LOS CERRITOS LOS CERRITOS
Mayors Ask Board of Supervisors to Help OpenBASIN CENTRAL Cardrooms MANAGER PAYING HMG EXCLUSIVE
AGENCY EMPLOYEES WITHOUT APPROVAL
Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012- 2017.
LAST WEEK! Win a $100 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • September 18, 2020 • Vol 35, No. 6 • loscerritosnews.net Eureka Burger Gift Card! PIH HEALTH DOWNEY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS PROP 15: See page 16
90% of Tax CERRITOS TRIPLETS HELP THE HOMELESS DURING COVID WRD APPROVES Revenue Would CONSTRUCTION OF Come FromWELL Top 10% MONITORING
4FSWJOH $FSSJUPT BOE UFO PUIFS TVSSPVOEJOH DPNNVOJUJFT t "VHVTU t 7PM /P t MPTDFSSJUPTOFXT OFU
will raise $12 billion per year, INMeasure CERRITOS 60% would go to local governments,
Some cardrooms in other California counties have been allowed to open outside under restrictions.
to K-12 and community colleges. BY40% BRIAN HEWS
Lakewood~The Water Replenishment Finance Director Andrew BY BRIAN District (WRD)HEWS is embarking on a projHamilton refuses to submit ect to construct two new wells as part of Gov. GavinGroundwater Newsom has endorsed ďŹ nancial all reports for scrutiny. Regional MonitorFollowing California Department LIGHTS AND SIRENS blaring, Downey PD participates in the celebration of PIH WRD’s
BY BRIAN HEWS
November ballot measure that would (RGWMP). of Public Health protocols to stop the Health Downey's centennial. The staff also buried a time capsule in the Rose Garden. inga Program make commercial owners subject One well would beproperty in Paramount in the spread COVID-19, BYof BRIAN HEWS mayors from five other well will be in Cerritos. to billions of dollars in additional taxes cities proposed during a press conference In a phone call WRD President Vera each year. Hospital staff, emergency personnel, Hewsto Media Group-Los Cerritos last Monday establish gambling opera- BY TAMMYE MCDUFF RoblesIf DeWitt toldbyHMG thatProposition the wells 15 approved voters, has learned that City Council members and community tionsCommunity in outdoor News facilities. will be in Progress Park and Cerritos Parkcomwould place different tax rules on Central Basin still Finance Andrew L.A. County has Director not given perAs part of a yearlong celebration partners stood on the front sidewalk East. mercial and residential property requiring Hamilton has been issuing paychecks to KITS FOR HOMELESS: Cerritos residents Josiah, Jacob and Jared Joseph with LAFD mission to reopen cardrooms outdoors that began at the Rose Parade January under the assemblage of gold balloons Because groundwater, waterproperties, contained excommercial and industrial Central Basin employees despite the fact ofďŹ cials their COVID Kits for the Homeless. They were inspired by paramedic despite approval by the state – which car- 1, 2020 thedisplay in deep underground aquifers, cannotagriCity of Downey Police and to salute one another. cluding those zoned as commercial the board- since has notSept. passed Jose Perez and his actions helping the homeless. FireďŹ ghter Perez, a 16-year veteran, ried that restrictions 9. a 2020-’21 Fire be directly observed; WRD must track it personnel participated in aCOVID. drive Photo courtesy budget. recently died after contracting of the Downey Joseph family. “PIH Health Hospital is The mayors called on the Board of through deep wells and specialized moniSee PROP 15 page 12 The budget stalemate is due to Direc- thru parade at PIH Health Downey Hos- proud to celebrate this centennial antoring equipment. Supervisors to help them open outdoor tors John Oskoui and Bob Apodaca; they pital, sounding sirens and flashing lights niversary milestone. We are grateful facilities facilitated LA County DeBY TAMMYE MCDUFF teens how to develop a business plan, are defying a courtbydecision from last in commemoration of the 100 years PIH for our partnership with the City of See WRD page 14 partment of Health Director Barbara Ferlearn critical thinking skills and learn week deliberately not attending special Health has served community. rer. board meetings called to approve the Josiah, Jacobthe and Jared Joseph what it takes to be your own boss. Instead See PIH page 7 are making their mark. As part of the of baking cupcakes or creating shirts, the But sources have told Hews Media budget. curriculum for Los Angeles Urban League Joseph brothers took it to a whole new Group -Cerritos News that in a meeting In addition, the actual amount of pay2020 Online Biz Camp, these young men level. After holding a family meeting they withroll Ferrer cardroom owners Sathas and not been approved as anon item on had to turn an idea into a business. decided to give back to the community and the consent calendar during regular board urday Sept. 12, two days