Maywood, California

Maywood is a gateway city in Los Angeles County.<ref name="money.cnn.com">Template:Cite news</ref> At Template:Convert,<ref name="cityofmaywood.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Maywood is the third-smallest incorporated city in Los Angeles County by area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is bordered by the cities of Bell on the south, Vernon on the north and west, Huntington Park on the southwest, and Commerce on the east.

As of July 1, 2010, Maywood became the first municipality in California to outsource all of its city services,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="finance.yahoo.com"/><ref name="bloomberg1">Template:Cite news</ref> dismantling its police department, laying off all city employees except for the city manager, city attorney and elected officials,<ref name="finance.yahoo.com">Template:Cite web</ref> and contracting with outside agencies for the provision of all municipal services.<ref name="lat_jun23">Template:Cite news</ref> The population was 27,395 at the 2010 census.

History

The land on which Maywood now stands had been populated by Native American tribes for centuries. The area that would later become Maywood was deeded in 1781 by the Spanish monarchy to Spanish War veteran Manuel Nieto. When the settlement of Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles was recorded, it included the cow pasture (now Maywood) that eventually turned into a rancho.<ref>Ahrens, Edward A. "City of Maywood" pg. 1</ref>

In 1919, May Wood, a popular young woman who worked for the real estate corporation developing the Template:Convert ranch into home tracts, agreed to lend her name to the property. The development of Maywood later survived a bitter challenge to dissolve the prospective city in early 1924.<ref>Ahrens, Edward A., "City of Maywood"</ref>

The Chrysler Corporation had an auto assembly plant in Maywood from the 1920s until its closing in July 1971. It was located at 5800 Eastern Avenue at Slauson, and was generally referred to as the "Los Angeles" Plant.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> When the city of Commerce was incorporated in 1961, that corner was annexed as were several in the surrounding area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Maywood Assembly was a Ford Motor Company assembly plant also located in Maywood, that operated from 1948 until 1957. The address was 5801 S. Eastern Avenue, and it was across the street from the Chrysler Assembly factory, and exclusively built Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. The factory was closed and demolished when operations at Maywood and Long Beach were combined into a new factory in Pico Rivera in 1958.

Willys-Overland built its California factory in Maywood, California, in 1929 at the current location of 6201 Randolph Street.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over 900 people were employed at the new $1.5 million assembly plant. Willys-Overland became the second automobile manufacturer to build a major plant in the city. After the United States entered World War II, automobile production for civilians was phased out and in November 1941, automobile assembly at Maywood was stopped. A great many automobile plants were retooled to manufacture war machinery and for three years during the war, the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation rented the plant building from Willys-Overland for that purpose. Equipment was installed for the manufacture of sub-assemblies for Hudson Bombers <ref name="cj3a">Template:Cite web</ref> until the war ended. Willys-Overland began to manufacture the first Jeeps (CJ-2As) for civilians in 1945. As the demand for Jeeps increased, the reconditioning of the plant back to automobile assembly began early in 1947 and by November, Willys was building "West Coast" CJ-2As. By the end of November, 108 Jeeps had been assembled.<ref>Toledo Times</ref> Jeep Trucks and Station Wagons were incorporated into the West Coast Division's "final assemblies" production lines in 1948. The Maywood plant produced the entire CJ-3A model production duration and about 5% of all CJ-3As were assembled in California. In 1952, Willys-Overland introduced a new post-war model car, the Aero, and they were assembled in both Maywood and Toledo. The entire plant was shut down in 1954.<ref name="cj3a"/>

2010 city layoffs

Maywood officials were given notice in June 2009<ref name="lat_jun25">Template:Cite news</ref> that the city would lose its insurance coverage unless they implemented a 20-point performance plan. Maywood also owed the California Insurance Authority $927,135 and had been making interest-only payments. Mainly because of the troubled history, including multiple lawsuits, and the dubious reputation of the Maywood Police Department,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the city's Liability and Workers Compensation insurer notified the city in August 2009, that it would cancel its coverage effective July 1, 2010. When the city was unable to find coverage elsewhere, it disbanded its police department, laid off all city employees, except for the city manager, city attorney and elected officials, and contracted with other agencies to provide all municipal services.<ref name="lat_jun23"/><ref name="Mayme">Template:Cite news</ref>

An outside audit found that Maywood was losing approximately $620,000 annually from its $10 million general fund budget<ref name="lat_jun23"/> under the previous seven-year contract with nearby Cudahy,<ref name="finance.yahoo.com"/> because they had neglected to bill Cudahy for administration, vehicle maintenance or insurance. The firm concluded that Maywood was losing about $620,000 a year, or a total of about $4 million in the last six years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> George Perez, Cudahy's city manager, said Maywood's "politics have been getting in the way." Perez said that he and Paul Philips, then acting Maywood City Manager, would agree on a new contract, but the Maywood City Council would then send Philips back for further negotiation. Perez said that negotiations disintegrated in February, after Philips resigned.<ref name="lat_jun25"/>

Councilman Felipe Aguirre said, "We don't want to file for bankruptcy. We don't want to disappear as a city." Aguirre said filing for bankruptcy was not an option for Maywood because its problems were related specifically to insurance coverage.<ref name="lat_jun23"/> Several cities in the state have said that they are close to bankruptcy because of the sharp drop in sales and property tax revenues caused by the deepest recession in decades.<ref name="lat_jun23"/> During a heated City Council meeting in June 2010, opponents of the plan accused council members of mismanaging the city by failing to maintain insurance coverage.<ref name="lat_jun23"/> Under the plan adopted by the City Council that night, council members would continue to be paid to set policy, but all services would be contracted out. "You single-handedly destroyed the city," Lizeth Sandoval, the city treasurer, told the City Council. Sandoval, a city employee, spoke out as a private citizen, and was laid off as part of the cuts.<ref name="lat_jun23"/><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Though Maywood officials stopped short of filing for bankruptcy or even giving up the city's municipal status, the city still faces a serious problem with a huge deficit.<ref name="http://www.cityofmaywood.com">Template:Cite web</ref> The city did keep a few employees as independent contractors when they outsourced most city functions to Bell and police duties to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.<ref name="Mayme"/> In September 2010, the troubled nearby city of Bell agreed to cancel the contract to handle the day-to-day operations of neighboring Maywood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Maywood has been overrun with political crises, from recalls to a city clerk accused of trying to contract a hit man to kill Councilman Aguirre. In early 2006, a newly elected Aguirre called Maywood a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants,<ref name="Mayme"/> stating: "I think we needed to amplify the debate by saying that no human being is illegal. These people are here ... making your clothes, shining your shoes and taking care of your kids. And now you want to develop this hypocritical policy?"<ref name="Becerra"/> "Maywood's actions have made the town a lightning rod for criticism on conservative radio shows and websites."<ref name="Becerra">Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.

It is Template:Convert southeast from Downtown Los Angeles Financial District and only Template:Convert east of the Los Angeles city limit on Slauson Ave and Alameda St in the Central-Alameda neighborhood.<ref name="Central Alameda Neighborhood of Los Angeles">Template:Cite web</ref> Maywood is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County area. Maywood is bordered by the city of Bell on the south, Vernon on the north and west, Huntington Park on the southwest, and Commerce on the east.

Climate

The climate in the city of Maywood is very warm during summer when high temperatures tend to be in the 80s and mild during winter when high temperatures tend to be in the 60s.<ref name="cityofmaywood.com"/> The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of Template:Convert, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach Template:Convert, and moderate during winter with an average difference of Template:Convert. The annual average precipitation at Maywood is Template:Convert. The wettest month of the year is February with an average rainfall of Template:Convert.<ref name="Maywood Average Annual Climate">Template:Cite web</ref> Maywood-area historical tornado activity is significantly above California state average. It is 75% smaller than the overall U.S. average. On November 7, 1966, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado Template:Convert away from the Maywood city center injured 10 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Maywood was first listed as a city in the 1930 U.S. Census as part of the now defunct San Antonio Township.<ref name=1930CensusCA/>

2020

Maywood city, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	739	498	361	2.63%	1.82%	1.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)	43	49	106	0.15%	0.18%	0.42%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	51	24	29	0.18%	0.09%	0.12%
Asian alone (NH)	85	61	80	0.30%	0.22%	0.32%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	25	14	1	0.09%	0.05%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	27	28	66	0.10%	0.10%	0.26%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	62	25	95	0.22%	0.09%	0.38%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	27,051	26,696	24,400	96.33%	97.45%	97.06%
Total	28,083	27,395	25,138	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010

The 2010 United States census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> reported that Maywood had a population of 27,395. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Maywood was 14,244 (52.0%) White (1.8% Non-Hispanic White),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 166 (0.6%) African American, 208 (0.8%) Native American, 87 (0.3%) Asian, 20 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 11,495 (42.0%) from other races, and 1,175 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26,696 persons (97.4%).

The Census reported that 27,276 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 119 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 6,559 households, out of which 4,120 (62.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,721 (56.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,254 (19.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 717 (10.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 595 (9.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 32 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 599 households (9.1%) were made up of individuals, and 231 (3.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.16. There were 5,692 families (86.8% of all households); the average family size was 4.30.

The population was spread out, with 8,925 people (32.6%) under the age of 18, 3,402 people (12.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,619 people (31.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,807 people (17.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,642 people (6.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.

