SOUTH OF THE 10 – Inglewood Mayor James Butts has declared he will run for re-election despite the groundswell building against his leadership as it relates to the Inglewood Police Department.
Bryan Bostic died during a traffic stop less than a mile away from the Inglewood Sports and Entertainment District that houses the Kia Forum, SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome and YouTube Theatre that generates millions in revenue for the City.
Digital billboards installed around the entertainment and sports venues blare messaging that they “work 24/7 to provide millions” to fund the Inglewood Police Department that harasses and raids local businesses whose video surveillance systems capture their interactions with the public.
Should the Bostic family file a wrongful death lawsuit against the City, it will cost in the millions of dollars and will impact city services. Inglewood taxpayers have already spent nearly $10 million in legal fees defending the mayor and police department on a variety of legal matters.
Public documents indicate taxpayers are paying lawyers $750 PER HOUR to defend Mayor Butts!
The [body] cameras wouldn’t change the outcome of Bostic’s death.
Inglewood Mayor James Butts
Only ONE member of the Inglewood City Council has come out in support of Inglewood officers being outfitted with body cameras like the Los Angeles and Los Angeles County officers are outfitted with, and that is Gloria Gray. She represents the area where Bostic died in police custody.
“I will do everything in my power to ensure this matter is handled with the openness and urgency that it deserves,” said Gray during the Mar. 23 Inglewood city council meeting.
(Photo: Asm. Tina McKinnor / Instagram)
Other local, state, and federal officials, who represent the city of Inglewood, County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Asm. Tina McKinnor, Sen. Laura Richardson and Rep. Maxine Waters, have been silent on the matter of outfitting the Inglewood police department with body cameras despite them taking strong positions on matters related to our immigrant neighbors.
(Photo courtesy of Sen. Richardson’s office)
A coalition of activists have raised serious concerns about Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, whose continued refusal to support the implementation of body-worn cameras for Inglewood police officers—and whose dismantling of the city’s Police Oversight Commission (which has not convened in nearly nine years)—poses a significant threat to public safety.
“We believe this situation extends beyond residents. It directly impacts the millions of fans, families, and visitors who attend events at the Intuit Dome and nearby venues,” wrote Najee Ali, on behalf of other activists including longtime Inglewood resident Yolanda Davidson, in an open letter to Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. “Public safety in Inglewood is a shared responsibility, and the current lack of accountability measures creates a climate of fear and distrust.”
Bostic’s family and supporters have vowed to hold demonstrations EVERY Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in the 400 block of E. Hillcrest Blvd. to bring awareness to the police brutality that continues to plague Inglewood residents and visitors.
A protest will be held at the Intuit Dome at the corner of Century Blvd. and Prairie Ave. on Tuesday, Mar. 31, at 6:00 p.m. to ask Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to support the community demanding Inglewood police be outfitted with body cameras.
How can you help?
Contact your local elected officials and demand body cameras for Inglewood police officers.
Mayor James Butts – jbutts@cityofinglewood.org (310) 412-5301
| Staff | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Title | Phone | ||
| Gray, Gloria | City Councilwoman – District 1 | 310-412-8602 | ||
| Faulk, Dionne | City Councilwoman – District 4 | 310-412-8605 | ||
| Morales, Jr., Eloy | City Councilman – District 3 | 310-412-8603 | ||
| Padilla, Alex | City Councilman – District 2 | 310-412-8601 | ||
Asm. Tina McKinnor click here.
Sen. Laura Richardson click here.
Rep. Maxine Waters click here.
County Supervisor Holly Mitchell (213) 974-2222 or HollyJMitchell@bos.lacounty.gov