000 contribution, they have dropped an additional $100,000 into his campaign and a partner with the law firm of Latham Watkins, who is suing the city on behalf of MSG, contributed $10,900.
Mayor Butts has received $10,000 from WOW Media, who has erected electronic billboards in the middle of Century, La Cienega and Manchester Blvds. Butts has also received a hefty sum from HCL Inglewood Village LLC who owns the property where Red Lobster, Gap and Old Navy resides. The parcels were formerly owned by the Inglewood Redevelopment Agency.
Brandon Meyers has managed to raise nearly $300.
MSG has received a huge financial break from the current administration and are now entangled in a lawsuit over land that they agreed to purchase to build overflow parking, in an effort to capitalize on the NFL stadium traffic. Stadium operators at the Coliseum and Stub Hub Center are currently charging $100 per car to park for games. That trial is scheduled to begin after the election where Mayor Butts could be held personally liable for damages.
Related: Inglewood mayor could be held personally liable in Clippers arena lawsuit, judge rules
Although Marc Little has $160,000 in his campaign coffers, he has failed to submit itemized statements on how that money is being spent short of the campaign signage that appears strategically North of Century Blvd only.
Little’s campaign headquarters is located at Faithful Central Bible Church and members state he is campaigning during Sunday services. 2UrbanGirls has confirmed he has hired former campaign manager to George Dotson, Oliver Unaka, as his campaign manager, who was successful in getting George Dotson elected to Council District 1 in 2013.
Mayor Butts has also made thinly veiled threats to a resident during a city council meeting.
Related: Inglewood mayor accused of telling activist ‘go choke yourself,’ but video evidence disappears
To outsiders, it appears as though Little isn’t running a campaign at all. All candidates appear to only be only concentrating on voters in District 1 and 2 exclusively, while Districts 3 and 4 are the most aesthetically neglected.
Inglewood needs a Mayor that will address the needs of ALL residents, not just select districts and favored businesses and who will also respect women.
