Multiple protests were held in the city of Inglewood on Saturday, June 6, 2020, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Inglewood Mayor James Butts spoke at two scheduled events: one at City Hall in the memory of Kevin Wicks who was killed by Inglewood Police Department officers in 2008 and another at the Forum by the #Divine9 and organized by a former Board of Supervisors candidate to give Black greek members a platform to “speak”.
The city of Inglewood spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on law enforcement services that included Inglewood PD, Hawthorne PD, L.A. County Sheriff and California Highway Patrol to control and monitor the events. Unbeknownst to residents, taxpayers paid for more than law enforcement services.
The city’s Earth Day Festival was originally scheduled for April of this year and due to the COVID-19 pandemic it never took place. The city council neither publicly cancelled the event nor rescheduled it, however, a March 2020 warrant register showed radio jock Guy Black, from KJLH, was paid $6,000 to emcee the event despite it not taking place. It is unknown if that money was returned to taxpayers or why he was paid before services were officially rendered.
Related: Letter to the Editor: Inglewood Jazz Festival
On this week’s warrant register, set to be approved on July 7, 2020, regular city council meeting, Guy Black will receive $4,900 from taxpayers, for emceeing the protest held at the Forum, despite the event not being put on the agenda for council approval or more importantly, disclosed to residents.
2UrbanGirls spoke with the #Divine9 protest organizer Sharis Rhodes, who ran a campaign for Board of Supervisors on “transparency” who suggested that “common sense” should tell Inglewood residents that since the Earth Day festival didn’t take place, funds were shifted so that members of fraternities and sororities would have a place to congregate.
Mayor Butts could not be reached for comment on whether the event had the proper city permits and when the event were agendized for “shifting” funds from the Earth Day event to protests. He also had no comment on why Guy Black received nearly $11,000 to emcee an official and unofficial city event.
It is also unclear why the event and the emcee weren’t paid for by the event organizers and/or its participants.
Many residents took to social media to voice their displeasure that protests were taking place in the city concerned with the havoc caused in other cities, however, both events were peaceful.
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Instead of concerts every month, as a resident I would perfer the funds spent on improving library and schools. I’m really disappointed in Mayor Butts and the Inglewood city council. He’s a horrible leader and his strategy is to keep the residents and other folks in the imaginary of slavery. I hope this is his last term. Let him take all the money he’s made and ride off in the sunset. He’s Trump in color, not really caring about this city and all the decay and old buildings falling apart. Stop lights not working properly and there are many citizens who are handicapped. The streets are a mess and dirty! I pray for new leadership, Another party and our kids are lacking so much! This brother should never have had another turn. The whole council should be recalled. Too long in office with no accountability.
How redundant this is! Tax payers paid for an event that the police needed to be there to monitor, an event that’s against police brutality. Let that sink in!
Mayor butts is a sell out .period .he busy lining his pockets .
We Take pride in our city, please dont mess up Inglewoods name because money is your driving force. For the Love of money is the root of all evil.
Worth repeating:
so very much wrong ….1) If the earth day event did not take place the dj should not have been paid since service was it rendered
2) tax dollars should not be used without prior approval !
3)each tax dollar spent must only be spent if the correct procedures are followed
4) an event organized by others should be paid from their that groups funds rather than public funds especially since the Greek alumni should have significant greater income than our low-mod income community
5) if the message resonates with the dj perhaps he should have donated his time
6) tax dollars are to provide service to the general public not for promoting any ideology
7) Anyone wishing to donate their own dollars, time, and talent to any cause should feel free to do so but keep in mind tax dollars are not for personal agendas
If one is concerned about police brutality, excess use of force, and a para military police force— you gotta wonder why the once top cop who does not believe in Miranda warnings, and voted to shred police records of officer involved shooting is asked to be a speaker!
Just give the$ back!
Reply
Mayor Butt needs to take care of the people who live in inglewood
I don’t mind paying one bit. Shit needs to be said. I’ll pay with taxes if it will
Save my black kids and my black ass ?
so very much wrong ….1) If the earth day event did not take place the dj should not have been paid since service was it rendered
2) tax dollars should not be used without prior approval !
3)each tax dollar spent must only be spent if the correct procedures are followed
4) an event organized by others should be paid from their that groups funds rather than public funds especially since the Greek alumni should have significant greater income than our low-mod income community
5) if the message resonates with the dj perhaps he should have donated his time
6) tax dollars are to provide service to the general public not for promoting any ideology
7) Anyone wishing to donate their own dollars, time, and talent to any cause should feel free to do so but keep in mind tax dollars are not for personal agendas
If one is concerned about police brutality, excess use of force, and a para military police force— you gotta wonder why the once top cop who does not believe in Miranda warnings, and voted to shred police records of officer involved shooting is asked to be a speaker
Indeed Shit needs to be said there is so very much wrong ….
1) If the earth day event did not take place the dj should not have been paid since service was it rendered
2) tax dollars should not be used without prior approval !
3)each tax dollar spent must only be spent IF the correct procedures are followed
4) an event organized by others should be paid from their- that groups – funds rather than public funds especially since the Greek alumni should have significant greater income than our low-mod income community
5) if the message resonates with the dj perhaps he should have donated his time
6) tax dollars are to provide service to the general public not for promoting any ideology
7) Anyone wishing to donate their own dollars, time, and talent to any cause should feel free to do so but keep in mind tax dollars are not for any personal agendas ( no not even to keep girlfriends indebted.)
EVERYONE concerned about police brutality, excess use of force, and a para military police force— May want to ask why the once top cop who does not believe in Miranda warnings, and who voted to shred police records of officer-involved shootings is asked to be a speaker at a rally about excessive use of force