South Bay : Seniors Rally for Center
After fighting for a week to preserve the six-day-a-week schedule at their beloved senior citizens center, about 50 silver-haired Inglewood activists cheered Monday when they learned that half of the four-member City Council supported their effort.
At a City Hall rally staged by the senior citizens, council members Judith Dunlap and Jose Fernandez pledged to support a motion today authorizing the center, at 111 N. Locust St., to remain open on Saturdays.
On Oct. 7, senior citizens arrived for a day of dominoes and dancing to find that the doors to the center were locked. Matt Robinson, the city’s recreation and community service director, said he decided to close the facility on Saturdays after learning it had no formal authorization to operate six days a week.
The move dismayed many people who use the city’s only senior citizens center.
“Some of the seniors have virtually no other place to go for recreation on Saturdays,†said Winston Chambliss, 61.
Petitions were circulated to fight the decision, and on Monday, the senior citizens took their fight to the streets.
Chanting “No more cuts! Open on Saturdays!†the group--some in wheelchairs, others with canes--rallied in front of City Hall until Robinson emerged to say he would restore weekend hours with council approval.
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