WATTS : Residents Raise Issues at Town Hall Meeting

Police response time and economic investment in Watts topped the list of concerns voiced by residents during a Town Hall meeting last week with Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr.

Calling his 15th District the most ethnically diverse in the city, Svorinich said Tuesday’s Town Hall meeting was aimed at mapping out the future of Watts and was intended to “show my dedication to this community and to say thank you.”

Several times during the three-hour meeting at Markham Middle School, residents expressed frustration over police delays in responding to calls and over the need for more long-range investment in the area.

“I saw a man get shot in my front yard and the police were so slow in getting there,” said a 23-year-old woman. “It really bothers me because I’m a young parent with three children, and I’m going to have to move out because I’m worried.”

Svorinich and a panel of six city officials responded to questions from about 75 residents.

Among those who turned out was Murray Spencer, a 41-year-old carpenter and mother of five, who wanted to know the councilman’s plans for improving schools.

“I wanted to know if they were going to talk about schools, because they want our kids to get A’s and B’s but they don’t even have books to give the kids to take home,” Spencer said.

The need for long-term investment and awarding jobs and contracts to local businesses were among the top concerns of Mike Dickerson, a resident who asked the panel about the percentage of construction contracts awarded by the city to local businesses. Officials said the information was not immediately available.

“It just seems that every time you turn around (the contracts) go out to someone in Laguna Beach,” Dickerson said.