Diane Edith Watson: the Iconic Living Legend of Los Angeles Politics
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VOL. LXXXVII NO. 6, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years, The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself.” THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 Diane Edith Watson: The Iconic Living Legend of Los Angeles Politics Vice President Kamala has traveled the world and her family. She was born Harris. believes that understanding in Los Angeles in County The iconic political the culture, mentality and General Hospital. Her fa- leader still spends her days customs around the world, ther, William Allen Louis (although quarantined) on has played a large part in Watson, was one of the the phone talking, mentor- allowing her to understand first Black officers hired ing and issuing advice to and succeed in all of her in LAPD and she says her some of the most influen- positions, over her long mother, Dorothy Elizabeth tial leaders from Los An- and heralded political ca- O’Neal Watson, was an geles to Washington D.C. reer. educator and one of the or- Over her five decades in In an interview with The ganizers of Holman United Diane Edith Watson COURTESY PHOTO Diane Watson (m) on the podium at her district office in Los Angeles with the late John Mack (l) and Willis Edwards (r). COURTESY PHOTO BY DANNY J. BAKEWELL, JR. legendary political icon had had already spoken with a Executive Editor already been on the phone cadre of Washington D.C. with House Speaker Nancy leaders, all in the hopes that public service, Diane Wat- Sentinel, Watson spoke Methodist Church on Ad- Diane Edith Watson has Pelosi, was coordinating her the retired congresswoman son has been a school board about her life and says ams Blvd., although Wat- lived a full life and shows pink and green wardrobe was feeling up to making member, a California sena- that the basis of her acts- son is and has remained, to no signs of slowing down. for the inauguration of her the journey to the January tor, a member of the U.S. of-service comes from her the day, a devout Catholic On the morning of our in- Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Presidential Inauguration Congress, and has served upbringing and the support terview, the 87-years-young sister, Kamala Harris, and of President Joe Biden and as a U.S. Ambassador. She and lessons learned from {See WATSON A-10} Marking Black History Month, the round- table set many questions before Richmond BY STACY M. BROWN with racial equity in mind. NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Mary Wilson was a friend to the Black Press of America, a neighbor to the world, and the radiance she exuded never seem to fade. At 76, the Supremes legend is gone too soon. Wilson died suddenly late Monday, Feb. 8, at her home just outside of Las Vegas. “I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Mo- town family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes,” Motown Mary Wilson died late Monday, Feb. 8, at her home just outside of Las Vegas. FILE PHOTO Cedric Richmond COURTESY PHOTO {See WILSON A-6} {See FULL STORY A-8} Councilwoman Emma Sharif Launches Bid for Mayor of Compton FILE PHOTOS Councilwoman Emma Sharif www.lasentinel.net {See FULL STORY A-6} A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 Maxine Waters Provides Solutions at COVID-19 (Telephone) Town Hall BY BETRAM KELLER Congresswoman Waters late December—2020. “I income of not more than worth $15 billion will be Contributing Writer (CA-43), Chair of the House am proud to have secured 80% of the area median going through small com- Financial Services Commit- $25 billion in emergency income.” Applications also munity banks, small credit “I remain committed to tee said, “We successfully rental assistance—we need require proof of housing unions; and [another] $15 working with my col- negotiated a new round of much more,” Waters said in instability, or have one or billion will be going through leagues and the Biden/Har- stimulus checks of up to late-December. She was a more household members CDFI, MDI SBA, or micro ris administration to ensure $600 dollars per person, and central endorser of the $25 dependent on unemploy- loan intermediary,” said more relief,” said Con- extended unemployment billion fund, equipping the ment benefits. Ouertatani. FILE PHOTO gresswoman Maxine benefits to March 14.” 