L.A. Clippers Refuse to Confirm Inglewood “Investment”
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The entire sports world is raving about a proposed $100 million dollar Community Benefits Agreement the Inglewood City Council unveiled during yesterday’s city council meeting. Unfortunately, audio of the meeting has been scrubbed from the video published on the city’s YouTube page.
Related: Ballmer, Clippers announcing $100 million investment in Inglewood amid plans for new arena
The mainstream media is promoting the city’s proposal as a done deal, however, the Clippers haven’t released any statements yesterday saying it was approved. They are using quotes Ballmer made in July to pass off the investment as finalized.
During yesterday’s regular city council meeting, City Manager Artie Fields gave a glowing presentation that identified $12.75 million for Inglewood students which includes funding after school programs, scholarships to eligible low-income students accepted into college, dropout prevention services and college advising services.
Mysteriously, the entire audio from yesterday’s council meeting, is missing. You can see the meeting Mayor Butts abruptly halted when community members said things he didn’t want to hear. Those of us who watched the live Facebook feed recall Mayor Butts explicitly stating the benefits agreement was a REQUEST being made to the Clippers that wasn’t yet approved.
The proposed project area shows the city will cut off through access for a city street that will be covered by the proposed Clippers arena.
The Robert Group, owned by Christine Robert, was tasked with ensuring select Inglewood residents spoke on behalf of Steve Ballmer and his project at yesterday’s council meeting.
Mayor Butts hand picked city housing advisor, his business partner, a man name “Curtis”, who was fired from the city funded Inglewood Today newspaper and had to appear before Mayor Butts to beg for his job back, all came to the speakers podium to hail Ballmer as the city’s “great white hope”. Robert was also tasked with working on the community benefits agreement with the Forum that they don’t completely honor.
This blog first reported on how Robert, who receives millions in city and Metro contracts, where Butts has now been elected chair, sold her childhood home, at below market rate, to Mayor Butts last year.
Related: Inglewood mayor’s home purchase from city consultant raises questions
2UrbanGirls contacted both Amy Millstone and Colette Garcia, from the LA Clippers communications department, to confirm that Ballmer did in fact approve the community benefit agreement presented at yesterday’s city council meeting and got no response.
Why is the “investment” being promoted as a “slam dunk”? Perhaps that is why the crucial audio is missing from yesterday’s meeting where Mayor Butts proclaimed it to be a wish list that was yet to be approved.
