“Trump put 107% tariff on Winner of Fourteen imported pasta. Apparently, LA Press to the next great danger Club Awards from America is linguine.” 2012- 2017. ~LCCN Publisher Brian Hews
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la miraDa, ca., NovemBer 222025 , 2019 Serving La Mirada and ten other surrounding communities • November 14, • Vol. 69, No. 51 • LMLAMPLIGHTER.COM
CALTRANS REROUTED WITHOUT From Artesia to TRAFFIC Downtown L.A.,INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGAL MOVE WILL COST THE CITY OVER $5 MILLION
SB 79 and the Southeast Gateway Line Could Redraw Neighborhoods
BY BRIAN HEWS
Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News has obtained a letter, dated September 6, 2019, addressed to Caltrans from the city of Cerritos that SB 79the letsstate developers build blasts agency for reroutup to nine storiestraffic near S.E. ing tractor-trailer through Gateway Linetostations— the City due I-5 construction projects. eight, seven, or six farther Shockingly,cities the rerouting out—forcing from was done without notifying the City. Artesia to downtown L.A.
to brace for taller skylines and shrinking local control. By Brian Hews
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 79 into law, ushering in one of the most sweeping land-use changes in state history. The new statute—officially titled the Abundant and Affordable Homes
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.Transit Act—was written to Near Further the letter statescrisis that tackle California’s housing Caltrans in violationhousing of the by forcingishigher-density project’s finaltransit Environmental near public lines. In Impact Report which obligates practical terms, it overrides local the agency to coordinate with citzoning in eight large counties, ies to minimize adversetoimpacts including Los Angeles, allow buildings up to nine stories tall within walking distance of rail or busway stations. Under SB 79, any parcel within a half-mile of a qualifying transit stop will now be eligible for development at heights and densities that local codes may have previously prohibited. The maximums depend on distance and transit type: up to nine stories
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-
ta or Artesia is a city designated truck route, commercial vehicles over 6,000 pounds are strictly prohibited on the streets, per City Municipal Code.” The Caltrans rerouting of trucks has caused severe damage and increased traffic at peak hours, the extensive damage alone is estimated “to cost $5.2 million to repair,” and the “average daily traffic on said streets has significantly increased and
flows onto arterial streets.” The City then cited the numerous safety hazards caused by the rerouting of traffic, concerns that have been voiced by Cerritos residents in calls and emails to both HMG-LCCN and the City. The rerouting on Carmenita takes large trucks by two schools, Stowers Elementary and Carmenita Middle school in addition
See CALTRANS page 14
CHAMPS! ARTESIA WINS CHAMPIONSHIP IN SWEEP
ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD
THE ARTESIA HIGH girls volleyball team celebrates the program’s first CIF-Southern Section divisional championship in school history. The Pioneers swept Schurr High 25-9, 25-12, 27-25 last Saturday night in the Division 8 finals. Seen with the team is ABCUSD Superintendent Gina Zietlow, Board President Ernie Nishii and Lakewood Councilman Jeff Wood and ABC Boardmember Dr. Olga Rios. Full story on page 10
Cerritos’ Steady Sales Growth Highlights [ See HOUSING, page 4 ] Strong Retail Base LCCN Exclusive: By Brian Hews
Legal and Ethical Questions Mount Over Central Basin’s Repeated Brown Act Violations
Cerritos’ sales tax revenues continued to show steady growth in the second quarter of 2025, underscoring the city’s in the boardroom for nearly an economic resilience and strong Brown Act violations hour until Vice President Gary retail base. According to a report continue to plague Mendez arrived at approximatepresented to the Economic Cerritos-based Central ly 9:30 a.m. Only then did the Development Commission on Basin while the D.A. board proceed to conduct busiNovember 12, Cerritos’ taxable looks the other way. ness. sales rose 1.5 percent from the LCCN sent multiple Gardens. emails The City chose Waste Resources TRASH piles up at a condominium complex in Hawaiian same period last year, with By Brian Hews tosaid Central Basin immediately officials seekIncorporated as their new hauler, who they would beginactual trash sales pick up. Photo Brian when Hews. up 0.4 percent ing comment on the incident, adjusted for one-time reporting but none were returned as of factors. The Central Basin Munici- press time. The report, prepared by pal Water District convened a The action violated the Ralph special board meeting at 8:30 M. Brown Act’s open-meeting Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates (HdL), revealed that a.m. last Monday BY BRIAN HEWS in Cerritos requirement, “Poor leadership, no foresight specifically Gov- included several default letters, Cerritos outperformed both Los to discuss the agency’s gener- ernment on the situation, typical 54953 of this which, under California’s Public Code sections Angeles County and statewide al manager position in accumuclosed and While rotting trash is City54955, Council,” former