Thursday, March 21, 2013www.lawattstimes.comVol. XXX, No. 1328

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2 Thursday, March 21, 2013

L.A. Watts TimesWEEKENDER

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CIRCULATION AUDITED BYCIRCULATION

VERIFICATION COUNCIL

HOROSCOPES Mar. 21 - 27

March 20, 1970Students strike at the University of

Michigan and demand increased Blackenrollment. The strike ended April 2, afterthe administration agreed to meet their

demands.

March 24, 1912Dorothy Irene Height is born in

Richmond, Virginia. Height, president ofthe National Council of Negro Women formore than three decades, organized asuccessful drive to place a statue ofMary McLeod Bethune in a District ofColumbia park. Once erected, the statuebecame the first of an African American in

a public park in Washington, D.C.

BlackFacts.com

ARIES ~ You’ll want to spend sometime with a special friend this week

just being together. If you’ve been neglect-ing a relationship because of workdemands, this week is a wonderful week toset things to rights. Soul Affirmation: Iopen myself up to the vibrations of love.

TAURUS ~ Lots of spirituality discus-sions are going on around you this

week. This energy will probably lastthroughout the week, so expect to enjoyyourself, or pass on all social company andspend the week enjoying yourself. SoulAffirmation: I slow down so love can catchup with me.

GEMINI ~ You will get so much donethis week that your friends and co-

workers will be amazed! Accomplish thissmall happy miracle by focusing on seren-ity instead of perfection. You’ll be verysurprised at the results! Soul Affirmation: Ilisten to the sweet music of the life allaround me.

CANCER ~ It’s best to keep your opin-ions to yourself this week, as many

will be experiencing minor irritations andgeneral grumpiness. Let others be whothey are. You are a beacon of serenity.Others will notice. Soul Affirmation: Ienjoy working with others this week.

LEO ~ It’s a great week to tell some-body you are close to that you love

them. Saying it aloud gives you energy,and of course your designated adoree willbe delighted! Keep the big picture in mindthis week and you’ll feel completely buoy-ant! Soul Affirmation: When I reach out inlove someone is always there.

VIRGO ~ Hello, home life. After a busyweek, all you want to do is savor the

feelings of domesticity at home. Or perhapsgo shopping to spruce up your living space.Whatever you decide, do it with a closefriend. You’ll both enjoy the week more ifyou are together. Soul Affirmation: Trustgives me a deep sense of peace and joy.

6

Inside This Edition

5

8

9

BY KENNETH MILLER

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR

Since 1888 African Americanshave been an integral part of theLos Angeles Fire Department(LAFD).

From Sam Haskins the firstpaid call fireman who started hiscareer in 1888 to the current FireChief Brian L. Cummings, Blackfirefighters have a storied historywithin the LAFD.

The LAFD has a proud traditionof service and innovation, but alltheir employees did not alwaysembrace fundamental human rightssuch as fairness and equality.

Throughout its history, Blackfirefighters were subjected to treat-ment that was horrible and borderedon the intolerable. These courageousmen and women who wore the uni-forms of firefighters were the onlyrace of people who were subjected tosegregation.

The Jim Crow practices that weredesigned for division, instead broughtabout unity for Black firefighterswho banded together to providemuch needed comfort and support toaddress these unfavorable conditions,while at the same time carrying outtheir responsibility to the public.

From this time of despair andneglect the Stentorians (Associationof African Americans in the FireService) were organized to address

social injustice within the fire serviceto better conditions for all employees.

The organization forced changewithin the LAFD, transforming seg-regation to integration, thus remind-ing all of us just how far theDepartment has come in its 125 yearsof existence.

Chief Cummings is the leaderthat the department needs because heunderstands the pressures andresponsibilities that come with hisposition. He is committed to movinghis organization forward by introduc-ing cutting edge technology that willassist in the following areas: response

LAFD Chief Brian Cummings

See LAFD, page 11

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles PoliceDepartment detective credited withthe dogged pursuit of a suspect in theGrim Sleeper serial killings receiveda retirement sendoff Wednesday atthe Los Angeles City Council meet-ing. Detective Dennis Kilcoyne willend his 36-year career with the LAPDApril 1. In 2010, Kilcoyne was cred-ited with tracking down LonnieFranklin, who has been charged with10 murders and one attempted mur-der attributed to the so- alled GrimSleeper.

Kilcoyne lobbied for the first-ever use in the United States of famil-ial DNA, the genetic material of apotential suspect's family members.The technique led to the identifica-tion of Franklin as a suspect in thekillings that began in 1985. He is stillawaiting trial.

Council members Jan Perry andBernard Parks were joined by PoliceChief Charlie Beck to honorKilcoyne at today’s council meeting.

“There was one man whose forceof will, whose refusal to accept thestatus quo, whose refusal to acceptdefeat found the suspect in that case,and that’s Dennis,” Beck said.

Kilcoyne was also involved in themurder investigation of O.J.Simpson, the killing of Bill Cosby’sson Ennis and the North HollywoodBank of America shootout.

Lonnie Franklin

Blacks continue aprogressive trend at LAFDSecond of a four partseries examining theLos Angeles FireDepartment

City Councilmembers,Chief honor officer inGrim Sleeper case

LIBRA~ Hardly anyone alive learns newskills in an instant, so cut yourself some

slack if you feel you’ve made a beginner’smistake somewhere. Mistakes are part of thelearning process that is called Life, so self-correct and proceed with happiness. SoulAffirmation:My emotions provideme a path-way into the sunshine of my being.

SCORPIO ~ A happy week is in store forsociable you. Lots of friends and a party ortwo or three will keep your energy bright.Use caution while driving and watch for apleasant surprise or two this week. SoulAffirmation: I enjoy the spirits of peoplewhose spirits are akin to mine this week.

SAGITTARIUS~You’ll have a busy week,as the energy around you seems super-charged. With everyone rushing about, you’llwonder how you’ll get anything done, muchless the things you feel youmust get done. Notto worry. Stay calm and flexible and a waywill be found. Soul Affirmation: Anticipationof a beautiful night will light up my week.

CAPRICORN~You may feel a bit crabbyabout your health this early this week. If

you feel you need a physical checkup, makethe appointment this week. If you want to feeland look better this week, skip lunch and takea walk instead. Soul Affirmation: I enjoylearning new things about myself this week.

AQUARIUS ~ All vibes are positive thisweek, and your vibration may be the

most positive of all. Many friends and familymembers may call, and all will want to seeyou. You’ve got a way with words this week,so use them to spread the sunshine around.Soul Affirmation: I master fear by knowingthat all is well.

PISCES ~ Get out and enjoy the sunshinethis week. Remember that the sun is

always shining somewhere in our big islandhome, so use your imagination if the weatherisn’t perfect where you are.You can still enjoyyour week and the sun that is shining whetheryou see it or not! Soul Affirmation: What Ineed to be is fully present inside of me.

Thursday, March 21, 2013 3

BY THANDISIZWE CHIMURENGALAWT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Close to 150 people from differ-ent areas of Los Angeles came to the28th Street YMCA on Mar. 14 tostrategize on ways to end the epidem-ic of violence occurring in the LosAngeles County Jail System. TheCoalition to End Sheriff Violence inthe L.A. County Jails (C2ESV),which organized the townhall meet-ing, says that only an independentand elected civilian review board thatwould oversee the jail and have thepower to investigate complaints anddiscipline sheriff’s deputies willbring transparency and accountabili-ty to management of the L.A CountyJails.

The group was supported in theirefforts by Los Angeles CountySupervisor Mark Ridley-Thomaswho told them that the jail adminis-tration can not police itself and thatthe Board of Supervisors is unable todo it either.

“Its just not practical,” said the2nd District Supervisor.

Current Sheriff Lee Baca and for-mer undersheriff Paul Tanaka havebeen in the line of fire over the lastseveral months for findings from theCitizen’s Commission on JailViolence which was created inOctober of 2011 to “conduct a reviewof the nature, depth and cause of theproblem of inappropriate deputy useof force in the jails, and to recom-mend corrective action as necessary,”according to the Los Angeles Countygovernment website. In issuing theirfindings in September of 2012, theCommission made 64 recommenda-tions, 60 of which dealt specificallywith the management of the jails.

The report’s executive summarynotes that, “ … multiple witnesses,both inmates and non-inmates,described numerous instances inwhich LASD personnel used forcewhen no threat was present, usedforce disproportionate to the threatposed, used force after the threat had

ended, or enabled inmates to assaultother inmates.”

“Black and Brown people are theones who are bearing the brunt of theviolence and racism inside the L.A.County Jails,” said Patrisse Cullors,founder of the Coalition. “We organ-ized this townhall meeting becausewe want South L.A. residents to notonly be heard, but to be armed withaction that has a longstanding posi-tive impact in this city.”

Cullors-Brignac’s brother wasincarcerated in the L.A. County Jailapproximately 13 years ago, she said.Cullors-Brignac alleges that hisassault by sheriff’s deputies left himwith a form of Post Traumatic StressDisorder that continues to this day.

“He hasn’t been the same since,she said.

