Wishing her success. She has a lot of work ahead of her. But if she can show quick results in terms of getting people work (and I don't mean that in a ghetto context). Actual jobs and job training will make her stronger among the constituency.
News
LA EventsTop PicksSubmit an EventEvents NewsletterGet MobileEntertainment AdsTicketsArtopiaTacolandiaBedrocktoberfest
LA MusicMusic BlogHenry RollinsConcert CalendarLA NightlifeSubmit an EventMusic NewsletterGet MobileMusic Ads
Camarillo believes Galvan and Brown could represent a new generation of “multicultural” and “transformative political change,” but only if they steer clear of racial political battles and focus on what’s best for Compton as a whole. They must bring Latinos and blacks together, he says, to “marshal the political will to go through redevelopment and put Compton on the path of economic recovery.”
Pastor Allison says the city is filled with hardworking people who “want the best for their families. They want a family structure. They want the American dream.”
That’s where Brown and Galvan may try to find common cause as they begin to cope with a municipal government in which the efforts of the well-meaning — a term often used to describe Perrodin — are easily, and usually quickly, turned aside.
PHOTO BY TED SOQUI
Compton's Mayor Aja Brown
PHOTO BY TED SOQUI
Brown oversaw a sleek transit-oriented development at Compton’s Blue Line station.
Related Stories
Where Are Compton Councilman Isaac Galvan's Campaign Finance Reports?July 29, 2013
Insane California Supreme Court Ruling Lets Compton's Omar Bradley Off the Hook For Playing Golf on Taxpayer DimeApril 12, 2013
'We the Parents' Premieres in Beverly HillsAugust 23, 2013
Latinos Targeted by Black Law Enforcement in Compton?August 20, 2013
Compton Politics and George Zimmerman's Story: Readers WriteJuly 25, 2013
More About
Brown often talks about wooing new businesses to Compton and changing the perception of it as a breeding ground for gangs and stubborn poverty. Tooling around Compton’s streets one day, much as Galvan had done, the mayor stops her silver Audi SUV at the recently renovated Metro Blue Line depot, not far from her own Compton townhouse, where middle-class families and young professionals have moved in.
In big steel letters set in planters beside the track, the word “COMPTON” is boldly spelled out for passing trains. A multifunctional, modern-looking office building sits nearby. The redeveloped site, with its clean, streamlined appearance, is an example of what Brown hopes could be Compton’s future, even though the office building is empty. When she worked for Compton’s redevelopment agency, she helped push through the transit-oriented project, or TOD, and she has high hopes that Southern California’s improved economy will bring tenants to the attractive development.
“The transit center is iconic of what Compton could be as a whole,” the new mayor says.
But USC urban planning professor Krieger says decades of neglect of Compton’s most fundamental municipal infrastructure must be addressed.
Even the city’s website is from a bygone era, its most recent demographic information dating from the 2000 U.S. Census and showing a Latino population of just 57 percent. Its election division never bothered to post Aja Brown’s June 4 election as mayor — leaving that important job to website 2urbangirls.com, which on June 5 posted a time-stamped government printout with “unofficial” scrawled in pencil along the top.
Galvan talks a lot about fixing the basics, while Brown discusses such hipster ideas as “better use of public space,” updating the zoning ordinance and a “downtown revitalization” — including a new City Hall. “It’s one of my main initiatives, to bring more redevelopment,” she says. “I think the entire City Council will be responsive to what I want to do.”
Maybe, maybe not. Of the three Compton City Council members contacted by L.A. Weekly, only Councilman Willie Jones emphasized fiscal responsibility. “We have to stabilize our financial situation,” he says. “We have to provide more services.”
City Councilwoman Janna Zurita, Omar Bradley’s cousin and a charter member of the black old guard, refused even to discuss the new mayor or the city’s future. And Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux, an old-guarder elected in 1993, twice would not answer when asked to cite three policies Brown should pursue. Arceneaux says Compton has “a lot of policy in place, but implementing has been an issue.”
To be sure. During Arceneaux’s five terms in office, the City Council bought $1.1 million in radio equipment for a police department that didn’t exist, spawned a $40 million deficit and ignored, chronically, the trash-strewn streets and sidewalks. Latinos had to sue for a fair shake at elective office, and youth programs go begging. Yet Arceneaux says proudly, “You see all of these cities that have had bankruptcy. We didn’t. We acted.”
After snapping pictures of each of them with Aja Brown, Keenan Louis and his buddies at Wilson Park huddle around their young mayor and ask her about her favorite basketball team. “The Clippers,” she says, displaying nerves of steel. They all boo loudly. “The Lakers!” says one of the guys. “That’s the team around here!”
Eugene Parker, a young guy with dreadlocks who was raised in Compton, tells Brown, “Make sure you go out to the community.” Pointing to the Compton City Council chambers nearby, he says, “I don’t see too many of them doing that. All they have to do is come to the closest park. Their office is right over there.”
