1. Cypress citizens create change in local government
The citizens of Cypress finally have an Asian representing them on the City Council.
Comments at meetings and at public election gatherings after the November elections made it clear that many in Cypress felt that their government was out of step with their citizens.
The ruling majority of the previous Council spent millions of taxpayer dollars before deciding to settle a lawsuit which alleged the city of Cypress was in violation of the state’s Voting Rights Act, which compelled the city to switch to single-member voting districts and by-district elections.
With nearly 40 percent of Cypress’ population now consisting of citizens of Asian descent, the single member districts did create one district which included an “Asian” majority.
Even then, it was a close race, but Cypress residents did finally elect an Asian member of the Council. Both winners in the Nov. 5 election were Democrats.
Moreover, with a plurality of Cypress voters being Democrats, the city will finally have Democrats at the helm, including David Burke as Mayor and Leo Medrano as Mayor Pro-tem. This is the first time in recent memory that such an occurrence has happened.
Cypress enjoys a financial surplus of more than $100 million, owing it to a large corporate base within a large portion of the city dedicated for industrial use that has been in place long before any of the previous City Councils were elected.
2. Lampson Park Place Project
Citizens from Seal Beach who live in College Park East have been in a civic wrestling match with the city government of Los Alamitos for more than a year struggling to alter a proposed housing project that will be the largest in the city’s history.
The construction permit for the 241-unit complex, which will also consist of approximately one-third low to moderate income units, was approved as one of the last significant actions of 2024.
Residents from CPE said early on that they were not necessarily “opposed to the project,” only sought to make changes in the density of the project that they claim will bring immense congestion to a traffic corridor already overcrowded and will send residents to parks and other facilities maintained by Seal Beach, not Los Alamitos.
Seal Beach officials testified about many concerns, but since the project was not officially approved by a split vote, the fallout, if any, will be real and no longer perceived.
The frustration for citizens in CPE and, to a lesser degree, Seal Beach city officials, is that even though the impacts are largely going to be in Seal Beach, the entire governance of the project lies with Los Alamitos, within whose corporate boundaries the entire project is located.
3. Los Al Medical Center
Healthcare has become a hot topic of late, and during 2024 there was surprising, yet seemingly welcome news that the Los Alamitos Medical Center would become part of the historic buy-out of four area medical centers by UCI Health of Irvine.
In a transaction of approximately a billion dollars UCI Health acquired Los Al Medical from Tenet Healthcare along with the other facilities.
“I am excited for this new beginning and transformation for the infinite possibilities,” said Kent Clayton, the CEO under Tenet who remained in that position under the new ownership.
“For over 50 years, Los Al Medical has continued to expand its services,” he said.
Chad Lefteris, whose vision since being named Chief Executive Officer of UCI Health in 2020 has transformed the academic health organization, now leads an organization that ranks in the U.S. News and World Report’s top ten U.S. healthcare networks.
“We are truly excited to bring the power of academic medicine, with the brightest minds, innovations, understanding patient relationships and service,” said Lefteris.
“Our future offers a very unique opportunity to blend those strengths, share our knowledge and enhance our overall capabilities ensuring individuals access to healthcare,” he said.
4. Los Al Unified School District
While the Los Alamitos Unified School District is a frequent subject in the news, their continued excellence makes them a standout again this year.
First of all, having just opened their multi-million STEM building, which brings college level technology and vocational education to the high school level, the system announced the groundbreaking of an approximately $25 million sports complex which will bring the campus a high tech and roomy competitive facility that adds to their new aquatic facility to give Los Al one of the most advanced high school campuses in the region, and perhaps the state.
Los Alamitos Unified School District announced the groundbreaking of an approximately $25 million sports complex which will bring the campus a high tech and roomy competitive facility that adds to their new aquatic facility.
Regarding educational excellence, Los Al High School, for the 2nd year in a row, made history by graduating 100 percent of its high school class, one of the first schools in the state to achieve such a feat in two successive years. In addition, the system’s teachers competed and won in various competitions, its elementary schools were named in the esteemed Blue Ribbon awards and its students were named again for National Merit Scholarships.
By every metric, including many more not named here, the area’s top tier educational system is above the fray and one of the top stories of the year.
Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver announced at the annual State of the District address that the focus of the system for 2025 will yield even more extraordinary results.
“It’s really all about being extraordinary,” said Pulver. “And so, when we think about being extraordinary, what I love about it is that we were intentional to make it into two words, “Be Extraordinary,” Pulver announced at the event.
5. Navy Ammunition Pier
Following a long and expansive construction period, the U.S. Naval Ammunition and Net Depot (otherwise known as the Navy Pier) completed a project that they Navy said will make them competitive into the future.
Established on March 21, 1944 as a U.S. Naval Ammunition and Net Depot, the base has had a long and proud history of stewardship, safety, and support of the Pacific Fleet.
Following the end of World War II the station was placed into a reduced operating status but was soon reactivated in 1950 at the beginning of the Korean War. Since that time the base has seen the advent of guided missiles and other precision weapons and supported the Apollo moon rocket program and the creation of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge.