Hawaiian which mandate that Resource Code Section 49000, averages. session according to three all lating inbut, many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez public-agency meeting pro- starts the clock on termination. While theeven county an Gardens, failed MayortoMyra City staff went saw the extra told HMG-LCCN. sources, reachMaravilla a quo- cedures—including acknowloverall decline of 1.1 percent and the City same Council finally told con- edging The the staff report in step and attempted to work with rum. Those sources lack of a included quorum— and California posted a modest ducted a hearing, waiting an enlast week’s meeting presented Los Cerritos Community News must occur openly so the public CWS to cure the breaches and 0.5 percent increase, Cerritos tire week, and allowing the trash clear evidence that CWS was in that the board never announced is informed when a meeting has defaults starting in March of this maintained to accumulate even more, to once not violation of its contract with the year, each ofsolid whichmomentum gave CWS legally convened. the lack of a quorum. Instead, thanks to its diverse mix of auto again discuss terminating CWS’ City, but Mayor and efthe steps to resolve the defaults. Because theMaravilla meeting (appointed and termed-out) dealerships, retail centers, contract. Council were apparently afraid to In addition to the defaultand nofectively began an hour late President Nem Ochoa, (apbusiness Under the Ralph M. Brown pull the termination trigger, leav- tices, theservices. City also attempted to public disclosure, the pointed and and termed-out) Di- without Cerritos relieswith heavily Act, Maravilla the City Couning residents driving by stinky arrange meetings CWS on but rector Moreno, and piles of trash for the foreseeable CWS did not attend most meetcil couldJoanna have sent out a notice Director Garza within remained [ See BROWN ACT, page 7 ] ings.[ See CERRITOS, page 7 ] and held Juan a meeting two future. days to address the situation. The voluminous staff report
TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS
See TRASH page 15
BY THOM MARTIN
action, jumping out of her car
grabbing the boy and helping the Pico Rivera Will Develop Comprehensive The City of Lakewood held woman. its Zero-Emission annual Award of Valor She took them to Artesia Fleetlun-and Infrastructure Plan High
cheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men School, where they received medand women of the Los Angeles emissions ical assistance were ultimateandandtransportation Plan is inSheriff’s compliance County Department and electrification. ly transported to the hospital. with clean FireCalifornia’s Department, as well as the Because of her selfless acThe state mandated that all energy, zero-emission community volunteers who pro- new tions, the City of Lakewood repassenger vehicles sold in fleet, and serve statewide clitect and Lakewood. cently awarded Bridget with the California must be zero-emismateBridget action mandates. Perrizo, a staff mem- Mayor’s Award at the city’s ansion by 2035, and all mediumber at Artesia High was honored nual Awards of Valor ceremony. and heavy-duty vehicles must By Brian when she Hews helped two people that "I always wondered what I meet the same standard by 2045 was being attacked by a dog. would do when faced with a situwhere feasible. Bridget, was headed back to ation like this one," said Perrizo. The California Air ResourcPICO RIVERA — The Pico work from lunch when she spot- "By the grace of God, I had the es Board’s Advanced Clean Rivera City Council, at is Nov. ted a dog attacking a woman and courage to take action. I'm so Fleets (ACF) Regulation 12 meeting, awarded a contract young boy. The dog had knocked glad that both the mom andreson quires public agencies to beginto tothem develop a Zero Emissions to the ground and they were are okay, and I'm so honored vehiVehicle (ZEV) Fleet and Infra- phasing screaming for help. receive in thiszero-emission award.” cles starting in 2024. structure Master Plan. Bridget immediately took HERO pageto15 Pico Rivera’sSee plan aims The proposed nearly $100,000 contract would estab- get ahead of these mandates lish a long-term roadmap for rather than reacting to them. The electrifying the city’s fleet and plan will assess the city’s curinstalling the charging and fu- rent vehicle inventory, identify eling infrastructure necessary to optimal vehicle replacements, evaluate electrical capacity for support it. The City Manager’s re- chargers, and outline the costs port describes the project as a and funding sources to support “strategic roadmap” designed each phase of implementation. The city issued a Request for to transition Pico Rivera’s Proposal in May 2025, won by gas-powered vehicles to cleanICF. ICF ranked first overall, in er, more efficient alternatives scoring and submitting the lowsuch as electric and hydrogen est compliant bid. fuel cell vehicles. The firm will conduct a deThe initiative supports the tailed City Fleet Assessment, city’s 2025 Climate Action and gathering data on fuel use and Adaptation Plan and its Five- duty cycles. Using proprietary Year Strategic Plan, as well as [ See FLEET, 7 ]of California’s state staff-member mandates on Bridget Perrizo ARTESIA HIGH received thepage Award Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack.