“A forgotten city” An LA community beset by police violence and crime hopes for change. This is Westmont. We stand here today in Westmont a South Los Angeles community. It’s officially called Westmont but rarely is. It lacks a ‘mont’ not even a hill. Its name simply comes from its location west of Vermont Avenue. In 2009 Westmont’s unemployment rate was a staggering 23.6%. This was the highest in Los Angeles County.
Five years later a section of Vermont Avenue bordering Westmont was called ‘death alley’. Sixty people were killed there in seven years. This was the highest murder rate of any Los Angeles County neighborhood. The Underground Crips gang controlled this area. In more violent times they’d cross Normandie Avenue to shoot rivals.
Westmont’s demographics paint a picture of hardship. In 2000 fewer than 6% of residents had bachelor’s degrees. Gang violence police brutality structural racism and entrenched poverty plague Westmont. The community is predominantly Black but lost its majority Black status in 2020. Only two U.S. Census Bureau delineated communities in California remain with majority Black populations.
Despite these hardships Westmont has a rich history. It’s home to the Woodcrest Community Library part of the Los Angeles County Public Library system. The rapper actor writer producer and director Ice Cube grew up on Van Wick Street in Westmont. The area is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Schools include the Boys Academic Leadership Academy George Washington Preparatory High School and Woodcrest Elementary School among others. Local law enforcement is provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Westmont’s struggles are undeniable. Yet the community persists. It shows the resilience of its people. Their hope for change continues to endure. As we leave Westmont remember the story of this community. Remember its challenges its history and its ongoing fight for a brighter future.