Bass orders cooling centers open ahead of expected higher temperatures
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LAFD Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva and other City leaders today outlined actions City Departments are taking to protect Angelenos and keep the city safe ahead of expected high temperatures in the coming days.
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning in the Los Angeles region starting tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 21 through at least Saturday, August 23, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 108 in the San Fernando Valley.
“Ahead of potentially some of the hottest temperatures of the summer this week, LAFD and City Departments have been taking action to keep Angelenos cool and safe,” said Bass. “These temperatures could be dangerous, especially for our most vulnerable residents. Please stay cool, stay hydrated, check on neighbors, and know that resources are available citywide to help keep you safe.”
To survive the heat wave, Bass is opening the City’s Augmented Cooling Centers, including Recreation and Parks facilities and local library branches.
For location and hours of operation, visit laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches. Angelenos can also call 3-1-1 from within L.A. City to learn more.
The City is also opening the following augmented cooling centers, which will be open from 10 am to 9 pm on the days listed below:
Wednesday, August 20 – Saturday, August 23
- Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center (7326 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303)
- North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center (5301 Tujunga Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91601)
Thursday, August 21 – Friday, August 22
- Pecan Recreation Center (145 S. Pecan St., Los Angeles, CA 90033)
- Algin Sutton Recreation Center (8800 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles, CA 90044)
Whittier City Council approves regional fiber optic network
Whittier residents will soon gain access to high-speed fiber internet thanks to a new agreement approved by the City Council and announced yesterday.
The project, shaped through months of collaboration between City staff and regional partners, delivers on the Council’s commitment to invest in infrastructure, expand economic opportunity, and improve quality of life without additional cost to the City.
“Reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury—it’s essential for education, business, and daily life,” said Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri. “Through our active involvement in this project, we’re ensuring Whittier residents and businesses have the tools to succeed, while advancing the Council’s goals for infrastructure, economic development, and community well-being.”
The agreement positions Whittier to join the Gateway Cities Regional Fiber Optic Network, the largest infrastructure project in the history of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCCOG).
Funded by a combined $104 million in grants from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Department of Technology’s Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, the network will span 125 route miles, connecting 24 city halls and more than 4,200 underserved locations across Southeast Los Angeles County.
Construction in Whittier will occur within existing rights-of-way and on current utility poles, minimizing impacts while preserving capacity for future growth. GCCOG will work closely with City staff during the build-out and provide detailed as-built maps upon project completion.
Whitesides to host Military Service Academy Information Session
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, portions of San Fernando Valley) announced he is hosting a Military Service Academy night for students, parents, educators, and other interested parties in California’s 27th Congressional District.
“As a member of Congress, it’s my honor to nominate hardworking men and women from our district to the nation’s top Military Academies so they can begin their journey of service for our country,” said Whitesides. “I hope that our informational session gives them the tools they need to begin that journey, and the knowledge that we are here for them every step of the way.”
Rep. Whitesides may nominate up to 10 candidates for appointment to each of the following U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.
The Congressman is assembling an experienced committee of veterans to interview and select the nominees.
Each applicant for a nomination must meet the following eligibility requirements as of July 1st of the year of admission to an academy:
- Age: Be at least 17 years old, but not have passed the 23rd birthday
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
- Marital Status: Must be unmarried, not pregnant, and without legal obligation to support children or other dependents
- Residence: Must reside within the boundaries of the 27th Congressional District of California.
- Skill / Fitness: Must meet the medical, physical, and academic requirements of the Academy
The Military Service Academy night is slated for next Wednesday, August 27th, at 5:30 p.m. RSVP will provide details about the location. Participants can register for Rep. Whitesides’ Military Service Academy Night here.
Current and former Military Academy attendees and Whitesides’ staff will be available to answer any questions.
Cerritos Mayor Yokoyama focuses on fiscal transparency and sustainability
In his Aug. 15 letter to constituents, Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama focussed on fiscal transparency and sustainability, which requires transparent financial practices, meeting all legal obligations, and making well-informed decisions that support the City of Cerritos long term.
“Recently, you may have heard about the City’s review of water rate adjustment options. These conversations precede the consideration of water and sewer rate studies to support our residents for years to come,” wrote Yokoyama.
“We’ll continue to engage with residents in the weeks ahead, as this is an important conversation with a complex history. It’s also important that people are aware of the fiscal responsibility we strive to uphold when conducting the City’s business.”
Cerritos maintains an online portal providing residents and stakeholders with access to financial data, including revenues, expenditures, and budget trends. This transparency platform, found on the City’s budget webpage at www.cerritos.gov/budget, allows the public to explore financial information in a clear and accessible format.
“The City’s reserve balance, the equivalent of an individual savings account, is vital for ensuring Cerritos can sustain operations and services during economic downturns or unexpected events. We’re proud to have recently adopted a new policy that provides clear guidelines for maintaining reserve levels at or above industry standards,” wrote Yokoyama.
“Another new initiative is our Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Prioritization Policy, our framework for evaluating and prioritizing capital projects. To ensure resources are allocated effectively and responsibly, we’ve identified objective criteria such as public safety, regulatory compliance, and return on investment.”
For the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget year, the Budget and Finance Division earned the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award for its budget document.