26-year old Jermond Davis “tes-tified” at the townhall that he was avictim of jail violence during a six-month stay in 2006. Davis says hewas in the jail as a result of doing“something stupid when he was akid,” two years prior.

“I was talking to an officer, ask-ing why they were using such forceon another inmate; why does it takethat many officers? An officer over-heard me, started cursing at me, andthen another officer came andpunched me in the face while I washandcuffed to the table,” said Davis.“They took me out of there and tookme to C-Pod, a place that’s a blindspot in the jail, and they just startedbeating and kicking me. One officersaid that he should he take his shoeoff and stick it [up in me.]”

“I still have handcuff marks tothis day from where the cuffs were onme too tight while they were beat-ing,” Davis added.

Although he didn’t testify at thetownhall, Fanya Baruti attendedbecause he believes the issues ofaccountability and oversight for thesheriff’s department are important.“It has been proven that [a civilianreview] is the only board that is going

Group Seeks Oversightof County JailDemand is supported by County SupervisorMark Ridley-Thomas

LAWT NEWS SERVICE

After hundreds of hours of study-ing, countless practice matches, andalmost a year of preparation, one ques-tion stood between Morgan StateUniversity’s academic team and the titleof 2012 National Champion: “Who wasAmerica’s only chief executive neverelected as president or vice president?”Now, one year later, Morgan Statereturns to defend its title at the HondaCampus All Star Challenge (HCASC),an intense academic competitionamong the best and brightest studentsfrom Historically Black College andUniversities (HBCUs). The action-packed, suspense-filled NationalChampionship Tournament (NCT)takes placeApril 7 - 8 on the campus ofAmerican Honda Motor Co, Inc., a cul-mination of the year-long program.

More than 250 students from 18states representing 48 HBCUs havespent many months training for theirchance at the National Championshipby participating in pre-NCTmatches. Awin will not only give them braggingrights as the nation’s top academic

HBCU, but will also give them theopportunity to win a share of the morethan $300,000 in institutional grantsawarded annually by Honda. The two-

day competition will test students’knowledge of history, science, litera-ture, religion, the arts, social science,

2013 Honda Campus All Star ChallengeNation’s only HBCU academiccompetition brings best andbrightest to Los Angeles area

LAWT File Photo

Defending champion Morgan State University is prepared to compete withstudent teams representing the “Great 48” HBCU schools across the country.

See OVERSIGHT, page 11

Photo courtesy of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’s office

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas addresses people from different areas ofLos Angeles that came to the 28th Street YMCA on Mar. 14 to strategizeon ways to end the epidemic of violence occurring in the Los AngelesCounty Jail System.

See HBCU page 10

BY JULIE PACE ANDMATTHEW LEEASSOCIATED PRESS

Eager to reassure an anxious ally,President Barack Obama onWednesday affirmed Israel’s sover-eign right to defend itself from anythreat and vowed to prevent Iran fromobtaining nuclear weapons. He saidcontainment of a nuclear-armed Iranwas not an option and said the UnitedStates would do whatever it takes toprevent Iran from getting “the world’sworst weapons.”

Meeting with Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu on his

first visit to the Jewish state as presi-dent, Obama offered his personalcommitment that the U.S. would standby Israel in any circumstances thatrequired it to act to protect its people.He said the U.S. and Israel would starttalks soon on a new, 10-year securitycooperation package to replace onethat expires in 2017.

Obama also pledged to investigatewhether chemical weapons were usedthis week in neighboring Syria's 2-year-old civil war, something he saidwould be a “game-changer” for cur-rent U.S. policy. In addition, he saidhe would continue to urge Israel andthe Palestinians to re-launch the mori-bund peace process.

Speaking at a joint news confer-ence, Obama and Netanyahu, whohave sparred on numerous occasionsin the past, presented a united front onIran.

They stressed repeatedly that alloptions — including military ones —are on the table to keep Iran fromacquiring an atomic weapon if thediplomatic track fails. And theybrushed aside apparent differencesover when the Iranian nuclear pro-gram might reach the point that mili-tary action is required.

“We will do what is necessary to

prevent Iran from obtaining theworld’s worst weapons,” Obama said,calling a nuclear-armed Iran a threat toIsrael, the greater Middle East and theworld.

Although Obama did not promisethat the United States would act mili-tarily against Iran if Israel decided thatmust be done, he offered an explicitendorsement for Israel to take whatev-er unilateral measures it deems neces-sary to guard against the threat.

“Each country has to make its owndecisions when it comes to the awe-some decision to engage in any kindof military action and Israel is differ-ently situated than the United States,”he said. “I would not expect that theprime minister would make a decisionabout his country’s security and deferthat to any another country any morethan the United States would defer ourdecisions about what was importantfor our national security.”

Netanyahu seized on the remarks,saying they were an important demon-stration of America’s steadfastalliance with Israel and part of makingthe carrot-and-stick approach a credi-ble option to avoid the use of force.

“I am absolutely convinced thatthe president is determined to preventIran from getting nuclear weapons,”

he said. “I appreciate that. I appreciatethe fact that the president has reaf-firmed, more than any other president,Israel’s right and duty to defend itselfby itself against any threat.”

Netanyahu said the carrot-and-stick approach now being employed tocajole Iran into proving that’s itsnuclear intentions are peaceful had tobe bolstered by “a clear and crediblethreat of military action.” Obama’srecognition of Israel's right to actalone appeared to satisfy him on thatscore, and the prime minister beamedwith delight in response to the newsecurity pact talks.

On another issue of critical impor-tance to Israel’s security, Obama saidthe U.S. is investigating whetherchemical weapons were deployed inSyria earlier this week. He said he was“deeply skeptical” of contentions bySyrian President Bashar Assad’s gov-ernment that rebel forces were behindany such attack.

Both the Assad government andSyrian rebels have accused each otherof using chemical weapons in anattack on Tuesday.

Obama said the U.S. policy not tointervene militarily or arm Syrianrebels thus far is based on his desire tosolve the problem with world partners.He rejected as “inaccurate” sugges-tions that the United States had donenothing to stop two years of bloodshedthat has claimed more than 70,000lives.

“It’s a world problem when tens ofthousands of people are being slaugh-tered, including innocent women andchildren,” Obama said.

Obama’s three-day visit to Israel,from its start earlier Wednesday, isdesigned to send a message of reassur-ance to a key ally.

At an extravagant welcoming cer-emony, Obama declared that “peacemust come to the Holy Land” and notat Israel’s expense. U.S. backing forIsrael will be a constant as the MiddleEast roils with revolution and Irancontinues work on its nuclear pro-gram, he said.

“The United States is proud tostand with you as your strongest allyand your greatest friend,” Obama said

after landing at Tel Aviv’s Ben GurionInternational Airport.

“Across this region the winds ofchange bring both promise and peril,”he said, calling his visit “an opportuni-ty to reaffirm the unbreakable bondsbetween our nations, to restateAmerica’s unwavering commitment toIsrael’s security, and to speak directlyto the people of Israel and to yourneighbors.”

Seeking to alter a perceptionamong many Israelis that his govern-ment has been less supportive of Israelthan previous U.S. administrations,Obama declared the U.S.-Israelialliance “eternal.”

“It is forever,” he said to applauseas Israeli and U.S. flags fluttered in asteady breeze under clear, sunny skies.

Before leaving the airport forJerusalem, Obama offered a vivid dis-play of the U.S. commitment to Israelisecurity by visiting a missile batterythat is part of Israel’s Iron Domedefense from militant rocket attacks.The United States has invested hun-dreds of millions of dollars in devel-oping the system with Israel.

Obama and Netanyahu toured thebattery, which Israel relocated to theairport for the occasion. They met andchatted with soldiers who operate thesystem that Israel credits with inter-cepting hundreds of rockets during around of fighting against Gaza mili-tants last November.

In his comments to reporters withNetanyahu, Obama also took note ofthe difficult way forward in the broad-er quest for Mideast peace, acknowl-edging that in recent years “we haven'tgone forward, we haven’t seen thekind of progress that we would like tosee.”

The president said he came to theregion principally to listen, and hopedto return home with a better under-standing of the constraints and “howthe U.S. can play a constructive role.”

Netanyahu, for his part, said hewas willing to set aside preconditionsin future talks with the Palestinians,adding that it was time to “turn a pagein our relations.”

Obama is to meet Palestinian

ObamapledgesresolveagainstIran’snuclearaims

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahutour the Iron Dome Battery defense system, at Ben Gurion InternationalAirport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

4 Thursday, March 21, 2013

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LAWT STAFF REPORT

On December 4, 2011, theInglewood City Council approved theOffice of the City Clerk to placeMeasure P &W on the ballot.

Proposition P would require theOffice of the City Clerk to publish asummary of the ordinance in the localnewspaper while continuing to post theentire ordinance on the city websiteand making a copy available forreview in the clerk’s office.

According to city of Inglewoodrecords, city ordinances can rangefrom one to 30 pages and cost the cityup to $6,000 to publish in their entire-ty.

