The superintendent of the Los Alamitos Unified School District announced on Thursday that the highly ranked system is planning to lean into the “extraordinary” moments of its students.

“It’s really about serving all of our students,” District Supt. Dr. Andrew Pulver told an overflow audience inside the packed ballroom of the U.S. Navy Golf Course in Cypress Thursday during his “State of the District” address.

The annual fundraising breakfast is hosted by the Los Alamitos Educational Foundation (LAEF) and generally gives the public an inside look at the overall direction of teachers and administrators within the system.

“As a district, every year, or sometimes every couple of years, we create a theme,” said Pulver. “We plan over the summer as we think about how we are going to frame the work that we’re doing for our students,” the superintendent said.

“We’ve had a forward focus theme for a few years,” said Pulver, also noting “wellness has been a big focus, and we helped establish wall spaces across all nine of our campuses.”

“This vision is about trying to provide access and opportunities for all kids. We have to make sure that our schools work for all kids, not just some kids,” he added. “You hear me say that because it’s true.”
For the second year in a row, in 2024, the district graduated 100 percent of its students in its graduating class, which is an achievement reached by few other districts.

“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 to two words, “Be Extraordinary.”

“The “Be” is really something that we make ut something that has a call to action,” the superintendent said.

“It is a state of mind when we say, be extraordinary. It’s not just about being extraordinary, but we even took it deeper when we’re talking about the “Be extraordinary,” theme,” the superintendent said.

“it really stands for us believing in our kids, believing in each other, and believing that great things are possible for all students,” said Pulver. “Believing in students and getting them to believe in their own abilities is really just a continuation of this work that we’re doing,” he said.

“Sometimes we get lost, and we think it should only be these big moments, but we cannot get lost thinking that these moments have to be grand. There are so many wonderful, remarkable, small moments of being extraordinary,” he noted with examples.

“One of the things I love at school performances, or at sporting events, is that I love to watch the eyes of parents because their eyes are so proud when they see their kids,” he said.
Small, extraordinary moments happen every day, he said.

“Maybe, it’s when they made a new friend on the first day of middle school, because, you know, we’re coming from different elementary schools… or when they found a home in drama class, you know, sometimes it’s just about all of us trying to find a home somewhere.”

“Or when they passed Algebra Two,” he continued.

For some, it might be just overcoming the burden of physically getting to school.

“And we know sometimes, for some kids, it’s hard to get to school. And I don’t say that as a joke, but it’s a struggle. And so the fact that they got to school on time, that might be an extraordinary moment for them, or it might even be an extraordinary moment for their mom.”

“Extraordinary is both the big and the small things,” said Pulver.

Even the origin story of Los Alamitos Unified is extraordinary, said Pulver, noting the school’s outstanding alumni, now parents, even grandparents, yet still feel connected to the school district.

“This community came together with a plan 44 years ago,” said Pulver, to unify three districts into one,” he said.

“And it’s the dream that this community had to shape the trajectory of their kids, it’s about our kids and the stories that they have and why they want to come back.

“We are a public school system,” the superintendent said, noting the district is “meant to serve the public and meant to serve our parents.”

He invited all former Griffin graduates to stand up, and many former students who are now in business or serving the district in other ways stood to applause.

Pulver said education is about much more than getting a diploma, it is about shaping the future of every student. In that regard, he suggested the district itself, including parents, alumni, and educators, is, in itself, an extraordinary feat.

“This is about our kids and the stories that they have, and why they want to come back,” said Pulver. “Who does that,” he asked?

“That’s what people do here,” he said. “They always feel so connected, and I think that’s one of the things that just makes us so special.”

Such dedication has been ongoing for so long, “I think it has been woven into the fabric of Los Al Unified.”

“If we believe in one another, then the next task for us is to empower our kids, to make sure that they can do extraordinary things, but to empower our staff, to empower one another in this community,” the district superintendent said.

“Just by you being here today, you are part of this empowering of our youth and empowering of one another to make great things possible for all kids,” Pulver told the crowd.

“We are fortunate to be extraordinary, to believe in empowering great things for our students,” he said.
Listening intently this year, the audience included the new Orange Council Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean, whose own children are enrolled in Los Alamitos Unified.

Carrie Logue, the Executive Director of LAEF, thanked the event’s sponsors and presented Pulver with a ceremonial check for $150,975, representing grants awarded to local teachers to modernize and innovate their classrooms.

“At the end of the school year, we gave the staff an opportunity to write grant applications for ways they wanted to innovate in their classrooms, and we received 112 applications,” said Logue.
She said wellness had been a big focus of LAEF over the past years, having contributed towards wellness centers at each of the district’s nine campuses.

In addition, she said, “we have been able to provide stipends to help counseling interns.”
Over the past decade, LAEF has contributed more than $3.1 million to the district, crediting the “incredible support of our community.”

“LAEF continues to find ways to help support and extend our reach to all kids,” Pulver said. “We could not do what we do without this amazing partnership.”

Seal Beach on Monday, Oct. 21, emailed a letter to Los Alamitos questioning the Lampson Avenue project.

The Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board on Oct. 16 unanimously agreed to have staff draft a comment letter on the Los Alamitos Lampson Avenue project. The letter would come back to the Environmental Board for approval before being sent.

