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.