“With the advent of social media,cable television, and the internet, wecan be more effective and efficient ininforming the public of our ordinancesfor far less,” said Yvonne Horton,Inglewood city clerk. “It is wiser andmore prudent for the city of Inglewoodto use technology to communicate thecontent of ordinances, while continu-

ing to publish a summary in the localnewspaper.”

The City Council also voted toplace Measure W on the ballot. Ifadopted, this measure would changethe city charter to require that themajority of the City Council mustdecide if the entire ordinance should beread into the record.

“The city of Inglewood functionsas a democracy where the majorityrules and no-one should have absolutepower,” said Inglewood Mayor JamesButts. “Measure W enhances trans-parency, efficiency and democracy andgives voice to fairness.”

Measure W ensures that everyvoice is heard, while fairness rules theday and the City Council functions as ademocracy,” concluded Horton.

The Inglewood City Clerk alsoannounced that early voting is avail-able in the City Clerk’s office on thefirst floor of the City Hall Building andencourages voters to vote, either bymail or at their designated pollingplace.

City of Inglewood –election news

See OBAMA IN ISRAEL, page 10

BY THANDISIZWE CHIMURENGALAWT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Television and radio personalityTavis Smiley will premiere his sixthepisode of Tavis Smiley Reports (TSR)Mar. 26 from 8 to 9 pm ET/PT on PBSwith a focus on what he’s calling“Education Under Arrest,” whichexamines the impact of zero tolerancepolicies in education and the resultingfallout – the “school to prison pipeline.”

TST began as a series of primetimespecials in 2010 and Smiley has usedthe program to cover a range of topicsfrom a “One on One With HillaryClinton,” to the life of Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr; a look at New Orleans5 years after Hurricane Katrina; musicprograms for schools and an inside lookat the high school dropout rate specifi-cally among Black males.

Smiley says his decision to focus on“the connection between the juvenilejustice system and the dropout rateamong American teens” was a logicaloutgrowth of his concern about poverty.

“I’ve been talking about the issue ofpoverty for quite some time and this isanother one of those poverty tentacles,he said. “I wrote about it in the book Idid with Dr. Cornel West, The Rich andthe Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto,but I’ve talked about it in a number ofdifferent forums over the years and I’vedone other specials about education but… ‘Education Under Arrest,’ this par-ticular special focuses uniquely on theschool to prison pipeline and how it isthat we are criminalizing our children.So, my interest in it has always beenthere.”

According to Smiley, one out ofthree teens arrested in this country arearrested at school.

“The stuff that I used to get sent tothe principal’s office for – foul lan-guage, getting into a fight, disruptivebehavior, missing school, chewing gumin class, getting caught too many timeschewing gum – kids are now being sus-pended for; they’re being expelled for,and they end up in front of a judge andthat get’s them a criminal record. Andthey end up on lockdown. We’re crim-inalizing our kids and its’ all because ofthis notion of ‘zero tolerance.’ This ideaof ‘zero tolerance’ does not work,” saidSmiley.

Describing zero tolerance policiesas “a complete, total, utter, abject fail-ure,” Smiley also noted that many youthfeel that they are being intentionallypushed out of school. Studentsexpressed what they perceived as anapparent lack of concern from teachersand administrators to their wellbeingand this is what fuels this feeling of notcaring, not being present. “So it’s avicious circle but it leads ultimately tothese kids not doing what they ought tobe doing, not focusing on what theyshould be focusing on, not going toschool not graduating and they end upcasualties of the school to prisonpipeline,” said Smiley.

Here in Los Angeles, that pipelineappears to be a rather lucrative one.“The Los Angeles Unified SchoolDistrict (LAUSD) spends $52 million ayear to arm the largest school policedepartment in the country and we havethe largest juvenile court in the county;it’s not that hard to connect the dots,”said Manuel Criollo.

Criollo is an organizer with theCommunity Rights Campaign (CRC)

which successfullychallenged theLAUSD over whatit called the outra-geous practice ofissuing truancytickets to students– many of whomwere sometimesactually on theircampuses – forbeing late toschool, and charg-ing exorbitantfines and fees.Criollo stated that,“On a weeklybasis our black andbrown youth inLos AngelesUnified are beingimpacted by thepunishment culture in our schools - sus-pensions, tickets, court fines, and rapsheets are pushing-out students to thestreets and some into juvenile campsand toward prison.”

According to the Los AngelesSchool Board and the Los AngelesPolice Department, in 2010,Hispanic/Latino students accounted for62% of all truancy tickets and AfricanAmerican students accounted for closeto 20% of all students ticketed. Thebase fine for tickets was $50 but man-dated fees raised the amount $190 andin some instances, students were being

hit with fines totaling $900. InFebruary of 2012, the CRC was able toconvince the Los Angeles City Councilto end the practice of punitive ticketingof youth for tardiness and truancy.

Though not dismissing LosAngeles’ situation Smiley, who traveledto Washington State, Louisiana,Missouri as well as within California toobserve and interview subjects for thespecial, says that the “pipeline” is notjust a black and brown problem. “Kidsof all races all colors and all creeds allacross this country from California to

Thursday, March 21, 2013 5

See TAVIS SMILEY, page 10

Education under arrestTavis Smiley turns his critical eye toward the “school-to-prison pipeline”

BY NICOLE WILLIAMS

LAWT CONTRIBUTINGWRITER

Late February to earlyMarch were months fullof controversial issues.For example, on Tuesday,March 5 George Zimmer-man’s attorneys waivedhis right to a Stand YourGround hearing that wasscheduled to take place onApril 22. While the rest ofthe media was shocked,CNN Political Analyst,Roland Martin was not,and said he’s “not buyingfor one second” thatZimmerman has a strongself-defense argument.

On George Zimmer-man waiving his right to astand your ground hear-ing:

It is not shocking or surprisingbecause George Zimmerman’s attor-neys think, “well we believe we havea strong self defense argument” andI’m not buying that for one second. Ithink that they clearly understood thatthey were taking a huge chance byhaving the Stand Your Ground hear-ing…And also, they would’ve had tolay out a significant part of their casehad they gone forward with a StandYour Ground hearing and so I thinkwith all of those factors they probablysaid it makes good for us to pull backonto this thing and focus on the June10th trial, which the last thing youwant to do is risk all that negativepublicity and now all the sudden ifyou can’t even prove Stand YourGround, now you’re really at a disad-vantage moving forward in the trial.

In Sanford, FL on February 26,2012, unarmed teenager TrayvonMartin was shot and killed by neigh-borhood watch captain GeorgeZimmerman in what Zimmermanclaims was self-defense. He says heoperated under Florida’s “Stand YourGround” law, which says a personmay use force in self-defense whenthere is reasonable belief that theother person is a threat. When askedon challenging the Stand YourGround law, Martin says the law ischallenged all the time and that itshould be thrown out.

On challenging stand yourground law:

There are numerous examples ofindividuals who have asserted standyour ground but the judge threw it out.The judge said, “no that’s not the case.”Now, the problem is that you will hearprosecutors, you hear law enforcementpersonnel say it makes it difficult forthem and that’s one of the reasons whythe law quite frankly should be thrownout because there’s so many restric-tions faced upon law enforcement per-sonnel the moment somebody tries toinvoke stand your ground. That’swhere the difficulty comes in.

On February 27, 2013, theSupreme Court heard a Voting RightsAct challenge from Shelby County,Alabama v. Holder. More specifical-ly, Section 5 of the Voting Rights Actis the section under question. Martinexplains what Section 5 of the VotingRights Act means.

On Section 5 of Voting RightsAct:

Practically what it means is that,when there’s a voting change in thoselocales, it means that a voting advo-cate would have to file a lawsuit toprevent it from going forward where-as right now, the difference is that themoment a voting law is changed, thedepartment of justice has to pre-clearit…What it also means is that withpeople who are trying to suppress thevote, you’re making it a heck of a loteasier for them to do so except nowthey don’t have to worry about theDepartment of Justice looking overtheir shoulder. That’s one of the rea-sons why Shelby County has filed alawsuit. They don’t like the fact thatthe Department of Justice is andeverybody is looking at every singlething they do, which most likely is agood thing though.

On Wednesday, February 27,2013 Justice Antonin Scalia made acomment that the continuation ofSection 5 of the Voting Rights Act isa “perpetuation of racial entitlement”in his statement here: “I think it isattributable, very likely attributable,to a phenomenon that is called per-petuation of racial entitlement. It'sbeen written about. Whenever a soci-ety adopts racial entitlements, it isvery difficult to get out of themthrough the normal political process-es.” Martin says that Justice Scalia’scomment is beyond offensive.

On Justice Scalia’s commentsregarding Section 5 of Voting RightsAct:

The comments made by AntoninScalia are an abomination because tosit there and to make such a

Roland Martin

Roland Martincomments on VotingRights Act andTrayvon Martin case

EmergenciesDo Happen

Know your neighbors.Plan together.

Be ready.

This project was supported by Grant/CooperativeAgreement Number 2U90TP917012-11 from the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors

and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.

Wind Storms, fires, earthquakes or floods can strike at anytime. These emergencies do happen, and it’s important to be ready. That means knowing your neighbors, making a specific plan

and working together to be prepared. Take the first step today. Visit bereadyla.org.

