The city of Inglewood resumed regular city council meetings this week and it was standing room only. The council chambers haven’t held this many people since February 2015 when the NFL stadium was approved.
Most, if not all attendees, were there to plead with Mayor Butts to follow through on introducing a rent stabilization ordinance to stop the raising of rents.
Mayor Butts sprang into action when Kerry Grant posted about the 150% rent increase levied to residents at 621 E. 99th St. by Malin Asset Management (MAM). Mayor Butts was able to issue the threat of a rent stabilization ordinance to get the management company to comply with his negotiations. MAM complied and the threat disappeared. He now wants the city to “study” rent increases in Inglewood. Sigh.
During the meeting, which was also attended by local news media, the mayor questioned speakers about their residence, as if those living outside the city limits had no business speaking out about the rising cost of rent. One by one, speakers, including clergy, stated their case which has fell on deaf ears.
Residents were also treated to beefed up security. Public Safety Supervisor Emery Ward finally has contract staff to supervise. Cypress Security LLC received a $500k no bid security contract to provide “security” at our libraries, Senior Center and City Hall.
In April 2015 the city approved Agreement Numbers 15-149 and 15-150 with Alltech Industries. 15-149 was for $139k and for three years of security guard services at the city’s two libraries and 15-150 was approved by the Successor Agency for $80k for a three year contract to guard Parking Structure 2. It is unclear why the contract price has doubled.
Manager Artie Fields didn’t sign the agreement with Cypress Security. It was signed by his deputy Yakema Decatur. Fields was present at the November 27th meeting when the contract was approved, so it is unclear why he is being selective signing staff reports requiring his signature.
With the revelation spreading throughout the city, that Mayor Butts was backpedaling on introducing a rent stabilization ordinance, he came up with another band-aid to appease residents. A survey. Instead of working with Uplift Inglewood on an ordinance they have already drafted, and issued to the city at the council meeting, the city will now “study” the increases if you agree to upload your rental agreement and notice of increase to the city website.
The city website is ran by Josh Howe, a paid consultant on ALL of Mayor Butts’ campaign forms. 2UrbanGirls has regularly contacted Howe and his boss IT Director Matthew Chambers, regarding missing documents and broken links on the city’s website that are never addressed. Documents and links that are attached to City Council agendas. Hopefully with Howe’s side gig with the Mayor and Chambers recent “one-time merit bonus” they don’t feel compelled to lose residents data that they take the time to upload into their control.
1 Comment
You people ought to be ashamed of yourself chasing people out of the community that’s been there for many many years