ABCUSD Board Will Consider Closing Schools to Address Declining Enrollment
months of analysis and required equity impact studies under California law.
By Brian Hews
The ABC Unified School District Board of Education held a Special Study Session on September 2, 2025, to address the ongoing crisis of declining enrollment and the District’s ability to sustain programs and facilities. The meeting combined data presentations from staff with direct community input, creating one of the most detailed and candid discussions yet on the future of ABC schools. While no final decision was taken, the board had the option to place a consolidation plan on the September 16 agenda.
Facing a steep and continuing decline in enrollment, ABC Unified had already recommended the closure of five elementary schools and a comprehensive restructuring of grade levels and attendance boundaries. District officials unveiled the sweeping proposal at a special board meeting on May 20, 2025, backed by
The closures—scheduled to begin in the 2026–27 school year—came as the District had lost more than 3,300 students in the past decade and anticipated shedding nearly 2,000 more by 2029–30. Demographic shifts, lower birth rates, rising housing costs, and increased competition from alternative education providers had compounded the problem, leaving many campuses operating well below capacity.
“This is not a decision we took lightly,” the District stated in its presentation. “But it was necessary to preserve long-term educational quality and fiscal sustainability for ABC Unified.”
After a detailed review of enrollment patterns, capacity, and feeder areas, district staff recommended the following closures:
Aloha Elementary: Students reassigned to Melbourne and Willow Elementary.
Furgeson Elementary: Students moved to Hawaiian and Melbourne Elementary.
Juarez Elementary: Students transferred to Burbank or Kennedy Elementary.
[ See ABCUSD, page 13 ]
Norwalk to Revoke Ban on Homeless Housing in Settlement With State
Norwalk settles state lawsuit, agrees to repeal shelter ban, fund housing, and launch long-term state compliance programs.
By Brian Hews
Norwalk has agreed to repeal a local ordinance that barred emergency shelters and certain supportive facilities for unhoused residents, settling a state lawsuit that alleged the city violated California housing
laws. The agreement, announced Friday, requires Norwalk to revoke the ban, implement overdue housing programs to comply with state mandates, and establish a housing trust fund with an initial $250,000 deposit.
The settlement is subject to court approval, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the city’s initial stance, saying the council’s refusal to reverse the policy until sued
[ See NORWALK, page 12 ]
A WALL OF CARGO containers collapsed at the Port of Long Beach, rattling crews and halting operations. Officials are investigating how the failure occurred.
LCCN Staff Report
The Port of Long Beach experienced a costly accident this week after several shipping containers toppled during a cargo handling operation, disrupting traffic at one of the nation’s busiest gateways.
According to port officials, the mishap occurred Tuesday afternoon when a crane operator was stacking containers on Pier T.
For reasons still under investigation, a stack became unstable, sending at least nine containers tumbling onto the wharf. Some of the containers were damaged and a portion of the pier was briefly closed for cleanup and safety inspections.
No serious injuries were reported, though one dockworker was treated at the scene for minor scrapes. Officials said hazardous materials were not involved, easing concerns of a larger environmental threat.
The incident comes at a time when ports nationwide are under pressure to move goods quickly while maintaining safety standards. Long Beach, which handled more than nine million container units last year, has been working to modernize its terminals with automated equipment and improved yard
[ See CARGO, page 13 ]
Cerritos Development Update Highlights Expansions, Remodels,
Cerritos quarterly development report shows brisk construction, new businesses, housing growth, and plans for Sears site.
By Brian Hews
The City of Cerritos has released its quarterly update on development projects, showing steady progress in both commercial and residential construction across the community. The September 4 report highlights recently completed projects, ongoing construction, and future plans that reflect the city’s strong economic base and appeal to investors.
City officials noted that from January through August 2025, a total of 1,327 building permits were issued and 1,463 permits finalized, underscoring brisk activity in construction and renovation.
Among completed projects is the expansion of Golden Star Technologies (GST) at 166th Street. The company added warehouse space, new employee amenities, and site enhancements, celebrating its grand re-opening in August. Anoth-
and Future Plans
er major highlight is Chubby Cattle, the high-end hot pot restaurant taking over the former Peking Wok space at Plaza 183. Exterior renovations are finished, and the restaurant is expected to open this month. Several projects remain under construction. Valley Christian Schools is finishing its stadium remodel, which includes new bleachers, turf, and a rubberized track, with completion anticipated in September. Tous Les Jours bakery on South Street is adding an outdoor dining patio, while Angelo’s Burgers continues its renovation of the former Boy’s Burger site on Artesia Boulevard. Meanwhile, Keystone Plaza’s Craftsman-style exterior remodel is proceeding in phases, with some work complete and Chase Bank upgrades still under review.
Auto-related projects also feature prominently. Volvo Cars Cerritos has joined the Auto Square and is awaiting final signage installation. Ford is preparing to launch a reconditioning facility at Studebaker Road, while Extra Space Storage on Crusader Avenue has reopened
See CERRITOS, page 12 ]
Courtesy The Independent.
Cargo Collapse Causes Chaos at Long Beach PORT
ABCUSD special session confronts enrollment decline, weighs consolidation, finances, and community concerns.
LBS Financial Awards $23K in Scholarships to Local Students
Postal traffic to U.S. down 80% since tariff move
Postal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80 percent after the Trump administration ended a long-standing tariff exemption for low-cost imports, the United Nations postal agency said Saturday.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) reported that 88 foreign postal operators have suspended some or all services to the U.S. since the Aug. 29 implementation of new rules that eliminated the “de minimis” exemption on parcels valued at $800 or less. That exemption, in place in some form since 1938, had allowed low-value packages to enter the U.S. without customs duties.
Long Beach, CA – September 9, 2025 – LBS Financial Credit Union awarded a total of $23,000 in scholarships this year, benefiting 38 students from Long Beach and surrounding areas to support their education as they embark on the 20252026 academic year.
The credit union invited high schools, adult schools, and community colleges in the local area to participate in their scholarship program by selecting one deserving student from their school to receive an award. LBS Financial Credit Union awarded scholarships of $500 and $1,000 to 36 schools, positively impacting 32 high school, 2 college, and 2 adult school students. Additionally, LBS Financial also sent employee representatives to many of the school or college ceremonies to personally present the awards, attending 14 award ceremonies
this year.
Furthermore, the credit union granted $2,000 each to two Members in recognition of their perseverance, commitment, academic achievements, and involvement in the community. Members of the credit union who are currently enrolled as a high school senior or in their freshman to junior years at an accredited college are encouraged to apply.
The recipients of this year’s awards were Wilson High School graduate Annabel H. who plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in Nursing at Simmons University and Millikan High School graduate, Logan P. who is now attending Pitzer College to pursue an undergraduate degree in Environmental Analysis, with a minor in Media Studies.
The UPU said traffic from its 192 member countries fell 81 percent on Aug. 29 compared with a week earlier. The collapse came after the U.S. placed responsibility for duty collection and remittance on airlines, shipping carriers, or Customs and Border Protection-approved partners. Many carriers said they were unwilling or unable to assume that role, while most foreign postal operators lacked links to CBP-qualified companies.
The agency warned of “major operational disruptions” to global trade. Before the measure took effect, the UPU sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern.
Administration officials argue the exemption had become a loophole exploited by foreign businesses to skirt tariffs and by criminals smuggling drugs. Now, all packages must clear customs and pay tariffs ranging from 10 to 50 percent, depending on origin.
The UPU said its members were not given enough time or guidance to implement the new procedures.
LBS FINANCIAL Credit Union’s annual scholarship recipients pose for a picture at its Long Beach Marina branch. From (l-r) Heather Summers, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Annabel H., Logan P., and LBS Financial Credit Union’s President and CEO, Sean Hardeman.
The Shroud Of Turin: An Immersive Experience Coming to Christ Cathedral
By Bradley Mint, OC Catholic
A museum dedicated to one of the world’s most studied artifacts — the Shroud of Turin, purported to be the actual burial shroud of Jesus Christ — is coming to the Christ Cathedral campus this fall.
Spread over 10,000 square feet and featuring a series of 360-degree theater rooms, interactive displays, new sacred art and other exhibits, the groundbreaking “The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” will present compelling information about the artifact, which has been the source of numerous scientific studies and debate for decades. The evangelistic encounter will also tell the story of the birth, life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus — and of His ongoing presence in the Eucharist.
“The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” opens to the public on Nov. 19. General admission tickets are $20. Seniors and students are $15. Entry will be timed. The entire experience is estimated to last between 90 minutes and two hours.
The museum will be open seven days a week inside the Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center. The museum’s construction and creation were privately funded.
The Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience” is being presented by the Diocese of Orange in conjunction with Othonia, a Rome-based consortium of Shroud experts affiliated with the Pontifical Ateneo Regina Apostolorum educational institute.
“Othonia is excited to partner with the Diocese of Orange to realize this immersive museum,” said Nora Creech, director of North America for Othonia. “The focus of this experience on the Resurrection and Jesus’ ongoing presence in the Eucharist is perfectly paired with the soaring architecture of the Christ Cathedral campus. This will
EXHIBIT: The
be Othonia’s flagship museum, designed to introduce an entirely new audience to the Shroud in an engaging and memorable way and with the ultimate goal of making Jesus known through the Shroud.”
Among the sacred treasures of the museum will be two detailed replicas of the Shroud of Turin. Like the actual Shroud kept in Turin, Italy, the replicas will be 14 feet by 3 feet. One will be made of archival cotton canvas, allowing visitors to view the complex array of features in high definition, including the mysterious body image, blood stains, burn marks and water damage. The second replica is a backlit LED version that shows the details on the Shroud with significant clarity for visitors to examine.
Another highlight of the museum will be a newly commissioned 6-foot tall bronze sculpture of Jesus made by Italian artist Luigi Enzo Mattei, who is also noted for creating the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The sculpture is a faithful attempt to re-create Jesus’ body based on the evidence left on the Shroud of Turin. It relied on calculated measure-
ments and incorporated the injury marks of Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion.
The Shroud of Turin is universally considered to be among the most studied artifacts in the world. It is believed by some to be the actual linen burial cloth placed on the body of Jesus Christ after His Crucifixion, a practice common among the 1st-century Jewish people at the time. Interest in the Shroud is so prolific that there is a name for the formal study of it: sindonology.
The Catholic Church has not taken an official position on the Shroud of Turin’s authenticity but recognizes its importance as an object of veneration and reflection.
Popes have consistently recognized the Shroud’s significance as a powerful image that points to the Passion and Death of Jesus, inviting believers to deeper contemplation and conversion.
The original Shroud has been in the formal possession Holy See since 1989. Its history prior to 1354 is not well-documented.
For information and to buy pre-sale tickets, visit TheShroud Experience.com
PERMANENT
Shroud of Turin: An Immersive Experience opens Nov. 19 at the Richard H. Pickup Cultural Center on the Christ Cathedral campus in Garden Grove.
4
Los Cerritos Community News • September 12, 2025
The first week of September brought a busy slate of crimes across Southeast Los Angeles County, with Cerritos leading in shoplifting and auto thefts, Bellflower stacked with assaults and robberies, and Pico Rivera logging a mix of stolen vehicles and strong-arm holdups. Lakewood and Norwalk each saw their share of domestic violence and theft, while Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier rounded out the week with burglaries, car break-ins, and repeat shoplifting incidents.