Sewer system sustainability and traffic impacts were among the concerns raised by residents and members of the EQCB at last week’s roughly 90-minute long discussion of the proposed residential development in another city. This was a special meeting of the EQCB. The regular meeting of the board, set for Oct. 23, has been canceled.

The letter
The Oct. 21 letter raised concerns about flooding, sewer system impacts, transportation, transit contraints, traffic flow, traffic, construction impacts, preservation of local infrastructure, and safety concerns.

“Overall, the proposed plan for the Lampson Park Project raises significant concers due to its excessive density and premature nature,” said the letter signed by EQCB Chair Catherine Showalter.

The discussion
The Los Alamitos Planning Commission meeting was scheduled to look at the Lampson development on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The meeting was held after the newspaper’s deadline.
The Lampson project proposes the construction of 246 residences on the Los Alamitos side of the Los Al/Seal Beach border. Many College Park East residents have raised concerns about the Lampson project.

The Seal Beach Environmental board held a special meeting last week to discuss the Environmental Impact Report for the project. The document is 2,300 pages long without the appendices. The project EIR has not yet been certified.
The following is a summary of highlights from the meeting.

Residents
Nine individuals raised their objections to the project during the public comment part of the meeting.
Patty Campbell, the District Four (College Park East) representative and chair on the Planning Commission, raised the subject of the sewer system.

Campbell said one of the Los Al Planning Commission members decided they would figure out the sewer system later.

Campbell said Los Alamitos could not run a sewer line down Seal Beach Boulevard because it was cost prohibitive and they would have to do it by hand because there is a gas line that runs along the northern side of Lampson Avenue. She said it was the main gas line between San Diego and Santa Barbara.

Campbell then turned to the question of Seal Beach’s sewer system.
“I understand we’ve got seven or eight areas in the track where the sewers are getting compromised because they’re old,” Campbell said.

She said when the office building was operating, people were flushing toilets 9 to 5. With a housing development, they would be flushing toilets 24/7. She said they would be taking showers and using dish washing machines.

“Can our sewers take it?” Campbell asked.

“Everything about their project is done at the expense of Seal Beach,” Campbell said.
“Where are they going to park? College Park East,” Campbell said.

Carol Churchill, of Rossmoor, suggested the Environmental Board look at a global infrastructure plan that would include not just Seal Beach’s sewer system, but Seal Beach’s storm drains and other utilities.
Ken Scythe, of College Park West, suggested a groundwater system for the whole city. According to Scythe, the Haynes Pipeline Project in College Park West and the Lampson Avenue project both will have a tremendous negative impacts for Seal Beach and very few if any benefits.

Patty Senecal, candidate for the District Four council seat, said she didn’t see the rush.
Senecal said Los Alamitos was rushing the final EIR.

“I think we need to take our time,” Senecal said.

“What is our liability 10 years from now, 20 years from now?” she asked.

Mike Gormley of College Park East, a commercial real estate broker, suggested denying the developers anything.

District Four Councilwoman/Mayor Schelly Sustarsic cited an email from Seal Beach Police Capt. Mike Ezroj that said there had been 32 accidents on Lampson since Jan. 2, 2017.

Board members
District Five Board Member Don Horning expressed concerned about the Seal Beach sewer system, storm drainage, transportation, soil, and the gas main line.

“If we want to say that it’s too much of a problem for Seal Beach, we should say that that’s off,” Horning said.

District Three Board Member Susan Perrell commended staff on their work on the letter commenting on the EIR. She said she had a lot of comments and questions. She suggested a reduced project would reduce the impact of the Lampson project.

District Four Board Member/Chair Catherine Showalter said there were discretionary permits for the project that would have to be approved by the Seal Beach City Council.

At that point in the meeting, Patty Campbell got out of her seat to approach the podium. Environmental Board Chair Showalter told her the public comment period had closed.
Campbell continued to the podium.

Campbell said in this case, the developer picked the consultant for the EIR.

“Seal Beach is not required to use the data that they supplied,” she said.

“The only thing that we have over them is the sewer,” Campbell said.

The draft Environmental Impact Report includes comments on the project, including city government of Seal Beach comments and the responses to those comments. One of the city government comments was: “The DEIR assumes Seal Beach will approve an inter-jurisdictional sewer service agreement; however discussion of alternatives should be provided should the agreement not be approved.”

According to the response, the project is within the Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District sewer service area. “RLAASD does not, however, have sewer lines that connect to the Project site. As a result, since approximately January 1975, the City of Seal Beach has been providing sewer services to the Project site.”

As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month concludes, Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, is proud to announce the launch of the ShareForCures (SFC) Alliance, a groundbreaking initiative designed to harness the collective power of women and transform the future of breast cancer research.

The fight against breast cancer demands continuous support that transcends a single month, and this Alliance brings together diverse nonprofit organizations united in a shared goal: end breast cancer by accelerating the search for the cures. This initiative empowers individuals diagnosed with breast cancer to share their unique health data through Komen’s secure research platform, unlocking vital insights that drive meaningful progress against this disease.

Paradigm Shift: Women Leading the Charge Toward the Cures

For centuries, women have supported one another through adversity, and with ShareForCures, Komen is carrying that legacy forward. By encouraging women to securely share details of their breast cancer journey, SFC enables researchers to gather critical data that will propel breakthroughs in treatment and care.

