{"id":10,"date":"2026-09-09T18:14:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T18:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2026-09-09T20:01:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:01:51","slug":"inglewood-billboard-deal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Inglewood \u2014 The Billboard Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"10\" class=\"elementor elementor-10\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e0584a2 e-con-full iwb-page e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1e0584a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-327c8f6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-header\" data-id=\"327c8f6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-header.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"header\"><header class=\"masthead\">\n<div class=\"wrap masthead-inner\">\n<a aria-label=\"Inglewood: The Billboard Deal, top of page\" class=\"brand\" href=\"#iwb-main\"><span>INGLEWOOD BILLBOARD AUDIT<\/span><span><\/span><\/a>\n<nav aria-label=\"Main navigation\">\n<a href=\"#iwb-terms\">The terms<\/a>\n<a href=\"#iwb-return\">The return<\/a>\n<a class=\"nav-report\" href=\"#iwb-evidence\">The evidence <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/header><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e4b284 e-con e-atomic-element e-flexbox-base e-bf02b79 \" data-id=\"5e4b284\" data-element_type=\"e-flexbox\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-interaction-id=\"5e4b284\" data-e-type=\"e-flexbox\" data-id=\"5e4b284\">\n    <div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d84823 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8d84823\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aae9d17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aae9d17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">BUDGET EXPERTS ON WOW MEDIA'S 40-YEAR CONTRACT WITH INGLEWOOD:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7082fe3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7082fe3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"This agreement simply doesn't generate enough money to materially address Inglewood's budget problems.  It could be as little as 280,000 per year.\"<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e69d72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e69d72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u2014Mike Genest, Former Director of Finance for the Governor<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55e102a elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"55e102a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc5b42a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fc5b42a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"The risks posed by this contract will hurt the city's economy and worsen the City's budget deficit. This is a sweet deal for WOW, but a terrible one for Inglewood residents.\"<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af055aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af055aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>\u2014Brad Williams | Former Chief Economist California Legislative Analyst&#8217;s Office<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8a53b3 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a8a53b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<main class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d6e4079 e-con-full iwb-page e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0d6e4079\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"iwb-main\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d51ecc7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-hero\" data-id=\"d51ecc7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-hero.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"hero\"><section aria-labelledby=\"iwb-hero-title\" class=\"hero\">\n<div class=\"wrap hero-grid\">\n<div class=\"hero-copy\">\n<p class=\"eyebrow light\">PUBLIC SPACE. PUBLIC QUESTIONS.<\/p>\n<h1 id=\"iwb-hero-title\">Our streets.<br \/>What\u2019s the<br \/><em>return?<\/em><\/h1>\n<p class=\"hero-deck\">A long commitment deserves a close look. Explore the terms of Inglewood\u2019s 2025 WOW advertising agreement, as described in an August 2026 financial report.<\/p>\n<a class=\"button button-white\" href=\"#iwb-terms\">Look at the deal <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2193<\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"screen-feature\">\n<div class=\"feature-top\"><span>THE AUTHORIZED SCALE<\/span><a aria-label=\"Read the authorized scale on report page 6, PDF opens in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=6\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">REPORT P. 6 \u2197<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"up-to\">UP TO<\/p>\n<p class=\"screen-number\">108<\/p>\n<p class=\"screen-label\">DIGITAL DISPLAY FACES<\/p>\n<div aria-label=\"108 marks, one for each digital display face authorized at maximum buildout\" class=\"face-grid\" id=\"iwb-face-grid\" role=\"img\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"feature-foot\">On up to <strong>60 kiosk structures.<\/strong><br \/>Public sidewalks. Public medians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"feature-note\">Authorized capacity, not a count of installed screens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><div class=\"source-band\">\n<div class=\"wrap source-band-inner\"><p>BASED ON THE AUGUST 2026 REPORT<\/p><p>Prepared by <strong>Capitol Matrix Consulting<\/strong><br \/>Prepared for <strong>Neighbors for a Beautiful Inglewood<\/strong><\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read the full report <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a7a1a10 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-terms\" data-id=\"7a7a1a10\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-terms.