November 2025 – 1man1vote

Organic Recycling Reset

A New Phase in Inglewood Waste Management as Organics Recycling Requirements Expand

The City of Inglewood is entering a new phase of waste management as Republic Services continues implementing organic recycling requirements mandated under California Senate Bill 1383. The statewide law, designed to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, directs all jurisdictions to remove organic materials from landfills to help decrease methane emissions. Methane produced from decomposing food and yard waste has long been recognized as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas levels, prompting California to adopt some of the nation’s most aggressive organics diversion goals.

Organic waste encompasses a broad array of everyday materials: fruit and vegetable scraps, meat and dairy remnants, grains, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, food-soiled paper, and a full range of yard trimmings. For Inglewood residents, these materials now belong in the green organics cart, which was rolled out citywide beginning in 2022. While many residents were accustomed to placing only lawn debris in green bins, the new program requires adding household food waste and eligible paper to the same container. Republic Services has emphasized that proper separation is essential for efficient processing and compliance.

Under SB 1383, waste haulers and cities must conduct routine contamination monitoring. In practice, this means Republic Services staff periodically inspect carts to verify correct use and reduce mixing between recyclables, organics, and landfill trash. These inspections have been observed throughout Inglewood neighborhoods and, according to user-generated reports across various social media platforms, have generally been met with a mix of curiosity and adjustment as residents acclimate to the expanded rules.

The processing cycle itself is designed to support a broader circular economy. After green cart materials are collected, trucks transport the waste to facilities where it is turned into compost. The resulting product becomes nutrient-rich fertilizer used by landscapers, golf courses, and private customers. Inglewood residents also benefit from an annual compost giveaway, which has become an opportunity for community engagement around the new recycling practices.

SB 1383 also contains a major food recovery provision aimed at reducing statewide food insecurity. The law requires the recovery of a share of edible food that would otherwise be discarded and supports redistribution networks that serve residents in need. This element of the law has received positive attention online from organizations involved in food assistance programs, who see the mandate as a promising complement to environmental objectives.

In addition to organics collection, Republic Services continues to operate the city’s recycling and trash programs with updated guidance. Accepted recyclable materials include plastics numbered one through seven, metal cans, glass containers, and a wide variety of paper products and cardboard. Trash carts remain reserved for non-recyclable, non-organic items such as polystyrene foam, broken dishware, plastic utensils, diapers, packing materials, pet waste, and other routine household refuse.

The city also provides several ancillary waste services. Residents may request unlimited bulk item pickups each year, and commercial customers may schedule larger removals for a fee. Household batteries are collected separately when placed bagged on top of recycling carts. Inglewood participates in the regional holiday tree recycling program, accepting undecorated trees beginning the first collection day after Christmas. For medication disposal, a designated drop-off is maintained at a local pharmacy, with additional permanent sites listed through federal resources.

As Inglewood residents continue adapting to the evolving regulatory environment, the city and Republic Services remain focused on education, annual tenant training requirements, and consistent program enforcement. The transition marks a significant shift in everyday waste habits, but one aligned with the state’s long-term climate strategy and community-level environmental stewardship.

Some of these changes may come as a surprise to many Inglewood residents. If so the general customer service line for Republic Services, which handles recycling and waste collection, is (800) 299-4898.

Keep in mind that Republic Services is a large company, and some areas may have a local office with a different number, or a different number for specific services. The search results show this number is used for many California locations like Inglewood, Compton, and Whittier. If you need a more specific contact, you might want to visit the Republic Services “Contact Us” page and enter your address to find the number for your specific service area.

Stay Tuned

Ooh Child

In early September 2025, human remains were discovered in the front trunk of a Tesla impounded at a Hollywood tow yard. The car had been ticketed, towed, and abandoned on a street in the Hollywood Hills.

The vehicle is registered to the singer D4vd (born David Anthony Burke), a rising artist with millions of monthly listeners, known for songs like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me.”

The body was eventually identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been reported missing in April 2024 from Lake Elsinore, California. The medical examiner described the remains as severely decomposed, and determined the death appeared to have occurred some time before the car was impounded. Authorities are investigating the case as a homicide, though no official charges have been announced.

