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la miraDa, ca., NovemBer 22 , 2019 Serving La Mirada and ten other surrounding communities • March 6, 2026 • Vol. 70, No. 20 • LMLAMPLIGHTER.COM
CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGAL MOVE La WILL COSTApproves THE CITY OVER $5 MILLION Mirada Drone Patrols BY BRIAN HEWS
The City is claiming that the rerouting has caused over $5 million in damage to the streets, increased pollution in the area, increased traffic noise, and increased the safety risk of residents. Further the letter states that Caltrans is in violation of the project’s final Environmental Impact Report which obligates the agency to coordinate with cities to minimize adverse impacts
during the construction period. “Caltrans has failed to coordinate thus far, and any further lack of communication or consultation with the City and its residents is unacceptable.” The City blasted Caltrans for establishing a detour route on southbound Carmenita between the I-5 and Artesia Blvd., and eastbound Artesia Blvd. between Carmenita and the I-5. “Neither stretch of Carmeni-
to Crack Down on Illegal Fireworks flows onto arterial streets.”
ta or Artesia is a city designated truck route, commercial vehicles over 6,000 pounds are strictly By Brian Hews prohibited on the streets, per City Municipal Code.” Caltransto rerouting AThe proposal use droneof trucks has to caused severeillegal damtechnology help track age and increased traffic at peak fireworks has been approved hours, the extensive damage by the City Council in a unanalone 5-0 is estimated “to cost $5.2 imous vote, bringing a new million to repair,” and the “averenforcement tool to the battle age daily on said streets against onetraffic of Southern Calihas significantly increased and fornia’s most persistent summer
The City then cited the nuasmerous the Fourth July and Newby safetyof hazards caused Year’s Eve. of traffic, concerns the rerouting Traditional enforcement that have been voiced by Cerrimethods ofteninstruggle to catch tos residents calls and emails violators in the act. By the time to both HMG-LCCN and the police respond to a complaint, City. fireworks users have The rerouting onfrequently Carmenita stopped or moved to lotakes large trucks by another two schools, cation. Stowers Elementary and CarmeCity officials say drones nita Middle school in addition could help close that gap by providing a real-time aerial perSee CALTRANS page 14 nuisances. spective. According to an adminisUsing thermal cameras and trative report presented to the high-resolution video, drones council, the city will contract can quickly scan neighborhoods with a private drone service and identify the origin point of PICO RIVERA Mayor Gustavo Camacho is joined by Pico Rivera City Councilmembers along with provider to assist with fireworks fireworks launches, allowing ofthe City Manager and City Staff at the Alebrije Dog Park ribbon cutting. Courtesy City of Pico Rivera. enforcement during major holi- ficers on the ground to respond effectively. days when illegal fireworks ac- more BY THOM MARTIN action, jumping out of her car Cities across tivity typically spikes. grabbing the boy andCalifornia helping the have increasingly experimentThe concept is straightforThe City of Lakewood held woman. drone technology for ward: deploy aerial to ed with its annual Award of drones Valor lunShe took them to Artesia High law enforcement and emergenidentify the source of illegal cheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men School, where they received medresponse, fireworks launches, activi- cyical and women of the track Los Angeles assistanceincluding and were searchultimatewill include grinding existing and-rescue operations, accident tyCounty in realSheriff’s time, and help law enDepartment and ly transported to the hospital. By Brian Hews pavement and applying new asand selfless disaster forcement officers as pinpoint Fire Department, well asthe the reconstruction, Because of her acphalt overlays along residential assessment. Fireworks enforceexact location where fireworks community volunteers who pro- tions, the City of Lakewood rement hasawarded emerged as onewith of the Santa Fe Springs officials streets. Crews will also replace By Brian Hews are discharged. tectbeing and serve Lakewood. cently Bridget the newer uses for the technology. are preparing to move forward damaged driveway ramps, curbs Illegal beBridgetfireworks Perrizo, a have staff memMayor’s Award at the city’s anSupporters say drones could with a $6.4 million residential and gutters, cross gutters and Pico Rivera officials this come growing concern across ber ataArtesia High was honored nual Awards of Valor ceremony. help reduce fires, injuries, and street improvement project that sidewalks. The improvements week cut the ribbon on Ale- Los Angeles County when she helped twocommunipeople that "I always wondered what I property damage caused by ilwill resurface roads, upgrade will include new ADA-compli- brije Dog Park, the city’s ties, with residents was being attacked byfrequently a dog. would do when faced with a situlegal fireworks while giving law sidewalks and improve accessi- ant curb ramps and updated traf- first dedicated dog park, loBridget, was headed back to ation like this one," said Perrizo. complaining about loud exploenforcement a safer and more bility features in several neigh- fic control devices designed to cated in the northwest secwork from lunch when she spot- "By the grace of God, I had the improve pedestrian safety and tion of the city near the in- sions, fires, and safety hazards borhoods across the city. ted a dog attacking a woman and See courage to take action. during major holidays such DRONE 12 I'm so , Page The City Council reviewed extend the service life of the tersection of Rosemead Bouyoung boy. The dog had knocked glad that both the mom and son the project during its March 3 roadways. levard and