Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012- 2017.
www.lmlamplighter.com
6 DelivereD to 10,000 homes every week
la miraDa, ca., NovemBer , 2019 Serving La Mirada and ten other surrounding communities • August 29,22 2025 • Vol. 69, No. 51 • LMLAMPLIGHTER.COM
CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFICFields, WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGAL MOVE WILL COST THE CITY OVER $5 MILLION From Zoo to Soccer Whittier’s is a city designated flows onto arterial streets.” BY BRIAN HEWS The City is claiming that the during the construction period. Historic Parnell to $5See“Caltrans has failed to coor- tatruckor Artesia route, commercial vehicles The City then cited the nurerouting hasPark caused over Hews Media Group-Los Cer- million in damage to the streets, dinate thus far, and any further over 6,000 pounds are strictly merous safety hazards caused by ritos Community News ob- increased Overhaul pollution in the area, lack of communication or con- prohibited on the streets, per the rerouting of traffic, concerns $22hasMillion that have been voiced by Cerritained a letter, dated September increased traffic noise, and in- sultation with the City and its City Municipal Code.”
goats, chickens, other residents farm animals safety risk ofandresiis unacceptable.” The Caltrans rerouting of tos residents in calls and emails 6, to Caltrans creased the By2019, Brianaddressed Hews that give children a taste of rural life in the The City blasted Caltrans for trucks has caused severe dam- to both HMG-LCCN and the from the city of Cerritos that dents. middle of the city. For decades, the zoo blasts the state agency for reroutFurther the letter states that establishing a detour route on age and increased traffic at peak City. served as a rite of passage for local is preparing usher in Caltrans a new has The rerouting on Carmenita is in violation of the southbound Carmenita between hours, the extensive damage ing Whittier tractor-trailer traffic to through school field trips and weekend visits, ceera for of to its I-5 most treasured gathering the Cityone due construction project’s final Environmental the I-5 and Artesia Blvd., and alone is estimated “to cost $5.2 takes large trucks by two schools, menting the park’s role as one of Whittispots. On September 6, city officialsImpact will Report projects. which obligates eastbound Artesia Blvd. between million to repair,” and the “aver- Stowers Elementary and Carmeer’s most distinctive public spaces. break ground onthe thererouting Parnell Park Shockingly, was Renovathe agency to coordinate with cit- Carmenita and the I-5. age daily traffic on said streets nita Middle school in addition The new project represents years of tion and Improvements Project, ies to minimize adverse impacts “Neither stretch of Carmeni- has significantly increased and done without notifying the City. a sweeping $22.2 million upgrade that promises to planning and outreach, with city staff and See CALTRANS page 14 the Whittier City Council gathering extensive input from residents through surveys, town hall meetings, and even casual conversations at the park itself. The result is a master plan designed to deliver the amenities residents asked for most. Highlights of the renovation include new lighted soccer fields, a communiBY THOM MARTIN action, jumping out of her car ty band shell for concerts and cultural grabbing the boy and helping the 25th ANNUAL POW-WOW events, an inclusive “all-abilities” play- HAWAIIAN GARDENS The City of Lakewood held woman. ground, and a splash pad designed to keep PROUD: Sisters Willow and Tulie R. visiting thelunABCFT-Retirees table at the Pow-Wow its annual Award of Valor She took them to Artesia High in their Apache heritage. ABCFT-Retirees were among the many kids cool during hot Southern California demonstrating pridecheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men School, where they received medthe annual Pow-Wow organizedical by assistance Jesús Mendoza of Hawaiian summers. The zoo will be expanded and service groups present andatwomen of the Los Angeles and were ultimateYour Rights” information were members of the Social Justice enhanced with new enclosures and more Gardens. Offering “Know County Sheriff’s Department and ly transported to the hospital. and Legislative Committee from left, Judith Newkirk, Sandra Nevárez, Laura Rico, Licha interactive features, while other upgrades Fire Department, as well as the Because of her selfless acBarrios and Roni Love. Photo courtesy Linda Hernandez. will provide shaded picnic areas, walkcommunity volunteers who pro- tions, the City of Lakewood reing paths, modern restroom facilities, and tect and serve Lakewood. cently awarded Bridget with the A NEW SPLASH pad is among the EV charging stations. Landscaping, irriBridget Perrizo, a staff mem- Mayor’s Award at the city’s anfeatures of the Parnell Park renovation. gation, and security lighting will also be ber at Artesia High was honored nual Awards of Valor ceremony. improved, ensuring that the park is both when she helped two people that "I always wondered what I inviting and safe. was being attacked by a dog. would do when faced with a situtransform the beloved park into a modern Bridget, was headed back to The project is being funded through ation like this one," said Perrizo. community destination. work from lunch when she spotcity resources and park impact fees, along "By the grace of God, I had the Parnell Park, located on Whittier’s ted a dog attacking a woman and courage to take action. I'm so with outside contributions. A significant southeast side, has been a cornerstone of young boy. The dog had knocked glad that both the mom and son boost came from $5 million in state fundcommunity life since the mid-20th centhem to the ground and they were are okay, and I'm so honored to ing championed by Senator Bob Archuletury. Generations of families have come screaming for help. receive this award.” ta, who worked closely with the city to sehere for youth sports, birthday parties, Bridget immediately took cureinthe investment. Mayor JoeCity Vinatieri TRASH piles up atevents. a condominium complex Hawaiian Gardens. The chose Waste Resources and city-sponsored Perhaps most See HERO page 15 Incorporated their new hauler, begin trash pick unique is theaspark’s small zoo, who homesaid to they would immediately [ See PARNELL, page up. 4 ] Photo Brian Hews.
ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD
Artesia Goes in Circles—on Purpose—and Streets Get Safer
Central Basin Alleges Former TRASHInterim WILL FINALLY GETGM CLEANED UP IN GM HAWAIIAN GARDENS
A TEMPORARY ROUNDABOUT and crosswalk on 186th Street in Artesia slowed Deleted Records—Offers No Proof “Poor leadership, no foresight included several traffic default letters,speeds during the city’s one-day traffic calming experiment Aug. 9. to safer
BY BRIAN HEWS
support thetypical seriousofaccusation. on the situation, this which, under California’s Public Former GM Dr. Alex In Jeng’s update” discussing While rotting trash is accumu- City Council,” former“August Hawaiian Resource Code Section 49000, from neighbors and city leaders. Rojas accusations operations, starts Jeng the inserted Brian Hews lating calls in many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Central Mayor Basin Rey Rodriguez clock onBy termination. The results of the test were clear: ve“unfounded and without an explosive allegation—that the Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla told HMG-LCCN. Cityformer staff even went the extra hicle speeds dropped below the posted evidence,” claims manager, AlexandRojas, and the Citywarns Council finally conThe general staff report included Dr. in step attempted to work with 25-mile-per-hour limit throughout the Artesia’s recent traffic calming exspread misinformation. “destroyed intentionally ducted a hearing, waiting an en- last week’s meeting presentedor unintentionally” CWS to cure the breaches and duration of the event. Residents reported periment on 186th Street is part of a district that records.” tire week, and allowing the trash clear evidence CWS was in defaults starting in March of this safer crossings and less aggressive drivgrowing trend across the country that By Brian Hews was with referring to accumulate even more, to once violation of Jeng year,theeachnowof which gave CWS its contract the to ing, echoing what cities across the nation shows roundabouts can make roads safer CRI report thattoCentral again discuss terminating CWS’ City, but discredited Mayor Maravilla and theaudit steps resolve the defaults. have found when traditional intersecand more efficient. On August 9, the city Basinapparently paid $400,000 also wrote to the default noIn an internal email to Central Council Basin were contract. afraidfor. to Jeng In addition tions are replaced with roundabouts. installed a temporary roundabout and enthat Dr. Rojas “directed Municipal District Under Water the Ralph M.directors Brown obtained pull the termination trigger, leav- staff tices,tothedelete City also attempted to National research has shown that crosswalk others”driving [records]. by LCCN, Interim Act, Maravilla andGeneral the CityManager Coun- Elaine ing residents by stinky arrange meetings hanced with CWS but to test whether drivers roundabouts can cut injury crashes by would slow down through the residential The email offered no proof, Jeng claimed cil could have that sent the out agency’s a notice former piles of trash for the foreseeable CWS did not attend most meetdocumentation, or supporting facts, raising more than half and nearly eliminate fa-of corridor. Prior speed studies revealed general manager “destroyed” and held a meeting within or twoinstructed future. ings. ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award concerns among observers about the basis tal collisions. The circular design forces cars traveling as fast as 51 miles per hour staff to delete district records—yet, when days address the situation. The voluminous staff report Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. asked, by LCCN, provided no evidence to inTRASH a 25-mile page 15zone, sparking concerns [ See ALLEGATIONS, page 4 ] See [ See ARTESIA, page 4 ]
FIND THE COW In LCCN AND WIN A $150 GIFT CARD! scan the qr code to READ LCCN’s digital edition and find the cow! then enter the contest and tell us where the cow is! Contest is at bit.ly/LCCNCOW
he looks like this...