January 30, 2026 Los Cerritos Community News

LCCN Investigation Bellflower Mayor Pro Tem’s Loan Docs Put His Council Seat at Risk

By Brian Hews

In November of last year, a Los Cerritos Community News investigation put then Bellflower District 4 Councilman, now Mayor Pro Tem, Victor Sanchez at the center of a residency controversy after public records showed he declared a Somerset Street duplex in District 1 as owner-occupied. That designation appeared in two recorded documents — a Grant Deed and a Deed of Trust tied to a $421,000 loan.

Those owner-occupied designations raised significant legal questions about whether, under California law, Sanchez’s principal residence is in District 1 rather than District

4, the district he was elected to represent.

But the residency issue is only part of the fallout. The Somerset loan documents raised separate and more serious questions regarding loan representations — issues that exist independently of any residency dispute and that mortgage professionals say lenders treat as material.

Sanchez won the District 4 City Council seat in 2020. In January 2022, Sanchez and his wife were gifted a half interest in the Somerset duplex from Sanchez’s parents, a transfer memorialized in a recorded Grant Deed filed with Los Angeles County. That Grant Deed stated

[ See SANCHEZ, page 12 ]

Pico Rivera Plans World Cup–Era Community Celebration

City approves $250,000 Metro grant to create Open Streets event featuring soccer, arts, food, and pedestrian-friendly celebrations during World Cup.

By Brian Hews

Pico Rivera has approved plans to host a major community celebration tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, voting to accept a $250,000 Metro Open Streets grant to transform portions of the city into a pedestrian-focused event centered on walking, biking, arts, food, and soccerthemed activities.

The Pico Rivera City Council approved the grant at its January 27 meeting, formally positioning the city as a regional Cultural Celebration Hub during the World Cup. City officials said the goal is to leverage the global tournament while keeping the emphasis on neighborhood participation, local culture, and community pride rather than a large-scale commercial event.

As approved, the celebration will include temporary street closures along Historic Whittier Boulevard, creating an Open Streets corridor where vehicle traffic is restricted and the roadway is opened to pedestrians and cyclists. The full closure would extend from Paramount Boulevard east to the San Gabriel River, with emergency vehicle access maintained throughout the event.

Several nearby streets will operate as designated “Slow

L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISOR Janice Hahn poses with the Artesia High girls volleyball team after honoring the program at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration for winning the CIF–SS Div. 8 championship. Hahn presented County certificates to the players, head coach Francisco Serrano and assistant coaches Jose Serrano and Juan Serrano. Also attending were Artesia High principal Sergio Garcia, ABCUSD Board President Francisco Noyola, Boardmember Ernie Nishii, and Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow.

By Brian Hews

Streets,” allowing limited local access at reduced speeds instead of full closures. Portions of Passons Boulevard and Mines Avenue are included, creating a connected route linking Whittier Boulevard with Smith Park while preserving neighborhood access.

Smith Park is expected to serve as the event’s central gathering space and a focal point for Pico Rivera’s soccer programming. Planned activities include youth clinics, skills demonstrations, informal games, small tournaments, and public watch parties tied to World Cup matches, reinforcing the city’s interest in expanding communitybased soccer opportunities.

To support planning and execution, the Council approved partnerships with three regional organizations. CicLAvia will assist with open-streets logistics and sponsorship coordination, Day One will lead community outreach and youth engagement, and Public Matters will oversee arts, cultural programming, and placemaking activities along the route.

The total event budget is projected at approximately $410,000, combining the Metro grant with local funding and inkind staff support already built into city planning. City staff emphasized that the approval establishes an initial framework, with more detailed plans— including traffic maps, schedules, and refined cost options— scheduled to return to the City Council in February.

[ See WORLD

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn honored the Artesia High varsity girls volleyball team Tuesday morning at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, recognizing the program’s first-ever CIF championship and a historic postseason run.

The team captured the CIF–SS Div. 8 championship after delivering the only three-set sweep of the finals to secure the title and cement Artesia High’s place in school history.

Hahn praised the athletes for excelling both academically and athletically, noting the significance of the achievement for girls’ sports. Wearing Artesia High’s red and black school colors, Hahn said the team’s success brought pride to the community and highlighted the determination of student-athletes.

During the ceremony, Hahn presented each player with a County certificate of recognition and awarded official County scrolls to head coach Francisco Serrano and assistant coaches Jose Serrano and Juan Serrano. The team was joined by Artesia High principal Sergio Garcia, ABC Unified School District Board President Francisco Noyola, Boardmember Ernie Nishii, and Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow, along with other district representatives from the ABC Unified School District.

Team captain Djulianne Goze addressed the audience, reflecting on the challenges the team faced throughout the season. She said the players routinely competed against larger and more established programs but refused to let that define them, instead approaching every practice and match with determination and intensity. Goze was also named CIF Division 8 Player of the Year.

By Brian Hews

Bellflower city officials have approved action to recover nearly $200,000 in public nuisance abatement costs following years of enforcement efforts, court warrants, and the eventual demolition of a long-vacant commercial property on Artesia Boulevard.

At its January 26 meeting, the Bellflower City Council voted to authorize a special assessment lien against the property at 9070 Artesia Boulevard, a site city staff described as

9070 Artesia Boulevard, a bar at 9080 Artesia Boulevard, and six residential units at 17427 Virginia Avenue, all under the same ownership.

According to city documents, code enforcement issues at the property stretched back several years and included overgrown vegetation, graffiti, inoperable vehicles, illegal outdoor storage, unpermitted construction, expired building permits, unsecured structures, trash accumulation, and repeated trespassing. After voluntary compliance efforts failed, the city obtained multiple abatement warrants

and demolition costs.

a persistent source of blight, safety hazards, and repeated complaints from residents and nearby businesses. City records show the parcel includes a vacant commercial structure at

from Los Angeles County Superior Court judges beginning in 2024.

City crews first entered the

ABC Education Foundation Awards Over $50,000 in Grants Across ABCUSD

LCCN Staff Report

The ABC Education Foundation has awarded 20 classroom and program grants totaling $50,373 as part of its 11th annual mini-grants program, marking the largest grant year in the Foundation’s history.

The grants will fund a wide range of classroom projects and districtwide initiatives, made possible through donations from community partners and individual supporters.

Among the funded projects this year are several Toyota grants sponsored by AutoNation Toyota of Cerritos. Those grants will support the ELD Reading Nook project at Cerritos High, titled “Building Confidence Through Accessible Reading,” as well as counseling services at Gahr High to help students cover UC and Cal. State University application fees. Additional Toyota grant funding will support career technical education programs at Cerritos, Gahr, and Whitney for STEM Fest.

Elementary and middle school campuses also received funding for a variety of instructional and enrichment needs. Burbank ES will receive new sensory-friendly items, while Kennedy ES was awarded funding for an outdoor sand and water table. Gonsalves ES will add LEGO Education Spike Prime robots, and Melbourne ES will implement a new reading support curriculum. Willow ES received funding to support an AVID

Artesia Council Introduces New Planning Assistant, Completes Department Staffing

ARTESIA CITY COUNCIL recently introduced the city’s new planning assistant, following the earlier addition of a new community development director in November and the hiring of a planning manager and planning clerk in December, completing staffing of the Planning Department.

college field trip, while Carmenita MS will use its grant for a career readiness program for AVID students.

At the high school level, Tracy High was awarded a grant for a new 3D printer, and Gahr High will receive additional supplies aimed at creating positive experiences for students in need.

“Thanks to the amazing generosity of our donors and supporters, we continue to be able to support programs that impact ABCUSD students,” Foundation President Serina Yuan said. “Our goal is to continue to grow our funds to increase our impact across the District.”

A major source of support for the

mini-grants program is the Toyota grants, which fund awards of up to $10,000 each annually and also help support other Foundation initiatives.

“The support our schools receive from the ABC Education Foundation impacts classrooms and students all across the District,” ABC Unified Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow said. “Every grant award supports our highquality instruction, giving students additional opportunities to continue to learn and grow while at school.” More info. about the ABC Ed. Foundation can be found at abcedfoundation.org.

Amazon Fresh Store in Cerritos to Close

AN AMAZON FRESH grocery store, one of 22 Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations across California slated for closure as the company scales back its hightech, cashierless grocery formats and shifts its brick-and-mortar strategy toward expansion of Whole Foods Market stores.

CERRITOS — The Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go store in Cerritos is set to close as part of a broader move by Amazon to shut down 22 brick-and-mortar grocery locations across California, after the company concluded the formats have not met the business model needed for nationwide expansion.

Amazon said the closures represent a shift in its grocery strategy, though the company emphasized it is not abandoning physical retail entirely. Some locations may be converted into Whole Foods Market stores, and Amazon said it plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods Market locations over the next several years.

In a blog post announcing the decision, Amazon said it will continue developing new physical retail concepts focused on convenience, value, and selection.

