By Brian Hews Publisher | Follow X City recognized for climate leadership after launching clean energy, tree planting and youth sustainability initiatives across Pico Rivera. May 27, 2026 The City of Pico Rivera announced it has been selected as the 2026 Southern California Association of Governments Sustainability Award winner in the Climate Leadership category, earning regional recognition for a series of environmental and clean energy initiatives launched over the past two years.

U.S. Representative Derek Tran will present more than $5 million in federal funding this week to several cities and community organizations across Los Angeles and Orange counties, supporting projects aimed at improving infrastructure, public safety, and community services. The funding was secured through the federal Community Project Funding program and will support four separate projects in Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, and Orange County.

By Brian Hews Publisher | Follow X March 9, 2026 California’s cardroom industry filed two lawsuits this week challenging new gambling regulations approved by California Attorney General Rob Bonta that operators say could eliminate blackjack-style games, cost thousands of jobs, and severely damage the finances of cities that depend on casino tax revenue. The lawsuits were filed in San Francisco Superior Court by the California Gaming Association with support from the California Cardroom Alliance and Communities for California Cardrooms.

Jeep Recall Day: Picture on the recall sign up page (no kidding). Mom’s thrilled, the dealer’s amused, and the kid just realized the family plug-in hybrid isn’t allowed to plug in anymore — but don’t worry, the service advisor says the battery might explode and the fix is ‘coming soon,’ which everyone is somehow treating like that’s totally normal. Kid begins lifelong distrust of Chrysler products.

Happy Friday! This week’s digital edition of Los Cerritos Community News leads with an exclusive investigation that forced the removal of Whittier Union High School District Trustee Gary Mendez after state and county authorities confirmed he had unlawfully held two incompatible public offices. Our coverage details the timeline, legal findings, and political fallout that culminated in Mendez’s resignation. Inside this edition, readers will also find local government updates across Southeast Los Angeles County, including the City of Cerritos’ effort to rezone key commercial corridors for future housing development, plus a look at Los Angeles County’s ribbon-cutting for two new Project Homekey supportive housing communities in Long Beach.

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD: From (l-r), top row: Emily Sharron, Kylie Grenier, Kimberly Minogue, Alexa Hassan, Jackie Kutil, Riley Templer, Hannah Kozlowski, Jessica Mousseau, Sara Graves, Marla Mungovan From (l-r) bottom row Anna Mooradian, Nia Jones, Jody Fleshman, Christine Castle, Michelle Rightmyer, Stacey Feroleto, Jessica Hews, Jessica Lundberg, Hannah Cavaretta, Yvette Pignone, Laura Villani November 26, 2025 UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts…

By Brian Hews Publisher | Follow X November 11, 2025, 2025 The Central Basin Municipal Water District convened a special board meeting at 8:30 a.m. last Monday in Cerritos to discuss the agency’s general manager position in closed session but, according to three sources, failed to reach a quorum. Those same sources told Los Cerritos Community News that the board never announced the lack of a quorum.

October 7, 2025 By Brian Hews The California Attorney General has officially authorized the Whittier Union High School District (WUHSD) to move forward with a quo warranto lawsuit seeking the removal of Trustee Gary Mendez, confirming Los Cerritos Community News’ earlier reporting on his unlawful dual office-holding. Filed on September 15 in Los Angeles County Superior Court (Case No. 25STCV27197), the verified complaint, prepared by Strumwasser & Woocher LLP, alleges that Mendez violated Government Code Section 1099 by simultaneously serving as a WUHSD Trustee and as Vice President of the Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) Board of Directors.