|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Veronica Mackey
In the 13 years that Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. has held office, he has left an indelible mark. The “Bare-knuckled Mayor” as coined by Times writer Erika D. Smith, has spearheaded groundbreaking deals for his city that demand attention.
First, there was SoFi Stadium the award-winning sports and entertainment venue that brought billionaire L.A. Rams owner Stan Kroenke to the table. The L.A. Chargers soon followed.
From Day One, SoFi has been a magnet for the NFL and big-name entertainers like Beyonce, Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones. SoFi will host Super Bowl LXI in 2027, followed by the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
A stone’s throw away is Hollywood Park. It was in place before Butts came, but it’s now undergoing major renovation with high-end retail and housing to the mayor’s credit. The Kia Forum continues to be a major contender for the concert scene in Southern California, and a fierce competitor of the Crypto Arena in Downtown L.A.
Now that the Intuit Dome, home of the L.A. Clippers, is about to open, Inglewood is continuing its forward trajectory of providing more attractions, more jobs, and more revenue.
It’s a long way from the days when Inglewood was inhabited by Ku Klux Klan members, and where young Butts was overcharged to swim in the same pool as white kids. It’s a full circle moment now as white people are moving to the city ran rebuilt by a black man.
This Friday, June 28, Butts will officially welcome L.A. Clippers and Intuit Dome owner Steve Ballmer to his celebrated city, along with other prominent sports and entertainment figures, business and government leaders, community leaders and residents. The 2024 State of the City Economic Summit will begin with a VIP reception at 11am, followed by the program and luncheon from noon to 3pm.
Butts will, no doubt, talk about the City’s fiscal health, job creation and all the plusses his city has been blessed with since his initial election back in 2011. He’ll be his usual strong and confident self, boasting about his many accomplishments. And who could blame him? The city has changed visually as well as economically. Progress is seen in the endless street construction that frustrates drivers, but also announces that Inglewood is a city on the move, a dynamic, growing place where things are happening.
The once stagnant city used to be described by the Times as crime-ridden and gang-infested. Now they’re singing a new tune. From the brink of bankruptcy to billion dollar stadium, Mayor Butts and his beloved Inglewood have come full circle.
The SOTC Economic Summitt is open to the public. It is a paid event and registration is required. For tickets, go to https://bit.ly/3xrAEEV.