Artesia
9-6-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting –11800 blk Artesia Blvd
9-5-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 11900 blk 170th St
9-5-2025 – Burglary, Other Structure –11700 blk Artesia Blvd
Highlight: Artesia saw thieves working both day and night—from shops on Artesia Boulevard to cars parked on 170th Street— reminding residents that crooks don’t care whether it’s a storefront or your driveway. Bellflower
9-6-2025 – Burglary, Residence – 9900 blk Ramona St
9-4-2025 – Robbery, Weapon: Residence –10300 blk Beverly St
9-4-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 9100 blk Palm St
9-3-2025 – Robbery, Weapon: Convenience Store/Restaurant – 8500 blk Artesia Blvd
9-3-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Truck/Cargo Van – 9200 blk Palm St
9-2-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: ADW –17800 blk Lakewood Blvd
9-2-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 10200 blk Beach St
9-1-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated –9800 blk Alondra Blvd
9-1-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 9400 blk Flower St
9-1-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: Domestic Violence – 16500 blk Virginia
9-3-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Domestic Violence – 10000 blk E Flower St
Highlight: Bellflower’s crime streak ranged from break-ins to brawls, with suspects targeting homes, cars, and even restaurants. The mix of robberies and assaults reads like an unwanted sampler platter of bad behavior. Cerritos
9-7-2025 – Burglary, Other Structure –11200 blk 183rd St
9-6-2025 – Robbery, Strong-Arm – 200 blk Los Cerritos Ctr
9-6-2025 – Grand Theft: Shoplifting –20200 blk Bloomfield Ave
9-6-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting –20200 blk Bloomfield Ave
9-6-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting –11100 blk 183rd St
9-6-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 12600 blk Artesia Blvd
9-6-2025 – Grand Theft Vehicle – 17900 blk Studebaker Rd
9-5-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Domestic Violence – Studebaker Rd &
Spinnaker St
9-4-2025 – Robbery, Strong-Arm – 300 blk
Los Cerritos Ctr
9-4-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 10800 blk Alondra Blvd
9-4-2025 – Burglary, Other Structure: Day, No Force – 10800 blk Alondra
9-3-2025 – Grand Theft Vehicle – 400 blk
Los Cerritos Ctr
9-3-2025 – Theft, Petty: Other – 13200 blk
South St
9-2-2025 – Grand Theft: Auto Parts – 600
blk Los Cerritos Ctr
9-1-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated – 400 blk Los Cerritos Ctr
Highlight: Cerritos once again proved a shoplifter’s playground with multiple incidents at the mall, while thieves didn’t hesitate to move from storefronts to car lots and even private homes. It’s starting to feel like Los Cerritos Center needs a revolving door just for deputies.
Hawaiian Gardens
9-4-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated:
Domestic Violence –22000 blk Elaine
Two burglaries were reported on the 16100 block of Canary Ave.
An early morning burglary occurred on the 13800 block of Imperial Hwy.
A burglary occurred on the 13900 block of Imperial Hwy.
Vehicle Burglary
A daytime vehicle burglary occurred on the 15200 block of Badlona Dr. Grand Theft
A catalytic converter theft occurred on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd.
A theft was reported on the 16900 block of Knott Ave
Highlight Eleven suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations. Two suspects were arrested for trespassing. Norwalk
September 1-7, 2025
Source: Crimemapper.com
9-3-2025 – Burglary, Other Structure –12300 blk Carson St
9-3-2025 – Grand Theft: Shoplifting –12000 blk Carson St
Highlight: Hawaiian Gardens logged a small but troubling mix of domestic violence and theft.
Lakewood
9-5-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Domestic Violence – 5400 blk Clark
9-5-2025 – Grand Theft: Auto Parts – 6200 blk Village Rd
9-3-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: ADW –11500 blk 216th St
9-3-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: Gun –5900 blk Del Amo Blvd
9-3-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated:
Obstruct/Resist/Battery Peace Officer –5000 blk Knoxville Ave
9-3-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Domestic Violence – 5900 Dagwood
9-2-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated:
Obstruct/Resist/Battery Peace Officer – 600 blk Fwy & Carson St
9-2-2025 – Theft, Petty: Other – 4100 blk South St
9-2-2025 – Grand Theft: Auto Parts – 4600 blk Coldbrook Ave
9-1-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto – 3700 blk South St
Highlight: Lakewood had a violent week featuring everything from gun threats to assaults on officers. Add in car-part thefts and domestic disputes, and the city could use a break—or at least a bigger tow yard. La Mirada Other Structure Burglary
Motor Home/Cargo Van – 8400 blk
Whittier Blvd
9-3-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting – 9400 blk Whittier Blvd
9-2-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Obstruct/Resist/Battery Peace Officer –7200 blk Rosemead Blvd
9-2-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: Domestic Violence – 5500 blk Maris
9-2-2025 – Burglary, Other Structure –9500 blk Reichlng Ln
9-1-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting – 8500 blk Washington Blvd
9-1-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: ADW –10100 blk Whittier Blvd
9-1-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting – 8500 blk Washington Blvd
Highlight: Pico Rivera endured a crime cocktail—robberies, stolen trucks, and domestic assaults, topped off by repeat shoplifters on Washington Boulevard. Santa Fe Springs
9-7-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Domestic Violence –13700 blk Flallon
9-6-2025 – Vehicle Burglary: Auto –13100 blk Silverbow Ave
9-6-2025 – Burglary, Other Structure: Night, No Force –12900 blk Rosecrans
9-6-2025 – Grand Theft: Other – 12100 blk Hermosura St
9-5-2025 – Grand Theft: From Unlocked Auto – 10900 blk Rosecrans
9-4-2025 – Robbery, Strong-Arm – 12000 blk Imperial Hwy
9-4-2025 – Burglary, Residence – 12200 blk Longworth Ave
9-3-2025 – Grand Theft: Other – Imperial Hwy & Norwalk Blvd
9-3-2025 – Theft, Petty: From Auto –11900 blk Olive St
9-2-2025 – Assault, Aggravated: Gun –12800 blk Rosecrans Ave
9-2-2025 – Grand Theft: Shoplifting –11800 blk Firestone Blvd
9-1-2025 – Burglary, Residence: Night, Entry By Force – 14400 blk Gracebee Ave
9-1-2025 – Theft, Petty: Shoplifting –14800 blk Carmenita Rd
Highlight: Norwalk’s trouble spanned from shoplifters at Firestone Boulevard to gun-toting suspects on Rosecrans. If there was ever a week for locked doors and good insurance, this was it.
Pico Rivera
9-6-2025 – Grand Theft Vehicle – 6100 blk Leona Joan Ave
9-6-2025 – Robbery, Strong-Arm – 8900 blk Washington Blvd
9-5-2025 – Theft, Petty: From Auto – 5000 blk Millux Ave
9-5-2025 – Grand Theft Vehicle – 5400 blk Citronell Ave
9-5-2025 – Assault, Non-Aggravated: Domestic Violence – 6700 blk Citronell
9-5-2025 – Grand Theft Vehicle: Truck/
9-6-2025 – Theft: From Motor Vehicle –11200 blk Norwalk Blvd
9-6-2025 – Driving Under the Influence –8000 blk Boer Ave
9-5-2025 – Robbery – 11200 blk Washington Blvd
9-5-2025 – Assault, Aggravated – 7800 blk Norwalk Blvd
9-5-2025 – Thefts: Other – 13600 blk Rosecrans Ave
9-5-2025 – Thefts: Other – 10900 blk Fulton Wells Ave
9-4-2025 – Vandalism/Destruction – 13200 blk Lakeland Rd
9-2-2025 – Theft: From Motor Vehicle –10600 blk Norwalk Blvd
9-2-2025 – Disorderly Conduct – 11600 blk Florence Ave
9-2-2025 – Vandalism/Destruction – 12500 blk Telegraph Rd
9-1-2025 – Assault, Aggravated – 10900 blk Pioneer Blvd
Highlight: Santa Fe Springs was busy with car break-ins, robberies, and more than a little vandalism.
Whittier
9-7-2025 – Drug Equipment Violations –Redman Ave & Whittier Blvd
9-7-2025 – Assault, Aggravated – 10500 blk Whittier Blvd
9-4-2025 – Theft: Motor Vehicle Parts –11500 blk Monte Vista Dr
9-4-2025 – Shoplifting – 11800 blk Whittier Blvd
9-4-2025 – Shoplifting – 11800 blk Whittier Blvd
9-4-2025 – Thefts: Other – 11500 blk Monte Vista Dr
9-3-2025 – Assault, Aggravated – 5800 blk Canobie Ave
9-2-2025 – Vandalism/Destruction – 11500 blk Whittier Blvd
Highlight: Whittier saw shoplifters double-dip at the same store, car parts vanish from driveways, and even drug paraphernalia surface. With repeat hits on Whittier Boulevard, the street is proving to be a one-stop shop for mischief.
Autry’s Annual Block Party Honoring First Responders
CAN ENJOY rides, music, and activities at the Autry’s Annual Block Party on September 27, honoring first responders and community heroes.
The Autry Museum in Griffith Park will once again open its doors and lawns for the Annual Block Party Honoring First Responders, taking place on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s celebration is designed to bring the community together for a full day of family fun, entertainment, and recognition of local heroes.
The Autry is dedicating the event to Los Angeles’ first responders, who played a critical role during this year’s wildfires and continue to serve and protect the region. “I often say that the Autry works best when it plays. And play for people of all ages will be the order of the day at this year’s Block Party when the Autry celebrates what makes the West and Los Angeles special and honors the First Responders who kept us safe during this year’s fires,” said Museum Director and CEO Stephen Aron.
Festivities will span the museum’s outdoor and indoor spaces. Families can enjoy
carnival rides and games, including a Ferris wheel, bounce houses, and even a mechanical bull. Urban Saddles will host horse photo opportunities and grooming demonstrations, while children can meet beloved PBS characters in the museum lobby and explore the Family Play Space.
On the East Garden Lawn, visitors will have the opportunity to meet first responders and explore emergency vehicles up close. Live music and dance performances will fill the South Lawn and Plaza stage, while classic cars, hot rods, and luxury vehicles will highlight a car show. Guests can also participate in plein air painting with the California Art Club, enjoy docent-led museum tours, and browse community partner booths and vendor markets.
Admission is $19 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under are free, as are Autry Members. First responders, active military, and veterans can attend at no cost with valid ID.
ABC Shines in Rankings: Whitney #1 in California, Others Climb
LCCN Staff Report
ABC Unified School District schools earned high marks in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, once again highlighting the district’s academic reputation.
Whitney High School led the way, ranked the number one high school in California and 16th nationally out of more than 24,000 schools surveyed. The selective Cerritos campus has consistently been among the state’s best, but this year’s recognition cements its standing as one of the premier schools in the country.
Cerritos High School also performed strongly, placing 58th in California and
446th in the nation. Gahr High School in Cerritos came in at 252nd statewide and 1,829th nationally, maintaining a solid position among comprehensive high schools. Artesia High School made one of the most impressive leaps in the rankings, climbing nearly 2,000 spots to land at 583rd in California and 4,511th in the nation.