The California locations set to close are Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, 11340 South St, Cerritos, CA 90703; 5425 Sunrise Blvd, Citrus Heights, CA 95610; 3941 Bedford Canyon Rd, Corona, CA 92883; 16325 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA

CUP from page 1

Traffic control and logistics will be coordinated by Public Works in collaboration with police, fire, Metro, Montebello Bus Lines, and neighboring agencies. Temporary barricades, detour signage, and transit service adjustments will be implemented during the event, with the city encouraging the use of public transit to reduce parking demand and congestion.

Attendance estimates will depend on whether the celebration ultimately takes the form of a smaller, single-day local event or a larger multi-day regional gathering. City officials said operations will be scaled accordingly, and any expanded programming will require additional City

91436; 7530 Elk Grove Blvd, Elk Grove, CA 95757; 16188 South Highland Dr, Fontana, CA 92336; 18100 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; 1100 S Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92832; 6911 Warner Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647; 13672 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92602; 6855 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045; 6235 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90808; 742 Los Angeles Ave, Moorpark, CA 93021; 40485 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd, Murrieta, CA 92563; 5101 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601; 19340 Rinaldi St, Northridge, CA 91326; 3425 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107; 14837 Pomerado Rd, Poway, CA 92064; 6780 Stanford Ranch Rd, Roseville, CA 95678; 21035 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503; 6245 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367; and 235 E Foothill Blvd, Upland, CA 91786.

Amazon has not announced when the stores will close. For Cerritos residents, the shutdown ends Amazon’s brief experiment with high-tech, cashierless grocery retail in the city, even as the company doubles down on Whole Foods as the backbone of its in-person grocery strategy

Council approval. All street closures will be temporary and limited to approved event dates.

City Manager Steve Carmona said the plan allows Pico Rivera to capitalize on a rare global event while maintaining safety and accessibility. He noted that the openstreets model offers families new ways to experience the city, activate public spaces, and enjoy soccer-centered programming while preserving emergency access and neighborhood connectivity.

Mayor Gustavo Camacho said the celebration is intended to reflect Pico Rivera’s identity rather than the size of the World Cup itself, calling it an opportunity for residents to come together, celebrate local culture, and showcase what makes the city unique on an international stage.

PROJECT

site in October 2024, removing vehicles, clearing vegetation, painting over graffiti, removing debris, eliminating beehives, and securing buildings. Continued reports of trespassing and unsafe conditions led to a second court-authorized abatement in February 2025, which included boarding up access points, re-keying locks, and filling hazardous trenches. When conditions still failed to improve, the city obtained a third warrant in May 2025 authorizing demolition of the vacant structure following extensive testing and remediation of toxic materials, including asbestos.

By November 2025, remediation was completed and the structure was demolished, with the site fenced and covered with mulch to prevent further blight. City officials said those actions finally brought the property into compliance.

The City Attorney’s Office initially billed the property owner, JJR Holdings, LLC, more than $227,000 for abatement-related costs. After a revised accounting, the total was reduced to $198,568.87. As of the agenda report date, the city had not received payment or a formal challenge to the charges.

With the Council’s approval, Bellflower will record a lien against the property and place the costs on the property tax roll, allowing the city to recover the funds in the same manner as property taxes. City officials said the action is intended to reimburse taxpayers for the costs of addressing prolonged code violations and public safety hazards.

City staff noted that the lien does not preclude future enforcement if new violations occur and that unpaid assessments could ultimately trigger tax delinquency consequences under state law.

Guest Commentary Community-Led Networks

Seek Action Against ICE Threat

By Sandy Mercado

The resolve of Downey residents from all five districts was evident Tuesday at a Union del Barrio seminar held at the Epic Lounge, where community members gathered to discuss ways to protect local residents amid growing concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. Hosted by local organizers, participants connected across districts, cities, counties, and organizations.

The standing-room-only crowd included residents, clergy, college professors, nurses, immigrant rights advocates, civic and state representatives, veterans, college students, and members of the media. Former Mayor Hector Sosa attended in support of the event.

Speakers and attendees emphasized the need for community-based, proactive responses to ICE activity in Downey and surrounding immigrant communities. Organizers said the goal was to strengthen networks that help residents respond safely while supporting neighbors who may feel vulnerable. Themes of perseverance and collective action were repeatedly raised throughout the discussion.

Organizers described the turnout as a call to residents and civic leaders to become more engaged rather than remain on the sidelines, urging participation from those concerned about the direction of local and national immigration policies.

One speaker, a Downey resident of more than 45 years, said longtime community members and volunteers should not be portrayed as threats for speaking out. “As U.S. citizens, we are called to do what is right,” the speaker said, adding that civic leaders should take a public stance against what they described as harmful actions by

ICE within local communities.

Concerns were also raised about the broader climate surrounding immigration enforcement. Speakers cited reports of aggressive tactics, including raids and detentions, and warned that fear-based enforcement undermines community trust. Attendees argued that silence enables these practices to continue unchecked.

One moment highlighted during the event involved a conversation at Furman Park between two parents watching their children play. A mother from a neighboring city shared her fear that immigration enforcement actions could affect any family, regardless of circumstance. “That could have been any one of us,” she said, describing the anxiety experienced in her own community.

Another attendee referenced the case of a young child allegedly detained by immigration authorities, saying such incidents heighten fear among families and reinforce the need for organized community response.

Speakers called for solidarity across communities and urged residents to support Community-led Alert and Response Networks designed to share information, promote safety, and document ICE activity. They also called attention to individuals they said died during encounters with ICE or Border Patrol agents in January 2026, questioning why some cases received little media attention.

Participants were encouraged to contact their congressional representatives before January 30 to support legislation introduced by Rep. Delia Ramirez that would reduce or eliminate funding for ICE. Organizers framed the effort as a push for a more humane immigration enforcement system focused on serious criminal activity rather than broad community sweeps.

The event concluded with speakers reiterating that their concerns were rooted in community safety and civil rights, not partisan politics. Organizers said the goal is to protect neighborhoods, preserve democratic values, and ensure residents feel supported by their local leaders.

LETTERS: Cerritos Council Approval of Water and Sewer Rate Increase

Dear Editor:

I am retired and currently living on a fixed income, with no income until my Social Security benefits begin. I also volunteered in my neighborhood, knocking on doors to inform residents about the proposed water and sewer rate increase. Based on these experiences, I strongly oppose this increase. Although I did not attend the meeting in person, I watched it in full on television.

The outcome was deeply discouraging. A majority of Council members voted to move forward with the rate increase, and it appeared that several had already made up their minds before hearing public comment. Prewritten speeches were read explaining

why the increase was “good for the city,” while the overwhelming majority of speakers—articulate, respectful, and clearly opposed—were effectively ignored. Only two speakers spoke in favor of the increase, one of whom does not even reside in the city.

My first concern is the City’s inadequate and, frankly, deceptive public outreach. Residents and businesses were not clearly informed that the only way to stop this increase was to submit protest forms in sufficient numbers. The mailed notice was easy to overlook, and the protest form was buried on the last page. Timing mattered as well: the notice arrived during the holiday season, when many people were distracted

From the Mayor’s Desk: January 30, 2026

By Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama

As we approach the 70th anniversary of Cerritos’ incorporation this spring, the City Council and our employees look forward to gathering with our residents and businesses to celebrate.

The groundwork for the City’s platinum year has been months in the making, and in February will reach a fun milestone.

That’s when we’ll reveal the selected cow name as part of the Milking Time: A Tribute to Dairy Valley art sculpture. The name will be announced at the City Council meeting on February 9, and we intend to recognize the participants who submitted the winning name at the City Council meeting on February 26.

Milking Time is a series of bronze sculptures that will include a farmer, his son and daughter, the family dog, and—of course—a cow, reflecting Cerritos’ agricultural roots and the enduring values of family and community.

The sculptures will be installed at the Cerritos Civic Center. A special

or away.

The City later sent professionally designed, full-color flyers describing the deteriorating water and sewer infrastructure—yet these flyers conspicuously failed to disclose the magnitude of the proposed rate increases. This one-sided messaging placed the burden on residents to overturn a decision that had already been quietly set in motion. If the Council truly represents the people, it should have been upfront about both the benefits and the financial harm of this proposal.

While canvassing my neighborhood, I repeatedly heard the same thing: “I didn’t know about this increase,” or “I don’t remember receiving a protest form.” Others struggled to understand the issue or complete the form because English is not their first language. The form itself was confusing, and improperly completed forms will likely be discarded. These real-world experiences mirror the testimony shared by many speakers at the meeting—testimony the Council chose to disregard.

My second concern is trust. How can residents trust an agency that has already mismanaged the system into crisis? One chart presented showed Cerritos as the lowest-cost water provider, even after the first-year increase—but data showing that Cerritos would become the highest-cost provider after year three was conveniently omitted. That lack of transparency undermines confidence in the entire study.

A permanent rate increase is an unimaginative and inefficient solution. It risks becoming a blank check for bureaucracy—more administrators, more inefficiencies, and no meaningful reform. As Warren Buffett has often warned, large organizations tend to become bloated and slow without deliberate efforts to remain lean and accountable. Residents are not a piggy bank to be cracked open when funds run short.

thank you to those who participated in the cow naming contest.

It’s gratifying to have such community involvement for a project that carries a lot of historical significance.