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See ROLAND MARTIN, page 10

FEATURE L.A. Watts Times WEEKENDER6 Thursday, March 21, 2013

BY NICOLE WILLIAMS | LAWT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

You know her as an Emmy-nominated co-host of the award-winning talk show “The Doctors,” but you may not know that Dr. Lisa Masterson among many other things, is a humanitarian and an advocate for women’s empowerment.

Masterson is a board certified specialist in obstetrics, gynecol-ogy, infertility, adolescent gynecol-ogy and family planning and ison staff for Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica andUCLA. She also owns a privatepractice and is the founder andmedical director at Ocean OasisMedical Spa in Santa Monica. Thespa offers programs specializedfor women in all phases of theirlives through exercise, nutrition and spa treatments. Mastersonalso has a charity called MaternalFetal Care International (MFCI), which helps pregnant womenall around the world sustainhealthy lives. She says that beinga co-host for “The Doctors” has helped her charity and has beena rewarding experience.

“The show has been monu-mental for that. I was mostlydoing my charity and it was afriend who told me if you get this then you could actually speakto people all over the world. It’s very interesting because thecountries that I go to, they actually get the show in Africa and they’ll hear what I say on the show and they get that even whenI’m not there, ” she said.

But before becoming such a well-known image in the healthworld, Masterson has had life experiences that started to pave the way for her career. Growing up, she had the responsibility of tak-ing care of her younger brother. It was the long days of watching over him that stirred something inside of Masterson to find an escape. Even currently, with all of her success, you’d be surprised to know she didn’t initially know she wanted to be a doctor.

“I never knew in high school that I wanted to be a doctor, but my mother had my brother and we’re 13 years apart and I wasstuck babysitting him because she had to go back to work becauseshe was a single parent. So to get out of the house, because Ispent one whole summer babysitting, I volunteered at a hospital

and as a candy striper that’s kind of where I knew I wanted to be a part of medicine and it blossomed from there,” she said.

In fact, it’s Dr. Lisa’s mother who inspires her in everything she does. Her memories of joy and also memories of struggle are cap-tured in her book, “Paper Dollhouse: A Memoir.” The book cap-tures the struggle her mother faced being a single parent living in the South during times of racial segregation. An excerpt from her book proclaims the adoration Masterson has for her mother.

“My mom was my best friend and biggest supporter, and as I’ll say on the show, I owe everything to her unflagging belief in me. It was the one thing I had in abundance growing up in a crazy childhood that seems almost impossibly far from here (Paper Doll-house: A Memoir).”

The doctor has spoken on her mother’s lost battle to breast cancer both in the book and on “The Doctors.” It is one of the main reasons, she said, for her efforts in improving women’s healthcare. On an episode of “The Doctors”, titled “Dr. Lisa’s Life Lesson,” she spoke about the pain of losing her mother and the inspiration it brought her.

“I’m so proud of my mom because the thing that my mom left with me was that she was all about surviving, success and serving others. She was a human rights and civil rights champion and people don’t know that about her, which is one reason I do what I do (The Doctors: Dr. Lisa’s Life Lesson).”

The strong bond between Masterson and her mother is one of the reasons she says her most important duty is being a mother to her son, Daniel. She says balancing all of her responsibilities and being a mother can be a little challenging.

“It’s tricky,” she laughs. “My son knows I’m a human being. When he was little, he

would come with me to work. I went with my mother work. I think it’s a very good thing for your kids to be a part of your life,“ she said.

Even with the large workload and responsibilities that Master-son has, she says it is all equally rewarding.

“When you do things that you love, then everything is exciting and fun. Just like being up all night and not even realizing it; it’s almost invigorating. I think the idea is people have the privilege or can do what they love or find what they love to do,” she said.

Through Masterson’s love of helping others, she has proven to be a world-class caretaker. She has won awards such as the Red Cross Humanitarian Award and the March of Dimes Golden Rat-tle Award, which she was awarded for her efforts made to improve healthcare for women and children. She also holds seminars on adolescent sexuality for teens and their parents. She continues to be a part of “America’s medical dream team” on “The Doctors” and strives in her continuous effort to improve women and chil-dren’s health care around the world.

www.lawattstimes.com

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of “The Doctors”

Thursday, March 21, 2013 7

When you do things that you love, then everything is exciting and fun. Just like being

up all night and not even realizing it...~DR. LISA MASTERSON, M.D., F.A.C.O.G,

OB/GYN

DR. LISA MASTERSON SITS ON THE SET

OF “THE DOCTORS” WITH TWO OTHER

HOSTS OF THE SHOW, PEDIATRICIAN DR.JIM SEARS (LEFT) AND E.R. PHYSICIAN

DR. TRAVIS STORK (RIGHT).

8 Thursday, March 21, 2013

LAWT NEWS SERVICE

Over 500 Compton UnifiedSchool District (CUSD) DominguezHigh School students listened as pro-fessional football player RichardSherman shared his journey from theirschool’s football field to college, andfinally the NFL, Wednesday, March 6.

The Dominguez High Schoolalumnus, who graduated in 2006, vis-ited his alma mater as part of a specialassembly sponsored by Students witha Goal (SWAG), a nonprofit dedicatedto presenting motivational speechesby professional athletes. Sponsors alsoincluded Fritz Management, Educa-tion Inc., and Revolution Prep K-12.

Moderator Romal Tume, founder ofSWAG, provided students with theopportunity to ask Sherman questionsabout his experiences as a Dominguezstudent, his college years, and his NFLcareer. The assembly was also filmedby the NFL Network’s E60 program.

While attending Dominguez,Sherman, who plays cornerback forthe Seattle Seahawks, maintained a4.2 GPA and scored 1,400 on theSATs, but he acknowledged that hispath to success was not an easy one.“It always feels good to come back toCompton. It’s gotten a little less vio-lent, everything’s a little more cleanedup, but making things better startswith you guys.

Wherever you want to be, wherev-er you want to go, understand that thefuture is right here. It is what youmake of it,” he said.

Sherman, a graduate of StanfordUniversity, also cautioned studentsabout the dangers of making thewrong kinds of friends. “In highschool gangs might seem cool becausethose guys, some of them are yourfriends and maybe they support you,but down the line they’ll be the samedudes from jail, and the same dudesback on the streets,” he said. “Butyou’ll be saying, ‘Man, I could’vebeen a doctor. Man, I could’ve been

BY BILL DRAPERASSOCIATED PRESS

Kansas City wasannounced Wednes-day as the host sitefor the only advancepublic screenings ofa film chroniclingthe rise of JackieRobinson, a nod tothe city where thebaseball great madehis professionaldebut two yearsbefore breaking themajor league colorbarrier.

Harrison Fordstars as formerBrooklyn DodgersGeneral ManagerBranch Rickey in thefilm, “42,” whichdetails Robinson’sRookie of the Yearseason in 1947 whilecombating unabash-ed racism on and offthe diamond.

Ford and fellowcast member AndreHolland planned toattend the screeningson April 11 at amovie theater on thecity’s north side.Proceeds will bene-fit the NegroLeagues BaseballMuseum in KansasCity, museum presi-dent Bob Kendrick said.

Although the story of Robinson in Brooklyn is well known, Kendrick saidKansas City also played a prominent role in his early career. Robinson playedfor the Kansas City Monarchs, a member of the Negro Leagues, in 1945, bat-ting .387 while hitting five home runs and stole 13 bases in 47 games. After ayear in the minor leagues, he joined the Dodgers in 1947 and won the inaugu-ral Rookie of the Year award.

The film gets its name from Robinson’s uniform No. 42, which is retiredthroughout baseball and prominently displayed at major league stadiums

Kendrick said Robinson’s story “signaled the beginning of what we knowas the civil rights movement” and was a source of pride for Kansas City.

“This film gives us the opportunity to collectively stick out our chest,”Kendrick said Wednesday at a news conference at the museum.

Other than the official premiere in Los Angeles, the movie will be shownonly in Kansas City prior to its nationwide opening April 12, which is threedays before the 66th anniversary of Robinson's first game as a Dodger.

The Negro Leagues museum is in the midst of a revival after falling onhard times following the death in 2006 of one of its founders, former KansasCity Monarchs star Buck O'Neil. Only blocks from where the Monarchs tookthe field at Municipal Stadium, the museum sits adjacent to the American JazzMuseum in the heart of the city’s 18th and Vine District. After nearly beingforced to close in 2010 after it started losing money, the museum got a hugeboost last year when Kansas City hosted the major league All-Star Game.

Kendrick said the exposure “42” brings to the Negro Leagues BaseballMuseum will be as important as the financial windfall from the advancescreenings.

“We’re often asked here if Jackie Robinson was the best player in theNegro Leagues,” Kendrick said. “No, he wasn’t. He may not have been thebest player on our Kansas City Monarchs team. But he was the right man” tobreak the color barrier.

The Overland Park, Kan., financial planning company Waddell & Reedwas instrumental in bringing the screenings to Kansas City, taking advantageof its relationship with Legendary Pictures — which along with Warner Bros.Pictures produced the movie — to arrange them.

