Cerritos Republican Club News
January thru March 2021
Click on any picture to see an enlarged view.
General Meeting
March 9, 2021
CRC President Mark Dameron started the Club's March general general by asking Dean Grose to say a prayer.
Mark then announced that in lieu of our singing the National Anthem, our guest speaker Peter Kuo volunteered to play the National Anthem on a violin. Peter explained that, when he first came to America thirty eight years ago, he brought this violin with him. He further related that his father's business had been cancelled by the Taiwanese government because his father had subscribed to an anti-government magazine. That was his crime. It was Taiwan's loss and America's gain. His performance was excellent!
Mark then introduced Peter Kuo who is the Vice Chair of the California GOP. Peter thanked Dean Grose for inviting him to our meeting. They have been FaceBook Friends for a long time.
Peter came to America when he was fourteen years old. He said that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father had become a wealthy businessman initially in forestry products and later in the scrap metal business. In 1979 his father subscribed to an anti-government magazine, and his business was cancelled. In 1982 they landed in the California on July 1. His uncle greeted them at the airport and asked his father what he wanted to do. His father chose to go into the restaurant business, because everybody has to eat. His parents worked very hard and were very successful.
One day his father told Peter that, as long as you follow the law and do your best, your American dream would come true. Peter asked, "What is my American dream?" His father responded, "Very simply. You have a German car, an Italian suit, a Swiss bank account, and an American house with Italian shoes." That was his version of the American dream. He amended that by having a Japanese wife. That would be the perfect American dream. In reality Peter has an Indonesian wife and a Japanese car. "Most of what I have in my American house were made in China."
Peter was christened at age 18 and was a Christian in name only. Two years and two months ago God slapped me on the back of my head. You need to do something for the state and the country. Peter wanted to make sure that the Republican party stayed a pro-Life party. So he ran for CAGOP Vice Chair on a pro-Life, pro-Trump, and pro-Constitution platform and won. In his first meeting he said that he would forego the $6000 stipend for travel and pay for it on his own.
Peter went to Citizenship Swearing In Ceremonies and passed out voter registration cards to register more Republicans. By the end of his term, over 24 thousand new citizens had registered Republican. He has set a goal of registering one million new Republicans by the 2022 elections.
The CaGOP has an identity politics problem. Peter came up with "affinity program" signs based on religion (Christian, Buddhist), career (engineers, fire fighters, police, doctors, teachers, nurses), ethnicity (Vietnamese Americans, Muslin Americans, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, Japanese Americans, Laotian Americans, Taiwanese Americans, Indian Americans, Indonesian Americans, Malaysian Americans). A campaign can easily change "FOR TRUMP" to "FOR JANET NGUYEN" or another candidate. A person could be assigned to any one or more of these "coalitions" to more effectively run a campaign targetting those people.
Peter is concerned that America is going down the road to socialism, and Republicans are the only obstacle. We really should support the Party. He said that we should donate to the local candidates and not to the party to more effectively utilize your support. He suggested at least ten dollars a year would generate about $60 million in the state.
In the Q&A portion, Dean Grose brought up the subject of too many Republican candidates in a race. He used the example of Orange County Supervisor today with two excellent candidates. Dean asked whether the State Party has thought of a way to narrow down the candidates to one. Peter responded to consider a situation with four viable Republican candidates. In a perfect world, he would like to have all four candidates go into a room and come out with just one. Would that be possible?
Matt Kauble asked about a voter registration survey which was used to determine if a potential voter leans toward Republican values. Matt said that it was an effective way to get your foot in the door of a potential Repbulican voter. Peter said that media has tarnished the California GOP brand. He said that Republicans should stress that we believe in pro-Life, family values and faith. We should wave our American flag. Peter said that there is a bounty program to register Republicans.
Mark Rizk worries that Republican donors pick a candidate whom they personally know and like, but the candidate is not the strongest. Mark infers that the candidate would not win. What can be done? Peter said that he didn't have an honest answer, because it is a big problem.
