South Gate, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
City of South Gate
Official seal of City of South Gate
Seal
Location of South Gate in Los Angeles County, California
Location of South Gate in Los Angeles County, California
Coordinates: 33°56′39″N 118°11′42″W / 33.94417°N 118.195°W / 33.94417; -118.195
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
Incorporated (city) January 20, 1923[1]
Government
 - Mayor Gil Hurtado [2]
Area
 - Total 7.48 sq mi (19.38 km2)
 - Land 7.37 sq mi (19.08 km2)
 - Water 0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2)  1.57%
Elevation 115 ft (35 m)
Population (January 1, 2009)
 - Total 102,770
 - Density 13,950.4/sq mi (5,386.27/km2)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP Code 90280 [3]
Area code(s) 323 [4]
FIPS code 06-73080
GNIS feature ID 1652795
Website [1]

South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County. As of January 1, 2009, the city had a total population of 102,770. [5] The "City of South Gate" was incorporated on 20 January 1923 by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors[6].

In 1990, South Gate was one of ten U.S. communities to receive the All-America City Award from the National Civic League.[7]

Contents

[edit] History

This section requires expansion.

[edit] Geography

South Gate is located at 33°56′39″N 118°11′42″W / 33.94417°N 118.195°W / 33.94417; -118.195 (33.944264, -118.194903)[8].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.4 km² (7.5 mi²). 19.1 km² (7.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.60% water.

The Los Angeles River runs through the eastern part of South Gate.

[edit] Climate

South Gate, Ca. climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's. The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 84.80 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 48.30 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 19 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual average precipitation at South Gate is 15.07 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is February with an average rainfall of 3.75 Inches. [9]

[edit] Demographics

The census of 2000 recorded 96, 375 people, 23,213 households, and 20, 063 families residing in the city, with a population density of 13,084.6/sq mi (5,052.0/km²). There are 24,269 housing units at an average density of 1,271.4/km² (3,294.9/mi²).[10] The racial makeup of the city was the following:

There are 23,213 households out of which 58.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% are married couples living together, 18.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 13.6% are non-families. 10.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 4.15 and the average family size is 4.37.

In the city the population is spread out with 35.6% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $35,695, and the median income for a family is $35,789. Males have a median income of $25,350 versus $19,978 for females. The per capita income for the city is $10,602. 19.2% of the population and 17.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Religion

58.08% of the people in South Gate, CA are religious, meaning they affiliate with a religion. 39.99% are Catholic; 6.75% are Protestant; 1.04% are LDS; 3.33% are another Christian faith; 5.93% in South Gate, CA are Jewish; 0.07% are an eastern faith; 0.98% affilite with Islam.[13]

[edit] Demographics History

The South Gate area was inhabited by the Gabrielino/Tongva Indians before development by Spanish ranchers.

South Gate developed during the 1920s and 1930s as an industrial city (primarily in "metal-bashing" industries) and its blue-collar community was predominantly non-Hispanic white.

During the 1940s and 1950s, South Gate was one of the most fiercely segregationist cities in Southern California; gangs of white youths were known to prowl the streets looking for blacks who dared to cross over from neighboring Watts. One of the most infamous clubs of the area at that time was the Spook Hunters.

The population reached some 55,000 by 1964.

The next year South Gate began to change. In August 1965, the Watts riots erupted. Watts was virtually 100 percent black, and South Gate, immediately to the east of Watts, was nearly 100 percent white. Although the rioters were mostly confined to black areas of south-central Los Angeles and did not cross the line into South Gate, younger whites in South Gate started to look elsewhere to buy their first houses. As the white population of South Gate began to decline, the Mexican population, which earlier had established a foothold, began to increase.

Since the 1970s, South Gate has had a large Hispanic community, which became dominant in the 1990s as working-class Hispanics and immigrant Latin American families filled the vacuum left by white flight.[14]

[edit] Economy

The unemployment rate in South Gate, CA, is 5.80%, with job growth of 0.84%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 17.77%. Income tax is 6.00%. The income per capita is $11,566, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $41,064.[15]

South Gate's commercial activity is concentrated in the following zones:

  • Tweedy Mile (On Tweedy Blvd. from State St. to Atlantic Ave.)
  • Firestone Blvd. (from Long Beach Blvd. to Garfield Blvd.)

As of April 1, 2009, the City of South Gate imposes a 10.25-percent sales tax (statewide plus local supplementary), which matches Pico Rivera's sales tax rate as the highest in the State of California.[16]

[edit] Government

City Council

  • Gill Hurtados - Mayor
  • Henry C. González - Vice Mayor
  • María Dávila - Councilwoman
  • Bill DeWit - Councilmember
  • Greg Martínez - Councilmember

The City Council consists of five persons elected at large by the residents of South Gate. These Council members serve a four year term and establish the governing policies and procedures for the city. The Mayor is selected on an annual, rotating basis from among the Council members.[17]

City Clerk

  • Carmen Ávalos

The City Clerk in South Gate is an elected position that serves a four-year term. As the official record keeper for the City, the City Clerk is responsible for maintaining all central and legal files, preparing City Council meeting agendas and minutes, conducting municipal elections and assisting the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder with voter registration.[18]

City Treasurer

Political Party

63.10% of the people in South Gate, CA are registered as Democrats. 35.60% are registered Republican. Remaining are independent: 1.30%.[20]

[edit] Scandal and corruption

From 2001 to 2003, then-city treasurer, Albert Robles, along with three accomplices on the city council, accepted bribes and in turn gave taxpayer dollars to friends and relatives to perform city contracts. The three accomplices formed a majority of the five member city council, so they could effectively run the city any way they wanted. For example, in 2002, Robles was arrested on felony threat charges but was appointed by the city council to the deputy city manager position and had his legal bills covered by the city. The city council gave themselves a 2000% pay raise, and cut the pay of city clerk Carmen Avalos by 90%, after she complained about corruption and election fraud in the city to the California State Secretary.[21]

On 28 January 2003, voters recalled Robles along with his political allies, former Mayor Xochitl Ruvalcaba, former Vice Mayor Raul Moriel, and former city councilwoman Maria Benavides.[22][23]

Robles was convicted of bribery in July 2005.[24] In November 2006 he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, ordered to pay the city of South Gate $639,000 in restitution, and was immediately put into custody.[25]

In March 2006, Rudy Navarro, who was elected to replace Albert Robles as city treasurer, was caught making a false statement on his biography as posted on the city's official web site. He claimed that he earned a degree from San Diego State University, when he actually had not completed all the requirements. [26] [27] [28]

South Gate's recent political history has been characterized by political observers and editors as having elements of Third World Politics.

The most complete account of the South Gate corruption scandal can be found in journalist Sam Quinones' book, ANTONIO'S GUN AND DELFINO'S DREAM: True Tales of Mexican Migration (Univ. of New Mexico Press, 2007). See www.samquinones.com.

[29] [30] [31]

[edit] Finances

South Gate was $150 million in debt in 2005.[24]

On June 5, 2007, the city reported that it is facing a severe financial crisis [2].

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary and secondary schools

[edit] Public schools

Most of South Gate is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District public school system. A small section of South Gate is served by the Paramount Unified School District and Downey Unified School District.[32][33]

[edit] Los Angeles Unified School District

[edit] LAUSD primary schools

[edit] LAUSD middle schools

[edit] LAUSD high schools

[edit] LAUSD middle and high schools
  • International Studies Learning Center (opened in 2004)

[edit] Paramount Unified School District

Part of South Gate is served by Downey Unified School District.

