When Georgina and Tony Escalera moved back to Commerce 10 years ago, they knew one thing: It's a place of plenty when it comes to city-provided perks.
Their three children attended preschool for free. The family pays nothing for trash service. While they added a second story to their home, the city sent them $22,000 in home-improvement rebate checks.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday May 26, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 1 inches; 32 words Type of Material: Correction
Mayor's name -- An article in Sunday's Section A about perks provided to residents of Commerce by the municipality misstated the mayor's name as Jesus Cisneros. His name is Jesus M. Cervantes.
And when the family needs a break, they head to Camp Commerce, the city's mountain retreat at Lake Arrowhead, where a weekend trip costs less than $10.
"If I was to go to another city, I wouldn't have the same luxuries that I have now," said Tony, who expects another rebate check after completing a family room addition.
These are bleak days for most California municipalities awaiting the fallout from the state's fiscal crisis, with residents worried about cuts in everything from library hours to youth programs. But a few cities, graced with special circumstances, remain flush.
In the quarry-pocked city of Irwindale, children go to Disneyland for free. In Cerritos, known for its huge automobile mall, senior citizens are offered free dental screenings, among many city perks.
In Commerce, a working-class city of 13,000 in the heart of industrial Los Angeles, its card club revenue keeps residents cashing in their civic chips. Even if there's a drastic drop in state funding, the city's number-crunchers anticipate no service cutbacks or layoffs in the city's 400-strong work force. But the perks do come with a price.
Many homes lie within earshot of a freeway or rail line. Long-haul trucks sit idling in tree-lined neighborhoods, and residents sometimes shut their windows to keep out fumes and dirt. Only 7% of Commerce, which stretches from East Los Angeles to suburban Downey, is residential. The rest is taken over by vast industrial and cargo-handling tracts.Few cities, however, can keep spreading the municipal wealth with Commerce's gusto. And all it takes to gorge on the goodies is a $5 residency card.
Mayor Jesus Cisneros expects the usual ribbing from other officials at conferences: "When I mention I'm from Commerce, it's 'Oh, Commerce, the city with all the benefits and all the money.' "
Residents can swim, do aerobics and work out for free at the massive Aquatorium complex, which has three pools -- one Olympic-sized -- and a fitness center brimming with new equipment such as those at many private health clubs.
