Compton City Council votes against special election
The City of Compton is facing a nearly $9.8 million revenue shortfall, has laid off over 50 city employees and closed city parks for the summer yet attempted to press forward with a costly special election that many residents felt was politically motivated. In the end, three of the council members voted against requesting Los Angeles County consolidate the November election with a special election for the city of Compton.
Mayor Aja Brown is up for re-election in April 2021 and appears to be leveraging community discourse with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as her platform to sway Compton voters.
The city convened a special meeting on Monday, August 3rd, in an attempt to place several charter amendments on the November ballot that many residents weren’t happy about.
Residents are clamoring for charter amendments to restore a one year residency requirement for persons wishing to serve as an elected official and term limits. Neither of those charter recommendations were on the ballot.
Instead, Compton wanted to ask voters to remove primary nominating periods and only hold a general election, extend the terms of the mayor and 2nd District Councilman Isaac Galvan to 2022, re-allocate certain funds and a baseless “advisory” change to the city’s contract with the Sheriff.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva appeared at a June 29th council meeting where he explained to the council that contract language and rates fall under the purview of L.A. County, not the Sheriff’s department. He further explained that the issues brought forth by the council were against the Sheriff’s union specifically.
“This ballot measure item regarding the Sheriff isn’t going to change the department,” said Councilwoman Tana McCoy.
Another councilwoman questioned why the city was attempting to change the election schedule when in theory it wasn’t mandated.
City Manager Craig Cornwell said discussion of consolidating elections began in 2015 when Senate Bill 415 was passed to increase voter turnout in small cities. Cornwell shared how the city of Redondo Beach challenged the mandate and found that “charter cities were not mandated to comply with SB 415”.
“If the idea is to increase voter turnout, why aren’t we holding elections in November as opposed to March 2021?” asked Councilman Galvan.
Public comments poured in from the community concerning the cost of running a special election when the city laid off an entire city department citing “budget constraints”. This drew the ire of Compton Mayor Aja Brown who chastised the city’s senior citizens for “holding back progress” in the city.
Councilman Galvan and Councilwomen Emma Shariff and Tana McCoy voted against calling for the special election. Their vote set off a firestorm of discussion and the council meeting going in an ugly direction with the women speaking over each other and becoming frustrated.
Mayor Aja Brown has benefitted from the election of Michelle Chambers and held a 4-1 voting majority since July 2019 which ended August 3, 2020. What changed?
I never like her approach and that is why she didn’t get my vote. Nevertheless, I gave her chance after chance to see what she was about. Photo ops and PR is not getting one of the many holes in our streets fix. I agree with the commenter about the continual deterioration of the landscape and the empty buildings . If you she has not figured out that investors are not willing to take a chance because of the conditions she has failed to resolve, then she is half hearted and really don’t give a darn. She is even not able to hold businesses who refuse to clean accountable. She never address my outrage about convenient baskets allowed to be taken out of stores, particularly at the Food and Mess (pun intended) on Rosecrans and Central Ave. NO BODY NEED A FULL BASKET FOR THREE OR FOUR ITEMS. We have issues, and yes the sideway Sheriffs on patrol is just one of many. The problem is to do our homework on the candidate to replace this poor leadership. She has failed and miserably. I too am offended of their comments. Unnecessary to say in a public form and definitely divisive. We all as residents really need to know for sure of what we want and need to strive and making it known to whomever is running for mayor representing the city must be all inclusiveness, creative and have a vision to get us like every city North-South-East and West of Compton without making us pay for it.
Keep up the great reporting!!! You are right on target. All the comments are accurate and citizens agree totally. Shame on Aja/Michelle for bashing the seniors and calling their colleagues IGNORANT. Both are stuck on STUPID Period. Two folks I know will not be bullied by Aja/Michelle… Kelly and Boone( Where are you Ladies)??
After watching the Zoom Coucil Meeting
I personally felt insult by the Language that (MAYOR) Aja Brown and her sidekick Michelle Chambers used toward there collegues…She owes them a public apologies.. Since Aja term in office Compton has fallen short on her watch by 6 more years(#Timeup) Potholes everywhere,abandoned building,No Nice Restuarant, trees has been trim since since Bradley terms….Where are all the people that campaigns against Janna..someone said bought and pay for which I believe to be true…If Aja would take of Compton like she take of everyone that campaigns for her Compton would look like Carson….There hasn’t been a financial treasure report in 7years are longer..Citizen has ask for financial report on numerous council meetings and never ever received as of today.. Citizen has ask for updated on all nonprofit she owns never ever submitted
including validation especially My Brothers Keeper organization.. where is every dime of all Grants moneys that was awarded to Compton, There are numerous of Marijuana Dispensaries in Compton and when ask about Drugs been sold in Compton in these abandoned building..The plot Didn’t work Aja …I will continue to uplift Compton in Prayers…Just remember Aja the same Seniors that Vote you in will vote you out!
Shes a fraud.
Compton resident will never benefit from Aja Brown leadership, she is very selfish; case in point; Dr. Dre paid for 145,000 meals & Covid-19 testing, her colleagues had no clue;!yet she
Choose Everytable to partner with, THAT was a TOTAL FAILURE.
Compton I ask you to look at her track record since being elected let’s sum it up to her being a: phony, fraud, liar, manipulator, decrepit, immature, insecure . Let’s some it up Corrput!
The real joke is you think you can the Sheriffs Department: when your not even talking to the correct people.
My advise child go take a long nap Bye🙏
Rumor has it, the pencil neck City Manager ain’t making too many friends with some Council members for his bias and bullshit backing of the mayor. If that does happen, hope the door doesn’t hit his ass on the way out. He won’t be missed but remembered as the worst CITy manager EVER, and there were some bad ones.
The true problem is that Aja Brown knows she will not be re-elected because of all her lies she has told to get elected. Michelle Chambers is not a resident of Compton she is a resident of Inglewood. She is also upset because there is a recall on her. The City Attorney was not elected by the residence but put in place by Aja Brown. Craig Cornwell is not a good city manager he is just a yes man for Aja Brown. What ever she wants she gets from him. I wonder what is really up with that behind closed doors. And for the city clerk Aleta Godwin she has helped Aja Brown win re-election by misplacing ballots and absentee ballots in the past. But still she is City Clerk. We will put as stop to all this foolishness at election time.
Aja Brown is trying to turn the community against the sheriff.
She and her family were stopped by the sheriff’s department because of the connection with the illegal marijuana shops, people are saying. They have seen her husband frequenting the shops and the owners of those shops are telling on them.
Aja Brown is trying to play innocent like she did went she said her grandmother was brutally sexually assaulted and killed.
She should be given an oscar for her lying performances!
She’s done nothing with the people’s money to get the city in order.
Residents or council members know where the money is going, especially with the penny sales tax!
One only has to drive through the streets of Compton to see the sinkholes.
Watching the special council meeting yesterday was a total embarrassment to the residents and cities at large.
Aja Brown and Michelle Chambers were so disrespectful, anyone could see they were mad because they didn’t get they way.
After yesterday performance they are not fit to lead a monkey to the zoo.
You tell when Aja Brown, Michelle Chambers are lying. You two should be of disgrace shame for calling your colleagues ignorant.
You’re right everyone is looking at Compton for there continued foolishness.
Aja Brown is Donald Trumps Neice!!!
Aja Brown our!!!