I cram to understand a lot of the madness that goes on in L.A., and today is no different.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Commission is going to hold a hearing regarding whether or not to recommend to keep the L.A.P.D.s new Administration Center named after Chief William H. Parker.
Former Police Chief, turned City Councilmember Bernard Parks, offered a motion, which was passed out of committee, to keep the current name of Parker Center--and then I picked up my face off of the floor and gained my composure.
Sidenote: The above action was and could still be a strong contender for my Negro Please Award. I like Parks and all, but I have to keep it real...all is fair in love and politics.
And I quote Parks: "In keeping with the traditional name of our police headquarters we would assure continuity."
The last thing the L.A.P.D. or the City of Los Angeles wants to assure is continuity where the police department is concerned prior to 2005.
Now I may not have been alive to have been abused by the L.A.P.D. of the 50s and 60s, but that doesnt mean that I dont know our police departments colorful history and that of Chief William H. Parker. Lets face it, the L.A.P.D. is not known around the world for their great police work and community relations.
Dim the light and cue video
Now, I ask you again. After voting for change nationwide in November, does Los Angeles really want to keep the name Parker Center for the L.A.P.D.s Administration Center? And if we do, we need to come up off of using Obamas change slogan because were nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.
Contrary to misguided popular belief, its not at the national level here change starts but at the local level, in particular at the site of the new police administration center.
As much community relations work that todays L.A.P.D. is doing to turn around its very tattered image, it makes no sense to want to hold onto the name of one if its most notoriously racist leaders.
Today its Parker Center, tomorrow its Darryl Gates Boulevard. Lets nip this in the bud right now.
And the last time I checked we had three, count em--, three, Black city councilmembers...
And while were at it, lets give both the council and police commission some suggestions on possible names, starting with the late Deputy Chief Kenneth O. Garner.
Garner Centerit has a nice ring to it. I like it!
garner-center
I'm just saying...
Now if they just have to name this building after someone white, because sometimes they do, lets just be honest...I am not against the idea of naming it after the current Chief, William Bratton. But again, thats only if
