October 16, 2020 Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News eNewspaper

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LOS CERRITOS

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

LOS CERRITOS Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • October 16, 2020 • Vol 35, No. 9 • loscerritosnews.net

Financial Revelations Stop Further Credit HMG EXCLUSIVE Downgrades for CENTRAL Central BasinBASIN MANAGER PAYING Moody's sets criteria for EMPLOYEES the AGENCY agency to seek future credit upgrades. WITHOUT APPROVAL

La Mirada Teacher Wins $50,000 for Teaching Excellence

LAST WEEK! Win a $100 Eureka Burger MAN ATTACKED Gift Card! See page 16

DEPUTIES WITH APPROVES CERRITOS TRIPLETS HELP THE HOMELESS DURING COVID WRD KNIFE AT CERRITOS CONSTRUCTION OF SHERIFF’S STATION

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MONITORING WELL BY BRIAN HEWS IN CERRITOS Last Tuesday at around 5:35 p.m.,

31-year-old Cerritos resident Eli Nico-

BYlas BRIAN HEWS entered the Cerritos Sheriff’s station

BY BRIAN HEWS

and calmly walked over to the sheriff’s Lakewood~The Water Replenishment side of the station to talk to the on-duty District (WRD) is embarking on a projdeputy who was behind the security ect to construct two new wells as part of counter. WRD’s Regional Groundwater Monitored that recently hired Central Basin (CB) La Mirada High School with Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe in a 2019 picture. According to witnesses, Nicolas made ing Program (RGWMP). General Manager Alex Rojas found that aOne fewwell irrational comments and then would be in Paramount in theanBY BRIAN HEWSof Finance Andrew former CB Director grily exited the station lobby, walking by other well will be in Cerritos. Hamilton’s budget had underreported CB BY TAMMYE MCDUFF $15,000 for him personally. He joins 14 another deputy entering the station who In a phone call WRD President Vera Group-Los Cerritos revenueHews by aMedia $1.5 million and overstated other prize winners, who each received Robles noticed Nicolas upset. DeWitt told was HMG that the wells Community News has learned that expenses by $700,000. Moments later, Nicolas entered the Brent Tuttle, a welding teacher from $50,000, and three Grand Prize winners, will be in Progress Park and Cerritos Park Central Basin Finance Director Andrew Hamilton did considerable damage be- La Mirada High School has been named East. station lobby again armed with a large who each received $100,000 as part of Hamilton has been issuing paychecks to KITS FOR HOMELESS: Cerritos residents Josiah, Jacob and Jared Joseph with LAFD Because knife groundwater, water contained foreCentral he wasBasin released in August, serrated and a pair of brass knuckwinner as part of theCOVID 2020 Harbor the annual employees despitecommuthe fact a ofďŹ cials display their Kits for the Homeless. Theyprize. were inspired by paramedic in deep underground aquifers, cannot les. Tools Awards for teaching excelyear Perez, has been one ofveteran, the that the board has not passed a 2020-’21 Freight Jose Perez and his actions helping the homeless. “This FireďŹ ghter a 16-year See CENTRAL BASIN page 7 lence. be directly observed; WRD track page it 15 for skilled Seemust SHERIFF'S budget. recently died after contracting COVID. Phototoughest courtesyon of record the Joseph family.trades through deep wells and specialized moniTuttle, who teaches welding at La teachers as they switch between inThe budget stalemate is due to Directoring equipment. tors John Oskoui and Bob Apodaca; they Mirada High School in La Mirada, will person, remote or blended learning, all BY TAMMYE MCDUFF teens how to develop a business plan, are defying a court decision from last while trying to do their life’s work of receive $50,000, including $35,000 for See WRD page 14 learn critical thinking skills and learn week deliberately not attending special the school’s skilled trades program and

Finance Director Andrew Earlier thisrefuses month,to Hews Hamilton submitMedia Group-Cerritos News exclusively report- HARBOR FREIGHT Tools for Schools winner Brent Tuttle (r), welding teacher at ďŹ nancial reports for scrutiny.

