Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012- 2017.
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CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGALHMG-CN MOVE EXPOSÉWILL COST THE CITY OVER $5 MILLION THE MEGATAXERS ta or Artesia is Unified a city designated onto arterial streets.”in BY BRIAN HEWS The City is claiming that the during the construction period. Pasadena FollowsflowsOther Districts The City then cited the nurerouting has caused over $5 “Caltrans has failed to coor- truck route, commercial vehicles 6,000 pounds strictly merous safety hazards caused Hews Media Group-Los Cer- million in damage to the streets, dinate thus far, and any further over Passing BondsareThat Violate Government Codeby 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-
GARDENS CASINO HOLDS FREE COVID SHOT EVENT THE GARDENS CASINO in Hawaiian Gardens held two free Covid vaccine events at the casino on September 3 and September 10. Over 100 people showed to get their first vaccine. This is another in a number of events the casino has held since the pandemic started, including free food events.
Pico Rivera Man Arrested in Wide-Ranging State Officials Look Copyright Infringement Scheme at Expanding and merchant processors in an Outdoor Dining BY BRIAN HEWS effort to obtain merchant pro-
City Municipal Code.” Caltrans rerouting of TheThe PUSD Board holds trucks has caused severe damquick & passes age andmeetings, increased traffic at peak questionable resolutions hours, the extensive damage that omit crucial“to cost $5.2 alone is estimated million to repair,” and the “averinformation to voters. age daily traffic on said streets has significantly increased and BY BRIAN HEWS AND THE IRISHMAN
that have been voiced by CerriSanresidents Francisco Unified School tos in calls and emails District not only passed Proposito both HMG-LCCN and the tion A for the authority to issue City. $744 in on public school Themillion rerouting Carmenita bonds, the Board also placed takes large trucks by two schools, Proposition N on the ballot to alStowers Elementary and Carmelow non-citizen voting in school nita Middle school in addition board elections. The proposition allowed See CALTRANS pagepar14 ents, legal guardians, and caretakers of children to vote in school board elections and bond elections. Professor Keith Shirey provided profound insight, “Plato’s greatest of lessons is that viraction, out itofcannot her car tue mustjumping be caught, be grabbing the boy and helping the woman. See MEGATAXERS page 12 She took them to Artesia High School, where they received medical assistance and were ultimately transported to the hospital. Because of her selfless actions, the City of Lakewood recently awarded Bridget with the Mayor’s Award at the city’s anBY BRIAN nual Awards HEWS of Valor ceremony. "I always wondered what I At do their Tuesday the would when facedmeeting, with a situLakewood Cityone," Council ation like this saidapproved Perrizo. a plan spending $11 million "By thefor grace of God, I had the in federaltofunds Lakewood is courage takethat action. I'm so receiving from the the American glad that both mom and Resson cue okay, Plan Act. The so federal ARPA are and I'm honored to was signed into law earlier this receive this award.” year, with funds now flowing to See HERO page 15 local communities. The $1.9 trillion dollar federal bill includes financial relief to families earning under $150,000 a year; childcare assistance; aid to schools; and public health activities. But a portion of the bill also
HMG-CN’s exposé has outARTESIA HIGH STAFF-MEMBER RECEIVES lined the malfeasance of the Megataxers and their school OF VALOR board AWARD allies in passing bonds; FROM LAKEWOOD
we have outlined the corruption BY THOMUnified’s MARTIN in Bassett $50 million bond, with a cost to taxpayers The million; City of Citrus Lakewood held of $96 College’s its annual Award of Valor lun$298 million, bond with a cost of cheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men half billion; Duarte Unified’s $79 and women theaLos million bond,ofwith costAngeles of $148 County Sheriff’s Department and million; Inglewood Unified's Fire Department, as well as $240 million bond, with a costthe of community volunteers who pronearly half billion. tect and Weserve haveLakewood. revealed school Bridget Perrizo,using a staff illegal memboard members ber at Artesia High was honored processes to approve bonds, when she helped by twotheir people that rubber-stamped chosen was being attacked by a dog. law firms; found violations of the Bridget, was headed to State’s Education Code;back found work from lunch when she spotDistrict official opening political ted a dog attacking a woman and committees acting as Controlling young boy. The dog had knocked Officeholder and Treasurers; and them to the ground and they were exposed blatant conflicts of interscreaming for help. est between firms donating large Bridget took sums of cashimmediately to the bond committee, and then landing lucrative contacts for construction after the bond passes. Now we look into Pasadena Unified, but first, some background. Ever play checkers? In 2016,