If Zurita, Jones and Arceneaux and newcomer Galvan do venture into Wilson Park, Parker and his friends likely will tell them to focus on their greatest failures, addressing the basics: Take on the gangbangers who make everyone feel unsafe, provide summer day camps for kids, challenge the anti-reform Compton Unified School District Board and clean up the filthy streets. “Make the city workers do their jobs,” Parker says. “Have them fix the potholes.”
|
|
Next Page »
19 comments
One of the best things that happened to Compton, was the lynwood skatepark. Skateboarding is here to stay and it's cheap to get into, so helps give the kids something to do. I've been by that skatepark a dozen times and there is always kids there using it! And skateboarding has a bunch of the top ranked Hispanic pros too. It's a good influence for the kids and the community. I will be taking my kids to x games (8/1-4) to see some of these guys compete. Paul rodriguez among others. I hope Aja sees the opportunity in continuing to build skateboarding around the neighborhood.
Omar bradly would have done a better job he had the city on a upswing Aja junt don't know what she's getting herself into perridon put the city 20 years back and why are people looking for Latinos to run the they are only going to look out for themselves and make it worse than what it is it's to many illegal imigrints in Compton and it looks like the worst of Mexico Omar tried to make the city a lot better he got local people jobs he gave rebates on city tax and he cared about the city it was a lot cleaner now it's just dirty all it has is a big dirty court house that needs to be torn down Aja can't do anything but be the first female mayor of compton
Love that you're featuring Ms. Brown.
But I notice you mention her looks in the first paragraph. Did you know that when media mentions female politicians' appearance, even in a positive way, it makes voters think less of her?
We don't see descriptions of male politicians' suits and admiration of their ruddy complexions in articles about them. It's frivolous and irrelevant. Please stop doing it in articles about women.
No one ever talks about the experiences the Hispanic people of Compton have at the polling places. The Hispanic community has continuously experienced discrimination and mistreatment and those issues get no attention. The problem in Compton is that it is a city focused on KEEPING people of a certain color in power, no matter what! The people in power are the ones creating the hostility in Compton. They go around saying that Latinos want to "take over". Latinos want EQUALITY and RESPECT. The youth in Compton is being deprived from the benefits they can enjoy from a city that should embrace diversity and be more culturally aware.
Mayor Brown has the support of her colleagues and has worked for organizations that allowed her the training necessary to have a better start than some of the mayors of neighboring cities.
I want to see how Mayor Brown will address the potential loss of another large employer in the city should AB 820 passes. The city already lost Belkin and to lose the casino would really hurt the city financially.
The City that Shows No Pity Compton Ca. is still part of the Wild Wild West ! The Sheriff with it's massive resources of tools to suppress Criminal Activity, & the fact that the city is now 67% Latino, has inherited a Quagmire of Crime Infestation ! I think we can realize the Tantamount job the 125 force of the Compton P.D. accomplish from the worst crime-wave to hit America, based on it's population from 1970 to 2000 was able to accomplish in keeping the lid on the City ! John R. Baker Author of "VICE" Memoir on the Compton P.D. !
Aja Brown is the real deal and the Supervisor was smart in supporting her. I hope our leaders and citizens get behind her to bring a new day to Compton. Go Mayor Brown!
Thank you for the interesting article about what is happening in Compton and how the political class there is changing. The challenges of merging the needs of all members of the city family seem enormous.
The services Compton residents are asking for aren't hard to give, but the problem lies in where's the money to provide them?
Why wasn't Yvonne Arceneaux voted out with Dobson and Perrodin? Diana Sanchez was expected to do much better in D3 than she did.
@lnjon36 she is the 2nd, Doris Davis was the first.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Compton,_California
@comptonlulac I have witnessed it at a recent candidates forum leading up to the election. With the significant amount of Lations in the city, I was surprised Diana Sanchez wasn't successful in her bid for D3. She is a board member of the Metropolitan Water District which serves Compton. She is more visible than Isaac Galvan and lost?
@bhenning32 no real vested interest? those before her with a "vested" interest have the city in a $40 million dollar deficit. Supervisor Ridley-Thomas was wise to support this young black woman who will represent the city well. Even her former colleagues who I have spoken with speak very highly of Mayor Brown.
@UrbanGirl Yvonne, is still part of the Ole Black Guard that will not surrender power easy ! The Latin Community must muster a massive voter-drive to rid itself of the Corruption of the past !
@rosecransrick the Latin community was successful in electing Galvan and not Sanchez who represents Compton on the water board?
Now Trending
Around The Web
-
Florida Tourism Numbers Set Record
Miami New Times
-
Babeu's "Elite" Staff Overcomes Bad Behavior with Loyalty
Phoenix New Times
-
Don Lapre, Vitamin Titan, Attempted Suicide, Hid Out at Lifetime Fitness
Phoenix New Times
Loading...
