Seen and heard at the last Compton City Council meeting:

» Arthur Keaton wanted to know why Michael Antwine and Kofi Sefa-Boakye are still on the city payroll even though the Community Redevelopment Agency does not exist anymore. He also asked why Council liaisons make $50,000, a car and technology allowance and have all their benefits paid for each year.

» Lorraine Cervantes said the city has not paid the college and the Compton Unified School District like they are supposed to, and should take care of it before all the Community Redevelopment Agency money runs out. She said residents should let Delores Zurita close out her books for the Dickison Lighted Schools program and retire in peace.

» Val Dudley said Alameda Avenue looks atrocious and the corner lots need to be taken care of. She said citizens must be told that no one will knock on their doors because the city does not have enough employees for that, but everyone should come take a “we can clean up the city without enough people” attitude.

» Joyce Kelly said Lorraine Cervantes recited hearsay about Delores Zurita and she was there and knows the truth. She alleged that Michael Harvey falsified information about the $40,000 pay raise for Kambiz Shoghi, and Harvey did not go to her and make corrections so he lied to Council members and residents.

» Lynn Boone said she has a Workers Compensation case pending with the city, and the attorney who deposed her said he makes $300 per hour from the city and he will make more than the case is worth. She said

Howard Duffey has been a candidate for city manager before, and the Council members from district two, three and four and the mayor chose Charles Evans instead.

» Tony Banson wants the city to do a survey determining whether or not it is a good idea to switch to the Los Angeles County Fire Department instead of local service. He said it is a painful issue for some, but if switching saves jobs and puts people back to work it should be looked at.

» Michael Riddick said a tree in front of his niece's property caused problems. He said city employees cut it down to a stump five feet high and three feet wide after he complained and left the sidewalk raised up by eight inches. He said if his senior mother and father hurt themselves on the hazard the deficit will get deeper.

» Yvonne Arceneaux instructed Bryan Batiste to send someone over and assess what needs to be done.

» Patricia Simpson said she met with the Assemblyman Isadore Hall and he said the city received multiple grants it did not use and had to send them back. She said the Council knew about it and received letters.

» Keaton said Duffey cannot be a candidate for the city manager position in East Palo Alto, yet he is on board in Compton. He asked when the city will follow Stockton and San Bernadino and file for bankruptcy.

» Adrian Cleveland said she advocates Compton, and the city must make smart financial decisions for its future. She said she supports Delores Zurita and it was heartbreaking to hear what people said about her during the previous Council

meeting.

» Cervantes said she does not support the contract for Duffey, and the Council should look at the severance package being offered.

» Kelly said the city may file for bankruptcy, she has never seen the fire department run away and want to join the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

» Barbara Dorsey spoke on behalf of Delores Zurita, and said she has a great tradition of serving seniors, including her mother. She told everyone to keep a calm spirit and a quiet soul and move forward.

» Brett Barbosa expressed his concern about the negative comments made about Delores Zurita during the July 10 meeting, and called her a pioneer in Compton, and said he cannot believe that a mature woman would target and assassinate the character of such a vital contributor to the city.

» Boone said the city can raise money by increasing port fees in San Pedro, and Compton gives too many things away for free. She said she voted for Janice Hahn because of the candidate's father, and because she heard it is a Black seat. Boone said the seat should not be tied to race, and she questions her vote because Isadore Hall supports her so much, and everything Hall has ever given to the city is “no good.”

» Keaton said he has never seen Arceneaux in Sunny Cove in the 11 years he has lived there unless she was invited. He said she never just stops by to see what is going on.

» Simpson said the city looks bad, and it seems like three Council members control everything.