Compton Bulletin
By Chris Frost, Bulletin Staff Writer

COMPTON—The Compton City Council, along with leaders from the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Los Angeles County and the California Statehouse, celebrated the grand opening of the long awaited Martin Luther King Jr. Transit Center on Thursday, Jan. 26.

The celebration featured performances by the Compton High School drum line and choir, the raising of the flag by the Bunche Middle School Color Guard, and refreshments served after the ceremony.

The MLK Transit Center is a joint partnership between the city of Compton and the MTA. It is a key component of the city’s overall master plan to transform downtown into a regional hub, consisting of the new transit center, a parking structure, and a Senior Activity Center adjacent to each other.

It will serve riders on the Metro Blue Line and other transit modes, including Dial- A-Ride, Dial-A-Taxi and bus layover facilities. The agency has also begun negotiations with Starbucks and the Coffee Bean for lease of 2,000 square feet of retail space, and is structuring an agreement with the MTA for joint use of the second floor for security and transportation-related services.

Councilwoman Lillie Dobson told everyone the fighting is over, and she is happy.

"It has been a long time coming, but we are celebrating the grand opening of the MLK Transit Center," she said. "The contractors struggled to get it done, but worked together to give us this beautiful site. Compton is on the move."

Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux called it "another completed piece of the puzzle."

"I agree with the people who tell me this is a beautiful building," she said. "This connects us to other communities."

Councilwoman Janna Zurita said she would travel by the transit center, wondering when it would be completed.

"I really look forward to all of us utilizing this building as soon as next week," she said.

Councilman Willie Jones offered thanks and congratulations to everyone contributing to the project.

"Like Pastor Rafer Owens said, in order to keep moving, you must have a vision," he said. "The past and present council members have a vision. We still have it, and more good things are coming."

Community Redevelopment Director Dr. Kofi Sefa- Boakye said the completed project made him want to perform the "Kabuki Dance."

"I want to thank the greatest City Council I have ever worked with," he said. "Without your continued support we would not be where we are today."

Sefa-Boakye attributed the efforts to the presence of state-funded redevelopment dollars.

"Even in this down economy we enjoy successes like the Seasons at Compton, the sold-out Olsen Housing Development, and the groundbreaking for the Senior Activity Center," he said. "The grand opening of the MLK Transit Center tops it off. Depressed economies cannot compete with places like Newport Beach, Long Beach and Cerritos until we get a shot in the arm from the government. The free market system does not work across the board."

The most contentious remarks about redevelopment came from Assemblyman Isadore Hall, who said he refrained from some comments because of the presence of microphones at the event.

"We are fighting with Gov. Jerry Brown over the future of redevelopment," he said. "There are a lot of advocates pushing for redevelopment and social rights in our community. I am honored to be waving the flag of help for people who do not understand the impact redevelopment had over the last 10 years in Compton. I was very vociferous in telling the governor that he is wrong."

The transit center itself, Hall said, is proof of the benefit redevelopment brings.

"This project took a few years to get here, but it is worth waiting for," he said. "The developers and City Council deserve applause for the work they did."

Hall presented a resolution to the Council and city staff commemorating the grand opening of the center.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas encouraged Hall to speak his mind, and not worry about any recording devices.

"If you are going to hit the governor, fire on him," he said. "They are trying to balance the budget on the backs of communities like Compton. They made a huge mistake, and it is going to be difficult to clean it up. We remain committed to restoring as much redevelopment money as possible, particularly in the area of affordable housing necessary for our community to continue growing."

Capping the ceremony was the dedication of a plaque honoring Demond Hall, who passed away during the construction.

The plaque and his hard hat were presented to his mother, amid applause from the crowd.

The process of getting a certificate of occupancy for the city should take less than a month. The Building and Safety Department will grant the certificate of occupancy for the building following the contractor’s compliance with state code requirements.

"Mepco, the general contractor for the construction project, must meet the same rigorous guidelines required by state and local governments," Sefa-Boakye said. "A temporary certificate of occupancy allows occupants to move furniture and equipment into the building."