Residents demand censure as public and council press for answers on credit-card spending and settlements

Public comment at the Dec. 23 Compton City Council meeting focused heavily on calls for accountability after disclosures about city credit-card purchases and a reported investigation into Councilmember Andre Spicer.

Charles Davis, a former city clerk, criticized the way a recent city attorney resignation was handled and warned against negotiated payouts without court ratification, saying it "looks like the appearance of a bribe to get somebody out of office." Several speakers later urged immediate censure of Councilmember Spicer rather than waiting for the District Attorney’s work to conclude. "Get rid of him," one caller said during public comment, and others pressed for formal council discipline.

Council members acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and the broader audit findings the city faces. Council member Fidel Marquez said the city remained on a state "high-risk" list and called for accountability; he also said Mr. Spicer has been under DA investigation since Dec. 3. Multiple commenters and at least one council member asked the council to act on censure separately from the DA’s process.

The meeting also included questions about internal controls after a public commenter identified as Missy said the assistant city manager purchased more than $8,000 in gift cards in $500 increments with no names attached. "Who in their right mind give assistant city manager the authority to go out and buy over $8,000 worth of gift cards and there's no names attached to them and they're at $500 each," the commenter said.

What the council said: the city manager and staff confirmed multiple active investigations and that the city has retained investigative firms to help manage volume. The council reported receiving direction in closed session but noted that the closed session produced "No reportable item action was taken. Direction was provided to the staff." (report out language provided to the public.)

Why it matters: residents framed the issue as a governance and public- trust matter involving taxpayers’ funds. Council members said they will continue oversight, but no formal censure vote or disciplinary action was taken at this meeting.

What’s next: Councilmembers discussed continuing to refine policies on card use and to bring accountability items back for council action; the community urged the council to take independent action rather than waiting solely on prosecutorial steps.