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August 21, 2026 • Vol. 70, No. 42 • LMLAMPLIGHTER.COM
CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGAL MOVE WILL COST THE CITY OVER $5 MILLION
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-
Cerritos Recall Proponents Take Note: Water Rates Are Surging Across SoCal
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 prohibited on the streets, per the rerouting of traffic, concerns that have been voiced by Cerri- Cerritos water rates, City MunicipalDespite Code.” the political firestorm surrounding The Caltrans rerouting of tos residents in calls and emails communities across Southern California are confronting substantial trucks has caused severe dam- to both HMG-LCCN and the increases of their own as utilities struggle with aging infrastructure, rising age and increased traffic at peak City. imported-water depleted reserves and increasingly expensive state hours, the extensive damagecosts, The rerouting on Carmenita and “to federal requirements. alone is estimated cost water-quality $5.2 takes large trucks by two schools, million to repair,” and the “aver- Stowers Elementary and Carmeage daily traffic on said streets nita Middle school in addition has significantly increased and
See CALTRANS page 14
ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD BY THOM MARTIN
action, jumping out of her car
grabbing the boy and helping the WORLD CHAMPIONS: The La Mirada Little League Junior All-Stars pose with their championship The City ofSources: Lakewood held woman. Orange County Register, local agency websites, banner after capturing the 2026 Junior League Baseball World Series title. The team will be honored its annual Award of Valor rate studies andlunpublic documents. She took them to Artesia High with a victory parade Tuesday, Aug. 25. Photo by Danielle Swint, Allstar Productions.
cheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men School, where they received medand women of the Los Angeles ical assistance and were ultimateat least one city face rates that County Sheriff’sBy Department and ly transported to the in hospital. Brian Hews could nearly Fire Department, as well as the Because of her selfless ac- double. The increases are being drivcommunity volunteers who pro- tions, the City of Lakewood retect and serve Lakewood. cently awarded Bridget with the of the same pressures en by many The battle over Cerritos water Bridget Perrizo, a staff mem- Mayor’s Award at the city’s anofficials have cited: aging rates has become one of the loud- Cerritos ber at Artesia High was honored nual Awards of Valorinfrastructure, ceremony. rising imported-waesttwo issues in the to recall has now drawn complaints from when she helped people thatcampaign "I always wondered what I Longtime educators and a ter costs, depleted reserves, higher Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyalongtime ABC educators and comwas being attacked by a dog. would do when faced with a situoperating expenses and increasingMuslim civil-rights group maheaded and Mayor Temlike Lynda P. said Perrizo. Bridget, was back toProation this one," munity members, along with the ly expensive water-quality requiredemand answers after work from lunch when she spot"By the grace of God, I had the Johnson, with proponents repeatGreater Los Angeles Area office ments. ted a dog attacking woman and courage to take ABC trustees allowed antiedlya pointing to the increases as action. I'm so of the Council on American-Is- Jayden Valdez’s three-run Orange County Regisyoung boy. Theevidence dog had knocked glad that both the mom The and son of failed leadership. Muslim remarks despite the lamic Relations, which is calling homer in the 10th inning them to the ground and they were are okay, and I'm soter honored to reported that Golden recently But beyond the political rheton ABCUSD to publicly condemn district’s own rules. screaming for help. receive this award.” State Water Co., which serves propelled La Mirada past oric surrounding the remarks. Bridget immediately took Cerritos, water communities throughout Southern TRASH piles up at a condominium complex in Hawaiian Gardens. The City chose Waste Resources Asia-Pacific 6-3, completing
ABC Unified Board Faces Growing Backlash After Anti-Muslim Tirade Goes Unchallenged
La Mirada All-Stars Win Junior League Baseball World Series, Parade Set For Tuesday
Adding to the controversy, By Brian Hews Incorporated as their new hauler, who said they would immediately begin trash pickan up.extraordinary Photo Brian Hews. postseason
customers across Southern Cali-See HERO page 15 fornia are confronting substantial California, is proposing increases increases of their own — some that could raise customer bills by exceeding 30%, while customers See WATER, Page 5