Cerritos was incorporated on April 24, 1956, as the City of Dairy Valley. On January 10, 1967, the name was officially changed to Cerritos.

In our early days, this pastoral community included many dairy farms, cows and chickens, dirt roads, and sugar beet fields.

People were few, with more than 100,000 cows outnumbering humans by nearly 30 to one.

Since our founding, Cerritos has seen remarkable growth and become a hallmark for excellence in public service.

While the landscape has changed and there are far fewer cows, Cerritos has long shared in our community’s prideful heritage.

You see this through our events, library archives, and recently branded materials of our new merchandise line. There’s more to come during our 70th anniversary year.

Stay tuned for additional information on our anniversary year and follow along as we reveal the name of the cow sculpture.

Learn more about the naming contest at cerritos.gov/cow and the City’s history at cerritos.gov/history.

Third, I must address the claim—made by a politically motivated speaker—that opponents offered no solutions. That is simply untrue. Many speakers proposed thoughtful alternatives. Moreover, it is not the residents’ job to solve this problem; it is the City’s responsibility. Still, a reasonable path forward would have been to approve only the first year’s increase to buy time, form an independent citizen committee, and engage an outside consultant with no ties to the City or Water Agency to explore lean, creative solutions. Including critics in this process would have strengthened trust and legitimacy.

It was also troubling to hear that the City Manager only recently began exploring federal grants—suggesting that all options were not fully pursued until public pressure mounted. How much funding may have already been lost due to inaction?

Finally, this increase harms homeowners, renters, and especially businesses. Businesses are essential to a city’s financial health, yet Cerritos has seen a steady decline. A visit to the Town Center reveals numerous closures. Making the city less affordable and less business-friendly jeopardizes its future. I do not want Cerritos to become a place where only the wealthy can afford to live. Diversity brings strength to the city. I have seen families leave because they simply could not keep up with rising costs.

The City now faces a similar choice. I urge the City Council to reconsider this reckless rate increase and choose a path that preserves Cerritos rather than slowly dismantling it. I hope some Council members will help write a better ending— one that future leaders can look to with pride.

Mike Chan, Carmenita Village Cerritos

Whittier Union Board Appoints Armando Urteaga as Trustee

Appointment follows vacancy created after Gary Mendez resigned amid legal scrutiny over incompatible public offices uncovered by LCCN.

By Brian Hews

WHITTIER – The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees appointed Whittier resident Armando Urteaga to serve as Trustee for Area 5 following a special board meeting held Jan. 17. Urteaga will serve the remainder of the term through November 2026. The appointment followed interviews with six candidates conducted during the special meeting. After interviews and deliberation in open session, the Board selected Urteaga to fill the vacant seat.

Urteaga has lived in the Whittier area for 25 years and has worked in public education for more than three decades.

His professional background includes service as a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and principal at both middle and high school campuses. He

currently serves as Executive Director of Human Resources for the Rialto USD.

“I am honored to be appointed to the Whittier Union Board of Trustees,” Urteaga said. He added that his career in education has focused on governance, community involvement, and student support.

In addition to his professional work, Urteaga has served for 20 years on the East Whittier City SD Board of Education. He has also served on the Whittier Union HSD Bond Oversight Committee and the CIF State Appeals Committee.

Urteaga is scheduled to be sworn in and take the oath of office at the Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Board President Irma Rodríguez Moisa said the Board conducted the selection process in open session and thanked the candidates who applied for the position.

Los Cerritos Community News previously uncovered that Gary Mendez was simultaneously holding two public offices that California law treats as incompatible. The reporting laid out how Mendez’s dual roles violated state conflict-of-interest statutes and warned that continued service after public notice could expose both the official and the agencies involved to legal risk. Following that reporting, the issue escalated beyond politics and into formal legal review. The conflict ultimately resulted in Mendez resigning from one of the positions, confirming the incompatibility identified in the investigation.

Cerritos College Students Raise Immigration, Construction Concerns at First ‘President’s Hour ‘of the Semester

By Patricia Mercado, Talon Marks

Concerns from students in immigrant or mixed-status families were among the topics addressed during President’s Hour on Jan. 20, as members of the Cerritos College community gathered for the first session of the semester. Students, faculty, and administrators attended the event, which is designed to give students an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from college leadership in an open forum.

Cerritos College President Dr. Jose Fierro said the college follows strict privacy policies and limits the sharing of student information.

“The Board of Trustees has been very adamant that we don’t share student information with federal agencies,” Fierro said.

“That is part of our policy and only applies in cases of valid judicial orders. Campus police are here to protect students and the campus, not to police them. Supporting students who may be impacted by immigration enforcement is a top priority for the board and the administration,” he continued.

Fierro added that faculty and staff have received training on how to distinguish valid judicial orders and understand what information can and cannot be disclosed.

“There is a layered communication process so that information is first shared with those who need to know, before any campuswide communication is sent out,” he said. “That balance helps keep students informed without creating unnecessary fear.”

Students also raised questions about campus construction, including the recently demolished bookstore, which has been a visible change on campus in recent months.

Sydney Ramos, a soon-to-be transfer student, said she wanted updates on the progress and timeline of ongoing construction projects and how those projects might affect student services.

Fierro said construction is ongoing

AI Use and Safety in ABCUSD

By Edna Ethington

The La Palma–Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held its first general meeting of 2026 on January 15 at the ABC Unified School District Adult School Auditorium, featuring a presentation on the use of artificial intelligence in district schools.

The program focused on how the ABC Unified School District is addressing student access to artificial intelligence tools and establishing safeguards for appropriate classroom use. The presentation was delivered by Mike Lawrence, the district’s Director of Information and Technology, and Chad Laines, a Program Specialist in Instructional Technology.

Lawrence and Laines explained that the district provides guidance to teachers and students on responsible AI use, with access currently limited to students in grades 7 through 12. They said the district uses Gemini within an education-focused environment designed to protect student privacy and restrict access to content that is not instructionally appropriate. According to the presenters, AI tools are intended to support learning while helping students develop skills related to media literacy and critical evaluation of digital content.

The presenters outlined examples of when AI use may be appropriate in student work. Students may use AI tools to gather

background information or assist with improving writing style, but they must write essays themselves rather than relying on AI-generated text. Teachers must grant permission for AI use in assignments. In mathematics, students may ask AI for guidance on problem-solving procedures but not for direct answers.

Lawrence and Laines also demonstrated how artificial intelligence can generate images and audio that closely resemble human-created content. Attendees were shown examples of AI-generated and human-created images and voices and asked to identify the differences. The presenters noted that indicators such as inconsistencies in facial features or symbols at the edges of images can sometimes signal AI generation, though distinctions are often difficult to detect.

Laines said that classroom instruction remains a human-centered process and that artificial intelligence is intended to supplement, not replace, teachers. He emphasized the importance of clear expectations for students and transparency when AI tools are used in coursework.

The presentation also addressed the need for broader AI literacy among students and the public. District resources related to generative AI and instructional technology were referenced as tools for learning how to identify AI-generated content and understand its limitations

and highlighted the completion of the Health and Wellness Complex. He added that the new bookstore will be rebuilt near Old Falcon Way, with overall campus renovations expected to be completed by the end of the year.

He also expressed optimism for the semester, noting that attendance has returned to pre-pandemic levels and encouraging students to take advantage of spring activities included with tuition.

“Our goal is to make students feel welcome, safe, and supported — that is our number one priority,” Fierro said.

As the spring semester gets underway, President’s Hour continues to serve as a space for students to raise concerns and engage directly with campus leadership.

College officials said these conversations are central to ensuring students feel informed, supported, and included as the campus community moves forward.

Lakewood Residents Invited to Apply for Volunteers on Patrol

on Patrol during a recent community event. The volunteer program partners with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

LCCN Staff Report

Lakewood residents looking for a hands-on way to support public safety are being encouraged to apply for the city’s Volunteers on Patrol program, a longrunning community partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that focuses on crime prevention, visibility, and neighborhood support.

Volunteers on Patrol, commonly known as VOPs, serve as extra eyes and ears throughout Lakewood, helping deputies identify concerns and improve overall quality of life. While volunteers do not perform law enforcement duties, their regular presence in neighborhoods, commercial areas, parks, and schools helps deter crime and strengthens communication between residents and sheriff’s personnel.

Participants receive training and patrol the city in clearly marked volunteer vehicles while wearing official volunteer uniforms. Their role is focused on observation, reporting, and community

engagement, allowing sworn deputies to respond more efficiently to issues that require enforcement or investigation.

VOP responsibilities include conducting residential vacation checks, patrolling neighborhoods and retail centers, monitoring graffiti-prone areas, assisting with traffic control, supporting city-sponsored events, and performing security checks at parks and school campuses. Information gathered by volunteers is relayed to deputies assigned to the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station, helping guide patrol activity and responses to community concerns.

The program is made up of residents who are committed to giving back to Lakewood and taking an active role in keeping the city safe. In addition to contributing to public safety, volunteers gain firsthand insight into how local public safety operations work.

Residents interested in learning more or applying can find additional information on the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station volunteer webpage.

