South Los Angeles sees low voter turnout
Christine Trang | 6-8-2010 | Comments |
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Low voter turnout across Los Angeles County was mirrored at polling locations in South Los Angeles on Tuesday, as voters weighed in on a variety of elected offices and measures. By mid-afternoon, only about 15 voters showed up at the Greater Phillips Chapel in Compton.
“There are a lot of polling places now, so it makes sense to see a smaller number of people,” Curtis Carter, a Compton resident, said. “There used to be long lines outside the door, but not this time.”
But Dennis DeLoach, a business owner in South Los Angeles, said the low voter turnout did not surprise him. Ascension Lutheran Church and School, where DeLoach worked at the front table, saw about 60 voters between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“There are not a lot of hot button issues in this election,” DeLoach said. “When there are more hot button issues, like the Arizona immigration law, there will be more voters.”
For those who did vote, the battle over who will win the Republican and Democratic nominations for governor remained at the top of their minds.
Terri Hooks, a resident of South Los Angeles, said she hoped for a governor who would give to the community, rather than take from the community.
“We need to get more teachers back into the classrooms,” Hooks said. “We need to stop these budget cuts.”
This message resonated throughout several polling locations in the area. At the Crenshaw-Imperial Library in Inglewood, which also saw about 60 voters, one resident expressed her concern about public schools.
“The budget cuts forced us to put my grandson in a private school because there are fewer programs now,” Susie Fritts, a resident of Inglewood, said. “Some parents also take their children to charter schools for the same reason.”
Eula Hooks, a resident of South Los Angeles, agreed parents might look elsewhere, especially when budget cuts forced a large number of layoffs in the public school system. With fewer teachers in the classroom, Eula said it is nearly impossible to handle situations that might arise.
“There are too many students in one classroom now,” Eula said. “How can you teach that many students with just one teacher?”
But for some, it is also important for the next governor to help bring back after-school activities.
“A lot of after-school programs have been dismissed,” Terri said. “We want the current governor out. He has done enough.”
Carter, who used to attend ‘teen spots’ at a young age, said that not only are more after-school programs needed, it is also important to provide students with mentors who will offer support; ‘teen spots’ generally allowed students to interact with one another, attend field trips and receive encouragement from their peers.
“Children need a place to go,” Carter said. “We need to bring [‘teen spots’] back.”
Some residents also weighed in on state ballot measures. DeLoach said he worried about Proposition 16, a measure that, if approved, would require two-thirds voter approval before a public agency could enter the local retail power business.
“That measure hits close to home,” DeLoach said. “Every single time I turn around, rates [for Pacific Gas & Electric] go up. [The proposition] will only give the company more power to do what it pleases.”
Fritts offered her input on the proposition as well.
“Wherever there is money, that is where more money and more attention will go,” Fritts said. “Wherever there is no money, people will be left in the cold.”
Most South Los Angeles residents agreed these concerns make it all the more important to vote.
“The [current] governor did not satisfy anyone,” Carter said. “We want to vote, but we do not want to vote for someone who did the things he did.”
The Los Angeles County Registrar expects voter turnout to be lower than the 2008 primary election, but final turnout numbers are not in yet.
A Field Poll released today said this election will be the first in California where a majority of voters will send their ballots in by mail, rather than vote at a polling place. The poll also predicts low voter turnout, with only about 33 percent of registered voters expected to cast ballots statewide.
Tags: 2010 primary election budget cuts governor public schools south los angeles