LOS CERRITOS
Winner of Nineteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2021 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • March 27, 2026 • Vol. 41, No. 21 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET
Commerce, Bell Gardens Declare Fiscal Emergencies, Move Sales Tax Measures to June Ballot Cities move to backfill casino revenue losses, warning of cuts to police, parks, and community services if voters reject new taxes. By Brian Hews
PRESS CONFERENCE: Commerce Councilman Hugo Argumedo speaks as officials from Commerce and Bell Gardens announce fiscal emergencies and June 2 sales tax measures, warning new state cardroom regulations could slash revenue, forcing cuts to police, fire, parks, and community services.
Southeast L.A.’s ‘Big Four’ Cities Unite to Drive Industrial Growth Regional partnership aims to attract major investment, boost jobs, and strengthen Southeast L.A. County’s industrial dominance.
Cerritos Recall Effort Underway Against strategy at a major national in- Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem
dustrial real estate conference, drawing “strong interest” from investors, developers and brokers from across the country. Together, the four cities represent one of the most concentrated industrial corridors in the nation, accounting for more than 217 million square feet of industrial space—about a quarter of Los Angeles County’s total—despite occupying less than 1% of its land area. City leaders say the initiative is designed to highlight the region’s strengths and create a unified, business-friendly approach to attracting new investment, supporting job growth and
By Brian Hews
You’ve seen them, e-bikes, they are everywhere—fast, convenient, and increasingly out of control. From beach paths to neighborhood streets, riders—many of them teenagers—are zipping by at speeds that rival small motorcycles, often
The City of Artesia has been awarded $2 million in grant funding from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District as part of a broader $78 million funding round aimed at expanding and improving parks across the county. The funding, announced March 17, will support construction of the planned Artesia Botanical Garden, a project with a total estimated cost of $9 million. The county grant will cover a portion of the cost, with the remaining funding coming from federal, state, and city
` The political fallout from Cerritos’ controversial water and sewer rate increases is no longer theoretical—it’s now in ink. A recall campaign targeting Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama and Mayor Pro Tem Lynda P. Johnson is actively underway, with signed petitions already circulating throughout the city and published this week in Los Cerritos Community News. The petitions, which include pages of resident names, addresses, and signatures, mark a significant escalation in opposition to the City Council’s approval of sweeping rate increases earlier this year. What began as roughly 6,400 written protests during the Proposition 218 process has now evolved into a coordinated effort to remove two of the city’s top elected officials. And unlike earlier opposition, this time residents are putting their names on the line. The recall documents cite the council’s decision to approve the multi-year water and sewer rate increases despite widespread public opposition. Organizers also point to concerns over spending priorities, including council travel, participation in city-funded international trips, and discretionary expenditures during a period when residents were being asked to absorb higher utility costs. The filings further reference public meeting tensions, including remarks made from the dais characterizing some
See E-BIKES, Page 4
See ARTESIA, Page 5
See RECALL, Page 4
By Brian Hews
Four of the region’s most economically vital cities— Commerce, Industry, Santa Fe Springs and Vernon—are beginning to see early results from a coordinated effort to position Southeast Los Angeles County as a premier destination for industrial investment. Dubbed the “Big Four,” the cities recently previewed a coordinated economic development
See BIG FOUR, Page 4
E-Bike Boom Outpaces Enforcement as Crashes Surge and Rules Go Ignored
Artesia Secures $2 Million Grant for Botanical Garden Project
Riders speed through neighborhoods and sidewalks while police focus on “education,” leaving residents asking: who’s actually enforcing the law?
By Brian Hews
By Brian Hews
The Cities of Commerce and Bell Gardens have declared fiscal emergencies and are moving forward with new sales tax measures on the June 2, 2026 ballot, citing major anticipated revenue losses tied to new state cardroom regulations. Both cities are proposing quarter-cent sales tax increases aimed at stabilizing budgets and protecting core services, including police and fire protection, parks and recreation, libraries, and youth and senior programs. City officials say the urgency stems from regulations approved by Rob Bonta that are expected to significantly impact cardroom operations—long a primary revenue source for both cities. Commerce relies on card-
room table tax revenue for roughly 40 percent of its general fund, while Bell Gardens receives more than $17 million annually from similar sources, representing a substantial portion of its operating budget. The new regulations restrict certain types of games, including blackjack-style and player-dealer formats, which city leaders say are key drivers of local gaming revenue. According to the state’s own economic analysis, the changes could reduce industry jobs and revenue by as much as 50 percent. In response, Commerce has placed the “Essential Services Protection Measure” on the ballot, projected to generate approximately $4.5 million annually. Bell Gardens has placed Measure BG, expected to generate about $1.2 million per year. Officials in both cities warn that without the additional revenue, they may be forced to reduce public safety services, scale back community programs, See TAX, Page 4
Pets Stuck In Legal Limbo as Massive Rescue Case Drags on In Downey
HOLDING AREA: Dogs rescued from a Lake Hughes property remain housed at the Downey Animal Care Center, where many continue to receive care while a court decision determines when—or if—they can be released for adoption. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post.
By Brian Hews Hundreds of dogs and cats rescued from a Lake Hughes property—what officials say could be one of the largest animal seizure cases in the country—remain confined at the Downey Animal Care Center, unable to be adopted as a legal battle over their fate continues to unfold. More than 300 animals were initially believed to be on the property tied to Rock ‘N Pawz Animal Rescue operator Christine De Anda, but officials have since confirmed approximately 250 dogs and 66 cats were removed during the large-scale
operation, which involved dozens of personnel and followed complaints from neighbors about conditions at the site. Authorities allege the animals were kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with many requiring medical attention at the time of the rescue. The investigation remains ongoing, and as of now, no criminal charges have been filed. De Anda has strongly denied the allegations, claiming the animals were properly cared for and disputing the conditions described by authorities. In public statements, she has also suggested some animals may have been injured during the seizure See ANIMALS, Page 4