Compton, CA (The Bulletin) – Compton Mayor Emma Sharif is proud of the work she has done in trying to rebuild the city and its image. But judgement day on June 2 will determine if city residents buy into what she’s saying when voters head to the polls to choose the city’s next mayor.
The question is will voters elect Sharif again or vote for one of the other wildcard candidates that want her seat? With unresolved issues and a couple of behind-the-podium scandals rearing their ugly heads, Sharif is standing in the middle of a political storm as voters decide her fate.
Not to go through the truckload of laundry list items that might be keeping Sharif up at night, it would seem to be a challenge for the current mayor to juggle all of the city and local government’s pressing matters.
Most recently, the power tug-o-war between city council members and Willie Hopkins Jr. resulted in the former city manager being placed on administrative leave. No one, not even Sharif, has given a definitive reason why Hopkins has been placed on leave.
Aside from that matter, the mess Sharif and other city council members found themselves engaged with concerning former City Attorney Eric Perrodin, didn’t improve the city’s image in the least bit. Nor has Compton’s perpetual crisis called the city’s potholes problem been fully taken care of.
That’s just a few of the things that have occupied Sharif’s plate lately. Despite all of this, Sharif has carried on, trying to keep Compton on the right track of progress. Under Sharif’s watch, the city has moved steadily in its appeal to get in compliance with state auditors, saw the Artesia Bridge up and running again, brought in a host of new businesses, renovated local parks, and led the way to get the roads fixed.
Now, to some of her critics, Sharif has not done nearly enough to bring more vitality to the city. However, Sharif believes she has done more than enough to keep Compton moving ahead.
During a sit-down interview with The Bulletin, Sharif shared a little of what she’s been able to do as mayor.
The Bulletin: How would you describe the work you’ve done?
Mayor Emma Sharif: “You know, the work that I’ve done, I am excited about it. I wish we could have done more, but I think the main issues that we focused on, the infrastructure, the economic development, and parks, are trying to make sure our parks and everything is up to date with our for our kids.”
The Bulletin: Do you feel like you’ve been hamstrung in a way as the mayor or even as a member of the city council because you are not paid like other neighboring local governments? Does that impact what you guys do here in Compton?
Mayor Emma Sharif: “Let me say this. I have been in this business for a while now. It was never about money when I came [here], and it’s not about money now. What I do every day, I do for the benefit of this community. I do it because I want to see the city prosper and I want to see things change in our community for the better. That means we have to do something good every day. in order for us to change this. This is what I’m looking forward to doing, but the money…It’s never been about money with me.”
The Bulletin: The potholes issue. Is that old news?
Mayor Emma Sharif: “It really is, and you know, it is old news, because we have done a lot of work. We really have. When you go back and take a look at what we’ve done, we’ve invested a lot of money into our infrastructure, trying to make sure that we address that issue. Is it going to be fixed overnight? No, it’s not, because you got 30 years of streets not being done. So, how do you think that we’re going to get all these streets fixed in one in four years? It’s impossible.”
The Bulletin: How much would it cost to fix all of the streets?
Mayor Emma Sharif: “About one hundred million, plus.”
The Bulletin: In regards to the city manager’s seat, do you see or envision, if you are reelected, that position being more stable going into the future?
Mayor Emma Sharif: “I think so. I think with some certain things we can do in order to make it more stable, I think, and those are the things that I’m looking forward to addressing in June.”
The Bulletin: What are the negative stereotypes you want to erase about Compton?
Mayor Emma Sharif: “You know, I know people look at Compton, and they think this is the same old Compton. It’s not. This city has changed. Sometimes I think people don’t realize that. It’s changing for the better. And I think that, honestly, I think that it changed a lot over the last four years.
I really do. And in talking to people outside of this city, they’re saying we see the change, we can see it, and so that’s what it’s all about, because, like I said, is that we are a city of hope.
File photo/Cover
