LOS CERRITOS
Winner of Nineteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2021 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • April 3, 2026 • Vol. 41, No. 22 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET
State Tries To Kill Cardroom Blackjack, Industry Fires Back With Emergency Injunction Cities warn collapsing casino revenue could slash police, fire, and parks while pushing voters toward tax hikes to fill widening gaps. By Brian Hews
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, build teamwork, and prepare for national competition in Minneapolis this summer. By Stepheny Gehrig
DOWNEY — Dozens of athletes from Special Olympics Southern California gathered at Warren High School on March 28 for an intensive Training Camp hosted by UnitedHealthcare, marking a major
pants rotated through training in basketball, swimming, track and field, and bocce, while bowling and golf sessions were held at nearby venues. Organizers said the camp was designed to sharpen skills while also building camaraderie and confidence among the athletes, many of whom will represent California on a national stage later this year. The training camp served as a key milestone leading up to the 2026 Special Olym-
SPECIAL OLYMPIANS from across Southern California gathered at Warren HS in Downey on March 28 to practice ahead of their trip to the USA Games in MN this summer. Employee-volunteers from UnitedHealthcare, a national co-presenting sponsor of the Special Olympics USA Games, supported athletes by setting up equipment, participating in drills and cheering on athletes at the inspiring event.
step on the road to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The three-hour session brought together athletes and coaches from across Southern California for sport-specific drills, team building, and overall preparation ahead of the
pics USA Games, where more than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states are expected to compete. The Games will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and showcase athletes competing See SPECIAL, Page 7
By Brian Hews LONG BEACH — A coalition of military families, veterans, and local advocacy groups hosted a public exhibit Saturday at Bluff Park highlighting the human cost of war, drawing a steady crowd as part of regional “No Kings Day” demonstrations. The exhibit, titled “Eyes Wide Open,” took place March 28 from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Bluff Park at Temple Avenue and Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach. Organized by Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, Long Beach Indivisible, and the Long Beach Area Peace Network, the display served as both a memorial and a call for reflection amid rising tensions involving Iran. According to organizers, the exhibit honored 13 U.S. service members killed in the conflict, with their photos placed on crosses and other markers. A separate display memorialized 175 children reported killed at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School, represented through personal items such as shoes, backpacks, books, and stuffed animals. Organizers said the goal was to create a space where See PROTEST, Page 4
A high-stakes legal war that could gut Southeast Los Angeles County city budgets and wipe out thousands of jobs is now headed to a San Francisco courtroom, where California cardrooms are asking a judge to immediately block new state rules targeting blackjack-style games. The lawsuit, filed by the California Gaming Association and dozens of cardrooms and gaming companies, seeks a preliminary injunction against regulations pushed by Attorney General Rob Bonta that would effectively outlaw the most popular
games in California cardrooms. If the court doesn’t intervene, the industry says the fallout will be swift and brutal: customers gone, workers laid off, and cities like Commerce and Hawaiian Gardens scrambling to replace massive chunks of their budgets. And that’s not hyperbole— it’s spelled out in the court filing, which cites estimates that the rules could drive away roughly half of all cardroom patrons, a catastrophic hit for businesses that rely heavily on blackjack-style games for revenue. Some operators warn they could shut their doors within 30 to 60 days, while others say they will survive only after deep staff cuts and scaled-back operations. This isn’t just about gambling; it’s about the financial backbone of entire cities. Cardrooms across California genSee CARDROOMS, Page 7
Cerritos Residents Launch Ballot Fight to Kill Water Rate Increases By Brian Hews CERRITOS — What started as more than 6,400 written protests over water and sewer rate increases has now escalated into a formal ballot initiative effort aimed at repealing those hikes altogether. A Notice of Intention to Circulate Petition has been filed, signaling the official launch of a voter-driven campaign to overturn the rate increases approved by the Cerritos City Council on January 26, 2026. The proposed measure, titled the Water and Sewer Rate
Repeal and Replacement Ordinance, seeks to scrap the recently approved increases and force the city to go back to the drawing board—this time requiring a full, transparent cost-of-service analysis before any new rates can be adopted. In plain English: voters are attempting to hit the reset button. According to the filing, residents are not only challenging the increases themselves but also the process behind them, arguing that future rates must be backed by “objective, evidence-based See BALLOT, Page 12
Heritage Park Play Island Renovation Kicks Off By Brian Hews CERRITOS — The City of Cerritos officially kicked off the long-awaited renovation of Heritage Park’s Play Island on March 30, with the mayor and members of the City Council on hand to mark the occasion. Renovations to the Heritage Park Play Island in Cerritos are now underway and are expected to provide children with an upgraded play environment by summer. The project will renovate a section of the play structures on the island, including playground equipment, surfaces, building elements, roofs, walkways, and waterproofing. Construction is anticipated to take
approximately four months. “For nearly 50 years, Heritage Park and the Play Island have served as a destination for children, their families, and friends to connect, have fun, and create lasting memories,” said Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama. “With this project kickoff, we’re honored to share in a key park milestone and the promise of more memories for generations to come.” The renovation is funded in part by approximately $1.2 million from Measure A through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, with work to be completed by contractor KYA Group. Heritage Park Play Island has served the community See PARK, Page 7