According to police, the Tesla had been parked on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills for weeks. Transforming this, the impound came after a parking citation for violating a 72-hour parking rule; two days after that citation, the car was towed. Then, on September 8, tow yard workers alerted police to a foul odor; officers searched the car and discovered the remains in a bag inside the front trunk.

Investigators later executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills residence associated with D4vd. Electronics, computers, and other items were seized. Meanwhile, D4vd canceled the rest of his U.S. tour dates.

Family, fans, and community members have expressed deep grief. A vigil was held in Lake Elsinore, her hometown. According to reports, Celeste had a “Shhh…” tattoo on her right index finger – a detail that drew attention because photos show the same tattoo on D4vd’s finger. However, authorities have not confirmed a personal relationship or romantic involvement between the two.

Law enforcement officials claim that D4vd has not cooperated with the investigation. As of now, no formal suspect has been publicly named, including D4vd. The cause of death also remains under review, due to the advanced state of decomposition.

This case has drawn widespread media attention and social media discussion — in part because of the singer’s fame, the shocking circumstances, and questions about how and when the girl’s body ended up in his vehicle. But as of now, public reporting remains focused on confirmed facts: the identity of the victim, her disappearance, the discovery in the Tesla, the investigation, and the cooperation of Burke (D4vd).

As I was watching the story unfold, I started to wonder about how this twenty something unknown somehow became so well known. One does not just show up and perform at the Hollywood Bowl, without some degree of clout. Reading further, I recognized his last name Burke. Early in my career, I was a part of a decent band. Locally, in Dayton Ohio, we often showed up at the Lakeview Palladium, as an opening act.

We crossed paths with another group of kids by the name of the Five Stairsteps. They were experiencing some degree of success – ahead of the Jackson 5. I met one of the Stairstep kids – a young man named Kenny Burke. My curiosity paid off, and I discovered that Kenny of Five Stairsteps fame is the grandfather of young David Burke.

Bingo or perhaps Eureka is the better word. Kenny – now known as Keni Burke has remained tangentially relevant in the music business. Since the days with his other four siblings, when Burke recorded the Stan Vincent hit record

, “Ooo Child” his most recent original releases were the single “So Real” in 2011 and the album “Nothin’ But Love” in 1998. His older hit, “Risin’ to the Top,” remains popular and has seen recent re-releases and remixes. The mystery surrounding Keni’s grandson remains a mystery as of this writing, but the mystery surrounding the young man’s talent as well as his rise to the top is for now resolved. We wish him well, and hope that the evolving mystery of the life and death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez is also resolved and that her memory will be a blessing.

The Fight For Food

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, on Friday sharply condemned the federal government’s handling of food-assistance payments as part of the ongoing funding standoff, and directed families in her district to local relief resources while the legal fight over SNAP continues.

Ms. Waters — the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee — issued a statement in early November criticizing the administration’s move to withhold or limit November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the partial government shutdown and urging residents to seek immediate help from community programs. Her office emphasized that people who rely on SNAP should also look to local food banks, school districts, and municipal services for emergency assistance.

The dispute over November SNAP funding has been resolved only temporarily by the courts, leaving many households uncertain. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order earlier this month that briefly paused a lower-court mandate requiring full SNAP disbursements; the administration has continued to press the matter in the appeals courts. At the same time, appeals judges and lower courts have issued competing rulings and injunctions, meaning distribution practices have varied by state and some jurisdictions moved quickly to process full payments while others provided partial benefits or used state funds to fill gaps. These legal developments have affected roughly tens of millions of recipients nationwide.

Waters’ statement pointed constituents to concrete, actionable resources in Los Angeles County and in the cities that fall within California’s 43rd Congressional District — including Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale, Compton and Torrance — where municipal and nonprofit networks are expanding emergency assistance while the federal picture remains unsettled. Her office listed phone and web contacts for food help and programs that serve seniors, families and young children.