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"terms\"><section aria-labelledby=\"iwb-terms-title\" class=\"section wrap\" id=\"iwb-terms\">\n<div class=\"section-heading\"><p class=\"eyebrow\"><span class=\"section-number\">01<\/span> THE COMMITMENT<\/p><h2 id=\"iwb-terms-title\">A deal that could<br \/>\nspan generations.<\/h2><\/div>\n<div class=\"term-layout\">\n<div class=\"term-intro\"><p class=\"giant-number\">40<span>YEARS<\/span><\/p><p>The report describes a 20-year initial term plus two automatic 10-year renewals. <strong>Only WOW can decline those renewals.<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"muted\">Forty years is the default term, subject to the agreement\u2019s provisions.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=6\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report pp. 6, 23 <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n    <div class=\"timeline-block\" data-iwb-timeline=\"[{&quot;years&quot;:20,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Initial term&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The first 20 years&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The agreement begins with a 20-year initial term. Select a renewal period to see how the default term reaches 40 years.&quot;},{&quot;years&quot;:10,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Renewal 1&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Years 21\\u201330: the first automatic renewal&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;The report describes an automatic 10-year renewal after the initial term. WOW has the option not to renew; the report does not describe the same renewal opt-out for the City.&quot;},{&quot;years&quot;:10,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Renewal 2&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Years 31\\u201340: the second automatic renewal&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;A second automatic 10-year renewal brings the default term to 40 years. As with the first renewal, the report says only WOW can decline it.&quot;}]\">\n        <p class=\"small-label\">HOW THE TERM ADDS UP<\/p>\n        <div class=\"timeline\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Explore the three contract periods\" style=\"grid-template-columns:20fr 10fr 10fr\">\n                        <button type=\"button\" class=\"period initial\" aria-pressed=\"true\" aria-controls=\"iwb-period-detail-7a7a1a10\" data-period=\"0\"><span class=\"period-years\">20<\/span><span>YEARS<\/span><span class=\"period-name\">Initial term<\/span><\/button>\n                        <button type=\"button\" class=\"period renewal\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-controls=\"iwb-period-detail-7a7a1a10\" data-period=\"1\"><span class=\"period-years\">10<\/span><span>YEARS<\/span><span class=\"period-name\">Renewal 1<\/span><\/button>\n                        <button type=\"button\" class=\"period renewal\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-controls=\"iwb-period-detail-7a7a1a10\" data-period=\"2\"><span class=\"period-years\">10<\/span><span>YEARS<\/span><span class=\"period-name\">Renewal 2<\/span><\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"timeline-axis\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span>START<\/span><span data-axis=\"middle\" style=\"left:50%\">YEAR 20<\/span><span data-axis=\"middle\" style=\"left:75%\">YEAR 30<\/span><span>YEAR 40<\/span><\/div>\n        <div id=\"iwb-period-detail-7a7a1a10\" class=\"period-detail\" aria-live=\"polite\"><p class=\"detail-title\">The first 20 years<\/p><p>The agreement begins with a 20-year initial term. Select a renewal period to see how the default term reaches 40 years.<\/p><\/div>\n        <p class=\"caption\">Widths represent duration. Contract years are shown, not calendar dates.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<\/div>\n<div class=\"public-space-grid\">\n<article class=\"space-fact\"><p class=\"small-label\">EXCLUSIVITY<\/p><h3><span class=\"space-number\">2,500<\/span> feet<\/h3><p>The report describes an exclusivity radius around each kiosk location that restricts the City from authorizing competing outdoor advertising within that area.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=16\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report pp. 6, 16, 23 \u2197<\/a><\/article>\n<article class=\"space-fact\"><p class=\"small-label\">THE CITY\u2019S OBLIGATIONS<\/p><h3>Keeping the<br \/>\nads in view.<\/h3><p>According to the report, the City must remove trees and other obstructions that block billboard views, at the City\u2019s expense.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=6\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report pp. 6, 16\u201317, 23 \u2197<\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35df7576 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-return\" data-id=\"35df7576\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-return.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"return\"><section aria-labelledby=\"iwb-return-title\" class=\"return-section\" id=\"iwb-return\">\n<div class=\"wrap section\">\n<div class=\"return-heading\"><div><p class=\"eyebrow light\"><span class=\"section-number\">02<\/span> THE RETURN<\/p><h2 id=\"iwb-return-title\">Forty percent.<br \/>\nOf what?<\/h2><\/div><p>The stated percentage is only part of the story. The report says the City\u2019s 40% share applies to advertising revenue after specified deductions.