Gallatin Road. them to the ground and they were are okay, and I'm so honored to The total estimated cost of meeting and is expected to auThe new park gives residents screaming for help. receive this award.” thorize city engineers to adver- the project is about $6.4 million. and their four-legged companBridget immediately took TRASH piles up at bids a condominium complex in work Hawaiian Gardens. The City chose Waste Resources is expected tise for construction for the Construction See HERO page 15 ions a place to gather, exerIncorporated as their new hauler, who said they would immediately begin trash pick up. Photo Brian Hews. to account for roughly $5.55 work, which will become part of cise, and socialize while also the city’s Capital Improvement million of the total, with the re- creating a potential economic tions and technical evaluation of Program. boost for nearby businesses. By Brian Hews the facilities. Although only two City staff said the project See STREETS Page 5 City leaders and community of the projects are located within members attended the opening Lakewood officials are pre- Lakewood, the contract would celebration, marking the comBY BRIAN HEWS “Poor leadership, no foresight included several default letters, paring to hire a specialized con- cover a total of five stormwater pletion of a project made poson the situation, typical of this which, under California’s Public tractor to help operate and main- capture sites operating across sible through a $1 million grant While rotting trash is accumu- City Council,” former Hawaiian Resource Code Section 49000, tain stormwater capture systems several Southeast Los Angeles from the California Natural Relating in many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez starts the clock on termination. sources Agency combined with Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla wide told HMG-LCCN. City staff even went extra wildlife sensation thanks about $1.5 million in citythefundBy andLaurie the CityHanson Council finally con- to a The staff report included in step and attempted to work livestream camera that aling using federal pandemic with reducted a hearing, waiting an en- lows last viewers week’s meeting presented CWS to cure theinto breaches and to watch the nest lief dollars placed the city’s tire week, and allowing the trash around clear evidence that CWS was in defaults starting in March of this the clock. capital improvement program. By now the world knows to accumulate even more, to once violation of its contract with the year, each of with whichcommunity gave CWS The Friends of Big Bear Designed about the famous bald eagle again discuss terminating CWS’ Valley City, but Mayor Maravilla and the steps to resolve the defaults. (FOBBV) closely input, the park includes walking pair Jackie and Shadow, who contract. Council were apparently afraid to and Injogging additionpaths, to the hydration default noUnder the Ralph M. Brown pull the termination trigger, leav- stations tices, thefor City also attempted pets and owners,to Act, Maravilla and the City Coun- ing residents driving by stinky dog arrange meetings CWSelebut challenge andwith obstacle cil could have sent out a notice piles of trash for the foreseeable ments, CWS did not attend most meetand seating areas with inand held a meeting within two future. ings. ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award of terpretive exhibits. Natural play days to address the situation. The voluminous staff report areas were also incorporated to Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. See TRASH page 15 create a comfortable environment for dogs and their owners. The park features a colorful “alebrije” theme inspired by traditional Mexican folk art known THE STORMWATER capture system installed at Mayfair Park for imaginative animal forms. in Lakewood. The facility is part of a multi-city stormwater The name reflects both the city’s management network now under review for long-term operations cultural heritage and the park’s and maintenance. BALD EAGLES Jackie and Shadow stand over two newly laid eggs focus on animals and nature. in their Big Bear Valley nest, expected eaglets come later this spring. The word “alebrije” comes County cities as part of a regional from a famous form of Mexican located at Mayfair Park and watershed management program. monitors the pair, their breedfolk art that originated in the Bolivar Park, part of a regional reside in Big Bear Valley. The The Lakewood systems caping cycle and the expected 1930s with artisan Pedro Lin- network of projects designed to ture rainwater runoff during well-known pair is once again arrival of their offspring. The ares in Mexico City. According reduce pollution and recharge storms, filter pollutants and in the spotlight after laying nonprofit began as Friends to the widely told story, Lin- local groundwater supplies. allow water to soak back into a second egg in what is their The City Council is reviewof Fawnskin in 2001 and exares fell gravely ill and during second clutch of the season. ing proposals from engineering the ground rather than flowing The pair has become a worldfirms that would oversee opera- See WATER, Page 3 See HATCHLINGS Page 8 See DOG PARK Page 12 Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News has obtained a letter, dated September 6, 2019, addressed to Caltrans from the city of Cerritos that blasts the state agency for rerouting tractor-trailer traffic through the City due to I-5 construction projects. Shockingly, the rerouting was done without notifying the City.
ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD
Santa Fe Springs Moves Forward on $6.4M Residential Street Improvement Project
Pico Rivera Opens ‘Alebrije’ Dog Park
Lakewood Weighs Regional Stormwater Maintenance Contract for Mayfair and Bolivar Parks
TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS Big Bear’s Jackie and Shadow Lay New Eggs as World Watches Nest