Miscellaneous
Atlanta police warns LGBTQ community about dating app robberies
Investigators told reporters that there has been one particular Grindr profile linked to nearly all of the robberies


ATLANTA, GA. – Investigators in Atlanta are warning the city’s LGBTQ community that there has been a series of robberies that began as chat messages on the gay dating app Grindr.
“From February to May, we have had eight instances where male victims were lured to remote locations by use of the Grindr app,” said Sgt. Rodney Jones, in a Wednesday press conference. “After the date concludes, the suspect will rob the victim, often taking their wallets, keys or even vehicles.”
Most of the incidents have taken place in northwest Atlanta, but some have occurred in Zone 3 in the city’s southeastern quadrant, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The victims are typically lured to remote locations after their dates and then robbed.
“The person typically has a handgun,” Jones said. “They’re on a normal date, and after the date concludes they’ll just rob the person of their belongings.”
Investigators told reporters that there has been one particular Grindr profile linked to nearly all of the robberies in the northwest sector of the city. Police believe that that there are several probable suspects in the robberies in in the city’s southeastern quadrant, but citing the ongoing investigation declined to comment further.
According to the Journal-Constitution, Officer Eric King, the department’s LGBT liaison, said there are several things people can do to protect themselves when meeting someone for the first time.
“Find a partner or a friend that you trust that you can notify when you’re going to meet somebody,” King said. “Meet at a grocery store. Meet at a public place before you reconvene somewhere more intimate.”
“Listen to your inner voice,” he continued.
If someone refuses to FaceTime before a first date or insists on meeting in an isolated area, it might be a setup. King said residents are still encouraged to date online and go about their lives. He just wants them to be more cautious.
King also urged anyone who maybe a victim to contact investigators.
APD’s Robbery Unit warns the LGBTQ community about robberies targeting them through the dating app Grindr. These robberies have shown similarities & APD needs the public’s assistance in helping to solve these crimes. https://t.co/SOQidSJcVk @COALGBTQ
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) May 5, 2021
“We treat everybody with dignity,” Major D’Andrea Price said. “We want to stop these crimes that (are) being done to our sometimes vulnerable population.”
Community Services - PSA
LA County Parks after Dark program celebrates 50th anniversary of Title IX
Parks & Rec offers sport opportunities for girls in flag football, soccer, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and volleyball

LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, June 23, 2022, 34 participating Parks After Dark (PAD) parks will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX with a highly anticipated girls’ sports clinic and showcase starting at 6:00 p.m.
More than 1,800 girls, ages 5 to 18 will have the opportunity to learn skills and techniques from various sports such as soccer, lacrosse, softball, basketball and cheerleading. Sports will vary at each park.
In 1972, Title IX, the civil rights legislation that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other college sports was passed into law to provide equal opportunity, scholarships and participation for girls in sports. In 2022, the department of Parks and Recreation is striving to offer girls sports County-wide to support the vision of Title IX and aiming for gender equity across all sports programs.
“The department’s goal is to provide a safe space dedicated for girls to play, increase opportunities for women coaches and administrators and to provide a positive experience while participating in sports,” says Regina Bradley, LA County Parks and Recreation Sports Manager.
The department currently offers sport opportunities for girls in flag football, soccer, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and volleyball.
Parks After Dark is an award-winning program designed to bring communities together by filling park spaces with family-centered activities that transform local parks into summer safe havens. This summer’s program lineup will feature an array of girls’ sports programs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which paved the way to gender equity for girl’s participation in sports.