Dirty Politics meetings called to approve the Marboard Council Race budget. In addition, the actual amount of payin roll Hawaiian has not beenGardens approved as an item on

the consent calendar during regular board

andMCDUFF Hamilton is not submitting BY meetings, TAMMYE

Artesia Mayor Josiah, Jacob and Jared Joseph what it takes to be your own boss. Instead See TUTTLEpage 11 Ali Sajjad Taj Elected are making their mark. As part of the of baking cupcakes or creating shirts, the PROP 17 WOULD curriculum for Los Angeles Urban League Joseph brothers took it to a whole new 2020 Online BizReceives Camp, these young level. After holdingfor a family meeting they League of California Norwalk HelenmenPutnam Award Excellence had to turn an idea into a business. decided to give back to the community and ALLOW PAROLEES Partnering with the Network for develop CoVID Kits for the homeless. Cities Vice President Teaching Entrepreneurship, Biz Camp is Initially the project was made possible INTO THE BALLOT

See $&/53"- #"4*/ page See TRIPLETS page 12 Hews Media 12 a four week summer program that teaches BY BRIAN HEWS Group-Cerritos News has The League of California Cities Board learned that, of Directors elected Artesia Mayor Ali consistent with Sajjad Taj to serve as the organization’s BY2020-21 BALA THENAPPEN past Hawaiian second vice president. Taj was Gardens City installed on Oct. 9 as part of the League’s This November’s ballot will feature Council elecvirtual Annual Conference & Expo. proposition 17, which would allow tions, a group is “I am honored to join the League Californians on parole for a felony conrunning around of California Cities esteemed leadership viction to vote. Currently, felons must the city stealing team,â€? said Mayor Taj. “I look forward complete their prison sentence and their or defacing certo working collaboratively alongside the tain candidates THE CREW at the Youth Center who created a film called "We Have Project" thatparole sentence to vote. Could parolees League officers, board of directors, mempolitical signs provided youth with positive mentorship and resources to deal with a variety of issues.swing elections in the state’s most combership, and League staff to help shape petitive districts? while leaving the resources the League provides The term “paroleesâ€? applies to peo- to city One of many defaced others alone. BY TAMMYE MCDUFF that our community faces every single leaders who are committed to serving ple who are allowed back into the comRodriguez signs with the There are day,â€? said Mayor Jennifer Perez. their communities.â€? munity from prison before their prison Farfan signs right below also allegations The City of Norwalk was recognized The City won the League of Califor-sentence is scheduled to be completed, Taj was first elected to the Artesia the sign unscathed. of illegal camwith the 2020 Helen Putnam Award for nia Cities 2020 Helen Putnam Award inas long as they follow certain guidelines City Council in December 2013, served paign contribuExcellence for the innovative ‘We Have the category of Health and Wellness Pro-and reporting requirements. Roughly as mayor December 2016-17, and curtions and ballot harvesting. Project’ video created by Norwalk Teen grams. Staff at the teen center recognized52,000 Californians are expected to be rently serves as mayor for the 2019-20 Former Mayor and candidate ReynalCenter Staff. The video provides local a need to provide local youth with positiveon parole in 2021. Throughout his tenure on the city do “Reyâ€? Rodriquez contacted HMG-CN youth with positive mentorship and re- mentorship and access to resources after term. CaliforniaTaj parolees shouldhis be time expectcouncil, focused and enwith details, “We were out placing flyers sources to deal with a variety of issues, noticing a steady incline in the numbered to lean left ashas a voting bloc. In 2007, ergy on improving day-to-day quality and door hangers when we came across includingCity bullying and peer of local teensgovernment besieged and withgives bullying, mentalFlorida gave 150,000 ex-felons who had of ALL ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRIDE: Hall SelďŹ e Daypressure. is a celebration of employees life issues for Artesia residents by supour and campaign signs. The signs had graffiti commend staff issueswhile and other challenges. residents the opportunity to get out in their “We community and our show off for theirtheir bestdedicamera health phone skills showcasing their local been convicted for less serious offenses cation and initiative to address the needs government pictures must StoryCENTER on page 9. 12 TAJ page Seebuildings. HAWAIIANThe GARDENS page 12 be posted to social media using hashtag #cityhallselďŹ e to enter the contest. See YOUTH page See PROP See 17 page 4 12

FIFTH ANNUAL CITY HALL SELFIE DAY COMING FRIDAY AUGUST 14

BOX. HOW WOULD THEY VOTE?

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October 16, 2020 Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News eNewspaper by hewsmediagroup - Issuu