“The strength of ShareForCures is rooted in the incredible power of women—together, they are propelling the search for the cures for breast cancer,” said Paula Schneider, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen and a breast cancer survivor. “This groundbreaking initiative allows millions impacted by breast cancer to actively contribute to pioneering research that will change lives for the better. As the first to share my data, I encourage every woman to step forward, raise their hand and join this essential movement toward finding the cures.”

Why Representation Matters: Driving Inclusivity in Research

Today, breast cancer research is primarily informed by a small and non-representative group of patients, which slows innovation for all communities. Only about 5% of adults with cancer participate in clinical trials, and fewer than 10% of those participants represent people who are historically marginalized—many of whom experience higher breast cancer mortality rates. For instance, Black women in the U.S. are 38% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages with aggressive forms of the disease.

Additionally, while men account for less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses, Black men in the U.S. have the highest breast cancer incidence and mortality compared to other racial and ethnic groups and have lower representation in breast cancer data.

“We need better, more inclusive research to improve outcomes for all communities,” Schneider added. “ShareForCures allows us to bridge that gap by inviting all women and men, especially those from groups who are underrepresented, to share their experiences and data. The more we know, the faster we can end breast cancer.”

The ShareForCures Alliance: Uniting for a Common Cause

The ShareForCures Alliance brings together diverse nonprofit organizations with the shared goal of revolutionizing breast cancer research. Through outreach and education, SFC Alliance members engage their unique communities to boost participation in SFC. By amplifying diverse voices and experiences, the SFC Alliance seeks to expedite groundbreaking discoveries that benefit all individuals impacted by breast cancer. The SFC Alliance’s goal is to enhance SFC enrollment by informing communities about the critical importance of sharing health data through the SFC research registry and empowering them to participate, ultimately accelerating research progress and improving outcomes for everyone affected by this disease.

 Each organization brings invaluable expertise and reach within their respective diverse communities, collectively reinforcing a shared commitment to finding the cures.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our Alliance members for partnering with us to create one of the most valuable resources available for breast cancer research,” said Victoria Wolodzko Smart, senior vice president of mission at Susan G. Komen.

A Call to Action: Securely Share Your Data, Help Find the Cures

Breast cancer affects every individual differently and is shaped by biology, lived experiences and demographic factors such as race and ethnicity. To drive meaningful advances in research, scientists need access to a diverse and comprehensive pool of health data that reflects the full spectrum of people impacted by breast cancer. ShareForCures provides a safe, secure platform for participants to contribute their data directly to researchers, breaking down barriers and advancing research for all.

“When breast cancer survivors, particularly those from underrepresented communities, sign up for ShareForCures, they provide researchers with critical data that can lead to faster breakthroughs and improved outcomes for everyone. For starters, we want to help researchers find the answers to why breast cancer recurs for some people and better understand the lived experiences of those with breast cancer,” Smart added.

By joining ShareForCures, individuals are helping to eliminate breast cancer disparities and accelerate patient-focused care, regardless of race, ethnicity or geography. Susan G. Komen invites all those affected by breast cancer to contribute their health data and help fuel the next generation of research and progress toward a world without breast cancer.

To learn more about ShareForCures and how to participate, visit https://www.komen.org/shareforcures/

About Susan G. Komen®

Susan G. Komen® is the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow’s cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at www.komen.org/contact-us/follow-us/.

Longtime Rossmoor General Manager Joe Mendoza has confirmed to ENE that he has indeed informed the community of Rossmoor that he is headed out of the door, at some time, but perhaps not anytime soon.

Many in the community were upset with the Board, and Mendoza, after learning that he resigned in a closed session two months ago and the board failed to disclose it.

Currently, Mendoza is the General Manager of the Rossmoor Community Services District, which has been awarded limited powers by the state to administrate the district. Since it is not either a village, town or city, RCSD must interface with the County of Orange and other agencies to receive municipal type services.

Rossmoor is a member of the California Special Districts Association, though it interfaces with state government along with state elected officials.

The General Manager of the district generally coordinates the RSCD’s board with those agencies. The GM also manages the district’s relatively small staff.

“Yes, I have decided that it’s time to start thinking about stepping away,” said Mendoza in an interview this past weekend. When asked why he did not announce it publicly, Mendoza claimed that the announcement was posted to the community’s website.

“There’s no real timeline,” said Mendoza, “and it’s my choice, so they’re going to start looking for a candidate.”

Some members of the community were upset when they saw public advertisements for a replacement to fill Mendoza’s post advertised recently in the Journal “Public CEO.” They suspected Mendoza told only the three-vote ruling majority.

When he arrived at RCSD, Joe Mendoza’s professional experience included working as Deputy Director with the South Los Angeles County Community Services Agency which included 50 parks and 16 pools within the Second and Fourth Supervisorial Districts and had an annual budget of $25 million in addition to the Department of Parks and Recreation’s overall budget of $125 million.

Joe Mendoza also worked for the City of Cerritos as Recreation Services Superintendent; He managed the budget and staff for the Recreation Services Division; supervised 14 full-time and 125 part-time staff, and 300 volunteers. and was responsible for 20 parks, 2 community gymnasiums, a skate park, Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course, Sports Complex, and the Cerritos Olympic Swim & Fitness Center. He administered joint use contracts with ABC Unified School District and Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department.

