An article appeared in today's Daily Breeze which tells us that City Councilman Steve Bradford announced at the recent city council meeting that we should be re-naming 132nd Street after our President. This comment was made to the paper. I think it summed things up nicely:
"Mr.Bradford,I would like to see you and other council members helping and supporting the parents of all the children with special needs that are havinf their school taken away. LAUSD is closing Sellery School in Gardena, not one council member has come to the aid of the parents in trying to keep the school open. Do you think renaming a street of yet not proven president regardless of color, why fight for rights when you the black are the first to keep pointing it out is more important than keeping a special needs school for elementary age children ?"
Well said. During this time of one of the worst recessions in our collective memory, Bradford is once again slipping back on his soap box, proposing we spend money on a new sign on a new president who hasn't been in office more than 2 months. It's clear that this proposal by Bradford is another attempt to grab attention. It's election time again and that's what Stevie does. First it was Baggy Pants, then the plastic bags and and now changing the name of 132nd Street. Rachel and Dan have of course gone along with this charade. Can we have a change in City Councilmembers?
My dear councilmembers, there's a RECESSION going on. What are you doing about Sellery School?
2/26/2009
Gardena street may be Obama namesake
Daily Breeze 02/26/09
President Barack Obama could soon have more in common with Martin Van Buren than sharing the same residence.
One already has a street named after him in Gardena, and the other may soon be bestowed with the same honor.
Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford on Tuesday proposed naming a two-block stretch of 132nd Street after the 44th president.
Obama Way would run past an elementary school and a park, from Ardath to Western avenues, Bradford said.
"This is not a political issue. This is cultural, historical," Bradford said. "I believe in giving people their due while they're here. I've run it by people and they've said, `Yes, the Obama Way.' It's catchy to folks."
Bradford believes there is not enough recognition of blacks in the community. Naming a street after the first black president would be a start, he said.
"How much do you know about contributions African- Americans have made?" Bradford said. "They don't tell you about George Washington Carver in school, or that a black man invented the cell phone. There are plenty of African-Americans who should have things named after them. This is one that is easier for people."
Bradford has been a strong supporter of Obama. He was chosen as a 35th Congressional District delegate for Obama at the Democratic National Convention. At the request of Obama administration officials, he applied for a job with the new administration.
Mayor Paul Tanaka did not say whether he supported the name change, but directed city staff to study the recommendation and report back to the council within two months.
"This has to be done very thoroughly and thoughtfully," Tanaka said. "It's important we don't make a unilateral decision citing history or a historical occasion. I've asked the city manager to put together a responsible group of individuals from the city to write an objective feasibility study."
Tanaka said he wants to know what it would cost to change the name, and whether it would affect any businesses or homes on the street.
City Manager Mitch Lansdell said he will assemble a list of legal and procedural requirements to change the name in the next few days.
"We've done it before and there is a process of notification and hearings," Lansdell said. "The city doesn't currently have a policy on naming."
In recent years, the city has renamed parts of streets after Huatabampo, a Gardena sister city in Mexico, and Chuck Nader, a former councilman and business owner.
Bradford said there are no addresses on that section of 132nd Street, so it would have a small impact.
"Finding the street is the easy part," Bradford said. "Getting consensus with council members and staff to move forward - that's where the challenge will be. I don't think there's going to be too many residents or businesses who are going to be opposed."
Bradford may already have a majority of support on the City Council for the street name change.
Councilwoman Rachel Johnson and Councilman Dan Medina said they like the idea.
"Having a street named after a newly elected president who has broken a lot of ground seems appropriate," Medina said. "As long as it doesn't cost a lot."
If the recommendation is approved, Bradford said he would invite the Obama family to the street name dedication. But he thinks the president would probably not want the recognition.
"If it was up to him, he'd probably say: `I don't need anything named after me,"' Bradford said.
President Barack Obama could soon have more in common with Martin Van Buren than sharing the same residence.
One already has a street named after him in Gardena, and the other may soon be bestowed with the same honor.
Gardena City Councilman Steve Bradford on Tuesday proposed naming a two-block stretch of 132nd Street after the 44th president.
Obama Way would run past an elementary school and a park, from Ardath to Western avenues, Bradford said.
"This is not a political issue. This is cultural, historical," Bradford said. "I believe in giving people their due while they're here. I've run it by people and they've said, `Yes, the Obama Way.' It's catchy to folks."
Bradford believes there is not enough recognition of blacks in the community. Naming a street after the first black president would be a start, he said.
"How much do you know about contributions African- Americans have made?" Bradford said. "They don't tell you about George Washington Carver in school, or that a black man invented the cell phone. There are plenty of African-Americans who should have things named after them. This is one that is easier for people."
