INGLEWOOD, Calif. (2UrbanGirls) – Inglewood continues to move full steam ahead to build the 1.6 mile Inglewood Transit Connector in preparation for the 2028 Olympics.
The city has yet to have the project fully financed, however, that isn’t preventing the Joint Powers Authority (Inglewood and Metro) from expending millions of taxpayer’s funds, via transportation sales tax measures, towards the uprooting of dozens of small businesses that lie along the proposed route.
According to the staff report, “…these policies must be adopted prior to any property acquisition, otherwise, construction activities could be delayed which could jeopardize the completion of the ITC project.”
Many of the businesses along the route are anxious to know what will happen to their business as calls to the members of the city council don’t yield any answers. Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) has also ramped up meetings centered around school closures with attendees sharing that Kelso Elementary could be on the chopping block.
“We have called about the Business Interruption Fund and no one knows what we’re talking about,” said one business owner who refused to be identified.
Others take to social media to complain about the lack of attention being paid to residents in District 3 by their Councilman Eloy Morales. Residents in District 4 also complain about the lack of phone calls being answered and emails being responded to by Councilwoman Dionne Faulk who has lost multiple staffers since joining the council.
“She is very difficult to work with and is at times disrespectful to city staff, especially during events,” said one employee.
The Nov. 8 election was crucial as the council continues to approve these actions while District 1 Councilman George Dotson faces a March 7, 2023 runoff with Gloria Gray. Residents aren’t hopeful that much will change if Gray wins as its well-known she has a very close relationship with Inglewood Mayor James Butts which assures he will continue to have agenda items approved unanimously.
Business owners saw how fast the City confiscated land for the new Clippers Arena and will most likely move at the same pace to acquire land along Market Street, Manchester Blvd., and Prairie Ave although many of the buildings are currently vacant despite the perception they would be open and thriving due to their proximity to SoFi Stadium.
The City anticipates construction beginning in 2024.
1 Comment
So here we have it in black and white, and yet many of our community will still be lulled into believing that the current councilmembers care about small local businesses. Some of those on the chopping block were among those who fool heartedly believed they would be the exception to the bull dozing. Does the frog in the boiling beaker story seem to fit as the story of Buttville?
As these disillusioned business owners begin to receive their eminent domain and notice of lease termination notices don’t be surprised we hear how unfairly they have been treated. One thing we know for certain the councilmembers vote in unison for whoever paid for their campaign signs and glossy campaign mailers.
For those who think this will be financed by the billionaires who will add millions to their bank accounts or the transit riders think again… we will be paying for this ..even though the attempted ballot measure to increase our local property transfer tax failed ….the Federal, State and County taxes projected to be used will come from the piggy banks we contribute to…using those funding sources means we will do without the services that we would benefit from if the Kroenke had put his stadium elsewhere or if he actually did privately finance the entire project as we were told.
Oh and if we were getting all the big bucks we were promised why are we on a payment plan for election services?
A Budget that still comes up short after all the extra Covid $$ is a Budget that was definitely not carefully managed.
It should be clear to all, that this administration does not have serving residents in mind unless they believe serving us up (along with our properties, and quality of life) on a platter is the appropriate Christmas gift that they owe to Billionaires that put them in office.
The property owners and small businesses who are wise will find their own eminent domain attorneys if they have any hope of receiving a fair price.