September 24, 2021 La Mirada Lamplighter eNewspaper

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Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012- 2017.

WWW.LMLAMPLIGHTER.COM 6 DELIVERED TO 10,000 HOMES EVERY WEEK LA surrounding MIRADA, CA., NOVEMBER 22 , 2019 communities • September 24, 2021 • lmlamplighter.com elivered to omes very eek Serving La Mirada and ten other

CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGALFreedom MOVE WILL COST THE of Information Act CITY OVER $5 MILLION Documents Centralflows Basin Directors ta or Artesia is a Show city designated onto arterial streets.” BY BRIAN HEWS The City is claiming that the during the construction period. The City then cited the nurerouting has caused over $5 “Caltrans has failed to coor- truck route, commercial vehicles merous safety hazards caused by 6,000 pounds are strictly& Harassing Hews Media Group-Los Cer- million in damage to the streets, dinate thus far, and any further over Attempting Extortion Employees ritos Community News has ob- increased pollution in the area, lack of communication or con- prohibited on the streets, per the rerouting of traffic, concerns tained 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.

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

sultation 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-

LASD CAR SHOW AT CERRITOS CIVIC CENTER MONEY FOR AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS: A menagerie of hot rods and motorcycles rolled into the Cerritos Civic Center for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s annual car show this past Saturday. Co-organizer retired LASD Sergeant Scott Graham stated, “With all the negative things going on in law enforcement the past couple of years, this car show is just one way to put a positive spin on the department."

'Duplex Law' Signed by Gov. Newsom BY BRIAN HEWS

5th Annual LASD Motors Car Show

movement of cities across California and the country to rethink Gov. Newsom signed two traditional single-family neighcontroversial bills this week, borhoods to tackle high housing both heavily lobbied by home- costs. builder groups, both meant to City zoning laws regulate BY TAMMYE MCDUFF ease the housing crisis in Cali- what can be built where. There A menagerie of hot rods and fornia. are a number of zones, the most motorcycles rolled into the CerThe first, Senate Bill 9, familiar are residential and commakes it possible to build du- mercial. Mixed-use zoning — ritos Civic Center for the Los plexes, or higher, on a lot meant such as the complex across from Angeles County Sheriff’s Defor a single-family house. Mainpalce Mall in Santa Ana, partment’s annual car show this The second, SB 10, allows ground-floor retail businesses past Saturday. Co-organizer retired LASD those near public transit corri- and residential units in the highSergeant Scott Graham stated, dors, such as bus and train lines, rise above. “With all the Waste negative things to build up to four on one Single-family zoningGardens. refers The City chose TRASH piles up atunits a condominium complex in Hawaiian Resources going on in law enforcement lot. a residential where only Incorporated as their new hauler, whotosaid they wouldarea immediately begin trash pick up. Photo Brian Hews. the past couple of years, this There is an already growing See HOUSING page 12 car show is just one way to put a positive spin on the department”. The LASD Motorsports 5th Annual Car Showdefault was held SepBY BRIAN HEWS “Poor leadership, no foresight included several letters, tember under 18, 2021 from 9:00Public a.m. on the situation, typical of this which, California’s While rotting trash is accumu- City Council,” former Hawaiian Resource Code Section 49000, to 2:00 p.m. at the LASD’s Cerlating in many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez starts the clocklocated on termination. ritos Station, on 18135 Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla told HMG-LCCN. City staff even went the extra Bloomfield Avenue. and the City Council finally conThe staff report included in stepThis and is attempted work the first to year thatwith the ducted a hearing, waiting an en- last week’s meeting presented CWS to cure the breaches and car show has included motorcytire week, and allowing the trash clear evidence that CWS was in defaults March of was this cles, but starting the star in of the show to accumulate even more, to once violation of its contract with the year, each of which gave CWS the refurbished 101-year-old La again discuss terminating CWS’ City, but Mayor Maravilla and the steps to resolve the defaults. Bestioni from New Jersey. contract. In addition to default noCouncil were apparently afraid to This vehicle istheone of eight Under the Ralph M. Brown pull the termination trigger, leav- tices, the City also attempted to in a series of bigger-than-lifeAct, Maravilla and the City Coun- ing residents driving by stinky arrange meetings with CWS but chain drive race cars that were cil could have sent out a notice piles of trash for the foreseeable CWS did not attend most meetseen on the race tracks in AmerPhoto by Brian Hews and held a meeting within two future. ings. ica and Europe at the turn of days to address the situation. SMILE! Employees of US Clean take aThe break to mug forstaff the HMGvoluminous report the century, a salute to the See TRASH pagefire 15 CN camera. The time was around 1 pm, and already over 500 cars breathing monsters that haunted had dropped off items. The well organized roundup was at Artesia the roads and tracks in some of Park with protective material taped on the ground. Residents pulled See CAR SHOW page 12 up, popped the trunk, and the employees took the waste.