Thomas Butch, executive president of Waddell & Reed, said the $42 tick-ets include unlimited concessions, two adult drink tickets and a souvenir bagand has a total value of $70. He said “42” is the only movie that will be shownat the BarryWoods 24 complex on the night of the screenings.

Tickets are available exclusively on the website 42kansascity.com.

AP Photo/File

Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Jackie Robinsonposes in 1952. Kansas City’s Negro LeaguesBaseball Museum is hosting an advance screening ofan upcoming movie about Robinson, who brokemajor league baseball’s color barrier. Thomas Butchof the financial firm Waddell and Reed announcedWednesday, March 20, 2013 that actors HarrisonFord and Andre Holland will be among those appear-ing at an April 11 screening of “42.”

Robinson filmscreenings to helpKC Negro Leagues

NFL star Richard Sherman returnsto Dominguez High for a pep talk

Sentinel File Photo

Ask the Pro— Class of 2006 Dominguez High School graduate and SeattleSeahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (left) listens to a student’s questionregarding his academic and athletic experiences, Wednesday, March 6, aspart of an assembly sponsored by nonprofit Students with a Goal (SWAG).SWAG’s Founder Romal Tume (center) moderated the event.

See SHERMAN, page 10

Thursday, March 21, 2013 9

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LAWT NEWS SERVICE

“Motown: The Musical” celebrat-ed platinum sales of $1,029,883 duringits first week of sold-out performancesat the Lunt Fontanne Theatre onBroadway, joining the celebratedMillion Dollar Club following only 7performances while surpassing 100%capacity of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

This marks the first time a newBroadway musical has joined theMillion Dollar Club in its first week ofpreviews without an out-of-town try-out.

Seen for the first time anywhere bya paying audience, the new musicalbased on the life of iconic Motownfounder Berry Gordy and featuringmusic and lyrics from the legendaryMotown catalog, officially opens onSunday, April 14.

“Motown: The Musical” beganpreview performances last Monday,March 11 at The Lunt-FontanneTheatre (205 West 46th Street).

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, “Motown: The Musical” is thereal story of the one-of-a-kind soundthat hit the airwaves in 1959 andchanged American culture forever.This exhilarating show charts MotownFounder Berry Gordy’s incrediblejourney from featherweight boxer tothe heavyweight music mogul who

launched the careers of Diana Ross,Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder,Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye andmany more.

“Motown: The Musical” starsTony Award® nominee BrandonVictor Dixon (“The Color Purple”) andValisia LeKae (“The Book ofMormon”) in the leading roles of BerryGordy and Diana Ross and featuresCharl Brown (“Jersey Boys”) asSmokey Robinson and Bryan TerrellClark as Marvin Gaye leading anensemble cast of 40 featuring TimothyJ. Alex, Michael Arnold, NicholasChristopher, Rebecca E. Covington,Ariana DeBose, Andrea Dora, PrestonW. Dugger III, Wilkie Ferguson,Dionne Figgins, Marva Hicks, TiffanyJanene Howard, Sasha Hutchings,Jawan M. Jackson, Lauren LimJackson, Morgan James, John Jellison,Crystal Joy, Grasan Kingsberry, JamieLaVerdiere, Raymond Luke Jr., JibreelMawry, Marielys Molina, SydneyMorton, Maurice Murphy, JarranMuse, Jesse Nager, Milton CraigNealy, N’Kenge, Dominic Nolfi,Saycon Sengbloh, Ryan Shaw, JamalStory, Eric LaJuan Summers, EphraimSykes, Julius Thomas III, Daniel J.Watts and Donald Webber, Jr.

“Motown: The Musical’s” creativeteam features choreography by Patricia

Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

This March 5, 2013 photo shows Berry Gordy posing for a portrait in frontof the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bobby Brown has surren-dered to authorities and willbegin a 55-day jail sentence fora driving under the influenceconviction.

Brown's attorney and aspokesman for the city attor-ney's office say the R&B singerturned himself in at a LosAngeles courthouseWednesday.

Brown pleaded no contestto DUI and driving on a sus-pended license in February. Hewill also be required to servefour years on informal proba-tion and complete an 18-monthalcohol treatment program afterhe is released.

The conviction is Brown'ssecond for DUI in less than ayear. He avoided jail afterpleading no contest to a March2012 drunk driving case.

The 44-year-old NewEdition singer is the ex-hus-band of deceased singerWhitney Houston.

Bobby Brown turns himselfin for DUI conviction

AP Photo/Joe Giblin, File

In this Feb. 18, 2012 file photo, singer Bobby Brown, former husband of the lateWhitney Houston performs at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.

‘Motown: The Musical’goes platinum in firstweek on BroadwayJoins millionaire’s club with $1,029,883 gross

See MOTOWN, page 11

10 Thursday, March 21, 2013

BY CHERYL PEARSON-MCNEILNNPA COLUMNIST

As I write, Chaka Khan’s empow-ering “I’m EveryWoman” loops in myhead – like a soundtrack. (By the way,have you seen her lately? All slim,trim and more fabulous than ever).It’s Women’s History Month and thelyrics to that iconic anthem should beresonating with all women, and thosewho love us, as we celebrate ourselvesand the countless contributions wemake everyday — both large andsmall — that keep the world turning.

No matter how small or far-reach-ing the radius of your world is everychoice you make is important.Nielsen shines the light on women’schoices and our dynamic impact asconsumers with two new globalreports: Does Gender Matter and 10Things to Know About Today’sFemale Consumer.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say itagain – “Vive la différence.” Yes, weknow that girls are just as smart as boysand women can do pretty much every-thing a man can – but, like it or not –our brains are wired differently. And,that’s ok. Women are master multi-taskers and there’s a scientific reasonfor that. Who knew, right? Nielsen’sNeuroFocus research shows that “abil-ity” is driven by what happens to devel-oping brains in the womb. Traits likebig-picture thinking and multitaskingare hard-wired in women’s brains,along with “gut” reasoning, social andverbal skills and the worry/empathytendency. We balance work (either out-side or in the home), take care of ourfamilies – nurture, budget, shop, sched-ule, run hither and yon – and keep ittight with ourselves as best we can.Men’s brains, on the other hand, arepre-conditioned for concrete thinking,goal-oriented tasks, logical solutionsand competition/defense. (Cheryl’stranslation: give them one thing to do ata time if you really want something toget done).

How we think and respond influ-

ences the way companies and adver-tisers design their messages to us toachieve their economic bottom line.See how much power we have? Thesetypes of insights tell them that womenrespond to concepts that are authentic.Touch our hearts and you might earnour dollars. Even those of us who maybe tomboys at heart, messages thatfocus on conflict simply aren’t goingto resonate.

And, you know how we love abargain and will hunt high and low tofind the best price? That’s somethingAmerican women have in commonwith our sisters around the world. ANielsen survey of more than 29,000people with internet access in 58countries shows that we women arebrowsers, no matter where we live –going for the best deal (in the store oronline) while men are more likely topay a higher price. That’s becausemen are typically on a mission to justwin (uh, get the item no matter what).

Here and across the globe, womenare responsible for $12 trillion of the$18 trillion of global buying power.So, if marketers want our business,they need to offer products and servic-es that reflect our needs. Considerthese facts:

• Women worldwide are opti-mistic about their roles, with 90%reporting they believe their role ischanging for the better.

• Worldwide, 70% of women sur-veyed have cut household spendingover the past year in clothes, gas, elec-tricity and entertainment outside thehome.

• Women in the U.S. spend signif-icantly more time on social mediasites than men. We’re online users ofsocial media 44% more than men; andvisit social media sites on our mobiledevices 39% more than men.

• African-American women bet-ween 18-35 are 72% more likely topublish a blog or express our prefer-ences online via links or “likes” thanthe average adult in this country.

•In the United States, African-American households are 127% morelikely to include a single parent – usu-ally a woman. (These are my people asI am one of them and I live by themantra, ‘If Mama ain’t happy, ain’tnobody happy’).

•Women in the U.S. talk 28%more and text 14% more than menevery month.

•Globally, women are 25% morelikely than men to rely on friends orfamily for personal finance advice.

There’s so much more wonderfulinformation on www.nielsenwire.comthat affirms women’s power and influ-ence as consumers. Take time to visitthe site during March, and feel free tobelt out a couple of lines along withChaka, “I’m every woman. It’s all inme . . .”

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is seniorvice president of public affairs andgovernment relations for Nielsen. Formore information and studies go towww.nielsenwire.com.

Women rule

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil

somebody.’ Those same people youfollow, where are you following themto? You can be somebody right now.You can make those decisions rightnow. It all depends on what directionyou want to go.” Sherman praisedDominguez’s teachers for their sup-port during his high school years andreminded students to value them.“You have great teachers, you havegreat staff. It may seem like they holdyou down or are messing with you allthe time, or your coaches are too toughon you, but they really just want to seeyou be successful,” he noted. “It’stough out there. It’s tough in the HubCity, but once you make it outside thecity, nobody can stop you. If you canmake it here, you can make it any-where.”