Lakewood City Council Sets Framework for 2026 Municipal Election

Council actions formally set the June 2, 2026 election date, align with the statewide primary, and establish candidate and administrative procedures.

By Brian Hews

At its January 27 meeting, the Lakewood City Council approved a series of resolutions establishing the administrative framework for the city’s 2026 General Municipal Election, formally setting the election date and outlining how the process will be conducted.

The council confirmed that Lakewood’s municipal election will be held on June 2, 2026, coinciding with California’s statewide primary election.

Voters will elect three City Council members representing Districts 1, 2, and 5, each serving a four-year term.

Under state law and the Lakewood Municipal Code, the City Council is required to adopt resolutions in advance of each municipal election to officially call the election and establish key procedures. Those actions include coordinating election services, defining the roles of county and city offices, and adopting regulations related to candidate materials.

As part of the action, the council approved a resolution requesting that the Los Angeles County

Board of Supervisors consolidate Lakewood’s municipal election with the statewide election. If approved by the county, consolidation will place the administration of major election functions under the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, including ballot printing, vote center operations, staffing, vote tabulation, and certification of election results.

City officials noted that consolidation is intended to streamline election administration, reduce duplication of services, and provide voters with expanded access to vote centers, extended voting periods, and mailed ballots consistent with countywide election practices.

The Lakewood City Clerk’s Office will continue to handle candidaterelated responsibilities, including nomination filings, required disclosures, and the publication of official city election notices.

The council also adopted regulations governing candidate statements for individuals running for City Council. The rules set standards for word limits, formatting, translation requirements, and cost responsibilities for statements printed in official voter information materials. City officials noted that the regulations apply only to the June 2, 2026 election and are required under state election law.

City staff characterized the actions as procedural but necessary to ensure the election is conducted efficiently, transparently, and in full compliance with state requirements.

The nomination period for candidates is scheduled to open on February 9, 2026, and close on March 6, 2026, unless extended under state election rules.

NEWS AND NOTES FROM PRESS ROW:

Winter season winding down with several playoff positioning games ahead

By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X

The winter season for basketball and soccer ends on Tuesday with a potential 605 League third place tiebreaker game in boys basketball scheduled for Wednesday. After this past Wednesday’s action, only two area boys basketball teams, four area girls basketball teams, three area boys soccer teams and two area girls soccer teams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.

The CIF-Southern Section released its boys and girls wrestling playoff brackets on Jan. 29 and will release the playoff brackets to girls water polo on Friday with the release date for boys and girls basketball and boys and girls soccer slated for Feb. 7. Here’s a look at what’s on tap for the next week.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The 605 League title was on the line this past Wednesday when Cerritos High hosted Pioneer High and the Dons came up short in a 51-41 contest. Cerritos (15-11, 7-1) will visit Artesia High on Friday and end the regular season against Oxford Academy. Pioneer is also 7-1 in league action and faces Oxford Academy on Friday before going to Whitney High on Tuesday.

Artesia kept its slim playoff hopes alive with a 63-53 win over Whitney this past Tuesday, improving to 10-16 overall and 3-5 in the 605 League. The Pioneers will host last place John Glenn High (6-17, 0-8) on Tuesday while the Wildcats (9-17, 3-5) travel to Glenn on Friday before hosting Pioneer on Tuesday.

It’s possible that Artesia, Oxford Academy and Whitney could all finish at 4-6, thus forcing a coin flip to see which two teams will play the tiebreaker game on Wednesday. Oxford Academy will face Pioneer on Friday.

La Mirada High’s 81-65 win over Mayfair High enabled the Matadores to clinch the Gateway League. The Matadores improved to 21-6, 7-0 will host Gahr High on Tuesday.

Gahr defeated Dominguez High 43-36 on the road this past Wednesday to see its record go to 17-8, 3-3 as the Gladiators will entertain Bellflower High on Friday. A Gahr win on Friday will lock up third place in the league.

In the Mid-Cities League, Norwalk High defeated Lynwood High 42-33 this past Wednesday to move its record to 14-11, 4-4. The Lancers will host league-leading Warren High on Friday and Paramount High on Wednesday in what could decide third place. Norwalk has assured itself of a winning record and could be eligible as an at-large representative.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Cerritos knocked off Pioneer 68-44 this past Wednesday, clinching at least a share of the 605 League title for the fourth time in the eight years of the league. The Dons improved to 15-11, 8-0. Norwalk locked itself into at least second place with a 56-37 win over Bellflower this past Wednesday, improving to 14-7, 7-1. The Lancers will host Warren on Friday in a game that will decide the league title. The Bears have not lost a league game yet. Norwalk will then entertain Mayfair on Tuesday.

Valley Christian High was on the short end of a 39-36 affair with Village Christian High this past Tuesday, falling to 14-8 overall, 3-3 in the Olympic League. The Defenders welcome second place Heritage Christian High on Friday and fourth place Whittier Christian High on Tuesday.

BOYS SOCCER

With two games left in the regular season, there is a battle for the top spot in the 605 League. Cerritos, which has not won a league title since the 1999-2000 season, has won seven straight games, all in shutout fashion, and is 11-4-2, 7-1-0. The Dons will visit third place Artesia (9-12-1, 5-21) before hosting Oxford Academy while Artesia ends the regular season at second place Glenn (8-6-4, 6-1-1). The Eagles are home to Whitney on Friday.

Norwalk 1-1 draw against Bellflower this past Tuesday left the Lancers (8-5-2, 6-1-1) tied with the Buccaneers for first place in the Mid-Cities League. Norwalk hosted Mayfair on Jan. 29 and will entertain Dominguez on Tuesday.

First place in the Olympic League will be on the line when V.C. (12-3-1, 5-1-0) travels to Whittier Christian (6-0-0 in league) on Tuesday. On Friday, the Defenders go to last place Heritage Christian High.

GIRLS SOCCER

Artesia’s game at Cerritos on Friday will be for the 605 League title as the Pioneers, who edged the Dons 2-1 on Jan. 14, are 14-1-4, 6-0-0 and have not lost since a 2-1 defeat to Century High on Dec. 4. Cerritos began the week at 8-9-1, 5-1-0.

La Mirada is currently in third place in the Gateway League at 5-8-4, 2-4-1 and will host first place Downey on Tuesday.

Gahr tied Firebaugh High 1-1 this past Tuesday to go to 5-12-1, 4-3-1 in the MidCities League, good for third place as it went to Dominguez on Jan. 29 and will host Bellflower on Tuesday.

Just like the boys, V.C. will be squaring off against Whittier Christian for third place in the Olympic League. The Defenders, who blanked Village Christian 4-0 this past Tuesday, improved to 16-3-3, 5-0-1 while the Heralds are 4-1-1 in league action. Those two teams played to a scoreless tie on Jan. 13.

[ See NEWS, page 9 ]

AAA

18642 S. Gridley

ABC Adult School

12254 Cuesta Dr.

ABC District Office 17215 Studebaker Road Suite

290 Cerritos, CA 90703

ABCFT

19444 Norwalk Blvd.

Aikan Sushi

12155 South St

All Cerritos Parks

IHOP Towne Center

12741 Towne Ctr. Dr.

Artesia City Hall 18747 Clarkdale Ave.

Artesia Library 18801 Elaine Avenue

Artesia Cemetery 11142 Artesia Blvd.

Artesia Christian Home

11614 183rd St, Artesia

Artesia Senior Apts 10427 Artesia, Bellflower Ave. 3

12612 South Street

Bellflower City Hall

Bellflower Terrace Apts. 9920 Flora Vista

Belmont Place Apts. 9830 Belmont St., Bellflower

Ramona Senior Ctr. 9843 Ramona St. Bellflower

Bellflower Friendship Manor 9550 Oak St.

Cassidy’s Cafe 15010 La Mirada Blvd

Cerritos Chamber

13259 South St. Cerritos College

Cerritos City Hall

Sheriff’s/Community Center

Cerritos Library

18125 Bloomfield Ave

Cerritos Park East

13234 E 166th St.

Cerritos Medical Center 11911 Artesia Blvd.

Cerritos Senior Center 12340 South St. Cevitas Coffee 14218 Rosecrans Ave

CTA Travel 12750 Center Ct Dr S. ContunEM 6430 South St Don Knabe Park At the Tennis Center

Foggia Deli 5522 Del Amo Blvd.

Grocery Outlet 15745 Imperial Hwy, Grove at Cerritos 11000 New Falcon Way Goodyear Auto 19404 Norwalk Blvd.

Gardens Casino 11871 E Carson St. Hawaiian Gardens City Hall, Rec. Center, Library 21815 Pioneer Heritage Park 18600 Bloomfield Holy Family Church, Artesia 18708 Clarkdale IHop La Mirada 15140 La Mirada Blvd

Imperial Healthcare Center 11926 La Mirada Blvd

Kindred Hospital 14900 Imperial Hwy. Kristens Beauty Salon 13952 Valley View Ave La Casa de Concinera 15711 Imperial Hwy, UCI/Lakewood

BASKETBALL:

Third quarter scoring run propels Cerritos to win over Whitney

By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X

Just when the Whitney High boys basketball team thought it was turning the corner against its city rival, the kings of the 605 League showed why they are still the team to beat. Cerritos High, which has won the league four times in the seven years of its existence, moved one step closer to another title.

