LOS CERRITOS
Winner of Nineteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2021 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities since 1985 • June 5, 2026 • Vol. 41, No. 31 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET
ABCUSD Consolidation Plan Reveals Where Nearly 1,400 Students Will Go After Four Schools Close District maps show Aloha, Juarez, Furgeson and Stowers students redistributed among remaining campuses over two years. By Brian Hews
BOUNDARY CHANGES: ABC Unified’s school consolidation plan would close Aloha and Juarez elementary schools in 2026-27, followed by Furgeson and Stowers in 2027-28. The maps show the progression from current attendance boundaries (top left) to Phase 1 (top right), Phase 1 implementation (bottom left), and the final Phase 2 boundaries (bottom right). Under the plan, approximately 1,400 students would be redistributed among the district’s remaining elementary schools, with Kennedy, Willow, Hawaiian, Cerritos and Palms seeing the largest enrollment increases as ABCUSD responds to declining enrollment district-wide.
Sánchez, Archuleta, and Pulido Advance as SE Los Angeles County Election Results Come Into Focus Commerce voters overwhelmingly approve tax measure while Linda Sánchez clings to a razor-thin 34-vote lead in Congress. By Brian Hews
As ballots continue to be counted following Tuesday’s primary election, voters across Southeast Los Angeles County delivered a mix of incumbent victories, tax measure approvals and several intriguing matchups heading toward November. The highest-profile local contest was the Los Angeles mayoral race, where incumbent Karen Bass finished first with 34.97% of the vote. Television personality Spencer Pratt placed second with 29.91%, while City Councilmember Nithya Raman finished third with 22.81%. Because no candidate received a majority, Bass and Pratt will advance to a November runoff. One of the most closely watched local races was the 67th Assembly District contest, which stretches across portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Republican Paulo Mo-
$80K La Palma Council Chamber Upgrade, But rales finished first overall with Will Anyone Watch? 20,205 votes, while Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido placed second with 14,708 votes. Democrat Ada Briceño finished third with 11,516 votes, followed by Ali Taj with 4,475 votes, Paul Gonzales with 3,085 votes and Republican Adrian Ayub with 3,840 votes. While Morales led the primary, the State Senator numbers sug- Bob Archuleta gest a potentially competitive general election. If Democratic voters largely consolidate behind Pulido and Republican vot- Cerritos Councilman ers rally behind Mark Pulido Morales, the combined primary totals would give Democrats approximately 33,784 votes compared to 24,045
See ELECTIONS, Page 2
By Brian Hews The La Palma City Council is preparing to spend nearly $80,000 on a new audio-visual system designed to livestream meetings, record proceedings, and expand remote public participation. City staff is recommending approval of a top-tier proposal from Fullerton-based Western Audio Visual at a cost of $79,457. The system would include three cameras, new microphones, speakers, display equipment, and a control system capable of professionally broadcasting council meetings. The recommendation comes after the council directed staff in April to explore options for modernizing meeting broadcasts before August. While city officials describe the project as a way to improve transparency and public access, the proposal raises a practical question that was not addressed in the staff report: How many See LA PALMA, Page 6
ABC Unified School District’s long-awaited school consolidation plan is now providing the clearest picture yet of where students will go after four elementary schools close over the next two years. During a June 3 presentation, consultants from MGT unveiled attendance boundary maps showing how students from Aloha, Juarez, Furgeson and Stowers elementary schools will be reassigned as the district continues to address declining enrollment and reconfigure elementary schools. The plan unfolds in two phases, with Aloha and Juarez closing for the 2026-27 school year and Furgeson and Stowers closing one year later in 2027-28. The district’s stated goals were to assign students to the closest possible school, create compact attendance areas, avoid moving students twice, balance enrollment among campuses and keep boundary changes localized around the schools being closed. Phase 1 affects Aloha Elementary and Juarez Elementary. Aloha Elementary’s 402 students would be divided among three nearby schools. Willow Elementary would grow from 418 students to 596, an increase of 178 students. Palms Elementary would increase from 481 students to 618, gaining 137 students. Melbourne Elementary would grow from 434 students to 521, adding 87 students. Juarez Elementary’s 408 students would be distributed among four campuses. Kennedy Elementary would receive the largest share, growing from 346 students to 585 students, an increase of 239 students. Niemes Elementary would increase from 530 to 579 students, Burbank Elementary would grow from 472 to 536 students, and Wittmann Elementary would increase from 267 to 323 students. Phase 2 takes effect in 2027-28 and closes Furgeson Elementary and Stowers Elementary. Furgeson Elementary’s 277 students would be divided between Melbourne and Hawaiian elementary schools. Melbourne would grow from
453 students to 562 students, an increase of 109 students, while Hawaiian Elementary would increase from 299 students to 467 students, gaining 168 students. Stowers Elementary’s 304 students would be redistributed primarily to Cerritos Elementary and Wittmann Elementary. Cerritos Elementary would increase from 298 students to 451 students, gaining 153 students. Wittmann Elementary’s attendance area also expands significantly under the plan, although the presentation did not provide enough information to See ABCUSD, Page 14
LCCN Exclusive
Pico Rivera Scores Court Victory After 150-Person ‘Hotel’ Housing Operation Sparks Legal Battle Court ruling backs Pico Rivera’s enforcement efforts after 150 recuperative-care clients were placed at the Epic Hotel without notification or required approvals. By Brian Hews
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has handed the City of Pico Rivera a significant early victory in its legal battle against operators of a controversial housing operation at the Epic Hotel, a case that has exposed how approximately 150 recuperative-care clients were moved into the city before officials were notified. The dispute centers on the Epic Hotel at 4335 Rosemead Blvd., where Safe Haven Property Management entered into an occupancy agreement on March 27 to house individuals recovering from hospital stays, many of whom were homeless or experiencing housing insecurity. What happened next triggered one of the fastest-moving legal battles in recent Pico Rivera history. Within days, city officials, code enforcement officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and county representatives were inspecting the property. By April, Pico Rivera had filed suit, obtained a temporary restraining order and launched an aggressive legal challenge that ultimately resulted in a preliminary injunction against the operation. At the center of the controversy is an admission from Safe
See HOTEL, Page 6