Organizers say they cannot wait for the next regular election. Their own comments suggest the real goal is to remove elected council members and let the remaining council appoint their replacements.    Cerritos, California -  As recall activists circulate petitions, residents are asking a simple question: With another City Council election approaching less than a year away, and the general election mere months away, why pursue a recall now? The activists’ answer is equally direct: “We don’t want to wait for a regular election.” But how long would that wait actually be? Recall proponents already failed to collect enough signatures in time to put it on the November ballot. If the process takes longer, a special election might not occur until January or February. The next regularly scheduled Cerritos City Council election is in March 2027. In other words, depending on the timing, if the recallers successfully get enough signatures, a special election to recall t...

  Cerritos, California - A group of activists are hoping to subvert Cerritos' own democracy with a recall election that would occur either during the regular November election or as a standalone election - so maybe three to four months before the regular election.  Under the guise of a non-partisan Political Action Committee, they cite the water rates increase to target two Cerritos City Councilmembers. The group, called Concerned Citizens of Cerritos PAC (CCCP), is attempting a candidate recall. Recalls are a process often associated with serious misconduct. This recall, however, is simply political. The group cites Cerritos' water-rate increase as its primary justification. The recall effort, which is now collecting signatures, targets only two councilmembers: Lynda P Johnson and Frank Yokoyama. CCCP's website states they are recalling them because they "voted to approve the rate increases without modification."  That claim raises an obvious question: water-rate...

  Artesia, California - Maintenance Worker Andy Estrella helped reunite a toddler with her parents last Thursday.  Estrella was about to begin mowing a city park when he saw the young child walking around by herself.  “That’s when I went into dad mode,” said Estrella. While Eye On Pioneer is choosing not to divulge further details out of respect for the family’s privacy, we can report that Estrella followed the appropriate safety protocols and was able to successfully reunite the child with the parents. Estrella is the newest maintenance worker with Artesia’s Public Works Department. If you see him out there, give him a shout out!

Officer Choi keeps watch in the direction where he chased two pit bulls that were  attacking an elderly man only minutes before. ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA - Local Code Enforcement Officer Sam Choi—widely regarded by residents as a dedicated public servant—is now fighting to keep his job, not for misconduct or poor performance, but for refusing to abandon a philosophy that has defined his career: treating people with fairness, respect, and common sense. For over a decade, Choi has practiced what he calls  “voluntary compliance” —working with residents and businesses to resolve code issues without immediately resorting to citations, fines, or court action. It’s an approach rooted in cooperation rather than punishment, and by all accounts, it has worked. Choi has maintained a strong record, including a consistently high case-closure rate. Cite First, Ask Questions Later That approach now stands in direct conflict with a new direction from the City's management—one that can best be des...

Los Angeles, Califiornia - More than a thousand union members, residents, and activists crowded the LA City Council Budget Meeting on the evening of April 28.   Eye On Pioneer interviewed several union members and residents rallying against Mayor Karen Bass's budget cuts as they gathered outside of City Hall. The Eye On Pioneer was not able to make it inside the building while the meeting was attending - that room was packed with hundreds of other protesters.

  Eye On Pioneer interviews Robert Montenez, who tells his story about how Labor Community Services - Los Angeles helped his family after losing their home in the Altadena wildfire in January. Montenez is an employee with the City of Pasadena, and a member of AFSCME Local 858. Montenez lost his home during the LA wildfires, specifically the Eaton fire which burned much of Altadena, Calif. Montenez received invaluable assistance from Labor Community Services - Los Angeles (LCS-LA), the premier nonprofit of the LA Federation of Labor. LCS-LA provides a safety net for worker families with a variety of services, including disaster relief, food programs, and financial literacy,