The Dons broke a 30-30 halftime tie with a 14-2 run over the first half of the third quarter and cruised to a 67-51 victory last Friday night. Cerritos, which improved to 15-10 overall and remained undefeated in seven league games, can clinch at least a share of the league title with a win over second place Pioneer High on Jan. 28.

This time around was closer than the Jan. 9 meeting at Cerritos in which the Dons went on an 11-2 run to close out the first half and easily won 60-32. Cerritos improved to 18-1 lifetime against the Wildcats, but 15-1 in 605 League action. And with the new Suburban Valley Conference going into effect next season with four leagues, it’s unsure when these two programs will play another league game.

“They came to play,” said Cerritos head coach Jonathan Watanabe. “Like I told you before, [Whitney first-year head coach] Jazzy [Kruczynski] is doing a great job, and they’ll bring most of their guys back next year. I asked him right away if we’re not in the same league next year, let’s schedule a single [game]. It may not be the same as playing a [league game]. But at least we can still continue to play.

“It’s a good game for the community; for both schools and the community to see the turnout,” he added. “Obviously, it was their homecoming night, so they have a lot of fans. But it’s fun. You grow up with these kids, and so you go and compete. Other than our game, we cheer for them; we’re rooting for them all the time.”

“I think it was just being a little bit more comfortable, especially being at home, and most of the crowd cheering for us,” said Kruczynski of the difference between the two meetings. “When we were playing at Cerritos, most of that was their crowd cheering for them. So, I think it rattled them a bit.”

Whitney never trailed in the opening quarter and was up by six points after senior William Kang’s basket with 3:13 remaining. But a basket from junior Devon Hardy with 70 seconds left in the stanza, then a steal and basket from Hardy shortly after that tied the game at 16-16 heading into the second quarter.

The Dons took their first lead of the game on a Hardy three-pointer with 4:48 left in the half and the lead would change hands four more times in the half, the last

coming when junior Noah Lai drained a three-pointer with 2:30 left. But senior Shayadheeran Saravanakumar’s first basket of the game enabled the hosts to tie the contest at 30-30 with 1:09 left in the half.

“I thought our defense was what helped us long in the first half,” said Kruczynski. “Doubling on the penetrations and then making sure we rebounded, because I thought today we rebounded pretty well was what really helped us. But in the second half, we didn’t rebound as well, which led to them getting second chance points and put us in a hole.”

“We just weren’t defending,” said Watanabe of the first half. “We were not defending the way we need to defend. We need to work on that. We had a great practice yesterday and we came in pretty confident of how things were going to turn out. But we just didn’t come out defending the way we need to, so we have to clean things up a little bit.”

Kang would open the second half with a basket 11 seconds in but a steal and basket from freshman Jace Ribac began a 14-0 run over the next 3:49 that featured two more consecutive baskets from Ribac, an offensive putback from junior Noah Edwards, and a steal and basket from junior Jeremiah Ju.

“It’s all about our defense,” said Watanabe. “I told the guys from day one, if you want to win a championship, you have to defend. Defense wins championships. It’s not just a saying; you’re going to have off nights offensively. But if you can defend, you’re going to give yourself a chance, even on the off nights, and that’s kind of what happened tonight.”

In fact, the Wildcats would find the basket eight times in 23 attempts from the field in the second half and did not score consecutive baskets since the first quarter. They did manage to cut its deficit to five points with 3:42 remaining in the game on a three-pointer from Kang. But the Dons responded with a 7-0 run.

“I think if we hadn’t made those two big mistakes when we brought it to within five; the rainbow pass that [junior] Joseph Roman tried to make, and then the technical on Willaim…then I knew it was going to be very, very difficult for us to come back,” said Kruczynski. “But I thought it was possible up to that point.”

Kang led the Wildcats (9-17, 3-5) with 19 points and nine rebounds while junior Jezreel Dela Cruz added 12 points, four rebounds and two steals. Those two have been the team’s scoring duo all season and have combined for 23 double-digit scoring games.

Hardy and Ribac paced Cerritos (1510, 7-0) with 18 and 12 points respectively while Lai added nine points and eight rebounds. Edwards and sophomore Vincent Valenzuela each chipped in with eight points.

“I thought our guards stepped up really well,” said Watanabe. “Kaleb Duag, in particular, stepped up and gave us energy. He’s a very capable player; he’s just trying to get his feet wet a little bit. He doesn’t play as many games as the other guys, but he’s a super talented guard. It was good that he was able to step up tonight.”

While the Dons, who travel to Artesia High on Friday and host Oxford Academy on Tuesday, need one win in their final three league games to clinch at least a share of the title, things have become precarious for the Wildcats, who lost a road game at Artesia, 63-53, this past Tuesday and will travel to John Glenn High on Friday before closing the regular season at home against Pioneer on Tuesday. The ‘Cats need to win at least one of those games to potentially force a third place tiebreaker game, which will be played on Wednesday.

605 LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL:

Cerritos goes wire to wire against Whitney, closer to league title

By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X

The Cerritos High girls basketball team began the first of two hurdles in consecutive games on its way for a second 605 League title in the past three seasons and fourth in the past seven seasons. What was expected to be a battle with second place Whitney High was just the opposite as the Dons scored the first six points of the

the glass at the buzzer to make the halftime score 31-16.

Nguyen scored nine points and had three steals before picking up her fifth foul with 5:17 left in the game while Pulley, who missed the first 20 games, scored 11 points and has averaged 11 points in the five games she has played in.

The dagger in the heart for Whitney was the third quarter when it was outscored 14-6 and 11 shots were taken by the hosts in the stanza. Making matters worse

HIGH SENIOR Cameron Lacorte attempts a three-point shot in the first quarter during last Friday’s 605 League contest at Whitney High. Lacorte scored a game-high 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, had five assists and three steals in helping her team to a 55-30 victory.

game, never trailed and took advantage of Whitney’s lack of depth.

The Cerritos bench accounted for 24 points and the Dons cruised to a 55-30 victory last Friday night, improving to 1411 overall and 7-0 in the league. The game was a far cry from the 72-58 win on Jan. 9 and put the Dons one win away from clinching at least a share of the league title. They will host Pioneer High, which is tied for second place with Whitney, on Jan 28.

“I think it was confidence,” said Cerritos head coach Marcus Chinen on the difference between the two games with Whitney. “We were shorthanded the first game. So I think with this game coming in, we kept pretty much the same starters as last time. And I think the plus that we had was having [junior] Kalana [Nguyen] and [junior] Jordin [Pulley] coming off the bench.

“I think now we’re balanced,” he continued. “I think eventually one or the other may start. I’m not too sure when, but if that happens, we’re just going to be that much better because now, everyone has experience.”

Even though the Dons were up 6-0, Chinen called a 30-second timeout less than two minutes into the game. At this time, the Wildcats had missed their first four shots, grabbed four offensive rebounds and turned the ball over three times. But junior Alyssa So knocked down the first of her two three-pointers and added a free throw over the next 1:38 to get back into the game. After that, Cerritos would go on a 16-4 run the remainder of the stanza and began to put the game out of reach.

“They knocked us down and beat us up,” said Whitney first-year head coach Carl Wilson. “The [referees] let that type of play go on. When you do something like that, it sends a message to the whole team. They were forearming us; bodying us up, had hands on us all night long.”

Wilson was referring to one play in which So, the team’s star player, was forearmed and fell backwards to the floor but no foul was called. He added that if the first six minutes of the game were taken away, the rest of the game would have been even.

A three-pointer from sophomore Jaslyn Macaraeg increased the score to 26-8 with 6:42 left in the first half. And even when the hosts, on homecoming night, responded with a 8-2 run, Nguyen silenced the Whitney crowd with a three-pointer off

was junior Ella Nelson fouling out with 3:33 left in the quarter. She left the game with 12 rebounds, eight points and three steals. Senior Tina Namaranian and junior Cheyanne Cheung would each get their fourth fouls in the final quarter as the Dons went 10 for 17 from the charity stripe in the game.

“I have no bench,” said Wilson. “We don’t have the horses; we don’t.”

“It did benefit us because those three are really good players; they played well,” said Chinen. “They’re all really good rebounders, so we had to keep them off the glass, and I think when they get into a little foul trouble, just like our girls, they start thinking. Tonight was the night where I [told them] if any of you get into foul trouble, we might have to play you as long as we can. But it was key that we got them into foul trouble early.”

So led the Wildcats with 12 points but was three of 25 from the field and four of 10 from the free throw line. Namaranian added eight points and seven rebounds while freshman Sophia Kang and Cheung pitched in with seven and six rebounds, respectively.

“Well, the last couple of games her free throw shooting has gone away,” said Wilson of So. “That’s about the same shooting percentage she’s had all year long. She gets her shots up, but let’s be realistic, she’s playing as tired as she can be. But again, there’s no substitute for her.”

