Carson to Stop Funding Satellite Traffic Court

The Carson City Council has rejected a proposal to continue its share of funding for the Carson Satellite Traffic Court, a decision that may force the branch operation to close.

The satellite court, which operates as part of the Compton Municipal Court, opened in August, 1988, to provide Carson residents a convenient location to settle traffic tickets. Court officials were asking the city for $17,000 for the 1991-92 fiscal year to continue the program.

The proposal was defeated by a 3-2 vote Tuesday, with council members Juanita McDonald, Michael Mitoma and Sylvia Muise voting against it. Supporting the funding were Mayor Vera Robles DeWitt and Councilwoman Kay Calas.

DeWitt harshly criticized the vote, saying it was motivated by personality conflicts between herself and other council members. The vote also exemplified a recent shift in council alliances.

Tim R. Aguilar, court administrator for Compton Municipal Court, called the council’s decision confusing. More than 21,000 people used the branch, which also serves residents of other areas, from June, 1989, through September, 1990, Aguilar said.

“I was under the impression that the city of Carson was pleased with this program,” Aguilar said. “The cost is minimal. . . . It would seem the program is a win-win situation there.”

Aguilar said Carson’s decision would probably cause him to pull staff from the satellite court and possibly even close the facility when its building lease expires in August.

The Compton court this year contributed $150,000 toward operating the Carson branch. Its success, Aguilar said, has led the court to propose a similar venture with the city of Paramount.

DeWitt and Calas led the initial drive to open the Carson site, saying the court would be especially convenient for elderly residents who lack transportation. In addition, DeWitt cited Compton’s high crime rate, saying Carson residents were concerned about their safety when going to the Compton Courthouse.

During a break in Tuesday’s meeting, DeWitt held an impromptu press conference to blast the council’s decision.

“There is no question that the satellite court has been very effective; it’s been very successful,” DeWitt said. “What’s happening here is that some council members are mad over another issue. That’s why they’re taking it out on me.”

DeWitt said she was alluding to Mitoma and McDonald. She said the two council members were upset about a memo she had sent to acting City Administrator Larry Olson in which she objected to a meeting among McDonald, Mitoma and several city employees at Carson’s corporate maintenance yard.

DeWitt called the meeting another example of council members “sticking their fingers” in day-to-day city operations.

The council has a reputation among some city employees for meddling in daily, routine affairs.

Attempts to reach Mitoma for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.

McDonald, however, called DeWitt’s accusations “child’s play.”

McDonald defended the meeting at the maintenance yard, saying it was an attempt to ease racial tensions that had surfaced there among city employees. She said the meeting accomplished that purpose.

McDonald said her vote on the satellite court was based on an assessment of the city’s worsening financial condition. “Given the budget constraint that we’re in, this is one of the directions we’re going to go,” she said.

The vote is the most telling example to date of the latest split in council factions.

Last spring, when McDonald was elected to the council, she formed a three-vote bloc with Calas and DeWitt. Frustrated by the alliance, Mitoma threatened to resign his seat.

Since last fall, however McDonald has joined with Mitoma on most issues, leaving Muise as the swing vote on controversial decisions. Calas and DeWitt have formed the other bloc vote on most issues.