before the press Partnering with the Network for develop CoVID Kits for the homeless. meetings, and Hamilton is not submitting conference, they had asked Ferrer to grant Teaching Entrepreneurship, Biz Camp is Initially the project was made possible permission. BY BRIAN HEWS a four week summer program that teaches See $&/53"- #"4*/ page 12 See TRIPLETS page 12 Her response was “I did not know you wanted to open outdoors,â€? which The South Coast Air Quality Managesurprised some of the owners. But Ferrer ment District has cited a land developer insisted she wanted to wait for the Labor and contractor over a chemical spill in Day case surge to pan out. the Compton area last week that caused BY BALA THENAPPEN The issue has become urgent with thousands of complaints of a pungent some cardrooms representing over 50% smell across a large area of Los Angeles This November’s ballot will feature of city revenues. and Orange proposition 17,counties. which would allow Hawaiian Gardens has lost $9 million Bridge Land Californians onPoint paroleGardena for a felony con- LLC in tax revenue from the Gardens Casino and contractor OFRS Inc. were cited for viction to vote. Currently, felons must being closed; The cardroom represents causingtheir a public violation complete prisonnuisance sentenceinand their of 70% of the City's budget. rulessentence concerning theCould release of air conparole to vote. parolees Bell Gardens has lost $8 million in tax taminants. swing elections in the state’s most comrevenue from the Bicycle Casino being If districts? no settlement is reached, the two LA MIRADA FOURSQUARE CHURCH, the City of Brea, Brea Olinda Unified petitive closed; The cardroom represents nearly companies could be subject to peocivil penThe term “paroleesâ€? applies to School District, Brea Chamber of Commerce and 14 local churches of neighboring com50% of the City's budget. ple who are allowed back into the comalties or a lawsuit. munities gathered together for a food distribution last Saturday. Gardena has lost $4.9 million in tax munityThe from prison beforeThursday their prison spill occurred at a job revenue so far as their cardrooms and sentence is scheduled to be site when they attemptedcompleted, to move a small their city's largest employers, Lucky Lady BY TAMMYE MCDUFF long as they certain guidelines The City of Brea, Brea Olinda Unified as storage tankfollow containing mercaptan, a & Hustler Casino, remain closed. and reporting requirements. School District, Brea Chamber of Com- pungent chemical added Roughly to natural gas to Mayors present represented the three Californians are expected to be The first Saturday morning in Septem- merce and 14 local churches of neighbor- 52,000 help with leak detection. largest cardrooms in the state, Com- ber, two trucks, a cargo van from Living ing communities gathered together to be a on parole in 2021. Fire officials said the site was an merce, The Gardens Casino, and Bicycle Hope Community Church and six team- blessing in those in need during these un- abandoned California parolees expect-Main oil fieldshould nearbeSouth Casino while some represented the small- mates, joined at La Mirada Foursquare precedented times. ed to lean left as a voting bloc. In 2007, Street and Rosecrans Avenue in an area gave 150,000 ex-felons who had ALL ABOUT LOCAL PRIDE:toCity Day120 is aboxes celebration and gives employees er cardrooms including theGOVERNMENT Hustler and Church loadHall andSelďŹ e reload of of local Feedgovernment Brea’s Operation Director Jenni- Florida near Compton. and residents the opportunity to get out in their community and show off their best camera phone skills while showcasing their local been convicted for less serious offenses the Lucky Lady Casinos in Gardena; the fresh produce to be delivered to the Brea fer Rodriguez from The Cause Church was government buildings. The pictures must becommunity. posted to social media using hashtag #cityhallselďŹ e to enter the contest. Story on page 9. See PROP pagepage 4 12 See FOOD page 13 See CARDROOMS page 12 See 17 SPILL
La Mirada Joins in Food Pop-Up Pantry
FIFTH ANNUAL CITY HALL SELFIE DAY COMING FRIDAY AUGUST 14
Two Companies PROP WOULDPungent Cited17 Over ALLOW PAROLEES Chemical Spill INTO THE BALLOT BOX. HOW WOULD THEY VOTE?
ElTepayacCafe.com
WE ARE OPEN FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY!
Take a break from cooking and let us cook for you. Grab a meal that will put a smile on the entire family's face. With our generous portions of your favorite comfort food, your family will be happy and well fed for days. Our entire menu including beer are available for to-go or by delivery through our website, Postmates, Uber Eats, Doordash and Grubhub.
Open 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
562.263.6455