Said outgoing General Manager Jim Ruth, “Joe Mendoza gets my highest recommendation. He will be a tremendous asset to the District and the Rossmoor community. We are lucky to have him.”

Filing statements in the City of La Palma reveal that funding supporting the public efforts to pass a term-limit ballot measure has been provided by primarily those seeking to benefit from its passage, according to a group opposed to the measure.

In addition, opponents are also claiming promotional pieces presumably funded by the contributions are wholly deceptive and are “disrespectful” to citizens.

According to Bob Carruth, the spokesperson for a group of La Palma residents opposing Measure W, records from the FPPC’s required election disclosures indicate the $21,500 promotional budget for the “Yes of Measure W” committee has been funded by officials and family members of those in position to benefit from the measure’s passage.

Documents released by Carruth this week reveal that the “Yes on Measure W” Committee is registered to an address in La Palma owned by Council member Nitesh Patel. Contributions to the Measure W committee include:

• -$5,000 from Nitesh Patel courtesy of his construction company Devi Construction.
• -$5500 from Niti Patel, courtesy of Ram Tulsi, LLC.
• -$5500 from Vitesh Patel, the brother of Patel and who is an incoming La Palma City Council member, who will soon represent District 3. Patel utilized his campaign committee and passed through a contribution of $5500 from the Orange County Fire IFAA Local 3631 to the “Yes” on “W” committee.
• -$5500 from the campaign committee of Debbie S. Baker, an incumbent Council member who also passed through a contribution made by firefighter’s Local 3631 to the “Yes” on “W” committee.
  
• Currently, Nitesh Patel is the city’s representative on the Orange County Fire Authority Board.
  
• The ENE reached out to the Local 3631 management in Tustin, CA but officials there refused to discuss the matter on the record.
• 
  Carruth said while there are no legal prohibitions from the firefighter’s union funding a La Palma ballot measure, ethical questions are another matter. More concerning, perhaps, is the “misleading” and “deceptive” information being disseminated to La Palma voters, said Carruth.
  
• “It is obvious that this entire measure (“Measure W”) is by and for the incumbents on the city Council. It’s not from the people but from them,” said Carruth.
  
• He said the entire campaign has been marked with “deceit and deception,” said Carruth, assailing the “Yes” committee for sending out mailers to residents featuring photos of First Responders under the headline “La Palma’s First Responders urge you to vote “Yes” on “W.”
  
• In addition, he said, the mail piece presented makes little mention of term limits, said Carruth, using the slogan “Reform Government Now.”
  
• Carruth said one mail piece is super disingenuous when it claims passage of the ballot measure will “bring greater accountability and transparency” to La Palma officials.
  
• “We are only one of two local governments in all of Orange County that consistently refuses to provide video access to city council meetings,” he said.
  
• Further, the mail piece showcases the Local 3631 logo and a La Palma Police badge, and basically fails to explain term limits at all except to mention that Measure W will “maintain term limits.”
• At the heart of the measure is a provision that will elminate the city’s current two-term limit and allow for three, four-year terms, and for incumbents, allow the clock to start fresh in new districts.

Carruth questioned the Council members for invoking the imagery of police and fire officials on the promotional pieces sent to thep ublic, given the measure’s main focus on term limit expansion for Council members.

If approved by voters, some members of the Council could serve for as long as twenty consecutive years, given of course that they run and are chosen by their constituents in the future elections.

“This measure has nothing to do with public safety,” said Carruth, who said he thinks it is highly disrespectful for the “Yes” on “W” Committee to take advantage of the glow of first responders to promote their own selfish interest.

“Nitesh Patel apparently thinks La Palma voters are stupid, that we’re disengaged, that we’re uninformed, that we’re apathetic, that we really don’t look at the issues, that we’re ignorant and that we’re unable to think for ourselves and see through their little scheme.”

The ENE has again reached out to city hall and to the Council for comment, but has not heard back.

“Just because they (“Yes” on “W” Committee) say, well, the police inspire people, and since they love us, so you should vote yes, that everyone’s going to toe the line. That’s really disrespectful and it’s the type of thing that really gives politics a bad name.

Carruth said this is not Patel’s first attempt to dissolve the term limits approved by voters. He said Patel, who terms out in 2025, unsuccessfully tried to amend La Palma’s two term limit in 2019.

Carruth said In 1996, La Palma voters limited Council members to two (2) full terms in office, yet with a cooling off period, officials can again run for two additional terms.

Current Mayor Pro-tem Mark Waldman has done that and is currently back on the Council.

Patel, along with Mayor Marshall Goodman have been urging residents to consider the impacts of districting and other factors to consider altering the city’s term limit provisions.

They held a special “conversation” earlier this year with residents and eventually, spent thousands to draw up the current ballot measure and put it on the ballot.

Goodman has repeatedly questioned the lack of sufficiently motivated or qualified candidates in the city, citing his own run for a new term without opposition. Goodman terms out this year.

“For me, it’s a pretty long-standing issue,” said Goodman during the open session with residents earlier this year. “We have to do something about city leadership,” said Goodman.

