By Stephen Witt
A proposal to lease city-owned property to a local nonprofit serving hundreds of Compton families hit a roadblock at Tuesday’s city council meeting when council members demanded more financial documentation before voting.
Fathers and Mothers Who Care (FMWC), led by Executive Director Linda Kelly, is seeking a six-year lease agreement for the property at 920 North Alameda Street at $1 per square foot monthly, with the organization committing to invest $175,000 in building renovations over six months.
The lease proposal was pulled from Tuesday’s agenda after Councilman Jonathan Bowers questioned the staff report’s lack of detailed financial information, despite expressing support for the organization’s community work.
Extensive Community Services
During public comments, Kelly and supporters highlighted the nonprofit’s significant community impact. The organization recently distributed over 600 backpacks to local children and served more than 485 families during their Thanksgiving drive. They also provided Christmas assistance to over 500 children.
“The benefits are, we’ve been serving the city of Compton, but the high rents – if you guys give it to us, would help us tremendously,” Kelly told the council. “A lot of our services won’t go into the administrative costs that can go directly into serving the people that we serve.”
Shannon Jones, also with the organization, addressed the city’s homeless crisis during her remarks. “I have a lot of mothers calling me who can’t shower before their kids come to school,” she said, advocating for expanded services to help families in crisis.
Financial Questions Remain
City staff explained that the six-year lease term was designed to allow the organization time to recoup its renovation investment, with the $175,000 in improvements to be completed within the first six months. However, council members wanted more details about how that figure was calculated and what specific improvements were planned.
The property is located at the former “old angel” site building, where Fathers and Mothers Who Care would be the sole tenant responsible for utilities and maintenance.
Dennis Taylor, who spoke in support of the organization, praised their commitment to Compton. When offered a location in Los Angeles, he said Kelly declined, asking, “What would Compton do without me?”
Support from Formerly Incarcerated
Brian Sawyer, who received clemency after serving time for a life sentence, credited the organization with helping him reintegrate into the community. “I lived in the city of Compton for 60 years, and they grabbed me like I was embraced like a child,” he testified. “They helped me with my Social Security. They helped me find work.”
The organization also maintains another location on Rosecrans Avenue, though it’s unclear if both facilities would remain operational.
Next Steps
City staff will return with additional financial documentation at next week’s council meeting. According to Kelly, the delay comes as the organization faces mounting pressure from service cuts at county, state, and federal levels.
The council meeting also featured testimony about Compton’s broader challenges, including a 6.8% property tax assessment increase and ongoing infrastructure concerns, providing context for the financial scrutiny applied to new spending commitments.
