Soccer Program Award Ceremony and Olympic Day Celebration Held

Congratulations! Joining in the annual Youth Soccer League Awards Night are [l-r] Councilmembers Jim Edwards, Carol Chen, Mayor Bruce Barrows holding his granddaughter with a member of the Pee Wee Division, Councilmember Laura Lee, 1988 Olympic Gold Medal Winner Dr. Jim Kim, Parks and Recreation Commission members Nick Kim, Mark Anthony Ruiz, Lew Gentiluomo, Jack Reidy and Jim Yee.

The annual Youth Soccer League Awards Night was held Aug. 4 at the Cerritos
Sports Complex. In addition to the traditional award presentations, the Cerritos Olympic Day Celebration was conducted in support of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Olympic Day is an international event that is designed to promote the Olympic ideals of fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship. Festivities included a parade of athletes and a special appearance by 1988 Olympic gold medalist and Cerritos resident, Dr. Jimmy Kim. A wristband was distributed to all players and coaches to commemorate the event.
Mayor Bruce Barrows said: “: The City of Cerritos encourages its residents to engage in physical activity to improve health and wellness. As a ‘Playful City USA,’ Cerritos prides itself on providing outstanding recreation programs and facilities. The City strongly supports the Olympics and the benefits it has around the world.”

Hawaiian Gardens Residents Turn Out in Support of National Night Out Program

Teen Center March: Members of the Hawaiian Gardens Teen Center were among the throng who gathered in the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club prior to marching to the city’s library.

By Jerry Bernstein

An estimated 600 Hawaiian Gardens residents turned out for the first National Night Out celebrated throughout the country Tuesday in a show of how proud Hawaiian Gardens citizens are of their city.
They gathered in the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club parking lot, where T-shirts were given out with the logo “National Night Out” printed on the front, marched down Civic Center Drive, turning north on Seine Street to the city’s library where they gathered for an evening of fun.
Mayor Mike Gomez told the crowd, “Tonight demonstrates that Hawaiian Gardens is a community united, focused and determined to give our children a home they deserve.” He said, “We’re going to make Hawaiian Gardens the best real estate there is in the United States.” He added, “We can only do it together.”
The Mayor said he has lived in Hawaiian Gardens for 31years, raising three children. During that time he said he has seen Hawaiian Gardens struggle to find itself. “Every year has gotten better,” he stated. “Every year we have done better to protect our neighborhoods with a neighborhood watch program that is getting stronger each day.”
The Mayor said a key weapon in the fight to make the city safer for their families was education, pointing out that this summer the city council voted to donate $117,000 to ABC in order to keep its summer school open in the four schools that serve the city so the children’s hands (and minds) will not remain idle over the summer months.
“We want to make Hawaiian Gardens a garden where our children can grow and call it home with pride. He concluded by saying, “Tonight we send a strong message to criminals. That message is we stand together. Our neighborhoods are organized and will fight back.” He asserted what the people need to do is become active in their neighborhoods and get to know their neighbors. “We must never surrender to the darkness and give up our community,” he concluded.
Lakewood Sheriff Station Commander Captain Christy Guyovich told those present she was happy to be with them and march with them in observance of the first annual National Night Out. Emphasizing the need for their support in keeping Hawaiian Gardens free from crime, she said, “I can’t tell you how vital your role in the community is to us – law enforcement. We can’t possibly be everywhere all the time. You’re role in the community and in providing information to us is of tremendous help in everything we do.” She thanked those who are pro-active and members of the neighborhood watch.
Captain Guyovich said, “The crime rate does not lie. The crime rate in Hawaiian Gardens has dropped 55-60 percent in the last five-six years. This was greeted with cheers and applause from those in the audience. She thanked them for participating in National Night Out and for their support.

La Palma Council Might Look to Eminent Domain

Tenants not showing
interest in cooperating with city to remodel centers.