[edit] Private schools

[edit] Private primary schools
  • Lollypop Lane Preschool and Kindergarten
  • Redeemer Lutheran School
  • Saint Helen Elementary School

[edit] Private high schools
  • Academia Betel
  • Faith Christian Academy

[edit] Continuation Schools

  • Odyssey Continuation School

[edit] Colleges and Universities

[edit] Public libraries

County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the Leland R. Weaver Library at 4035 Tweedy Boulevard and the Hollydale Library at 12000 South Garfield Avenue.[39][40]

[edit] Notable natives and residents

  • Earl Bascom, actor, artist, sculptor, inventor, rodeo pioneer, California Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Incorporation Dates of California Cities" (DOC). http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/20457.IncorpDateLO.doc. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. 
  2. ^ http://www.sogate.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/30/
  3. ^ "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/zcl_1_results.jsp?visited=1&pagenumber=0&state=ca&city=South%20Gate. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. 
  4. ^ "Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results". http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_city_query_step2.do?method=displayData&cityToNpaModel.stateAbbr=CA&cityToNpaModel.city=South%20Gate. Retrieved on 2007-01-18. 
  5. ^ "E-1 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties and the State with Annual Percent Change — January 1, 2008 and 2009". California Department of Finance. 2009-05. http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/2008-09/. Retrieved on 2009-05-02. 
  6. ^ http://www.cityofsouthgate.org/southgategardens.htm
  7. ^ All-America City: Past Winners
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  9. ^ http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/south-gate.htm
  10. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_QTP10&-geo_id=16000US0673080&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-redoLog=false
  11. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_QTP5&-geo_id=16000US0673080&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-redoLog=false
  12. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_QTP9&-geo_id=16000US0673080&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-redoLog=false
  13. ^ http://www.bestplaces.net/city/South_Gate-California.
  14. ^ http://www.amconmag.com/article/2003/may/19/00015/
  15. ^ http://www.bestplaces.net/city/South_Gate-California.aspx
  16. ^ "California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rates" (PDF). California State Board of Equalization. 15–17. http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/pub71.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-04-15. 
  17. ^ http://www.sogate.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/30/
  18. ^ http://www.sogate.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/18/
  19. ^ http://www.sogate.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/35/
  20. ^ http://www.bestplaces.net/city/South_Gate-California.aspx
  21. ^ "South Gate: Mexico Comes to California; How an all-American town became a barrio" (in English) (html). 19 May 2003 Issue (The American Conservative). 19 May 2003. http://www.amconmag.com/05_19_03/feature.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-01. zip
  22. ^ "County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk JANUARY 28, 2003 - SPECIAL ELECTION Final Official Election Returns (Los Angeles County Only)" (in English) (html). County of Los Angeles Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. 28 January 2003. http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect/03010262/rr0262pa.html-ssi. Retrieved on 2006-12-01. 
  23. ^ "South Gate Voters Clean House; Ousted Robles Said He May Seek Office Again" (in English) (html). KNBC Los Angeles. 29 January 2003. http://www.nbc4.tv/news/1942556/detail.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-01. 
  24. ^ a b Rosenzweig, David (29 July 2005). "Ex-South Gate treasurer convicted in bribery case" (in English) (html). 29 July 2005 Issue (Los Angeles Times). http://www.cityethics.org/southgate. Retrieved on 2006-12-01. 
  25. ^ Becerra, Hector (29 November 2006). "Robles sentenced to 10 years; The former South Gate treasurer, convicted of stealing millions from the city, is taken into custody. He insists his power was exaggerated." (in English) (html). 29 November 2006 Issue (Los Angeles Times). http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-robles29nov29,1,2110069.story?coll=la-news-politics-california. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. 
  26. ^ "SOUTH GATE CITY TREASURER" (in English) (html). City of South Gate. http://www.cityofsouthgate.org/Navarro.htm. Retrieved on 2006-12-016. "One of three children, Rudy is proud of the fact that he is the first member of his family to earn a college degree. He chose to attend San Diego State University, where he majored in both Finance and Political Science, with a minor in International Conflict Resolution." 
  27. ^ "Treasurer Elected to Help Clean Up South Gate Admits Resume Fib" (in English) (html). Cactus Thorns; Irreverent Barbs On Desert Politics. 20 March 2006. http://www.vote29.com/blog/archives/archive_2006-m03.php. Retrieved on 2006-12-01. "Rudy Navarro, 26, admitted he did not graduate from San Diego State University as he had claimed on the resume that's posted on the city's Web site, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. "I don't know what I was thinking. It was stupid," said Navarro, adding that until this week he hadn't even told his parents he had yet to finish college. "Maybe it was the pressure to make myself look better than the previous person. My intention was really to come out and help."" 
  28. ^ "(Unknown article title)". http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/14142032.htm. 
  29. ^ Bebitch Jeffe, Sherry (March 2003). "Southgate" (in English). March 2004 Issue. http://www.capitoljournal.com/news/features/_J.e.f.f.e./?7. Retrieved on 4 December 2006. "Using a strategy reminiscent of old-style Mexican politics, the besieged incumbents began offering their constituents "freebies," including one-month's free trash service, a plan for free medical care out of a new health clinic, and raffles which awarded a new television set to one newly registered voter and a free, new house, offered by the city, to one lucky non-homeowner." 
  30. ^ Marosi, Richard (25 Jan 2003). "The Freebies Pile Up as South Gate Goes to Polls ; Some residents say the city's largess before a recall vote resembles the graft they saw in Mexico" (in English). 25 Jan 2003 Issue. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/280534801.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+25%2C+2003&author=Richard+Marosi&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=THE+NATION. Retrieved on 4 December 2006. "Have Third World politics come to South Gate? As three council members and the treasurer face a closely watched recall election Tuesday, many residents say the answer is yes... If the recall targets prevail, residents and political observers say, South Gate-style politics could spread to other Latino- majority communities, since candidates like to lift pages from other successful politicians' playbooks." 
  31. ^ Anderson, Jeffrey (2007-02-21). "The Town the Law Forgot" (in English). http://www.laweekly.com/general/features/the-town-the-law-forgot/15731/. Retrieved on 2007-02-28. 
  32. ^ "Hollydale Elementary School - South Gate, CA - school overview". http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ca/2764. Retrieved on 2006-12-27. 
  33. ^ "PUSD: Schools : Hollydale". http://www.paramount.k12.ca.us/schools/hollydale.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-27. 
  34. ^ "LAUSD Facilities Services Division: Project Details: South Gate New ES #6, 47.08402". http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=47.08402. 
  35. ^ "LAUSD Facilities Services Division: Project Details: Stanford New PC, 47.07402". http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=47.07402. 
  36. ^ "LAUSD Facilities Services Division: Project Details: South Gate New ES #7, 55.98027". http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=55.98027. 
  37. ^ "LAUSD Facilities Services Division: Project Details: Southeast Area New MS #3, 55.98028". http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=55.98028. 
  38. ^ "LAUSD Facilities Services Division: Project Details: Southeast Area New HS #2, 55.98034". http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=55.98034. 
  39. ^ "Leland R. Weaver Library." County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  40. ^ "Hollydale Library." County of Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Los Angeles County, California
County seat: Los Angeles
Cities

