COMPTON : Group With Council Ties Gets City Cars for $1 Each

The public service group 100 Strong Men of Compton proved it has strong ties to City Hall recently when the organization won City Council approval to buy three used city vehicles for $1 each.

The unprecedented deal drew support from Mayor Omar Bradley, founder and president of the group, and Councilman Ronald J. Green, a member of the group. Councilwoman Jane D. Robbins also voted for the proposal.

Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux abstained after saying she was concerned that other worthy civic groups were not given an opportunity to compete for the vehicles. Councilwoman Marcine Shaw, who earlier in the day voiced identical reservations, was not present for the vote.

Bradley said the city has allowed the organization to use city vehicles during cleanup efforts. “But the men need these other vehicles” for smaller, daily jobs, he said.

The vehicles are a 1990 Ford paramedic’s van worth $4,000, and a Chevrolet half-ton pickup and a Dodge passenger bus, each worth $500. All were bound for auction until members of the group asked to buy them for $1 each.

Opponents of the deal said it is likely to generate similar requests.

When asked how many vehicles might be available, City Manager Howard Caldwell shrugged and said, “I wasn’t planning on giving away those. But they asked for them and the council agreed.”

The 100 Strong Men group was established last year to clean up various areas of the city. So far, members have worked to clean up part of a drainage canal that runs through the city, repainted and landscaped an old Camp Fire site, and painted an elementary school, among other projects.