that have been voiced by CerriCamacho-Rodriguez, documenttos residents in calls and emails ing a shocking pattern harassto both HMG-LCCN ofand the ment City. so harsh that employees fearThe for rerouting their safety endure on and Carmenita constant threats and intimidatakes large trucks by two schools, tion. Stowers Elementary and Carmethreats and intimidation nitaThe Middle school in addition have carried over to some CB staff homes;Seepictures CALTRANSobtained page 14 from sources by HMG-CN Leticia Vasquez-Wilson was show by Vasquez-Wilson and elected to the Central Basin Camacho-Rodriguez associates Board (CB) in 2012, taking her Rodolfo Cortes Barragan and seat in January 2013. Since then, Downey’s Juan Joey Martinez she has committed several ques- harassing employees at CB staff tionable acts; some call them residences. BY THOM MARTIN her car gross malfeasance, her latest act action, Not jumping satisfied out withofintimidatgrabbing the boy and helping the shooting a video calling the city See CENTRAL BASIN page 13 The City of Lakewood held woman. of Downey’s water undrinkable, its annual Award of Valor lunShe took them to Artesia High which triggered a lawsuit against cheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men School, where they received medthe Commerce-based agency. and women of the Los Angeles ical assistance and were ultimateSince being elected in 2018, County Sheriff’s Department and ly transported to the hospital. Martha Camacho-Rodriguez has Fire Department, as well as the Because of her selfless acglommed onto Vasquez and becommunity volunteers who pro- tions, the City of Lakewood recome her ally. The two are now tect and serve Lakewood. cently awarded Bridget with the in aBridget minorityPerrizo, position on the CB Mayor’s Award at the city’s ana staff memBoard and haveHigh become ber at Artesia was increashonored BY nualBRIAN Awards HEWS of Valor ceremony. ingly more abusive to staff. that when she helped two people "I always wondered what I no attacked one knewbythe level of would Thedo Eco-Rapid Transit wasBut being a dog. when faced with Board a situabuse the twowas have been back hurling Directors completed review Bridget, headed to of ation like this one," saiditsPerrizo. on staff; thatlunch is until now. West Santa work from when she spot- of "Bythe theMetro grace Draft of God, I had the Media Group-Cerritos Branch Environmental ted Hews a dog attacking a woman and Ana courage to take action. I'mImso News viaknocked a pub- pact andmom unanimously young has boy. obtained, The dog had glad Statement that both the and son lic request, themrecords to the ground anddisturbing they were voted are okay, and I'm"Alternative so honored1," to to support emails between screaming for help.long-time CB the receive this award.” one-seat ride to Union StastaffBridget and Vasquez-Wilson and tion. immediately took See HERO page 15 The Board of Directors also recommended inclusion of a station in Little Tokyo as this station provides access to Downtown destinations, the Metro Regional Connector and offers the ability to transfer to destinations in East Los Angeles and BY VINCENT MEDINA eventually Whittier. Board Chair and Artesia City The Cerritos College Board Councilmember Ali Sajjad Taj of Trustees proposed revisions stated, "This is an important step to the vaccine mandate policy in the process of bringing this during their meeting on Sept. important rail line to our com15, 2021, attempting to compro- munities." mise on the best way to impleFor 20 years, the Eco-Rapid ment the COVID-19 vaccine Transit Joint Powers Authormandate during their meeting. ity have been working together Trustees disagreed about the to bring rail transit to Southeast best course of action and reLos Angeles. This $9.8 billion ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award of ceived backlash for the mandate 19.4 mile light rail line would Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. from the community. connect communities from ArtePresident Jose Fierro sia to Downtown Los Angeles. explained how the vaccine manNow it is becoming closer to

City Municipal Code.” The Caltrans rerouting of THE HMG-CN exclusive trucks has caused severe damdocuments showtraffic Leticia age and increased at peak Vasquez and Martha hours, the extensive damage Camacho using associates alone is estimated “to cost $5.2 million to repair,” and the “averto harass employees. age daily traffic on said streets has significantly increased and BY BRIAN HEWS

ARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD OF VALOR FROM LAKEWOOD

Lite Rail Board Votes for Artesia to Paramount Line

College Trustees TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS Approve Vaccine Artesia Waste Roundup Draws Over 500 Cars Mandate

Big Jack Back at the Citadel

16 feet tall, spanning 15 feet in diameter and weighing 1,500 pounds Jack is waiting for picture-takers. Page 4.

Cerritos Pool Opens September 26

See CERRITOS COLLEGE page 12

After major renovation on the pool and its equipment, the pool will open Sunday. Page 6.

See LITE RAIL page 12

Norwalk Takes the Mayor's Cup 51-7 win was the first time since 2017 that the Lancers had won the Mayor’s Cup over John Glenn. Page 10.


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