Lakewood Council Approves Use of Rescue Funds
A Pico Rivera man and two cessing accounts. The defendants others were charged with crimes allegedly earned more than $30 State Legislators discuss changes to state law to arising out of a wide-ranging and million from the scheme. “We take seriously schemes support allow for more lucrative copyright infringement for profit that infringe upon copy- outdoor dining scheme. Jesse Gonzales, 42, of Pico rights,” said Assistant Attorney Rivera and two others operated General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of BY BRIAN HEWS a large-scale cable theft scheme the Justice Department’s Crimibetween at least March 2016 and nal Division. “The charges anThis week, as small restauat least November 2019, in which nounced today demonstrate the rants across California struggle they fraudulently obtained cable department’s continuing committo remain open, Assemblymemtelevision accounts and then re- ment to protect copyright holders ber Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland sold copyrighted content to thou- from theft.” Hills) and Senator Scott Wiener TRASH piles own up at a condominium complex in Hawaiian Gardens. “All income is taxable, in- The City chose Waste Resources sands of their subscribers. Francisco) a virtual Incorporated their hauler, whocluding said they wouldderived immediately begin (D-San trash pick up. Photoheld Brian Hews. Accordingasto thenew indictment, income from ilpress conference to discuss legthe defendants also made fraudu- legal means,” said Acting Special islative efforts to expand outdoor lent misrepresentations to banks See PICO page 13 dining and provide much-needed relief to struggling neighborhood restaurants. The legislators, who authored BY BRIAN HEWS “Poor leadership, no foresight included several default letters, Assembly Bill (AB) and on the situation, typical of this which, under California’s61Public See LAKEWOOD page 13 Senate Bill (SB) 314 to expand While rotting trash is accumu- City Council,” former Hawaiian Resource Code Section 49000, outdoor diningon options across lating in many parts of Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez starts the clock termination. California, were joined by Gardens, Mayor Myra Maravilla told HMG-LCCN. City staff even went the small extra business owners and advocates and the City Council finally conThe staff report included in step and attempted to work with from across thethe state. ducted a hearing, waiting an en- last week’s meeting presented CWS to cure breaches and Bothstarting bills have tire week, and allowing the trash clear evidence that CWS was in defaults inpassed Marchthrough of this the State Legislature to accumulate even more, to once violation of its contract with the year, each of which with gave strong CWS bipartisan support and are curagain discuss terminating CWS’ City, but Mayor Maravilla and the steps to resolve the defaults. awaitingtoaction on Govercontract. In addition the default noCouncil were apparently afraid to rently nor Newsom’s desk. Both include Under the Ralph M. Brown pull the termination trigger, leav- tices, the City also attempted to an urgency clause, meaning the Act, Maravilla and the City Coun- ing residents driving by stinky arrange meetings with CWS but measures go intomost effect imcil could have sent out a notice piles of trash for the foreseeable CWS did will not attend meetmediately upon signature by the ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award of and held a meeting within two future. ings. Governor. days to address the situation. The voluminous staff report Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack. “Neighborhood restaurants THIS WOMAN was seen stealing Cerritos News papers last Friday in See TRASH page 15 LANDSCAPE RENOVATION PROJECT ribbon cutting at Shadow Park. Regardless of you views of the Cerritos News, it is still are the backbone of communities NLMUSD's Benton Middle School to mark the official completion petty theft. If you recognize the woman you can email anonymously across California, but too many of the project. Attending were NLM Board members, Superintendent to editor@cerritosnews.net. See DINING page 13 Lopez, NLM staff, and Benton staff, including Principal Ben Webster.
TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS Stealing Cerritos Newspapers
DINE Latino Specials Until Sunday
Pico Rivera Councilman Gustavo Camacho at kickoff event in Pico Rivera this past Tuesday, 150 restaurants are participating. Page 3.
Cerritos' GEN Korean BBQ Going Strong
Carnivores delight with the Beef Belly short plate and Beef Bulgogi-thinly sliced marinated sweet and savory beef. Page 4.
La Mirada Takes on Mater Dei La Mirada 'makes memories' despite being outmatched by nation’s number one team, losing 58-7. Page 10.