Bradford has been a strong supporter of Obama. He was chosen as a 35th Congressional District delegate for Obama at the Democratic National Convention. At the request of Obama administration officials, he applied for a job with the new administration.
Mayor Paul Tanaka did not say whether he supported the name change, but directed city staff to study the recommendation and report back to the council within two months.
"This has to be done very thoroughly and thoughtfully," Tanaka said. "It's important we don't make a unilateral decision citing history or a historical occasion. I've asked the city manager to put together a responsible group of individuals from the city to write an objective feasibility study."
Tanaka said he wants to know what it would cost to change the name, and whether it would affect any businesses or homes on the street.
City Manager Mitch Lansdell said he will assemble a list of legal and procedural requirements to change the name in the next few days.
"We've done it before and there is a process of notification and hearings," Lansdell said. "The city doesn't currently have a policy on naming."
In recent years, the city has renamed parts of streets after Huatabampo, a Gardena sister city in Mexico, and Chuck Nader, a former councilman and business owner.
Bradford said there are no addresses on that section of 132nd Street, so it would have a small impact.
"Finding the street is the easy part," Bradford said. "Getting consensus with council members and staff to move forward - that's where the challenge will be. I don't think there's going to be too many residents or businesses who are going to be opposed."
Bradford may already have a majority of support on the City Council for the street name change.
Councilwoman Rachel Johnson and Councilman Dan Medina said they like the idea.
"Having a street named after a newly elected president who has broken a lot of ground seems appropriate," Medina said. "As long as it doesn't cost a lot."
If the recommendation is approved, Bradford said he would invite the Obama family to the street name dedication. But he thinks the president would probably not want the recognition.
"If it was up to him, he'd probably say: `I don't need anything named after me,"' Bradford said.
1/15/2009
Gardena businesses to be remodeled
Thirteen shops near Western Avenue and 162nd Street will receive city-sponsored facade remodeling as part of the city's plan to spruce up run-down areas on major streets.
The Daily Breeze
Thirteen Gardena businesses near Western Avenue and 162nd Street will receive city-sponsored facade remodeling as part of the city's ongoing plan to spruce up run-down areas on its major streets.
The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to spend about $131,615 of federal community development block grant funds to repaint, stucco and replace signs at a chiropractor's office at 1743 W. 162 nd St., and a retail strip at 16120-16142 S. Western Ave.
Design guidelines for businesses along Western and Rosecrans avenues and Crenshaw Boulevard were developed by an architectural team at USC's Center for Economic Development.
Each business owner will contribute $1,000 to the remodeling project, which is expected to take about two months to complete.
The Daily Breeze
Thirteen Gardena businesses near Western Avenue and 162nd Street will receive city-sponsored facade remodeling as part of the city's ongoing plan to spruce up run-down areas on its major streets.
The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to spend about $131,615 of federal community development block grant funds to repaint, stucco and replace signs at a chiropractor's office at 1743 W. 162 nd St., and a retail strip at 16120-16142 S. Western Ave.
Design guidelines for businesses along Western and Rosecrans avenues and Crenshaw Boulevard were developed by an architectural team at USC's Center for Economic Development.
Each business owner will contribute $1,000 to the remodeling project, which is expected to take about two months to complete.
1/05/2009
Gardena saggy pants law is not picked up
Gardena saggy pants law is not picked up
In the midst of the holiday rush this one got buried and has just resurfaced. Some of the readers' comments in The Breeze were too good to pass up:
"You are completely correct. Steve Bradford, once arrested for attempting to run over a police officer with his personal vehicle, is a horrible representative of the people in Gardena. His only concern is for his supporters and doesn't care about the south half of the city! His only goal is to get as much recognition for himself as he can. He is NOT who I would want representing me."
"It is so wonderful that Gardena City Council has solved all their other problems and has time to deal with this horrible travesty! This scourge of our nation!!! I think they ought to start their own canpaign geared towards dumb and wasteful proposals called "Pull Your Head Out!" LOL"
"mr bradford should give up his city council seat.....cant we find something a little more productive to do for the city of gardena..PLEASE "
In the midst of the holiday rush this one got buried and has just resurfaced. Some of the readers' comments in The Breeze were too good to pass up:
"You are completely correct. Steve Bradford, once arrested for attempting to run over a police officer with his personal vehicle, is a horrible representative of the people in Gardena. His only concern is for his supporters and doesn't care about the south half of the city! His only goal is to get as much recognition for himself as he can. He is NOT who I would want representing me."
"It is so wonderful that Gardena City Council has solved all their other problems and has time to deal with this horrible travesty! This scourge of our nation!!! I think they ought to start their own canpaign geared towards dumb and wasteful proposals called "Pull Your Head Out!" LOL"
"mr bradford should give up his city council seat.....cant we find something a little more productive to do for the city of gardena..PLEASE "
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