Practical options for Angelenos in need right now include dialing 2-1-1 (the county’s social-services directory) or visiting the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s online pantry finder to locate nearby partner agencies and pop-up distributions; the food bank’s locator lets users search by ZIP code for up-to-date pantry hours and contact details. City residents can also call 3-1-1 to learn about FamilySource Centers and weekly food distributions for qualifying low-income families.

Families with infants or young children are reminded that WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — continues to operate separately from SNAP and may provide immediate nutrition support, breastfeeding assistance and referrals. California’s WIC program maintains a toll-free line (1-800-852-5770) and local WIC clinics where eligibility can be confirmed and enrollment expedited.

Congresswoman Waters’ release and multiple community partners underscored a final, practical point: while courts and officials litigate funding questions, many relief systems remain active at the county and city level. Residents in need are advised to contact 2-1-1, the LA Regional Food Bank’s pantry finder, their school district or local FamilySource Center, and WIC if they qualify — and to call municipal aging or social-service lines for senior-specific referrals. Waters’ office also encouraged community members to share information about local distributions, so neighbors know where to find food now.

UPDATE
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has given the Trump administration until 4 p.m. ET on Monday to submit an additional brief to support its request for a stay on a lower court’s ruling that it must pay the November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in full by using funds from other Child Nutrition Programs during the federal government shutdown.

Ms. Waters written Statement

Prepare To Be Primaried

EDITORIAL

The Democratic senators who voted to advance the funding bill, handing the MAGA Republicans an opportunity to end ACA were Dick Durbin (IL), John Fetterman (PA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Tim Kaine (VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Jacky Rosen (NV), and Jeanne Shaheen (NH). Independent Senator Angus King (ME), who caucuses with the Democrats, also voted in favor.

The Senate has advanced the funding bill (by procedural vote) but it has not yet passed Congress or been signed into law. It still needs a final vote in the Senate and then must be approved by the House of Representatives.

President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010, and next to Roe –v- Wade, the ACA has been on the resident’s seek and destroy list every since President Obama “clowned” Donald Trump was at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where he heavily mocked trumplethinskin over the “birther” conspiracy theory.

Catherine Cortez Masto, Jacky Rosen, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, and Angus King (I)—are up for re-election in 2026, and could face formidable primary challenges. Dick Durbin and Jeanne Shaheen are retiring and not seeking re-election in 2026. Unless John Fetterman switches to the MAGA party, he will not face his primary challenge until 2028.

Thank you all for your service, albeit a service to which no snitch will be rewarded.

SNAP No More

Supreme Court Ruling Deepens SNAP Uncertainty Amid Government Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown drags into its fifth week, the Supreme Court’s decision late Friday to temporarily block a lower court order requiring full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments has left millions of low-income Americans uncertain about where their next meal will come from. The ruling, issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, pauses full benefit disbursements while an appeals court considers the Trump administration’s request to limit payouts to available contingency funds.

The dispute centers on how far the administration can stretch limited federal reserves during the shutdown. Two district courts had ordered the government to use a $4.6 billion emergency fund — and other resources if necessary — to fully fund the roughly $9 billion monthly SNAP program. The administration pushed back, arguing that spending beyond that reserve would overstep executive authority and violate congressional power over appropriations. Solicitor General D. John Sauer warned that once states drew down federal funds, “there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds.”

Despite the legal limbo, some states acted swiftly to protect residents from hunger. Governors in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Hawaii ordered their agencies to release full November benefits immediately after the lower court’s Thursday ruling. In Wisconsin, $104 million in aid reached more than 300,000 households within hours. Oregon’s governor praised overnight efforts by state employees to ensure families could shop for groceries by Friday morning. Similar actions occurred in California, New Jersey, and Washington state, while others like Colorado, New York, and Massachusetts said full payments could be distributed over the weekend.

But for many families, the relief has been inconsistent. Recipients in states waiting for federal guidance faced empty electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts, forcing them to line up at local food pantries. At an emergency food distribution in Philadelphia, volunteers with the Mitzvah Food Program reported surging demand on Friday. In Newark, New Jersey, college student and single mother Jasmen Youngbey said her balance showed “$0” as she waited in line for groceries. Later that day, she finally received her November SNAP benefits — a temporary reprieve amid ongoing confusion.

