Long Beach : City Threatens to Close Pan African Art School

An art school designed to keep African-American youngsters away from gangs is in trouble with City Hall and has 30 days to correct code violations or it will be shut down.

The Pan African Art School, 2240 Atlantic Ave., was cited Tuesday for a number of violations, including faulty wiring. School founder Akinsanya Kambon took his complaints to the City Council this week and was told he has 30 days to comply with the city’s regulations.

That may not be enough time, however, Kambon said Wednesday. His program, which includes history and art classes, cannot afford the cost of permits and renovations, he said.

“If it costs a dollar, we don’t have it,” said Kambon, a Cal State Long Beach professor who pays for most of the costs associated with the school, which reopened last year. The school originally opened in 1984 but closed the following year.

Mark I. Sutton, the city’s building inspection officer, said that the school is working as a social services office and needs a conditional-use permit.