By Larry Caballero

What do you do if you are the City Manager and Community Development Director who see tremendous potential in two commercial sites in need of tender loving care that are owned by multiple owners who are not showing much interest in cooperating with the city in making improvements? That was the question for La Palma’s City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto and the city’s Community Development Director John Di Mario who addressed the City Council at its August 4 meeting.
After numerous attempts to work closely with the owners of the two commercial sites located on the corners of Moody and Walker and Moody and La Palma, they suggested to the Council that eminent domain, which was allowed to expire in 2004, be an option in improving the sites. Lazzaretto explained that three votes were needed to approve it and a super majority of four votes were needed to implement its powers. “The council should have as many tools in its tool chest as possible to carry out the public good.”
Councilmembers Larry Herman, Ralph Rodriguez and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Shanahan were willing to allow staff to research that option and to report back at a future meeting so long as it was made clear that any discussion of eminent domain should only be considered in the two sites and not for any residential properties or any other sites such as churches and schools.
Mayor Mark Waldman and Councilmember Henry Charoen were adamantly opposed. Both felt that other options need to be tried in reaching out to the commercial site owners before the idea of re-instituting limited eminent domain authority can be considered. Yet the city manager and community development director felt that all options by the city, that have included assisting in the relocation of their businesses and the prospect of additional tax benefits, have already been utilized to very little success.
“The owners are content with the way things are since they get a steady revenue from these properties,” said Lazzaretto, “and there is little incentive to want to sell the properties or to do more than minimum maintenance.”
Councilmember Herman agreed and felt that “multiple citations probably won’t do much good in the long run.” Staff was directed to research what steps would be involved, the scope of eminent domain and to address protections for other sites. The consideration of a blanket use of eminent domain powers was not supported by any of the council members or staff. Only the granting of limited authority, as a justification for specific projects, would be considered.
It is expected that staff will report back to the council within 90 days, and at that time the issue of limited eminent domain powers will be fully debated.
2009 Fall Home Spotlight Winners
A home is chosen every three months to be a Home Spotlight Winner by the La Palma Community Activities and Beautification Committee for its overall appearance and improvements.
Park and Recreations Director Jan Hobson praised Bert and Gail Poan for the improvements they have made to their home at 8191 Del Oro Lane to enhance its curb appeal, and “to make La Palma a little more beautiful city.”

Cerritos Council Approves Remodeling of Four Acre Shopping Center

Proposed center remodel-Construction on Landmark Square remodeling is expected to start in early spring. Above is a rendering looking at the remodeled Center from South Street.

By Jerry Bernstein

Meeting in regular session July 23, the Cerritos City Council approved the remodeling of a shopping center located on the southwest intersection of South Street and Gridley across from the Cerritos Center at 11300-11388 South Street. Known as Landmark Square, the work includes the partial demolition of two existing buildings and the upgrading of three of the four buildings on the property. Upgrades also include landscaping and vehicular entry onto South Street via installation of a new left-turn lane. The property is zoned CR [Regional Commercial] and totals approximately 4.98 acres.
Seeking approval was Michael Tseng, Perkowitz & Ruth Architects of Long Beach on behalf of the property owners, G & A Partnership.
In other business the Council approved the first reading of an amendment to the city code establishing rules for excessive dog barking. The ordinance permits a single resident to file a complaint about a neighbor’s barking dog, if sufficient evidence is provided to initiate an administrative citation. It would require no other witnesses or neighbors to be part of the complaint.
The complaining neighbor would be required to furnish a log to document the times, days and duration of the barking. Staff will advise the resident on additional methods to obtain evidence including video, tape recorder, etc., then evaluate the evidence and make the necessary recommendations. If the complaining party still wants to proceed, he or she will be notified in writing that their declaration is made under penalty of perjury and the City bears no responsibility for the validity of the complaint. The owner of the dog(s) can appeal with the same options as the person(s) making the complaint. In the case where the violator requests a hearing, both parties would appear before the hearing officer and the City would not be involved.
The Council denied an appeal by Robert and Sue Reeder 19202 Stefani Ave., seeking the removal of a parkway tree adjacent to their property. Mrs. Reeder indicated she has developed a severe allergy to the pine tree and the associated pollen from the tree. She submitted medical documentation to support her concerns as it pertains to the parkway tree.
Mr. Reeder noted that the required continual pollen and pine needle cleanup has made property maintenance and management of Mrs. Reeder’s health condition difficult.
Tod Kuh, Parks Superintendent said denial of the request was based on the city’s tree ordinance which requires a tree be removed if it is diseased, dying or dead and presents a hazard for public safety. In his report he said there was not sufficient grounds for removal of the tree.

