The King Memorial at the Compton Civic Center, a 1978 landmark honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the city’s most recognizable symbols. After decades of exposure, it now requires repainting, metal treatment, concrete repair, plaque replacement, and landscaping restoration. Compton residents respectfully call for comprehensive maintenance to preserve this important civic and cultural monument for future generations.

Compton faces housing instability, poverty, food insecurity, and environmental health burdens. Yet the city shows resilience through faith networks, educational anchors, and neighborhood mutual aid. Trusted hubs like Dollarhide Community Center, parks, libraries, and transit corridors anchor civic life. Strong partnerships depend on place-based delivery, cross-sector coordination, warm handoffs, shared goals, and community-informed design.

Compton residents joined thousands countywide for the 2026 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, deploying from Dollarhide Community Center to ensure the city was fully represented. With over 99% of data captured digitally and improved coordination reducing make-up tracts, the effort highlighted strong civic engagement. Results, to be released later this year, will guide funding, housing strategies, and services impacting Compton directly.

On January 15, Compton’s Personnel Board held a public hearing at Dollarhide Community Center to review requests to temporarily exempt several city positions from civil service rules. The requests originated within City administration and were submitted through Human Resources under the City Charter. Public input was allowed on roles affecting water, finance, legal, and clerk services. Final decisions and reporting timelines were not specified.

The City of Compton announces its Primary Nominating Election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 for Mayor, City Council Districts 2 and 3, City Clerk, and City Treasurer. Candidate filing opens February 9, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. and closes March 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Nominating papers are available at the City Clerk’s Office, 205 S. Willowbrook Ave., Compton. Appointments are recommended.

The City of Compton is seeking qualified residents to serve on the Charter Review Committee. Members will review the City Charter, gather public input through community meetings, analyze feedback, and prepare formal recommendations for City Council consideration and possible placement on a future ballot. Applicants must be Compton residents and registered voters. Elected officials and City employees, or those closely affiliated with them, are not eligible.

The Compton Station Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan, announced in 2021, was meant to transform the Metro A Line station area into a dense, mixed-use district. Despite frequent references, the project remains largely unfinished and inactive. Environmental review ended in 2022, yet no adoption, zoning changes, developers, or construction have followed—making it a familiar Compton community problem: plenty of talk, plans, and promises, but little to no follow-th

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing a formal complaint alleging misuse of a City of Compton credit card and potential campaign finance violations by Councilman Andre Spicer. The complaint followed the release of 2025 city credit card statements and community concerns raised at council meetings. The DA has confirmed the matter is under review, with no findings or charges announced, while campaign finance issues are typically overseen by the FPPC.

The California State Auditor’s October 2025 report finds that although Compton has made progress in infrastructure planning, financial reporting, and purchasing reforms, it remains a high-risk city. Ongoing failures in governance, competitive hiring, budgeting, and long-term planning continue to weaken stability. Public safety risks linked to water reliability, street conditions, fire overtime, and unfinished sewer projects remain unresolved.

Street takeovers are not declining—they are becoming deadlier. Despite claims of a 35% reduction, communities see ongoing chaos, shootings, and unsolved crimes. A Compton double homicide remains unresolved four years later, with over 100 witnesses fleeing. With no Safety Commission oversight and leaders celebrating statistics, residents reject feel-good reports and demand real enforcement, accountability, and justice.

Child sexual abuse is a serious crime that can occur even within trusted environments. A recent case involving a substitute teacher who worked in Compton Unified School District schools underscores the need for vigilance. CSA includes grooming, exploitation, and the creation of explicit material involving minors. Protecting students in Compton schools requires awareness, reporting, and a shared commitment to child safety.

The City of Compton and former City Attorney Eric Perrodin have settled multiple legal disputes following Perrodin’s resignation earlier this month. Court filings confirm that both sides agreed to resolve dueling lawsuits related to disagreements over the 2024–25 city budget, authority of the City Attorney’s Office, and alleged misuse of city resources. Settlement terms were not disclosed. Perrodin was elected City Attorney in March 2024.

A Compton-area man was mauled to death by 13 pit bulls kept in a suspected illegal backyard breeding operation likely tied to dog-fighting. This tragedy highlights the urgent need for communities to report unlicensed kennels, animal cruelty, and dangerous breeding sites to protect public safety and stop violent underground activities.

The Citizens’ Coalition notes the County’s report showing a 35% drop in illegal street takeovers in Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 2, with even greater declines in Compton-area communities. But this progress is not enough. Street takeovers still endanger residents, and the goal must be complete elimination. Every remaining incident is unacceptable and demands stronger action.

Compton residents are outraged after the City Council illegally canceled its meeting instead of convening and adjourning as required by the City Charter. The move appears to shield Councilmember Spicer and the City Manager from scrutiny over thousands in questionable credit-card charges. Citizens demand transparency, the release of the full credit-card report, and accountability from all officials involved.

50 Cent’s $50M Shreveport investment may boost Louisiana, but it’s a missed opportunity for Compton. The Citizens’ Coalition argues he built his brand on communities like ours yet chose profit over reinvestment. With Hollywood in decline and many skilled LA workers—especially people of color—needing jobs, Compton offered talent, culture, and need. Instead, those benefits were exported to Shreveport.

The Citizens’ Coalition condemns the alleged child sexual assaults committed by Compton pastor Quintilo Sagrero, calling the case a grave betrayal and a symptom of broader moral decline affecting the community. Authorities believe additional victims may exist and urge anyone with information to come forward to help bring full justice.

The City of Compton plans to approve a 60-home, all-electric gated community at 2320 N. Parmelee Ave. The project includes 12 affordable homes and claims no major environmental impacts. Residents can review and comment until Nov. 5, 2025, and attend the public hearing on Nov. 12 at the Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center to voice opinions on traffic, safety, and environmental concerns.

Gentrification has displaced over 500,000 Black residents since 1980, erasing culture, history, and political power in cities from Watts to Washington. Once-thriving Black neighborhoods are now unrecognizable, replaced by newcomers and government subsidized undocumented immigrants, mostly from Middle and South America, while longtime residents are priced out. Revitalization without inclusion is displacement. The question is not whether cities grow, but who gets to stay and wh

We honor the life of Artra Wynn, beloved Board Member of the Citizen’s Coalition for Change and tireless advocate for Compton. From uniting residents through civic forums to defeating harmful initiatives, supporting veterans, and empowering neighborhoods, her dedication leaves a lasting legacy of service, pride, and community strength. Artra will be deeply missed, but her impact will inspire for years to come.