Overall, four ABCUSD campuses earned recognition, placing the district among the highest performing in Los Angeles County.
The strong showing reflects the district’s emphasis on academic excellence despite ongoing challenges with declining enrollment and school consolidation.
Commerce Hearing to Extend Moratorium on Short-Term Rentals
LCCN Staff Report
The City of Commerce will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, to consider extending its temporary citywide moratorium on the approval, expansion, intensification, or relocation of short-term rentals (also referred to as “home-sharing”).
The 6:30 p.m. hearing will take place in the Council Chambers at 5655 Jillson Street, Commerce, CA 90040.
City officials said the pause gives Commerce time to study and craft permanent local rules for regulating short-term rentals without allowing new or expanded activity in the meantime.
Officials cite nuisance complaints, parking overflow, noise at night, party houses, safety and fire code risks, unfair
competition with hotels, housing loss, and limited enforcement capacity as problems requiring regulations.
According to the notice, the extension is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Draft ordinance materials are available at City Hall and online at the City’s Planning & Environmental Documents page.
Residents may comment in person at the hearing or submit written remarks in advance for distribution to the City Council.
Emails should be sent to cityclerk@ commerceca.gov mailed comments may be sent to City of Commerce, 2535 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040.
For questions, call (323) 722-4805.
FAMILIES
By Melinda Meyers
As summer is winding down and fall approaches, your thoughts may turn to mums, asters, and pansies. Consider changing things up this year by adding deer-resistant strawflowers to your late summer and fall containers and gardens.
Grow strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum formerly Bracteantha) in full to part sun and moist well-drained soil. They are heat and cold tolerant, grown as annuals in most areas, and short-lived perennials in zones 8 to 10.
You’ll enjoy continuous blooming and visiting pollinators from spring through summer and into fall until frost. Plant some now to replace fading summer annuals, freshen up your late season garden or create fall containers. The range of flower colors makes them easy to include in your late season displays.
Plant strawflowers in the garden or a container with drainage holes and fill with a quality potting mix. Select a pot, at least 12” in diameter to avoid the plant becoming rootbound and drying out too quickly. Although the flowers look dry, the plants prefer moist well-drained soil. Check containers daily and water thoroughly as needed. Those growing in the garden should be watered thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist.
Strawflowers unique blossoms look and feel dry to the touch, making them extra fun for kids to grow. This strawlike texture of the flowers inspired the common name. You may also hear them referred to as everlasting flow-
Freshen up your late-season containers
ers since they don’t wilt readily when picked and retain their shape and color for years once dried.
Granvias (suntoryflowers.com) are larger, vigorous plants with much bigger blooms than other strawflowers, making them excellent thrillers in containers and showy in the garden. You can find these supersized strawflowers in gold, pink, white, Crimson Sun, Harvest Orange, Peachy Keen and Orange Flame. Set a pot of colorful strawflowers among your pumpkins, ornamental
squash and other fall décor. Combine them in containers and garden beds with other fall favorites like ornamental kale and cabbage, grasses, ornamental peppers, pansies, calibrachoas, and more.
Grow plenty so you’ll have enough to enjoy as cut flowers and even more to dry for crafting wreaths, garland, flower spheres, and adding to dried arrangements. Harvest strawflowers when two to three layers of their petal-like bracts have unfolded but the center is still tightly closed. The flow-
ers will continue to open as they dry so waiting too long results in a more open bloom. Harvest regularly to encourage even more flowers.
Recut the stems at an angle and place the strawflowers in fresh water and condition them in a cool, dark place for a few hours or overnight when using in fresh arrangements. Hang the stems in bundles upside down in a warm, dry place when preserving them dried. You may opt to remove the stem and replace it with florist wire if you plan on using the dried strawflowers in a wreath or an arrangement where a stem is needed. As the flower dries, it secures the wire in place. Remove the flowers from the stems once dried if you plan on using just the flowers in crafting projects.
Pinch spent blooms to prolong flowering, and avoid overfertilizing, which encourages weak growth. Watch for aphids; rinse with water or use insecticidal soap. Protect young transplants from early cold snaps.
Discover the beauty and many uses of strawflowers this fall. Then next season start early and grow even more to enjoy all season long.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD and instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Suntory Flowers for her expertise in writing this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
PEACHY KEEN, Pink and White Granvia strawflowers combine nicely, creating a colorful container garden. courtesy photo | Suntory Flowers
From the Mayor’s Desk: September 12, 2025
By Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Late August and early September bring important anniversaries to our community, region, and nation. My City Council colleagues and I recently joined to reflect on the tragedy of the Cerritos Air Disaster, which occurred on August 31, 1986. This week, we also paid our respects to the victims and first responders of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. These infamous days must never be forgotten and require our observance.
Nearly 40 years ago this past Labor Day weekend, a small Piper Cherokee plane collided mid-air above the City with a large Aeromexico DC-9 plane. The Piper Cherokee fell to an unoccupied playground while the DC-9 crashed and exploded in a residential neighborhood. A total of 82 lives were lost, including all passengers and crew members of both planes, as well as Cerritos residents and visitors.
A granite memorial inside the Cerritos
Sculpture Garden honors the 67 people aboard the two planes, along with 15 people on the ground, who died. This memorial, which was installed in 2006, symbolizes the comfort and serenity that we wish for those who lost loved ones on that fateful day.
Adjacent to the Sculpture Garden in front of the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station sits the Tribute to Public Safety memorial, which was dedicated this past March. Inside the public safety and first responder plaza is a monument to September 11, 2001. We will never forget the tragic events and heroic actions that morning that forever changed our nation. The lives lost and sacrifices made amid the attacks in New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, are memorialized here.
My City Council colleagues and I, our staff, and community join in mourning the loss of life from the Cerritos Air Disaster and September 11, 2001, attacks. I want to commend those involved in approving, designing, and installing the public works of art that memorialize these events here at the Cerritos Civic Center. We value the opportunity for reflection and invite you to visit these memorials at a time of your choosing.
Facing Declining Enrollment Together
By H. Ernie Nishii
In June, the ABC Unified School District Board of Education considered a recommendation by Schoolworks to address ABC’s long-term declining enrollment by consolidating schools. At the time, a majority of the Board chose not to act on the recommendations. After years of committees, demographic studies, and consultant and staff reports, several trustees asked for more time and more data, especially fall enrollment, to confirm whether regional trends (lower birth rates, high housing costs, and families moving out of the region or state) would keep affecting our schools as they had for the last nine straight years.
We now have that data. August enrollment shows a reduction of more than 350 students, which is about the equivalent of an entire small school disappearing. While we welcomed about 1,000 kindergarteners this fall, we will graduate roughly 1,400 seniors in May. The simple math suggests 400 fewer students next year if trends continue. Another small school. This year, I am getting complaints of more “combo” classes (a class with two different grades with one teacher). If we don’t have enough students, we must combine grades. This is tough for the teacher who must double lesson plans and instruction for two different grade levels–and it is tough for the struggling student who doesn’t always get it the first time.
Financially, ABC currently runs a $3.5 million structural deficit, and we anticipate a further drop of more than $3 million in federal funding. This year, I received a letter from the LAICO indicating that our spending was not sustainable and that, without change, we would be under the minimum reserve amount in three years.
After receiving the August enrollment data, the board requested a Study Session, which I granted. Because the Study Session had no “action item” we changed the format to be more interactive. The Board first listened to community questions and answered what we could through the presentation or promised answers in FAQ’s. Staff then presented a sober report: even with our high schools ranked in the top quartile nationally, our foreseeable future includes
fewer students spread across the same number of campuses. Staff also analyzed ideas raised by the Board and public, including the potential benefits and tradeoffs of K-8 school configurations and strategies to strengthen a 6-8 middle school model. We reviewed recent improvements at Furgeson and the growth at Stowers through its International Baccalaureate and Mandarin dual language immersion programs. My Board colleagues asked about leveraging Whitney by admitting some out-of-district students and encouraging those families to attend our middle and elementary schools as a prerequisite to admission. I heard calls for more outreach and advertising, which will be honored in our next agenda. I heard calls for an in-depth LCAP study session (how we spend our education dollars), and we will have one to deepen our academic understanding. I heard a board member ask to bring back the School Consolidation & Reconfiguration action item from the June 17, 2025 meeting, and I honor that request. As a reminder, the action item in June by SchoolWorks recommended consolidating Aloha ( about 260 students), Juarez (about 295 students), and Furgeson (about 297 students); moving 6th grade to middle school to stabilize enrollment and programming; consolidating Stowers as a result of that 6thgrade shift; and expanding Whitney to serve 6th-grade students. The full criteria SchoolWorks used is posted on our website.
Some have asked whether this plan disproportionately affects our most vulnerable families. Districtwide, approximately 60% of students are low-income, and about 20% of the students touched by the proposal are low-income. Others note that consolidation alone won’t solve every challenge. That is true. Consolidation is part of a multipronged and comprehensive strategy to improve our district that began years ago. To stop now risks accelerating enrollment loss and spreading limited resources thinner across too many campuses.
Our charge is to adapt to the challenges that impact student achievement. We do this with a prudent, transparent, and empathetic approach. We need your continued input to make the best decisions for all of the students we serve. I am confident that, together, our community and Board can meet this moment and build a stronger tomorrow for every child we serve.
Mr. Ernie Nishii serves as the President of the ABC Unified School District Board of Education.
The 2025 Assessment
By Jeff Prang Los Angeles County Assessor
It’s that time of year again when my Office undertakes its most important function of the fiscal year that lays the groundwork for the very property taxes that pay for our vital public services: The Assessment Roll.
In fact, it’s a Constitutional mandate.
The Roll for 2025 closed as of June 30 and it reflects growth for Artesia as well as the rest of the County.
First off, let me say this comprehensive tally values more than 2.5 million real estate parcels in Los Angeles County and results in the very tax dollars that goes to pay for vital public services, such as healthcare, police, fire, schools, and even librarians, to name just a few.
As I mentioned, I am constitutionally mandated to close the Roll by the end of the Fiscal Year on June 30. As a point of reference, my Fiscal Year runs from July 1 to June 30.
I am pleased to announce that the 2025 Assessment Roll has a total net value of $2.176 trillion, indicating the 15th year of consecutive growth. The 2025 Roll also grew by $134.76 million (or 3.91%) over 2024. That value places about $20 billion to be used for those public services I just mentioned.
Locally, Artesia for 2025 came in at $2.42 billion for taxable values, which is a 5.9% increase over last year’s numbers. That includes 3,274 single-family homes, 266 apartment complexes, 510
commercial-industrial parcels for a grand total of 4,050 taxable properties. Yes, it’s a solid growth at $134.76 million.
Some basics: The Roll, as it is known, contains the assessed value of all real estate and business personal property in the County’s 88 cities along with the unincorporated areas.
It also breaks down the number of single-family residential homes, apartments and commercial-industrial parcels.
This year’s Roll comprises 2,398,007 million real estate parcels as well as business assessments countywide. That includes 1,897,905 million single-family homes, 251,236 thousand apartment complexes, 248,866 thousand commercial and industrial properties and more than 160,367 thousand business property assessments.
