# Whittier Informed > Independent local news covering Whittier. Clear reporting that explains what decisions mean for residents. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About Us URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T05:09:17.000Z ## **About Whittier Informed** Whittier Informed is an independent local newsroom covering the City of Whittier and the surrounding unincorporated communities. Decisions made at City Hall and by the institutions that shape daily life in Whittier affect everyone here. But they are often hard to follow, written in technical language, or spread across multiple documents. At the same time, many of the questions people have are not clearly addressed in official communications. Whittier Informed was created to make that information easier to find, easier to follow, and easier to understand — so people can stay better connected to what’s happening in Whittier and how decisions shape daily life. **What We Cover** - Local government - Elections - Housing and development - Schools and education - Community - Business - Culture and events We also publish explainers and guides that help residents understand how local decisions affect the community. **How We Work** We rely on public records, official statements, and verifiable sources. When information is written in technical or government language, we translate it into clear, usable terms. When decisions connect to earlier ones, we explain how. We pay attention to what people are asking, noticing, and questioning, and bring clarity and context to those issues. **Our Approach** Whittier Informed is independent and nonpartisan, with no affiliation to government, political groups, or outside organizations that influence our coverage. Our reporting is fact-based, grounded in journalism ethics, and focused on helping people understand what's happening and why it matters. All of our reporting is free, with no paywalls and no subscriptions required. For more on how we report, handle corrections, and maintain independence, see our [Standards & Transparency](https://www.whittierinformed.com/standards-transparency/) page. ## **Background** Whittier Informed started in 2024 as a volunteer-based social media project focused on a specific gap: Whittier lacked a consistent, accessible source of local reporting that clearly explained public decisions and civic information. The audience grew to more than 90,000 followers across platforms, generating millions of monthly views. As that audience grew, so did the work. What began as social media posts evolved into deeper reporting, broader coverage, and the foundation of a structured newsroom. Some of our reporting has been cited by national outlets such as **NBC News** and regional outlets, including **Telemundo 52** and the **Whittier Daily News**. Whittier Informed received a [first-place award](https://localmedia.org/2025/05/lma-digital-innovation-awards-the-years-best-in-innovative-content/?ref=whittierinformed.com) in the **Local Media Association's Digital Innovation Awards** for its approach to making complex local government information more accessible and understandable online. Judges wrote: "Whittier Informed’s innovative techniques point to the future of news. If deployed across larger newsrooms, these can revolutionize and revitalize journalism regardless of the size of the newsroom." - Local Media Association (May 8, 2025) During the two years between the start of our social media accounts and Whittier's April 2026 election, local issues that once received limited public attention became part of broader conversations across the community. As Whittier Informed grew, those issues reached a wider audience and became part of discussions that extended well beyond social media. The launch of this site marks the next step: a dedicated platform for more complete reporting, clearer organization of information, and a permanent, searchable public record of the decisions and issues that shape life in Whittier. **Founder** Whittier Informed was founded by Eddie Cota. He studied journalism at California State University, Northridge, and has a background in digital media, marketing, and audience development. He launched Whittier Informed as a volunteer social media project to address the lack of clear, accessible information about city decisions in Whittier. He built it from the ground up into a widely followed local news platform before formalizing it into an independent newsroom. He lives in Whittier with his family and is part of the community he covers. ## **Newsroom Partners** We are a member of **Tiny News Collective**, a national initiative that supports independent local news organizations like ours. Through TNC, we are fiscally sponsored, which means we can apply for grants and receive community donations like a nonprofit while remaining editorially independent and keeping our reporting free and accessible. We also work with **Lawyers for Reporters**, a Cyrus R. Vance Center for Justice initiative that provides pro bono legal support to journalists and mission-driven news organizations nationwide, helping strengthen civic awareness, government accountability, and democratic engagement. **Professional Memberships** Whittier Informed is a member of: - Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) - Los Angeles Press Club ### Privacy Policy URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T23:22:38.000Z ## **WHITTIER INFORMED PRIVACY POLICY** Date Last Updated: 4/9/2026 Whittier Informed LLC (“**Organization,**” “**we**,” or “**us**”) wants you to be familiar with how we collect, use, and disclose your personal information. This Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) describes our practices in connection with information that we collect from or about you through: - The www.whittierinformed.com and any other Whittier Informed-operated website from which you are accessing this Policy (the “**Websites**”); - Our social media pages and profiles on third-party platforms that we maintain now or in the future (collectively, our “**Social Media Pages**”); and - HTML-formatted email messages that we send to you that link to this Policy or other communications with you. We refer to the Whittier Informed Websites \[Social Media Pages, and emails\] as the “**Services**.” **PERSONAL INFORMATION** When you visit and use our Services, we may collect the following categories of information: - **Identifiers**, including your name, email address, telephone or mobile phone number, mailing address, username and password, account name, account number, IP address, or device identifiers and information; - **Demographic Information**, including city, state, zip code, or other similar information; - **Electronic Network Activity Information –** We may collect information related to your electronic network activity, such as your browsing history, information about how you use the Services, information about your device; - **Payment Information**, including details about your method of payment and billing address when you provide your payment information to us; - **Communications and other information you provide us**, such as \[when you choose to contact us or engage with our Services, respond to surveys, or otherwise communicate with us\]; - **Inferences** – We may also collect inferences drawn from the other information described above. **Collection of Personal Information** In addition to the information we receive from you, we may also receive the categories of information described above from other sources including from other users of the Services (such as when they purchase a gift article or subscription for you), advertising partners, co-sponsors, internet service providers, data analytics providers, operating systems and platforms, social networks, and publicly available sources. For example, if you access any social media or similar services through our Services to login or to share information our Services with others, we may collect information from these third-party services. If you disclose any Personal Information relating to other people to us or to our service providers in connection with the Services, you represent that you have the authority to do so and to permit us to use the information in accordance with this Policy. **Use of Personal Information** We and our service providers may use Personal Information for the following purposes: - To provide the Services’ functionality to you, such as arranging access to your registered account, and providing you with related services and support. - To complete your transactions, including processing your subscriptions, donations, or orders, and verifying your information. - To respond to your inquiries and fulfill your requests, for example, when you send us questions, suggestions, tips, or complaints, or requests for information about our Services. - To send administrative information to you, such as changes to our terms, conditions, and policies. - To send you our newsletter or other marketing communications, with information about our services, new topics or series, and other updates about our organization. - To analyze or predict our users’ preferences to understand how our digital content is used and consumed. - To better understand your interests and preferences, so that we can personalize our interactions with you and provide you with information or offers tailored to your interests. - To allow you to participate in a sweepstakes, contest, or other promotion. Some promotions have additional rules containing information about how we will use and disclose your Personal Information. Please read those additional rules before choosing to participate. - To accomplish our business purposes, including: - For data analysis, for example, to improve the efficiency of our Services; - For audits, to verify that our internal processes function as intended and to address legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements; - For fraud prevention and fraud security monitoring purposes, for example, to detect and prevent cyberattacks or attempts to commit identity theft; - For developing added content and services; - For enhancing, improving, repairing, maintaining, or modifying our current content and services; - For determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, so that we can adapt our campaigns to the needs and interests of our users; and - For operating and expanding our business activities, for example, understanding which parts of our Services are of most interest to our users so we can focus our energies on meeting our users’ interests. **Aggregated or De-identified Personal Information** We may aggregate and/or de-identify Personal Information so that it will no longer be considered Personal Information. Aggregated or de-identified data that we do not attempt to reidentify is not subject to this Policy. **Disclosure of Personal Information** We may disclose Personal Information: - **To our affiliates for the purposes described in this Policy.** - **To our third party service providers, to facilitate services they provide to us.** - These can include providers of services such as website hosting, data analysis, payment processing, marketing, fraud prevention, information technology and related infrastructure provision, customer service or related benefits (including special promotions), email delivery, auditing, and other services. - **To another business in the event of an acquisition.** - If we, or substantially all our assets, are acquired by one or more third parties as a result of an acquisition, merger, sale, reorganization, consolidation, liquidation, or in the unlikely event of bankruptcy, personal information may be one of the transferred assets. - **To third party sponsors of sweepstakes, contests, and similar promotions, if you choose to participate .** - **With your consent.** - We may share information for other purposes to which you consent. - **When you post on our websites.** - This may include information shared on message boards, chat, profile pages, blogs, and other services to which you are able to post information and content (including, without limitation, our Social Media Pages). Please note that any information you post or disclose through these services will become public and may be available to other users and the general public. - **For legal purposes.** - We may disclose your information to comply with applicable laws, including to respond to law enforcement; to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, and/or that of our affiliates, you or others; and to stop any activity that we consider illegal, unethical, or legally actionable. **Cookies, Pixel Tags, and other Online Tracking Technologies** When you use our Services, we and our third-party partners may automatically collect information from you and your devices, including information about your browsing activities and how you interact with our website, such as browser type, time spent on the Services, pages visited, language preferences, and other traffic data. We and our third-party partners may collect this information through a variety of methods, including through cookies and other tracking technologies (collectively, “cookies”), such as web beacons (also known as pixels) and SDKs. These cookies may be used for a variety of purposes, including for security purposes, to facilitate navigation, to display information more effectively, analytics, and to personalize your experience. We also gather statistical information using services such as Google Analytics about use of the Services in order to continually improve their design and functionality, understand how they are used, and assist us with resolving questions regarding them. For more information on how Google Analytics collects and stores information, please see [https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites](https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites?ref=whittierinformed.com). These technologies may be used to serve relevant ads based on your activities on and off the Services as well as for other related purposes including avoiding showing you duplicative ads and to track the effectiveness of advertising. If you do not want information collected by cookies, most browsers allow you to automatically decline cookies or be given the choice of declining or accepting a particular cookie (or cookies) from a particular website. You may also wish to refer to http://www.allaboutcookies.org/manage-cookies/index.html. If, however, you do not accept cookies, you may experience some inconvenience in your use of the Services. You also may not receive advertising or other offers from us that are relevant to your interests and needs. Many advertising companies that collect information for interest-based advertising are members of the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) or the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), both of which maintain websites where people can opt out of interest-based advertising from their members. To opt-out of website interest-based advertising provided by each organization’s respective participating companies, visit the DAA’s opt-out portal available at http://optout.aboutads.info/, or visit the NAI’s opt-out portal available at http://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1. **HOW WE SECURE INFORMATION** Protecting your information is a priority for us and we seek to use reasonable organizational, technical, and administrative measures to protect the security and integrity of all information collected via our Services. Unfortunately, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure and we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you provide to us. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please immediately notify us in accordance with the *“Contacting Us”* section below. **YOUR CHOICES** **Your choices regarding our use and disclosure of your Personal Information:** 1. **Receiving marketing-related emails from us**. If you no longer want to receive marketing related emails from us on a going-forward basis, you may opt out by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of our emails; or emailing us at legal@whittierinformed.com with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. 2. **Data Rights.** There might be laws that afford you rights to access, delete, or correct your personal information. Please contact us if you would like to request information about the rights available to you. 3. **Cookies and Similar Technologies.** You may be able to refuse or disable cookies by adjusting your web browser settings. Because each web browser is different, please consult the instructions provided by your web browser (typically in the “help” section). If you choose to refuse, disable, or delete these technologies, some of our Services’ functionality may no longer be available to you. 4. **Do-Not-Track.**Some web browsers have a “Do Not Track” preference that transmits a “Do Not Track” header to the websites you visit with information indicating that you do not want your activity to be tracked. We currently do not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals, as there is no standard for how online services should respond to such signals. As standards develop, we may develop policies for responding to do-not-track signals that we will describe in this Policy. Your California Rights: You may request to opt-out of the sharing of personal information with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes. We will try to comply with your request(s) as soon as reasonably practicable. Please note that if you opt out of receiving marketing related emails from us, we may still send you important administrative messages, from which you cannot opt out. **THIRD PARTY SERVICES** Some of our Services may contain links to content maintained by third parties that we do not control. We may allow third parties to place and read their own cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect information automatically through our Services. If you access third-party services, such as Facebook, Google, or X (Twitter), through the Services—e.g., to share a story—these third-party services may be able to collect information about you, including information about your activity on the Services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties, and we recommend that you visit the privacy policies of each website that you visit. **USE OF SERVICES BY MINORS** The Services are not directed to individuals under the age of thirteen (13), and we do not knowingly collect Personal Information from individuals under 13\. **Removal of Content for California Minors** Pursuant to California Business & Professions Code section 22581, if you are a resident of California, under 18, and a registered user of the Services, you may ask us to remove content or information that you have posted to the Services by writing to legal@whittierinformed.com. We will make reasonable efforts to remove the post from public view, but please note that your request does not ensure complete or comprehensive removal of the content or information, as, for example, some of your content may have been reposted by another user. **INTERNATIONAL USERS** Whittier Informed is located in the United States. Your Personal Information may be stored and processed in the United States and any country where we have facilities or in which we engage service providers, which may have data protection rules that are different from those of your country. **SENSITIVE INFORMATION** Unless we request it, we ask that you not send us, and you not disclose, any sensitive Personal Information (e.g., social security numbers, information related to racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion or other beliefs, health, biometrics or genetic characteristics, or criminal background) on or through the Services or otherwise to us. **THIRD PARTY PAYMENT SERVICE** The Services may provide functionality allowing you to make payments to the us using third-party payment services with which you have created your own account. When you use such a service to make a payment to us, your Personal Information will be collected by such third party and not by us and will be subject to the third party’s privacy policy, rather than this Privacy Policy. We have no control over, and are not responsible for, this third party’s collection, use, and disclosure of your Personal Information. **CHANGES TO THIS POLICY** We may update this Policy from time to time. The “*LAST UPDATED*” legend at the top of this Policy indicates when this Policy was last revised. Any changes will become effective when we post the revised Privacy Policy on the Services. You understand and agree that you will be deemed to have accepted the updated Privacy Policy if you continue to use the Services after the new Policy takes effect. **CONTACTING US** If you have any questions about this Policy or our practices, or you wish to submit a request to exercise your rights as detailed in this Policy, please contact us at **legal@whittierinformed.com**, or our mailing address **11721 Whittier Blvd #553, Whittier, CA 90601.** Because email communications are not always secure, please do not include credit card or other sensitive information in your emails to us. ### Terms of Use URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/terms-of-use/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T23:22:27.000Z ## **Whittier Informed Terms of Use** *Last Updated*: 5/5/2026 **1\. Consent to Terms** These Terms of Use (“**Terms**”) are entered into by and between you (“**User**” or “**you**”, or “**your**”) and Whittier Informed LLC (“**Whittier Informed LLC**”, “**we**”, “**us**”, or “**our**”). By using https://www.whittierinformed.com or by engaging with the Content (as defined below) (collectively, the “**Site**”), you agree to be bound by these Terms. Please read the Terms carefully before you access or use the Site. The Site is not intended for children under 13. **2\. Changes to these Terms** We may revise and update these Terms from time to time in our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when we post them and apply to your access to and use of the Site thereafter. By accessing or using the Site following the posting of revised Terms, you accept and become bound to the revised Terms. You agree to check this page each time you use or access the Site, so that you are aware of any updates to these Terms. **3\. Accessing the Site** We reserve the right in our sole discretion at any time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Site (or any part thereof) with or without notice. The Site also may be subject to interruptions. You acknowledge and agree that we will not be liable for any modification, suspension, interruption, or discontinuance of the Site. **4\. Content on the Site** All materials published or made available through the Site, including but not limited to text, articles, photographs, images, illustrations, audio, video, data, graphics, logos, and the overall "look and feel" of the Site, as well as any materials posted by us on social media platforms, (collectively, "**Content**") is protected by U.S. and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. As between you and us, all Content is owned by, controlled by, or licensed to us. As between you and us, we own all copyright in the selection, coordination, compilation, and enhancement of Content. You shall abide by all additional copyright notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content accessed through the Site. The Content is intended for your personal, non-commercial use. Except as expressly authorized by us in writing or as permitted by applicable law, you may not reproduce, distribute, publicly display, modify, create derivative works of, or otherwise exploit any Content. **5\. Feedback** By submitting any tips, ideas, resource suggestions, letters, comments, or other feedback to us, whether through our website, by email, by mail, via social media, or by other means (each, a "**Feedback**"), to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law, you hereby grant and agree to grant us a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, modify, adapt, and create derivative works of the Feedback, in any form or media now known or hereafter developed, without any obligation to compensate you. We may edit Feedback for length, style, or clarity, or incorporate them into other content, whether or not the Feedback has been published. We are under no obligation to use, publish, or respond to any Feedback. You represent that you have all rights necessary to submit and to grant the license set forth in these Terms to any Feedback that you submit to us, and that the Feedback does not infringe any third party's rights. You are solely responsible for the content of Feedback that you submit to us. Please note that submitting a tip or other information to us does not guarantee confidentiality. We may use information contained in tips in our reporting at our discretion. Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit any journalistic protections or privileges available to us under applicable law. **6\. User Generated Content** The Site may permit users to submit, post, or publish comments, messages, or other content ("**User Content**"). You are solely responsible for any User Content you submit. To the maximum extent permissible under applicable law, you waive all moral rights you may have in any User Content. You retain ownership of your User Content. By submitting User Content to the Site, you hereby grant and agree to grant us a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, modify, adapt, and create derivative works of the User Content, in any form or media now known or hereafter developed, without any obligation to compensate you. We may modify or alter your User Content without seeking further permission from you. We are under no obligation to use, publish, or respond to any User Content. We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to monitor, moderate, remove, or restrict access to any User Content and to suspend or terminate a User's access to the Site, including the ability to submit User Content, for any reason, including if we believe it violates these Terms or applicable law. You agree that you are financially responsible for any claim against us arising from any User Content you create or submit. We do not endorse any User Content. You are responsible for properly analyzing and verifying any information you intend to rely upon. Please approach User Content with appropriate skepticism. By submitting User Content, you represent and warrant that: A. you own or have all necessary rights, licenses, consents, and permissions to submit the User Content and to grant the license set forth in this section, free and clear of any conflicting obligations to third parties; B. your User Content does not and will not infringe, misappropriate, or violate any third party's intellectual property or other proprietary rights; C. your User Content does not contain any material misrepresentations, fraudulent statements, or content that you know or reasonably should know to be false or misleading; D. your User Content does not violate any applicable law or regulation; and E. you are not aware of any actual or threatened claims by any third party relating to the User Content or the grant of rights contemplated by this section. We may (but have no obligation to) monitor, evaluate, alter or remove User Content before or after they appear on the Site, or analyze your access to or use of the Site. We may disclose information regarding your access to and use of the Site, and the circumstances surrounding such access and use, to anyone for any reason or purpose. **7\. Products** We may display or make available listings, descriptions, images, offers, coupons, discounts, or links relating to goods or services on the Site (collectively, "**Products**"), whether provided by us or by third parties, and whether for informational, promotional, or transactional purposes. The inclusion of any Product on the Site does not imply our endorsement of such Product or any affiliation with the provider, unless expressly stated otherwise. We do not warrant that Product information is complete, accurate, current, or reliable, and all Product details (including features, specifications, pricing, availability, and the terms of any coupon or discount) are subject to change without notice. To the extent applicable, descriptions, measurements, or images are approximate and provided for convenience only. Any purchases or other transactions involving Products ("**Transactions**") may be subject to additional terms, including applicable refund, exchange, shipping, and tax policies disclosed at the time of the Transaction. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion and without notice, to limit quantities, discontinue Products, impose conditions on promotions, refuse or cancel Transactions, or restrict access to Products. Unless otherwise expressly stated in writing, order confirmations or similar acknowledgements do not constitute acceptance of an offer to sell. You are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and eligibility requirements relating to any Product or Transaction. All purchases of Products are made through third-party sites, and we are not a party to, and have no responsibility for, any such Transactions. Certain Products may be featured pursuant to a commercial relationship or sponsorship, which may result in compensation to us. **8\. Permitted Use of the Site** The Site is made available to Users for personal, non-commercial use only, unless otherwise expressly authorized by us in writing. Users may access and use the Site solely for purposes consistent with our journalistic mission. Any User Content you submit to the Site must comply with our Community Standards http://www.whittierinformed.com/community-standards/. **9\. Prohibited Use of the Site** You may not access or use, or attempt to access or use, the Site to take any action that could harm us or a third party. You may not use the Site in violation of applicable laws or in violation of our or any third party's intellectual property or other proprietary or legal rights. You further agree that you will not attempt (or encourage or support anyone else's attempt) to circumvent, reverse engineer, decrypt, or otherwise alter or interfere with the Site or any Content, or make any unauthorized use of the Site or any Content. Without our prior written consent, you shall not: - A. access any part of the Site, Content, data or information you do not have permission or authorization to access, or for which we have prohibited your access; - B. use robots, spiders, scripts, service, software, or any manual or automatic device, tool, or process designed to data mine or scrape the Content, data or information from the Site, or otherwise use, access, or collect the Content, data or information from the Site using automated means; for the avoidance of doubt, the existence or content of a robots.txt file or similar technical access controls do not constitute our consent to any automated access to or use of the Site or Content; - C. use the Content for the development of any software program, model, algorithm, or generative AI tool, including, but not limited to, training or using the Content in connection with the development or operation of a machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) system (including any use of the Content for training, fine-tuning, or grounding the machine learning or AI system or as part of retrieval-augmented generation); for the avoidance of doubt, use of Content for machine learning or AI purposes is prohibited; - D. use services, software, or any manual or automatic device, tool, or process designed to circumvent any restriction, condition, or technological measure that controls access to the Site in any way, including overriding any security feature, bypassing or circumventing any access controls or use limits of the Site; - E. cache or archive the Content (except for a public search engine's use of spiders for creating search indices solely for the inclusion of links and short, non-AI synthesized snippets of the Content in search results); - F. take action that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our network or infrastructure; - G. do anything that could disable, damage or change the functioning or appearance of the Site; or - H. disguise, obscure, or misrepresent your identity, the source of access to the Site, or the manner in which the Site is accessed, including by simulating human browsing behavior through automated means or otherwise attempting to bypass our controls or restrictions. Engaging in a prohibited use of the Site may result in civil, criminal, and/or administrative penalties, fines, or sanctions against you and those assisting you. We reserve the right to prohibit your right to use the Site or suspend your access to the Site for any or no reason, including if you engage in prohibited use of the Site, without incurring any liability to you. **10\. Donations** If you make a charitable donation to us through the Site, your donation is subject to any additional terms presented at the time of the transaction, as well as the terms of any third-party payment processor we may use. Donations are non-refundable. **11\. Journalistic Accuracy** We strive to provide accurate, fair, and timely reporting. However, we do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any Content. News information may change rapidly, and the Content may not reflect the most current developments. Opinion pieces and editorials, and user-submitted content (including User Content), reflect the views of the individual author and do not necessarily represent our views or positions unless otherwise expressly stated. Likes, shares, follows, reposts, replies and similar activities on social media platforms by us do not constitute our endorsement. **12\. Promotions** Any sweepstakes, contests, raffles, surveys, games or similar promotions (collectively, "**Promotions**") made available through the Site may be governed by rules that are separate from these Terms. If you participate in any Promotions, please review the applicable rules as well as our Privacy Policy. If the rules for a Promotion conflict with these Terms, the Promotion rules will govern. **13\. Privacy** Your use of the Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information about you when you use the Site. By using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read the Privacy Policy at [http://www.whittierinformed.com/privacy-policy/](https://www.whittierinformed.com/privacy-policy/). **14\. Disclaimer of Warranties** YOUR USE OF THE SITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE SITE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS,” “WITH ALL FAULTS,” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. WE DO NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPLETENESS, SECURITY, RELIABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY OR AVAILABILITY OF THE SITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE SITE WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, ERROR-FREE OR UNINTERRUPTED, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, THAT THE SITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS OR THAT THE SITE WILL OTHERWISE MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS. THERE MAY BE DELAYS, OMISSIONS, INTERRUPTIONS, AND INACCURACIES IN THE CONTENT OR OTHER MATERIAL MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE CONTENT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL LEGAL, FINANCIAL, TAX OR MEDICAL ADVICE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, WE HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY (I) WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, NO LIENS AND NO ENCUMBRANCES; (II) WARRANTIES AGAINST INFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION OR VIOLATION OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON; (III) WARRANTIES ARISING THROUGH COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE IN TRADE; AND (IV) WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CORRECTNESS, OR COMPLETENESS OF DATA OR CONTENT MADE AVAILABLE ON THE SITE OR OTHERWISE BY US. **15\. 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END OF TERMS. ### Contact URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/contact/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T23:21:54.000Z ## **Contact** If you need to get in touch with Whittier Informed, whether you have information to share, a question, or something that needs attention, use the options below. --- ### **Got a tip or story idea?** Email: **tips@whittierinformed.com** If something in Whittier doesn’t add up, or if you’ve seen something you think others should understand, you can share it with us. This can include documents, decisions, changes in your neighborhood, or information that helps explain what’s happening. We review every tip. Not every submission becomes a story, but it helps inform what we report and what we look into further. ### **Corrections or clarifications** Email: **editor@whittierinformed.com** Accuracy matters. 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Whether you follow Whittier Informed on social media or visit the website from time to time, it's easy to miss a post, overlook an article, or never see an important update because of a busy schedule or the way algorithms decide what appears in your feed. Subscribers receive local reporting, important updates, and clear explanations of the decisions affecting Whittier, delivered directly to their inbox. [Subscribe Now](#/portal/signup/free) ### What you'll get - City Hall and community coverage - Information you can actually use - Stories that connect you to Whittier - Local context and insights It's a simple way to stay informed, keep up with the issues shaping the community, and avoid missing the stories that matter most. **Always free. No paywalls. No spam.** ## Posts ### Whittier Seniors Say Rising Rent Has Them Trapped in Their Mobile Homes URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-seniors-say-rising-rent-has-them-trapped-in-their-mobile-homes/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T19:12:17.000Z Since 2023, residents of the Whittier Downs Mobile Home Park say they have had their rent increase to worrying levels. Located at 11730 Whittier Boulevard right by the Victory Outreach church, the park is a community consisting of retirees and senior citizens. All of the residents have their own leases, paid from and relying on their Social Security pensions. In 2023, the prior park management had retired and the park’s owner entrusted the properties to a management company called Les Frame Management. The company currently manages five other park properties alongside the Whittier location, and in the last few years they have reportedly increased the land rent by 3% annually. According to resident Vivian Mendoza, this increased land lease is added onto other bills and expenses that residents have to pay. After residents say they have received little accountability or assistance from management, some residents brought their concerns to the Whittier City Council on Sept. 22. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Where Does Whittier’s $180,000 in Immigration Relief Stand? URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/where-does-whittiers-180-000-in-immigration-relief-stand/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T03:23:31.000Z On June 9, 2025, three days after immigration raids began in Los Angeles, federal agents set up a staging area in the parking lot of the Whittier Central Library. The raids came as President Donald Trump pushed for mass deportations. A [video](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKsKUcJv3xu/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&dlrf=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) of the moment went viral, putting Whittier in a larger spotlight. The next day, the City Council moved its meeting to the community theatre to fit nearly 400 residents seeking support and answers. Teachers said students and parents were coming to them for help. One resident said her mother was afraid to leave home. One speaker asked the City to put money behind its response. Two months later, the Council committed $130,000 for two nonprofits to help families affected by immigration enforcement. It set aside another $50,000 for immigration legal assistance. A year later, the public record shows little about who that money reached and what impact it had. City documents called the money “donations.” No memorandum of understanding (MOU) or contract spelling out requirements for either nonprofit appears in the records reviewed by Whittier Informed. The Council required staff to report on the effort every month, but the last update located in the Council records reviewed was in March 2026. Interviews and records reviewed by Whittier Informed raise broader questions about transparency and how much residents can learn once public money leaves City Hall. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Whittier City Workers Vote 138-9 to Reject Labor Contract Offer URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-city-workers-vote-138-9-to-reject-labor-contract-offer/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T21:48:01.000Z Whittier city workers voted 138 to nine against the city's labor contract offer, then shared the result publicly with the City Council on September 22\. The two sides have been negotiating since February and still have no deal. The vote was held by members of the Whittier City Employees' Association (WCEA), which represents many of the city's frontline workers. WCEA President Robert Martiz said the association held the vote after City Manager Conal McNamara sent employees an email about the negotiations that "made it appear that the employee bargaining team was out of touch." "Rather than simply telling our members what to think, we gave them the opportunity to decide for themselves," he said. Of the 147 members who voted, about 94% said no. The association said 84% of its employees took part. Charlaine Rossi, who said she has worked for the city for 27 years, also gave a public comment addressing the City Council. "I have never seen a vote like that in my entire time here," she said. "This motivated people. Your inaction motivated people." _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Doubts Follow Whittier's First Tree Plan Meeting URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/doubts-follow-whittiers-first-tree-plan-meeting/ Last updated: 2026-09-24T18:50:11.000Z Whittier's community meetings on its new Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) are underway, with three more sessions scheduled through early October. But not everyone at City Hall is convinced the rollout is going well. The first workshop, held September 17 at the Ocean View Elementary School auditorium, drew a large crowd to hear the city and its consultants lay out the plan that will eventually replace Whittier's suspended Parkway Tree Manual and govern how the city decides which trees come down and which stay standing. Five days later, Council Member Aida Macedo told her colleagues she wasn't happy with what she saw. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### County Finalizes West Whittier Apartment Project — Eight Feet Taller Than Planners Wanted URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/county-finalizes-west-whittier-apartment-project-eight-feet-taller-than-planners-wanted/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T18:20:08.000Z Los Angeles County made it official on September 15 that a five-story, 60-unit apartment building is coming to 7914 Broadway Avenue in West Whittier-Los Nietos. The building is being built eight feet taller than the county's own planning commission said it should be. The commission didn't get to weigh in until last October. When commissioners finally reviewed the project, they heard concerns from residents about traffic and safety, and in response told the developer to shrink the building from almost 70 feet down to about 62, and to raise the number of affordable units from seven to 12\. The developer agreed to both. Then, in March, the project went to the Board of Supervisors for final sign-off. Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents the area, asked to put the height back to 70 feet. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Whittier Council Rejects Pause on Tree Plan Despite Hours of Public Opposition URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-council-rejects-pause-on-tree-plan-despite-hours-of-public-opposition/ Last updated: 2026-09-19T16:38:20.000Z “This is our town, we live here, we vote here.” On September 8th, in the middle of a near 100-degree heatwave, the people of Whittier gathered in front of City Hall to protest against the city's plan that could lead to the removal of healthy trees throughout the City of Whittier. After a leaked audio of City Manager Conal McNamara [explaining that the only thing keeping the ficus trees from the chainsaw was the word “healthy”](https://www.whittierinformed.com/healthy-is-the-word-standing-between-whittiers-trees-and-the-chainsaw/), a plethora of organizations across Whittier gathered together to organize the recent rally to try and encourage the current city council to pause the plan. The Whittier Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) is meant to replace the city's Parkway Tree Manual (PTM), the rulebook that's guided how Whittier plants, maintains, and removes trees on public property. The former city council suspended the PTM back in October 2025, saying it needed to cut down on the city's liability exposure. That same fall, the California Insurance Pool Authority (CIPA), the city's own insurance provider, sent a letter recommending Whittier get rid of the tree manual for good, warning that keeping it around could put the city's standing in the insurance pool at risk. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### How La Serna Parents Built a Girls' Wrestling Program From the Ground Up URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/how-la-serna-parents-built-a-girls-wrestling-program-from-the-ground-up/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T18:19:55.000Z A year ago, La Serna's girls' wrestling program had no proper uniforms, no practice space of its own, and no program structure built around what it needed. So a group of parents built one from scratch, one fundraiser and one phone call at a time, and a program that started with a handful of girls now has 17. La Serna's growth is a small piece of a much larger shift. Nationally, girls' wrestling participation has grown from just over 3,000 in 2000-01 to nearly 89,000 today, with participation up 19.9% in the most recent school year alone, [according to survey data](https://nfhs.org/stories/led-by-girls-flag-football-and-girls-wrestling-high-school-sports-participation-increases-for-fifth-consecutive-year?ref=whittierinformed.com) from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Earlier this year, [USA Today reported ](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/title-ix-impact-california-setting-110437760.html?ref=whittierinformed.com)that California leads the nation in girls' wrestling participation. Measured against that scale, La Serna's program is still just getting started. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Arrest Made in 2024 Pizzamania Arson Fire URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/arrest-made-in-2024-pizzamania-arson-fire/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T21:53:32.000Z Almost two years after a fire destroyed one of Whittier's most beloved restaurants, investigators say they've made an arrest. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department took a man into custody Tuesday in connection with the blaze that destroyed Pizzamania — a pizza spot that fed Whittier for more than 50 years and hosted generations of birthdays, sports team celebrations, and first jobs. The fire also destroyed four neighboring businesses in the same Telegraph Road strip mall. The department identified the suspect only by his last name, Arreola. LASD's Information Bureau told Whittier Informed that a booking photo and his full name are unlikely to be released. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Man Sentenced for Stealing Identity of Teen Buried at Rose Hills in Whittier URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/man-sentenced-for-stealing-identity-of-teen-buried-at-rose-hills-in-whittier/ Last updated: 2026-09-24T13:43:49.000Z A federal judge sentenced an unidentified man to five years in prison in August for a 25-year fraud built on a dead teenager's name. The teenager, Carlos Ramon Obregon, was 14 when he was killed in a 1977 drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He's buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier. For a quarter-century, the man used Obregon's Social Security number and birth certificate to collect nearly $284,000 in benefits meant for people who are elderly, disabled, or living on very little. Investigators still don't know who he really is. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### 146 Three-Story Condos Proposed for The Quad in Whittier URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/146-three-story-condos-proposed-for-the-quad-in-whittier/ Last updated: 2026-09-23T13:15:31.000Z Whittier's Design Review Board will look at the design of a 146-unit condo project on Whittier Boulevard on September 10\. The application for this development was submitted on August 13, 2025, making this more than a year in the making, and September 10 is the first time residents get to see what's actually planned. The project, called The Laurels, would replace the empty Burlington Coat Factory and Staples buildings, two other vacant storefronts, a two-story parking garage, and an empty lot on Starbuck Street. The site covers 5.79 acres at the southeast corner of the Quad at Whittier shopping center. Residents have been expecting this stretch of the Quad to eventually turn into housing. That expectation traces back to 2024, when the city rezoned the site to Mixed Use, a designation that allows a mix of housing and commercial space where the property couldn't have housing before. The rezoning didn't guarantee this project. It made a project like this possible, and now it's in front of the city. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### 21-Unit Townhome Project Would Replace South Whittier Home URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/21-unit-townhome-project-would-replace-south-whittier-home/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T17:55:15.000Z The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission will hold a public hearing October 7 on a proposal to demolish a single-family home and a closed commercial nursery at 11428 Shoemaker Avenue and build 21 three-story townhomes in their place. The project sits in unincorporated South Whittier, which means the decision belongs to Los Angeles County. The applicant is MV A24 LLC, and the plans are branded Monte Vista Homes. The developer is asking the county to waive nine development standards, including most of the required guest parking and most of the required front setback. The October 7 hearing is the public's opportunity to comment before the commission votes. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Who Will Own Your Data on Whittier's New $6,500-a-Month Website? URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/who-will-own-your-data-on-whittiers-new-6-500-a-month-website/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T23:24:05.000Z Whittier is switching website vendors to meet a new federal ADA accessibility requirement. The council approved the contract on August 11, unanimously, after one round of questions about translation and text alerts. CivicPlus's [privacy policy and broader legal terms](https://www.civicplus.help/legal-center/docs/hosting-and-data-privacy-information?ref=whittierinformed.com), the documents spelling out who controls resident data and what the company can do with it, weren't part of the meeting packet at all. That's a different approach than the one the council took just a month earlier. In July, the council rejected a police software contract with a company called Peregrine, specifically over data-sharing concerns and vendor terms the city couldn't negotiate, the kind of scrutiny that looked like it might become the new standard. This time, that standard didn't carry over. ## **The deadline behind it** The push to modernize the website comes from federal law. [The U.S. Department of Justice now requires city websites to be accessible](https://advocacy.sba.gov/2026/04/27/doj-extends-compliance-dates-for-state-and-local-governments-to-make-their-websites-accessible/?ref=whittierinformed.com) to people with disabilities, screen reader compatible, captioned video, and more, by April 2027\. That's a hard deadline, and city staff says it's why a simple redesign of the current site wouldn't be enough. ## **What it actually costs** The council approved a one-year contract of $118,840.60 that night to switch from its current vendor, Granicus, to CivicPlus. In addition, the council approved a separate $61,500 contract with UX Design Collective, a firm that will work alongside CivicPlus to help design the site. That brings the city's first-year commitment to $180,340.60. CivicPlus then charges a $77,584.60 fee to keep the site running in the second year, followed by what CivicPlus calls an "Annual Uplift" of 5%, language that suggests the increase repeats every year. To put it in perspective, that would come to roughly $453,000 over five years to keep a website running. For comparison, the city currently spends about $13,100 a year to maintain its existing site through Granicus. Margot Diamond-Nelson, the city's Community Engagement Manager, called the comparison "not quite an apples to apples" one. The old price only covered basic website upkeep, she said; the new one adds accessibility tools, web governance, and mass notification the current site doesn't have. ## **What happens to the city's own records?** CivicPlus limits how much of Whittier's history actually makes the move to the new site. Only about a year of city council agendas and minutes will make it to the new site. Calendars and older archived pages don't transfer at all, and it's unclear how, or whether, residents would still be able to access them. Also, the number of web pages that can be built or moved over is capped at 350, and the city hasn't said how many pages its current site has, so it's unclear whether entire sections of what exists today will simply be left off the new one. ## **Left behind: the Police Department's site** The Police Department redesigned its own site in 2025, and it's excluded from the CivicPlus contract entirely, still running on Granicus, the same provider the rest of the city is leaving. Diamond-Nelson told the council Granicus can't do what CivicPlus can: convert PDFs into a format screen readers can actually read aloud, and translate them into other languages. The Police Department's site is getting neither. That means someone using a screen reader, or a resident who doesn't read English, hits a wall on PD's own documents, crime reports, policies, and public safety notices. And once the redesign rolls out everywhere else, PD's site will be the odd one out, different look and different navigation. Given how much the city is already spending to bring the rest of its websites up to the same standard, it's worth asking why the department wasn't folded into the same project. ## **Every move on the site can be tracked** CivicPlus's privacy policy says the company can track individual visitors to Whittier's website, not just anonymous totals. It allows analytics "whether in aggregate or at a personal level," including which pages someone views, where they click, and how long they linger. Two outside companies are listed as working on the platform: Google Analytics and a company called Pendo. Pendo offers a feature called [Session Replay](https://www.pendo.io/product/session-replay/?ref=whittierinformed.com), which reconstructs a visitor's mouse movements, clicks, and form activity into a playback, essentially a recording of how someone moved through the page. It only activates if it's turned on. On its own, this tracking doesn't attach a name to a visitor. But if that same person also logs into the site or fills out a form using their name, that browsing activity and their identity could end up connected. But it raises a real question: could the city find out who's spending hours reviewing agendas, budgets, or contracts, the kind of deep research someone digging for accountability might do? For residents trying to hold the city accountable, or activists tracking a specific issue, that's worth knowing before they start digging. ### **Who actually controls a resident's information isn't clear** CivicPlus's contract splits data into categories. Information tied to a specific transaction, like a permit application, stays under the city's control. But anything tied to a resident's account, if the site's login feature is used, falls into a category CivicPlus calls "Resident Account Data." For that category, CivicPlus lists itself as the controller, not the city. ### **CivicPlus can use city data to improve its other products** CivicPlus's standard terms let the company study how customers use its platform, including information "concerning the Customer data and data derived therefrom," and use what it learns to improve its other products, even after a contract ends. Whether that provision applies to Whittier's agreement isn't clear from the contract itself. ### **City documents run through an outside AI company** CivicPlus's list of the companies it works with names OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, as the one processing city PDFs into accessible versions for screen readers. That means staff reports, agendas, and contracts get run through a commercial AI system. ### **Encryption depends on a detail the city won't confirm** Whether resident information is actually encrypted while it's stored, meaning scrambled so it can't be read without the right key, even if someone gains unauthorized access, depends on which pricing tier the city bought, something the contract doesn't specify. CivicPlus calls its two hosting options Standard and Platinum. Its own documentation says encryption at rest comes with the Platinum tier, paired with an add-on called Encrypted Forms, and is explicitly left out for Standard customers. ### **The alert system can reach people who never signed up** CivicPlus's proposal describes an emergency alert feature that pulls contact information from landline directory listings, updated daily, to reach residents during emergencies, whether or not they ever registered for anything, think of it like an Amber Alert. ### **A message to city hall might not stay at city hall** If a resident fills out a contact form on the site, that message doesn't necessarily stay between them and city staff. CivicPlus lists its own sales, marketing, and customer-relationship vendors as recipients of information collected through the platform. ### **The company can hand over data without a court order** CivicPlus's policy allows it to disclose resident information to outside parties without a subpoena, based on its own internal judgment about what counts as illegal activity or a risk of harm. There's no published standard for how that call gets made. ### **Aggregated visitor data can reach advertisers** CivicPlus's policy also allows sharing aggregated, anonymized visitor information with "business partners, trusted affiliates, and advertisers." It's not tied to a name, but the policy governing Whittier's official site names advertisers as a category of who can receive that information. ### **If the company is sold, resident data goes with it** CivicPlus's own privacy policy states that if the company is ever sold again, resident data goes with it. Personal information the company holds "may be sold, disposed of, transferred, divested, or otherwise disclosed as part of the transaction," and whoever buys CivicPlus "may continue to use" that data. Every account