Uniting is joining together for a common purpose or by common feelings. We all are united as our Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.
The Cypress City Church Leaders Association appreciates our businesses, schools, churches, restaurants, public safety, governing officials, medical fields and all workers and volunteers who are involved in our fine city. We are grateful for all efforts in making Cypress a great place to live, work, play … and pray!
With prayer in mind, we as the Cypress City Church Leaders Association and in partnership with Mayor Anne Mallari, came together with many Cypress residents early this morning for a time of prayer for our city. “Loving Like Jesus Brings Unity, Hope, and Help” was the message from guest speaker, Jake Hardy, West Orange County Director, Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The program music was provided by the Oxford Academy Girls Choir along with Tanvi Chidrupula, a freshman, who sang the National Anthem.
The Los Alamitos High cross country team raced league finals on Oct. 28, at Central Park in Huntington Beach. League Finals consists of two leagues, the Surf League, and the Wave League. From each league two teams advance to compete in CIF Southern Section Prelims at Mt. Sac. The Griffin boys team competed against Edison, Fountain Valley, and Newport Harbor. The Griffin girls team competed against Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, and Newport Harbor. The Griffin’s dominated the race and became League Champions in four divisions. The varsity girls team along with two varsity boys, Lon Monk and Matthew Mayhue advanced their way to CIF.
The Griffin girls won League Championships in the Frosh/Soph race and the junior varsity (JV) division. In the Frosh/Soph race, sophomore Phoebe Grimshaw (20:43) won the race and became League Champion, Maddie Heenan (21:14) placed second, and freshman Bella Castellon (21:15) placed third. The girls JV team also won their race and secured the Championship for the team. Junior Trista Candiotty (19:50) won her division becoming League Champion for the JV team followed by Thalia Griffith (21:15), and Elizabeth Tinsley (21:29). The Griffin varsity girls tied for first place with 49 points, a tie breaker gave the Championship to Huntington Beach High, but the Griffins secured their advancement to CIF. Junior Stevie Holguin (18:25) lead the Griffin’s followed by Olivia Bettinger (18:30), and Alejandra Reyburn (18:53).
The Griffin boys also secured the title of League Champions in the Frosh/Soph and JV race. In the Frosh/Soph race, Dean Lehigh (17:17) led the way followed by AC Wellsand (17:33), and Jonathan Vazquez (18:00). The boys JV team was won by Jaxon Nguyen (17:30) securing his title for League Champion followed by Darin Gillet (17:49) who took second and Daniel Li (18:03). The boys varsity team was led by Matthew Mayhue (16:08), followed by senior Lon Monk (16:09) and Charles Villegas (16:35). The top two Griffin boys, Matthew Mayhue and Lon Monk will be advancing to CIF.
Head Coach Mark Celestin said, “it was great to see the seasons long dedication and hard work of all our athletes pay off as the Griffins dominated the league-winning 4 of 6 league championships, tied for a 5th league championship (edged to 2nd place in a tie breaker) and a 3rd place for our 6th team. The coaching staff is incredibly proud of all our runners and grateful for a fantastic season.”
The Griffin varsity girls and top two boys will be running at CIF Southern Section Prelims on Nov. 11 at Mt. Sac in Walnut, CA.
Award-winning American Ballerina, Tiler Peck, has brought her critically acclaimed show, Turn It Out with Tiler Peck and Friends, to her home state of California this fall. This is after a sold-out world premiere in New York City and a European debut in London.
This California native shared “This program is a love letter to my craft as a dancer and the manifestation of my total freedom as an artist. I grew up doing all styles of dance and am grateful that I get to incorporate all of them alongside best-in-class multi-disciplinary dancers in a show that will undeniably be more than what people are used to seeing at the ballet with tutus and tiaras!”
She has been described by The New York Times as “the ballerina who can stop time (and restart it, too),” it is evident that Tiler Peck and friends are clearly amazing dancers, chorographers, and performers, and the performances thus far have received raving reviews. However, the most exciting aspect that I am looking forward to experiencing is this ensembles connection to each other and the pure joy of dance.
Dance is its people’s way of connecting, communicating, and expressing what is often difficult to put in word – verbal or written. Ms. Peck beautifully expressed to me that since the 2020 pandemic, it has been extremely challenging for performing artists. The connection with the audience and, more importantly, the connection with each other as dancers, choreographers, performers, has been lost. A sense of sadness, isolation, and depression sets in.
In my conversation with Tiler Peck, it became clear that this is where Turn it Out with Tiler Peck and Friends came to life. Per Ms. Peck, at least two choreographies 1) Alonzo King’s Swift Arrow with music by Jason Moran; 2) Time Spell, choreographed by tap dancer Michelle Dorrance, Jillian Meyers, and Tiler Peck with music by Aaron Marcellus and Penelope Wendtlandt, were born during the pandemic. Ms. Peck shared that it was a way to connect to great artists such as King and Dorrance where there were “no expectations only the joy of connecting and doing the work.” In the darkest moments, this brought them closer. The virtual space forced them to simply be in “pure creation mode.”
It seems that the “earning to be together and to feel joy” is the key to this show’s success. The message Ms. Peck wants the audience to walk away with is “pure joy,” “freedom,” and a “collective connection.”
As a lover of dance and dancer myself, I am very excited to experience the pure joy that only dance can bring!
Turn it Out with Tiler Peck and Friends will be showing in Orange County at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Saturday, November 4th at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 5th at 2:00pm
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling Segerstrom Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (714) 556-2787. Ticket Office hours are Monday from 10:00am to 2:00pm and Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm PT.
He was among the last of the greatest from The Greatest Generation. Long-time columnist, storyteller, and historian, well-known WWII hero Bill Thomas has died. He was nearly 100 years old.
Thomas was born in November of 1923 in Detroit, Michigan to immigrant parents from Greece. Bill was raised in Greek traditions. His life spanned from the time of horse-drawn ice wagons for people’s ice boxes (as a young boy, he fell off an ice wagon and got his first stitches) to wondering if artificial intelligence would help him research his writing, from the time of Ford Model Ts to Tesla superchargers.
In his early years, Bill endured the hard times of the Great Depression. To earn some money, he became a paperboy. Expanding his customer base, he won an all-expenses trip to the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. Quitting high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 30s, then worked in a defense plant helping to make aircraft engines for World War II.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to artillery. As a forward observer, he had to find and climb tall trees or other structures to direct American artillery. He served in North Africa, made amphibious invasions into Italy and Southern France, then fought through Germany and finally Austria, a total of 565 days in combat. He was injured by enemy artillery fire, which earned him a Purple Heart.