Since the Roll is the inventory for all taxable property in the County, it can provide some insight into the health of the real estate market.
The Roll is also driven in large measure by real property sales, which added $51 billion to the 2025 Roll as compared with 2024; the CPI adjustment mandated by Prop. 13 added an additional $41 billion; and new construction added $8 billion.
Finally, to say this has been a challenging year is an understatement (just think of the wildfires in January) and the fact that property values continue to grow is certainly good news and testament to the viability of the region. A full list of assessment growth amounts and parcel counts for cities and unincorporated areas is available online.
RFK Jr.: Banning Boosters While Antidepressants Carry Suicide Warnings and OTC Fat-Blockers Warn of Fecal Incontinence
So RFK Jr. is busy restricting vaccines—what’s next, a permit to buy BandAids? Vaccines aren’t the problem. Politics is.
We’ve reached the absurd point where lifesaving COVID shots are treated like contraband while the drug aisle cheerfully offers products that can, quite literally, cause you to poop your pants and kill you.
The math isn’t close: severe allergic reactions to mRNA COVID vaccines run about five per million doses, and rare myocarditis clusters are measured in the tens per million in young men after a second dose.
That’s not nothing, but it’s the statistical equivalent of finding a parking spot at the Cerritos Mall on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, our “no big deal” over-the-counter culture shrugs at real-life medical issues.
Start with the obvious: every antidepressant (Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, and Paxil) carries the FDA’s boxed warning about increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults, especially early in treatment or after dose changes. Bleeding is another quiet risk. SSRIs can increase bleeding, and the danger climbs when patients also pop daily ibuprofen, aspirin, or blood thinners. If you’re on an SSRI and your medicine cabinet looks like a sports trainer’s, that’s a conversation, not a guess.
Weight-loss medications, Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, read like a sitcom prop: oily spotting, gas with discharge, fecal urgency, even fecal incontinence… a.k.a. explosive diarrhea.
You don’t need a subcommittee to restrict that—you need darker pants. And
when people abuse a common anti-diarrheal, the FDA has to step in because it can trigger deadly heart rhythms. Still on the shelf, still legal. Skin creams? Use high-potency steroids for too long and you can thin your skin and suppress your adrenal system—real, documented risks, especially in kids. Yet somehow, a vaccine with vanishingly rare severe reactions is the “controversial” one. Politics over pharmacology. Theater over science.
Here’s the plain truth: COVID vaccines carry small, well-characterized risks that clinicians know how to monitor and treat. The benefits—preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death—are orders of magnitude larger than those risks. If we’re going to panic about medicine, start where the bodies actually are: liver failure from everyday pills, heart arrhythmias from “harmless” misuse, and GI disasters sold right next to the cough drops.
Let’s be clear: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. isn’t a doctor or a public-health professional—he’s an environmental lawyer and long-time anti-vaccine crusader now presiding over vaccine policy like it’s a talk-radio segment. He has openly described his past heroin addiction, swims in polluted streams, eats roadkill, and has been arrested; recovery is admirable, but it doesn’t confer medical expertise or license him to gamble with other people’s health. Meanwhile, under his watch and influence, allies are moving to scrap bedrock school immunization rules—exactly when we need steadier hands, not culture-war experiments.
Brian Hews, Publisher and Editor
LA County Assessor Jeff Prang
Ernie Nishii ABC School Board President
Warming Planet Fuels Longer Allergy
By Laurie Hanson
Airborne allergies have become increasingly prevalent and now persist throughout the entire year. Multiple experts have identified a connection between this rise in allergies and the effects of global climate change.
“Countries that lie in higher latitudes are seeing the greatest uptick in pollen counts, since the warming rate is greatest in the northern latitudes,” said Meteorologist and Climate Expert Brett Anderson, who has worked for 35 years at AccuWeather. Anderson is a graduate of Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in Earth and Atmospheric Science. He resides in Centennial, Pennsylvania.
“The once short pollen season has become significantly longer in some areas,” Anderson said. “Areas such as Canada, the northern U.S., northern and eastern European countries, and parts of Russia have been experiencing higher pollen counts in recent years.”
Another expert weighing in on allergies and climate change includes Associate Specialist in Air Pollution Exposure Assessment and Epidemiology Shahir Masri, Ph.D., a Harvard graduate with more than 15 years of experience in his field. He has developed statistical models to predict air pollution exposure and improve disease surveillance. Based in Orange, California, he teaches both graduate and undergraduate level students while dedicating his career to solving complex, real-world problems related to industry and the environment.“About a quarter of U.S. adults have seasonal
allergies, and reports show the trend to be getting worse,” he said.
In 2018, Dr. Masri launched a national climate outreach project called “On the Road for Climate Action,” in an effort to raise awareness about climate change by organizing educational climate events and giving public presentations across all 50 states.
“That year, I visited more than 40 states, interviewing residents and experts,” Dr. Masri said. “Worsening allergies were an ongoing complaint among residents as I traveled from state to state, from the West Coast to the East Coast, including from North to South. Medical doctors I spoke with similarly attested to an increase in allergy patients.”
“In one interview I conducted in Florida, a doctor noted that the allergy season (over the course of his career) has grown from 6 months to year-round,” he added. “Another physician I spoke with in D.C. attested to increased pollen and the seasonally earlier arrival of allergy patients.”
A full description of Dr. Masri’s interviews and insights can be found in his book chronicling this project. It will be published sometime next year. For details and pre-orders, visit Westwood Press.
The part of the country seeing the most significant increase in allergies is in the South, as it is the most challenging place to live for those with pollen allergies, according to Dr. Masri and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Certain latitudes/longitudes are seeing a greater impact from climate-driven allergies.
“I believe the mid-latitudes are the worst,” he added. “This is because rain generates conditions of ‘washout’ which
helps lower the levels of air pollution and pollen in the atmosphere.”
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“The tropics would likely be less affected,” Dr. Masri said. “The poles are too cold to support the abundance of plant life that gives rise to allergy-inducing pollen. Among the mid-latitudes, places with very little water and plants (deserts) will likely be less affected, as will places with lots of year-round rain (e.g., Pacific Northwest).”
However, being near industrial areas with increased air pollution exposure may exacerbate other health conditions (e.g., allergies). Winds also play a role, as they can kick allergens into the air, according to Dr. Masri.
There are many different ways climate change can impact allergies, he added.
“Increasing the frequency of major hurricanes/storms/floods, which can in turn flood basements and homes, thus creating ideal growing conditions for mold,” Dr. Masri said. “Mold can then release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and spores that trigger allergies or allergy-like symptoms.”
“The earlier arrival of spring can cause some plants to bloom earlier, thus creating earlier pollen dispersal and therefore increasing the ‘pollen/allergy’ season,” he added.
“Depending on where you live, climate change may be triggering more heatwaves, thus causing people to stay indoors more, where they may have increased exposure to dust mites and worse indoor air quality,” explained Dr. Masri. “The same can be said for increased climate-related wildfires, which cause people to stay indoors (and also create severe outdoor air pollution and asthma).”
“Though not yet confirmed, carbon dioxide concentration and climate may also increase the seasonal intensity of the pollen load (the concentration of allergenic pollen produced), according to Dr. Masri.
Though not exactly an allergy-trigger (but still a respiratory public health threat), algal blooms in oceans and lakes are also an issue, he said.
“While such blooms have been around for centuries, often related to agricultural runoff, their record-breaking presence and duration in recent decades are thought to
be due in part to climate-related factors, including increasing hurricane severity, increases in water temperature, ocean acidification, and sea level rise,” he added.
While many allergens are food-related and others are caused by plant pollen, such as trees, grasses, and weeds, or “ragweed,” it is these plants that produce pollens which can trigger allergies. But some flowering plants (e.g., roses) have heavier, waxy pollen that is not as easily windblown.
“Climate change is shifting the distribution of many such plants; however, I cannot say for sure as to how the exact distribution of each has changed,” said Dr. Masri.
“Since there is a rather clear relationship between climate change and exposure to allergens, the mitigation of climate change (through immediate and dramatic steps toward decarbonization) could potentially still slow the worsening allergy trend,” he said.
“Stabilizing the climate is therefore critical (and for many other reasons too),” Dr. Masri said. “However, with climate change (or what I like to call “climate destabilization”), we have the opposite scenario in which there is very little predictability and regularity. This makes it hard to plan and prepare for the allergy season and allergic episodes.”
A medical expert weighing in on allergies and climate change is Dr. Perry Sheffield, M.D., MPH, a pediatrician and professor of Pediatrics and Environmental Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine based in New York City, New York. She has been in the field for 20 years and completed her fellowship in Pediatric Environmental Health at Mount Sinai.
“Allergic diseases have been increasing for over a generation, particularly in higher-income countries, and the changing climate could be contributing in several ways, including changing the duration and intensity of pollen season or prevalence of allergenic plants,” said Dr. Sheffield.
With allergies, she says there is a lot of geographic variation, and this amount varies from year to year. “With wind and weather, particularly around the oceans, it definitely affects exposures to allergens,” she said. “An example
Experts say worsening climate change is driving longer pollen seasons, higher pollen
Allergy Seasons Across the Globe
is at times in Puerto Rico, where the air quality is affected by dust brought all the way from the Sahara Desert in Africa. This contributes to allergic respiratory diseases.”
In general, climate change is affecting the areas closer to the poles more dramatically than the equator, but everywhere is impacted by climate change. Both drought and extreme precipitation could drive allergies through either increasing the risk of dust exposure or mold exposure, respectively, according to Dr. Sheffield.
Along with these factors and changing pollen seasons, long-term transport of dust, drought-driven dust, and rain-driven mold exposure, there are other ways climate change is influencing allergy risk. An example of it is how climate change is altering plant biology by increasing pollen potency, she added.
“There are potentially more insidious ways too, such as exposure to higher temperatures impacting inflammatory pathways that could drive allergic responses,” said Dr. Sheffield. “Allergies are developing into more of a year-round concern due to climate change because of the lengthening of pollen season.”
Like Dr. Masri, Dr. Sheffield believes the prevalence and intensity of allergies can be mitigated by action to slow down climate change.
“We can avert catastrophic climate change with a global concerted effort and therefore curb some of the exposures that both cause allergic sensitization (creating the disease) and trigger allergic reactions (creating the symptoms),” she added.
Similar to what Meteorologist Anderson said, Dr. Amirah Aujnarain, a pediatrician and allergist/immunologist out of Toronto, Canada, also says we are seeing longer pollen seasons with higher pollen counts and more severe seasonal symptoms. Dr. Aujnarain has worked in clinical care and research for 5 years.
“These trends align closely with climate change: warmer winters and earlier springs lengthen the pollen season, and increased CO₂, which can stimulate plants to produce more pollen,” he explained. “In short, a warming planet is amplifying both the amount and the duration of airborne allergens.”
provoke year-round symptoms, according to Dr. Aujnarain.
“For many people, allergy management is becoming a 12-month task,” he explained.
“Over the past two years, we’ve noticed earlier tree pollen, prolonged grass pollen into summer, and in some areas increased mold spore counts following wetter seasons or flooding events,” he added.