Agoura Hills | Alhambra | Arcadia | Artesia | Avalon | Azusa | Baldwin Park | Bell | Bell Gardens | Bellflower | Beverly Hills | Bradbury | Burbank | Calabasas | Carson | Cerritos | Claremont | Commerce | Compton | Covina | Cudahy | Culver City | Diamond Bar | Downey | Duarte | El Monte | El Segundo | Gardena | Glendale | Glendora | Hawaiian Gardens | Hawthorne | Hermosa Beach | Hidden Hills | Huntington Park | Industry | Inglewood | Irwindale | La Cañada Flintridge | La Habra Heights | La Mirada | La Puente | La Verne | Lancaster | Lakewood | Lawndale | Lomita | Long Beach | Los Angeles | Lynwood | Malibu | Manhattan Beach | Maywood | Monrovia | Montebello | Monterey Park | Norwalk | Palmdale | Palos Verdes Estates | Paramount | Pasadena | Pico Rivera | Pomona | Rancho Palos Verdes | Redondo Beach | Rolling Hills | Rolling Hills Estates | Rosemead | San Dimas | San Fernando | San Gabriel | San Marino | Santa Clarita | Santa Fe Springs | Santa Monica | Sierra Madre | Signal Hill | South El Monte | South Gate | South Pasadena | Temple City | Torrance | Vernon | Walnut | West Covina | West Hollywood | Westlake Village | Whittier
Los Angeles County map
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Gate,_California"
Personal tools