October 2, 2020 Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos Community News eNewspaper

Page 1

LOS CERRITOS

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

LOS CERRITOS Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • October 2, 2020 • Vol 35, No. 8 • loscerritosnews.net

HMG-CN EXCLUSIVE

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

MARIO BELTRAN EXTORTED MARIJUANA BUSINESSES IN COMMERCE, CITY OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED 4FSWJOH $FSSJUPT BOE UFO PUIFS TVSSPVOEJOH DPNNVOJUJFT t "VHVTU t 7PM /P t MPTDFSSJUPTOFXT OFU

CERRITOS TRIPLETS HELP THE HOMELESS DURING COVID WRD APPROVES calls from Commerce representatives informing them thatOF they made it to the CONSTRUCTION final cut and that’s when Beltran would call, a strong indication MONITORING WELL that there was communication between Commerce and Beltran. INemployees CERRITOS

HMG EXCLUSIVE

CENTRAL BASIN MANAGER PAYING The long-time political operative is former Bell City Councilman who AGENCY EMPLOYEES worked for the Calderons. WITHOUT APPROVAL

BY BRIAN HEWS

A

lawsuit obtained by HMG-CN

Finance Director Andrew is alleging that East Los AnHamilton refuses to submit geles political operative Mario Beltran has been demanding kickbacks ďŹ nancial reports for scrutiny.

from businesses trying to open a marijuanaBY dispensary in Commerce and that BRIAN HEWS some city officials are participating in the extortion. Hews Media Group-Los Cerritos The lawsuit News was filed by From Community has learned thatthe Central Finance Director Earth, LLCBasin and includes Beltran Andrew and Hamilton has been issuing paychecks to the city of Commerce. Basin employees despite InCentral an explosive accusation, thethe fact that the board has not passed a 2020-’21 lawsuit stated, “the action is based budget. upon the corrupt conduct of the city of The budget stalemate is due to DirecCommerce conspiring with they tors Johnillegally Oskoui and Bob Apodaca; convicted felon and disgraced former are defying a court decision from last

week deliberately not attending special board meetings called to approve the budget. In addition, the actual amount of payroll has not been approved as an item on the consent calendar during regular board meetings, and Hamilton is not submitting

Norwalk City Council Approves Youth Commission

See $&/53"- #"4*/ page 12 BY TAMMYE MCDUFF

and responded once again one hour Bell City Councilman Mario Beltran later. to develop a plan in which each would profit off the issuance of On November 30 the licenses in the city of incriminating email was sent from the Cannabis Commerce.â€? Team back to Jafari As evidence, with a salutation the lawsuit included an that included Jafari, another email conowner Kintu, versation and “Mario.â€? that was at first between The lawsuit the owner alleges the Mario in the email of From the is Mario Beltran Earth, LLC, and is evidence that Arion Jafari, he is working with and Commerce’s the city in his illegal “Commercial CanKITS FOR HOMELESS: and Jared Joseph with LAFD nabis Permit Team,â€? who Cerritos residents Josiah, Jacobscheme. display COVID Kits for the Homeless. They were inspired by paramedic The scheme involved mariareofďŹ cials employees oftheir Commerce. Jose Perez and his actions helping the homeless. FireďŹ ghter Perez, a 16-year The conversation began on Novem- juana dispensaries first paying veteran, a license recently died after contracting COVID. Photo courtesy of the Joseph family. fee and providing all necessary inforber 24 when the team sent a developer mation. agreement to Jafari. Jafari sent the Dispensary ownersawould receive signed agreement back November 28, BY TAMMYE MCDUFF teens how to develop business plan, learn critical thinking skills and learn what it takes to be your own boss. Instead of baking cupcakes or creating shirts, the Joseph brothers took it to a whole new level. After holding a family meeting they decided to give back to the community and develop CoVID Kits for the homeless. Initially the project was made possible

The New Normal La Mirada’s New Self Guided Historic Tour

Josiah, Jacob and Jared Joseph are making their mark. As part of the curriculum for Los Angeles Urban League 2020 Online Biz Camp, these young men had to turn an idea into a business. Partnering with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Biz Camp is a four week summer program that teaches

See TRIPLETS page 12

FIFTH ANNUAL CITY HALL SELFIE DAY COMING FRIDAY AUGUST 14

One of the priorities of the Norwalk City Council was to involve Norwalk youth in an official way to provide input into City Operations, in particular to programming, communications and development projects. City Manager Jesus Gomez stated