the same speaker made similar remarks before the Long Beach run and bringing home the The ABC Unified School Dis- Unified School District earlier this World Series Championship. trict Board of Education is facing year, where the board president ulmounting criticism after a public timately apologized for failing to By Brian Hews BY BRIAN HEWS a five-minute “Poor leadership, no foresight included several default letters, speaker delivered intervene. typical of this which, under California’s Public anti-Muslim tirade at its Aug. on 4 the situation, Beforeformer publicHawaiian comments Resource began Code LASection MIRADA While rotting trash is accumu49000, — Jayden City Council,” meeting without being interrupted Aug. 4, ABC Board Clerk Leticia lating in many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez starts the clock on termination. Valdez blasted a three-run home Mendoza read the district’s rules. Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla told HMG-LCCN. City staff went theofextra runeven in the top the 10th inning Authority meeting, commissionand the City Council finally conThe staff reportremarks includedabout in step and attempted to work with “Adverse a perSunday, breaking a 3-3 tie and City receives 18 new ducted a hearing, waiting an en- last son’s week’srace, meeting presented CWS to cure the breaches and ers accepted a U.S. Department ancestry, ethnic group lifting the La Mirada Junior Allfederal housing vouchers tire week, and allowing the trash clear identification, evidence that CWS was in defaults starting in March of this of Housing and Urban Developreligion, color, to agave thrilling to accumulate even more, to once violation of its contract with the year, eachStars of which CWS 6-3 victory for veterans while council ment Veterans Affairs Supportive national origin, sex, sexual oriagain discuss terminating CWS’ City, but Mayor Maravilla and the steps to resolve defaults. and the Junior approves additional funding over the Asia-Pacific Housing grant providing the city entation, gender, mental contract. Council were apparently afraid to or physIn addition to theBaseball default no-World Series League for homelessness prevention with 18 HUD-VASH vouchers icaltermination disability,trigger, or ageleavmay not Under the Ralph M. Brown pull the tices,bethe championship. City also attempted to and rapid rehousing. and $313,356 in federal funding. made,” Mendoza Act, Maravilla and the City Coun- ing residents driving bysaid. stinky arrange meetings with CWS but The dramatic home run The HUD-VASH program cil could have sent out a notice piles of trash for the foreseeable CWS did not attend most meetThe first speaker called to the capped a back-and-forth champiBy Vincent Medina and held a meeting within two future. ings. ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award ofrental assistance from combines podium was Rudy Krauss. onship game in which Asia-Pacifdays to address the situation. The voluminous staff report Contributing Writer Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. HUD with supportive services Krauss immediately began See TRASHnearly page 15every time La ic answered provided through the Department arguing that ABC schools should Mirada moved ahead. of Veterans Affairs for unhoused emphasize “assimilation,” telling NORWALK — Norwalk La Mirada struck first in the veterans and their families. trustees that “immigration without officials took two actions Tues“As we continue to address RUDY KRAUSS said Islam has assimilation is invasion.” He then fourth inning when Adam Brewer day aimed at preventing homelaunched a solo home run to left homelessness and assistance for a “culture of rape and pedophilia” turned his comments toward Muslessness and helping unhoused field for a 1-0 lead. Asia-Pacifaffordability, these vouchers are lims. during public comment. residents, including accepting ic responded in the bottom half a huge, huge assistance for our “You are giving the Muslims, 18 new federal housing vouchveterans,” City Manager Jesus when En-Yu Chen singled home in this case, the tools to be able to ers for veterans and approving Gomez said. by trustees — moments after the convince the public, the students, the tying run. district explicitly told speakers that to accept their ideologies,” Krauss Gomez credited Housing The West champions moved additional funding for the city’s homelessness prevention and adverse remarks based on religion Authority staff member Bethany back in front in the sixth when rapid rehousing programs. were prohibited. The controversy See ABCUSD, Page 6 See NORWALK, Page 8 See LA MIRADA, Page 3 During the Norwalk Housing
TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS
Norwalk Expands Housing Assistance for Veterans, Homeless Residents, and Families