Dixie Primosch brought up that we should have tables at Citizenship Swearing In Ceremonies with materials to pass out. She was also appalled that the high schools and colleges are usually one-sided in teaching politics. What can we do to address this? 
Peter showed a fan made with cardboard and an ice cream stick. On one side is the American flag, and on the other is a message to register Republican and the Pledge of Allegiance. A fan is especially useful in the summer time. Peter suggested that we form a Patriot Club to affirm our American history. Peter mentioned that Chinese discovered America a thousand years ago.
Peter Kuo finished his talk and we moved to Club business. The first item was the ratification of the revised ByLaws. A ByLaws Committee was formed, met five times, and came up with the proposed amendments. The proposed revised ByLaws were emailed to every member on February 26. Matt Kauble moved to approve the ratification of the proposed amendments. Joan Pylman seconded the motion.
Jim Yee had submitted in the Join Meeting email to Club members his proposed changes to the proposed amended ByLaws. In the meeting he discussed some of those changes including the separation of Appendix III Rosenberg's Rules of Order from the ByLaws. Mark Dameron clarified that "the only thing that is being ratified is everything above my signature. Nothing below my signature is being voted on at this moment." Mark Rizk said that Jim Yee should have made his changes known to the ByLaws Committee. Jim Yee responded that he did not expect to submit any changes and was talking only about the changes proposed by the ByLaws Committee. Joan Pylman responded to Jim Yee's statement that the City of Cerritos would need our ByLaws.
Joan Pylman moved to amend the motion "... to ratify the ByLaws as submitted and then have the Committee review and take into consideration Dr. Yee's recommendations. Then, under further review, come back to revisit some of these issues...." Matt Kauble accepted the amended motion.
Tracy Winkler asked for clarification of the amended motion. Mark Dameron said that, if ratified, the Committee would still review the changes submitted by Jim Yee. She liked the idea of having the new parliamentary protocol separate from the ByLaws. Mark Dameron confirmed that changes were sent as a single file for simplicity, but the file legally contain three separate documents. Mark Dameron iterated that we would be voting on what is above his signature.
A voice vote was made, and the amended motion for the ratification of the amended ByLaws was approved with eleven yes's, three no's and one abstention.
In Board reports, Mark Dameron reported that he attended the CA GOP convention as a guest. He also announced that Carla Gilhuys has volunteered to fill the Secretary vacancy. Chuong Vo said that Carla is his Cerritos Planning Commission appointee. Carla thanked the Club for electing her for Secretary, and she looked forward to serving in this position.
Mark Rizk also attended the CA GOP virtual convention. He attended a workshop about Republicans not being like those people who stormed the Capitol on January 6. He mentioned a Voter Registration workshop on March 29 [San Diego], 30 [Pomona], and 31 [Los Angeles] by the Leadership Institute.
Matt Kauble gave a report of the Club's bank account status.
Bruce Barrows stated that he enjoyed chairing the ByLaws Committee and that he would review the recommendations by Jim Yee.
Joan Pylman announced that Bonnie Kellogg had re-joined the Club. Bonnie had also written a letter about bill HR484 introduced by Linda Sanchez to deny federal, state, and local benefits to a President if he is impeached twice. [Note that he was acquitted both times.]
Dean Grose announced that Susan Shelley will be our speaker for the April 13 meeting. Susan is a columnist and editorial writer for the Southern California News Group which publishes numerous newspapers in southern California including the Orange County Register and the Long Beach Press Telegram.
Dixie Primosch stated that Susan Shelley is also Vice President of Communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. She is an excellent, dynamic speaker. Dixie has circulated articles by Ms. Shelley.
Joan Pylman attended the LA GOP virtual meeting. It was announced that Political Data Incorporated (PDI) will no longer provide voter data for Republicans. Matt Kauble said that PDI was not making enough money on Republican data.