“I see things up here on the dais,” said Goodman, who said he feels compelled to bring them forward. “I would love to know why citizens in 1996 decided to impose term limits,” said Goodman. “It really doesn’t make sense to limit it to two terms,” the mayor said.

Carruth said he and other residents have funded their own effort simply to get truthful, accurate interest to citizens who can make an informed vote.

During this campaign, Carruth photographed the city manager personally removing a “No” on “W” sign from a public space and the opposition group recently hired a lawyer to have the city enforce its own temporary sign ordinance, with two weeks left in the campaign, it has yet to do.

“They planned this from the beginning,” said Carruth, noting that even during the so-called “Community Conversation,” city officials have consistently ignored data and feedback to the contrary.

“They knew the community didn’t want it but they knew they were going to put it on the ballot because they had three votes,” he said, “regardless of what the community said.”

With a proposed ballot measure seeking to bring significant new power to city hall on the ballot next week, city officials are ramping up internal security by considering giving its police chief the power to terminate employees if they “leak” information.
The potentially new leak termination policy were among the items discussed by the Council at its latest meeting on Oct. 21

Citing unspecified security concerns, City Manager Chet Simmons asked the city’s police chief to explain an evolving policy that apparently, could result in termination of employees.
“We’ve had some questions about security that have come up recently,” said Simmons, “that I think would be best suited to be addressed by the Chief.

According to Los Al Police Chief Michael Claborn, “we are going to be ensuring that employees of the city are exercising a sense of confidentiality as it pertains to information that is contained within the city’s databases.”

“And in that process, if we were able, if we were to find out that employees fail to protect confidential information, then they would then be subject to discipline up to and including termination,” the police chief said.

While most of the information dealt with city employees is public information, it was not immediately clear about which “confidential data” that was, or could potentially be “leaked” that can get employees fired.

City officials have been struggling with controlling the debate about its own internal financial information, with two members of the Council consistently pointing out inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and questions about data.

In addition, the city’s new council handbook apparently contains new limits on public data requests that have caused bottlenecks and outright rejection of timely handing over some public data to Council members.

Requests for invoices by Council members have resulted in new policies at city hall that require Council members to go into city hall, literally view documents in hand, not allowed to ask questions, make copies or other records.

Other information, related to the controversial Lampson Project, has also become somewhat of an issue as the process to approve the massive housing project ramps back up.

In other action, Parkwood resident Christine Arfwedson took issue with a Facebook post made by Council member Tanya Doby thanking a consultant with one of the developers involved in the Lampson Place housing project for helping her with her campaign.

“She said in the post, Doby thanked John Gabbard, for helping her campaign, knocking on doors with her for her re-election,” said Arfwedson.

“Why is this a problem,” Arfwedson asked?

She said Gabbard is a consultant for one of the developers involved in the controversial Lampson Place Project, which creates for Doby a conflict of interest.

“This is a direct conflict of interest,” she told Council. “Accepting help from a consultant from a company that will have business directly in front of this council, that is a problem,” she said.

“Miss Doby, you need to recuse yourself from any votes or decisions regarding the Lampson Project,” she said during the Council’s oral communication period.

Gabbard is also an elected Council member from the City of Dana Point, records show.
Arfwedson also expressed disapproval of the city’s proposed Measure X ballot proposal.

“My next concern is about measure X,” she said. “This is a measure designed to disguise in positive language different topics of the in the measure that are in no way help to this city. First expanding term limits, possibly deciding that the 12 years starts now, which would get some of the members on the council up to 24 years of being a council member,” said Arfwedson.

She suggested the measure was a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing to cede more power to city bureaucrats.

“Measure X is draped in positive gobbledygook terms to disguise what it really is. And I say to you, city council to give up oversight of projects you might as well recuse yourself for your duties.”
Finally, John Underwood, a longtime area journalist and a producer for the local Los Alamitos Television station, questioned the Council about why the administration took over control at the start of this campaign season.

“It’s a very rare occasion when I come before you in front of these cameras and at this podium, I would much rather be behind the camera promoting and representing this community, its culture and its best face forward,” began Underwood.

“But tonight, I have occasion to express my dismay and my disappointment that staff and the city has determined that Los al TV shall be put on a production freeze, and that only repetitive programming from months ago will be aired on the channel of which I have been monitoring consistently for the last several months,” he said.

According to Underwood, the station has consistently aired the same meeting from months ago, in which a consultant revealed a community survey that was favorable to the city.

Underwood said later in the week, after his appearance at the Council, it looks like city officials have finally begun to update programming.

“I have tried, on many occasions, to get different programs on the air, even as simple as our much-utilized community calendar, which local community stakeholders have utilized over the years, on many, many occasions, we have built that bridge with the community,” he said.

It’s taken years to do so there is a feedback loop there in which we are supported in return, even that has been frozen, and that’s staff’s own word, Los Al TV has been frozen out of event calendar production, current production, and of this all-important election cycle that Los al TV has been part of since its inception in 1984,” said Underwood.

“I’m simply here to say that, yes, there may be as it was, as it was described by staff, a freeze, a programming freeze on Los al TV for the purpose of broader transition and review process. That’s fine. Review process is fine. But do we need to darken our long standing tv operation and restrict the community from current information and access to it to do what is basically an administrative process,” he questioned?

“We’ve never had this occasion before and throughout Los Al TV’s history, we’ve always been there to present in an even and unbiased way, interviews, candidate forums. There are candidate forums out there now that are waiting to go on the production platform of Los al TV, that have been precluded from doing so in this election cycle,” he said.

“But beyond that, even access to events as benign as Dios de los Muertos for St. Isidore, or events from American Legion, 716, or I could go on and on, naming organizations that have, over time, utilized to great advantage los al TV. What we’re talking about here is not just an internal administrative process.

“You’re talking about ending a process that is the public interest and should supersede whatever administrative process may be legitimately at hand and may be quite necessary,” said Underwood.

“I don’t feel we need to darken Los Al TV to do it in this very critical time,” he added.

“Please, I urge staff, and I urge the council to consider expediting the return of La Salle TV to proper current operational footing and do so before this election cycle has been expended.”

Earlier this month, the Los Alamitos High School Class of 1979 gathered to celebrate their 45th High School Reunion, continuing a longstanding tradition of reunions every five years. The event brought together 80 classmates along with some of their former teachers, Coach Frank Doretti and John Leonard, for a weekend filled with nostalgia, reconnection, and giving back, according to information provided by the Los Al Unified School District

The reunion weekend included a special tour of the Los Alamitos High School campus, where alumni marveled at the changes since their time as students. They had the opportunity to visit the new state-of-the-art STEM building, run a few nostalgic laps around the updated track, and even see the framework of the new gymnasium, which is set to be completed in Fall 2025.

For over four decades, the Class of ’79 has maintained a deep bond, not only with each other but with their high school and the local community. Over the years, the class has raised more than $17,000 to support Los Alamitos High School and the local youth community. These contributions have funded scholarships for graduating seniors, as well as early donations to campus improvements, including the first-ever computer for the school’s Career Center.

At this year’s reunion, the class continued their tradition of honoring classmates who have passed away, paying tribute to 52 of their fellow Griffins who are no longer with them. As in past reunions, a special “in memory” tribute was held, and flowers were once delivered to the parents of those who had passed. Now, in their honor, the class awards scholarships to students with criteria reflective of their classmates’ passions — from a love of music to a commitment to community service.

The Class of ’79 currently awards scholarships every five years, with each scholarship tailored to a classmate’s memory. For the upcoming awards in 2025, the criteria will focus on students facing health challenges and those in need of encouragement. Each scholarship, typically between $750 to $1,000, is funded through generous donations from classmates, teachers, and sometimes family members of those being memorialized.

As they look ahead to their 50th reunion in 2029, the class remains committed to their tradition of giving. While their numbers have grown to include classmates who moved away or transferred schools, their close-knit community remains united in their goal to leave a legacy at Los Alamitos High School.

Orange County Sheriff, Don Barnes, endorses Perla Mendoza for Los Al School Board

Sheriff Barnes has worked with Perla as she has championed parent’s rights and fought to keep our student’s away from drugs.   Sheriff Barnes says,

“Perla Mendoza has the grit and compassion it takes to bring back safety and security in our classrooms and school sites.  Nothing is more important when educating our students than knowing they are in a safe environment.  I’ve worked with Perla and am proud to endorse her for Los Alamitos Unified School District Governing Board Member.”

Perla says, “While my opponent is supported by the Union, a special interest group, I am supported by parents and classroom teachers who are on the front line with students every day.   I believe that parents need to oversee their children’s education.  I believe teachers need to partner with parents on the educational journey from K through 12. 

As a parent and founder of Project Eli, I work full time speaking to parents, teachers and students about what to look for, what to stay away from and how dangerous all these new illicit drugs are.  In addition, I have spent time in Washington and Sacramento working to get legislation passed which will safeguard our students from drug dealers.”

Parents say, “As a parent in the Seal Beach community, Perla values childhood safety, opportunity, and innocence. She is committed to strong academics and life skills, working with parents and teachers to build a supportive, transparent school environment.”  -Tiffany Gordon, Parent in Los Alamitos School District

Perla Mendoza is an independent voice of common sense.  Perla is an advocate of students, a supporter of classroom teachers, and a champion for parents’ rights.

Submitted by Perla Mendoza, Candidate for Los Alamitos Unified School District, Trustee Area 5

Why I’m Supporting Kyle Chang and Blaze Bhence In Cypress

Two seats on the Cypress City Council are up for election this November—District 3 and District 4. No matter who is elected, I will do my best to work with them in the interest of serving our city. But I have endorsed one candidate in each district who I am confident will help move Cypress in the right direction—Kyle Chang in District 3 and Blaze Bhence in District 4. And while I’m excited to tell you more about Kyle and Blaze, first, speaking for myself, I want to explain why this is such an important election for Cypress.   

As a Cypress resident, you may not be fully aware of what’s been going on with our local government the past few years. That’s okay. As a father of two I know we’re all juggling a lot these days. But while Cypress itself has largely remained a safe, welcoming community—what has gone on in our local government has not been up to the standards that our residents deserve. It’s costing you tax dollars. And our city’s reputation is suffering.  

For example, it has become commonplace for some council members to make unprovoked personal attacks against colleagues or residents in the middle of council meetings. Many residents have told me they are afraid to attend council meetings because the environment has gotten so ugly.

The city has also spent millions of dollars on lawsuits that, as an attorney, I think were completely avoidable. And recently, one council member filed a lawsuit against three other council members in federal court alleging unlawful retaliation along with other causes of action. In my opinion, that kind of thing doesn’t happen in a healthy, collaborative work environment. The level of animosity, partisanship, and political gamesmanship on our council has gotten way out of hand.

Perhaps most concerning, is that many residents have told me that they don’t think their perspective is really valued by our council. They feel that council members’ minds are made up before meetings even start. And that many major decisions are rushed through without giving residents a meaningful opportunity to weigh in.

All of those things—personal attacks, lawsuits, and shortcomings in transparency are the opposite of how local government should function. We need to do better. We need council members to not just be civil and respectful, but to actively try to work together, regardless of political party affiliation. We need council members who will welcome constructive criticism from residents and not assume the worst about those who disagree with them. And who understand that big decisions should not be rushed through, but made thoughtfully, with ample community input. That brings me to Kyle Chang and Blaze Bhence.

The reasons I’m supporting Kyle and Blaze are simple—they are smart, hard-working, decent candidates who I am confident will conduct themselves civilly and professionally as council members. I also believe that Kyle and Blaze will always put the community first, ahead of special interests.

Kyle Chang is a public health statistician with a PhD from UC Irvine, who lives in District 3. Throughout his career Kyle has proven that he cares about making other people’s lives better. He has worked to help children with special needs. He has worked with government agencies on research to improve health outcomes for residents in Orange County. Kyle and his wife have two young children, and I routinely see them at our local school and community events, so they are deeply invested in our city. And Kyle has great ideas about making Cypress even more family-friendly and attracting diverse new businesses to our city.

Blaze Bhence is a 25-year resident of District 4 with a great track record of service to our city. He is a retired OC Sheriff’s Reserve Lieutenant, a former Cypress Traffic Commissioner, and former president of his Tanglewood Homeowner’s Association. Blaze has a strong business background as a current business owner and the former VP of a Fortune 500 company, so he knows is way through budgets and contracts. I’ve also been very impressed with Blaze’s knowledge of local challenges and his desire to serve residents. At a recent Traffic Commission meeting, Blaze effectively advocated for measures to improve safety at one of our senior living communities. So I believe that both Blaze and Kyle have the attributes and work ethic necessary to succeed as council members.

I’m also supporting Kyle and Blaze because they are not tied to the special interests that have spent heavily to influence Cypress elections. For years, special interests including Valley Vista Services, Inc. and real estate developers have spent tens of thousands of dollars in Cypress elections to support their preferred candidates. For example, in 2022 an entity called Safe Neighborhoods PAC, that was funded by Valley Vista and developer Christo Bardis, spent $35,650.46 to support three local candidates. And it’s happening again in the 2024 election—a PAC funded primarily by real estate developers and builders has already spent $5,000 to support two council candidates.

The good news is that Kyle Chang and Blaze Bhence are not mixed up in all that.   Kyle and Blaze are campaigning the right way. They are trying to knock on the door of every voter in their districts. They are being clear about where they stand on the most important issues facing our city. I have seen both of them have respectful conversations with some of their toughest critics. And you can be confident that Kyle and Blaze will put residents first, because they are not backed by big money from contractors or developers.

With their strong qualifications, experience, and integrity, I think Kyle and Blaze would make great additions to our city council. They will help us move past the ugliness of the past few years. And they will help restore our city’s reputation to where it belongs. So, when you cast your ballots in this election, I urge you to vote for Kyle Chang in District 3 and Blaze Bhence in District 4. In the spirt of community and collaboration, let’s build a brighter future for Cypress.

Submitted by David Burke

Cypress City Council

Engagement and communication matters! This is why the LAEA teachers’ union is proud to endorse two very qualified and engaged candidates for LAUSD School Board.  We are fortunate to have Candidates Matt Bragman and Farnaz Pardasani running to fill the shoes of Meg Cutuli and Scott Fayette.

Candidate Bragman is running in trustee area 5 and has been unanimously endorsed by the teacher’s union as well as the long-serving board member he hopes to replace, Meg Cutuli.  Matt Bragman is a former teacher, assistant principal and principal, and is currently involved in educational resources. He is exceptionally well qualified as an educator and is a parent in our district.

Farnaz Pardasani has a consulting background where she advised companies like IBM and Deloitte. She has children at each level in our schools and is a founding member of LAEF Leadership Circle where she has been integral to raising funds for our schools and managing their disbursement.  She knows firsthand what the financial challenges are for our district and has the background to guide us through these challenging financial times.  Candidate Pardasani has the unanimous endorsement of the current school board and the teacher’s union.

Communication with one another and a willingness to learn are fundamental to our success as a community and as a school system.  It is telling that both of our endorsed candidates, announced their intention to run early, reached out to stakeholders regularly, and attended all of the meetings they were invited to attend including meetings with teachers, the union, and the LAUSD Board of Education candidate information session. 

Not all of the candidates running have been willing to engage teachers or the current school board. Candidate Pardasani’s opponent chose not to engage teachers and neither he  nor Candidate Bragman’s opponent attended September’s candidate information session.   Pardasani’s opponent in area 4 announced his candidacy early but wrote to the union on May 12, “I will respectfully decline being endorsed by the teachers union.”  He has also chosen not to participate in interviews/questionnaires put forth by Spotlight Schools and the Orange County Register. 

We’d like to remind our community that the positions being sought are non-partisan positions and encourage everyone in trustee area 4 to vote for Farnaz Pardasani and for Matt Bragman in trustee area 5.  Our students deserve school board members who engage with them, who engage with teachers, and who are willing to learn from previous school board members.

Submitted by Drew Sells

LAEA Teachers’ Union

Editor’s Note: 

The language in this endorsement article has been updated since it was first posted.

A Santa Ana law firm has served a demand letter to La Palma officials regarding their refusal to enforce an ordinance requiring permits for the erection of temporary signs on non-residential property.

Adam Sechooler, the Costa Mesa lawyer who penned the letter, suggested the city’s refusal to enforce the supportive signs could reflect an attempt to put a finger on the scales of justice regarding a ballot measure that could reward several incumbents with as much as 20 years in office.

“If such violations persist or worsen, we are prepared to take all appropriate legal action, which could include action against individual staff or members of the La Palma City Council,” his letter warned the city.

Further, Sechooler suggested the City, with its apparent finger on the scales in favor of its ballot measure, could be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. “I am in receipt of troubling information concerning the City’s failure to enforce its ordinances regarding temporary signs and, more gravely, favoring certain political positions or candidates within the City,”

Sechooler said he wrote the letter representing local resident Bob Carruth, who is the spokesperson for a group of local citizens, including former mayors, who are opposed by the city’s proposed changes to city that are included in ballot “Measure W” on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Carruth said before hiring an attorney, he repeatedly requested permit applications from City Manager Conal McNarama and other staff members responsible for issuing sign permits. Under the law approved by the city council in December of 2021, the erection of temporary signs on non-residential property required approved permit

Sechooler wrote,“The City has enforced certain sign restrictions stringently while ignoring others that favor a particular viewpoint. In particular, the City is favoring speech in support of the “W” ballot measure—which is supported by the La Palma City Council majority—while discriminating against speech opposed to the measure,” the letter continued.

“This is impermissible under the Constitution, which prohibits restrictions,” the attorney said. The law does not exempt temporary signs permits for political campaigns, he added.

Carruth suggested the city managers’ refusal to enforce the ordinance is because “this measure is 100 percent of, by, and for the ruling majority.”

“We believe that Mr. McNamara’s refusal to enforce the code is because sitting Council members and their ‘Yes on Measure W’ committee placed the unpermitted signs on numerous non-residential properties,” said Carruth. The ENE has reached out to La Palma’s Mayor, City Manager, and its legal advisor Ajit Thind, but at press time, has not heard back.

They came early and hungry as hundreds of area residents wandered throughout the gated area of the Taste for Los Alamitos event looking for a taste of some amazing dishes.

Long lines of people two and three deep snaked around the fenced-in area at the parking lot of the Shops at Rossmoor before the gates officially opened Saturday for this year’s taste fest.

According to event organizer Larry Strawther, approximately 40 local eating establishments had menus containing soup to nuts to raise funds for local booster clubs at the annual fundraising event.
“It was more crowded than I thought it was going to be,” said Strawther, “I mean there are a lot of things going on these days.”
A new attraction this year added substantial excitement to the food, fun, and silent auction. Financial Partners Cr

edit Union set up a “money booth,” giving eager participants a taste of financial success.
Each of the participants would get 10 seconds in the money booth, with air blowers sending dollar bills hurtling through the air as those in the booths could keep as many of the dollars as they could catch.
People like Shirley Chung, of Rossmoor, whose first time at the Taste for Los Al, stepped into the money booth and grabbed as many dollars as she could during the brief moments the dollar bills flew around her.

“This is my first year attending,” said Chung. “I got a chance to win a little money for one of the booster clubs, so it’s a lot of fun.”
Mark Denny, another lucky participant, said he was donating his twenty-two dollars in winnings to his favorite softball team.

Financial Partners Credit Union donated all of the prize money, said Strawther,
With more than 300 pounds of fresh shrimp, the grill at the San Pedro Fish Market was always a popular place to be.

Chef Frank DeLoach said this was his fourth year participating in the event, grilling the famous shrimp and potato mix.

“Los Alamitos is our neighbor,” said DeLoach, “and we just want to help out and be good neighbors. It’s also fun to be hanging out with everybody,” he said.

Other businesses like Taco Surf, Katella Deli, and many local favorites served up dishes for free, donating the food to support local booster clubs. There was bar-b-que, tacos, Italian pasta, specialty meats, mac and cheese, burgers, and much more available for the sampling.
S

0trawther said these local restaurants donate the food and provide free samples as long lines lick their lips and wait for another sample to help a good cause. People purchase tickets for the event and can also donate through various venues like the silent auction.

Srawther said he and three others formed the nonprofit Our Los Al more than two decades ago to help local booster clubs and other school-related groups raise money to support their activities.

In the past, the event generated more than $200,000 annually for various programs at Los Alamitos High School and related booster clubs. Each of the local clubs is. afforded a variety of ways to raise much-needed funding for their activities, said Strawther.
While the silent auction proceeds were about the same as last year, he said, it will be a while before they know the results of this year’s event.