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Residents urge better Dial‑A‑Ride communication and street repairs; one speaker alleges measure funds diverted
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Summary
During public comment, residents called for improved Dial‑A‑Ride outreach and more sidewalk and street repairs; a longtime resident alleged the city diverted BP Measure funds to other uses and criticized spending priorities, prompting a staff commitment to follow up.
Several Baldwin Park residents used the public comment period on Feb. 18 to press the council on local services and street maintenance.
Irma Morales of the Baldwin Park Library reviewed upcoming library programs and registration details for February events.
Cindy Rubio told the council she and other seniors are having trouble with the Dial‑A‑Ride service and said the current three‑minute public‑comment window is insufficient to present the issue fully. "3 minutes is not enough time to discuss all the issues that we're having with the new dialer right," Rubio said. The mayor directed staff to have the director of public works contact Rubio and said the city would arrange a community meeting—potentially at an alternate neighborhood location—to gather rider input.
Bobby Rodriguez raised complaints about potholes, trash near apartment complexes and vendor activity that he said is making streets look neglected. He urged the city to increase Sunday enforcement and curb trash around developments.
A separate speaker identified in the transcript as 'Mister Turtough' alleged the city has removed and spent funds from the BP Measure fund on other items, naming a $9.6 million figure and claiming the city used $6 million to pay a lawsuit and shifted $3.6 million into the general fund. He said the measure’s intended uses (parks, street maintenance, traffic management, police response and gang prevention) were being undermined and criticized the committee that oversees the fund. "This isn't what this is meant for," he said.
Mayor Damien responded to public comments by noting the city is planning up to 400 sidewalk repairs and said staff would follow up on code enforcement and community outreach. He also instructed staff to confirm contact information and organize the promised community meeting for Dial‑A‑Ride users.
What happens next: Staff (public works) will contact Dial‑A‑Ride users and organizers to schedule the follow‑up meeting and will continue the sidewalk repair program; the council recorded the public comments and did not make immediate policy changes at the meeting.