The stakes are high: SNAP, once known as the food stamp program, serves about one in eight Americans. The program’s beneficiaries include working families, seniors, and children — many of whom rely on consistent monthly support to make ends meet. For a family of four, full SNAP benefits can approach $1,000 per month, though most receive less based on income levels. A 35% reduction, as initially proposed by the administration, would have forced millions to skip meals or depend entirely on charity food banks already stretched thin.

The administration maintains that it cannot legally expand spending without congressional authorization. However, critics argue that the government’s reluctance to use discretionary reserves reflects misplaced priorities. The website 1man1vote.com reported that the construction of a privately funded “White House Ballroom” has continued uninterrupted during the shutdown — an image of opulence that drew criticism as families nationwide faced food insecurity. Lawmakers from both parties questioned the optics of luxury renovations proceeding while essential nutrition programs teetered on the edge.

Meanwhile, several states, including Delaware, took independent action to cushion the blow. Delaware Governor Matt Meyer announced the use of state funds to provide emergency food aid, describing it as a stopgap while Washington sorts out the legal battle. Other states, like North Carolina and Louisiana, opted for partial payments while preparing to distribute the remainder if courts reaffirm full funding.

The broader crisis highlights how dependent modern food security has become on the stability of federal governance. As the appeals court weighs its next move, Justice Jackson’s order will remain in effect for at least 48 hours after that ruling, giving the administration an opening to return to the Supreme Court. Until then, SNAP households exist in a holding pattern — their access to food determined not by need, but by the pace of legal procedure and political impasse.

At a time when food inflation remains high and food pantries are overwhelmed, the delay in SNAP funding underscores the human toll of bureaucratic gridlock. Whether full payments resume or partial distributions continue, the episode has already exposed deep vulnerabilities in the nation’s safety net — and the lives that hang in the balance when politics disrupts the most basic necessity of all: food.

The MESSAGE to America

If you live within the boundaries of Los Angeles’ 43rd congressional district that encompasses a significant portion of the South Bay and South Los Angeles.

Your district includes:

The entire cities of Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Gardena, and Lomita.

Portions of the cities of Los Angeles (including LAX and the neighborhood of Watts) and Torrance.

Census-designated places like Lennox, Del Aire, Alondra Park, West Athens, and Westmont.

In light of the longest and most destructive government shutdown in United States history, your United States Congressional representative, Maxine Waters addresses the nation with a message for you.

The Message

Click Here

https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/view_newsletter.aspx?id=107266&c=CA43MW

Calling All Cars

During a recent meeting of the Carson City Council in the City of Carson, California, a heated discussion emerged around the city’s paratransit service program — specifically the contract for its “Dial-A-Ride” service for seniors and disabled residents. The focal point: the proposed shift in contract from the longtime local provider Yellow Cab of Los Angeles (and its affiliate) to the ride-hailing giant Uber. From the remarks of Councilman Jawane Hilton of District 1, who anchored much of the discussion, the decision appears to have been shaped by resident testimony, service-quality concerns, and the unique transportation needs of seniors and disabled individuals.

Councilman Hilton opened by noting that Carson residents spoke “clearly and passionately” about the dependable service they have received from Yellow Cab over decades — especially for seniors and disabled riders. According to his account, Yellow Cab has built relationships, trust, and service protocols familiar to clients who rely on curb-to-curb rides for medical appointments, trips to visit loved ones, and maintaining a quality of life. From his viewpoint, the motion to award the Dial-A-Ride contract to Uber — even though Uber currently lacks handicap-accessible vehicles and has a record of service complaints — risked undermining those relationships.

Hilton proposed a compromise: rather than sole-sourcing the service to Uber, split the contract so that Yellow Cab would continue providing transportation specifically for the seniors and disabled passengers, while also launching an outreach and education initiative to boost awareness of the service, aiming to improve access for residents who may not yet be familiar with how to use the program. His substitute motion prevailed after debate, ensuring that the senior and disabled segment would remain protected rather than shifted entirely to a new vendor.