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"share-definition\"><div><span class=\"definition-step\">START WITH<\/span><strong>Advertising<br\/>revenue<\/strong><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"math-symbol\">\u2212<\/span><div><span class=\"definition-step\">DEDUCT<\/span><strong>Eligible costs<br\/>&amp; electricity<\/strong><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"math-symbol\">=<\/span><div class=\"definition-result\"><span class=\"definition-step\">THE REVENUE BASE<\/span><strong>The amount<br\/>the 40% applies to<\/strong><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"return-note\">A simplified explanation of the report\u2019s revenue definition. Minimum payments, separate repair deductions, and contractual exceptions also matter. <a href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=23\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Report pp. 6, 15, 23 \u2197<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"comparison\">\n<div class=\"comparison-title\"><h3>How the terms changed<\/h3><span>2015 \u2192 2025<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"table-scroll\"><table><caption class=\"visually-hidden\">Comparison of the original 2015 WOW agreement and the 2025 kiosk agreement, as described by Capitol Matrix Consulting<\/caption><thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Term<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Original 2015 agreement<\/th><th scope=\"col\">2025 kiosk agreement<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><th scope=\"row\">Base revenue share<\/th><td><strong>50% <\/strong>Higher rates above specified thresholds<\/td><td><strong>40% <\/strong>No threshold rate<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><th scope=\"row\">Operating-cost deduction cap<\/th><td>20% of gross advertising revenue<\/td><td>25% of gross advertising revenue<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><th scope=\"row\">Separate electricity deduction<\/th><td>None<\/td><td>Uncapped, according to the report<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><th scope=\"row\">Upfront payments<\/th><td>$3.1 million in total<\/td><td>None reported<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p class=\"comparison-note\">The earlier agreement covered larger billboard formats; the new agreement covers kiosks. These are contract-term comparisons, not equivalent advertising inventories. Later amendments changed some 2015 terms. <a href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Report pp. 5\u20136, 15, 22\u201324 \u2197<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28e431d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-budget\" data-id=\"28e431d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-budget.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"budget\"><section aria-labelledby=\"iwb-budget-title\" class=\"section wrap budget-section\">\n<div class=\"section-heading\"><p class=\"eyebrow\"><span class=\"section-number\">03<\/span> THE BUDGET CONTEXT<\/p><h2 id=\"iwb-budget-title\">The return has to<br \/>\nmeet the scale.<\/h2><\/div>\n<div class=\"budget-layout\">\n<div><p class=\"budget-number\">$8.7<span>M<\/span><\/p><h3>Projected operating gap.<\/h3><p>The report identifies an $8.7 million gap between ongoing General Fund revenues and planned expenditures in the City\u2019s adopted FY 2025\u201326 budget.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=7\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report pp. 7, 13 \u2197<\/a><\/div>\n    <figure class=\"budget-chart\"><figcaption>FY 2025\u201326 General Fund<br><span class=\"muted\">Adopted budget figures, as reported by CMC<\/span><\/figcaption>\n        <div class=\"bar-row\"><div class=\"bar-label\"><span>Revenues<\/span><strong>$237.9M<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"bar-track\"><div class=\"bar revenue\" style=\"width:96.4720194647%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n        <div class=\"bar-row\"><div class=\"bar-label\"><span>Expenditures<\/span><strong>$246.6M<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"bar-track\"><div class=\"bar expenditure\" style=\"width:100%;\"><span class=\"gap-segment\" style=\"width:3.52798053528%;\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n        <div class=\"chart-key\"><span class=\"key-swatch\"><\/span><span>$8.7M operating gap<\/span><\/div>\n        <p class=\"caption\">Both bars start at zero and use the same scale. Rounded figures from the report\u2019s Figure 1.<\/p>\n    <\/figure>\n    \n<\/div>\n<details class=\"context-detail\"><summary>The context behind the gap <span aria-hidden=\"true\">+<\/span><\/summary><div><p>This is an annual operating-budget gap, not the City\u2019s entire financial position. The report also describes about $170 million in undesignated General Fund balances and an $11.1 million transfer of prior-year balances in the adopted budget.<\/p><p>It separately identifies about $659 million in four major long-term liability categories as of September 30, 2024. Those liabilities are not a bill due all at once, and the report does not establish that the City is bankrupt.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=10\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report pp. 7, 10\u201313 \u2197<\/a><\/div><\/details>\n<\/section><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de0055e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-evidence\" data-id=\"de0055e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-evidence.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"evidence\"><section aria-labelledby=\"iwb-evidence-title\" class=\"evidence-section\" id=\"iwb-evidence\">\n<div class=\"wrap section\">\n<div class=\"evidence-layout\"><div><p class=\"eyebrow\"><span class=\"section-number\">04<\/span> THE EVIDENCE<\/p><h2 id=\"iwb-evidence-title\">Read the report.