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CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGALQuestions MOVE WILLMount COST THE CITYLaOVER $5 MILLION Over Palma Police BY BRIAN HEWS Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News has obtained a letter, dated September 6, 2019, addressed to Caltrans from the city of Cerritos that blasts the state agency for rerouting tractor-trailer traffic through the City due to I-5 construction projects. Shockingly, the rerouting was done without notifying the City.
The City is claiming that the rerouting has caused over $5 million in damage to the streets, increased pollution in the area, increased traffic noise, and increased the safety risk of residents. Further the letter states that Caltrans is in violation of the project’s final Environmental Impact Report which obligates the agency to coordinate with cities to minimize adverse impacts
during the construction period. “Caltrans has failed to coordinate thus far, and any further lack of communication or consultation with the City and its residents is unacceptable.” The City blasted Caltrans for establishing a detour route on southbound Carmenita between the I-5 and Artesia Blvd., and eastbound Artesia Blvd. between Carmenita and the I-5. “Neither stretch of Carmeni-
Oversight After $8.4 Million Verdict
ta or Artesia is a city designated flows onto arterial streets.” truck route, commercial vehicles The City then cited the nuover 6,000 pounds are strictly merous safety hazards caused by Ross Byer concerns in Deprohibited on the streets, per lice the officer rerouting of traffic, Beyond the lawsuit, cember, finding the City City Municipal Code.” that have been voiced byliable CerrithereThe has been significant for retaliation, residents in calls and emails Caltrans rerouting of tosdiscrimination, turnover among topsevere City dam- and to prevent discrimtrucks has caused to failure both HMG-LCCN and the ination. The verdict included Hall positions over the past age and increased traffic at peak City. million 18 months, broader The rerouting$3.9 on Carmenita hours, the raising extensive damage approximately in past damages and $4.5 milconcerns about oversight alone is estimated “to cost $5.2 takes large trucks by two schools, lion in future damages. The and accountability. million to repair,” and the “aver- Stowers Elementary and CarmeCity has since filed an appeal. age daily traffic on said streets nita Middle school in addition According to court reBy Hews increased and hasBrian significantly cords presented at trial, Byer See CALTRANS page 14 alleged he was subjected to LA PALMA — An $8.4 discriminatory treatment by million jury verdict against the a supervisor and reported the City of La Palma is now raising conduct to department leadbroader questions about how the ership. Documents disclosed city handles internal complaints during the case indicate within its police department, those concerns were elevatwith a La Palma resident telling edaction, to City officials, quesBY THOM MARTIN jumping out but of her car Los Cerritos Community News tions remain about how—or grabbing the boy and helping the that The residents should formally City responded. City of Lakewood held whether—the woman. call for an independent invesAdding to conits annual Award of Valor lunShe took them those to Artesia High cerns, a La Palma resident tigation request. cheon onand Nov.records 6 to thank the men School, where they received medformally urged the Anwomen Orange County jury has and of the Los Angeles icalnow assistance and were ultimateawarded $8.4 million in damCounty Sheriff’s Department and ly transported to the hospital. ages to former La Palma PALMA Page 6 Fire Department, as well aspothe See LA Because of ,her selfless accommunity volunteers who pro- tions, the City of Lakewood retect and serve Lakewood. cently awarded Bridget with the Bridget Perrizo, a staff mem- Mayor’s Award at the city’s anber at Artesia High was honored nual Awards of Valor ceremony. when she helped two people that "I always wondered what I was being attacked by a dog. would do when faced with a situFederal jury finds Live back to that with the Bridget, was headed ationpressed like thisforward one," said Perrizo. case after rejecting a federal Nation–Ticketmaster work from lunch when she spot- "By the grace of God, I had the used dominance ted aitsdog attacking to a woman and settlement. courage to take action. I'm so The stifle competition, raising young boy. The dog had knocked glad thatlawsuit both the alleged mom andthe son company leveraged massiveto fresh about local themquestions to the ground and they were are okay, and I'm soitshonored control venue decisions. screaming for help. receive of thisvenues award.”and ticketing to block competitors and Bridget immediately took See page 15 drive up prices forHERO consumBy Brian Hews ers. During trial, attorneys deCERRITOS — A blockbust- scribed Live Nation as a “moer federal jury verdict finding nopolistic bully,” pointing to Live Nation Entertainment and practices that limited venues’ its subsidiary Ticketmaster op- ability to work with alternative erated an anticompetitive mo- ticket sellers. The verdict comes as the nopoly is sending shockwaves Cerritos Center for the Perthrough the live entertainment forming Arts recently transiindustry — and raising fresh tioned its ticketing operations questions locally following to Ticketmaster, a move that Cerritos’ recent move to the at the time raised eyebrows ticketing giant. A Manhattan federal jury among some observers familiar ruled this week that Live Na- with the company’s long-runtion and Ticketmaster used their ning controversies. Live Nation, which merged dominance over major concert venues to suppress competition, siding with more than 30 states See TICKETS, Page 6
ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD
UBE FEST: The iconic jeepney from the Pilipino Workers Center brought vibrant color, cultural heritage, and unmistakable Filipino pride to UbeFest, drawing crowds eager to take photos and celebrate tradition. A symbol of community and resilience, the jeepney added an authentic touch to the event, connecting generations through a beloved and enduring piece of Filipino identity.
