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CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGAL MOVE THECardroom CITY OVERBlackjack, $5 MILLION StateWILL TriesCOST To Kill 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-
ta or ArtesiaFires is a cityBack designated flows onto arterial streets.” Industry With Emergency Injunction truck route, commercial vehicles The City then cited the nu-
California cardrooms. merousinsafety hazards caused by over 6,000 pounds are strictly games Cities warn collapsing If the court doesn’t intervene, prohibited on the streets, per the rerouting of traffic, concerns casino revenue could the saysvoiced the fallout will City Municipal Code.” thatindustry have been by Cerrislash police, fire, and be swift and brutal: customers The Caltrans rerouting of tos residents in calls and emails parks while pushing workers laid off, andand cities trucks has caused severe dam- gone, to both HMG-LCCN the like Commerce and Hawaiian voters toward tax hikes age and increased traffic at peak City. scrambling to replace tohours, fill widening gaps. damage Gardens The rerouting on Carmenita the extensive massive chunks of their budgets. alone is estimated “to cost $5.2 takes large trucks by two schools, And that’s not hyperbole— By Brian Hews million to repair,” and the “aver- Stowers Elementary and Carmeit’s spelled out in the court filing, age daily traffic on said streets which nita Middle school inthat addition cites estimates the A high-stakes legal war that has significantly increased and rules could drive away roughly could gut Southeast Los Angeles See CALTRANS page 14 County city budgets and wipe half of all cardroom patrons, a out thousands of jobs is now catastrophic hit for businessheaded to a San Francisco court- es that rely heavily on blackroom, where California card- jack-style games for revenue. Some operators warn they rooms are asking a judge to imcould shut their doors within 30 mediately block new state rules to 60 days, while others say they targeting blackjack-style games. will survive only after staff lawsuit, filed by the CalBYThe THOM MARTIN action, jumping out deep of her car cuts and scaled-back operations. ifornia Gaming Association and grabbing the boy and helping the This isn’t just about gamdozens cardrooms and gamTheofCity of Lakewood held woman. bling; it’s about the financial ing seeks prelimits companies, annual Award of aValor lunShe took them to Artesia High backbone of entire cities. Cardinary cheoninjunction on Nov. 6 against to thankregulathe men School, where they received medrooms across California gentions pushed of by the Attorney Genand women Los Angeles ical assistance and were ultimateeral Rob Sheriff’s Bonta that would effecCounty Department and ly transported to the hospital. , Page 7 actively outlaw the most popular Fire Department, as well as the See CARDROOMS Because of her selfless
ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD
EYES WIDE OPEN: Shoes, toys, and personal items spread across Bluff Park in Long Beach formed a powerful memorial Saturday during a No Kings Day exhibit, symbolizing lives lost in war as visitors gathered to reflect and pay tribute. Photo courtesy Eyes Wide Open.
Training Camp Prepares Special Olympics Southern Long Beach ‘No Kings Day’ Exhibit California Athletes for National Stage national competition. Partici- Highlighted Cost of War Athletes sharpen skills,
pants rotated through training build teamwork, and prepare in basketball, swimming, track for national competition in and field, and bocce, while By Brian Hews TRASH pilesthis up summer. at a condominium complexand in Hawaiian Gardens. The City chose Waste Resources Minneapolis bowling golf sessions Incorporated as their new hauler, who said they would immediately begin trash pick up. Photo Brian Hews. were held at nearby venues. LONG BEACH — A coBy Stepheny Gehrig Organizers said the camp alition of military families, was designed to sharpen skills veterans, and local advocacy while also building camaraDOWNEY — Dozens of groups hosted a public exderie and confidence among athletes from Special Olymhibit Saturday at Bluff Park the athletes, many of whom pics Southern California gathhighlighting the human cost BY BRIAN HEWS “Poor leadership, no foresight will represent California on a included several default letters, ered at Warren High School on the situation, typical of this of war, drawing a steady national stage later this year. which, under California’s Public on March 28 fortrash an isintensive crowd as part regional49000, “No While rotting accumu- CityThe Council,” former Hawaiian Resource Codeof Section training camp served Training Campparts hosted by Unit- Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez Kings Day” demonstrations. lating in many of Hawaiian starts the clock on termination. as a key milestone leading up edHealthcare, marking a major told HMG-LCCN. The exhibit, “Eyes Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla City staff even titled went the extra to the 2026 Special Olymplace and the City Council finally conThe staff report included in Wide step andOpen,” attemptedtook to work with 28 from 12 p.m. to ducted a hearing, waiting an en- last week’s meeting presented March CWS