or piece of information tied to Whittier's new site is subject to that same clause. CivicPlus itself has [already been sold once](https://www.wsj.com/articles/insight-partners-backs-government-technology-provider-civicplus-11620860400?ref=whittierinformed.com), to a private equity firm, Insight Partners, in 2021. In 2025, an [Abu Dhabi-linked investment firm](https://www.forbes.com/sites/iainmartin/2026/04/03/abu-dhabi-stake-venture-capital-biggest-insight-partners/?ref=whittierinformed.com) bought a stake in Insight Partners' own parent company. That change only became public through an unrelated lawsuit, not through any disclosure to CivicPlus's customers. ## **The scrutiny that didn't carry over** In July, the council voted 3-2 against a [$509,655 police software contract with Peregrine](https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-rejects-police-software-contract-over-privacy-and-bidding-concerns/). Mayor James Becerra and Council Members Vicky Santana and Aida Macedo were the three who said no, over vendor terms the city couldn't negotiate and a data-sharing setup that let the company use city information for its own purposes. "We don't have any bargaining power with them," Macedo said at the time. Priced out over the same span, the CivicPlus deal costs in the same range. It shares similar non-negotiable terms, and, as this story lays out, similar unanswered questions about who controls resident data. This one passed unanimously. Whittier Informed sent Margot Diamond-Nelson questions about the cost, the records migration, the tracking and data-control concerns, and whether this CivicPlus contract was measured against the same standard applied to Peregrine. She did not respond. ### "Healthy" Is the Word Standing Between Whittier's Trees and the Chainsaw. URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/healthy-is-the-word-standing-between-whittiers-trees-and-the-chainsaw/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T05:10:59.000Z A recording of Whittier's city manager speaking candidly behind closed doors on the city's tree policy is offering residents a rare, unfiltered look at what's driving one of the most consequential decisions facing Whittier's trees in years. On Aug. 17, City Manager Conal McNamara spoke to a group of stakeholders invited by the city to an initial meeting on its new Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) — the document meant to replace Whittier's Parkway Tree Manual, the city's rulebook for planting, maintaining and removing trees on public property. The manual has been suspended since October 2025, when the City Council said its requirements were slowing down the removal of trees that posed a safety risk. The meeting, held at the Whittier Police Department, was invitation-only. Conny McCormack, founder of Save Our Trees Whittier, tried to attend and was turned away at the door. ## What McNamara told the room A recording of the meeting, later obtained and [posted publicly by Save Our Trees Whittier](https://saveourtreeswhittier.com/?ref=whittierinformed.com), captured McNamara telling the room what he described as the fundamental issue behind years of dispute over the city's trees. > "Really, what we're going to get to when you get to brass tacks on this whole document, it's going to come down to one word, and that word is HEALTHY. What we are having disagreement with the Conservancy on \[is\] whether or not a healthy tree can be removed for liability purposes. The majority of our trees are in good shape. So if we can all agree that a hazardous tree can be a healthy tree, I mean to say we could have saved $800,000 and a year and a half on this whole exercise, but we can't. We can't come to the table because they are going to sue us on that. That's the reason we are here. At the end of the day, that one word HEALTHY is what this whole thing is going to be about." McNamara did not respond to a request for comment on the recording or the context behind his remarks. ### **Who was there?** Public records obtained from the city and provided to Whittier Informed by McCormack show invitations to the Aug. 17 meeting went to three organizations: - the Whittier Chamber of Commerce - the Whittier Uptown Association - the Uptown Whittier Improvement Association - along with Michael Baker International, the consulting firm hired to develop the UFMP. The city also invited two leaders of the Whittier Conservancy, the environmental nonprofit currently suing the city over its tree policies. Whittier Informed reached out to a representative of the Whittier Conservancy, who confirmed they did not attend the meeting. ### Sound familiar? It's not the first time those business organizations have been early stakeholders in a fight over Whittier's trees. In December 2023, the City Council approved a redesign of Greenleaf Avenue that called for removing more than 100 mature trees from Uptown — a decision that set off [two years of protests](https://ktla.com/news/local-news/whittier-residents-outraged-over-plan-to-remove-ficus-trees-in-historic-district/?ref=whittierinformed.com), a petition signed by more than 8,000 residents, and a lawsuit from the Whittier Conservancy, and became a defining issue in the city's April 2026 election. The Chamber of Commerce, the Whittier Uptown Association and the Uptown Whittier Improvement Association each spoke in support of the Greenleaf project during the city's study sessions that took place in 2024. Now, as the city begins developing its new tree policy, representatives of those same organizations were among the first stakeholders brought into the room. ### **Who wasn't there** No certified arborists were invited. No landscape architects. No environmental groups beyond the Whittier Conservancy were invited. The nonprofit's decision not to attend may not be surprising, given its pending lawsuits against the city over the same tree policies now shaping the UFMP. That leaves a striking gap for a meeting meant to shape the future of Whittier's urban forest. Among the stakeholders in the room, only Michael Baker International, the city's paid consultant, brought professional expertise. ## **What the old Tree Manual actually says** Whittier's 2016 Parkway Tree Manual generally required 30 days' notice before removing a healthy or diseased tree. Dead and hazardous trees were subject to shorter notice requirements, while trees deemed an imminent hazard could be removed immediately. Most importantly, the manual excluded hazardous and emergency removals from its appeal process: "Hazardous tree and emergency removals are not subject to the appeal process." Yet a March 2026 staff report said the process "can result in a delay of over 90 days to remove a hazardous tree." The city's own Tree Manual, however, stated that hazardous tree removals were not subject to appeal. That's why McNamara's repeated use of the word "healthy" on the recording matters: the disagreement isn't over removing dead or dangerous trees, which the old rules already allowed. It's over when a tree that remains healthy can be considered hazardous or a liability — and what review, if any, should come first. [Parkway Tree Manual 2016The suspended rulebook governing how the city plants, maintains and removes trees on public propertyParkway Tree Manual 2016.pdf297 KBdownload-circle](https://www.whittierinformed.com/content/files/2026/08/Parkway-Tree-Manual-2016.pdf "Download") ## **How Whittier got here** The City Council suspended the tree manual in October 2025, transferring authority over tree removal to the discretion of the city manager, who by ordinance must weigh preserving trees against public safety. Officials said the move was necessary to limit the city's liability exposure. In a Nov. 25, 2025 letter, the general manager of the California Insurance Pool Authority, the city's insurance provider, recommended Whittier permanently eliminate the tree manual — warning that failure to do so would require the insurance pool's full board to review Whittier's continued participation in the pool. There's also a dual role worth noting. Yolanda Martinez, Whittier's Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, is the same official who received CIPA's November 2025 letter. She also sits on CIPA's Board of Directors, representing the City of Whittier. McCormack has also pointed to research she says shows all 14 CIPA member cities maintain some form of tree-protection ordinance, raising the question of why Whittier's insurance provider urged this city specifically to eliminate its own. Whittier Informed has not independently verified this claim. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-25-133259-1.png) A Nov. 25, 2025 letter from CIPA General Manager Janet Kiser recommending Whittier permanently eliminate its tree policy. (Source: California Insurance Pool Authority) What started as a temporary suspension has since been extended into 2028, while the city works on a permanent replacement. The Whittier Conservancy has sued over the decision, arguing in part that the council's votes to suspend the tree manual relied on closed-session discussion that was never disclosed to the public. The city disputes that. Multiple lawsuits are still pending. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-24-110338-1.png) The Aug. 25, 2026 City Council agenda lists all three pending Whittier Conservancy lawsuits against the city under closed session. (Source: City of Whittier) ## **More than $800,000 in contracts** On Jan. 27, the City Council approved a $369,538 contract with Michael Baker International to handle the environmental review for replacing the tree manual. A staff report said the firm was selected because it was already the city's on-call CEQA consultant. The same day, the council also approved a $200,000 contract with a law firm for outside litigation defense and a $50,000 contract with a communications firm to help manage public messaging on the issue. None of the three contracts went through a competitive bidding process, according to city staff reports. Two months later, the council authorized Michael Baker another $194,595 — again with no bidding described — this time to write the Urban Forest Management Plan itself. That brought the firm's contract to $564,133\. Together, the four agreements authorized up to $814,133 in consulting, legal and communications work tied to the city's changes to its tree policies. Michael Baker's June 2025 qualifications package submitted to Whittier lists years of environmental consulting work for the city, but Whittier Informed found no Urban Forest Management Plan among the projects identified in that submission. A staff report this spring said the firm's approach to the UFMP would mirror work it completed in Downey, San Fernando, Thousand Oaks and Long Beach. ### Carefully framed survey Michael Baker's contract includes an optional package of community outreach — workshops, pop-up events, a citywide survey. The proposal is specific about how those questions could be framed. Per the firm's own language, survey questions would be "carefully framed" in coordination with the city, to focus on "public safety, risk management, and the necessity of tree removals rather than aesthetics or personal preferences." The results would help set the plan's goals and canopy targets. Michael Baker's proposal also floats bringing in groups like the Whittier Conservancy and CAL FIRE for outreach, but leaves the final call on who's actually included up to the city. Michael Baker International’s representative did not respond to questions about whether it has previously developed a full Urban Forest Management Plan for any municipality, or about whether its proposed survey approach could shape results toward a predetermined outcome. ### A pattern with surveys It's not the first time outreach numbers have been challenged in Whittier this year. [When a developer wanted to build a five-story storage facility near The Groves](https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-groves-is-running-out-of-parking-the-city-approved-a-new-bar-and-lost-its-backup-plan/), it told the Planning Commission it had talked to 426 residents and found 92% supportive, backed by 300-plus petition signatures. Residents pushed back hard. The Groves HOA's board president said the developer's presentation to the board was never an actual board meeting, and the board never got a chance to weigh in. Others said the outreach was misleading — that petition signers had been asked to help save a dog park, a separate issue the project also addressed, not asked directly whether they supported a five-story storage building. The commission voted 3-0 to deny the project. The two situations aren't the same — Michael Baker hasn't run its survey yet, and a developer's outreach for one project isn't the same as a citywide planning survey. But the Groves fight is a reminder that how a question gets asked can shape the answer people give, and how much residents can trust the results. ## **What happens next** The plan isn't finished. The city says residents will get their turn, [starting with community workshops in every council district this fall](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/government/whittier-transparent/whittier-urban-forest-management-plan?ref=whittierinformed.com): - **District 4**: Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Ocean View Elementary School - **District 1**: Sept. 29, 6 p.m., Evergreen Elementary School - **District 3**: Sept. 30, 6 p.m., Whittwood Branch Library - **District 2**: Oct. 1, 6 p.m., Palm Park The first of those meetings is three weeks away. As of publication, Whittier Informed found no public promotion of the dates — no posts on the city's official social media accounts and no mention on the city's homepage beyond the UFMP page itself, which is not easily accessible unless you know to look for it. After that, the city says a council meeting will happen before the environmental review goes public for a 45-day comment period. So the real questions raised by the Aug. 17 meeting aren't just about who was in the room that day. They're about what comes after: Who gets a say in Whittier's new tree rules? How will residents actually be asked what they want? And when safety and preservation collide, who decides whether a healthy tree comes down? For McNamara, at least in his remarks that day, the answer came down to one word. "At the end of the day," he said, "that one word HEALTHY is what this whole thing is going to be about." ### Tired of Uptown's Empty Storefronts? These Residents Are Doing Something About It URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/tired-of-uptowns-empty-storefronts-these-residents-are-doing-something-about-it/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T00:39:06.000Z On a recent night market evening in Uptown Whittier, Julian Sanchez, Daria Ancona and Hillary Griffin set up a folding table on the corner of Greenleaf Ave and Philadelphia St. Behind them sat an empty storefront. It used to be Rocky Cola Cafe, a diner that had anchored one of Uptown's busiest corners for 32 years before high rent pushed it out in January 2022\. In front of the table, residents stopped to talk about what they wished was there instead. The three call their project [Why Aren't We Using This](https://stoolartcollective.com/blogs/important-links/wawut-submissions?ref=whittierinformed.com), or WAWUT for short. It started as an online map that marks empty storefronts and lots across Uptown. Alongside the map, they created a survey that asks residents and visitors simple questions: what does Uptown need, and what would you like to see fill a specific empty space? ## **Signs of a shifting city** Walk through Uptown Whittier, and empty storefronts or vacant lots are hard to miss. Some sit vacant for months. Others sit vacant for years, changing hands without ever reopening. WAWUT's organizers say they got tired of wondering why, so they decided to start collecting evidence instead. Their timing isn't an accident. Whittier recently elected two new City Council members and a new mayor, James Becerra, in a shift the organizers call [a "historic sweep.](https://www.whittierinformed.com/historic-night-in-whittier-first-latino-majority-council-new-mayor-doubled-turnout/)" All three said that change is part of what pushed them to act now, after years of feeling like resident input on Uptown went nowhere. "I think a big motivator to put this project into motion was the changing of the City Council, just because of how generally dismissive the previous City Council was," Sanchez said. Another example that motivated them: Save Our Trees Whittier, [a petition effort that gathered more than 8,000 signatures](https://www.change.org/p/save-our-trees-in-uptown-whittier?ref=whittierinformed.com) against removing mature trees along Greenleaf Avenue to build a promenade, shows them that sustained pressure from residents can eventually pay off in Whittier, even if it takes years. ## **Who's behind it** Each of the three organizers came to the project a different way. Sanchez grew up near Central Park in Uptown and still lives within walking distance of it. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in studio art, and said his own art often deals with who owns a space and who's allowed to exist in it. He founded Stool Art Collective while still in school. Its members live all over the region and they came together partly because Cal State Fullerton, a commuter school, didn't offer much of a built-in community. Sanchez said that same drive, to build community where it doesn't already exist, carried over into WAWUT. He mentioned businesses Uptown has lost over the years, including an independent bookstore and an ice cream parlor that once stood near the Starlight Movie Theatre, as the kind of places that gave the area character. Ancona grew up in South Whittier, just across the line from the city, and has watched Uptown's mix of businesses shift for years. She's a UC Master Gardener and serves as treasurer of 562 Arts, a newly formed nonprofit. She traces her drive for the project back to her last year at UC Berkeley, where she volunteered at the [Guild Tract](https://www.gilltractfarm.org/?ref=whittierinformed.com), an urban community farm. The land was originally slated for big box development, until residents organized to save it for agriculture instead. Ancona said watching that fight succeed, and working alongside the farm's organizers, showed her what sustained community pressure can accomplish. She pointed to Uptown 2000, a longtime retailer on Greenleaf Ave, as proof that a business can last in Uptown if it fills a real need. She also mentioned Legends, a skate shop that used to draw teenagers, as an example of what's missing now that it's gone. "I feel like young people these days, middle schoolers, high schoolers, might be getting a lot of the 'no loitering' talk," Ancona said. With Legends closed, she said, there isn't a clear place left for teenagers to just be. Griffin moved to Whittier from Torrance around 2022, close to Central Park. She works as a multimedia designer at Cal State Dominguez Hills, which she said is known among the CSU campuses as a "hidden gem", a label she said really means the university is underfunded, [despite its roots in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion](https://www.csudh.edu/watts/?ref=whittierinformed.com). Griffin said she noticed a familiar pattern once she moved to Whittier: a place known for its potential that hasn't fully lived up to it. After buying a home here, she said she doesn't want that to stay true. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/08/Survey-Pacers.jpg) Members of the Whittier Pacers running group stop to look over WAWUT's survey board outside a vacant storefront in Uptown. (Courtesy of WAWUT) ## **What the survey is finding** The survey asks people whether they live within walking distance of Uptown, how often they visit, and to pick from a list of what Uptown could use more of. So far, the top answers are entertainment, including performance spaces, locally owned mom-and-pop shops, and free or low-cost places to gather. Ancona said that last one matches what all three organizers describe: a shortage of places where young people can spend time without having to pay for it. Coming in last was big box stores or chain and franchise brands. The survey also asks people to name a specific empty address and describe what they'd like to see there. WAWUT plans to feature some of those ideas in future posts, including hand-drawn renderings of what the spaces could look like. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/08/City-Council-2.jpeg) The WAWUT group presents survey findings during public comment at a Whittier City Council meeting on July 14, 2026\. (Courtesy of WAWUT) ## **No local vacancy tax on the books** Whittier's municipal code touches vacant properties through a maintenance rule. It requires owners of empty lots to landscape, secure and maintain them, and lets the city step in if a property becomes a public nuisance, a legal term for conditions that harm the surrounding area. Whittier Informed reviewed the code and found it doesn't include is a tax, a public registry, or any fee tied to how long a space sits empty. Whittier Informed reached out to Mayor Becerra and Ben Pongetti, the city's community development director, asking whether Whittier has any tax, registry or other accountability measure for vacant commercial properties, or whether the city has had any discussions on the topic. Neither had responded as of publication. **How San Francisco does it** Other cities have gone further. San Francisco taxes owners, tenants or subtenants who leave certain ground-floor, street-facing commercial spaces empty for more than 182 days a year in specific neighborhood shopping districts across the city. The longer a space sits vacant, the more it costs: $250 per linear foot of street frontage the first year, $500 the second, and $1,000 a year after that, [according to the city's Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector](https://sftreasurer.org/business/taxes-fees/commercial-vacancy-tax-cvt?ref=whittierinformed.com). The city also publishes each property's vacancy status as public data. **Long Beach's approach** Long Beach does something similar. A vacant lot there can mean an empty piece of land, or a building that's sat abandoned, vacant or unleased for more than 30 days. Owners have to register within 30 days and pay an annual fee that keeps renewing as long as the space stays empty, or risk a lien on the property. If they let the space serve the community instead, through something like urban agriculture or a community garden, they can qualify for a fee waiver. [The city adopted the rule in 2017\. ](https://www.longbeach.gov/lbcd/enforcement/lot/?ref=whittierinformed.com) **California considered a vacancy tax, then dropped it** A statewide push, Senate Bill 789, would have gone further still, taxing vacant commercial property $5 a square foot a year across California. [After pushback from commercial property groups](https://www.costar.com/article/398801690/california-proposal-to-tax-landlords-for-vacant-storefronts-draws-criticism?ref=whittierinformed.com), lawmakers rewrote the bill to drop the tax and keep only a requirement that owners report vacancy data. But the bill stalled and was defeated in the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2025, killing both the tax and the reporting requirement. Neither ever became law. ## **What's next** The three organizers say collecting data is only the first step. They want to turn what they learn from the survey into real proposals for the city, not just a one-time snapshot. "I think that's a big goal for WAWUT, to kind of go beyond the data collection and actually propose actionable items for people to move on," Sanchez said. For now, that means more mapping, more surveys, and more conversations with residents in Uptown. ### Whittier Gives Middle Managers a 17% Raise, Following the Executives' 27% URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-gives-middle-managers-a-17-raise-following-the-executives-27/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T21:55:21.000Z On Tuesday, the Whittier City Council approved a roughly 17% raise over three years for the city's middle managers, the assistant directors, deputy directors, and division managers who run city departments just below the top executives. The raise came through a revised salary resolution, one that replaced a version the council had approved just two months earlier. City paperwork sorts these employees into two tiers: Senior Management and Middle Management, or Level II and Level III on the city's own org chart. They're not the department heads themselves. They're the layer of staff just underneath them. A third group got the raise too: administrative and executive assistants the city calls "Confidential" employees. "Confidential" doesn't mean anything secretive here. It's the city's label for administrative and executive assistants who handle sensitive personnel and labor information as part of their jobs. Together, the three groups cover over 40 job titles. The resolution doesn't say how many people actually hold those positions, so the number of employees getting this raise isn't clear from the documents. We compared the resolution the council just approved against the one it replaced, line by line, to find out. ## **What actually changed** Nearly every salary range for those three groups is exactly 6% higher in the August resolution than it was in June. A few examples: An Assistant Director of Community Development's pay range went from $10,373 to $13,788 a month, up to $10,995 to $14,615. An Accountant's range went from $6,052 to $7,871 a month, up to $6,415 to $8,343. An Executive Assistant to the City Manager went from $6,801 to $8,842 a month, up to $7,209 to $9,373. Every comparable title we checked showed the same 6% jump. That's the first-year piece of a three-year raise. There is another 5% in 2027 and another 5% in 2028, each one building on the year before. Stacked together, that comes out to about 17% in total pay growth over three years. ## **Where this fits into a bigger pay story** This isn't the only Whittier pay story in play right now. In March, three weeks before the April election, [the outgoing council approved a roughly 27% raise over three years for the city's top executives](https://www.whittierinformed.com/how-whittiers-city-hall-was-reshaped-three-weeks-before-the-election-part-1/). That raise moved through a separate resolution and isn't the one covered here. Neither resolution is transparent about what that 27% raise actually costs the city. This August resolution at least discloses a cost for the group covered here: about $432,000 for the first year of the 6% raise alone. City Manager Conal McNamara also received an immediate 19% increase on his own separate track, bringing his base salary from $306,648 to $365,000, less than a year into the job. That's on top of a severance package that can reach $547,500 and a city vehicle for a year. Meanwhile, frontline workers, the people who fix water lines, maintain parks, and keep the city's day-to-day operations running, are still negotiating their own contract. They aren't included in either raise. On June 23, the labor attorney representing the Whittier City Employees Association, Brian Niehaus, told the council that [frontline workers are being asked to pay thousands more for their medical coverage](https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittiers-frontline-workers-are-fighting-back/) while executive staff aren't being asked to pay a dime more. If Niehaus's account holds up, the managers getting this month's 17% raise are also among the group that wouldn't be asked to pay more for medical, the same benefit frontline workers say they're being denied. ## **The backdrop: a budget that's already short** [Whittier's budget is already short, and the city's own numbers say it's only going to get worse](https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-is-spending-more-than-it-makes-the-citys-own-numbers-show-it-getting-worse/). The General Fund is running a $3.9 million deficit this year, and the city is covering that gap with reserves, including money set aside to cushion rising pension costs. Its own five-year forecast shows that gap growing to roughly $9.4 million a year by 2028-29, before those reserve draws even kick in. The city approved a 27% raise for executives in March, a separate 19% raise for the City Manager, and now this 17% raise for the managers covered here. All three landed while the city was telling residents its main budget doesn't balance on its own. ## **Two pay changes in five months, with a third likely coming** Since March, city salary decisions have come in pieces instead of all at once. Department directors and other top executives got their roughly 27% raise that month. Now, in August, it's the turn of the assistant directors, deputy directors, and division managers covered in this piece. That's two separate salary changes in five months, and there's likely a third coming once frontline workers and the city settle the contract they're still negotiating. Whether that's careful planning or piecemeal decision-making, one thing is clear: the city isn't setting pay once a year anymore. It's setting it every few months, one group at a time. ### Whittier Approves $4.7 Million in Sewer Fees, Nearly All Through Your Property Tax Bill URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-approves-4-7-million-in-sewer-fees-nearly-all-through-your-property-tax-bill/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T04:37:23.000Z The Whittier City Council voted Tuesday to approve nearly $4.7 million in sewer fees for the city's 2026-2027 budget year, nearly all of it collected through property tax bills instead of water bills. Most property owners will barely notice their own charge, but added together, it's a large fee the city collects outside the general tax rate. ## **How this fee gets to you** Residents may think of sewer costs as part of their monthly water bill, but they're not. The sewer fee is a separate charge that Los Angeles County adds directly to the annual property tax bill on the city's behalf. Because