SWAG’s Founder Romal Tumesaid he hopes each event he brings toschools awakens students to tap intotheir potential and excel in whateverthey’re passionate about. “It’s ourmission to work with schools by hav-ing athletes share their personal sto-ries. We want them to show young

people they can achieve their dreamsand overcome challenges,” he said.“We want them to know that yes, it isdifficult, but if they stay focused, theycan make it happen.” Tume added thatbecause Sherman grew up in Comptonand attended Dominguez High his lifestory resonates with students.“Richard is here saying he’s beenthrough what they’ve been through,but that they can still succeed.”

For Assistant Principal BobbyWalker, the SWAG assembly was agreat opportunity to open the eyes ofDominguez students. “It was wonder-ful of him to come out and share hisexperiences with our children. I hopethey walk out knowing there are posi-tive role models coming out of ourcommunity, and our school,” he said.“Having Richard here today is areminder that our kids don’t alwayshave to believe the bad things peoplesay about our city.”

SHERMANContinued from page 8

the Carolinas, this criminalization ofour children is the order of the day,” hesaid. “This is an American catastro-phe, not some sort of “color coded”crisis with our kids.”

Tanisha Denard, an organizerwith the Youth Justice Coalition inLos Angeles, says that the school-to-prison pipeline does more to accli-mate youth to prison than to college.“Our schools have more police andprobation officers than guidancecounselors; we get searched by metaldetectors and drug sniffing dogs; ourlockers and back packs are emptiedout on the regular; campuses havepolice holding rooms.”

Fortunately, the bleak portrait thatDenard paints does not hold every-where. According to Smiley, “Theprincipals, the judges, the counselors,the advisors, the administrators, evensome politicians who get this and whodo care, and who are implementingprograms and policies that work,”gave him hope.

“In Washington state we talkabout these things called “truancyboards.” These truancy boards arereally working … we talk about what[it is] and why it’s working so wellthere and whether or not we can scalethese up across the country,” he said.

“The second thing that gave mehope was seeing alternative schools.Just like one size does not fit all, some

people want to go to a small privatecollege, some want to go to a big pub-lic school – that’s why choice is soimportant in our society. So thesealternative programs, alternativeschools do work better for some ofthese young people than the tradition-al public school,” said Smiley.

Lastly, Smiley said that there werejudges whose work should be knownas “Exhibit A” in an effort to halt the“pipeline’s flow” of youth into thecriminal justice system. He quotesJudge Jimmie Edwards, who is alsothe principal of Innovative ConceptAcademy in St. Louis, who says that,“Locking up an 11-year-old in jail forany length of time doesn’t make sensefor him, for his family and certainlynot for his community.”

Smiley stated, “I’ve seen a lot ofevidence out there that suggests wecan do better on this and we try tohighlight that in this special.”

“Education Under Arrest” airs onPBS Tuesday, March 26 from 8 to 9pm ET/PT, and is part of “AmericanGraduate: Let’s Make It Happen, apublic media initiative supported bythe Corporation for a public media ini-tiative supported by the Corporationfor Public Broadcasting (CPB) to helplocal communities across Americafind solutions to address the dropoutcrisis.” For more information,pbs.org/tavis/reports.

TAVIS SMILEYContinued from page 5

ridiculous claim is beyond offensive.And then to sit here and say that “Oh,the White legislators who voted tostand for Voting Rights Act that theydid so because they are afraid ofbeing called racist or bigots yet theseare the same people we have no

problem opposing all kinds of otherlaws. They had no problem opposingAffirmative Action, no problemopposing the Violence AgainstWomenAct, no problem opposing allthose other laws. But all of the sud-den, now they’re scared on this one.

ROLAND MARTINContinued from page 5

Authority President Mahmoud Abbasin the West Bank this week to assurehim that an independent Palestinianstate remains a U.S. foreign policy andnational security priority — eventhough he is bringing no new plan torestart negotiations with Israel.

Although many Israelis warmlygreeted Obama, Palestinians held sev-eral small protests in the West Bankand Gaza. Demonstrators in theHamas-ruled Gaza Strip burned

posters of Obama and U.S. flags,accusing the U.S. of being biasedtoward Israel.

In the West Bank, about 200activists erected about a dozen tents inan area just outside of Jerusalem todraw attention to Israel’s policy ofbuilding settlements. The tents werepitched in E1, a strategically locatedarea where Israel has said it plans onbuilding thousands of homes. TheU.S. has harshly criticized the plan.

OBAMA IN ISRAELContinued from page 4

and popular culture.This year’s HCASC student com-

petitors from the 48 HBCUs, or “Great48,” are traveling to the national com-petition in Torrance, Calif., fromschools around the nation, includingAlabama, Georgia, Mississippi, NorthCarolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, SouthCarolina, Florida, Tennessee, Louisi-ana, New York, Kentucky, Missouri,Maryland, Oklahoma, Virginia, Texas,West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

The competitors will be split intoeight divisions and will compete in amodified round-robin format. The toptwo teams from each division willadvance to the “Sweet 16” and willcompete in a single elimination play-off. The final two teams that emergefrom the playoffs will battle for thetitle of National Champions and thegrand prize of $50,000. The grandprize, along with the other institution-al grants, will support academic activ-ities at the participating HBCUs.

Last year’s National Champions,Morgan State, took home its first-evertitle by beating second-place finisherOakwood University, a previousnational champion. Morgan State’swinning answer in last year’s HondaCampus All-Star Challenge was:Gerald Ford.

“My favorite part of being on thisteam has been bonding with our team-mates and coach,” said Craig Cornish,

captain, Morgan State Honda CampusAll-Star Challenge Team

“There have been a lot of incendi-ary moments, but they’ve made usstronger. I’m looking forward to get-ting ready for next year.”

Said Dr. Oluwa Tosin Adegbola,Morgan State Honda Campus All StarChallenge team coach, "This is every-body’s first year on the team, and totry to figure out how to meld whatthey know with what they need toknow, takes a journey that builds arelationship of trust. It’s been a beauti-ful relationship with my team."

“The Honda Campus All-StarChallenge brings together great mindsfrom Historically Black College andUniversities around the nation andoffers them a friendly and competitiveenvironment to demonstrate theirintellect, hard work and dedication,”said Steve Morikawa, assistant vicepresident Corporate CommunityRelations, American Honda MotorCo.

“We are proud to support HCASCas it continues to exemplify HBCUs’academic excellence, enrich ournation’s youth, and invest in one of thecountry’s largest pipelines for profes-sional, artistic, and academic talent.”

For more information on theHonda CampusAll Star Challenge anda list of the 48 participating HBCUs,please go to www.HCASC.com.

HBCUContinued from page 3

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAMES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENTFile No. 201304052

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:Nile Valley Landscape Mainstenance & Sprinkler Repair, 3717 La Brea Ave. Suite 642, Los Angeles CA 90016, County of

Registered owner(s):Tamora Neal, 4061 West Blvd. Unit A, Los Angeles CA 90008This business is conducted by an IndividualThe registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/AI declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.)S/ Tamora Neal, OwnerThis statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on February 28, 2013NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement gener-ally expires at the end of five years from the date on

which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration.The filing of this statement does not of itself autho-rize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (See Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).Original3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4/13CNS-2458372#WATTS TIMES

GOVERNMENT

ARMED AND UNARMED SECURITY GUARD SERVICESRFP 7576

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles invites proposals from qualified firms to provide armed and unarmed security guard services for its various property sites. Copies of the RFP may be obtained beginning March 18, 2013 online at http://www.hacla.org/ps/. Proposals will be accepted until 2:00 p.m., April 18, 2013.3/21, 3/28/13CNS-2459438#WATTS TIMES

PROJECT BASED VOUCHER NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY

PBV NOFA NO. 7577

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (“Authority”) in collaboration with the Los Angeles Housing Department invites proposals from quali-fied developers under the Project Based Voucher Program for Permanent Supportive Housing projects that serve extremely and very low income chronically homeless special needs and veteran individuals, and homeless senior and dis-abled individuals. Copies of the PBV NOFA may be obtained beginning March 15, 2013 online at http://www.hacla.org/ps/. Electronic proposals will be accepted until 11:59pm, April 15, 2013.3/21, 3/28/13CNS-2459003#WATTS TIMES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLICIT BIDS

Sealed bids will be received by Drew Child Development Corporation at 1770 E. 118th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 until 5:00 pm on April 5, 2013 for meals for service in Child Care Center(s). At said time and place and promptly thereafter, all bids that have been duly received will be publicly opened and read aloud.

The following types and quantities of meals: Approximately 400 Breakfast, 400 Lunches, 400 Snacks – 5 days a week. Daily delivery of meals to 6 center locations.Types of forms of packaging or containerizing to be used for meals: Pre-packaged, inclusive of milk based on a 5-day menu cycle to be provided by this agency.

All meals of each type must meet the minimum standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture for Child and Adult Care Food Program meals of that type.The Contract will be awarded to the responsible bid-der whose bid is responsive to this invitation and is most advantageous to the Drew Child Development Corporation, price and other factors considered.