“That was key, too,” said Chinen of So’s shooting. “That’s one player that when she starts going, she keeps going. And she can shoot the ball from anywhere on that court. She’s very good at outsidein, inside-out. She drives to the basket well and that’s one of the girls we had to make sure we kept an eye on as well as [Tina].”

Senior Cameron Lacorte was a complete workhorse for Cerritos, scoring a gamehigh 15 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing off five assists and collecting three steals. Macaraeg added eight points while sophomore Analiyah Coneita scored six points and junior Kianna Rangel pulled down seven rebounds.

“That’s one of the keys to our team; a luxury to our team, and she’s like the glue who keeps everything together,” said Chinen of Lacorte. “If we had [senior] Mady [Macaraeg], too, we would have had a 1-2 punch. And now I would even say a

WRESTLING

La Mirada is the top-seeded team in Division 4 for boys wrestling and will face Santa Ana High on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs. The Matadores won the Gateway League. Also in the division, Mid-Cities League at-large representative Norwalk will square off against Downey while Cerritos, the champions of the 605 League, meet South Hills High in the first round.

The Norwalk girls are the second-seeded team in Division 2 and drew Paloma Valley High in the first round while in Division 4, Gahr faces Garey High, also in the first round.

CERRITOS

from page 8

1-2-3 [scoring punch] with Kalana. I know we’re getting her back and working her in, too, just due to her injury in her first game back [on Jan. 21].

“But again, it is a luxury having points coming off the bench,” he continued. “We have leadership coming off the bench, and I think that’s key. I definitely this year will have a sixth man award because we have some girls fighting out for that sixth, seventh or eighth spot.”

Whitney, which defeated Artesia High 51-22 this past Tuesday to improve to 15-8, 6-2, will visit last place John Glenn High on Friday before closing out the regular season on Tuesday against Pioneer, which will most likely determine second and third place in the circuit. Cerritos will go to Artesia on Friday and entertain Oxford Academy on Tuesday.

“We talked about our style of play,” said Wilson. “We painted the realistic picture of what a loss meant versus the next three games. If we win them out, we’re in second place. The best game they played so far this year was against Pioneer. We came out; we were on fire.

“I’m not the type of coach who worries about wins and losses, especially with a team like this,” he continued. “My focus is to get them better, and the fact that the whole team returns next year is a blessing.”

“We are trying to get into playoff mentalities, so we’re saying one game at a time,” said Chinen. “Yes, I think it’s in the back of our minds that the league title could be ours if we do our job on [Wednesday] But if it doesn’t work out, then yeah, we have to gut it out the next two games left, and then we have to go from there. Our team right now…we’re playing well and together at the right time and I wish this team the best for the rest of the season and going into the playoffs.”

LEGAL NOTICE CITY OF BELLFLOWER ORDINANCE NO. 1452

AN ORDINANCE ADDING § 2.04.080 TO THE BELLFLOWER MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT THE BELLFLOWER CITY CHARTER BY ESTABLISHING VOTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER COUNCIL ACTIONS

Pursuant to Government Code Section 36933(b), Ordinance No. 1452 is summarized as follows:

Ordinance No. 1452 adds § 2.04.080 to the Bellflower Municipal Code (“BMC”) to codify voting requirements for City Council actions, including ordinances, resolutions, and motions, consistent with the Charter and applicable state law. The Ordinance clarifies the default voting standard for City Council actions, a majority vote of Council Members present at a properly noticed meeting with a quorum, while expressly preserving any higher vote thresholds required by the Charter, the California Constitution, or state law of statewide concern. The Ordinance does not change any substantive voting requirements imposed by existing law, but instead provides clear, centralized guidance within the BMC regarding how Council actions are adopted.

Ordinance No. 1452 had its first reading on January 12, 2026, its second reading on January 26, 2026, and was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Bellflower at its Regular Meeting of January 26, 2026, by the following vote to wit:

AYES: Council Members – Morse, Sanchez, Dunton, Koops, and Mayor Santa Ines

Effective Date: February 25, 2026. For a copy of Ordinance No. 1452, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 804 1424 or cclerk@bellflower.ca.gov.

Approved as submitted above:

Karl H. Berger, City Attorney

ATTEST:

Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26 BOYS

Notice Inviting Proposals

City of Santa Fe Springs

HazMatIQ: Above the Line/Below the Line Training

The City of Santa Fe Springs invites proposals from qualified consultants to provide HazMatIQ: Above the Line/Below the Line Training Services in accordance with the terms and conditions of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 26-8.

To view the complete proposal package and associated documents visit: https://pbsystem. planetbids.com/portal/65093/portal-home and click “Bid Opportunities” or to https:// vendors.planetbids.com/portal/65093/bo/bo-detail/137267 access the project directly. You can also visit the City's website and find the link on the "Bids & Proposals" webpage.

Questions/inquiries regarding this opportunity must be submitted via the PlanetBids Portal by Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 2 PM Pacific. The City will not respond to any questions/inquiries submitted after this deadline.

Please review all related documents in their entirety before submitting a response. Responses must be submitted electronically via the City’s PlanetBids Portal by Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 2 PM Pacific. Any proposals received after this deadline will be deemed non-responsive, and the City reserves the right to reject them.

Responses to this request will be evaluated to determine the most qualified and responsive consultant. Responses must adhere to the format and content described.

1/30/26

Notice Inviting Proposals

City of Santa Fe Springs

Regional Training Group – Regional Firefighter Leadership Development Training Program

The City of Santa Fe Springs invites proposals from qualified consultants to provide services for the Regional Training Group – Regional Firefighter Leadership Development Training Program in accordance with the terms and conditions of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 26-6.

To view the complete proposal package and associated documents visit: https://pbsystem. planetbids.com/portal/65093/portal-home and click “Bid Opportunities” or to https:// vendors.planetbids.com/portal/65093/bo/bo-detail/137230 access the project directly. You can also visit the City's website and find the link on the "Bids & Proposals" webpage.

Questions/inquiries regarding this opportunity must be submitted via the PlanetBids Portal by Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 2 PM Pacific. The City will not respond to any questions/inquiries submitted after this deadline.

Please review all related documents in their entirety before submitting a response. Responses must be submitted electronically via the City’s PlanetBids Portal by Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 2 PM Pacific. Any proposals received after this deadline will be deemed non-responsive, and the City reserves the right to reject them.

Responses to this request will be evaluated to determine the most qualified and responsive consultant. Responses must adhere to the format and content described.

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26

CITY OF LA MIRADA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of a public hearing to be held by the City Council of the City of La Mirada on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California to consider the following items:

ORDINANCE NO. 748: THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD ADOPT BY REFERENCE THE 2026 LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUILDING CODES, INCLUDING TITLES 26 (BUILDING), 27 (ELECTRICAL), 28 (PLUMBING), 29 (MECHANICAL), 30 (RESIDENTIAL), 31 (GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS), AND 33 (EXISTING BUILDING CODE) OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE. UPON ADOPTION, THESE CODES WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO TITLE 17, CHAPTERS 17.04 THROUGH 17.19 OF THE LA MIRADA MUNICIPAL CODE AND WOULD SERVE AS THE CITY’S ENFORCEABLE BUILDING REGULATIONS. THE PROPOSED ACTION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3), AS IT CAN BE SEEN WITH CERTAINTY THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THE ACTIVITY MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

At the hearing, the City Council will consider staff’s recommendation, as well as all testimony and public input prior to final action. This ordinance was first introduced and scheduled for public hearing at the City Council Meeting on January 27, 2026. The documents being considered are available for review at the City’s Community Development Department offices located at City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California. You may contact the Manuel Muñoz, Community Development Director at (562) 943-0131 or manuelmunoz@cityoflamirada.org should you have any questions concerning this item.

If you wish to be heard concerning the items identified in this Notice, you may appear in person at the public hearing, or you may submit your comments in writing to the City prior to or at the public hearing. Mailed comments should be addressed to the City of La Mirada, Community Development Department, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California 90638.

Please notify the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131 at least four days prior to this hearing should you require disability-related accommodation (e.g. sign language interpreter).

IF YOU CHALLENGE ANY OF THE FOREGOING ACTIONS IN COURT, YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO RAISING ONLY THOSE ISSUES YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE RAISED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL ACTION DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE, OR IN WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE DELIVERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT OR PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

Manuel Muñoz

Community Development Director

Dated: January 30, 2026

Published at La Mirada Lamplighter 1/30/26

Notice Inviting Proposals

City of Santa Fe Springs

BatteryIQ: Lithium-Ion Battery Response Training

The City of Santa Fe Springs invites proposals from qualified consultants to provide BatteryIQ: Lithium-Ion Battery Response Training Services in accordance with the terms and conditions of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 26-7.

To view the complete proposal package and associated documents visit: https://pbsystem. planetbids.com/portal/65093/portal-home and click “Bid Opportunities” or to https:// vendors.planetbids.com/portal/65093/bo/bo-detail/137245 access the project directly. You can also visit the City's website and find the link on the "Bids & Proposals" webpage.

Questions/inquiries regarding this opportunity must be submitted via the PlanetBids Portal by Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 2 PM Pacific. The City will not respond to any questions/inquiries submitted after this deadline.