Opinions/Letters to Editor

Re: Battle for Hawaiian Gardens Heats Up

Dear Editor:

Your front page article, dated July 31, 2009, Battle For Hawaiian Gardens Heats Up, [seemed to refer] that Pastor Barry Bruce and the community organization (Operation RAGE: Rally Against Gentrification Efforts) [was] the “apparent spokesperson for” and supports the Hawaiian Gardens Barrio Gang. It {most certainly] does not!
What it does support is residents of Hawaiian Gardens who have had their civil rights violated by law enforcement using the covering of a Gang Injunction. This “injunction” has allowed deputies of questionable character to racially profile, victimize and label anyone they want to as a gangster without the “proof” that they say is required. The group (Operation RAGE) is well documented and well supported by many citizens who have absolutely no criminal records. This is why Sheriff Lee Baca came to the city council meeting and why he is now meeting with organizers of the group to resolve outstanding complaints that were never followed up on by his department.
Pastor Bruce was also misquoted ... in the article (please see Editor's retraction), [including] attributing him to a statement made against the Hawaiian Gardens Casino and Bingo club. Pastor Bruce and Operation RAGE are not hostile to any business that operates uprightly and meets the requirements of its city and the laws within it.

Publisher's Rant
The Healthcare
"Debate"

"If we're able to stop Obama on [health care reform], it will be his Waterloo. It will break him".
Sen. Jim DeMint
(R) South Carolina

We have a sickness industry. Healthcare. Many health care companies have interlocking boards of directors and lobbyists really doing what they please in Washington. The CEO of SIGNA made $12.3 million last year, retiring with a $73 million golden parachute. Meanwhile 1,400 people per day are filing for bankruptcy because of their medical bills. Sick
Now they are sending Americans out to town hall meetings to "disrupt" said meetings to the point of disorderly conduct.
Health care companies are actually paying ordinary Americans, who they would cut off from healthcare if given the chance, people who are not even from the district where the meeting is at, to shout down the congress-person so no debate takes place.
I have nothing against a good old-fashioned debate but to interrupt meetings to stop the debate is not right.
They are absolutely against democracy in this country, and their ultimate goal is to scare people into thinking this is a terrible health care bill.
It is scary because we are not debating it, right wing think tanks funded by the health corporations are lying and influencing people. When they have nothing to sell, they use lies and hate.

Here is some information on two different health care plans to debate:

I pay $1,005 per month for my family and we are never sick (knock on wood).

People on Medicare pay $350 per month, (usually) visit the doctor more, and have much more costly illnesses.

One industry is for profit, one is government run.

One has a CEO, the other does not.

One is for-profit, the other a non-profit single payer system.

Can you guess which?
The VA is a government run health plan. Why is it an adequate health plan for our veterans and not us?
If everyone is covered (single-payer), we will have no workman’s compensation, which is calculated per dollar of payroll. Bureau of Labor Statistics show 1.3 billion in non-farm payroll for 2008. That amounts to a savings of over $100 billion to American businesses. (There are many more companies that have higher rates for workman's compensation-roofers pay $17, office rate is $1)
The bill has been debated over 100 times, it has survived five government committees, it has been blue lined redlined, and hard-lined.
Both parties have debated it, and now that its time to take it to the American people for debate what happens, the health care companies are fighting back with these "disrupters".
Why?
They are for profit making billions at the expense of sick people.
Why are we the only industrialized nation in the world not to have universal health care?
PAC’S (funded by health care companies) that’s why....sick.


Medicare:
God Send
or Devil Sent?

For many years I lived in a Rectory. Let me explain what a Rectory is for those of you who are not Catholic Christians. It is a home for unwed Fathers. In that home we lived together, worked together and ate together.
Often, the most exciting time of the day was the dinner meal. Current controversial topics were frequently discussed and hotly debated. This was especially true in the 1960’s with divergent views being expressed on the Vietnam War, civil rights, the grape strike and the plight of farm workers.
As we celebrate the 44th birthday of Medicare, I recall the fierce debates we had at the dinner table in the early 1960’s on pending Medicare legislation. One of our prime ministries as priests was administering to the sick and the elderly. We were very conscious that so many of our seniors were without healthcare insurance, lived alone in so called rest homes and died in severe pain unattended by the medical profession.
On the other hand, we lived in a period that was obsessed with the evils of atheistic communisism. The proposed Medicare legislation was labeled by the John Birch Society as a Communist plot led by Satan to take over the world. Similar groups said that government involvement in health care was socialism and therefore the next step to an evil communistic society.
Fast forward to June 10, 2009, at age 78 I am hit with a kidney stone attack. I am in intense pain. I go to the hospital of my choice, I am treated by the doctors of my choice, I am given the best of medical care. Today, I am well and back on my feet thanks to Medicare.
While the present Medicare program is not perfect, the vast majority of Doctors, Hospitals and patients are very satisfied with the Medicare system. It is a one-payer government system where people have the choice of their doctors and hospitals. Medicare is no longer thought of as a satanic plot.
While some of the same old arguments are being used today to derail healthcare reform, it is my hope that the successful Medicare model be passed by the Congress to include the 47 million uninsured. A Public Option or other Universal Healthcare plan is, in my opinion, the moral right way to go.