Tracy Winkler asked if the City of Cerritos is changing its Charter. Bruce Barrows said that the City is reviewing legal requirements. One pertains to nepotism. No changes to term limits.
The meeting was adjourned.
General Meeting
February 9, 2021
Mark Dameron started the Club's February general general meeting by asking Dean Grose to do the invocation.
Then we did tne pledge of allegiance to the Flag of the United States.
State Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen was our guest speaker. She thanked our Club for supporting her in her successful election. In the Assembly, her main emphasis was on COVID recovery. She's trying to get children back in the classrooms fulltime and safely. She has seen how devasting the shutdown has been for her children socially, mentally, and academically. Her children's school district has gone to hybrid teaching with classes at school two days a week. 
Participating in sports has helped her boys. Structural sports has helped them in learning leadership and working together as a team. Over two million children have not been allowed to participate in sports since last March. Suicidal rates among children was at an all-time high last year. Check up on your children and grandchildren to make sure they're okay. Join the movement to "Let Them Play."
With Republicans holding only 19 seats out of 80, the Republicans need to stick together to keep our state from becoming socialistic. She urged our members to write letters to our representatives about our concerns.
The EDD has a huge problem. Since 2016 there's over 20 billion dollars in fraudulent unemployment claims through EDD. The computer system in place is unable to detect fraud. Of two to three million accounts that were frozen, only 300 thousand have been unfrozen. Because of COVID-19, many of these accounts desparately need to be checked as quickly as possible so that the deserving ones get the financial help that they badly need. Her office has been inundated with requests for help. The Republicans have authored bills to solve the EDD problems.
For the first Q&A question, Mark Dameron asked where she stood with regard to term limit. Of twelve years allowed, she has eight years left.
Janice Dawson asked whether the state legislature has any say with regard to vacancies nominated for appointments by Governor Newsom. Janet replied that the Assembly gets to vote on confirmation. However, since the Democrats have a supermajority, his appointments are easily ratified.
Joan Pylman asked about the situation on the California-Mexican border. Janet said that this is a federal issue. Nothing has come up for the state legislature.
Dixie Primosch asked about vote by mail bill. Janet said that it will go through the Assembly. She urged members to sign the Recall Newsom petition. Even though 1.5 million qualified signatures are needed, ideally there should be 1.8 to 2.0 million to assure that it will be qualified. If the Recall is passed, the Governor is required to sign it. She said that we should email our Assemblywoman Christina Garcia, give our address, and let her know where we stand.
Dean Grose asked about SB29. Was it voted on today by the Senate? She didn't think that it had gone to the Senate floor. Later Janet found out that it did reach the Senate floor.
Dean Grose requested that Janet stand firm against SB9, SB10, and SB29 which would be detrimental by forcing denser housing than can be accommodated. R1 zones would be changed to multi-family zones.
Joan Pylman asked whether funding for the Bullet Train could be moved somewhere else. Janet said Governor Newsom really loved the bullet train. In 2008 the Bullet Train was approved. The original cost was $34 billion and would be completed by 2020. The train would travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in three hours. Today $82 billion is needed to complete the project in 2033. Currently a line from Merced to Bakersfield by 2029 is needed to assure matching federal funding. This would cost $22 billion.
Dixie Primosch asked what is the Republican Party doing to get more young people involved. Janet said that the Assembly caucus has the responsibility to identify and cultivate promising candidates. It has been difficult. She has seen that Democrats were spending much more than Republicans in the November election. The Democrats could get away with smear campaigns because they could repeat them over and over enough that one would begin to believe them.
Janet closed by saying there are a lot of Independents who were formerly Republicans. We need to engage them and bring them back. Keep involved. Send emails to your representatives. They will know you took the time to speak your word.
To start the Club business portion, Mark Dameron said that the ByLaws Committee has met several times and will present the proposed new ByLaws at the next general meeting.
Mark Rizk announced that you can support John Moorlach for Orange County Supervisor via phone banking from home. He said that because of the January 6 Capitol fiasco, many Republicans have changed their registration nationwide. The Gateway Cities Young Republicans club is doing Zoom meetings.
