News
Southbound I-5 Valley View Off-Ramp to Shut Down For Two Years
La Mirada~Beginning today, Valley View Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Alondra and Artesia Boulevards as part of the I-5 Corridor Improvements..
Also, the southbound Valley View Avenue off-ramp is now closed for approximately 24 months as workers will construct a new off-ramp.
Heavy traffic delays are anticipated and signed detours will be posted.
Motorists are encouraged to visit My5LA.com to receive alternative route information, updates about construction work, road and lane closures, night and weekend work and other information related to the I-5 Corridor Improvements.
The I-5 Interchange Project will widen the I-5 to add one High Occupancy Lane (HOV) and one general purpose lane in each direction.
Improvements include the widening the Valley View Avenue bridge from four to six lanes , reconstructing the adjacent frontage roads, adding a railroad overpass and reconfiguring the interchange.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2018.
Candidates All Set for First District Election
In a just a few short months, the landscape of La Mirada politics may have been changed forever as the filing period has ended and the candidates are set for the City's first district election on March 7, 2017.
The Mecican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF), threatened to sue the city if it did not change its election from an at-large to a district-based system, giving all areas of the city representation on the city council. The city subsequently settled with the group to create districts and paid them $30,000 for their expenses.
The boundaries have been drawn creating five new electoral districts. Districts one and two will have open seats this March for a four-year term. Districts three, four and five will hold have an election in 2019, meaning three-fifths of the La Mirada population will not be able to participate in the election this March.
The candidates for district one, which currently has no sitting council member, are Jim Emmerling, Diane Gramajo, John Lewis and our own Tony Aiello.
District two candidates pit two incumbents against each other, Andrew Sarega and Pauline Deal, as their current four-year terms are up.
Work Continues on City’s Aggressive Street Improvement Program
Phase 3 of the Measure I neighbored street improvements will soon be underway in La Mirada. The City Council awarded RJ Noble, which submitted the lowest qualified bid, to complete the project at its November 22, 2016 Council meeting.
Street improvements in Phase 3 are planned for the neighborhood streets bounded by Stage Road, Alondra Boulevard, Dalmatian Avenue, Barnwall Street, Ocaso Avenue, La Mirada Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and the east City limit. Not included in this project are Stage Road, Alondra Boulevard, La Mirada Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Santa Gertrudes Avenue.
Improvements include resurfacing of street pavement, installation of curb access ramps, rehabilitation of storm drains, and removal and replacement of damaged curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Phase 3 is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. Phase 4 of Measure I is under design and is scheduled to begin construction by summer 2017. The first two phases of the Measure I neighborhood street improvements were completed in fall 2015 and spring 2016.
“We are continuing to meet the objectives of the City’s robust Capital Improvement Projects program,” says Public Works Director/ City Engineer Mark Stowell. “Phases 3 and 4 are proceeding as planned and will provide updated infrastructure in the affected neighborhoods.”
As construction approaches for capital improvement projects, the City strives to notify residents and businesses in advance of the work. To identify projects funded by Measure I, signs are posted in the area where a Measure I project is in progress.
For more information on La Mirada’s capital improvement projects, call the City’s Public Works Department at (562) 902-2385.
Armed Robber Killed After Standoff
La Mirada~An armed man was killed by police early Tuesday morning when he emerged from the AM/PM store on Beach Boulevard after a three hour standoff.
Deputies arrived shortly after 9:30 p.m. and were confronted by the man who ran back inside the store.
After numerous attempts by officials to get the man to peacefully surrender, he emerged from the store around 12:30 a.m. shooting at police who returned fire and killed him.
No other injuries were reported. The man's identity has not been released.
Check our Twitter feed to see how events unfolded.
La Mirada Approves District-Based Election System
La Mirada~The City will be holding a by-district election on March 7, 2017 to fill two City Council seats The third and final public hearing was held on November 8 to gather input on draft City Council district maps.
The City Council initiated the change after a threat of a lawsuit from MALDEF (Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund).
A total of 12 maps were considered by the Council including submittals from residents Dale Nowicki, Noel Jaimes and Zurich Lewis. MALDEF submitted a map as well. A firm the City hired also submitted map choices.
After the public hearing, the City Council approved to change the City Council election system from at-large to by-district and adopted a district map, known as Map 12 (submitted by Lewis), to be in effect by the March 2017 City Council election.
Members of Districts 1 and 2 will be elected in March 2017, while members of Districts 3, 4, and 5 will be elected in March 2019. Members must reside in the districts they represent. To view the District Map, visit the City’s website.
The map pits incumbents Pauline Deal and Andrew Sarega against each other in District 2. Both have already filed for re-election. In District 1, nobody has filed papers as of this time.
The nomination period opened at on November 14 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on December 9. If an incumbent does not file papers by December 9, the nomination period is extended until 5:30 p.m. on December 14. You must be a registered voter in the City of La Mirada on the date nomination papers are picked up at City Hall to qualify to run for the office of La Mirada City Councilmember.
The last day to register to vote in the March 7, 2017 election is February 20, 2017. Registration forms will be available at City Hall, the La Mirada Library, the Post Office, or you can request it by mail by calling the Los Angeles County Elections Registration Request Line at (800) 481-VOTE (8683).
If you have general questions about the election, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131.
Business Beat: Steinmart May Switch to Ross; Elephant Bar Closes its Doors
La Mirada~According to a source, for unnamed reasons, the Steinmart located at 15754 Imperial Highway will be closing its doors when its lease expires in February. Multiple sources have also indicated to us that a Ross Department Store may take its place.The Steinmart is expected to remain open through the end of the year.
Also, we received a message the Elephant Bar Restaurant at 14303 Firestone Boulevard has shuttered. We tried calling the restaurant earlier this evening to confirm, but there was no answer and no message opportunity. After visiting the site, we can confirm the restaurant has closed.
