Cerritos Republican Club News

Click on any picture to see an enlarged view.

October thru November 2016

Renaming Don Knabe Community Regional Park
November 30, 2016

Cerritos Regional Park was renamed Don Knabe Community Regional Park this afternoon. Here are some pictures taken by Candy Yee at this ceremony.

Cerritos Council Members Mark Pulido, Naresh Solanki, Jim Edwards, George Ray, and Carol Chen posed with City Manager Art Gallucci and Don Knabe.

Joe Mendoza, Deputy Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, spoke about how a landfill was used to create Cerritos Regional Park in 1973.

John Wicker, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, presented Don Knabe a replica of the Don Knabe Community Regional Park sign. Don said that he would place it above his bed.

Please visit the Don Knabe Community Center to see all of the artifacts which could not be shown in this short article.

November General Meeting
November 15, 2016

At the November general meeting of the Cerritos Republican Club Legislative Brad Beach and Hugo Enciso, members of the ABCUSD Facilities Committee, said that the members are starting to do all the school site visits. They have found that our schools are aging and potentially in need of some 21st Century updates. Brad and Hugo are focusing on safety, infrastructure and technological priorities and not creating a wish list. The Committee's next report to the Board is at the February 9, 2017, meeting, and the final report is targetted for the June 8, 2017, Board meeting. [Editor's note: One of the considerations is current and projected school enrollment.]

Joan Pylman and Greg Uttecht reported on activities of the ABCUSD Finance and Audit Committee, of which they are members. Joan presented data within the District. The data shows a decline in enrollment and five schools with enrollment well below capacity. These five are Melbourne, Willow, and Hawaiian Elementary Schools; Ross Middle School; and Artesia High School. They said the District doesn't want to talk about these underutilized schools.

Greg said that there are numerous portable classrooms that have been mothballed at schools where the student enrollment has declined. Yet the District continues to add new portable units where the increasing student enrollment requires them. It was also noted that adding more classrooms would be less expensive than buying more portable units. The District is not being fiscally responsible.

Chuong Vo presented his assessment of some of the results of the November election. He said that the Republicans won at the federal level but lost at the state level losing seats to the Democratic party.

Chuong spoke on Prop 57 and how overcrowded local jails will result in the release of more criminals back into our streets, and crime will rise even higher than it is now. He also talked about Prop 64 (the Marijuana act) and how that affects Cerritos. Fortunately, local jurisdiction has the authority to regulate the manner of cultivation within City limits.

Though there were many setbacks in local elections, one shining moment was the re-election of Phil Hawkins to the Central Basin Municipal Water District, Division V. Congratulations, Phil!

A slate of Board members for 2017 was presented. The motion was made, seconded, and approved to accept the slate. The 2017 CRC Board members are as follows:

• President Becky Lingad
• Vice President Brad Beach
• Secretary Tracy Winkler
• Treasurer Benjamin Ao
• Membership Chair Joan Pylman
• Programs Chair Hugo Enciso
• Hospitality Chair Lew Gentiluomo
• Communications Chair Daniel Ursery
• Legislative Chair Mark Dameron
• Ways and Means Chair Naomi Hosoda
• Member-at-Large Dixie Primosch

October General Meeting
October 11, 2016

At the October general meeting of the Cerritos Republican Club Legislative Chair Mark Dameron reviewed each of the propositions on the November ballot. The Club members then voted on whether or not to vote for each proposition. The results were as follows:

• Proposition 51: School Bonds NO
• Proposition 52: Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program YES
• Proposition 53: Revenue Bonds YES
• Proposition 54: Legislation and Proceedings YES
• Proposition 55: Tax Extension for Education and Healthcare NO
• Proposition 56: Cigarette tax NO
• Proposition 57: Crimanal sentences NO
• Proposition 58: English proficiency NO
• Proposition 59: Political spending by corporations NO
• Proposition 60: Adult films NO
• Proposition 61: State prescription drug purchases NO
• Proposition 62: Death penalty NO
• Proposition 63: Firearms and Ammunition sales NO
• Proposition 64: Marijuana legalization NO
• Proposition 65: Carryout bags NO
• Proposition 66: Death penalty YES
• Proposition 67: Ban on single-use plastic bags NO

The Club also considered the Presidential Election. It was moved and seconded to support the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and Mike Pence. The motion was approved.