The city of Inglewood fired off a late-night missive directed at Univision Los Angeles for their reporting on the city acquiring residential properties to make way for the Inglewood Transit Connector.
“Shame on Univision 34 Los Angeles for airing a report full of misinformation and outright fabrications. Not one residential property is being acquired by the city to make way for the Inglewood Transit Connector. Nor has the City begun employing eminent domain, a court proceeding, to take any property. We’re working with property owners not against them. The station’s report, calculated to needlessly raise residents’ fears, is irresponsible, unethical, and cruel. We demand Univision 34 Los Angeles correct this report immediately, and in the future, contact the City for the facts before airing rumors and fabrications.”
The city doesn’t employ a media consultant and when asked by a Spectrum 1 News reporter about the city’s public information officer Inglewood Mayor James Butts Jr. told her “he was”.
Residents were outraged by the poorly written post that was shared on the city’s social media accounts.
“This post was poorly-worded at best and a complete misrepresentation at worst. Working “with” property owners is leaving them alone. To claim that the city is doing them a favor by causing them to engage in a compulsory sale is such a tone deaf statement. Clearly Univision was correct on every point they made. The City of Inglewood should be embarrassed to have made this post. Hiring a new PR team is hugely advised,” wrote Fabio Silva. “Are property owners in any way made to feel that if they don’t cooperate with the city, the city will use eminent domain? Be honest.”
Mayor Butts regularly threatens to sue journalists who report on issues in the City that are contrary to carefully placed reports in media outlets that are friendly with Inglewood City Hall.
“Is Univision 34 Los Angeles getting sued by the city of Inglewood if it doesn’t retract the report?” asked Rosa Bordenave.
Multiple residential properties lie along the path of the 1.6 mile route of the Inglewood Transit Connector on Prairie Ave. between Kelso and Hardy.
The residential property located near the intersection of Prairie and Kelso is owned by relatives of Inglewood Councilman Alex Padilla.
These properties were not on the list of acquisitions that was presented on the draft Business Relocation Plan that was approved by the council on April 11, however, that doesn’t stop the owners from potentially (being pressured into) selling their properties which would uproot residents.
The tenants in these buildings would face environmental hazards from the dust and noise pollution once the project starts construction should the City receive the remaining funds to build it.
Plans have not been finalized as to the design of the transit connector nor has a firm been selected to build the rail line that is expected to be nearly 50 feet above the ground.
The plans call for the project to be built on the public right of way on the west side of Prairie where business and residential units are located.
Residents could also fear losing their homes if they are currently employed at any of the 41 businesses that will be displaced.
2UrbanGirls has been unable to find the Univision article/video the City is in an uproar over nor have they made any comments on either their social media accounts or website.
1 Comment
With potentially millions of viewers being made aware that dozens of businesses are in the path of the project kept under wraps using multiple names specifically for the benefit of billionaires at the expense of small business owners and possibly cause their employees to be unable to find new jobs quickly, who expected anything different from.Butts?
Since taking office any reporter whose article brought light into the behind closed door happenings or dared question the financial irregularities has been called names, threatened with lawsuits and yes accused with crocodile tears of picking on James Butts for no other possibility than the reporter was racist.! Yes even when the reporter themself was African American..
Reality is ANY time a city or government agency insist a property owner sell that is the set up of eminent domain. Each and every property owner has the right and would be wise to hire an attorney to represent them in an effort to get a fair price. As for businesses they also should receive fair compensation for needing to relocate .And yes loosing a job because your employer must close and may relocate to a distant location does as the Univision report suggest does cause concern for many.
Spanish language reporters should be covering the viewpoint of ALl parties involved not just the Mayor’s view, after all it is not his business being closed or relocated and until next election or indictment his Inglewood income ( a fine addition to his Santa Monica pension) is secure.
Spanish speaking residents, fans, business owners and employees have a right to know what Inglewood elected are planning to do to our downtown Manchester and Prairie bussinessowners