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Residents press Compton council on 911 response, maintenance and alleged credit-card misuse during public comment
Summary
Public commenters told the council about an alleged 911 non-response for a 90-year-old resident, raised long-standing maintenance and illegal-dumping concerns, urged implementation of SB 515, and several speakers accused a councilmember of improper credit-card charges; speakers demanded documentation and City Attorney/DA review.
During public comment at Tuesday’s council meeting residents raised multiple grievances that cut across public safety, city maintenance and accountability.
Jarvis Taxpayers Association member Jaylen Serita said his 90-year-old mother called 911 on Oct. 27 and never received a sheriff response; he said dispatch hung up the call rather than staying on the line and that he had been unable to reach a captain for follow-up. "They still haven't come," Serita said, urging the city to review recorded calls and staffing that affect seniors' access to emergency response.
Several speakers urged more aggressive cleanup and code-enforcement measures for illegal dumping and neglected parks, and asked how older federal grant balances were allowed to sit without visible project progress.
A series of audience members leveled a separate set of accusations about alleged credit-card charges, referencing a $1,400 charge characterized on callers' phones as a 'mommy makeover.' Missy and Tanya Lucas pressed city officials to document the card charges and asked whether the charges were appropriate for a city credit card; one speaker demanded that the city manager ask a councilmember to step down if misuse is confirmed. Council members and staff said they would review invoices and follow normal processes; the City Clerk and City Attorney were referenced as part of potential next steps.
Other public commenters advocated for SB 515 implementation to disaggregate data on descendants of enslaved people, described workforce and housing programs (Compton EMS Corps), and highlighted upcoming community events including the Compton Christmas Parade.
What's next: Several councilmembers requested follow-up information: explanations of water-bill late fees, credit-card invoices, and the status of prior grant-funded projects; staff said they would provide supporting documents and revisit some items at future meetings.