Please review all related documents in their entirety before submitting a response. Responses must be submitted electronically via the City’s PlanetBids Portal by Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 2 PM Pacific. Any proposals received after this deadline will be deemed non-responsive, and the City reserves the right to reject them.

Responses to this request will be evaluated to determine the most qualified and responsive consultant. Responses must adhere to the format and content described.

CITY OF LA MIRADA

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on January 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter, the City Council of the City of La Mirada adopted the following Ordinance No. 747:

ORDINANCE NO. 747: ADOPTING ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 58 TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 36.9 ACRES FROM INDUSTRIAL TO COMMERCIAL AND COMMERCIAL TO INDUSTRIAL CONSISTENT WITH GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2025-01 AND ADOPT PROGRAMMATIC NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA).

Summary of Ordinance No. 747

Ordinance No. 747 approved Zoning Ordinance No. 58, which rezoned a total of ten (10) parcels comprising approximately 36.9 acres, as follows:

a. North Site - 20.4 acres from Industrial (M-2) to Freeway Commercial (C-F)

b. South Site -16.5 acres from Freeway Commercial (C-F) to Industrial (M-2)

c. Ensure consistency with General Plan Amendment No. GPA-2025-01

d. Promote compatible land uses and support economic development along Knott Avenue, Artesia Boulevard, and Coyote Creek

The zoning changes were intended to realign land use designations with existing land use patterns and did not result in the approval of any specific development project.

The names of those Councilmembers voting for or against Ordinance No. 747 are as follows:

AYES: Councilmember Bean, De Ruse, Lewis, Mayor Pro Tem Otero, Mayor Eng

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

A certified copy of the entirety of the text of Ordinance No. 747 is available in the office of the City Clerk, City of La Mirada, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California, and is available for public inspection at that location.

Manuel Muñoz, Community Development Director

Dated: January 30, 2026

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26

CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS NOTICE TO DESTROY WEEDS, REMOVE BRUSH, RUBBISH AND REFUSE

Notice is hereby given that on February 3, 2026, the City Council of the City of Santa Fe Springs passed or will pass a resolution declaring noxious or dangerous vegetation including weeds, brush, tumbleweeds, sagebrush, and chaparral or rubbish and refuse were growing or occurring upon or in front of said property on certain streets in said city or unincorporated area of the County of Los Angeles, and more particularly described in the resolution, and that they constitute a public nuisance which must be abated by the removal of said noxious or dangerous vegetation, rubbish and refuse. The resolution further declares that, if not abated, the vegetation and/or rubbish and refuse may be removed and the nuisance abated by County authorities in which case the cost of removal shall be assessed upon the land from or in front of which the noxious or dangerous vegetation, rubbish and refuse are removed. Such cost will constitute a special assessment against such lots or lands. Reference is hereby made to said resolution for further particulars. In addition, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles authorized and directed the Agricultural Commissioner to recover its costs of details. All property owners having any objections to the proposed removal of noxious or dangerous vegetation, rubbish and refuse and the recovery of inspection costs, are hereby notified that they may attend a hearing of the City Council of said city to be held at 11710 East Telegraph Road, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, in the Council Chambers on February 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. where their objections will be heard and given due consideration. If the property owner does not want to present objections to the proposed removal of the noxious or dangerous vegetation including weeds, brush, tumbleweeds, sagebrush, and chaparral or rubbish and refuse, or the recovery of inspection costs, the owner need not appear at the above-mentioned hearing.

Maribel Garcia City Clerk of the City of Santa Fe Springs

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26

Income (Loss) Before Capital Contributions, Transfers, and Special and Extraordinary Items

30, 2025.

CITY OF LA MIRADA

NOTICE OF INVITING BIDS

PURCHASE OF CITY VEHICLES

Notice is given that the City of La Mirada hereby invites sealed bids for the purchase of two (2) new 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck Standard Range 4WD Double Cab, Short or Standard Bed or approved equivalent, which in the opinion of the City, best meets or exceeds the specifications and offers the best value to the City.

Sealed bids shall be delivered to the City Clerk on or before March 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Bids must be submitted on the blank forms, prepared and furnished for that purpose and included in the Notice Inviting Bids on file in the City Clerk’s Office located at La Mirada City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, California 90638. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or delete portions of any or all bids, or waive any informality or irregularity in the bid or the bid procedures.

Leticia Revilla, City Clerk

Published at La Mirada Lamplighter 1/30/26

NOTICE INVITING SEALED BIDS

DEMOLITION OF CITY BUILDINGS AT 5819 TELEGRAPH RD & 2366 TRAVERS AVE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY OF COMMERCE, referred to as “CITY”, invites sealed bids for DEMOLITION OF CITY BUILDINGS AT 5819 TELEGRAPH RD & 2366 TRAVERS AVE PROJECT and will receive on PlanetBids, up to the hour of 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 12, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud online. Late submittals will not be considered. It is the bidder’s responsibility to upload the bid proposal file by the due date to City’s portal on PlanetBids.

Electronic files of the Contract Documents are available for download on the City’s portal on PlanetBids.

Working hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The work shall be completed within 30 working days after the City’s Notice to Proceed.

Each Bidder shall possess a valid Contractor’s license for the project issued by the California State Contractors License Board at the time of the Bid submission. Contractor or subcontractor performing the asbestos abatement activities must have a California C22 Contractor’s License in good standing with the Contractor’s State License Board, be registered with the California Division of Occupational Safety & Health (‘DOSH’ or ‘Cal/ OSHA’), and must have a Hazardous Substance Removal Certification. The successful Contractor must also possess a current City business license.

This project is subject to the requirements of SB 854. No prime contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal and may be awarded for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5.

If there are any questions regarding this project, please upload all questions to: City’s portal on PlanetBids.

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/29 and 2/5/26

NOTICE AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 26-980

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS OF TITLE 48 (MIXED-USE OVERLAY ZONE) OF CHAPTER 2 (ZONING) OF TITLE 9 (PLANNING AND ZONING) OF THE ARTESIA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE MIXED-USE OVERLA ZONE (MU-O).

Notice is hereby given that on February 9, 2026, the City Council of the City of Artesia will consider the adoption of Ordinance No. 26-980 making certain amendments and additions to the Artesia Municipal Code related to the Mixed-Use Overlay Zone (MU-O) Ordinance. The following is a summary of the proposed Ordinance:

• This Ordinance only amends select provisions of Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 48 of the Artesia Municipal Code to be consistent with State Housing Law, the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element, and the City’s General Plan 2030.

Please note that the above is simply a summary of the Ordinance. To obtain a full understanding of the Ordinance it should be read in its entirety. A copy of the full text of the Ordinance is posted in the City Clerk’s office at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California 90701.

Date: January 30, 2026

Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MICHAEL F. CALDERON CASE NO. 26STPB00486 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may

both of MICHAEL F. CALDERON.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JEFFREY SCROGGIN in

ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JEFFREY SCROGGIN be

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/18/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 2D located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

written

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or

with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF PICO RIVERA

NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING PICO RIVERA HOUSING ASSISTANCE AGENCY PHA PLAN

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Pico Rivera Housing Assistance Agency is a qualified Public Housing Agency (PHA) and is exempt from the requirement to submit an annual plan but is required to consider recommendations from Section 8 participants at an annual public hearing regarding any changes to the goals, objectives, and policies of the agency identified in the 5-Year Plan for FYs 2025 to 2030.

The Pico Rivera Housing Assistance Agency Board of Commissioners will host a public hearing, have the relevant 5-Year Plan available for review, and invite Pico Rivera Section 8 participants to submit comments. The public hearing will be held as follows:

WHEN: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: City Hall Council Chambers 6615 Passons Boulevard Pico Rivera, CA 90660

Availability of Document for Public Review: The current PHA Plan that identifies goals, objectives, and policies will be available for public examination on the City’s website at: https://www.pico-rivera.org/housing-services-division/

PERSONS INTERESTED IN THIS MATTER wishing to observe the meeting may do so in the following ways:

(1) Turn on your TV to Channel 3

(2) Visit the City’s website at https://bit.ly/picorivera-ctv3live

(3) Email public comments to publiccomments@pico-rivera.org prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting

(4) Attend the public hearing in person

For more information, call Jessica Guerra, Housing Coordinator, Community & Economic Development Department at (562)801-4347.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the City of Pico Rivera is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for a person with a disability. Please contact the City Clerk Office at (562) 801-4389 if special program accommodations are necessary and/or if program information is needed in an alternative format. Special requests must be made in a reasonable amount of time in order that accommodations can be arranged.