Dr. Aujnarain also believes that slowing down climate change will help allergy sufferers adapt better. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions would, over time, lessen the shifts driving longer pollen seasons and higher pollen loads,” he explained. “Meanwhile, local adaptation [like] better air-quality controls, flood mitigation, and public-health preparedness can reduce exposure and acute events. Clinically, we must pair individual patient care with advocacy for healthier environments.”
Another medical professional observing an increase in allergies related to climate change is Dr. Maria Knobel, the Medical Director and co-founder of Medical Cert in London, U.K. With over 10 years of experience in general practice and as a lifestyle medicine specialist, she has a unique perspective.
and require treatment at an earlier time in the season.
“The high increases [in allergies] are in Northern and Central Europe, the U.S. Northeast and Midwest, and East Asia,” she said. “The beachfront regions experience even greater influences of longer growing seasons and changes in pollen patterns.”
With longer exposures in higher latitudes, pollen seasons are going on longer, though once they were shorter. Less harsh winters have enabled allergenic weed species such as ragweed to grow to higher latitudes, according to Dr. Knobel.
“Climate change causes the earlier and later onset of spring and winter, respectively, and increases the pollen production due to increasing CO 2 levels,” she explained. “Air pollutants may render pollen more allergenic and spread it.”
“These days, there is a tendency for symptoms not to restrict themselves to the traditional pollen months,” said Dr. Knobel. “Warmer winters allow molds and dust mites to live through the year, and mixed pollen seasons occur.”
She said climate stabilization would help reduce pollen by reducing greenhouse gases and pollution in towns.
Compared with 5 years ago, Dr. Aujnarain sees more patients with earlieronset seasonal allergies and more frequent or severe flares.
“This mirrors population-level data and my colleagues’ experience: not only is prevalence rising in many communities, but individual patients report worse symptoms and longer symptomatic periods,” he added.
The most significant upticks are being reported in temperate regions that are experiencing faster seasonal shifts — parts of North America, Europe, and East Asia. Coastal areas with warming oceans may also experience changes, where altered local climates can influence pollen calendars and humidity (which affects molds and dust-mite populations), according to Dr. Aujnarain.
“Mid-latitude temperate zones appear most affected right now because small temperature increases there shift growing seasons substantially,” he explained. “That being said, climate impacts are complex and local: elevation, urban heat islands, and regional precipitation changes mean the precise effect varies by locale.”
Increased pollen production and higher atmospheric CO₂ levels can make plants more productive and more pollen-rich. And with climate change comes longer growing seasons and pollen seasons, with warmer temperatures and advanced flowering, which extend pollen release, according to Dr. Aujnarain.
“More mold and dust-mite exposure due to increased humidity and extreme weather can lead to mold growth and higher indoor humidity, favoring dust mites,” he added. “Air-pollution interactions, including pollutants (NOx, ozone, diesel PM), make pollen grains more allergenic and inflame airways, increasing sensitization and severity.”
With extreme weather events like thunderstorms and wildfires, pollen or particulates are spread widely, triggering significant community asthma/allergy events, he added.
Like Dr. Masri found, many patients are now experiencing symptoms beyond the traditional seasonal windows — spring symptoms start earlier, fall weeds persist later, and molds or dust-mite exposure can
“The rise in temperature and the increase in CO 2 lengthen the allergy seasons and cause them to come earlier as the increase in pollen production,” she explained. “The allergies are aggravated by urban heat and pollution.”
Dr. Knobel has observed a 20 percent increase in the prevalence of hay fever over the last decade. She says children are becoming increasingly ill at an earlier age
“It is important to have local solutions such as low-allergen landscaping and improved indoor air filtration,” she added.
With allergies now being year-round, a more viable year-round medical methodology is necessary, she said.
“This change has transformed the treatment of allergies to a sustained approach, which needs innovation in medical treatment as well as collective climate action,” said Dr. Knobel.
pollen counts, and more year-round triggers that affect millions across the country.
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
Cerritos Football Host Valley Christian in Early Season Crossroads Game
Usually, so-called crossroads games are saved until the middle of the season, but in the case of the Cerritos High and Valley Christian High football teams, their clash on Friday at Dr. Hanford Rants Stadium would qualify as such. After three games, both teams are still searching for answers for several reasons and the winner of this matchup, which happens to be the HMGCommunity News Game of the Week, could determine the paths each team goes down for the remaining six games.
Cerritos built a 17-7 halftime lead in last Friday’s home game against Portola High and went on to defeat the Bulldogs 31-17, improving to 2-1. Senior quarterback Justin Sagun completed just seven passes for 56 yards but scored a touchdown while the Dons tormented Portola to the tune of 276 rushing yards on 49 carries. Senior running back Labrenton Wilson led the way with 86 yards on 17 carries while senior running back Jacob Hoosac added 69 yards on seven rushes and scored a pair of touchdowns. Senior defensive back Michael Quibrantar had a pair of interceptions, including a pick six.
For the season, senior running back Jayden Bagaygay has 222 rushing yards while Wilson is three yards shy of 200. The remainder of the team (eight ball carriers) have combined for 211 yards. Junior wide receiver Terrence Grissom leads in the receiving department with 15 catches for 147 yards.
The Dons scored over 30 points for the second straight game and if it wasn’t for a penalty-marred game against
Cypress High in the season opener, they may be undefeated. They have scored 11 touchdowns while allowing five and of the 80 points scored, 56 have come in the second half.
Valley Christian began last season with six straight wins, including a 28-14 win over Cerritos. But it has been rough going for the Defenders who have lost two straight after an emphatic 41-0 win over Gahr High. V.C. squandered a 12-6 halftime lead against Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana High and lost 33-19, then was edged by Mary Star of the Sea High 22-21 last Friday as the Stars scored 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Senior wide receiver Oliver Boateng caught five passes for 105 yards and a pair of touchdowns while junior quarterback Graham Lunzer added one on the ground. V.C. was outgained 349-259 in total offense. On defense, Boateng also added an interception as V.C., which will be on the road for the first time this season, has won all four games in the series since 2013 by a combined score of 156-62.
Prediction: Cerritos 35, V.C. 21
Buena Park High (1-2) @ Artesia High (2-1)-After getting blown out by Maranatha High 49-7 in the second game of the season, Artesia bounced back to shutout Firebaugh High 35-0 last Friday at home. Sophomore quarterback Jorge Velazquez completed all three of his pass attempts for 137 yards, including touchdown passes of 87 and 45 yards to senior Elijah Johnson. Velazquez also had an 88-yard touchdown run as the Pioneers racked up over 400 allpurpose yards.
Buena Park has lost two straight
To play Wonderword, read the word list, then find each word in the letter grid by scanning horizontally, vertically, diagonally, and backward. When you find a word, circle its letters and cross it off your list. The remaining letters, when read in order, spell the “Wonderword” solution.
games including last Friday’s 28-27 nailbiter against Ocean View High. Quarterback Kevin Garcia was 15 of 25 for 124 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added 27 rushing yards as the Coyotes mustered 64 yards on the ground. Buena Park was held to under 200 yards in total offense and has scored 54 points in three games.
The Coyotes have not had a winning record since going 10-2 in 2016 and this is the first meeting between the teams in at least 28 years.
Prediction: Artesia 38, Buena Park 10
Gahr (0-2) @ Trinity Classical Academy (1-1)-This game was played on Sept. 11. Very little went right for Gahr in the first two games as they were outscored by the city’s two other teams by a combined score of 76-7. The lone score came in the third quarter against Cerritos courtesy of a one-yard run by sophomore De’Mir Cunninham. Now, the Gladiators have had two weeks to rest, recuperate and fix the problems they had in those two games as they head up north to the College of the Canyons to face Trinity Classical Academy for the first time.
The Knights lost their opener to San Fernando High 7-6 before blasting Bosco Tech High 42-0 last Saturday. Trinity Classical Academy, out of Valencia, is situated in the Cottonwood League and began its program as an eight-man football team in 2010. The next season, the Knights went 11-1 and moved to 11-man status in 2015. Last season, the team went 10-1, losing to Carter High in the CIF-Southern Section Division 12 first round playoffs.
Prediction: Gahr 28, Trinity Classical Academy 14
Compton Early College (1-2) @ John Glenn High (1-2)-It’s all about baby steps and Glenn’s 14-0 win over California Military Institute last Friday was one of those steps. The Eagles accomplished the rare shutout without the services of four key senior offensive starters as sophomore quarterback Ryder Perez rushed for a touchdown and threw for the other.
The Eagles stay home for the third straight week, facing a second straight opponent for the first time ever. Compton Early College opened in 2015 but did not field a football team until last season and the Rising Phoenix, out of the MidCities League, went winless in 10 games, allowing 547 points.
This season, Compton Early College lost its first two games by a combined score of 83-14 before setting records against Mark Keppel High last Friday as it won its first game ever by scoring a record 49 points in a 28-point victory.
Prediction: Glenn 28, Compton Early College 7
La Mirada High (2-1) @ Western High (2-1)-This game was played on Sept. 11. The surprise start by La Mirada ended last Friday in a 17-5 setback to Tesoro High. Even though Tesoro had nearly 100 more offensive yards than La Mirada, the Matadores kept themselves in the game converting on several third and fourth down plays and getting into the red zone multiple times throughout the game. Junior kicker Cristian Hecker booted a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter and after the Titans scored a touchdown in the second quarter, the Matadores came up with a safety to trail 8-5 at the half.
Sophomore quarterback Ace Faagata completed seven of 13 passes for 73 yards and added 56 yards on 10 carries while junior running back Ismael Garcia pitched
in with 54 yards on 17 carries. In three games, Faagata has 250 passing yards and 91 rushing yards while Garcia leads the team with 391 rushing yards on 68 carries and four touchdowns.
Just like the Matadores, Western won its first two games before falling to Huntington Beach High 48-7 on Sept. 4. The lone score came in the second quarter on a Chance Thomas touchdown. He picked up 39 yards on 11 carries while Skylar Lendsey led the Pioneers with 74 yards on 10 touches. Thomas also threw for 266 yards on 19 completions with an interception as Huntington Beach outgained Western 410381.
Before last season when they went 5-6, and not including the Covid-shortened season, the Pioneers had five straight seasons of at least eight victories and 11 games played.
Western defeated the Matadores 42-7 last season in the only other meeting between the teams since at least 2004.
Prediction: Western 21, La Mirada 20
Venice High (2-1) @ Norwalk High (3-0)-Senior running backs Diego Cerritos (33 carries, 172 yards, three touchdowns) and Daron Walker (16 carries, 169 yards, three touchdowns) were all the offense Norwalk needed in a 42-34 win over Pasadena High last Friday. The Lancers bolted out to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and scored twice in the fourth quarter in the first meeting between the teams. Pasadena had 90 more all-purpose yards but could not get closer than eight points at any time.
In three games, Walker has rushed for 546 yards with Cerritos two yards behind, and the two have combined for all but one of the 17 touchdowns the team has gained on the ground. The Lancers are averaging 44 points a game.
