It appears the fix is in.Â
In response to Congresswoman Maxine Waters scathing rebuke to the Inglewood Transit Connector it appears that Inglewood’s Mayor and city councilmembers have gone on the offensive by announcing that it has named Elevated Inglewood Partners , a public-private partnership consortium, as the best value proposer for it’s proposed Inglewood Transit Connector project.Â
And they cancelled this week’s city council meeting to possibly with the hopes of not addressing the public who may have comments on the matter.
As 2UrbanGirls and other publications noted last week, U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arguing that funds slated for the proposed multi-billion dollar project would be ” better spent on programs that improve access to affordable housing”, additionally adding that she would do anything in her power to stop a project that she once notably touted having raised $20 million dollars for it, but according to her own words a project that is “totally unnecessary and much too costly”.
After reviewing the letter criticizing the Inglewood Transit Connector it’s clearly obvious that Congresswoman Waters, whom initially was a staunch proponent of the project, had a “change of heart” due to a better understanding of the NEGATIVE impact of the project and almost a feeling of betrayal by Inglewood officials who also deceived the general public about these projects under the premise that “no public dollars would be used” towards them.
Words matter and in Waters scathing rebuke of the transit connector not only did she criticize the necessity and its cost but she also criticized the process in which the Inglewood Transit Connector was approved unanimously by the mayor and council. According to Waters, “…when constituents look at how we make decisions and what our priorities are this is the worst example”.
If this is how Congresswoman Waters feels, shouldn’t these words alone be alarming and damning in itself as a call to action for Inglewood voters to consider a course correction so to speak to elect politicians that are not only committed to complete and total transparency but whom also represent the will of the voters they are elected to serve?
As I’ve mentioned to you and your readers before, elections have consequences and what would be a more fitting way to put a stop to this project and the mayor and council’s seemingly, unwaivering penchant to bow to the will of its multi-billionaire donors, should no longer elect councilmembers who simply rubberstamp Mayor Butts’ agenda but instead vote their conscience, even if it means offending the likes of Steve Ballmer, Stan Kroenke and the like whom appear to be hell bent on greasing the pockets of a select few politicians while circumventing the will of the voters and taxpayers.
If you need further proof, are we to believe that the mayor and council just so happened to be at Super Bowl 56 on their own dime or did Inglewood Police Department open the door and look the other way?
Shouldn’t Congresswoman Waters words serve as marching orders to charge course?
In November, if voters take the esteemed Congresswoman’s words to heart not only can they express their disdain for the Inglewood Transit Connector by electing new Councilmembers in District 3 (Eloy Morales) and 4 (Dionne Faulk’s) seats, we also have a unique opportunity to send a glaring message and warning to these billionaire developers because for far too long this partnership isn’t working.
Like I said earlier, words matter and although Congresswoman Waters letter questions the necessity of the Inglewood Transit Connector, more importantly it questions whether or not Inglewood elected officials are serving or have ever served in the best interest of the people they were elected to serve.
Voters should ask themselves this basic question when going to the polls in November, while considering the the painful but enlightening hard truths by our esteemed Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
Candidates, get your money up because to be included in the Congresswoman’s voting guide isn’t free.
Marvin McCoy is an opinion writer for 2UrbanGirls.com and the SouthBayExaminer.com.