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is now the Pacific Fleet’s premier ordnance loading and storage installation and is the only weapons station port within 1,000 miles of the fleet concentration in San Diego. The base provides munitions for a majority of the fleet’s surface ships, and services approximately 40 U. S. Navy vessels annually.
6. Joint Forces Training Base rejoins communities
After a post COVID period of radio silence from Joint Forces Training Base, the dispatch of Lt. Col. Dan Fox from the Pentagon to command the area’s most prominent military installation has sure put the base back in the news.
Fox made no secret of the orders he was given before assuming command of the facility, which he said was to find ways to integrate the base into local community activities.
In 2024, some of the efforts by Fox became obvious which included several local community activities held on the base, including the more well known “Race on the Base” which had been banned from the facility but returned in 2024.
In addition, Fox hosted a Los Al Chamber of Commerce meeting on the base, opened up the base for the Pacific Airshow and held a record breaking Independence Day fireworks show. Several other activities were held throughout the year.
7. Los Al, La Palma term limit expansion
While the cities of La Palma and Los Alamitos, unlike Cypress, agreed to settle immediately for a mere sum of money and divide their voting population into districts, elected officials got their revenge in November by selling a package to voters that will allow some politicians to stay on the till for as long as 24 years.
While according to the Pew Research Institute, more than 80 percent favor term limits on politicians, both local governments proposed term limits but in some cases used euphemisms and scant information to give the impression voters were voting on government reform.
Of course, voters will have the final say on how long politicians stay in office, as local elections recently have proven, the value of holding local office is hard, though not impossible, to overcome for political challenges. Since such a situation has not existed before, the long-term impact of this noteworthy change is impossible to predict.
Despite Los Al facing a series of cautionary comments from fiscal auditors, the city manager gained significant new spending powers under the amendment while La Palma remains one of two local governments in Orange County that refuses to share their meetings with residents on video.
8. Rossmoor wins risk management, refuses traffic assistance
The Rossmoor Community Services District won a 2024 Risk Management Award from the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) for Best Overall Performance in the Workers’ Compensation Program for non-municipal agencies. More than 200 public agency peers recognized the District.
The Risk Management Awards highlight dedicated efforts and achievements in risk management by recognizing California JPIA members that have demonstrated excellence and effective leadership in the Liability and Workers’ Compensation Programs.
To select the winners, California JPIA staff evaluated various factors that reflect an organization’s risk management efforts, including overall claims performance, improvement in claims performance over time, responsiveness to Loss CAP (Control Action Plan) recommendations, members’ engagement with risk management, participation in risk management programs, and attendance at training and academy opportunities.
“I am proud of all this year’s Risk Management Award winners. It’s a noteworthy achievement,” said California JPIA Chief Executive Officer Alexander Smith. “Not only does it recognize the winner’s risk management efforts, but the award also highlights how good governance and effective management benefit all California JPIA members.”
In other big news, Rossmoor homeowners overwhelmingly rejected a plan funded by the Orange County Public Works aimed at slowing down and improving traffic flow throughout the unincorporated area.
Although it was rejected for a variety of reasons, several residents expressed at public meetings that they were not ready for the round-about traffic circles that were proposed for the plan and others were not sure about reducing Montecito to a two-lane road.
9. Bay Theater is dark no more
After nearly a decade of heartache and painstaking restoration, the Seal Beach Bay Theater is poised to become a center of cultural and entertainment activity for the overall area.
Entrepreneur and real estate investor Paul Dunlap was on hand recently to greet friends and supporters outside the Bay Theater in Seal Beach for a “soft opening” last week
While plans are still underway for a Grand Opening soon, (or early next month), Dunlap said he decided to have this small event to offer a few friends a look at the refurbished theater.
Final inspections are expected in December and approval of detailed fire escape plans by the Orange County Fire Authority could happen soon. Once these approvals are in, the fully remade theatre will finally be able to open its doors to the public.
“Everything is raring to go,” said Dunlap. “Our sound system is done. The interior is done,” he added. The Bay Theatre will open its doors to the public as soon as OCFA approves its final plans, said Dunlap.
10. LAEF ends Royal era
After raising millions of dollars to assist projects and classrooms throughout the Los Alamitos Unified School District, the Los Al Education Foundation has announced its era of naming a royal “King and Queen” is over.
This year’s King Randy Hill and Queen, Diana Hill, will be its last, said Executive Director Carrie Logue.
The Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) is introducing an all-new signature event, she said.
After 11 years, the Royal Gala and Fundraising February campaign will shift to “LAEF’s Night Out: Funding Innovation for our Kids” on February 1, 2025. The event is changing, but the mission will remain the same – to raise funds to help prepare every child in our district for college and beyond.
LAEF’s Night Out will be held at the Seal Beach Tennis & Pickleball Center and feature the band Flashpants! “LAEF is very excited to bring this new event to the heart of our school district area! We look forward to hosting a fun evening while continuing to raise funds to support Los Al kids,” said Logue.