Returning to the United States, he pursued the American Dream.
After a long-distance relationship, he married Soula and they settled in Southern California, where he bought a house with the GI Bill. He and Soula had three children, all graduates of Los Alamitos High School.
Courtesy photo World War II veteran Bill Thomas in-service in the 1940s.
Bill never lost his spunk. After a career in business, Bill devoted his time to writing, and to veterans organizations. He held positions in both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and volunteered countless hours to veterans’ issues.
One of his accomplishments was when he designed and created the Veterans Memorial Plaque now standing at the entrance to Seal Beach Pier. The plaque, dedicated on Memorial Day, 2004, honors all the men and women who serve or served from all branches of the U.S. military, and includes prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIAs).
For the inscription at the top of the plaque, Bill wrote, “In Commemoration of all the Military Veterans of the USA of the past, present, and future who served in the six branches of service since the Revolutionary War.”
Bill loved that plaque and would often visit Seal Beach to speak or simply show the memorial to anyone who expressed interest.
Writing was his true passion. He taught himself how to use a computer, giving him access to the Internet to research, and to word processing to compose. He wrote a book on memoir writing, a novel, short stories, and a couple of self-help books.
He also created and contributed articles to several local newspapers through his column on veteran issues, “Veterans Voices,” right up into his 98th year. His stories and reflections from his past, from his boyhood and through his military service delighted many readers.
Bill and Soula moved to an assisted living facility in Stanton about five years ago. When Bill moved there, he set out as his goal, “I’m going to make five people laugh every day.” He sometimes introduced himself as, “The one Bill you don’t have to pay every month.”
Bill is survived by his wife of 72 years and his legacy includes three children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Courtesy photo
With almost 3,000 in attendance this year the recent Taste For Los Al 2023 managed to raise over $200,000 for 27 Los Alamitos High School booster clubs and activities with its annual Rossmoor backlot party AND bring much needed attention to area local restaurants. It once again also provided a showcase for the high school’s acclaimed Jazz One orchestra under the direction of Justin Padilla. If you missed the action this year you can catch highlights of the event, captured by Los Al TV’s John Underwood, on Channel 3 or online at losaltv.org. Highlights program can also be viewed via the OurLosAlTV streaming app, also available on Roku, Amazon and Apple TV apps. According to Underwood, the program can be seen at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily on Los Al TV.
As the Chamber of Commerce Breakfast guest speaker, Michael Claborn, Los Alamitos Chief of Police, addressed October as being breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer affects both men and women.
The Los Alamitos Police Department is offering items for sale in support of the cause, where all funds go toward someone who is battling cancer; those individuals will receive the donated money during a Los Alamitos City Council meeting later this year.
“You can message the police department on Instagram (@LosAlamitosPD) or come to the front desk of the police department to make a purchase,” said Chief Claborn.”Cherish every day that you have.”
Available for purchase are Pink Patches, Stickers, Challenge Coins, Magnets, Bracelets, Earrings and Lapel Pins.
Other matters he discussed included that this year, the Los Alamitos City Council increased the number of funded police officer positions from 24 to 25.
“Currently, 22 of the 25 positions have been filled and the remaining positions should be filled by the end of the year; it has been a decade since we’ve been fully-staffed.”
Police promotions during October include Cpl. Nestor Rodriguez and Cpl. Delana Lopez who were both promoted to Sergeant.
Specialty police assignments for officers include School Resource Officer, Volunteers in Policing (VIPs), Orange County Auto Theft (OCATT) and Detective.
And, coming soon will be a new Motor Officer along with a K-9 Officer, who is currently on a ship from Belgium headed to California.
The Chief said, “The process of the addition of a K-9 officer, is in progress; we have not selected the new K-9 handler yet; however the handler and K-9 officer will attend a six-week academy together. We hope to have them out in the field answering calls for service after the first of the next year.”
Chief Claborn explained that there are many pluses to adding a K-9 Officer to the department, which includes the fact that the K-9 Officer can go into a dangerous situation that would otherwise place an officer’s life in danger, thus potentially saving the officer’s life.
Also, a K-9 Officer can apprehend a combative suspect, thus preventing an officer from having to use force and face the suspect directly and potentially be injured. Also, the K-9 Officer’s have the skill of searching a warehouse in a fraction of the time it would take officers to search the same area.
“A K-9 Officer is a fantastic component of community engagement. K-9s are always the most popular attraction at any community engagement event,” said Claborn.
K-9 Officer’s do come at a cost; however, it’s a worthwhile cost for their training, and their initial cost of purchasing them, which is between $10,000 to $15,000, plus the K-9 academy.
When an Officer Handler takes on the duty of a K-9 Officer, they then live together 24/7; the K-9 Officer becomes a family member, with a specific job to accomplish within the police department.
A lot goes into having a police vehicle ready for a K-9 officer, such as having a Dodge Durango vehicle fitted with lots of sensors on windows in the vehicle that automatically roll down to provide air for the K-9’s safety.
All of the adaptations of a police vehicle are for the comfort and safety of the K-9 Officer.
“A police K-9 vehicle is modified significantly to accommodate a K-9 Officer. There’s an additional A/C unit so that the K-9 won’t overheat should the primary A/C unit fail,” Chief Claborn explained.
“We’ll make a big deal of it when the K-9 officer arrives, by holding the K-9’s own press conference,” the Chief smiled, sharing that the name of “Elvis” has been mentioned in honor of a local donor for the K-9 officer.
Also, in policing, the Chief said that the Police Department and school district have conducted an active shooter drill, collaborating with multiple surrounding agencies, such as Mass Notification Systems, Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) and AlertOC (https://www.readyoc.com/text-alerts)
The drive for the community of Rossmoor to get its own mailing zip code has taken on new life, the Rossmoor Board of Directors were told at their October meeting.
Director Michael Maynard had complained earlier this year that using a Los Alamitos zip code when ordering products through Amazon and other mail-order services was costing residents additional sales taxes.
Rossmoor once had its own postal zip code, 90721, he said, and its own post office until postal officials closed the post office in the 1980s and merged Rossmoor’s mailing with Los Alamitos (90720).
Purchases made from Rossmoor are automatically and wrongfully charged the Los Al sales tax because they are in that zip code, even though technically, they live in Rossmoor and should not be charged the additional 1.5 cent sales tax, he said in July.
