HEWS MEDIA GROUP
"A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes they have the biggest piece." Ludwig Erhard
Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2018.
Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • October 29, 2021 • Vol. 36, No. 1 • loscerritosnews.net
Artesia City Manager Resigns, Receives $244,000 Severance, $420,000 Total Several managers accused City Manager Bill Rawlings of verbal harassment, the issue came to light and and he resigned. By Brian Hews
PERMITS ISSUED FOR HAWAIIAN GARDENS HOTEL THE HOLIDAY IN AND EXPRESS will be located at Norwalk and 226th and will be over 42,000 square feet, have 71 rooms, 64 parking spaces, 53 feet tall, and boast a bar and a lounge. By Brian Hews Hawaiian 1311, LLC recently pulled construction permits valued at over $6.8 million, generating over $390,000 in fees to the city for the upcoming Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Hawaiian Gardens. The project involves the construction of a four-story, 42,164square-foot, 71-unit hotel with 64 parking spaces on the vacant 1.25-acre lot located at 22434 Norwalk Blvd., at the intersection of 226th and Norwalk. According to documents, the project would have a maximum height of 53 feet with a first-floor lobby area consisting
of guest rooms, a meeting room, offices, a bar and lounge, fitness room, business center, kitchen and breakfast area, and an outdoor pool and patio area. The second, third, and fourth floors would primarily consist of guest rooms and ancillary storage areas. Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Luis Roa told HMG-CN, “the green property was vacant for many years. We hope that with a modern-looking Holiday Inn guests will be greeted with a fresh image of Hawaiian Gardens as they are heading northbound on Norwalk Blvd from Long Beach and Los Alamitos.
See HOLIDAY INN page 12
Talk to the Other Side: Couple Appearing at Bellflower Club Apparently Have the Power By Tammye McDuff Have you ever wanted to speak to someone that has passed away, crossed the veil and left you without closure? Now is your chance. T h e StandUp Comedy Marti & Michael Parry Club in Bellflower will present Marti & Michael Parry Live, a Mediumship and Psychic Art Demonstration.
The Parry’s are a dynamic husband and wife team that investigate the ‘other side’. The duo work together; Michael channels messages directly from friends and relatives that have passed on while Marti, a psychic artist, independently draws detailed recognizable portraits of people in spirit to further prove the existence of life after death. Through extreme and uncanny details, the information that comes through leaves no room for doubt that departed loved ones are watching over us and
See OTHER SIDE page 12
Lakewood Will Hold Public Hearings for District Elections By Tammye McDuff Beginning in 2022, Lakewood City Council Members will be elected based on district, each one representing a portion of the city, instead of having each council member elected by the entire city as is the current practice in Lakewood. The California Voting Rights Act [CVRA] strongly encourages cities to create district
See LAKEWOOD page 12
HMG-CN learned this past Wednesday that Artesia City Manager Bill Rawlings resigned and that the separation was "amicable." No further comment came from the city given that it is now a personnel matter. His resignation comes after several managers and employees complained about Rawlings treatment of them. HMG-CN was told of the story months ago but could not get confirmation of the kind or level of harassment from city officials. Sources tell HMG-CN that Melissa Burke will take over as temporary City Manager and that the city will begin a search for a permanent manager in the coming weeks. The Separation Agreement, obtained Wednesday, shows that Rawlings, received a $244,000 severance along with vacation and sick leave totaling over $178,000 for a total hit to city coffers of nearly $420,000. The city will also pay Rawling's health costs for 10.5
months, unless he is employed before that. Typically health insurance is upwards of $1,000 per month, costing the city an additional $10,000 if Rawlings does not find another job. The agreement indicated that the city and Rawlings agreed to resolve all existing and future disputes, arising from Rawling's employment. Standard in a separation agreement is the statement that the parties acknowledge that there has been no admission of any wrongdoing, fault, violation of law, or liability of any kind on the part of either the city or Rawlings and that the agreement cannot be used in future lawsuits. Some of the wording strongly indicated the city is bracing for employee lawsuits. Rawlings is not separating completely with the agreement stipulating that he will use his “best efforts” to cooperate and participate in any personnel investigations that were ongoing before the Separation Date and help in any current or future lawsuits against the city that involve Rawlings. He also agreed to participate in any trials, and all elements within a trial including discovery, depositions, etc., without compensation.
TRIBUTE TO LINE COACH WHO PASSED AWAY THE CERRITOS HIGH football team poses for a group photo following a victory last Thursday night against John Glenn High. Several members were showing a “W” with their hands in honor of offensive linecoach Webster Peters who passed away earlier in the week due to a heart attack. See page 4.