<br \/>\nAsk the questions.<\/h2><p>Start with the contract terms. Then examine the assumptions behind the revenue estimates.<\/p><div class=\"evidence-actions\"><a class=\"button button-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Open the full report <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a><a class=\"text-link\" download=\"CMC-Inglewood-WOW-Report-August-2026.pdf\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf\">Download PDF \u2193<\/a><\/div><\/div><aside aria-label=\"Report attribution\" class=\"report-reference\"><p class=\"small-label\">SOURCE DOCUMENT \u00b7 24 PAGES<\/p><h3>City of Inglewood\u2019s 2025 Billboard Contract With WOW: Will It Help the City\u2019s Budget?<\/h3><dl><div><dt>Prepared by<\/dt><dd>Capitol Matrix Consulting<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Prepared for<\/dt><dd>Neighbors for a Beautiful Inglewood<\/dd><\/div><div><dt>Report date<\/dt><dd>August 2026<\/dd><\/div><\/dl><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofinglewood.org\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Item\/18832?fileID=26318\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">City\u2019s April 15, 2025 agenda packet \u2197<\/a><p class=\"caption\">The City\u2019s packet is a separate primary-source reference. The summaries on this page are attributed to the CMC report.<\/p><\/aside><\/div>\n<div class=\"calculation-review\"><div class=\"review-heading\"><h3>Two calculations need clarification.<\/h3><p>The report\u2019s central revenue claims deserve a reconciliation before being used as definitive headlines.<\/p><\/div>\n<details><summary><span><span class=\"review-index\">01<\/span> The minimum payment and the forecast<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"expand-mark\">+<\/span><\/summary><div class=\"review-body\"><p>Pages 6 and 23 describe a minimum of $1,000 per month per active display face. At 108 active faces receiving that amount for an entire year, the arithmetic is:<\/p><p class=\"calculation\">108 \u00d7 $1,000 \u00d7 12 = <strong>$1,296,000 a year<\/strong><\/p><p>That exceeds the report\u2019s $600,000\u2013$1.1 million full-buildout revenue estimate on page 17. The relationship between the minimum, operating assumptions, deductions, and any rent exceptions needs to be explained.<\/p><p><strong>Why it matters:<\/strong> the widely repeated \u201cless than 0.5%\u201d figure depends on an estimate that does not visibly reconcile with the stated minimum. This calculation is a consistency check, not a new revenue forecast.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=17\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Compare report pp. 6, 17, 23 \u2197<\/a><\/div><\/details>\n<details><summary><span><span class=\"review-index\">02<\/span> The revenue base in the breakeven table<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"expand-mark\">+<\/span><\/summary><div class=\"review-body\"><p>Page 19 describes about $58 million in annual venue-related City tax revenue. Its table shows that a 1.26% decline offsets $300,000 in kiosk revenue.<\/p><p class=\"calculation\">$300,000 \u00f7 1.26% \u2248 <strong>$23.8 million<\/strong><\/p><p>The table therefore appears to use a smaller revenue base. Page 20 refers to \u201cexposed venue revenue,\u201d but the bridge from $58 million to roughly $23.8 million is not shown. That denominator needs clarification before using the \u201c1\u20135% decline\u201d claim.<\/p><p>The report explicitly says it is not predicting a particular decline or the loss of a specific event. Potential effects on sponsorships and event hosting should remain identified as risks.<\/p><a class=\"source-link\" href=\"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/inglewood-elementor\/documents\/inglewood-wow-report-august-2026.pdf#page=19\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report pp. 19\u201320 \u2197<\/a><\/div><\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/main>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0301844c e-con-full iwb-page e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0301844c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-274284e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-iwb-footer\" data-id=\"274284e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"iwb-footer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwb-site iwb-component\" data-iwb-section=\"footer\"><footer class=\"footer\"><div class=\"wrap footer-inner\"><div class=\"brand\"><span>INGLEWOOD BILLBOARD AUDIT<\/span><span><\/span><\/div><p>A reading of the August 2026 CMC report.<br \/>\nThis page is not an official City of Inglewood website.<\/p><a href=\"#iwb-main\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div><\/footer><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1590c8d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1590c8d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>INGLEWOOD BILLBOARD AUDIT The terms The return The evidence \u2197 BUDGET EXPERTS ON WOW MEDIA&#8217;S 40-YEAR CONTRACT WITH INGLEWOOD: &#8220;This agreement simply doesn&#8217;t generate enough money to materially address Inglewood&#8217;s budget problems. It could be as little as 280,000 per year.&#8221; \u2014Mike Genest, Former Director of Finance for the Governor &#8220;The risks posed by this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71,"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions\/71"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inglewoodbillboardaudit.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}