Charlie Ara, Cerritos



Request to
Congresswoman
Linda Sanchez

Dear Congresswoman,

On your website you have a section where you have a section where those of us who live in your district can write you our questions. Problem is you also have a requirement that we give you our "healthcare" stories. As I am naturally leery of politicians with who I have disagreed on such topics bending and using what I have to say to benefit their own political careers, I am choosing to send this letter publicly as an open letter for your response in a similar public matter.
Here are my questions:
1. There is much concern and distrust of any healthcare package emanating from Congress that does not also subject all federal employees, including the President and members of Congress to the same healthcare system any major change would foist on the rest of America. In other words such an exemption would mean that Congress & the White House are shafting the rest of America, while they and other federal employees have gold plated health care coverage. So will you have as a litmus test that a provision putting everyone (The President, Congress & other federal employees included) under the same system?
2. I have friends who are doctors and when I ask them why health care insurance is so expensive, they respond by telling me how doctors and insurance companies are so concerned about lawsuits that they cover their posteriors with many test most of which they know are unnecessary, which end up driving health care costs through the roof. This problem is not addressed in the current legislation in the House. Will you require that this problem be addressed in a manner that does not further drive up costs before you vote in favor of a final bill? If so, what should such a provision look like?
3. There is concern that some are using healthcare reform to advance abortion and euthanasia politics via the family planning & the medical experts board provisions. Will you vote for a final bill with such provisions embedded into the language? Why or why not?
4. Congressman Barney Frank was the latest in a series of Democrat leaders saying flat out that a government option would lead to a single payer system. With many who still have jobs liking the coverage they currently have, what provisions will you make sure are in the final bill before you vote for it, so as to fulfill the President's promise that those who like their current coverage will see no change?
5. There is great concern that in the 3 House bills much of it will be paid for by restricting the level of coverage that our elderly and disabled communities receive. This concern is based on stories from British and Canadian citizens who were denied care in their home nations, and had to come to the U.S. where their lives have been extended in some cases by decades. What language will you make sure is part of the final bill that will address these concerns? How should that language be worded?
6. There are many 20 and 30 year olds like myself who are interested in having less expensive and more portable health insurance via Health Savings Accounts & Association Health Care Plans (that can pool risk across state lines, similar to what big business and AARP currently do through provisions in ERISA), yet you seem to oppose them in past sessions of Congress on partisan grounds. Why have you done so, and will you continue to do so as the health care bill gets condensed from multiple bills down to one final bill?
This will be submitted as an open letter to the local papers and bloggers in your district, I'm sure all of your constituents will be interested in your responses. Especially when your House leadership position within the Democrat party can have a huge impact on how the final bill will read
Sincerely,
Matt Kauble
Cerritos resident