This is the first meeting with Venice, out of the CIF-Los Angeles City Section’s Westen League, which also houses Fairfax High and Westchester High, to name a few. The Gondoliers enter having won two straight games including last Friday’s 17-3 decision over Harvard-Westlake High. Quarterback Bennett Dome was eight of 13 for 104 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions. Joshua Aaron gained 152 yards on 20 carries as Venice had 178 yards on the ground. On defense, Jonathan Sharp had four sacks, and Donte Ross had two interceptions. The Gondoliers have had eight straight winning seasons but have not won more than eight games since going 10-3 in 2013.
Venice has faced only one other team
LOREN KOPFF’S NEWS AND NOTES FROM PRESS ROW
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Serving From Pak, Sales Lifts Whitney Over Norwalk In Four Sets
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
A tight first set between Norwalk High and host Whitney High in the opening minutes last Thursday turned into a runaway, thanks to some nifty serving and poor serve receiving. And as the match went on, the lack of players Norwalk had on that day was too much to overcome as the defending 605 League champions continued their strong serving, then received some stellar play from a pair of freshmen and a veteran junior outside hitter who is making a name for herself as the new leader of the Wildcats.
Behind 13 kills from Emma Prowse, 10 from freshman outside hitter Pressley Pak and six more from freshman opposite hitter Megan Shaw, Whitney knocked off Norwalk 25-15, 25-11, 22-25, 25-12. In addition, Pak had 15 aces and junior setter Janelle Sales added nine aces.
“We really work on our serving and take pride in our serving,” said Whitney head coach Mark Kato. “We are not the tallest [team]; we [do not have] the most powerful front line. So, we have to rely on being accurate with our serves and to exploit weaknesses on the other team.”
There were four ties and three lead changes within the first rotation and neither team had a lead greater than three points. But with Sales serving to begin the second rotation, she had an ace followed by two straight blocks from Shaw as the Wildcats took a 13-11 lead. A serving error, plus consecutive aces from Norwalk sophomore Antoinette Espina put the Lancers up by a point before the
NORWALK HIGH SENIOR libero Nayeli Sanchez goes for a dig late in the second set against Whitney High last Thursday. Whitney would eventually get a kill from freshman outside hitter Pressley Pak on the return and the Wildcats would defeat the Lancers 25-15, 25-11, 22-25, 25-12. PHOTO BY
wheels came off.
The second serving error of the set gave Pak the serve and she reeled off 10 straight points, including seven aces. That burst of momentum carried over into the second set when a block from Sales was immediately followed by five straight points served by her, including two more aces and two kills from Pak. Whitney would not trail in the set as the Lancers couldn’t get closer than three points.
Pak would string together five straight points on her serve in the first rotation, adding three more aces and her sixth kill. Then in the second rotation, Pak’s next kill gave the serve to Sales where she had
another five consecutive points with three aces and a pair of kills from Pak. It was only fitting that the set would end on the 13th ace from Pak after a kill from senior middle blocker Olachi Anyama.
“To be honest, it was definitely an off day for us,” said Norwalk head coach Paola Nava. “Coming off a loss on Tuesday at Santa Fe…we went back and forth and think we did really well fighting back for that fifth set. And I think coming into today, just the mental part of our game wasn’t on point. I think we kind of let it affect us a little bit; I feel like we have been struggling a little bit on the mental part of the game and that’s something
WEEK TWO FOOTBALL
we’re working on.”
“She’s playing more mature than her age,” said Kato of Pak. “She’s played in club, so she’s got that experience, and she has a good club serve.”
Whitney scored the first two points of the third set, only to see the Lancers get the next four points, their longest scoring spree of the match, and hold onto that lead. In the second rotation, Norwalk junior middle blocker Mirei Sanchez had an ace, then a kill from junior outside hitter Nataly Felix to open a 16-12 advantage. Both teams would trade points on the next 12 serves before Shaw had a kill, followed by two aces from Anyama to make it 23-22. But the ninth kill from Sanchez assured the Lancers of at least a four-set match.
“I think we started off pretty strong,” said Nava. “But it’s the momentum killer where we’re making minor errors after a long rally; setting into the net or missing our serves. It’s something that we’re working on.”
Service errors finally caught up to the ‘Cats in the third set, and between the third and fourth sets, the message from Kato to his players was to fire up, to want it, to have hunger and to be more accurate with their serves. The message was received quite well as Norwalk’s lone lead was 1-0. Moments later, Pak’s 14th ace made it 6-2 and shortly after that, Shaw’s seventh and final kill opened the lead to 9-3. The Lancers were unable to score more than three straight points at any time in the set.
The score was 13-9 after the first rota-
[ See WHITNEY, page 12 ]
Perez Does Enough In First Start While Defense Puts Up A Zero In Glenn’s First Victory
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
John Glenn High’s eight-game losing streak is now history and following the team’s 14-0 win over California Military Institute last Friday, first-year head coach Dwon Drummer hoped it was the first of many. If the team’s defense has anything to say about that the rest of this season, the Eagles figure to get more victories not just this season, but in the years to come.
Senior defensive back Evan Perez picked off Daniel De Los Santos twice in the first half, senior defensive back Juan Navarro recovered a fumble in the first quarter, and the Glenn defense forced the Rough Riders to punt five times while limiting the Perris-based school to 137 yards total offense in a 14-0 homecoming win. It was the first shutout for Glenn since blanking Bosco Tech High 41-0 on Sept. 8, 2017, and the eighth homecoming win since 1999, the first since 2023 when Glenn defeated Godinez High 3110.
“It was a tough game; we battled, and we found ourselves in the fourth quarter,” said Drummer. “The defense played a hell of a game. Kudos to our defensive coaches; coach [Carlos] Alvarez, coach [Ken] Mason and coach [Tyler] Charlton. They put together a great game plan to stop this offense that takes time to learn. and it takes time to be able to prepare for it.
“On offense, we were without a lot of guys,” he continued. “We had a lot of injuries…we had four starters missing on
GLENN HIGH senior wide receiver and defensive back Jonah Mason had a night to remember in last Friday night’s 14-0 win over California Military Institute. He caught a 26-yard pass on third down which led to Glenn’s first touchdown. Then he was crowned homecoming king at halftime. Finally, he had a 16-yard punt return five plays before the second touchdown. From left to right: father and defensive coach Ken, Jonah, brother Lake, sister Michelle and mother Chamnan.
offense and they were key senior guys. We had four guys who are cornerstones of our offense, and they were out, and it was next man up.”
Senior running back and defensive back Okaro Lee (hyper-extended left knee), senior quarterback and linebacker Luis Vergara and senior linemen Alex Fajardo (ankle) and Emmanuel Lopez (ankle) were the four he was referring to which meant sophomore quarterback Ryder Perez had to pick up most of the slack if the Eagles were to win.
He accounted for both touchdowns, first connecting with junior wide receiver Cody Smith for 34 yards with 4:38 left in the first half, and then adding a clinching 23-yard touchdown run with 3:12 remaining in the contest.
“He had his ups and downs; it was a roller coaster ride of a game,” said Drummer. “But like I told the team, and I tell him every day, I have a high expectation for him as a football player. He’s a good football player, and he’s got many more games in front of him. He’s a sophomore;
he’s got time, but [it’s] next man up.”
Perez found out on Monday that Vergara couldn’t go and that he would start against CMI.
“My preparation started during the summer learning plays, learning what I need to do and what my job is,” said Perez. “And then this week, I was locked in, waiting for this moment.”
On the first play of the game, Evan Perez had the first of his two interceptions, which would be the beginning of a sloppy opening quarter by both teams. Glenn’s first drive of the game ended with Arthur Tomashevskiy sacking Ryder Perez for an eight-yard touchdown loss on fourth and goal from the one-yard line.
“Okoro Lee not being in the game… there was some miscommunication in the backfield,” said Drummer. “We had to shuffle some things around and we had a person in that situation…that wasn’t prepared and there wasn’t enough practice time to get him prepared for that moment and we got stopped.”
CMI couldn’t convert as it fumbled at the Glenn 17-yard line, only to see Ryder Perez picked off by Adan Solario at the eight-yard line. In the first 5:51 of the game, the teams combined for 10 plays, 15 yards, four penalties and three turnovers.
The Rough Riders, also seeking their first win of the season, were driving deep into Glenn territory early in the second quarter when Evan Perez intercepted De Los Santos at the 18-yard line and went the other direction for a potential score.
[ See GLENN, page 12 ]
JOHN
ALEX AGUIRRE.
However, the Eagles were called for an illegal block infraction and had to settle for their fourth drive of the game beginning at their 40-yard line.
After consecutive false start penalties, Glenn picked up 14 yards on the next two plays, then had its biggest play of the half when Ryder Perez found senior wide receiver Jonah Mason, the homecoming king, open for a 26-yard connection. Two plays later, it would be 7-0 in favor of the hosts.
“It was exciting running up there,” said Ryder Perez of the game’s first touchdown. “I was expecting to get tackled, then I see everybody blocking for me; the pieces to the puzzle connecting, then I ran to the end zone.”
Glenn ran 15 plays in the first half, getting 86 yards on total offense in just over 10 minutes while collecting 50 yards on seven penalties. And while the defense was limiting CMI to 84 yards on 25 plays in the first 24 minutes, Drummer’s halftime speech was a stern one.
“I don’t know if I can use that language,” he chuckled. “It’s just that they were better than what they were performing, and there is a high expectation level that I have for them, and they were not meeting that expectation level. We need to play the way we know how to play.”
The second half began the same way as the beginning of the game with Matthew Cabrerra intercepting Ryder Perez near midfield. However, both teams would combine for five punts and two drives ending on downs before Ryder Perez sealed the game with his 23-yard touchdown run.
If things had gone the right way, Glenn would be looking at a 3-0 mark instead of 1-2. The Eagles rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit against Mountain View High in the opener, took a onepoint lead before falling 47-21. The next week against Savanna High, Glenn had leads of 6-0 and 12-6 before the Rebels escaped with a 22-18 win.
“We’re learning how to win, we’re learning how to prepare, we’re learning how to fight,” said Drummer. “But I also knew that we would have our struggles just because we were playing so many young guys and first-time guys.”
“[This win] can lead up to more momentum in the following games,” said Ryder Perez. “My first high school win… it feels good.”
He would complete seven of 15 passes for 92 yards and pick up another 42 yards on 12 carries while Mason caught two of those seven passes for 35 yards and had a pair of rushes for 33 yards. In fact, Mason’s 16-yard punt return with 5:35 left in the game enabled Glenn to begin its game-clinching touchdown at the CMI 41-yard line.
The Eagles will host Compton Early College on Friday. The Rising Phoenix ended a 12-game losing streak to begin its program with a 49-21 win last Friday against Mark Keppel High.
“Ultimately, like I tell the guys and the coaches, we’re playing against ourselves right now,” said Drummer. “We’re playing against John Glenn. We’re battling ourselves, and our expectations and just our discipline and the process. We have a vision for what we want the program to be. There’s a process of working hard; we just have to have the self-discipline and keep at it. This is a step in that direction.
“To have a win like this; a tough ugly win, I think we needed that,” he continued. “This is what programs are built off and wins like this.”
tion and in typical fashion, based on how the match was going, Prowse had three kills and Shaw a pair of aces for the final five points.
“With Rachel [Moyher] gone; she graduated, it’s like Emma took Rachel’s spot and now, Pressley is taking Emma’s spot,” said Kato. “She does have high potential.”