There were 6,766 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 1,980 (30.2%) were owner-occupied, and 4,579 (69.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%. 9,245 people (33.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 18,031 people (65.8%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States census, Maywood had a median household income of $37,114, with 28.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 28,083 people, 6,469 households, and 5,699 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 42.99% White, 0.36% African American, 1.14% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 50.48% from other races, and 4.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 96.33% of the population.

There were 6,469 households, out of which 62.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.9% were non-families. 8.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.33 and the average family size was 4.47.

In the city, the population was varied, with 37.0% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,480, and the median income for a family was $30,361. Males had a median income of $20,646 versus $16,397 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,935.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> About 23.1% of families and 24.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Mexican (77.0%) and Salvadoran (3.6%) were the most common ancestries. Mexico (81.4%) and El Salvador (7.1%) were the most common foreign places of birth.<ref>[1]</ref>

Immigrant population

A significant percentage of its residents work in the factories at nearby Vernon and Commerce.<ref>https://www.census.gov factfinder.census.gov</ref> The city has been at the forefront of immigration debates. It is speculatedTemplate:According to whom that one- third of Maywood's residents population lives in the U.S. without documentation.<ref name="MSNBC">Template:Cite web</ref> The city, 96% of which is Latino, and more than half are foreign-born, has declared itself as a "Sanctuary City" for illegal immigrants.<ref name="MSNBC"/>

Arts and culture

File:MaywoodMemorialDayStreetFairs.jpg

Street Fair

Every Memorial Day weekend the City of Maywood holds their annual Street Fair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is a place where families, friends, and neighbors get together to experience a variety of food, music, games, raffles, rides, and multi-cultural activities. Street fair presale ride tickets will be available at City Hall until sold out. Location : On Slauson between Pine Avenue and Loma Vista Avenue <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2010, over 600 people attended the First Annual July 4 Family Fun Day Celebration at the Maywood Activities Center, to honor the country's declaration of independence.<ref name="cityofmaywood1">Template:Cite web</ref> For a couple of years the fair did not return until recently.

Sports

The only sports team located in the city is the Maywood Buzz, which features former NBA star Cedric Ceballos. The team plays in the Maywood Activities Center, also known as the M.A.C. They are an ABA (American Basketball Association) team. Several famous baseball players have played at Maywood Park including former MLB player Marvin Benard, who attended local rival, Bell High School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The ABA team, the Beijing Aoshen Olympians played their inaugural season at the M.A.C. during the 2005–2006 season. They reached the playoffs, but lost to the SoCal Legends in the Great Eight Tournament in Rochester. After the season, the Olympians relocated, and now play on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.

Parks and recreation

File:MYWDAquaticCenter.JPG

Maywood Park and Aquatic Center

File:LAbikePathMaywood.JPG

Access to Los Angeles River Bike Path at Riverfront Park

Maywood has two major parks and two small "pocket parks". The existing Maywood Park at 4801 E 58th Street and the new Maywood Riverfront Park at 5000 Slauson Avenue are currently the largest parks in the city, both are in the east side of the city. Maywood Park has a baseball field and the Maywood Activity Center, which opened in 1999. The Parks and Recreation Department currently maintains all of the parks in the city and offers many activities for all ages, seniors, adults and youth. Mr. Aldo Perez is Director of Parks and Recreation. The two pocket parks are Pixely Park and Pine Avenue Park.<ref name="http://www.cityofmaywood.com"/>

The Maywood Activities Center (M.A.C.), is available for general public use and offers a wide variety of classes, specialty rooms, indoor basketball court, gymnasium, pool and place for clubs and classes to meet.<ref name="Parks & Recreation">Maywood Parks & Recreation Description Template:Cite web. Retrieved 2-24-10.</ref>

The Riverfront Park is located next to the Los Angeles River<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and has handball courts, a basketball court, and soccer field. It also includes an access pathway to the LA River Bike Path that travels through Template:Convert of Los Angeles County, including Griffith Park and Long Beach. A small pocket park is located in the west side of the city, Pixley Park at 3626 56th Street. Two small pocket parks were proposed to the city in 2008, Maywood Avenue Park and Pine Avenue Park are to be built in the future in the west side of the city. As the city reorganizes, future plans are on hold.

Government

File:Maywood City Hall, Slauson & NE Fishburn, Maywood, Los Angeles, California LCCN2017703091.tif

Maywood City Hall at Slauson and Fishburn Avenues, 1977

File:Maywood CA CityHall.jpg

City Hall

Municipal government

The council consists of Mayor Eddie De La Riva, Mayor Pro Tempore Mayra Aguiluz, Councilman Frank Garcia, Councilman Heber Marquez and Councilwoman Jessica Torres. The City of Maywood has Jennifer Vasquez as full-time City Manager.