Any or all bids may be rejected when it is in the interest of Drew Child Development Corporation to do so. Any questions regarding this proposed contract may be referred to Jackie McDowell at (323) 249-2950.3/14, 3/21/13CNS-2457252#WATTS TIMES

CNS#2458263

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Measure R Independent Taxpayers Oversight Committee of Metro (Oversight Committee) will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m., April 2, 2013, in the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Boardroom located at One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles.

The Oversight Committee was appointed under Measure R, also known as the Traffi c Relief and Rail Expansion Ordinance, that imposed an additional 1/2 of one percent transactions and use tax to fund transportation improvements in the County, approved by voters in 2008. The Oversight Committee and oversight process has been established to ensure that Metro and local subrecipients complies with the terms of the Ordinance. The oversight process requires that an annual audit be conducted to determine compliance with the provisions of the Ordinance related to the receipt and expenditure of sales tax revenues during the fi scal year. The audits must be provided to the Oversight Committee so it can make fi ndings on whether Metro and local subrecipients have complied with the Measure R requirements. In compliance with the Ordinance, Metro contracted with Bazilio Cobb and Associates (BCA) to perform the independent audit of the Measure R Special Revenue Fund and contracted with Vasquez & Company, LLP and Simpson & Simpson to audit the compliance of the 87 cities (Cities) and the County of Los Angeles (County).

The purpose of this hearing is to receive public comments on the results of the independent audits conducted on the Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures for Measure R Special Revenue Fund and Compliance with Requirements Applicable to Measure R Local Return Guidelines from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, and the Committee’s annual report on these audits.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORTS

Measure R Special Revenue Fund AuditBCA conducted the audit of compliance in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to fi nancial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards require that BCA plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Schedules of Measure R revenues and expenditures are free of material misstatement. The audit found that Metro complied, in all material respects, with the requirements applicable to the Measure R revenues and expenditures for the year ended June 30, 2012. However, BCA found that more timely follow-up with Local Return recipients is needed to resolve prior audit fi ndings. Management will make a more coordinated effort to ensure that follow-up actions are taken in a timely manner.

Measure R Compliance Audits of Cities and the CountyVasquez & Company, LLP and Simpson & Simpson conducted the audits of compliance with the Local Return Guidelines in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards require that Vasquez & Company, LLP and Simpson & Simpson plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether noncompliance with the requirements in the Ordinance occurred which could have a direct and material effect on the Measure R Local Return program. Vasquez & Company, LLP conducted the audit of 49 cities, and Simpson & Simpson conducted the audit of the other 38 cities and the County. The auditors found that the cities and the County complied in all material respects with the requirements in the Measure R Ordinance that are applicable to the Measure R Local Return program for the year ended June 30, 2012. The audits found 24 defi ciencies in internal control over compliance, none of which were deemed material. Only one of those defi ciencies was deemed a material weakness.

Measure R Independent Taxpayers Oversight Committee Annual ReportThe Committee reviewed the three independent audit reports and based on this review, developed an annual report. The annual report describes the audit results and makes several fi ndings. The report fi nds that: 1) the audits were performed in accordance with the Ordinance that the voters approved in 2008; 2) Metro complied, in all material respects, with the requirements applicable to the Measure R revenues and expenditures for the year ended June 30, 2012; 3) the cities and the County complied with the requirements in the Measure R Ordinance that are applicable to the Measure R Local Return program for the year ended June 30, 2012, however, the audits found 24 defi ciencies in internal control over compliance, none of which were deemed material; and 4) more timely follow-up with Local Return recipients is needed to resolve prior audit fi ndings.

Written comments on this matter will be accepted through April 2, 2013. All comments should be addressed to Board Administration, LACMTA, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-3-1, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952. Copies of the Independent Auditors’ Reports and the Oversight Committee’s Annual Report are available from Metro’s Records Management Center at the LACMTA Plaza Level at (213) 922-2342. These documents will also be made available to every library located within Los Angeles County for public review. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment in person during the public hearing on April 2 are encouraged to contact the Board Secretary’s Offi ce, at (213) 922-4600.

Thursday, March 21, 2013 11

Wilcox (“Blues in the Night”) andWarren Adams (“Toy Story”), scenicdesign by David Korins (“Bring It On:The Musical,” “Annie”), costumedesign by Tony Award® nomineeESosa (“The Gershwins’ Porgy andBess,” “Project Runway”), lightingdesign by Tony Award® winnerNatasha Katz (“Once,” “Sister Act”),sound design by TonyAward® nomineePeter Hylenski (“Rock of Ages,” “TheScottsboro Boys”), projection design byDaniel Brodie (“Jekyll and Hyde”).

“Motown: The Musical” featuresarrangements and orchestrations byEthan Popp (“Rock ofAges”), who willalso serve as musical supervisor for the18 piece orchestra and reproduce theclassic “Sound of Young America” forthe Broadway stage, with co-orchestra-tions and additional arrangements byBryan Crook (“Smash”), dancearrangements by Zane Mark (“DirtyRotten Scoundrels”) and music direc-tion by Joseph Joubert (“Nice Work IfYou Can Get It”).

“Motown: The Musical” is pro-duced by Tony Award winning produc-er Kevin McCollum (“Rent,” “In theHeights,” “Avenue Q”), Chairman andCEO of SONY Music Entertainment

Doug Morris and Motown founderBerry Gordy.

“Motown: The Musical” will playthe following performance scheduleduring preview performances:

March 11 – March 24: Mon – Sat at8pm; Sat at 2pm; Dark Sun (no Wedmatinee)

March 25 – April 7: Mon – Sat at8pm; Wed and Sat at 2pm; Dark Sun

April 8 – April 14: Tues – Sat at8pm; Wed and Sat at 2pm; Sun at6:30pm (Opening Night); Dark Mon

Beginning April 15: Tues at 7pm;Wed – Sat at 8pm;Wed and Sat at 2pm;Sun at 3pm; Dark Mon.

Tickets prices range from $57.00 -$142.00 and are available by callingTicketmaster at 877-250-2929 or visit-ing www.ticketmaster.com.

MOTOWNContinued from page 9

times, deployment of EmergencyMedical resources, and integratingneighborhoods with their local firestations to better provide service to allthe communities of Los Angeles.

Chief Cummings understands thatin order to provide world-class serv-ice, he must develop world-class lead-ership. He is accomplishing thisthrough the LAFD LeadershipAcademy where attendees are build-ing their skill set to accept the leader-ship challenges of the 21st. centuryfire service.

Chief Cummings has created anInformation and Data Analysis TaskForce to identify patterns and trendsthat will aid in service. This task forcewill allow any community to log on tothe LAFD website and locate a firestation and receive the followinginformation; how many firefightersare assigned, what equipment and sup-

plies are housed/stored, and responsetimes and resource types that areassigned to that fire station.

Relying heavily on the men andwomen of the LAFD to reach out andassist in the personal preparedness ofall, who live, work, reside and travelin and around Los Angeles, ChiefCummings is committed to fairnessand equality for all employees and heis also confident that the LAFD willremain the premier public service lifesafety provider in the world.

Not bad, for a second generationfire fighter who has risen to the rank ofFire Chief who knows all too well thehorrors of inequality in the fire serv-ice. A lesson learned from his fatherLouie Cummings who lived throughsegregation and integration.

Chief Cummings remains vigilantthat the unfairness of the past willnever be repeated in the future.

LAFDContinued from page 2

to substantiate a righteous judgmentagainst complaints that come out ofthe jail; it cannot police itself, Barutisaid. “So when you get other peopleinvolved who have no vested interestin the accusations that are being made,and will do a thorough investigation,what are you afraid of?”

Baruti says he was also a victim ofsheriff’s deputy violence in the L.A.County Jail in the early 1980s. He isnow an organizer with the groupAll ofUs or None, which is made up of for-merly incarcerated and convicted per-sons, that fights for the restoration oftheir civil and human rights.

On Mar. 19, Sheriff Baca made apresentation to the Board of Super-visors calling for close to $1 billiondollars to replace the Men’s CentralJail, which recently turned 50 years ofage, and to refurbish other existingfacilities in other parts of Los Angeles

County. The Board postponed a deci-sion on the proposal, opting to waituntil they hear back from an independ-ent consultant who will produce astudy on the exact needs of the coun-ty’s incarceration system.

The Board has not yet taken up theissue of civilian oversight but as evi-denced by his appearance at the town-hall meeting, Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas will be the most likely cheer-leader for it when it does come beforethe body.

“Independent civilian oversight ofthe Los Angeles Sheriff’s Departmentis fundamental to achieve modern, con-stitutional policing,” said Sup. Ridley-Thomas. “We don’t need another reportto confirm the conditions within thejails. We need structural reform byindependent civilian oversight. Con-stitutional policing must be a normrather than an aspiration.”