The significance of the issue extends beyond the simple vendor choice. At stake is access, continuity of care, and service equity. Riders with disabilities or mobility constraints often rely not only on a ride being available, but on the driver’s familiarity with their needs, the timing and reliability of the ride, and the ability to book via phone rather than purely through smartphone apps. During the council meeting, residents and disability advocates emphasized that the ability to call in, the familiarity of the driver, and the consistency of service matter as much as cost or app-based convenience.

From publicly available meeting summaries, staff had recommended awarding the contract to Uber as the single contractor after a standard RFP. But following vigorous public comment and council debate, the Council directed city staff to develop a dual-provider approach, allocating trips between two vendors and returning to the Council with revised contract drafts. The city emphasized that any interim contract must include termination and performance remedies, ensure phone-based booking for residents unable to use apps, preserve the role of local taxi drivers, and prevent service disruptions during the transition.

From the resident perspective represented by Councilman Hilton, the key concerns were: (1) whether shifting to Uber alone would disrupt the continuity of service for seniors and disabled riders; (2) whether Uber’s fleet is equipped (or lacking) in terms of accessible vehicles for those who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids; (3) whether an app-based dispatch-only model sufficiently addresses the population in Carson who depend on low-cost, accessible transportation and might struggle with smartphone-only scheduling.

By securing a split contract and preserving Yellow Cab’s longstanding role, the council effectively hedged against the risk of service gaps or degradation. Councilman Hilton’s argument was that while innovation and new service models can offer efficiencies, the city cannot compromise the quality of service for vulnerable populations in the name of cost or modernization alone.

At the same time, the decision reflects a balancing act in municipal procurement: on the one hand, the possibility of integrating ride-hail platforms like Uber which may promise more flexibility or lower cost; on the other hand, the imperative to maintain local vendor capacity, ensure equity of access (especially for non-smartphone users), and preserve service relationships tailored to vulnerable users. The outreach and education component proposed by Hilton also signals a recognition that simply changing providers is not enough — residents need to know how to navigate the service.

One of the broader themes here is the intersection of public procurement, senior and disability services, and the evolving ride-share economy. As traditional taxi services face competition from app-based alternatives, municipalities like Carson are tasked with ensuring that vulnerable riders are not left behind in the transition. Issues of accessibility, trust, reliability, and digital literacy become just as important as pricing and vendor innovation.

Councilman Hilton’s emotional tone (“Yes I was passionate but at times that is what is required,” as he put it) underscored the stakes from his perspective: that seniors and disabled residents of Carson must not see a drop in service simply because of a shuffle in vendors. It was not about rejecting Uber outright, but about preserving local service infrastructure and ensuring that the replacement or addition of vendors does not erode service quality.

In sum: The City of Carson Council’s decision — guided by Councilman Hilton’s advocacy — reflects a cautious approach to modernizing paratransit services. By approving a substitute motion to split the contract rather than awarding it solely to Uber, the council upheld continuity for seniors and disabled riders via Yellow Cab while opening the door to new service models and outreach efforts. The resolution therefore attempts to balance innovation with equity, responsiveness with reliability, and cost-efficiency with human needs. The key test ahead will be the implementation: whether the dual-provider model maintains the service levels residents expect, whether the access and education programs reach the intended audience, and whether the transition avoids disruptions for those most dependent on the service.

As the writer of this story, I try to avoid editorialising and conflating personal perspectives into a piece, however I put myself through college, driving a yellow cab, and spent considerable time behind the wheel of a Super Shuttle, or Uber and recently retired as a Metro driver. I was often in the seat, servicing Carson residents on the 246 line down Avalon.

As a rule, passengers with disabilities will most always find comfortable accommodations on Metro buses, but the few times that I needed to accommodate a wheel chair when driving an Uber – it was not a great experience, because my vehicle was a compact SUV, when they should have ordered a Comfort, or even an Uber Black. The range and size of vehicle requests, sight unseen can sometimes vary, and cancellation is not always pleasant. When Councilman Hilton reached out to me, I was intrigued by the opportunity to help spread the word about such a dynamic issue, that while smoothed over in compromise, it may yet face continuous debate.

Stay Tuned.