County, state, and federal representation

In the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Maywood is in the Fourth District, represented by Janice Hahn.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the California State Legislature, Maywood is in Template:Representative, and in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the United States House of Representatives, Maywood is in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

Education

K–12 schools

Maywood is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The city has also joined South Gate, Huntington Park, Cudahy, Vernon, and Bell in the Southeast Cities School Coalition to improve the education of the children of the Southeast.<ref name="Southeast Cities Schools Coalition">Template:Cite web</ref>

Public primary schools

Maywood Elementary School.

Maywood Elementary School

Public elementary schools in Maywood:

• Fishburn Avenue Elementary School
• Heliotrope Elementary School
• Loma Vista Elementary School
• Maywood Elementary School (opened 2005)<ref>http://www.laschools.org/project-status/one-project?project_number=55.98005 laschools.org</ref>
• Clemente Charter School

Public secondary schools

Public secondary schools located in Maywood:

• Maywood Academy High School

Private schools

Private schools include Maywood Christian School (K–12), an independent private school,<ref>"Welcome to Maywood Christian School Template:Webarchive." Maywood Christian School. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref> Betania Christian School (1–12), an independent private school,<ref>"Betania Christian School." Betania Christian School. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref> and St. Rose of Lima School (K-8) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.<ref>"St. Rose of Lima School Template:Webarchive." Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

Infrastructure

Fire protection in Maywood is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Ambulance transport is provided by Care Ambulance Service. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will continue to provide police and aerial support to the city of Maywood.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Whittier Health Center in Whittier, serving Maywood.<ref>"Whittier Health Center Template:Webarchive." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.</ref>

Law enforcement

Side view of police car

Maywood Cudahy Police vehicle

The Maywood Police Department was established in 1924 and disbanded in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At its end, Maywood PD had approximately 40 sworn officers that covered the cities of Maywood and Cudahy. In 2007, Maywood PD was cited by local newspapers and media as having a reputation for also hiring officers that had been terminated from other agencies for misconduct or other legal issues. It then had one of the lowest median salaries for police officers in California.<ref name="Maywood employs police officers with a history of trouble">Template:Cite news</ref>

Due to financial strain resulting from the Great Recession, the Maywood City Council disbanded the Maywood Police Department effective July 1, 2010. The entire police staff was laid off and police services were outsourced to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

File:MaywoodExpress.JPG

Maywood Express bus

The city can be reached by Atlantic Boulevard which runs north and south through the city and Slauson Avenue which runs east and west through the city. Maywood is also accessible via the Interstate 710 on Atlantic Boulevard. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) provides bus services to the city, Metro Local Line 108 on Slauson Avenue. Metro Local Line 260<ref name="metro.net 260">Template:Cite web</ref> on Atlantic Boulevard. Metro Shuttle Line 611 runs through the westside and northside of the city.<ref name="metro.net 611">Template:Cite web</ref>

The city of Maywood also operates a local bus service to its residents called Dial-a-Ride. The shuttles pick up residents at their location and transports them within the city limits for a one way fee of $1.00. The service is free to senior citizens, age 62 and over, and handicapped individuals. Seniors and the handicapped must come to City Hall to pick up their free pass. Effective January 2, 2013, the City of Maywood will no longer provide Dial-A-Ride service to the general public. Dial-A-Ride service will only be available to City of Maywood residents 62 years and over or those with a physician-certified disability which prohibits the use of public transportation. Individuals requiring special assistance will be permitted to have an attendant accompany them.<ref name="Maywood Dial-a-Ride">Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

Some lemon groves are planted here.<ref name=tamarixia/> Unfortunately, similar to the surrounding area the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) is an invasive pest of these trees.<ref name=tamarixia/> Fortunately this area is a good environment for a parasitoid which controls ACP, Tamarixia radiata.<ref name=tamarixia/> This wasp is being intentionally introduced to the state to control ACP, but Maywood is so hospitable that Tamarixia has colonized the area without the need for human help.<ref name=tamarixia>Template:Cite journal</ref> See Asian Citrus Psyllid in California.

Notable people

• Larry Anderson - professional baseball player, 1972–75, pitched for both the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers
• Tom Araya - bassist and vocalist for the band Slayer
• Scott Autrey - professional motorcycle speedway racer, part of the USA team that won the 1982 Speedway World Team Cup
• Jack Brohamer - former professional baseball player; played for Cleveland, Chicago White Sox and Boston in a career that spanned from 1972 to 1980; in 1977 he hit for the cycle for the White Sox.
• Todd Burns - former professional baseball player for the Oakland Athletics
• Jim Messina - songwriter, singer, guitarist, recording engineer, and record producer; half of rock duo Loggins and Messina and prior to that a member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco.
• Dana Plato - actress, best known as Kimberly Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
• Christie Repasy - American floral artist
• Ed Roth - American hot rod builder, fabricator, enthusiast
• Robert S. Woods - actor, played character Bo Buchanan on the ABC daytime drama "One Life to Live"

See also

• Cheli Air Force Station

External links

• Maywood official website