43rd District and other Regarding the amount of “Chairman Waters Congresswoman Water’s Waters in Thursday’s Town The Congresswoman renters’ eligibility for finan- funding to be received, “Los secured, as a part of the most expressed her take on poli- Hall. discussed President cial benefits—to assist with Angeles County is receiving recent COVID-19 package, cy changes and selected her team of experts to A town hall held via Biden’s upcoming propos- unpaid rent/utility pay- $160 million, and LosAnge- $12 Billion for Minority share information concern- telephone, provided vital al, pledging his efforts to ments, grant free access to les City is receiving $118 Depository Institutions ing Covid-19 at Thursday's information regarding pan- increase the second round case management services million.” In regards of how (MDI) and Community Town Hall. “I am proud to demic policy changes, of stimulus checks, to as well as tenant—landlord to apply, Ouertatani said, “In Development Financial have secured $25 billion in finances of community increase the minimum mediation. Los Angeles—HCIDLA, is Institutions (CDFI),” told by emergency rental assis- projects, as well as wage, to allow more bene- “Once you qualify for still in the process of setting U.S. House Financial Serv- tance—we need much COVID-19 vaccination fits for renters and property assistance, an administrative up that program, but hope- ices Committee Staff Direc- more," Maxine Waters efforts and updates across owners whom are affected entity will send a payment fully more information will tor, Kristofor Erickson. He stated in late-December. Los Angeles. Director of by the pandemic, and also a directly to the landlord,” be coming out from their said, “These institutions Los Angeles Department of $400 billion fund that will stated U.S. House Financial office soon.” play a critical role as lenders billion of PPP loans to over Public Health, Dr. Barbara expand mass vaccinations Services Committee Staff The week of January 11, in low- and moderate- 221,000 small businesses.” Ferrer, and staff directors at and reopens schools. Director, Charla Ouertatani. 2021, SBA, in consultation income communities, and In essence, globally, we the U.S. House of Repre- With more set on the “Property owners can also with the U.S. Treasury communities of color … it is are all in pandemic limbo; a sentatives Committee on horizon, Congresswoman’s apply for assistance or apply Department, reopened the a critical role in helping state of nervous flux with Financial Services, Charla town hall was mostly on behalf of the tenant. As Paycheck Protection Pro- businesses minimize some people clinching onto any Ouertatani and Kristofor focused the 43rd District’s far as who is eligible to get gram (PPP), accepting of the economic impact. As sense of previous normalcy. Erickson, were among the immediate access and this money—it is not for all applications for a First Draw of August 2020, we saw 432 Generally, just as concerned participating speakers. awareness of the multi-bil- renters. It is only for renters PPP Loan until March 31, CDFI’s and MDI’s have {See WATERS TOWN To open the meeting, lion-dollar fund passed in that have a household 2021. “The first PPP Loan provided more than $16.4 HALL on A-11} Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital Receives $500,000 BofA Grant to Train and Hire More Healthcare Professionals in South L.A. SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE vided to a healthcare organi- high-quality nurses and than more affluent areas. zation in South Los Angeles other essential healthcare The grant is part of Bank To help meet the - will enable MLKCH to workers in a high-need of America’s focus on criti- increased demand for high- train and hire more than 200 area.” cal needs like healthcare and ly-trained nurses and essen- new health care profession- The lack of access to workforce development, tial healthcare workers in als including nurse resi- high-quality healthcare especially for local commu- medically-underserved dents, nurse fellows and col- providers is a key driver of nities of color disproportion- areas like South Los Ange- lege health scholars. acute health disparities in ately impacted economical- les, Martin Luther King, Jr. “This is a critical contri- the nation. Significant parts ly and medically by the pan- Community Hospital bution to building the kind of South Los Angeles are demic. (MLKCH) announced it has of healthcare workforce that designated as Medically “As we consider the received a half million dol- is needed in socially and Underserved and Healthcare challenges that our commu- FILE PHOTO lar grant from Bank of economically vulnerable Professional Shortage areas nities are facing – from the Studies have shown that port MLKCH’s partnership America to expand its communities,” said Dr. by the Healthcare Resources health crisis brought on by health care workers are with COPE Scholars, a pro- healthcare worker career Elaine Batchlor, CEO of & Services Administration the coronavirus to the need more likely to stay in the gram that brings college stu- programs. Martin Luther King, Jr. (HRSA). In 2017, a study for progress on racial equal- area where they train.