it rides along with property taxes instead of showing up as its own monthly charge, it's easy to miss. This year's fee report shows the charge will raise an estimated $4,669,365.61 through the county property tax bill. On top of that, the city expects to collect another $60,223.67 by billing certain customers directly, outside the property tax process, bringing the total to just under $4.73 million. The documents don't say which customers get billed this separate way or why. ## **How much you pay, and how it's calculated** The fee is based on how much water a property uses, not a flat citywide rate. Under the current schedule: - Homes, and residences built by private developers, pay $1.26 for every unit of water used, up to $364.39 a year. - Apartment and condo buildings pay the same $1.26 per unit, up to $364.39 per unit each year. - Businesses and industrial properties pay $1.26 per unit with no yearly cap. - Households that qualify as low income pay a lower rate, $0.70 per unit, up to $207.59 a year. - Every property also pays a flat $11.59 service charge each year. That charge counts toward the annual caps listed above, rather than being added on top of them. A typical household using 13 units of water a month would pay about $16.38 a month in usage charges, or roughly $196.56 a year. Add the $11.59 annual service charge, and the total comes to about $208.15 a year, well under the $364.39 residential cap. The city's agenda report says that same typical household will pay $1.43 more a month than before, nine cents of it from the higher per-unit rate and the rest from a bump in the yearly service charge. ### **Where the money comes from** - Homeowners pay the largest share by far, $3.44 million. - Apartment and condo buildings are next at $887,490.90. - Businesses and industrial properties follow at $308,175.93. - Low-income households contribute $16,192.20. - Privately developed residences contribute $14,586.75. ### **What the money pays for** City staff say the money covers four things: - day-to-day upkeep of the city's sewer pipes - a state-required response plan for sewage spills (called the Overflow Response Program, required under State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-003-DWQ) - the city's long-term sewer management plan - and repair and construction projects. The documents don't say which specific projects this year's money will pay for. ## **How we got here, and what happens next** Tuesday's vote didn't set the rate. The council did that back on November 12, 2024, locking in sewer fees from 2025 through 2029\. Tuesday's action applied that already-approved rate to every property in the city, and the county will add the resulting charge to property tax bills. Now that the report is approved, the city clerk will send it to Los Angeles County, and the fee will show up on property tax bills for the 2026-2027 budget year. ### Whittier Approves $6.6 Million in Landfill Expansion and Two Years of Fee Increases URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-approves-6-6-million-in-landfill-expansion-and-two-years-of-fee-increases/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T06:00:29.000Z Whittier's landfill is getting close to running out of room, and on July 14, the City Council approved the next phase of construction needed to keep it operating. The council signed off on three things: a construction contract worth up to $6.2 million to build more dumping space, a $408,076 contract to inspect that construction, and a fee increase that raises the cost of dumping trash at the landfill for the next two years. Together, the two contracts commit more than $6.6 million. All three passed as part of the meeting's consent calendar, a bundle of agenda items considered routine enough to approve together in one vote, without individual discussion. No one pulled any of them out for a closer look, so none were debated on the record before passing. The city's own paperwork doesn't fully explain how the construction will be paid for — part of the money isn't there yet, and the rest is expected to come from a loan whose terms aren't in the record. ## **Why the city is building now** [Savage Canyon Landfill](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/government/public-works/trash/landfill-services?ref=whittierinformed.com) is owned and run by the City of Whittier. Before trash can go into any new section of the landfill, state regulators require the city to line it with a waterproof barrier that keeps landfill fluid from reaching groundwater. Building that lining for the next section is the work that just got approved. The city finished lining the last section on February 12, 2019\. Staff reports say that section created about five years of dumping space, plus roughly three and a half years of leftover space elsewhere at the site. Counted forward from 2019, that points to the landfill running out of room sometime around 2027. The city's documents do not say how much room is left today, or how many years the new section will add. The landfill is permitted to keep accepting trash until sometime in the 2070s, but only if the city keeps lining new sections as the older ones fill up. This one will not be the last. ### **One bidder, one proposal** The construction work went out for competitive bidding. One company bid: Sukut Construction, LLC, at $5,646,775\. The staff report notes Sukut has worked at the landfill before. It does not say how many contractors were invited or why only one responded. The inspection contract followed the same pattern. The city sent requests for proposals to three firms: Tetra Tech, SCS Engineers, and Geosyntec Consultants. Only Geosyntec responded. ### **The firm that designed the project will also check the work** Two separate jobs are involved here, and one company is doing both. The first job was drawing up the plans. The city hired Geosyntec Consultants on October 24, 2023, to handle design and permitting for the new section. Geosyntec prepared the design drawings, the technical requirements the contractor has to build to, and the plan for how the finished work gets inspected. State regulators at the Regional Water Quality Control Board reviewed and approved that design in February 2026. The second job is the inspecting. That's the contract approved on July 14, and it also went to Geosyntec. Over the course of construction, the firm will test materials, watch the work, and at the end certify that the landfill was built in general accordance with the approved design. ## **Spending that does not need another vote** Two provisions let City Manager Conal McNamara, acting as the landfill authority's executive director, approve additional spending without returning to the City Council for approval. The construction contract includes $564,677 in contingency money for unexpected costs, and the vote already authorized McNamara to release it.The Geosyntec contract works similarly. If the city asks for work beyond what the contract covers, the added fees are capped at about $102,000, and McNamara can approve that himself without another vote. Together that is roughly $667,000 that can be spent at the city manager's discretion, without a further vote. ## **Where the money comes from, and does not** Both contracts pull from the same city account: the Solid Waste Disposal Fund's Back Canyon account. For the $408,076 inspection contract with Geosyntec Consultants, staff wrote that the money is already there. For the $5.6 million construction contract with Sukut Construction, staff wrote that only part of it is, and the rest will come from a loan of about $2.5 million that still needs approval at a future meeting. The documents don't say where that loan would come from, what interest rate it would carry, or how it would be repaid. Whittier Informed asked Deputy City Manager Kyle Cason how the city plans to repay that loan. Cason did not respond. ## **The fee increase, and what it covers** The board also approved higher fees for dumping at the landfill, going up 5% in each of the next two years. Here's what changes: - **Regular trash:** $61.45 a ton now, $64.55 starting July 1, 2026, then $67.80 on July 1, 2027 - **Concrete, dirt, and other inert material:** $48.84 a ton now, $51.28 in 2026, then $53.85 in 2027 - **Bulky items:** $70.67 a ton now, $74.20 in 2026, then $77.91 in 2027 - **Residential dumping permit:** stays at $42 - **Saturday residential rate:** stays at $20 a load The city's own resolution says these fees exist partly to pay for building liner expansions, which is exactly the work approved that same night. Three things about the increase are worth knowing. First, trash from outside Whittier gets a better deal than trash from inside it. The fee for "foreign trash," waste hauled in from other cities, stays frozen at $61.45 a ton for both years. So by July 2027, dumping outside trash here will cost $6.35 a ton less than dumping Whittier's own. Whether the landfill takes that outside trash depends on available space, and it needs sign-off from Deputy City Manager Kyle Cason. Second, the increase doesn't come close to paying for the construction it's meant to help fund. The city expects it to bring in roughly $200,000 more the first year and $210,000 the second, against contracts totaling more than $6.6 million. Third, this reaches past the landfill gate. Since 2017, the dumping fee has been one factor in how the city's franchise haulers set residential trash rates. Athens Services, a longtime hauler here, works under its latest agreement with the city, which started November 1, 2025, and the city says Athens needs both years of these disposal costs to calculate and propose its rates. What the documents don't say is how much of your bill that actually accounts for, or when any change might show up. Both years were approved in one vote, so the second increase in July 2027 happens automatically. No second council vote, no additional chance for public comment. ## **What happens next** Construction is expected to take about 110 working days once it begins. Geosyntec's schedule anticipates finishing its final inspection report by February 2027, and the firm's contract runs through January 2028\. That report, certifying the work was done according to the approved design, goes to the city and to state regulators. The environmental review covering this construction dates back to 2001\. On April 24 of that year, the city adopted what's called a Negative Declaration, a formal finding that a project won't cause significant environmental harm. No update to that review is mentioned in the city's documents. The work itself is substantial. Crews will dig up about 51,500 cubic yards of soil and set aside roughly 41,500 cubic yards of it in stockpiles. ### Whittier PD Holds Public Viewing on Its Military Equipment Report URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-pd-holds-public-viewing-on-its-military-equipment-report/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T04:37:06.000Z A 2021 state law requires the Whittier Police Department to publicly report on equipment California classifies as military-grade, from armored vehicles and drones to specialized rifles and crowd-control tools. To meet that requirement, WPD released its 2025 use report on July 17\. It lists everything the department owns and how each piece of equipment was used. Residents can review it and ask the department questions directly at a public meeting on Wednesday, August 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the WPD Community Meeting Room. The law only covers physical equipment. Tools like license plate readers and other software-based surveillance fall outside it entirely. In the report's introduction, Police Chief Aviv Bar wrote that although the term "military equipment" may sound alarming, much of what's on the list consists of specialized tools California police departments have used for decades. ## **How the equipment was used in 2025** **Drones.** WPD flew drones 233 times last year. The most common reasons were responding to burglaries or burglar alarms (39 times) and checking trespassing complaints or building rooftops (29 times). Drones were also used to observe protests 20 times and to monitor homeless encampments 14 times. Other uses included searching for missing people, responding to shots-fired calls, and supporting SWAT warrant operations. **Armored vehicle.** WPD's armored vehicle, a 2015 Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport (BATT), was deployed 19 times. Seven of those were SWAT warrant services, each on a different date between March and November. The other 12 came during patrol responses involving vehicle barricades or armed individuals. The report does not give dates or further detail for those 12 uses. Each of the seven SWAT operations also involved a Kinetic Breaching Tool, a device used to force open locked doors, and a Noise Flash Diversionary Device, commonly called a flashbang, which creates a bright flash and loud sound to disorient a suspect. The report shows all three tools were used together on the same seven dates. **Mobile command vehicle.** A vehicle that serves as a mobile police command post was used three times, each for a large public event. **Everything else stayed on the shelf.