The Lancers, as they have been accustomed to the previous two seasons, were led by Sanchez (12 kills), Felix (six kills) and senior outside hitter Jeina Lapena (five kills).
“It’s hard for one player to kind of take control of the game on her own,” said Nava of Sanchez. “I think she did a really good job of controlling what she could do for the struggles that we were having. But it’s hard for her as one of our top hitters to produce more if the team is not supporting. Again, it just comes into the team effort that we had today.”
Reinforcements, though, are on the way to Norwalk as it aims for the tough Gateway League next week. Senior outside hitter Giselle Salazar, a returner who has been sidelined, is slated to return soon and senior outside hitter Valeria Mejia a transfer from John Glenn High, becomes eligible on Saturday.
“I would definitely say it’s going to be a big switch in our team for sure,” said Nava. “They are our top three hitters, so it’s going to put a big change in our rotation into our offense and we’re going to be able to move the ball around a little bit more.”
Norwalk (7-6) visited La Mirada High on Sept. 11 and will host Downey High and Warren High on Tuesday and Thursday respectively while Whitney, which improved to 6-5 begins 605 League play on Friday when it goes to Oxford Academy, then participates in the Pacifica Tournament on Saturday. The Wildcats stay on the road to face Cerritos High on Tuesday and Pioneer High on Friday.
“We always say this in our huddle; we’re almost there, and I feel like we’re good, but we can improve on the little things,” said Kato.
NEWS AND NOTES
from page 10
from the Suburban Valley Conference, which is Paramount High. The Pirates have a 6-2 advantage since 2016, including last season’s 38-14 win.
Prediction: Norwalk 42, Venice 14
Last week’s predictions: 4-2 Season to date: 10-8
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Artesia’s last match was on Sept. 4 when it lost to Firebaugh in five sets. Now, the Pioneers (4-5) are ready for 605 League action on Friday with a home match against Pioneer High. They will also be home to Oxford Academy on Tuesday while Cerritos, idle since a sweep over La Mirada on Sept. 2, visits Glenn on Friday, competes in the Bellflower Tournament on Saturday and travels to Oxford Academy on Thursday. The Dons are undefeated in seven matches and has swept six opponents.
Gahr lost a tough 25-20, 13-25, 2125, 25-20, 10-15 contest to La Serna High this past Tuesday to drop to 10-6. The Gladiators hosted Lynwood High on Sept. 11 in the Mid-Cities League opener and will participate in the Bellflower Tournament on Saturday before hosting Bellflower High on Tuesday and travelling to Paramount High on Thursday.
Glenn (1-6) will host Pioneer on Tuesday while La Mirada (1-12) has lost
nine straight matches as the Matadores entertained Norwalk on Sept. 11 in the Gateway League opener. They will then go to Mayfair High on Tuesday while Valley Christian remains the hottest team in the area.
The Defenders saw their 15-match winning streak snapped by Los Alamitos High 24-26, 14-25 last Saturday in the Gold Division championship of the Whittier Varsity Volleyball Cardinal Classic Tournament. V.C. (16-2) bounced back to sweep Ontario Christian High 25-15, 25-19, 26-24 this past Tuesday and opened Olympic League action on Sept. 11 against nemesis Village Christian High. The Defenders will then travel to Whittier Christian High Tuesday.
GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL
Artesia has lost all three games it has played, scoring 13 points as it hosted Pioneer on Sept. 11 in the 605 League opener. The Pioneers will also welcome Norwalk on Monday, then go to Glenn on Thursday.
Cerritos is 5-3 and posted its first on the field shutout in program history, defeating Mark Keppel 12-0 this past Monday as they visited Glenn on Sept. 11.
Gahr crushed Buena Park 46-0 for its fourth shutout last Saturday to improve to 8-2 as the Gladiators hosted Los Altos High on Sept. 11 and will face Narbonne High in a doubleheader on Saturday before entertaining Bellflower on Wednesday.
Glenn (1-6) has been shutout in two straight games as it hosts Pioneer on Tuesday while La Mirada dropped a 19-0 contest to Anaheim High this past Tuesday to fall to 2-6. The Matadores have failed to score in their six losses as they went to Schurr High on Sept. 11 and will welcome Downey High on Wednesday.
Norwalk (7-4-1) got past San Gabriel High 13-7 this past Tuesday and will go to Whitney High on Friday while the Wildcats.
NORWALK
from page 1
was inexcusable. “No community should turn its back on its residents in need — especially while there are people in your community sleeping on the streets,” Newsom said in a statement. “We are more than willing to work with any city or county that wants to do its part to solve our housing crisis,” Bonta said. “By that same token, if any city or county wants to test our resolve, today’s settlement is your answer.”
The five-member council adopted the ordinance last August as an emergency zoning measure, imposing a 45-day moratorium that blocked not only shelters and long-term supportive housing but also businesses such as laundromats, liquor stores, and payday lenders. The council later extended the moratorium for a full year. State officials said the emergency designation lacked the required findings that there was an imminent threat to public health and safety that zoning changes would address.
City officials argued Norwalk had already shouldered more than its share of regional homelessness programs without adequate state funding, pointing to problems around a large motel conversion that drew complaints about loitering and panhandling before it closed after 16 months. In February, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied the city’s motion to dismiss the state’s case, clearing the way for the settlement.
A statement from Norwalk officials sent to LCCN read, “The City’s moratorium was never about turning our
back on those in need – it was about pressing pause to ensure that the mistakes of past projects weren’t repeated in Norwalk. Too often, cities have seen homeless programs rushed into place without adequate safeguards, accountability, or coordination. That approach fails both the unhoused and the broader community. Our pause allowed us to insist on collaboration with Los Angeles County, to integrate safety measures from the start, and to align with projects that actually deliver results. On May 17, 2025, during the Contract Cities Association Annual Seminar, Supervisor Janice Hahn publicly affirmed her partnership with Norwalk, and together we are moving forward with meaningful solutions: 54 Project Homekey housing vouchers, many for Norwalk residents experiencing homelessness, and the Mental Health Village at Metropolitan State Hospital. That facility , which is in a secure and controlled environment, will provide the professional treatment and housing that is desperately needed. This moratorium was about protecting the safety of Norwalk residents, housed and unhoused alike, while ensuring that new investments are responsibly planned. We are committed to deliberate collaboration with county and state partners to ensure every program here is accountable, wellrun, and sustainable for the long term.”
CERRITOS
from page 1
after converting space for self-storage and adding auto overflow parking.
On the residential side, two new single-family homes with a detached accessory dwelling unit are being built on Artesia Boulevard, and the City Council recently approved the Clarkdale Estate project, which will add five new homes with accessory units.
Industrial growth continues with new or expanded buildings approved at Edwards Road, Crusader Avenue, and Shoemaker Avenue, offering modern warehousing and manufacturing space. Several projects are in plan-check and nearing the permit stage.
The most ambitious project under discussion is the redevelopment of the former Sears site at Los Cerritos Center. Macerich Inc., the mall’s owner, is in talks with the city to transform the vacant 277,500-square-foot building, auto center, and parking area into a mixed-use complex featuring retail, a hotel, open space, and above-moderate housing. The proposal aims to create an upscale “lifestyle center” that blends dining, shopping, entertainment, and residential living in a walkable environment. While the project is still in the design stage, city officials emphasized that a comprehensive package from the developer would trigger an expedited review to keep momentum moving forward.
The update also addressed new state legislation. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, which streamline the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for infill housing and mixed-use developments. City staff is reviewing how these reforms may apply to local rezoning efforts.
City officials emphasized that the willingness of businesses to reinvest in Cerritos demonstrates confidence in the local economy. Staff pledged to keep the council informed on new businesses and developments as they move forward.
Cerritos College launches new programs to prepare students for high-demand careers
This fall, Cerritos College introduced a number of affordable programs designed to prepare students for in-demand careers, provide transfer opportunities, and lead to advanced degrees.
From the college’s first bachelor’s degree to new pathways in education, healthcare, and the skilled trades, the offerings reflect a commitment help regional workforce needs.
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
In healthcare, Cerritos College launched its first Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program. Students can earn a four-year degree by completing just nine additional upper-division general education credits beyond their associate degree requirements. The program can be completed for less than $11,000 — a fraction of the tuition at a traditional four-year university—helping them advance their careers with minimal debt while strengthening the healthcare workforce.
Special Education Pathway
To address the nationwide shortage of special education teachers, the college partnered with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to create a new Special Education Pathway. Supported by grant funding, the pathway allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree and credential in four years—two years at Cerritos College and two at CSULB—while also offering associate degrees, certificates, and flexible courses for those working with special education populations.
Nutrition and Dietetics AS-T
The college also added an Associate of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer (AS-T) degree, which prepares students for seamless transfer to the California State University (CSU) system. The program emphasizes the science of nutrition and its role in health, performance, and society, equipping graduates for careers in nutrition, food science, and dietetics.
Online FastTrack Program
Expanding access for working adults, the CerritosOnline FastTrack program provides a fully online pathway to complete a degree or certificate in just two years. Students take two pre-scheduled classes at a time, benefit from guaranteed auto-enrollment, and can choose from 15 programs, including business, economics, film, and hospitality.
Asian American Studies Certificate and Native American and Indigenous Studies A.A.
Students also gained new opportunities to explore cultural and social issues with an Asian American Studies certificate and an associate degree in Native American and Indigenous Studies. These programs promote global awareness, challenge stereotypes, and prepare students to advocate for equity and social change.
New Welding Specialty Options
In the skilled trades, the college expanded its Welding program with four new specialty options: Combination Welder, Process Pipe Welding, Structural Steel Fabricator, and Aerospace Welding. These targeted pathways provide students with specialized training for careers in construction, manufacturing, and aerospace, addressing workforce shortages and supporting regional economic growth. Through these programs, Cerritos College is expanding opportunities for students to transfer, earn advanced degrees, and build careers in high-demand fields. The college continues to play a role in advancing affordability, equity, and economic mobility across the Southeast Los Angeles region.
ABCUSD from page 1
Stowers Elementary: Students redistributed to Gonsalves and Cerritos Elementary, contingent on shifting 6th graders to middle schools.
Whitney High Reconfiguration: Whitney expanded to include a new 6th–8th grade middle school at the former Stowers campus, allowing for increased enrollment and additional out-of-district permits.
Each school closure was projected to save the District approximately $850,000 annually, mainly from reduced administrative staffing. Teachers and support staff were set to transfer with their students to new assignments.
Equity Impact Analysis: AB 1912
Compliance
Under Assembly Bill 1912, the District conducted a nine-point Equity Impact Analysis, reviewing the effects of each proposed closure through the lens of fairness, access, and school conditions. Findings revealed that all schools were structurally sound and modernized; none were being closed due to poor conditions. Receiving schools had adequate space to absorb students without crowding. Special programs such as Head Start, Magnet, and Special Education would be relocated—not eliminated. Free busing would be provided, and no significant demographic shifts were expected. Officials also suggested that unused campuses could be repurposed for community centers, sports facilities, employee housing, or future educational needs if enrollment trends reversed.
