Long Beach Unveils Design for Cambodia Town Grand Entrance
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson (D-Long Beach) and Sixth District Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro (D-Long Beach) unveiled the final design for the Cambodia Town Grand Entrance at the annual Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival at Long Beach City College, Saturday — a landmark project honoring what is the largest Cambodian community in the United States.
Cambodia Town, located along Anaheim Street between Atlantic and Junipero Avenues, is home to a dense corridor of Khmer-owned businesses and serves as the national center of Cambodian art, music, cuisine, and cultural heritage. The gateway project has been years in the making, developed through an extensive community engagement process that included multilingual surveys in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog, direct feedback at the 2024 Cambodia Town Parade, and input from the Cambodia Town Advisory Group on Cambodian cultural symbolism and design motifs.
More than 1,000 votes and survey responses were collected in person and online, with approximately 69% of respondents favoring the winning concept — now the official design. The project is part of the city’s broader Elevate ’28 neighborhood investment initiative ahead of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.
“Cambodia Town is a cornerstone of our city, and this gateway stands as a powerful tribute to a community whose resilience and contributions have helped shape who we are,” Richardson said. Saro called the project “a meaningful step toward honoring the Cambodian community’s heritage and identity.”
No construction timeline has been announced. The entrance will span Anaheim Street in the heart of the district.
Beverly Hills Goes Airborne With ‘Drone-in-a-Box’ Safety Program
Beverly Hills is taking public safety to new heights — literally.
The Beverly Hills Police Department launched a “Drone-in-a-Box” program this week, deploying automated drones from weather-resistant docking stations positioned throughout the city. The systems can put a drone in the air within 90 seconds, giving officers and dispatchers real-time aerial intelligence before they arrive on scene.
Equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging, the drones are designed to help officers assess threats remotely, reduce response times and improve coordination during high-priority calls. Strategically placed docking stations across the city are designed to extend coverage and allow drones to remain on scene longer during critical incidents.
“As part of my Mayoral initiatives, I am proud to advance cutting-edge technology that keeps Beverly Hills safe ahead of the curve,” said Mayor Sharona Nazarian. “Our Police Department is already exceptional, with dedicated men and women protecting our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Drone-in-a-Box adds another powerful tool, delivering critical real-time, life-saving information that strengthens public safety and helps keep our City secure.”
Police Chief Mark G. Stainbrook said the platform enables “faster, more informed decisions” while protecting both officers and residents. The program, he added, represents “a significant advancement in how we respond to emergencies and protect our community.”
Bellflower Lands $4.48M in County Grants for Parks, Stormwater
Bellflower is getting a major environmental and recreational upgrade, courtesy of Los Angeles County.
The city was awarded two grants totaling more than $4.48 million through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District’s Competitive Grant Program. The lion’s share — $4 million — goes toward the Simms Park Regional Stormwater Capture project, which will install a 4-million-gallon underground storage system to manage runoff while adding native landscaping, upgraded sports fields and new recreational amenities to the park.
An additional $482,699 will fund planning and design work for a new sports park near the San Gabriel River, featuring pickleball courts and multipurpose fields.
Both grants were presented at the county’s Measure A Grant Awards Ceremony.
Hermosa Beach Has a New City Clerk
Martha Alvarez officially became Hermosa Beach’s City Clerk on April 1, bringing more than a decade of South Bay municipal experience to the role.
A Torrance native and Loyola Marymount University graduate, Alvarez spent ten years in the Manhattan Beach City Clerk’s Office — most recently as assistant city clerk — where she managed four election cycles and handled thousands of public records requests annually.
City Manager Steve Napolitano credited her regional roots and institutional knowledge in her selection. “She understands our region, she knows how an effective City Clerk’s office runs and she’s already hit the ground running,” Napolitano said.
Alvarez, who is bilingual in English and Spanish and holds a Certified Master Municipal Clerk designation, is completing a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Miami. She succeeds former City Clerk Myra Maravilla.
Pasadena Water and Power Rolls Out Solar and Battery Rebates
Pasadena homeowners and businesses looking to go solar just got a new financial incentive.
Pasadena Water and Power launched a pilot rebate program offering residential customers $0.60 per watt for new rooftop solar installations — or $1.00 per watt for customers enrolled in income-qualified assistance programs. Battery storage incentives are also available at up to $550 per kilowatt-hour.
Commercial customers can qualify for rebates of up to $80,000 per meter for solar installations, with tiered battery storage incentives also available up to $80,000 per meter.
“Installing a rooftop solar system is an environmentally responsible way for PWP customers to reduce energy use, support Pasadena’s clean energy goals, and lower their utility bills,” said General Manager David Reyes. “We hope these new rebates, along with PWP’s other popular incentives, encourage even more customers to adopt these proven technologies.”
During the pilot, PWP is waiving plan review and inspection fees on solar and battery projects. The program supports the city’s goal of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by the end of 2030.
Details at PWPweb.com/Solar.