The L.A. County Parks after Dark program is possible thanks to the generosity of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors – First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Second District Supervisor and Board Chair Holly J. Mitchell, Third District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger – L.A. County Chief Executive Office, L.A. County Department of Public Social Services, L.A. County Probation Department and many community-based organizations throughout L.A. County.
“Now more than ever, L.A. County families need park spaces to heal from the trauma brought on by COVID-19 combined with the financial stress many people are facing,” L.A. County Parks Executive Director Norma Edith García-González said. “Parks after Dark eliminates barriers to recreational opportunities and introduces families to no cost enriching experiences that promote mental and physical health through fun and games.”
Parks After Dark, launched in 2010, has proven to be a successful prevention and intervention program that provides multiple benefits to vulnerable communities,decreasing violence and crime, and increasing social cohesion and community well-being. In 2018, Parks After Dark was recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association, which presented L.A. County Parks and Recreation with its Best in Innovation award.
For more information on Parks After Dark, visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/PAD.
All PAD parks will host programs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00-10:00PM between June 16th and August 6th:
Jackie Robinson Park – 8773 E. Avenue R, Littlerock
Stephen Sorenson Park – 16801 E. Avenue P, Lake Los Angeles
George Lane Park – 5520 W. Ave L-8, Quartz Hill
Val Verde Community Regional Park – 30300 W. Arlington Rd., Val Verde
El Cariso Community Regional Park – 13100 Hubbard St., Sylmar
Loma Alta Park – 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena
Pamela County Park – 2236 Goodall Ave., Duarte
Valleydale Park – 5525 N. Lark Ellen Ave., Azusa
Charter Oak Park – 20261 E. Covina Blvd., Covina
San Angelo Park – 245 S. San Angelo Ave., La Puente
Bassett Park – 510 N. Vineland Ave., La Puente
Allen J. Martin Park – 14830 E. Giordano St., La Puente
Rimgrove Park – 747 N. Rimgrove Dr., La Puente
William Steinmetz Park – 1545 S, Stimson Ave., Hacienda Heights
Amigo Park – 5700 S. Juarez Ave., Whittier
Sorenson Park – 11419 Rose Hedge Dr., Whittier
Adventure Park – 10130 S. Gunn Ave., Whittier
Amelia Mayberry Park – 13201 E. Meyer Rd., Whittier
City Terrace Park – 1126 N. Hazard Ave., East Los Angeles
Eugene A. Obregon Park – 4021 E. First St., Los Angeles
Belvedere Community Regional Park – 4914 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
Ruben Salazar Park – 3864 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles
Saybrook Park – 6250 E. Northside Dr., East Los Angeles
East Rancho Dominguez Park – 15116 S. Atlantic Ave., Compton
Mona Park – 2291 E. 121st St., Compton
Athens Park – 12603 S. Broadway, Los Angeles
Mary M. Bethune Park – 1244 E. 61st St., Los Angeles
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park – 905 E. El Segundo Blvd, Los Angeles
Helen Keller Park – 12521 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
Jesse Owens Community Regional Park – 9651 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
Franklin D. Roosevelt Park – 7600 Graham Ave., Los Angeles
Ted Watkins Memorial Park – 1335 E. 103rd St., Los Angeles
Col. Leon H. Washington Park – 8908 S. Maie Ave., Los Angeles
George Washington Carver Park – 1400 E. 118th St., Los Angeles
Community Services - PSA
LA County Parks & Rec invites folks to Juneteenth at Jackie Robinson Park
FREE Performances, Guest Speaker Series, Games, Art Displays, Car Exhibits and So Much More this Saturday!

LOS ANGELES – It’s Park Time L.A. County! LA County Parks and Recreation invites you to our Juneteenth celebration, on Saturday, June 18th from 10am to 10pm at Jackie Robinson Park (8773 E Avenue R Sun Village).
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States; specifically, when former slaves were finally freed in Galveston, Texas, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Though long celebrated within the Black community, Juneteenth was formally made a federal holiday on June 17th, 2021.
The L.A. County Juneteenth Celebrations are possible thanks to the generosity of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors – First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Second District Supervisor and Board Chair Holly J. Mitchell, Third District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger – and many community-based organizations throughout L.A. County.
Juneteenth at Jackie Robinson is hosted in partnership with local community organizations. This year’s activities include musical performances, speaker’s series, wellness activities, resource fairs, artist experiences, hands-on children’s activities, video game trucks and so much more.
For more information on Juneteenth celebrations, contact Delmy Villegas-Delgado, Recreation Manager at (626) 369-5141 or at [email protected]
Juneteenth at Jackie Robison is a FREE events with no registration required. Food available onsite at cost by local businesses and vendors.
Please join us at the following parks and celebrate Juneteenth with us this Saturday:
Jackie Robinson Park – 8773 E Avenue R Sun Village from 10 am to 10 pm

Community Services - PSA
Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation launches summer aquatics
Summer aquatics registration opens up Saturday, June 18 and programs start Monday, June 20, 2022- visit parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics

LOS ANGELES – It’s Park Time L.A.! Beat the heat, get fit or learn to swim at L.A. County seasonal and year-round pools. There’s something for everyone including lap swim, novice teams, aqua aerobics too! Free Every Body Swims and other summer aquatics programs run from June 20 to August 20.
Register at reservations.lacounty.gov starting June 18.
L.A. County’s five year-round pools operate Monday through Saturday from 6 am to 7 pm. The County’s twenty-three seasonal pools operate on two rotating schedules from 11 am to 7 pm. Pools on schedule 1 operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday and pools on schedule 2 operate Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
For more information on swim programs, visit parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics.
L.A. County’s Summer Aquatics programs are possible thanks to the generous support of the L.A. County Board of Supervisor First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis for her support in funding programming at Belvedere Pool, as well as the American Red Cross and LA84 Foundation for supporting scholarships. Visit your local pool to learn about more information on scholarships.
Looking for more places to cool off in the evening? Attend evening swim at one of our 18 Parks After Dark (PAD) locations from 6 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Find a PAD swim site by visiting parks.lacounty.gov/pad.
L.A. County also has 18 splash pads to cool off in that operate from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Sunday through September 30.
To find a splash pad near you, visit parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics.
For more information on L.A. County’s aquatics programs, contact:
-
Commentary4 days ago
Florida school district to force teachers to Out LGBTQ+ students
-
Commentary4 days ago
Major Pride events disrupted as Extremists go after small children
-
California3 days ago
State of California ends contract with AIDS Healthcare Foundation
-
Monkeypox2 days ago
WeHo victim of monkeypox: “This … sucks and you don’t want it”
-
Caribbean3 days ago
Final vote on new Cuba family code slated for September
-
Monkeypox4 days ago
Risk of monkeypox infection not high, but ‘numbers may increase’
-
Africa4 days ago
Homophobic attacks persist in South Africa
-
Indiana3 days ago
South Bend Indiana Rainbow Story Hour disrupted by Proud Boys