Whittier Narrows Dam Project Could Shut Down Pico Rivera Landmarks, Officials Tell Residents Army Corps outlines $735 million dam upgrades, potential closures impacting Pico Rivera parks and facilities
Whittier Voters Deliver Landslide more than $735 million, is de- Election Night
signed to strengthen the dam’s ability to manage flood risk for a large portion of Los An- By Brian Hews geles County. The structure has long been considered critWHITTIER — It’s still unical infrastructure, protect- official, but if history holds, By Stepheny Gehrig ing more than one million Tuesday night’s election results residents and billions of dol- in Whittier are already telling a Officials U.S. TRASH piles from up at athe condominium in Hawaiian Gardens. The City chose Waste Resources larscomplex in property downstream. — and it’sHews. one Army Corps of new Engineers Incorporated as their hauler, who said they would immediately beginvery trashclear pickstory up. Photo Brian Construction is expected to of decisive wins, not close calls. joined Pico Rivera leaders begin in 2027 and continue into In the headline race, Aida to outline the scope of the the early 2030s. While the dam Susie Macedo delivered the biggest shock ofGARDENS the night, overTRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN whelming incumbent Fernando
itself will remain operational throughout the process, officials indicated that surrounding areas may face temporary or extended disruptions depending on construction phases. The meeting also highlighted the scale and complexity of the work, which has been years in the making and recently moved forward with the selection of a construction contractor. City leaders emphasized the importance of keeping res-
Dutra withseveral 67.04% of theletters, vote included default to Dutra’s 26.88%. Felipe Lonwhich, under California’s Public goria trailedCode with Section 6.08%. 49000, Resource “I am deeply humbled by starts the clock on termination. the trust that voters havethe placed City staff even went extra in me,” Macedo said, crediting step and attempted to work with aCWS grassroots campaign built on to cure the breaches and volunteer support and defaults starting in March comof this munity outreach. Shegave alsoCWS acyear, each of which knowledged Dutra’s concession, steps to resolve the defaults. thanking him for hisdefault years noof In addition to the service and calling his outreach tices, the City also attempted to “gracious.” arrange meetings with CWS but But the District 4 result CWS did not attend most meetwasn’t an outlier — it was part ings. of a broader pattern across the city. See TRASH page 15 In the mayor’s race, James Becerra holds a commanding lead with 66.39%, well ahead of Joe Vinatieri at 31.99%, while Isaiah L. Leon Savage captured just 1.61%. District 2 is shaping up the same way, with Vicky Santana pulling in 61.14% of the vote, far ahead of Octavio Martinez at 24.87%. Other candidates, including Rene Ramos, Rolando Cano, and Brian Ahern, remain in single digits. While the results are still semi-official and subject to cer-
See PICO RIVERA, Page 6
See FRAUD, Page 6
BY BRIAN HEWS
“Poor leadership, no foresight on the situation, typical of this While rotting trash is accumu- City Council,” former Hawaiian lating in many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla told HMG-LCCN. and the City Council finally conThe staff report included in ducted a hearing, waiting an en- last week’s meeting presented tire week, and allowing the trash clear evidence that CWS was in to accumulate even more, to once violation of its contract with the again discuss terminating CWS’ City, but Mayor Maravilla and the contract. Council were apparently afraid to Under the Ralph M. Brown pull the termination trigger, leavAct, Maravilla and the City Coun- ing residents driving by stinky cil could have sent out a outlined notice Whittier piles of Narrows trash forDam the foreseeable DAM IMPACT: Officials upgrades, and held a meeting within two future. warning Pico Rivera residents of potential closures affecting sports days to address voluminous staff report facilities, parks, the andsituation. recreation areas as The construction begins in 2027.
long-anticipated safety improvements and what they could mean for local facilities as construction moves forward. Among the most significant concerns discussed were the potential closures of the Pico Rivera Sports Arena, the Pico Boys Baseball League fields, a city-owned golf course, and nearby park areas. Equestrian Bicentennial Park was also identified as a site that could be affected during construction. The project, estimated at
Ticketmaster Monopoly Verdict Raises Questions After Cerritos Move to Ticketing Giant
Teachers Walkstaff-member Out in Little LakePerrizo District, Santa Fe of ARTESIA HIGH Bridget received the Award Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. Springs, Norwalk, and Downey Students Impacted By Brian Hews
Teachers in the Little Lake City School District walked off the job Thursday morning after months of stalled contract negotiations, triggering picket lines across campuses serving Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, and parts of Downey. The strike, led by the Little Lake Education Association, comes after an overwhelming 94% of union members voted
to authorize the walkout earlier this month. Educators began picketing early Thursday, with plans for a rally and march to district offices later in the day. The dispute centers largely on rising healthcare costs, class sizes, and staffing levels—issues teachers say are directly impacting classrooms. Union leaders say proposed changes to health benefits could push some employees’ monthly costs as high as $1,400, effecSee STRIKE, Page 4