Inglewood. A city that is the home of the historical Showtime Los Angeles Lakers and a place where many talented, successful people come from such as my old school friend, Lawrence Jackson, Paul Pierce, Tyra Banks, Byron Scott, Lisa Leslie, Sonny Bono and the list goes on. The link in the title is the topic of discussion as approval on plans of what is to become of the current Hollywood Park & Casino site and now with Stan Kroenke, the owner of the St Louis Rams, seeking approval for a stadium that could possibly end a city that has longed to be back in the NFL with the return of the Rams. This opportunity doesn’t sit well with everyone, specifically Lawrence Jackson, who believes that money needs to go back to schools, parks, etc, instead of bringing in a “money machine”. LoJack has been trying to do his part to clean up the city so I share his frustration. But here’s where I completely differ on the outlook and opinion.
Yes, those things he mentioned need to happen, however without enough money in the city, they simply can not. Let’s be honest here, being a native, I know what Inglewood has to offer and currently while I will always support the city in anyway I can, it’s not somewhere I would raise my 5 year old son. A huge portion of the city, specifically surrounding the potential stadium, is occupied by renters. Another thing is the lack of tax money. With so many people living there but not paying property taxes, there is a huge deficiency in available funds, not to mention the people who simply don’t pay taxes at all or the unemployed rate. If the stadium is approved, the venue will bring more money to clean up the city. Think about it like this. When Staples Center was built, value started to rise. 10+ years after it’s still being developed and now has a Ritz Carlton which many celebrities, millionaires and billionaires alike, stay when they’re in town. Beverly Hills is no longer the must stay place on that side of town. Many high rise buildings went up.
Inglewood has more potential than DTLA. DTLA didn’t have as much room to develop as Inglewood in any shape or form. With so much depreciated properties in the city, many apartments, homes and defunct businesses, there is a ton of dirt that can soon be the placed with brand new homes that will bring the city more money through real estate turnover which generates more tax money as well as money from all proposed plans the city approves. We’re talking hundreds of millions over the next 10-15 years the city will use to fix the schools, playgrounds, parks, streets and beyond. Inglewood could become the beautiful place it once was. Without the development for what could be “Inglewood Live”, things will remain the same. So I’m fighting for this to happen. It must happen. Not to mention, job opportunities, athletes moving closer into those new potential homes (Ladera Heights can easily be expanded to home gated mansion communities) and more. The glass is always half full and in this case if the stadium is approved, the glass will be overflowed with juice everyone can drink from. The Forum could receive a massive renovation that may bring the Lakers back. Possibilities are endless. What do you think? Is this good for the city? I think it’s better than good which means it’s what’s best.