to cure the breaches and p.m. at Bluff Park at tire week, and allowing the trash clear evidence that CWS was in 2:30 defaults starting in March of this Temple Avenue and Ocean to accumulate even more, to once violation of its contract with the year, each of which gave CWS in the Long Beach. again discuss terminating CWS’ City, but Mayor Maravilla and the Boulevard steps to resolve defaults. Organized by Military Famcontract. Council were apparently afraid to In addition to the default noilies Speak Out, Veterans Under the Ralph M. Brown pull the termination trigger, leav- tices, the City also attemptedforto Beach Act, Maravilla and the City Coun- ing residents driving by stinky Peace, arrange Long meetings with IndivisiCWS but ble, and the Long cil could have sent out a notice piles of trash for the foreseeable CWS did not attendBeach most Area meetPeace and held a meeting within two future. ings. Network, the display days to address the situation. The voluminous staff report served as both a memorial and a call for reflection amid ris-15 See TRASH page ing tensions involving Iran. According to organizers, SPECIAL OLYMPIANS from across Southern California gathered the exhibit honored 13 U.S. at Warren HS in Downey on March 28 to practice ahead of their trip service members killed in to the USA Games in MN this summer. Employee-volunteers from the conflict, with their photos UnitedHealthcare, a national co-presenting sponsor of the Special placed on crosses and other Olympics USA Games, supported athletes by setting up equipment, markers. A separate display participating in drills and cheering on athletes at the inspiring event. memorialized 175 children reported killed at Shajareh pics USA Games, where more step on the road to the 2026 Tayyebeh Elementary School, than 3,000 athletes from all 50 Special Olympics USA Games. represented through personal states are expected to compete. The three-hour session items such as shoes, backpacks, The Games will take place in brought together athletes and books, and stuffed animals. Minneapolis, Minnesota, and coaches from across Southern Organizers said the goal showcase athletes competing California for sport-specific was to create a space where drills, team building, and overall preparation ahead of the See SPECIAL, Page 7 See PROTEST, Page 4
TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS
community 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 situandthisReplacement OrBridget, was headed back to Repeal ation like one," said Perrizo. By Brian Hews to God, scrap Ithe work from lunch when she spot- dinance, "By the seeks grace of hadrethe approved andso ted a dog attacking a woman and cently courage to take increases action. I'm the both city the to mom go back CERRITOS start- force young boy. The — dogWhat had knocked glad that and to son timeto ed as tomore than 6,400 them the ground and theywritwere the are drawing okay, andboard—this I'm so honored full, transparent ten protests screaming for over help. water and requiring receive thisa award.” sewer rate increases has now Bridget immediately took cost-of-service analysis before Seebe HERO page 15 adopted. escalated into a formal ballot any new rates can In plain English: voters are initiative effort aimed at repealing those hikes altogether. attempting to hit the reset button. According to the filing, A Notice of Intention to Circulate Petition has been filed, residents are not only chalsignaling the official launch lenging the increases themof a voter-driven campaign to selves but also the process overturn the rate increases ap- behind them, arguing that fuproved by the Cerritos City ture rates must be backed by Council on January 26, 2026. “objective, evidence-based The proposed measure, titled the Water and Sewer Rate See BALLOT, Page 12
Cerritos Residents Launch Ballot Fight to Kill Water Rate Increases
Heritage Park Play Island Renovation Kicks Off approximately four months. “For nearly 50 years, Heritage Park and the Play Island have served as a destination CERRITOS — The City of for children, their families, andof ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award Cerritos officially kicked off friends to connect, have fun, Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. the long-awaited renovation of and create lasting memories,” Heritage Park’s Play Island on said Mayor Frank Aurelio YoMarch 30, with the mayor and koyama. “With this project members of the City Council kickoff, we’re honored to share on hand to mark the occasion. in a key park milestone and Renovations to the Heri- the promise of more memotage Park Play Island in Cer- ries for generations to come.” ritos are now underway and The renovation is funded in are expected to provide chil- part by approximately $1.2 mildren with an upgraded play lion from Measure A through the environment by summer. Los Angeles County Regional The project will renovate a Park and Open Space District, section of the play structures with work to be completed on the island, including play- by contractor KYA Group. ground equipment, surfaces, Heritage Park Play Island building elements, roofs, walk- has served the community ways, and waterproofing. Construction is anticipated to take See PARK, Page 7
By Brian Hews