OVERSIGHTContinued from page 3

March 20, 1852Martin R. Delany published “TheCondition, Elevation, Emigrationand Destiny of the Colored Peopleof the United States,” it was thefirst major statement of the Blacknationalist position. Delany said,“The claims of no people, accord-ing to established policy and usage,are respected by any nation, untilthey are presented in a nationalcapacity.” He added: “We are a

nation within a nation; as the Polesin Russia, the Hungarians inAustria, the Welsh, Irish, and

Scotch in the British dominions.”

Black Facts.com

THE THIRD ANNUALFATHER-SON,MENTOR-MENTEEBOWL-O-RAMA:Grandfathers, fathers, andsons, c’mon let’s bowl!If you are a big brother,mentor, or father figure,bring your little brother,mentee, or “son” too.The event includes bowl-ing competitions, raffles,educational resources,and more. WHEN:Saturday, 12 noon – 4p.m. WHERE: AMFMidtown Lanes, 4645Venice Blvd., LosAngeles, 90019. Thetickets are only $10 in

advance (bowling and shoes), $15 at the door.Tickets can be purchased online at fathersofthe-worldunite3.eventbrite.com. For additionalinfo, please contact Hasani Johnson athasanij@hotmail.com.

3/27

GRAND OPENING OF DOMINGUEZ HIGHSCHOOL HEALTH CENTER: Compton UnifiedSchool District (CUSD) families, students, andcommunity members will be joined by localleaders as they cut the ribbon to officially openSt. John’s Well Child & Family Center’s (SJW-CFC) brand new Dominguez High School HealthCenter. WHEN: Wednesday, 10 a.m. WHERE:St. John’s Well Child and Family Center - 15301San Jose St. Compton, CA 90221. WHO: Hon.

CongresswomanJanice Hahn, Hon.Mark Ridley-Thomas, LACountySupervisor, Hon.Micah Ali,President, Boardof Trustees,ComptonUnified SchoolDistrict(CUSD), JimMangia,President & CEO,St. John’s Well

Child & FamilyCenter, CynthiaMcClain-Hill,President,Board ofDirectors,LACEF, DarinBrawley,Superin-tendent,CUSD,DominguezHigh SchoolMarchingBand, Comptonparents, patients,and community members. Opening the newhealth center on the Compton Unified SchoolDistrict (CUSD) Dominguez High School cam-pus to serve students and community members ofall ages will make free or low-cost healthcareservices available to more than 36,000 Compton

3/22 – 3/24

FOR COLORED GIRLS... RETURNS TOCELEBRATE WOMAN'S HISTORY MONTH:To celebrate Woman’s History Month, DarkBlue Mondaze is reprising it's production of“for colored girls who have consideredsuicide/when the rainbow is enuf.” Accordingto Marshall, “people come and they see lots ofpatrons in the theater and they assume that weare making lots of money. But at $10 a ticket,no one is making money. We need to call uponthe people in the community that will give inorder to protect all that art means to acommunity and to society at large.” WHERE:Manazar Gamboa Theater, 1321 GundryAvenue, Long Beach CA. WHEN: March 24 @2:30 pm. March 22 & 23 at 7 p.m. For tickets,visit www.darkbluemondaze.ticketleap.com.For information on group sales,call (562) 264-5717.

3/23

THE LOS ANGELES CARES MENTORINGMOVEMENT: Volunteers interested in mentor-ing a young person are invited to this eventdesigned to inform, educate and recruit mentors.Research proves that mentoring is a low-cost,high-results solution to a deepening crisis in ourcommunity. Unfortunately, Black adult mentorsare grossly underrepresented as volunteers andour most precious resource; our youth are inneed of your presence, guidance and support.WHEN: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.WHERE: The African American FirefighterMuseum 1401 South Central Avenue, LosAngeles, CA 90021. Los Angeles CARESMentoring Movement is dedicated to recruitingand connecting mentors with local youth-serv-ing organizations to help guide our strugglingchildren to academic and social success. Join usin learning how you can support at-risk youthwho desperately need the guidance a mentorlike you can give. We will have representativesfrom National CARES and other youth organi-zations available to provide you various ways toparticipate as a mentor and to answer any ques-tions or concerns you may have moving forwardwith a rewarding experience working with ouryouth. For additional information, please con-tact Miriam Percell, Program Director at (323)596-0875. RSVP: by March 22nd, 2013 at (323)596-0875 or via email: losange-les@caresmentoring.org.

12 Thursday, March 21, 2013

e v e n t LISTINGS 3/2013L . A . W a t t s T i m e s C a l e n d a r , C o m p i l e d b y B r a n d o n I . B r o o k s , C o - M a n a g i n g E d i t o r

area families. The health center will providemedical and dental services, health insuranceenrollment and programs to improve the healthof Compton area families. SJWCFC, one of LosAngeles County’s largest non-profit communityhealth providers, will operate the DominguezHigh School Health Center. Opening the centeron the high school campus was supportedthrough a partnership with CUSD and the LosAngeles County Education Foundation (LACEF).

3/30

FREE N ONE PRAYER BREAKFAST: Thisyear’s breakfast speaker will be DeVon FranklinSenior Vice President for Columbia Pictures.Entertainment will be Gospel recording artistBeauWilliams.TheMaster ofCeremonyfor thebreakfastwill beradio per-sonalityRolandBynum ofKJLHradio.WHEN:Saturday,9 a.m.WHERE:Holman United Methodist Church the LosAngeles.

A SHOWCASE OF FILMS BY CHARYSSETIA HARPER: Filmmaker Charysse Tia Harperwas born and raised in Oxnard, California andis of Trinidadian descent. While living inLondon she fell in love with learning about dif-ferent cultures, and has focused on her own cul-ture in three of her projects: “The Other Side ofCarnival” is an award-winning film that looks atthe social and economic impact Carnival has onthe Trinidad & Tobago society; “T&T 50 inFifteen”, is a look at important events that haveoccurred during Trinidad & Tobago’s 50 yearsof independence; and “Panomundo”, examinesthe historyof Trinidad& Tobago’ssteelpan andits influencearound theworld. Q &A to followthe screen-ings.WHEN:Saturday,1:00 p.m.WHERE:ACBilbrewLibrary 150 E. El Segundo Blvd. Los Angeles,CA 90061. For more information please call(310) 538-3350 or visit olapublib.org.

ON GOINGMONDAY

FREE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISING: TheSmall Business Development Center (SBDC) isconducting free advising for business ownersand new entrepreneurs. WHEN: The informa-

tional workshops are scheduled every Mondayat 9 a.m. Some of the topics include how tostart a new business, licensing and permits, theplanning process, how to grow your existingbusiness, and how to obtain a business loan.WHERE: St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church10122 Compton Ave. Los Angeles. For moreinformation or to confirm your participation,please call Martha G. Castro (562) 212-0312or Email: wattsadvising@gmail.com.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY (NOW – 3/31)

BARBARA MORRISON PAYS TRIBUTE TODINAH WASHINGTON: Barbara Morrison,one of the top jazz, blues & R&B singers ofthe past 30 years, pays tribute to the Queen OfThe Blues Dinah Washington in an excitingnew show. WHEN: Now – Mar. 31, 2013.The event takes place on Friday and Saturdaynights starting at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees4 p.m. WHERE: Barbara Morrison PerformingArts Center4305 DegnanBlvd., #101,Los Angeles,CA 90008.Each perform-ance at theBarbaraMorrisonPerformingArts Centerwill be fol-lowed by aChampagne Reception forthe full price ticket holders. Tickets are goingfast, with eight of the 22 performances alreadysold out as of this writing. For more informa-tion and to purchase tickets, please call 310-462-1439 or logon towww.barbaramorrisonpac.com.

NOW – 4/7

CAAM PRESENTS GO TELL IT ON THEMOUNTAIN: The California AfricanAmerican Museum (CAAM) presents theexhibition “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Theexhibit showcases 24 artists who examineChristianity’s role in fostering political actionand social engagement. The exhibition’s cura-tors, Nery Gabriel Lemus and MarHollingsworth, utilized James Baldwin’s 1953novel of the same title, “Go Tell It On TheMountain,” as a point of departure to select avariety of pieces. The selections celebratefaith and, at times contrast, the oppositionalforces within Christianity and the underlyingtensions of religious control as well as humanhypocrisy. WHERE: CAAM is located at 600State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles.For more information visitwww.caamuseum.org or call (213) 744-2024.Parking is $10 per vehicle and available on39th and Figueroa streets.

TO MAKE A CALENDARSUBMISSION: Include event name, date(s),time, location, contact/RSVP information andadmission price, if any. Use BRIEF paragraphformat (no lists, line breaks, or all caps). All cal-endar submissions are space-permitting and maybe edited for brevity. Send submissions, alongwith any images, to brandon@lasentinel.net withthe subject heading “LAWT CommunityEvents.” Please include text in the body ofyour email, not in an attachment.

DeVonFranklin

Charysse Tia Harper

Photo by Kim C. Martin Photography

(L-R) Imani Burton, Shenika Travis, Ruby Livingston, Brianna Ham

ilton,

Kasi Yates, Jennifer Talton, Charnayne Brooks and Stevi Meredith

.

Barbara Morrison

L.A. County SupervisorMark Ridley-Thomas

CongresswomanJanice Hahn