Mark Dameron iterated that the Secretary position is still vacant.
Jim Yee announced that the Club website now has a summary of the January general meeting.
Membership Chair Joan Pylman announced there were 19 members in the Zoom meeting. She announced renewals and non-renewals. Chuong Vo said that there was a person who wanted to join our Club and was interested in being the Club Secretary. Joan said that the new Directory was mailed out today.
Dixie Primosch gave Club mugs to Dean Grose to send to the two southern California Congresswomen.
Meeting was adjourned.
General Meeting
January 12, 2021
Mark Dameron started the Club's January general meeting via Zoom. After the pledge of allegiance to the flag and invocation, Mark gave the President's report. He mentioned that the By-Laws group was working on changes and hopefully will be ready to present proposed changes in a couple months. He also iterated that there is a need for someone to fill the Secretary position on the Board.
Vice President Mark Rizk said that there is a new young Republicans group that is starting up. Zurich Lewis is the leader. Mark also reported that State Senator Bob Archuleta made incendiary accusations that Whittier Councilwoman Jessica Martinez particpated in the recent Capitol riot. She went to the Rally but did not participate in the Capitol riot. Mark suggested that the Club make a statement regarding this unacceptable event.
Jim Yee commented that the Capitol riot timeline shows that people were already at the Capitol (at 12:40 pm) while President Trump was speaking. When these people at the Capitol heard that Vice President Pence did not accept the alternative electoral votes, they began to breach the Capitol. This was before the President had finished his speech (at 1:11 pm). During the speech President Trump asked his MAGA supporters to march to the Capitol peacefully. Those MAGA people arrived at the Capitol (at least 45 minutes later at 1:56 pm) which was after the Capitol was breached (at about 1:50 pm). None of the MAGA people knew what had happened. It was Jim's belief that the "riot" was pre-planned by far right groups. The mainstream media will not report this. So we Republicans do not have to apologize for this incident.
Matt Kauble gave the Treasurer's report. He also reported that the Cerritos branch of the Club's bank, Union Bank, is temporarily closed, and the Lakewood branch has limited hours. One can still make deposits online or at ATM. However, going in to a branch will get paperwork needed for FPPC reporting. Tracy Winkler asked about the funds donated for the 1st CEB. Matt replied that, as of the last meeting, over $2200 was earmarked for the Marines. More monies have come in since then.
Matt also talked about the Newsom Recall effort. Currently there are about one million signatures. The goal is two million. Assuming that there would be enough signatures, not only would the question of recall be on the ballot, but also the candidates to replace him would be there too.
At this point, Cerritos Mayor Naresh Solanki joined the meeting, and Mark Dameron gave him the floor.
Mayor Solanki reported that City Hall is open for appointments. Cerritos Sheriff's station and Community Center are open 24/7. Cerritos Library is closed to the public, but sidewalk services are available Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. Requests for items can be made online or by phone. Cerritos Senior Center is closed to the public, but requests for lunch can be phoned in. Parks are open. Iron-wood Golf Course and Cerritos Swim Center are closed for maintenance. Overnight parking will be cited beginning February 15. Safer at Home is encouraged. Abide by CDC guidelines.
Naresh talked about COVID-19 statistics for Los Angeles County and the City of Cerritos. As of yesterday, 2100 cases and 24 deaths were reported in Cerritos. Ruth's Cafe was selected to participate in the LA County's LA Dining program. They will get $5000 to distribute dining gift cards to needy families.
Auto sales increased unexpectedly which realized increased tax revenues. Online sales contributed to the increase.
Dixie Primosch asked if a COVID-19 vaccination center could be set up locally, such as at the Cerritos Senior Center. Naresh responded that the County decides that. We (City of Cerritos) could run that by Supervisor Janice Hahn. Also there is a shortage of health care workers who could administer the shots.