Publish: January 30, 2026

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26

NOTICE OF SALE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY

Notice is given pursuant to sections 21700-21713 of the Business and Professions Code, Section 2328 of the Commercial Code, Section 535 of the Penal Code. 1812.607, that Norwalk Self Storage at 11564 E. Firestone Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a Lien imposed on said property. The undersigned will be sold at public auction conducted on www. storagetreasures.com (bond #63747122) ending on or after Tuesday, FEBRUARY 17th, 2026, at 9:00AM. NAME UNIT #

NICOLAS ACOSTA B313 CRYSTAL REBECCA CORDOVA B135 MIGUEL A. DIAZ B613 CHARLES JERMAINE JONES B485

LOERA MARTINEZ B476

notice is given in accordance with the provisions of Section 21700 et seq. of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California. Storage Treasures’ Principal Auctioneer and Auctioneer on Record: Auctioneer License Numbers for Christopher Paul Rosa California #3112562 Sales subject to prior cancellation in the event of settlement between Owner and obligated party Published at LCCN 1/30 & 2/06/26 NOTICE

FEBRUARY 17th, 2026, at 9:00AM. NAME UNIT

JULIO CESAR ESPARZA C244 JULIO CESAR ESPARZA G112

JOSE ALBERTO MONNEY DE LA ROCA H142 ALEX COOPER E108

This notice is given in accordance with the provisions of Section 21700 et seq. of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California. Storage Treasures’ Principal Auctioneer and Auctioneer on Record: Auctioneer License Numbers for Christopher Paul Rosa-California 3112562 Sales subject to prior cancellation in the event of settlement between Owner and obligated party Published at LCCN 1/30 & 2/06/26

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

HERBERT L. MILLER CASE NO. 26STPB00576

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of HERBERT L. MILLER.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by VICKIE YOUNG-OMORDIA in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that VICKIE YOUNG-OMORDIA be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/20/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner

NICOLE T. DERDERIAN, ESQ. - SBN 358006

THE PACELLA LAW GROUP, APC

5000 N. PARKWAY CALABASAS, #219 CALABASAS CA 91302

Telephone (818) 614-9245

1/30, 2/6, 2/13/26

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CITY OF ARTESIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the City Council of the City of Artesia will hold a Regular City Council Meeting at the Artesia Council Chambers, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, to conduct a Public Hearing to consider the following items:

ORDINANCE NO. 26-979 OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE TITLE 26 OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, INCORPORATING TITLES 26 - BUILDING CODE, 27ELECTRICAL CODE, 28 - PLUMBING CODE, 29 - MECHANICAL CODE, 30 - RESIDENTIAL CODE, 31 - GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, TITLE 32 – FIRE CODE, AND TITLE 33 - EXISTING BUILDING CODE OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE BY REPEALING THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THESE TITLES, WHICH HAD INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THE 2022 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE AND REPLACING THEM WITH PROVISIONS INCORPORATING BY REFERENCE THE APPLICABLE PORTIONS OF THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, PUBLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, WITH CERTAIN CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS; TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN AMENDMENTS, DELETIONS AND ADDITIONS, INCLUDING FINDINGS, FEES AND PENALTIES; AND AMENDING THE ARTESIA MUNICIPAL CODE

COPIES OF THE APPLICABLE PORTIONS OF THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, PUBLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION, ARE ON FILE WITH THE CITY CLERK AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AND ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE LINK: HTTPS://WWW. DGS.CA.GOV/BSC/CODES

If you challenge the City’s actions in regard to this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at, or prior, to the public hearing.

PUBLISHED: January 23, 2026, and January 30, 2026

Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/23/26 and 1/30/26

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File Number 2025284244. THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: SOMATIC SLEUTH MASSAGE THERAPY 2263 N LAKEWOOD BLVD, LONG BEACH CA., 90815, LOS ANGELES COUNTY; Registered Owner:ALYSSA MARIA GRANT, 8431 HOLDER STREET, BUENA PARK, CA 90620. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/ SOMATIC SLEUTH MASSAGE THERAPY ; Owner; ALYSSA GRANT. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 12/24/2025. In accordance with Subdivision

1/23, 1/30/26

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: LAN PING CLARK CASE NO. 26STPB00349

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of LAN PING CLARK.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CHARLES H. BROWN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CHARLES H. BROWN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 02/18/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 67 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

STEPHANIE COOK - SBN 319472

VARELA LAW, PC (DBA: THE WAGON LEGACY)

3040 SATURN STREET, SUITE 201 BREA CA 92821

Telephone (714) 451-5766

BSC 227932

1/23, 1/30, 2/6/26

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LOS CERRITOS COMMUNITY NEWS

NOTICE AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 26-979 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE TITLE 26 OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, INCORPORATING AND AMENDING TITLE 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, AND 33 REGARDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING AND FIRE CODE

Notice is hereby given that on February 9, 2026, the City Council of the City of Artesia will consider the adoption of Ordinance No. 26-979 adopting the County amended 2025 California Building Codes by reference. The following is a summary of the proposed Ordinance:

• This Ordinance only incorporates and amends by reference Title 27,28,29,30,31,32 and 33 of the Los Angeles County Code to ensure consistency, efficiency, and regulatory alignment between the City and County Building and Fire Code.

Please note that the above is simply a summary of the Ordinance. To obtain a full understanding of the Ordinance it should be read in its entirety. A copy of the full text of the Ordinance is posted in the City Clerk’s office at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California 90701.

Date: January 30, 2026

Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 1/30/26

the transfer was made to “an owneroccupier as part of a bona fide gift” to Sanchez and his wife, and contained no language limiting the owner-occupancy designation to a single grantee.

Just days after the gift transfer, Sanchez obtained a $421,000 loan secured by the Somerset property.

Consistent with the owner-occupier language in the Grant Deed, the recorded Deed of Trust designated the duplex as an owner-occupied primary residence. Sanchez, his wife, and his parents all signed the Deed of Trust, certifying that occupancy designation in a recorded, notarized instrument.

Mortgage professionals consulted by LCCN said the loan was unusual and appears to have been possible only because Sanchez’s parents remained on title. Borrowers are typically required to

observe a seasoning period following a transfer of ownership before getting a loan that size, or to demonstrate a longer payment history prior to being added to title.

Notably, Sanchez’s Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) filings at the time he assumed office in 2020 show no comparable investment activity, nor did his 2021 filing. That changed in 2022, when Sanchez reported substantial investments in numerous major publicly traded companies, collectively valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The timing of those disclosures coincides with the period in which the $421,000 Somerset loan was obtained.

The Deed of Trust formally classified the Somerset duplex as owner-occupied, effectively treating it as a primary residence located outside the district Sanchez was elected to serve. That owner-occupied designation appears

in both the Grant Deed and the loan documents, with no recorded limitation, rider, carve-out, or exemption.

Despite those recorded representations, Sanchez later acknowledged to LCCN that he never moved into the Somerset duplex and never intended to live there.

“The Somerset property that I own in part was occupied by one of the owners, but I never moved there and never had an intent to permanently live there,” Sanchez wrote.

That admission directly conflicts with the owner-occupancy certification contained in the recorded loan documents.

Mortgage professionals told LCCN that owner-occupancy status is a important underwriting condition because it affects pricing (points) and loan approval.

Under California law, knowingly making false statements in connection with obtaining or refinancing a mortgage can expose a borrower to legal scrutiny.

Because the owner-occupancy certification was made in a sworn, recorded instrument, conflicting representations may also implicate perjury statutes or trigger state or federal review. Federal law similarly prohibits knowingly providing false information to influence a federally related lending transaction.

Separately, the contradiction between Sanchez’s signed owner-occupancy documents and his admission that he never lived at the Somerset property revives unresolved questions about his eligibility to continue holding his District 4 council seat.

Sanchez has claimed that he lives in District 4, citing his Maple Street address, voter registration, where his family resides, and where he receives mail as evidence of residency. But California law does not treat such assertions as determinative when residency is disputed.

In a 2014 opinion, the California Attorney General authorized a quo warranto action to determine whether a city councilmember lawfully holds office based on district residency, emphasizing that eligibility turns on actual residence rather than explanations of intent or convenience. The Attorney General concluded that when residency is in question, the issue is properly resolved by the courts, not by an official’s afterthe-fact assertions.

In his correspondence with LCCN, Sanchez repeatedly stated that he checked a box in the unrecorded loan application indicating he would not occupy the Somerset property. However, the only recorded, notarized instrument governing the loan — the Deed of Trust — classifies the duplex as owneroccupied and bears his signature without any non-occupant exemption.

Unrecorded documents do not override recorded instruments; the public Deed of Trust is the controlling legal document.

That Deed of Trust identified the property as owner-occupied, claimed a recording fee exemption based on that status, and imposed a single occupancy covenant on “the borrower.” All four borrowers signed it. There is no rider, carve-out, or recorded clause designating Sanchez as a non-occupant or limiting the occupancy requirement to another party.

The law is not kind to conflicting sworn statements, especially when they appear in recorded mortgage documents and are later contradicted in writing.

California and federal law treat mortgage representations as material statements, not technicalities. Penal Code section 532f prohibits false statements made to secure a real estate loan, while federal law under 18 U.S.C. section 1014 criminalizes knowingly providing false information to influence a federally related mortgage transaction. Those statutes do not hinge on intent after the fact, but on what was represented at the time the loan was obtained.

LCCN is continuing its review of the Somerset property and is now examining additional records related to other activity at the duplex and how that use aligns with the property’s owner-occupied loan classification. That reporting will appear in a subsequent installment.