Cancel Security and Demand Services at Compton Parks

Mayor Aja Brown, City Councilmembers Sharif, Galvan, McCoy, and Chambers, and City Manager Craig Cornwell

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

The City of Compton is soliciting bids for armed or unarmed security at parks across the city. Why is the city spending our money on private security forces at parks when so much of our taxes already go towards law enforcement and a paltry $4.2 million are all that’s available to maintain all park facilities and services?

Our tax dollars currently fund law enforcement services from the County Sheriff's Department to the tune of over $23 million annually, roughly one-tenth of the city’s total budget.

While some of this cost is covered by Measure P (approximately $4 million), the majority of the money comes from Compton’s general fund (over $18 million) which is used to support other critical city services, including Parks and Recreation.

For the 2019/2020 general fund budget almost 31% of the city’s costs go towards policing (over $18 million of a total $58 million general fund budget).

Our parks should not resemble our county jails when we have youth out of school because of Covid19, and families who would be better served by parks programs, youth camps, food programs, sports and play, and connections to city, county and state resources and services.

To: Mayor Aja Brown, City Councilmembers Sharif, Galvan, McCoy, and Chambers, and City Manager Craig Cornwell
From: [Your Name]

Compton parks should not resemble county jails.

I am writing with deep concern over the city's RFP for armed or unarmed security at our public parks. Compton’s current policing contract with the Sheriff’s department is already one of the most expensive line items in our city budget, costing taxpayers approximately 31% of our general fund for city services. Even at that cost, there is little oversight or transparency as to how quality of life is improved for Compton residents with this contract.

Our parks should serve as resource centers for youth, families and our elderly neighbors. Instead of funding private security to further criminalize Compton residents, the city should create more programming for youth and families, sports and play, meal programs and safe socializing for community members. Parks should be resource centers during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be access points for local and state resources for residents after the pandemic, with trained, culturally competent and local staff who are not armed or hired security.

Community facing parks staff, who are trained and prepared to serve community members as well as serve as eyes on our facilities should be prioritized over armed/unarmed private security forces. I am asking that you cancel the RFP for armed or unarmed security and repurpose the funds, and other resources, to create permanent community serving jobs at our public parks.