Some of the Amazon computers are more sophisticated and able to tell the difference, he estimated that at least 50 percent of the Amazon customers in Rossmoor are also wrongfully charged the sales tax, he added.
“I am doing this because I think it is wrong,” said Maynard, estimating Rossmoor residents are wrongfully charged between $150 – 200,000 per year. Maynard did not explain his rationale for the estimation but said “I think there is a fix for it,” said Maynard at the time.
At the Board’s October meeting, Joe Mendoza, the General Manager of the Rossmoor Community Services District said since July, he has followed up with state and federal officials and a formal request has been made with the Postmaster General.
Mendoza said he and Maynard have met with First District Supervisor Andrew Do’s Chief Deputy to “ask for their support in securing our own zip code.”
“They listened, they’re looking into it,” he said. “We explained it in great detail, and they understood it,” said Mendoza.
In addition, the General Manager said they also met with Congresswoman Michelle Steel’s office to put in a “formal request” with the U.S. Postmaster General. Since then, said Mendoza, Steel’s office has taken the lead on the issue.
Mendoza said his office has created a “detailed request” to the Postmaster General explaining “what we want and why we want it,” and that postal officials had gotten back to him asking his office to “minimize” the taxation issue simply because the Postmaster “isn’t in charge of the taxation.”
Mendoza said he would work with Maynard to finalize the request before formally submitting it “but they know it’s coming and that’s a good thing.”
In their research, Mendoza said they learned things that will bolster their case for Rossmoor having its own zip code, including the fact that other special districts in California, such as Midway City, already have their own zip codes.
In other action, the Board voted 4-1 to accept the lowest bid from Taylor Tennis Company to resurface four tennis courts, restripe three of them as tennis courts, stripe one as pickleball courts and resurface one basketball court for $61,000.
Mendoza said the $61,000 was the lowest bid, and it was $11,000 over the $50,000 the Board had budgeted for the project.
Even so, the Directors discussed the situation in La Palma, wherein the Council recently nixed construction of pickleball courts because the price of the bids had ballooned over the estimates.
“It’s a supply and demand situation,” said Mendoza.
Board President Tony DeMarco wanted to confirm that the Taylor Tennis, Inc., the lowest bidder, was the same company that had previously worked on its tennis courts. He also read the scope of work to be performed by the company if the bid was accepted.
In addition, Demarco asked the RCSD’s attorney, Tarquin Preziosi, about what flexibility the special district might have.
“The board’s power to deviate from the lowest responsible bidder is very limited,” said Preziosi.
Director Nathan Searles objected to moving forward because he said the board had not technically held a meeting to create a budget amendment to authorize the work. “We have still not amended the budget,” he suggested.
After additional discussions between the attorneys and members of the board, Director Jeffrey Barke, M.D., moved the item which was seconded by Maynard.
Maynard said given the dis
The Rossmoor Community Services District has announced it has partnered with “The Holistic Hunk,”whose real name is Jamie Hulk, for a special Rossmoor Wellness event on Nov. 4.
“I’m partnering with Rossmoor Community Services District & Elite Special Events for this collaborative, impactful day. We’re calling all local Orange County area health & wellness businesses and practitioners to be a part of our ROSSMOOR HEALTH FAIR on Saturday November 4th, 2023 Noon – 4pm at beautiful Rush Park in Rossmoor, Los Alamitos,” said Hulk in a press release issued by the district.
Hulk said RCSD is on the hunt for 30 vendors to be associated with the event. Applications are available by calling the RCSD office at Rush Park, he said.
“Our mission is to connect our community members with their local health businesses to improve their wellness journey,” he said.
“This one day event will foster two-way beneficial long lasting relationships that make the world a healthier, happier place! We’ll create the space, but we need your life-changing expertise, services, & products,” said Hulk.
“We hope to make this a one-stop-shop day for all our community’s wellness needs and help them be proactive with reducing holiday stress before the busy times begin,” he said.
In addition, Hulk said a donation-based ‘all-levels’ one-hour yoga class in the grass will be offered to guests to kick off the day 11am -Noon to get participants “peaceful and ready” for the vendor street fair which will be held from noon until 4 p. m.
Hulk said the event is designed to benefit everyone’s long-term wellness and “positively affect how we all interact with the world around us.”
Rotary Club of Los Alamitos/Cypress/Seal Beach brought 150 members of the community together for a delightful, second annual Rotary Wine and Dine Fundraising Event on October 7 at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress.
With an exquisite backdrop of a brilliant orange sunset, a talented jazz ensemble from Seal Beach Symphony entertained a delighted crowd. Under the lights of the pavilion patio, guests sampled wines from Seal Beach Winery, New Zealand Navigator and from various fine vineyards. Dinner followed with DJ Drew Henderson, playing soft tunes as people socialized, ate, and engaged in spirited bidding for silent auction items. Superintendent of LAUSD and beloved auctioneer, Andrew Pulver, energized an animated live auction featuring Theatre/Dinner Tickets, Fine Dining gift cards, fine wines, a Getaway/Dinner, a foursome Golf Package and Tickets to a LA Rams Football Game. Dancing and music brought a night of celebration to a close.
Generous support for the evening came from Rotary major sponsors Ganahl Lumber, Southland Credit Union, Allen McLean of Sir Speedy, and Forest Lawn of Cypress.
Other big donors included Barnes Accountancy Corporation, Dixie Fried, Green Street Interiors, Carol & Newton Hart, Los Alamitos Race Track, Mike & Sharon McCrary, The Seal Beach Lions Club, The Seal Beach The Strategic Marketing Group and WiLogic.
Rotary is the largest service organization in the world, inspired by its motto of “Service Above Self”. The local Los Alamitos/Cypress/Seal Beach Rotary Club’s commitment to making a positive difference knows no bounds. In recent years alone, the Club has distributed more than $50,000 to local non-profit organizations, to student recognition, and to community projects, as well as international projects including the eradication of polio in the world.
Proceeds from the 2023 Rotary Wine and Dine will benefit fifteen local and regional non-profit organizations, leaving an indelible mark on countless lives.
Today, the Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach stands united, ready to face the challenges of tomorrow with the same spirit of service and commitment that has defined us for six decades. The journey continues, and together, Rotary will continue to create a brighter and more compassionate world for all. If you could not join us in this year’s community event, next October we will be back for the Third Annual Rotary Wine and Dine.
Over 200 people joined Los Alamitos Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver and the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) for the State of the District breakfast on Thursday, October 5, 2023, according to a LAEF press release.
“Delivering the State of the District address to our community is an immense honor and I extend my sincere appreciation to our Los Al USD village that steadfastly supports our students and staff. It is a privilege to showcase the remarkable achievements of our District and emphasize our unwavering dedication to supporting students on their individual educational paths,” stated Dr. Pulver.
Guests were entertained before the presentation by a quartet made up of students from the Los Alamitos High School String Orchestra and LAHS senior Jake Dingillo who beautifully performed the National Anthem.
Dr. Pulver reviewed the District Priority Goals for 2023-24, which are to passionately pursue academic excellence, cultivate a thriving and safe culture, foster collaborative relationships, provide high-quality facilities, and manage and strategically manage financial resources.
Dr. Pulver also celebrated numerous district achievements. All nine Los Al USD schools have received the honors of California Distinguished School and Gold Ribbon School. Los Alamitos High School achieved a 100% graduation rate for the Class of 2023 with 91% of graduates completing an AP (Advanced Placement), CTE (Career and Technical Education), or dual-enrollment community college course, and 92% of graduates enrolled in post-secondary education.
The presentation focused on the district’s commitment to honoring each student’s individual path and supporting them on their journey to becoming happy, independent adults. Dr. Pulver showed the ripple effect of the district’s many programs that not only help students with their educational achievements but also focus on their mental health and well-being.
Dr. Pulver gave an update on district enhancement projects which include new playgrounds for all elementary schools, the continuing of LAHS classroom renovations, LAHS turf replacement, improvements to the Performing Arts Center, and construction of a second gymnasium, which has a completion date set for Fall 2025.
Dr. Pulver concluded the morning with a powerful video highlighting one student’s journey at Los Alamitos High School after attending three other high schools within one year’s time. The video focused on the importance of meeting students where they are in their journey and helping to connect them with teachers, classrooms and peers that inspire them and make them feel safe. This student’s connection with Mr. Brown, the film and video production teacher at LAHS, and the film classes ultimately changed his trajectory and helped him earn a high school diploma with the graduating Class of 2023, something he did not think was possible when he arrived at Los Al.
The event was attended by parents, PTA groups, district staff and administration, school board members, LAEF’s board of directors and local city and elected officials. The breakfast took place at On The Greens at Navy Golf Course and all net proceeds supported LAEF. The presentation was video-recorded and will be made available on the District’s YouTube channel and the LAEF website.
“We are always happy to work with Dr. Pulver to provide the opportunity to come together and celebrate our district’s accomplishments. LAEF is very grateful to Legacy Sponsor Alamitos Eye Care and Valedictorian Sponsors Epson, Simon Law Group, Clean Wave Express Carwash, PacificWest and Erickson-Hall for their generosity, which ensured the success of the event,” said LAEF Executive Director Carrie Logue.
LAEF is the non-profit partner of Los Alamitos Unified School District. LAEF enhances educational excellence by providing after-school and summer enrichment programs to children in grades Pre-K to 12. LAEF provides significant funding for mental health/wellness and STEAM education, as well as igniting new programs and providing valuable resources, to impact all students. For additional information on LAEF, please call (562) 799-4700 Extension 80424 or visit www.LAEF4Kids.org.
The Cypress Chamber of Commerce will host Digital Marketing Expert Mae Van Vooren as our guest speaker at the November Networking Breakfast. Our event will be held Tuesday, November 14th at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 4931 Katella Avenue, Cypress/Los Alamitos starting at 7:30 a.m., the Chamber announced in a press release.
Mae Van Vooren is a seasoned business leader with a diverse background in helping organizations grow and thrive. As a partner in Orange County based Sidekick Solutions Digital Marketing, Mae focuses on helping small and medium-sized businesses elevate their online presence and thrive in the digital landscape. Mae will share tips on how you can improve your digital presence, outreach and business reputation to help you boost sales and utilize advertising and marketing on the major online resources.
Mae’s Sidekick clients appreciate her genuine care and unwavering dedication to their success, always knowing that she has their best interests at heart. With her ”done-for-you” approach, clients have confidently entrusted the technical aspects of marketing to Sidekick Solutions for many years. This allows her clients the time to concentrate on their businesses. Some of the many services Sidekick provides include website redesign, web ADA compliance, logo design and branding, and complete social media management.
In addition to her professional achievements, Mae Van Vooren brings a sense of humor and a love for laughter to her work. She also has a passion for food, photography and fun. As a former homeschooling mom of four now thriving adults, she treasures the moments spent with her family.
Each Chamber breakfast attendee will also have an opportunity to stand to introduce themselves and share a little about their business before the program begins.
Reservations are highly recommended to secure your spot for the monthly breakfasts and can be made online. Cost of the breakfast is $25.00. Early Bird Registration is $20.00. Attendees are also encouraged to bring along a door prize to promote their product or service. The program will include time for live networking, self-introductions, a breakfast buffet, our guest speaker and a question and answer session if time permits.
The Chamber networking breakfasts, which are open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Space will be limited. To assure your seat, pre-register on the chamber website: https://www.cypresschamber.org/events/details/2023-november-networking-breakfast-2702
Photo by Monica Aguilar-Salinas
The Kennedy High girls volleyball team finished its run in the Empire League in style, as the Fighting Irish captured an Empire League title for the first time since 1994. Kennedy defeated Crean Lutheran in four sets to clinch the title. The Fighting Irish also defeated rivals Cypress for the first time in 16 years. With re-leaguing set to take place after this year, this is the final season for an Empire League. “After taking second place last year, and qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in 43 years, it was nice to finally get a league championship this year,” Kennedy Head Coach Travis Warner said.
A large group of local bands and international performers gathered on the beach in Long Beach Sunday to raise funds for the Jumpstart college aid program.
Perennial favorite Familiar Faces (The Bierman Brothers), Sterling Red, and performers like Amy May took turns performing for the beach get-together.
“We work with students starting in the eighth grade all the way until college graduation,” said a spokesman for the Jumpstart program.
“We have to see them finish college in order to really be making an impact on students lives,” she said.
The spokesman said Jumpstart has helped thousands of students finish college since the program began in 1994.
“Our goal isn’t simply to be another program, but to be a ladder to college dreams,” the spokes person said.
In an outpouring of emotion and support, Jews and non-Jews gathered Thursday in the wake of a terrorist attack a world away that reverberated in communities everywhere.
In a hastily called event entitled “Long Beach Stands with Israel,” people crowded into the Alpert Jewish Community Center on the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Jewish Long Beach Campus as interfaith community leaders searched for meaning and found widespread support.
Workers scramble to run cables and monitors to overflow rooms to accomodate the huge crowd. DNY photo
In fact, the event’s start was delayed as workers scrambled to run cables and monitors to accommodate participants in overflow rooms and even the lobby. Participants, according to the program, came from Long Beach and the surrounding communities of Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, and other communities.
“We stand together to mourn the largest tragedy to the Jewish people since the holocaust,” said Deborah Goldfarb, CEO, of Jewish Long Beach and the Alpert Jewish Center said to open the event.
In addition to Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, Assembly Member Josh Lowenthal, and other officials, the unprecedented gathering also included leaders of other churches and interfaith groups joining the Jewish community for an evening of reflection.
“I am not welcoming you to the event as there is nothing welcome about this event,” said the Jewish Long Beach Board President Richard Marcus. “I am welcoming you to the community to share together, to heal together,” he said.
Marcus said every Jew he knows considers the attack that occurred a world away to be “personal.”
(L-R) Richard Marcus, PhD, Sunny Zia, LBCC Trustee, Assembly member Josh Lowenthal, Deborah Goldfarb, CEO, State Senator Lena Gonzalez, Mayor Rex Richardson and Rabbi Abba Perelmuter. Courtesy photo
“It is personal because of our connections in Israel,” said Marcus. “It is also personal to us because we have family and friends that have been impacted,” he continued.
“We know people who have died, we know people who have been kidnapped, we know people whose homes have been destroyed, our family members have been called up to serve, and many others whose lives have been turned upside down,” said Marcus.
Rabbi Nancy Myers of Westminster said while there is a season set for everything, she prayed that Hamas would never be able to threaten Israel again.
“Intellectually, I know that many wars and battles have flooded the earth of the old city and throughout Israel, over the millennia, but this is more personal because you and I are living through it,” she told the assembly.
“And,” she said, “we are grieving together. A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time for war and a time for peace.”
“And so here we are during this time of war, of pain and suffering. And I hope and pray that Israel will end this war quickly, and that our captives are safely returned and that Hamas will never threaten our people, our Israel again,” said Myers.
Rabbi Len Muroff, from Temple Beth Ohr in Los Angeles, said “today, I am filled with many different emotions. Like all of you, my heart is broken.”
“It’s rare when a rabbi says he has no words. I want to say that the phrase, ‘to have no words’ is something that my friend Colin Campbell has taught me that is a phrase that is not helpful to say. To him, when you say the phrase, ‘there are no words,’ it makes him feel and think that you should not share his feelings.
“I think we should be open, and sensitive, and kind, and patient,” said Murdoff, “and understand that everyone is broken and unsure of what comes next.”
“When we were young, we thought that the trajectory of history would be in an upward direction. It is so clear that this is really not the case,” said Murdoff.
“But it is also clear that, to all of us who have lived a little, that we should have never expected that it will always be going up. “In the coming days, months, and years, the bereft should understand they are not alone. Not today and not tomorrow, for this journey of grief will be long,” the L.A.-based Rabbi said.
Rabbi Schmuel Marcus, of Los Alamitos, who prayed for the soldiers, said in essence, Jews everywhere should unite to spiritually go into battle with the Israel Defense League.
“We have the soldiers that are being deployed, right now, to the front lines, and then, the fourth soldier, I call it the civilian soldier, that’s you and me,” said Marcus. “In California, Long Beach, Rossmoor or wherever we are. We are also involved,” he said.
“How are we involved,” he asked?
Long Beach and surrounding communitie gather to provide support for the Jewish community. DNY photo
“Because the Jewish Army, the IDF, is different from any other Army. Like King David said, every nation has horses and chariots, but in the Jewish Army, we have the name of God…we have this spiritual, invisible power that goes with every soldier,” said Marcus.
He said according to the Torah (a compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), when soldiers set up camps, they are instructed to be as clean and honorable as synagogues. Really, why,” he asked rhetorically. “Because God goes with every soldier to battle. We don’t go alone; we go with God.”
“That’s why whenever there is a crisis, we gather. We gather together to give each other comfort,” the Rossmoor-based Rabbi said, but even more, it’s truly about Jewish unity. “Jewish unity is happening right here, in this room, and it is so powerful. It’s like a powerful light, like the antidote to war itself,” he said.
Marcus chanted in Hebrew first, a Jewish chant, that he later repeated in English. “I take it upon myself to love every Jew,” said Marcus. Whenever there is a crisis, this, he said, is chanted by Jews.
“That is a mantra for world peace because there are forces of disunity within your own home. Sometimes, if your neighbor puts his trash right in front of where your car goes…you have disunity in your life, and when you bring peace to that, it has a ripple effect and it could affect what is going on in the world,” he suggested.
“So we are not bystanders to what’s happening now,” he said. In that way, Marcus said unity in the Jewish community can help the soldiers on the front line in Israel.
Other rabbis urged action as well.
Standing room only crowds listen as officials react to terrorist attck in Israel.
“We cannot leave this room the way we entered this room,” said Rabbi Abba Perelmuter of Shul by the Shore.
“This is a seminal moment in Jewish history,” he said sharply.
“This was not an individual attack, not a small little terrorist attack. This was a war against the Jewish people,” said Perelmuter. “It happened in southern Israel, but this is a global war against us.”
“We as a nation need to do what we need to do to fight back,” he said clearly, and I don’t mean militarily. “Our relationship with Judaism is a religion of gratitude,” the rabbi said in thanking everyone who made the overflow vigil happen so quickly.
“I think it is so important that we get together, every one of us in this room, multiple congregations, different walks of life. Every single one of us makes a difference.”
“When we walk out of here, everyone needs to do their part. We as Jews know that we’re going to bond together and we’re a family. And for those of you who are not the Jewish faith and have stood with us, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Perelmuter.
I’m a Holocaust survivor’s kid. I lived my entire life, healing, listening, and studying about the Holocaust. And I feel this is what it feels like,” the Rabbi said.
“I haven’t emerged from my shock,” said Rabbi Yitzchak Newman, of Jewish Long Beach.
“We are people who live in a civilized society,” he said, “yet many of them lack the decency to utterly, and unconditionally condemn this barbarism and even in many cases, they are defending that action,” he said sadly.
“This happened hundreds of years ago, thousands of years ago, but you didn’t actually see it in front of your eyes,” Newman said. “How can that happen today? The graphic pictures that are coming out from the barbarism and yet, in a civilized country…I’m shocked,” he said.
“The pain and suffering inflicted upon my brothers and sisters are beyond words,” he said, “We stand in solidarity with the hundreds of families that have lost loved ones, the thousands who are wounded and entire communities now living in fear,” said Newman.
“Sharing moments such as this, even as our minds may have different understandings, each and every one of us walking a different path about what it means to be Jewish,” said Rabbi Scott Fox of Temple Israel.
“These are words that come to us from hundreds of years ago, and strange enough, they are written in a language that the people of that time could not speak,” he said. The prayer, El Maleh Rachamim (God full of compassion), is a Jewish prayer for the departed.
He said the prayer was written knowing that “these words would be said by families who had different paths coming together because of a terrible and tragic loss,” said Fox.
Chaya Leah Sufrin, a renowned educator and co-host of the “Ask a Jew” podcast, tearfully rallied for a more engaged Jewish community.
“I was just there in June with our students,” she said, “twenty Jewish and non-Jewish students.” With her voice quivering, she said they had visited one of the towns near Gaza where one of the massacres occurred.
“The Jewish people are one family. When one hurts, we all hurt,” said Sufrin.
“I have been so, so angry and so scared, and so sad all at once,” she said, “but I’ve also been extremely empty to actually do something, and you think, if I can’t be in Israel, what can I do?”
“We all need each other,” she said, “and there’s plenty to do here by increasing our Jewish involvement, helping people discover their Jewish identity, educating our young Jews,” she said.
“We have our work cut out for us here in Long Beach,” said Sufrin.
“We are one people, one family. All of us can do more and we have a roadmap for doing more,” she said.” “We’ve followed that roadmap for 3,500 years and it’s called the ‘Torah,’” said Sufrin. “We have to strengthen our Jewish community. We must strengthen our Jewishness.”
“A more engaged Jewish community here helps Israel,” said Sufrin, “and it helps us be united as a family. Our mothers and sisters in Israel want and need a strong Jewish community in America,” Sufrin said.
“We are not destroyers, we are builders. We are uplifters and builders of peace,” Rabbi Perelmuter reminded the group. “We want peace. The people of Israel crave and pray every day to bring peace upon us,” he said.
“So please, be ambassadors of light and ambassadors of peace,” he pleaded with his Jewish brethren.
“Let us all become a little better.”
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since the print edition to eliminate the casualty numbers since they are rapid changes make it difficult to be accurate.
The Cypress City Council by a vote of 3-2 Monday proved that Valley Vista Services can still generate enough votes to stay off the city’s radar, at least for now.
The Council, on a split vote, removed from consideration an item that emerged from their recent strategic planning meeting as a priority to be considered in the next six months.
The action came as a surprise to council member David Burke, who said he had been working with city manager Peter Grant to develop best practices around the sourcing of solid waste contracts since the previous council’s award estimated to be worth $100 million no bid contract to Valley Vista had generated so much controversy in the city.
The precise motion would have allowed the establishment of a two-member ad hoc subcommittee to study the best practices for the future awarding of waste-hauler contracts.
The Council’s strategic planning meeting was held on Sept. 18 and the best practices ad-hoc committee was listed as one of the strategic priorities, among others like the Myra Ave. pumping station, audio crosswalk signals, unfunded pension liability payments, business park modernization, etc.
However, in a twist, Council member Bonnie Peat made a motion to accept the strategic priorities without the waste hauler item.
“All right. I’ll make a motion to approve the six months strategic objections less the item related to item two, related to establishing an ad hoc subcommittee to identify best practices for building a solid waste franchise,” said Peat.
“It says recommend establishing an ad hoc subcommittee to identify best practices for bidding and awarding replace franchise. I know she had proposed that it’s not an imminent thing. I don’t know what happens with the contract, but right now I believe it goes to 2037,” said Peat.
“So I would like to propose that we push that out, at least to the next strategic and really have a discussion as to timing as to why we need to do it right now. I don’t see with everything else that we’ve got on our platter and some of the major activity we’ve got that it doesn’t hurt to move it out and to have a proper discussion.”
Mayor Anne Hertz-Mallari, who was attending the meeting virtually from Chicago, said she agreed.
“Thank you for bringing that up. I look at the complexity and quantity of the items in the six month strategic plan. I really think we have to consider staff capacity and ensure that we have enough time and resources to do the things that are the most urgent and important,” she said.
“I think this item should be deleted from consideration tonight,” she said.
An exacerbated Burke said all the staff time was already spent.
“Since we agreed to put it in strategic planning, however, I want to provide context. So this idea is something I’ve been working on since I got elected. And it’s an idea pertaining to make sure that we have good the best practices in place in terms of bidding and awarding or solid waste franchises,” he said.
“My colleagues have expressed concerns about our bandwidth and the amount of work related to this. So that I would say that the City Manager and I have been working on this for months, and I’ve already received input from department directors who considered comparable ordinances from other cities. And so I say that most of what I would consider heavy lifting on this item is already done,” he said.
“Given a lot of discussion in the community in the past couple of years around the issue, I think it’s important to be responsive to a lot of things that have come up and to take an opportunity to make sure that we have the best practices in place,” said Burke.
“I just I don’t really see why we wouldn’t have the ability to consent, he added.
Scott Minikus, Mayor Pro-tem, weighed in on the side of leaving it alone for now.
“My concern is that a lot can change in 10 years. And the Council at that time, which none of us will likely be here, could change course completely on that as well. So my concern is, although a lot of the upfront work has already been done, I think maybe not saying no to it but pushing it off for another six months,” he said.
“I concur with councilmember Burke,” said Council member Frances Marquez. “I think it’s really important that we hear the voices of the people and follow up,” she said.
“As a council member, when you participate in strategic planning, we all want our feedback to get into consideration and given that Councilmember Burke has been working on this for a while with the city manager. I think it’s critically important that we move forward with it just so that people feel that we’re doing our job and addressing their concerns,” she said.
The council voted 3-2 in favor of Peat’s motion to strike waste hauling contracts from the strategic planning agenda, with Peat, Hertz-Mallari an Minikus voting for the motion with Burke and Marquez voting against.
“I was surprised the item was removed because I was not proposing some radical idea. It was simply that sometime in the next six months, a subcommittee would explore options for how to improve the way the city awards solid waste franchise agreements in the future,” said Burke after the meeting.
“I think we as council members owe it to residents to—at the very least—have conversations about issues they have expressed concerns about, so I am disappointed, he said. During the recent election, eventual winners Peat and Minikus were criticized for independent campaign expenditures from the Safe Neighborhoods PAC which records show were funded by VVS officials and companies, according to local resident Edwin Kraemer in a warninghe made to residents in a Letter to the Editor then. “This is just one, recent, eample of the disturbing influence that money is having on politics and management in our city.”.
Minikus received more than $17,000 in independemt election assistance from the PAC while Peat received more than $7000, election records show. The contributions were perfectly legal, election officials said.
The Cypress College Foundation recently received its largest donation ever of $1.2 million, a gift that will support and expand the institution’s Aviation program.
The donation, gifted by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, will fund a new cabin simulator and high-powered drone, as well as the expansion of an aviation simulator lab, allowing for more students to participate in the program.
“We thank our anonymous donor for this exceptional gift,” said Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling “Empowered by this generosity, Cypress College can continue transforming the lives of our students by creating access to train our future aviators with the best-in-class equipment to safely pilot various types of aircraft. This gift will be felt far beyond Cypress College as our pilots go out into the world to serve aviation needs with their exceptional training.”
Five years ago, this same anonymous donor contributed $1 million to the Aviation program for state-of-the-art flight simulators, effectively eliminating the cost of thousands of dollars in flight time fees each year allowing students to take many steps forward to fulfill their dreams of becoming pilots. Until now, that donation was the largest ever received by the Foundation.
The donor is a retired businessman, investor, and pilot who said he was motivated to donate to the Aviation program because of the work of Department Chair Ed Valdez, who has robust experience as an Airline Transport Pilot with type ratings in the Boeing 727, 737, 757/767, A319/A320 and Gulfstream’s G2, G3, G4 and G5 aircraft. The Aviation program also attracted the donor to give, thanks to the quality of the program and its proximity to several airports, including Long Beach, John Wayne, and Fullerton.
“A huge advantage we have here is the Los Angeles airspace,” the donor shared back in 2018, following the first donation. “This is the most complex airspace in the world. Pilots come from across the globe to train here.”
The Crystal Heart Ball 2023, a remarkable event hosted by The Youth Center to celebrate those who have made a significant impact on the lives of our youth, was held on September 30 at the Marconi Automotive Museum. This splendid evening served as a grand celebration of the extraordinary contributions of five exceptional award winners.
The event was graced by esteemed guests, including the Mayor of Los Alamitos, Tanya Doby, and Los Alamitos Unified School Board Members Chris Forehan and Diana Hill, who added to the significance of the gathering.
The award winners were recognized in five distinct categories, and their remarkable achievements were highlighted as follows:
Epson America Courtesy photo
EPSON America, Inc. – Crystal Hearts Business Award
EPSON America, Inc. was honored with the prestigious Crystal Hearts Business Award 2023, presented by Nathaniel Epstein, The Youth Center Board President. EPSON’s commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation is truly remarkable. Their dedication to sustainability is intricately woven into their innovative endeavors, driving positive change for our planet. As a subsidiary of the global electronics giant Seiko Epson Corporation, EPSON America has a rich history dating back to their establishment in Japan in 1942. Their invaluable support was instrumental in the construction of the new Center for Kids in 2022, and the heartwarming fact that many EPSON employees volunteered their time further demonstrates their profound impact on our community.
Ally Hatakeyama Courtesy photo
Alexandra Hatakeyama – Crystal Hearts Youth Award
Chris Forehan, Los Alamitos School Board President, presented the Crystal Hearts Youth Award to Alexandra Hatakeyama. Alexandra is a passionate advocate and a trailblazer in the realm of student leadership. She serves as the president and founder of the Leadership Council of Students, where she has been instrumental in enhancing the well-being of children through engaging programs. Alexandra’s vision for nurturing growth and learning from inspiring role models has resulted in the success of the Emerging Leaders club at Los Alamitos High School. Her remarkable achievements include raising a substantial $14,000 for a Wellness Project and playing a pivotal role in building mental health support programming for the youth in our community.
Ron and Emeline Noda Courtesy photo
Ron and Emeline Noda – Crystal Hearts Family Award
Tanya Doby, the Mayor of the City of Los Alamitos, presented the Crystal Hearts Family Award to Ron and Emeline Noda. Ron, the Deputy City Manager and Development Services Director, and Emeline, the Director of Recreation & Community Services, have dedicated themselves to the betterment of the Los Alamitos community. Their contributions to the Serve Los Al Committee, the Los Alamitos Elevate Women’s Conference, and their unwavering support of various nonprofits have left an indelible mark. Their love for their four boys, passion for family gatherings, travel adventures, and nature hikes are deeply intertwined with their dedication to our community.
Lions Club of Seal Beach – Crystal Hearts Organization Award
Courtesy photo
Gina Elefante, The Youth Center Administrative Director, presented the Crystal Hearts Organization Award to the Lions Club of Seal Beach, an organization with a rich history dating back to 1939. As the largest Lions Club in the United States, they have been unwavering in their service to the communities of Seal Beach, Rossmoor, and Los Alamitos. Their commitment to youth is nothing short of awe-inspiring. They have provided eyeglasses to children in need, assisted those with disabilities by providing wheelchairs, and supported various community events. Their outstanding contributions include building libraries and playing a vital role in constructing the new Center for Kids, a place where young dreams take flight.
Clare Elser
Clare Elser – Crystal Hearts Individual Award
Lina Lumme, The Youth Center Executive Director, presented the Crystal Hearts Individual Award to Clare Elser. Clare’s incredible dedication to our community is exemplified by her decade-long service in feeding youth volunteers at the Christmas Tree lot fundraiser, raising over $10,000 for youth scholarships. Her tireless efforts in the Annual Campaign program have resulted in raising over $15,000 for programs such as Adopt the Family, Tutoring, and the Leadership Academy. Clare’s contributions in the fundraising department, her donations of unique silent auction items, and her passion for supporting Pathway to Independence highlight her unwavering commitment to making a difference.
The Crystal Heart Ball 2023 was a memorable evening filled with live ballet performances by Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre (LABT), a non-profit ballet company founded by professional ballet dancers Renée and David Kim. The exquisite floral arrangements were provided by
Cypress Forest Lawn.
The success of the Crystal Heart Ball 2023 was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including SA Recycling, Epson, and Wendy Grose. The event took place at the Marconi Automotive Museum, which boasts a collection of over 100 vehicles worth $60 million, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, race cars, and iconic movie & TV cars such as the Batmobile, KITT from Knight Rider, and The General Lee.
The event celebrated the outstanding contributions of these award winners and shone a spotlight on their unwavering dedication to the well-being of our youth.
Tickets are on sale now for the Rossmoor Woman’s Club’s annual Holiday Home Tour, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3.
Participants in the self-guided tour will experience a range of holiday decor, from modest to over-the-top in homes that range from a tiny 750-square-foot casita to a 5,000-square-foot mini-mansion. Most of the homes have been remodeled, in design styles including coastal farmhouse, transitional and modern.
Tickets are $25 per person (children under 12 free), which includes the tour plus admission to a tea room offering complimentary coffee and cookies, with carolers onsite from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Santa available for selfies from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for chances to win a variety of raffle baskets will be on sale at the tea room, too. Capping it off will be a wine pull, where the purchase of a ticket allows the buyer to select a mystery bottle of wine.
The holiday home tour has been a community fundraiser since 1986. All net proceeds go to fund college scholarships for Los Alamitos High School students and to support local charities including We Care, The Youth Center, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Precious Life Shelter, St. Isidore Community Center, Fix Long Beach, the Long Beach City College Viking Vault for needy students, Bethune Transitional Center for homeless school children and more.
Tickets include addresses of all the homes and a map, and they must be shown at each house to gain entry. They may be purchased in advance for $25 from any club member, at one of the businesses listed below or online at rossmoorwomansclub.com.
Tickets will also be for sale the day of the tour at the tea room, set up in the garden behind Flags With A Flair at the Arbor Village restaurant and shopping complex, 10651 Los Alamitos Blvd. Tea room parking will be available in the Southland Credit Union and Fairfield by Marriott Hotel lots. (Note: tickets purchased online must be picked up the day of the tour at the tea room; they will not be mailed.)
Please note that these are private homes and are not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs or walkers. High heels are not allowed.
Merchants selling tickets are:Flags With A Flair, 10651 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos
Brita’s Old Town Gardens, 225 Main St. A, Seal Beach
Cinnamon Stik, 10641 Los Alamitos Blvd, Los Alamitos
McNally Electric & Lighting, 10792 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los AlamitosPrep Kitchen Essentials, The Shops at Rossmoor, 12207 Seal Beach Blvd., Seal Beach
The Rossmoor Woman’s Club is a non-profit social and philanthropic organization affiliated with the international General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Founded in Rossmoor in 1958, the club includes members from all over the northwest Orange County and Long Beach areas.
On October 16, 2023 Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) presented $2 Million in funds during Monday Matters at MacArthur Park in the City of Long Beach, a bi-monthly resource fair where volunteers help provide food, water, clothes, and other essential supplies to unhoused neighbors. Of the funds awarded, $1.25 million will be utilized to enhance the capacity of service providers to assist individuals at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. The remaining sum of $750,000 will be directed towards enhancing the city’s Reentry Services Program.
In recent years, California has seen an 84% increase of people ages 55 and over seeking homelessness services, compared to a 43% increase across all ages. They are the fastest-growing homeless population in our state, and it remains true in the City of Long Beach, as older adults on fixed incomes face higher rent burdens. Last year’s Homeless Count reports that nearly 44% of homeless people said they became homeless due to financial reasons, and at the same time, data shows that over the last decade, rent costs have more than doubled for average studio apartments.
To provide some relief and to help prevent older adults from falling into homelessness, the City of Long Beach will use the newly acquired funds to launch a long-term subsidy program to assist with monthly rent payments. Those on the program will also receive additional case management assistance, to find permanent affordable housing, including the opportunity to secure a shared housing arrangement, through which owners with underutilized rooms or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can be matched with older adults looking for a more affordable housing option.
Formerly incarcerated individuals are another population with a heightened risk of experiencing homelessness. In our state, 70% of homeless individuals have a history of incarceration. Although California’s justice system has made strides in reducing recidivism, it remains relatively high at approximately 50% over the last ten years. With this in mind, the state and the City of Long Beach are taking a proactive approach, leveraging the newly allocated $750,000 in funds to help provide comprehensive support services to previously incarcerated individuals and their families, facilitating their smooth reintegration into society and lessening the likelihood of them falling back into the criminal system or into homelessness. Specifically, the funding secured for Long Beach will focus on reducing the cycle of incarceration by providing case management, mental health, substance use, employment, and other social services for formerly incarcerated individuals who have been in jail or prison in the previous 12 months.
“Our state is taking a proactive approach in mitigating the homelessness crisis,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D – Long Beach). I am pleased to announce that we have allocated in this year’s state budget, $2 million in funds for the City of Long Beach dedicated to supporting our most vulnerable groups who are at risk of or currently facing homelessness. I would like to express my gratitude to the representatives of the City of Long Beach and our community leaders for their unwavering passion and dedication in advocating for innovative solutions that benefit our unhoused.
Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) announced that his Senate Bill 60, which would authorize a person to seek a court order requiring a social media platform to remove content pertaining to the sale of illegal drugs, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday evening.
“The scourge of fentanyl is unlike anything this county has ever seen before,” said Senator Umberg, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “The Governor has taken strong executive action on this matter, but it’s time for the Legislature to do our job and provide him, the Attorney General, our local district attorneys, and families alike with the tools to be able to hold drug dealers accountable for this crisis. SB 60 is a small but important first step in that process.”
The drug overdose epidemic has continued to worsen in the United States over the last several years as synthetic opioids, particularly illicit fentanyl, enter the market. No longer confined to street corners and the dark web, criminal drug networks are now in every home and school in America because of the internet apps on our smartphones.
Of specific concern is the primary method through which many individuals, especially teenagers, unlawfully purchase illicit fentanyl and other controlled substances—social media. Drug traffickers solicit customers via social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. In many cases, traffickers and buyers alike use social media features such as temporary or disappearing posts that help conceal their activities.
Illicit drugs offered on these social media sites can include methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. In addition, fentanyl and other drugs are often falsely marketed as legitimate prescription pills but instead are counterfeit pills that were illicitly manufactured and are illegally distributed.
SB 60 allows any entity – prosecutors, city attorneys, organizations and even individuals – to take private legal action against social media companies who fail to remove drug content in a timely manner.
“As a society we bear a collective responsibility to care for our citizens,” continued Senator Umberg. “This new law is one means by which we can stop drug traffickers from using social media to distribute drugs and prevent unintentional overdoses. I fully intend to join my Senate colleagues in returning next year with a package of measures to provide our law enforcement agencies and judicial system with some additional tools in this battle.”
SB 60 was signed into law on October 10, 2023 as Chapter 697 of the Statutes of 2023. Its provisions will take effect on January 1, 2024.
