Apparently, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block has had enough of incompetent people ignoring racial intolerance and making decisions that are eroding UCLA’s reputation. This week he finally put his foot down, starting at the UCLA Medical Center.
The chancellor, who has the final say on all faculty hires, rescinded an offer to former UCLA medical resident, Dr. Douglas Sidell. You may recall in our previous reporting that Sidell was one of the perpetrators who contributed to the shameful humiliation and racial mistreatment of African-American surgeon, Dr. Christian Head, and to the retaliation of Dr. Joel Sercarz, the only doctor who stepped forward to substantiate Dr. Head’s claims of racial discrimination and retaliation at UCLA. Chancellor Block put the kibosh on the racial bullies’ efforts to bring Sidell back to UCLA from his University of Cincinnati College of Medicine gig. The really pitiful part of this whole mess is that the dean of the UCLA Medical School is a Black man named Dr. A. Eugene Washington and he had approved Sidell’s return! Dr. Washington should hang his head in shame and resign for letting Sidell’s contract reach the chancellor’s desk.
Also, the state NAACP adopted a resolution this week calling upon the California attorney general to examine racial relations at all the state-funded California universities in the wake of the independent review team’s report issued this month that stated, in a nutshell, that racism is rife and rising at UCLA.
ANOTHER WIN — Prosecutors dropped murder charges this week against Justin Marquis Scott, a 19-year-old Compton man, because Najee Ali and his tenacious band of community activists located and obtained videotaped evidence that Scott was nowhere near the crime when it was committed. Scott had been charged with the Oct. 8 double homicide shootings of his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend’s grandmother, as well as the attempted murder of her boyfriend. Scott’s attorney, Juliette Robinson, said Scott had an alibi on the day of the killings and she showed prosecutors surveillance footage from Scott’s home and from at least three businesses at two shopping centers located eight miles away from the shootings. “If it wasn’t for the videotapes, we believe this would have been another young Black man on death row,” Najee said.
GLORIA GRAY FOR 62nd A.D. — The following is the third paragraph of Gloria Gray’s seven-paragraph biography presented here so her fitness to hold the 62nd Assembly District seat can be compared with the one paragraph rendering of the qualifications of the other candidate, Autumn Burke, what-you-may-call-it’s daughter.
“Gray initiated the local business enterprise program and local banking program that allows local businesses to better compete for work and enhance the community within West Basin’s service area. Prior to her service in the water community, Gray dedicated a 36-year career to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services in the areas of community relations, administration, health care management and human resources, while maintaining active participation in local government and community organizations. In March 2012, she was reappointed for the third time as chair of the Inglewood Personnel Commission to ensure merit system principles were followed. In 2009, she was appointed to the Inglewood Unified School Personnel Commission (classified employees). Gray, an Inglewood resident, was elected to the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education in 1995, and served the board as vice president and president. Prior to her service on the school board, Gray was elected to serve as an executive board member for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee for the 51st Assembly District from 1994-98. In 2003, she was appointed and reappointed in 2007 to the Los Angeles County Hospitals and Health Care Delivery Commission by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.”
ABOUT THAT ELECTION — A group of Gardena elected officials and commissioners, West Basin water directors, business owners and community leaders are hosting a “Meet and Greet” for Gloria Gray on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at 13913 S. Van Ness Ave. in Gardena. Information:.
Several readers sent The Soulvine copies of letters they received from Burke, the other candidate in this race who is supported by people who are either close friends of her mother, former Supervisor Yvonne Burke, or who are beholden to the elder Burke for their political status — which is a subject we’ll explore thoroughly at another date. However, Burke detractors take issue with the contents of the letter they received. After noting that Burke claims in her letter to be “an active member of the Los Angeles African-American Women Political Action Committee (LAAAWPAC) and the New Frontier Democratic Club,” an in-the-know recipient said: “She is not a member of the New Frontier Democratic Club, as she just applied for membership and it does not become effective until January 2014. Consequentially, she has not been involved with us in any way. And the same goes for her alleged involvement with LAAAWPAC, which she just joined less than 90 days ago. She has not been involved with either organization, both of which were instrumental in the Garcetti campaign.” There is some public consternation about Burke’s employment claims, which we’ll discuss later — after more research is conducted.
IT’S SEBASTIAN RIDLEY-THOMAS TIME! — This 54th Assembly District candidate kicked much “bootay” in Culver City Monday night at his first debate with the two other fellows vying for that seat. He was the only one who appeared to know what he was talking about on all the topics presented to the candidates. He’s an erudite young man who obviously reads a lot.
Ridley-Thomas’ campaign office will open at 5444 Crenshaw Blvd., suite 100 on Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. So there’s plenty of time to go to his opening and then go to Gray’s meet-and-greet. Also, California Attorney General Kamala Harris will be a special guest at Mary Louise Oates and Bob Shrum’s event in support of Ridley-Thomas scheduled for Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at 850 S. Beverly Glen.
Ridley-Thomas roped in this week the endorsements of the SEIU California, which represents more than 700,000 workers throughout the state. In addition, he was endorsed by the United Firefighters of Los Angeles city, the California Department of Forestry Firefighters and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.
OTHER STUFF — The Los Angeles Police Protective League endorsed my buddy, Bob Hertzberg for state Senate and Sen. Holly Mitchell is holding an Obamacare Community Workshop on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd., where certified enrollment counselors will be available to assist the public in both English and Spanish.
Speaking of Spanish, a Latino political action committee this week kicked off a $20 million campaign to eject from office Republicans who oppose immigration reform being pushed by President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers. Yes!
I just learned that Emily Mason Ware, a giant in the community for as long as any of us can remember, died last Friday at age 97. I will write a full obituary on this extraordinary woman next week.
AND FINALLY — L.A. Times’ head: “Supt. John Deasy staying at L.A. Unified.” The Wave’s Soulvine head: “Damn!”
Race Man posted at 5:41 pm on Thu, Oct 31, 2013.
Betty,
You are such a liar. How can you comment on how all of the questions were answered at the 54th Assembly District debate when you arrived after the debate started? Had you been on time you would have been introduced with the other Wave reporter. How could they have overlooked your ugly presence? You must have read his notes so you could pretend you were there from the start.
You also lie when you say Didley-Thomas Jr. is erudite. Not ready for Prime Time is the impression he makes. When he said during the debate that he consulted with his mother on an issue that tells everyone he lacks experience. Also, it tells you what he thinks of his father’s opinion.
By the way, every disparaging thing you say about Autumn Burke and her mother, applies to Didley-Thomas Jr. and his father. The question is which blood lines you prefer. Yvonne Burke’s record of accomplishments clearly outshines that of Mark R-Thomas.
For your information, when you join the New Frontier Democratic Club your membership is effective the day you pay your dues. You need to get your facts right. Excuse me, you make your living by getting the facts wrong.