Beltran would inform the company

BYthat BRIAN HEWS if they did not engage him as a lob-

byist and pay kickbacks, Beltran would Lakewood~The Water Replenishment not allow the license to be approved. District (WRD) is embarking on a projwhat could be awells smoking gun, ect to In construct two new as part of includedRegional in the lawsuit was Beltran’s WRD’s Groundwater Monitor-exlegal contract, which demanded ingtensive Program (RGWMP). aOne $50,000 payment, ownership well would be in 10% Paramount in the other wellcompany will be in if Cerritos. in the it was sold, and a In a phone call WRD $2,500 payment for anPresident indefiniteVera length Robles DeWitt told HMG that the wells of time. will be in Progress Park and Cerritos Park Beltran threatened that if From the East. Earth didgroundwater, not return the contract in 24 Because water contained hours the license would be pulled. in deep underground aquifers, cannot Daysobserved; later, Jafari toldmust Beltran be directly WRD trackthey it he would participate in his moniillegal through deep not wells and specialized toring equipment. kickback scheme, and just a few days See COMMERCE page 13 See WRD page 14

L.A. 17County PROP WOULD Cardrooms Will ALLOW PAROLEES OpenTHEOutdoor INTO BALLOT Facilities Next Week BOX. HOW WOULD THEY VOTE? BY BRIAN HEWS

BY BALA THENAPPEN After a meeting with LA County Department of Publicballot Health Director This November’s will featureDr. Barbara Ferrer, andwould with cardrooms sayproposition 17, which allow Californians on would parole for a felony coning that they work collaboratively viction Currently, felons must with to thevote. LACDPH, cardrooms in Los See YOUTH page 12 complete their prison sentence and their Angeles county will be allowed to open parole sentence to vote. outdoor facilities withCould up toparolees 60 tables. swing elections in the state’s most comNo food or beverage will be allowed. petitive districts? THE CITY has enhanced the La Mirada History Tour with signage at locations throughout For the smaller cardrooms, HollyThe term applies to peoLa Mirada. Pictured (l-r): Stephen Thrasher, HPAC Chairperson; Gail Pearce, HPAC wood Park,“paroleesâ€? Crystal, Larry Flynt's Luck ple who are allowed back into the comMember; Marlene Olsen, HPAC Vice Chairperson; Harry Scott, HPAC Member; John Lady and Hustler, it is a welcome decifromwill prison beforethousands their prison Lewis, Mayor; Steve De Ruse, Councilmember; Raymond Fernandez, HPAC Member; munity sion that generate of jobs. sentence scheduled to be completed, Tony Aiello, HPAC Member; Sabrina Sermeno, Senior Recreation Leader. STAFF REPORT It isisequally as welcome for the larger as cardrooms, long as theyCommerce, follow certain guidelines Bicycle in Bell and reporting requirements. Roughly Three male hispanics were found Gardens, and The Gardens Casino in 52,000 Californians are expected to be BY TAMMYE MCDUFF La Mirada. dead early Thursday morning in the Hawaiian Gardens, but the maximum parole in 2021. La Mirada was once part of a Spanish ontable backyard of a home in Norwalk, includcount of 60 is less than 25% of California parolees should be expectThe year 2020 marks the diamond land grant called Rancho Los Coyotes. ing at least one who was found in a their capacity. ed to lean left as a voting bloc. In 2007, anniversary for the City of La Mirada. Gone are the cattle when the land was swimming pool, authorities said. The move will generate thousands of gave 150,000 ex-felons who had ALL ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT To PRIDE: City Hall SelďŹ e Day is a celebration of local government and gives employees commemorate this 60th milestone, the part of the Abel Stearns rancho, gone too Florida The Norwalk Sheriff's Department jobs also at the casinos and residents the opportunity to get out in their community and show off their best camera phone skills while showcasing their local been convicted enseswill forbigger less serious offand City has enhanced the La Mirada History are the sheep that grazed La Mirada fields government buildings. The pictures must be posted to social media using hashtag #cityhallselďŹ e to enter the contest. Story on page 9. SeeCARDROOMS PROP 17 pagepage 4 12 See LA MIRADA page 12 See NORWALK page 12 Tour with signage at locations throughout See

Three Men Found Dead in Norwalk

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