Cerritos Pollution-Many Questions Remain
Unanswered

By Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Cho

I would like to commend Cerritos Mayor Bruce Barrows and City Staff for their professional handling of the urgent situation caused by the June 24, 2009 USA Today article which said that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named Cerritos as having the worst air pollution in the nation. Thanks to their immediate attention and efforts, it has been shown that the EPA report was based on inaccurate, incomplete and outdated data, and that Cerritos is not a toxic hot spot. However, despite all of their hard work, there are still many questions left unanswered, even though it has been more than a month since the USA Today reported about the air pollution issue. We need answers to our questions, in order to figure out all the facts.
First of all, we have cancer risk data for only one census tract in Cerritos, the one that the EPA named as the worst cancer risk in the country. It is most important for us to obtain accurate facts and communicate them to the residents. I strongly believe that we should know what is the overall quality of our air from all pollutants - not just from one specific chemical or 1 particular plant, and how that compares to other cities nearby. Air travels, so we are all impacted by pollution emitted in surrounding cities as well.
At the June 25, 2009 Council meeting, I requested from the EPA all available data regarding cancer risks for the entire City of Cerritos and in surrounding cities plus Long Beach, downtown Los Angeles and Wilmington, but the EPA has not reported back to us despite their representative assuring us that they would provide us with answers within two weeks. I am specifically interested in the data from the EPA National-scale Air Toxic Assessment (NATA) report that is in question as well as the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Studies (MATES III) from April 2004 to March 2006.
I was glad to hear that the July 9, 2009 SCAQMD news release claims that the Heraeus facility located on the NE corner of Alondra and Carmenita currently emits less than two pounds of Hydrazine per year, and based on the facility's operation history; it is likely that the same amount has been emitted since 1991. However, the 2002 EPA NATA report assumed that in 1989 (when the plant was owned by PGP Industries, Inc.) the plant emitted 1,250 pounds of Hydrazine.
Even though the SCAQMD confirmed that Heraeus currently emits less than two pounds of Hydrazine per year, I feel that the facility puts Cerritos residents’ health and safety at risk because in the past several years the facility had several violations and was required to pay fines on five separate occasions. I am also concerned about Cerritos residents’ safety due to the numerous drums of chemicals at Heraeus. These drums could cause an emergency situation in the event of an earthquake or a terrorist attack. I am sure that there are many other plants using toxic materials not only in the City of Santa Fe Springs, but in other surrounding cities.
I am very proud of our city - strict rules, regulations, approvals, etc. But when surrounding cities do not maintain a level of standards similar to ours; we need to actively work with those cities and the State to prevent companies outside of Cerritos from polluting out air. We must stay informed about air pollution that puts our health at risk no matter what city the source of the pollution is located.
At the June 25, 2009 Council meeting, Steven John, the EPA Director of the Southern California Field Office, said that the modeling of the EPA study had not gone through quality control and that the conclusions were not validated. We have not been able to figure out how and why the invalidated EPA report which tarnished Cerritos’ reputation was released to the news media. We also need to find out when and how often the EPA has released NATA reports, and what have the NATA reports over the years estimated cancer risk in Cerritos.
Based on the SCAQMD's recent research, the vast majority, about 84%, of air pollution induced cancer risk is due to exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM), and the EPA NATA report did not consider diesel PM in its cancer risk estimates. This means that the EPA NATA report did not fully take into account air pollution overall. This begs the question, what was the real purpose of the NATA report?
The SCAQMD memorandum described the purpose of the NATA assessment as a screening tool to provide information on potential toxic emissions sources, and not as a report of actual risk at the census tract level. I therefore feel that the report should not identify areas where the cancer risk is highest, or rank areas on pollution related cancer risk. However, without detailed knowledge of environmental issues, a reporter from the USA Today did not notice the limitation of the NATA report and wrongfully assumed that two nearby freeway intersections were causing high levels of air pollution in Cerritos and pointed out one section of our City as posing the worst cancer risk in the country. Therefore, it is very important for us to clarify the character (purpose, usage) of the EPA NATA report.
In MATES III, which takes into account cancer risks due to diesel PM, the average cancer risk across Los Angeles County is estimated to be about 1,200 in 1 million. At the July 9, 2009 Council meeting, Dr. Anupom (Pompom) Ganguli with the SCAQMD stated that the cancer risk in Cerritos is 1,200 to 1,500 in 1 million, primarily due to diesel exhaust. This estimate is in line with the average risk in Los Angeles County, and is far below the levels of 2,400 to 3,200 in 1 million recorded near the ports, downtown Los Angeles and Riverside, but higher than the national average. Although air pollution in Cerritos is not the worst in the nation, Southern California as a whole remains one of most highly polluted areas of the country, and the cancer risks in Southern California remain unacceptably high.
I recognize that we do not want to cause any unnecessary alarm to the community and want to resolve this issue as soon as possible. However, I do not want to be too quick to dismiss what has been reported or conclude too quickly that we no longer have an issue in our community. Although there were errors found on the EPA's report, this case has given all of us the opportunity to become more aware of the environment we live in, and has prompted us to identify weaknesses in our current operation and urge us to find solutions. People's lives are much more important than real estate value!
We all need to be more actively involved in caring for our environment and there is still a lot of work ahead - both short term and long term. It was therefore very wise for the City to have retained an air quality specialist, crisis communications consultant and an attorney to fully investigate and respond to the community's concerns regarding the potential health issues and the City's reputation. These professionals should be able to address all areas of concern expressed by Cerritos residents, and be able to make formal requests from the EPA, the AQMD and Heraeus/PGP for any information related to the air pollution issue.