Community Voices: Support with Reservations
In March, the District surveyed more than 1,400 residents, staff, and families. More than 83% of respondents lived within the District, with the majority supporting consolidation if it preserved academic programs and cut overhead. Still, many were concerned about the emotional impact on students, the larger class sizes, and reduced program access. Distance to new schools, program quality, and the social-emotional toll of disruption were key factors for families.
Preparing for Transition
To ease the rollout, the District pledged to prioritize enrollment for impacted families, provide counseling and transportation services, update attendance boundaries, form a transition committee, and cap open enrollment to prevent crowding. Changes were scheduled before fall 2026, giving the District more than a year to prepare.
September 2 Study Session: Community Raises New Questions
During the September 2 study session, parents, teachers, and community members raised new concerns. Some asked about transportation burdens on walking communities like Furgeson, the possibility of consolidating district offices and adult education sites, and whether trustees would visit campuses directly. Others pressed for more focus on Transitional Kindergarten, noting that ABC had space for 400 more TK students but had not filled its capacity. Several urged the District to consider new funding ideas, such as reviving a virtual academy or launching virtual summer school. Others warned against rumors that schools like Stowers and Furgeson had already been slated for closure, saying misinformation was undermining trust.
Deputy Superintendent and CFO Toan Nguyen and Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Dr. Carol Castro presented sobering data. Enrollment stood at 17,196, down 356 students from the prior year, with 16 percent of students from outside the District—the gap between
graduating seniors (1,427) and new kindergarteners (1,024) virtually guaranteed continued decline. Tracy High School, the District’s continuation program, had only 70 enrolled students, but was required by state law.
Capacity models showed that a move to a 6–7–8 middle school configuration was feasible, while K–8 options at Furgeson, Hawaiian, or Fedde also penciled out. Castro stressed the challenges of small schools, including combination classes, split electives, and limited staffing. She noted that California’s curriculum standards and facilities aligned more closely with a middle school model, while supports like Sixth Grade Academy, summer prep, and early-start days could smooth transitions.
Financial data underscored the urgency. While state funding had increased for TK, meals, and afterschool programs, ABC still faced a $3.3 million structural deficit. Health care, liability, and salary step costs were rising, and federal funding worth $3.2 million annually was set to end in 2026–27. Special education costs had surged to $57 million.
Public comments revealed tension between financial realities and community identity. A former Ferguson teacher urged transforming the campus into a community school. Parents advocated for stronger marketing of dual-immersion programs. Others pushed for site-specific closure contingency plans and raised safety and staffing concerns. One veteran teacher warned that without bold action, ABC risked “rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.”
By the end of the night, no schools were closed and no programs reconfigured. But the groundwork had been laid. The SchoolWorks consolidation and reconfiguration proposal—first introduced in May, debated in June, and revisited in
September—was placed on the September 16 agenda. That decision promised to be one of the most consequential in ABCUSD history, weighing economics, equity, and the heart of its communities.
CARGO from page 1
space. Port Executive Director Mario Cordero said crews moved quickly to clear the debris and resume operations. “We take safety extremely seriously, and our team will review every aspect of this incident to prevent future occurrences,” he said. While cargo flow has resumed, shippers may face minor delays as insurers assess damages. The port emphasized that international trade through Long Beach remains uninterrupted despite the setback.
Cerritos Senior Center 12340 South St. Cevitas Coffee 14218 Rosecrans Ave
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12750 Center Ct Dr S. ContunEM 6430 South St Don Knabe Park At the Tennis Center
St.
Cerritos Medical Center
11911 Artesia Blvd.
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CITY OF COMMERCDE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CONSIDERATION OF AN URGENCY ORDINANCE EXTENDING INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 821 ESTABLISHING A CITYWIDE MORATORIUM PROHIBITING THE APPROVAL, EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION OR RELOCATION OF ANY NEW OR EXISTING HOME-SHARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: the City of Commerce City Council will conduct a public hearing on a request from the Community Development Department for a recommendation to the City Council regarding the extension of Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 821 which established a citywide 45-day moratorium prohibiting the approval, expansion, intensification or relocation of any new or existing home-sharing which was adopted by the City Council on August 13, 2025. Pursuant to Government Code 65858, the proposed recommendation for the extension would be for an additional period of 10 months and 15 days, on June 28, 2026. Copies of the proposed ordinance are available for review at the Commerce City Hall and on our website at: https://www.commerceca. gov/city-hall/economic-development-and-planning/planning/planning-environmentaldocuments-for-review.
PURSUANT to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq., “CEQA”) and the CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15000 et seq.), the City has reviewed the environmental impacts of the extension of Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 821. This ordinance is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines based on the following findings: a) This ordinance is not a project within the meaning of Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it has no potential of resulting in a physical change in the environment, directly or indirectly; b) This ordinance is categorically exempt for CEQA under Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines as it is a regulatory action taken by the City pursuant to its police power and in accordance with Government Code Section 65858, to assure maintenance and protection of the environment and adoption of contemplated local legislation, regulation and policies; and c) This ordinance is not subject to CEQA under the general rule set forth in Section 15061(b) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines that CEQA only applies to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. For the reasons set forth in subparagraphs (1) and (2) above, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment.
Said public hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Commerce in the Council Chambers, 5655 Jillson Street, Commerce, CA, 90040, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 6:30 p.m., at which time proponents and opponents of the ordinance will be heard. Any comments, objections, or other information may be offered in person at the time of the hearing or in writing, prior to the hearing. We encourage submittal of written comments supporting, opposing, or otherwise commenting on an agenda item, for distribution to the City Council prior to the meeting. Send emails to cityclerk@ commerceca.gov; written correspondence may be sent to:
City of Commerce - 2535 Commerce Way Commerce, California 90040 Phone: (323) 722-4805
Per Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge this extension of Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 821 , you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Lena Shumway City Clerk
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 9/12/25
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE TS No. CA-25-1014112-NJ Order No.: 250246922-CA-VOI YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 11/21/2017. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier's check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 to the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, will be held by duly appointed trustee. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. BENEFICIARY MAY ELECT TO BID LESS THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE.
Trustor(s): KRISHNA ARU AND VARSHA REDDY KANKARA, HUSBAND AND WIFE Recorded: 11/30/2017 as Instrument No. 20171381741 and modified as per Modification Agreement recorded 6/6/2024 as Instrument No. 20240372009 of Official
Records in the office of the Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, California; Date of Sale: 9/18/2025 at 9:00 AM Place of Sale: At the Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles-Norwalk, 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650, in the Vineyard Ballroom Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $518,488.93 The purported property address is: 16308 INDIAN CREEK ROAD, CERRITOS, CA 90703 Assessor's Parcel No.: 7010-008-014 NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder's office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 800-280-2832 for information regarding the trustee's sale or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-25-1014112-NJ. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an "eligible tenant buyer," you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an "eligible bidder," you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 619645-7711, or visit this internet website http://www.qualityloan.com, using the file number assigned to this foreclosure by the Trustee: CA-25-1014112-NJ to find the date on which the trustee's sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee's sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee's sale. If you think you may qualify as an "eligible tenant buyer" or "eligible bidder," you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE OWNEROCCUPANT: Any prospective owner-occupant as defined in Section 2924m of the California Civil Code who is the last and highest bidder at the trustee's sale shall provide the required affidavit or declaration of eligibility to the auctioneer at the trustee's sale or shall have it delivered to QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION by 5 p.m. on the next business day following the trustee's sale at the address set forth in the below signature block. NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE POST-SALE OVER BIDDERS: For postsale information in accordance with Section 2924m(e) of the California Civil Code, use file number CA-25-1014112-NJ and call (866) 645-7711 or login to: http://www.qualityloan.com. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or other common designation, if any, shown herein. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, including if the Trustee is unable to convey title, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the monies paid to the Trustee. This shall be the Purchaser's sole and exclusive remedy. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Trustor, the Trustee, the Beneficiary, the Beneficiary's Agent, or the Beneficiary's Attorney. If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holders right's against the real property only. Date: QUALITY LOAN SERVICE CORPORATION 2763 Camino Del Rio S San Diego, CA 92108 619-645-7711
Notice Inviting Proposals City of Santa Fe Springs Request for Proposals No. 26 - 1 Surveillance Camera System
The City of Santa Fe Springs invites proposals from qualified vendors/contractors for its surveillance camera system project, following the terms and conditions of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 26 - 1.
To view the complete proposal package and associated documents, visit https://pbsystem. planetbids.com/portal/65093/portal-home and click “Bid Opportunities” or https://vendors. planetbids.com/portal/65093/bo/bo-detail/133285 to access the project directly. You can also visit the City’s website and find the link on the “Bids & Proposals” webpage.
A mandatory pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for Monday, September 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific and Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 9 a.m. Pacific. Prospective bidders are required to attend to better understand the City’s requirements and view the areas where items will be installed. Details regarding the pre-bid meeting can be found in the solicitation document.
Questions/inquiries regarding this opportunity must be submitted via the PlanetBids Portal by Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. The City will not respond to any questions/inquiries submitted after this deadline.
Please review all related documents in their entirety before submitting a response.
Responses must be submitted electronically via the City’s PlanetBids Portal by Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Any proposals received after this deadline will be deemed non-responsive, and the City reserves the right to reject them.
Responses to this request will be evaluated to determine the most qualified and responsive vendor/contractor. Responses must adhere to the format and content described in the RFP. Responses will only be evaluated if all parts requested are submitted in a complete package.
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 9/12/25
Public Hearing
Instructional Materials Compliance
A Public Hearing will be held at the ABC Unified School District Office on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. as part of the School Board meeting. The location of the Public Hearing is in the Boardroom at 16700 Norwalk Boulevard, Cerritos, California. The Public Hearing is held in compliance with State guidelines to determine the adequacy of instructional materials in the District.
Published in the Los Cerritos Community News News 9/5/25 and 9/12/25
CITY OF BELLFLOWER NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE BUILDING CODES TAKE NOTICE that the Bellflower City Council will conduct a Public Hearing on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706 to consider adopting Ordinance No. 1449.
An Ordinance adopting the 2025 Editions of the California Building Code, the California Residential Code, the California Electrical Code, the California Mechanical Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Energy Code, the California Fire Code, the California Existing Building Code, the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, the California Green Building Standards Code, the California Referenced Standards Code, and the California Building Standards Administrative Code; making certain amendments based upon local conditions, and amending the Bellflower Municipal Code to reflect such changes.
These Ordinances are exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”) because it consists only of minor revisions and clarifications to an existing code of construction-related regulations and specification of procedures. These will not have the effect of deleting or substantially changing any regulatory standards or findings. Accordingly, the Ordinances (by itself) does not have the potential to cause significant effects on the environment. In addition, these Ordinances are an action being taken for enhanced protection of the environment and is exempt from further review under CEQA Guidelines § 15308.
The City of Bellflower invites members of the public to review and comment on this item. Copies of the staff report and supporting documents regarding this matter may be inspected by the public on the City’s website at www.bellflower.org, or by appointment in the City Clerk’s Office at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California; telephone number (562) 804-1424, extension 2220. All written comments concerning this may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706; or by email at cclerk@bellflower.ca.gov
If you wish to challenge this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the Public Hearing.
MAYRA OCHIQUI, CITY CLERK
Published in the Los Cerritos Community News News 9/5/25 and 9/12/25