The Costa Mesa-based parent S.B. Restaurant Co. filed for bankruptcy in 2014 and closed 16 units. They also closed 4 units in the Bay area last month. A check of the chains website revealed the La Miirada location has been omitted with only three Southern California locations remaining.
In 1980, founder of the Carrows family-dining chain, David Nancarrow, opened the first Elephant Bar Restaurant location in Lubbock, Texas. At one time, the chain had 25 stores in six states.
The La Mirada Blog has also learned the Big O Tires on Valley View Avenue has also closed its doors.
La Mirada Pearl Harbor Survivor to be Honored at Veterans Event
The City of La Mirada will host its annual Salute to Veterans event this Monday, November 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. The public is invited to attend this worthwhile event which pays tribute to veterans and those currently serving in our military.
This year, the City is honored to welcome Mr. Lauren Bruner as its special guest. Mr. Bruner is a WWII Veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, and La Mirada resident of more than 50 years. Mr. Bruner was the second to last soldier to leave the USS Arizona on the day of the Pearl Harbor attacks in 1941. Mr. Bruner will be releasing his historical novel, Second to the Last to Leave USS Arizona 12.7.41, on December 1, 2016. Signed copies of the book will be available for pre-order during the event. The City is honored to welcome Mr. Bruner to share his story during the event.
Wounded Warrior Project's National Speaker Mary Tallouzi will serve as this year’s key note speaker. Mary will tell her heartfelt story of a single mother who lost her son former Sgt. Daniel Tallouzi, following trauma suffered while serving our country in Iraq.
The City and community members will have an opportunity to honor La Mirada veterans who have returned home. Military street banners will be retired and presented to veterans and his or her family members during the ceremony on stage. Many veterans will be on hand to display memorabilia and talk to guests about their service. A video presentation showcasing photos submitted from local veterans will also be shown.
For more information about the event, contact the City’s Community Services Department at (562) 942-7277.
I-5/Valley View Interchange Project Finally Gets Underway
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U.S. Representative Grace Napolitano, Assemblyman Ian Calderon, Supervisor Don Knabe, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, La Mirada Mayor Steve DeRuse await to speak at the I-5/Valley View Interchange groundbreaking. Photo Tony Aiello (c) La Mirada Blog 2016 |
La Mirada~The time has finally come as Caltrans and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced construction of the final phase of the $1.9 billion I-5 South Corridor Improvement Project has officially got underway.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at an old furniture store parking lot Wednesday, October 26th.
The sixth and final segment, the $631 million I-5/Valley View Interchange Project, extends from Artesia Boulevard to North Fork Coyote Creek near Alondra Boulevard and will add new carpool lanes and general-purpose lanes in each direction through the cities of Buena Park, La Mirada, Cerritos and Santa Fe Springs.
“This is the final hurdle toward making transportation safer and less congested along this vital stretch of the I-5 South corridor,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. It brings us one step closer toward improving freeway connections for commerce and the local communities.
The project will replace the two bridges at Valley View with a six-lane overcrossing that will span 1,600 feet. Additional improvements include the construction of a railroad bridge, reconfiguring on-and-off ramps and the realigning of Firestone Boulevard.
Guest speakers at the ceremony included Grace Napolitano, U.S. Representative, Congressional District 32; Ian Calderon, Assembly Member District 57; Supervisor Don Knabe, LA County Fourth District and Metro Board Member; John Fasana, Chair, Metro Board and City of Duarte Councilmember; Steve DeRuse, La Mirada Mayor; Eric Garcetti, First Vice Chair, LA Metro Board, and Los Angeles Mayor; and Monica Gourdine, Associate Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
No closures of Valley View Avenue are expected for the duration of the project; however South Firestone Boulevard will be closed for an extended period of time.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2019.
La Mirada to Host Council Districting Informational Workshop Oct. 20
La Mirada~The City is in the process of considering modifying its elections from the current at-large system, where all voters elect all members of the City Council, to a by-district system, where only voters in a given district vote on one person to represent them. The City held the first of three public hearings on October 11 to gather community input to assist in setting City Council districts. Two more public hearings are scheduled for Tuesdays, October 25 and November 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
The City is also hosting a City Council Districting Informational Workshop on Thursday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to educate residents on the districting process. City staff will provide a demonstration of the on-line mapping tool that residents can use to participate in the process. Four map drafts are currently available online on the City’s website along with the district mapping tool where residents can suggest their own districts.
For more information on the Council Districting process, contact (562) 943-0131.
City Will Change to District Voting for March 2017 Election
The City of La Mirada has scheduled three Public Hearings to receive public testimony and gather input to consider modifying its elections from the current at-large system, where all voters elect all members of the City Council, to a by-district system, where only voters in a given district vote on the person to represent them.
The number of representatives on the City Council will remain at five.
The first Public Hearing was held on October 11, with the other two slated for October 25 and November 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers at La Mirada City Hall.
The City Council members made the decision they would elect by district rather than fight a lawsuit from the Latino voting rights group, the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and face the possibility of having to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The city received the letter from MALDEF that stated, “We have received complaints from Latino voters in the city of La Mirada that the use of an at-large election system for the election of city council members results in Latino voter dilution. We reviewed the demographic and electoral information pertaining to your jurisdiction, based on our investigation we believe that the city of La Mirada is in violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and must convert to a by-district election system.
La Mirada is comprised of 36% Latino who are voting age however none of the five current members of the city Council is Latino and, with one exception, there have been no Latino city council members since the City’s incorporation.
Based on that, MALDEF concluded that the lack of success of Latino candidates results from the inability of Latino voters to elect candidates of choice due to racially polarized voting among the electorate.
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