SOUTH-CENTRAL : Council Agrees to Apply for Job Training Grant

The City Council on Tuesday agreed to apply for a $3-million federal youth job training grant on behalf of a private South-Central Los Angeles riot recovery group.

The grant, which has already been tentatively approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, would be used to set up a job training and placement center near Manchester and Vermont avenues by Community Build, a private nonprofit organization that was launched by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles).

The council voted 10 to 0 without discussion to pursue the federal funds. Council members Mark Ridley-Thomas and Rita Walters, both of whom had raised questions about whether Community Build should receive the grant, were not present for the council decision.

The pair had indicated last week that they did not want to vote in favor of the project but did not want to see it killed, either. Ridley-Thomas, in whose district the program would be centered, said Tuesday he had concerns about the lack of competitive bidding for the grant and about the limited track record of Community Build.

“There is no good reason to get resources and not have the appropriate safeguards against those resources being squandered,” said Ridley-Thomas, adding that he was attending a USC function at the time of the vote.

Walters was on vacation and could not be reached for comment.