Joan Pylman asked about the progress on the widening of the bridge on Del Amo over Coyote Creek. Naresh said that it appears to be two years away.
Rocky Pavone asked if the City had a surplus or deficit in 2020. The reply was that we had a surplus of three million dollars.
Tracy Winkler asked about the bridge on Gridley over the 91 freeway. On one side there is a fence, and on the other side there is no fence. This would be a candidate for a "suicide" bridge. Is the City considering fixing this and other similar bridges? Naresh responded that we have nineteen bridges that are inspected and they have all passed requirements.
Cornelis van der Linden asked where the proposed Metro line would stop. Naresh deferred to Bruce Barrows who replied that the plan is for it to stop at Pioneer and South Street.
Lew Gentiluomo asked when the City Council would have meetings in the Council Chambers. Naresh said that the City Council has already been meeting there but without the public present. When County health rules allow, the public will be welcomed back.
At this point there were no further questions for Mayor Solanki, so Mark continued with tonight's agenda. Mark said that we need a Communications Chair and asked if anyone wanted to fill that position. Then he asked Jim Yee for a report. Jim reported that he had written an article about the December General meeting when Congresswoman Young Kim was the guest speaker. It can be found at the Club's website by clicking/tapping the Club News icon (and then clicking/tapping 2020).
Hospitality Chair Lew Gentiluomo announced that the response to donating in lieu of the holiday dinner was very good.
As Legislative Chair, Mark Dameron had nothing new to report.
Membership Chair Joan Pylman sent to the Board members a list of members who had not yet renewed. She emailed the delinquent members that the deadline for receipt of the dues was January 20 in order to be included in the Club Directory. New members must sign and mail in the Membership Application, because it requires a signature that confirms that the applicant(s) is (are) registered as Republican. Joan closed with a Happy Birthday wish to Candy Yee, whose birthday was today. Everyone else joined in to wish her a Happy Birthday.
Programs Chair Dean Grose talked about a Zoom session he had attended about Proposition 19 regarding retaining your property assessment upon transfer of property to a child or grandchild. In order to retain the current property assessment, the child or grandchild must be physically living in the residence. If not, then the property would be reassessed at current value. Check the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association website at www.hjta.org for more information.
In another Zoom meeting, Dean said that the State is now requiring Cities to have more affordable housing. State regulations would prevail over City regulations. For example, a single house owner can build a second unit on his/her property. There is no requirement for parking. A garage can be changed to a residence. The City cannot say that you can't do this.
Matt Kauble talked about redistricting hearings. Can read about them at wedrawthelines.ca.gov/hearings. California will lose about two Congressional and State districts. Might affect our district. Young Kim's district might include Cerritos.
Mark Dameron gave kudos to Ways and Means Chair Roger Garrett for the successful fundraising in 2020. (He should have included Lew Gentiluomo and Nancy Crockett) Roger said that he couldn't wait until we could meet in person.
Rocky Pavone thanked everyone who came out to support our Club by attending this meeting. He said that he attended several Stop the Steal rallies. We should keep our faith in God and ourselves.
Tracy Winkler objected to the Stop the Steal Rallies because the election was over.
Matt Kauble commented that there was evidence of election fraud. There are still some districts in the other states where the elections are still undecided. The past election is over, and we should focus on preventing fraud in 2022 election.
Dixie Primosch stated that the mailing of ballots to everyone has to stop. There is also inconsistencies in how states implement ballots by mail. Some of Dixie's neighbors got more than one ballot. This has got to stop.
Soo Yoo shared that our children are highly influenced by information from social media. Much of it is liberal. Now we know that we have to question information that we get from news media.
Dixie Primosch brought up the fact that in 2019 the Club had voted to have fewer meetings. Mark Dameron said that in 2020 COVID-19 caused us to meet with Zoom. Meeting with Zoom was more convenient for monthly meetings. Therefore, he assumed that we will continue to hold monthly meetings.
Also in attendance with video on were Brad Beach (didn't get a large picture) and