** The department reported zero operational uses of its 40mm less-lethal launchers, less-lethal shotguns, chemical agents, specialized rifles, and PepperBall launchers in 2025\. The report notes that some of this equipment is used regularly for training, but that training use is not counted in these numbers. ## **What the department owns, and what it costs** WPD's inventory includes 26 drones across five models, more than 90 rifles and specialized firearms, 52 less-lethal shotguns (one carried in every patrol car), 64,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, and more than 500 tear gas and chemical munitions . The report lists an annual maintenance cost for most categories. Rifle ammunition is the largest ongoing cost, at about $20,000 a year for 5.56mm rounds and $2,000 for .308 rounds. The mobile command vehicle costs about $11,000 a year to maintain. The armored vehicles cost about $10,000\. Drones cost about $5,000 a year in maintenance and batteries. Chemical agents and breaching tools carry no listed annual cost. Added together, the figures in the report come to roughly $62,000 a year in recurring costs, not counting what the department originally paid to buy the equipment. **Some of the biggest purchases:** the armored BATT vehicle cost $309,000\. The mobile command vehicle cost $250,000, paid for with a 2006 federal grant. A pair of tactical robots cost $33,500\. Other items cost far less. ## **The Next Round of Equipment** The report includes a section listing equipment the department expects to acquire next, including a new armored vehicle and an expanded drone program. But by the time the report became public, City Council had already approved both, three days earlier. On July 14, council [voted to approve the BATT-X](https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-approves-428-000-armored-vehicle-for-whittier-police/), a replacement for the department's aging 1970s Peacekeeper armored vehicle, at a cost of $428,033.34\. In a separate vote the same day, [council approved an expanded drone program called Drone First Responder](https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-approves-police-drone-program-as-part-of-larger-3-4-million-axon-deal/), or DFR. The DFR program adds about $1.05 million in new drones to the department's existing technology contract with Axon Enterprise, bringing that five-year deal to $3.44 million total. Under DFR, drones launch from a fixed dock and fly remotely, guided by an operator, rather than being carried and launched by an officer at the scene. The report also describes a policy that lets the department restock certain equipment without going back to City Council first. If supplies run low, the department can reorder up to half its stock of an item in a given year without new council approval. In an emergency, the department can also get more equipment from other law enforcement agencies or the California Office of Emergency Services with sign-off from the chief alone. ## **Oversight and complaints** WPD's Professional Standards Division reviewed the department's military equipment use for 2025 and reported finding no violations of the department's equipment policy. The department said it received no official complaints about military equipment use during the year. Residents with questions or concerns can contact the Professional Standards Division, reachable through the department at 562-567-9200 or in writing to Sgt. Glenn Hedgpeth at the Whittier Police Department, 13200 Penn Street. The full report, the equipment inventory, and the department's use policy will all be on hand at the August 5 meeting, along with staff to answer questions in person. ### Whittier Council Adopts New Rules for How City Responds to ICE URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-council-adopts-new-rules-for-how-city-responds-to-ice/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T17:59:27.000Z The Whittier City Council voted July 14 to approve new rules for how the city responds when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents show up at or near city property. Council members asked staff to write these rules after a June 12 meeting about ICE activity near city buildings. The city has already used the rules once: staff had employees shelter in place after ICE was seen near the Whittier Public Library earlier this month. ## **Why the city can control** Whittier can't control what ICE does. But the city can control how its own employees, buildings, and information respond when ICE shows up nearby. The new rules cover three things: when police and city staff can talk to ICE, when the public gets told what's happening, and when the city council has to be told. During the meeting, council members also got a plain explanation of something a lot of residents ask about: how a routine arrest at the police station can end with ICE waiting outside for someone to be released. ## **What the three rules do** **Rule 64** tells city workers what to do if ICE shows up at a city building or event: Confirm ICE is actually there before doing anything. Tell a supervisor. Don't get in ICE's way. Don't share your opinion about it with ICE or with the public. Workers also can't post photos or videos from work during one of these incidents. **Rule 65** covers "shelter in place" — staying inside a building instead of going outside. A city manager, department head, or supervisor can call for this if it's the safest option. Only the city manager's office can talk to the media during one of these incidents. **Rule 66** says when the city manager has to tell the city council what's going on: The council gets told if ICE shows up at or next to a city building, if it disrupts city services, if it causes a shelter-in-place, or if there's a lot of public concern. But if ICE activity happens somewhere else in the community and doesn't affect city buildings, the rule says the council usually doesn't need to be told. The city manager also has the power to change what gets shared and when, if there's a safety or legal reason. ## **How ICE ends up outside a police station** Council Member Vicky Santana asked Whittier Police Chief Aviv Bar to explain what "we don't cooperate with ICE" actually means. Bar said state law — the [California Values Act](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill%5Fid=201720180SB54&ref=whittierinformed.com), known as SB 54 — stops local police from enforcing immigration law, working with federal immigration agents, or asking people about their immigration status. Whittier police have their own written policy on this, called Policy 428, posted online in the department's public policy manual. Bar explained where ICE gets its information. Anyone booked into a California jail gets fingerprinted through a system called Live Scan, which checks their identity against county and state records. Those results get shared with the FBI. The FBI can then share that information with other federal agencies, including ICE. So if ICE is looking for someone who gets arrested in Whittier, they find out — not from Whittier police, but through that federal chain. Because state law stops local police from handing someone straight to ICE inside the jail, Bar said that ICE agents instead wait outside on public streets for the person to be released. Bar also said most people arrested in Whittier are released within two to three hours with a future court date, because of a Los Angeles County court policy on bail. He added that, normally, city officials don't find out ICE is nearby through any formal notice. “We find out that they're on the street usually from activists that show up, and then we know about it.” [Download/View: Whittier Police - Policy Manual 2026POLICY MANUAL 2026.pdf14 MBdownload-circle](https://www.whittierinformed.com/content/files/2026/07/POLICY-MANUAL-2026.pdf "Download") ## **What council members said** Council Member Aida Macedo said she's personally seen ICE near the city twice in the last month. She cited a string of ICE-related killings reported nationally that same week — federal officials acknowledged at least two of those killed were not the people agents were targeting — as part of her reasoning for supporting the new rules. She also tied her concern about ICE to her broader concerns about surveillance and privacy, something Whittier Informed has covered separately in [stories about police technology purchases.](https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-rejects-police-software-contract-over-privacy-and-bidding-concerns/) Mayor Pro Tem Mary Ann Pacheco asked staff to write a plain-language version of these rules that residents can read. She said people have asked her why ICE shows up outside city buildings, and she hasn't had a clear way to explain it beyond saying police don't cooperate with ICE. Mayor James Becerra thanked Macedo for pushing the city to act, and said the new rules mostly put into writing things the city was already doing informally. He called the rules a work in progress that will keep changing. ### The Groves Is Running Out of Parking. The City Approved a New Bar and Lost Its Backup Plan URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-groves-is-running-out-of-parking-the-city-approved-a-new-bar-and-lost-its-backup-plan/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T00:12:32.000Z Back on May 26, a city staff report warned that adding CAPO Public House's new liquor license and a Korean BBQ restaurant at The Groves could push parking there to its breaking point. Even so, the report went on to say parking was "adequate" and recommended approval. By the time the City Council actually voted on it, at the public hearing on July 14, the warning was gone. On top of that, staff told the council a [5-story public storage development next door would add 42 more public parking spaces to ease the pressure even further.](https://www.whittierinformed.com/a-proposed-5-story-storage-project-pitches-a-parking-solution-for-the-groves/) Six days after the council said yes to the bar, that storage development got rejected by the Planning Commission. So now The Groves has more traffic coming, and the backup plan the city was counting on isn't there. ## **What the council approved** On July 14, the council voted 4-0, with Council Member Cathy Warner absent, to let CAPO Public House at Rodeo 72 expand into Building 7, an empty building at Heritage Court. The new space comes with a full bar license — beer, wine, and liquor — plus arcade games, pool tables, and hours from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., matching the Rodeo 72 food hall next door, which the same owners already run. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-29-060834-1.png) 7008 Walnut Grove Drive, the former Superintendent's Residence, where CAPO Public House is expanding. (Photo: City of Whittier) **The warning that disappeared** The Groves was built with 749 parking spaces — far fewer than the 1,487 the city's own rules would normally require for a shopping center this size. That's allowed, because the center was approved under a rule that lets different businesses share parking if they're busy at different times. But it also means there's not much room for error. Staff had two different parking studies done, by the same traffic engineering firm, about two months apart. The first, from April 21, backed up the May 26 staff report. That report said two things at once: parking at The Groves was "adequate," but adding CAPO's expansion, the Korean BBQ restaurant, and full occupancy of the food hall ["may result in parking demand at The Groves reaching maximum capacity."](https://www.whittierinformed.com/parking-at-the-groves-is-already-strained-two-new-businesses-could-push-it-to-maximum-capacity/) The second study, from June 15, is what staff used when the council actually voted in July — and it showed parking was tighter, not more open, than the April version. Even so, the July report kept the word "adequate" and dropped the "maximum capacity" warning entirely. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-29-061225-1.png) Parking zone map for The Groves, dividing its 749 spaces into ten zones. (Source: LLG Parking Demand Analysis) **Where council members pushed back** Some of that tension came out anyway, in the questions council members asked. Council Member Vicky Santana pushed Community Development Director Ben Pongetti on what "adequate" really means at the busiest hours. She asked if that number includes spaces all the way behind Stater Bros, far from Rodeo 72\. Pongetti confirmed it does. The whole center is counted as one shared lot, broken into zones, but treated as a single total. "It's not absolutely full," he told her, "but you'd have to really search for a parking stall." Santana didn't argue with the numbers. She argued with what they mean for someone trying to park there. "I just really do avoid it, and I'm sure others do too," she said, warning that if it keeps getting worse, "people are gonna give up" on visiting. Council Member Aida Macedo asked staff directly about the 738-space shortfall, reading the number straight from the parking study. Pongetti's answer: the shortfall was already accepted when The Groves was first built, and the shared-parking approach still checks out. ## **The city's backup plan** Pongetti pointed to two things that aren't counted in the parking study's math. One was the Whittier Cruiser, the city's ride service. He said it "certainly alleviates some" of the parking demand, but confirmed there's no requirement to keep it running, and no new parking review would happen if it stopped. The other was a five-story self-storage facility proposed for the lot directly across from Rodeo 72, at 12090 Whittier Boulevard, the site of an auto salvage yard that's operated there since the 1960s. The storage developer had signed an agreement in May to build 42 public parking spaces for Groves customers, in exchange for a piece of city-owned land along the property line. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-12-195813-1.png) Architectural rendering of the proposed Go Store It self-storage facility planned for the former M&S Auto Salvage site at 12090 Whittier Blvd. Rendering by MG2 Architecture, via City of Whittier planning documents. The parking easement agreement itself was included in the July 14 meeting packet, showing the property owner and the storage developer were working together on a parking fix. No council member asked about it before the vote. Pongetti called it "an escape valve... for some additional parking," and told the council that project would have its first hearing at the Planning Commission on July 20. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/city-owned-land-parking-shared-lot-1.png) Site plan for the proposed Go Store It storage facility, showing the building footprint, proposed parking lot, and walkway connection to The Groves. (Annotations by Whittier Informed) **Five days later, it fell apart** It didn't go the way you'd expect. On July 20, the Planning Commission voted 3-0 to deny the storage project. Residents pushed back hard on the developer's account of its own outreach, and asked commissioners to scrutinize it closely. The applicant said it spent six weeks going door-to-door, holding 426 conversations with nearby residents, and found 92% supportive — backed by more than 300 signatures on a petition. The applicant also pointed to a 2025 presentation given to the Groves HOA board as evidence of community buy-in. Current HOA board president Paul White said the presentation was never an official board meeting and that the board was never given a chance to comment on the project. "It was presented as if it was already a done deal," he told commissioners. Another resident and former board member went further, telling commissioners the HOA board never voted to approve or support it at all. Others said the petition signatures came from people asked to "save the dog park," a separate concern the project also addressed, not from anyone asked directly about supporting a five-story storage building. Commissioner Luis Rodriguez, who made the motion to deny, said the project abandoned what the plan was supposed to protect: a walkable, community-focused space. ## **Nothing is final yet** CAPO's approval doesn't change because the storage project failed — the two were never legally tied together. But the "escape valve" the council was told about six days earlier no longer exists in the form it was described. A Planning Commission denial like this can usually be appealed by the applicant to the City Council, so this may not be the final word. Ultimately, it's the council that will decide whether to uphold the commission's denial or take up the matter for further discussion. Whittier Informed will keep following both stories — what happens next with the storage project, and how parking at The Groves holds up as CAPO's new lounge and a Korean BBQ restaurant get ready to open. ### Council Approves $428,000 Armored Vehicle for Whittier Police URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-approves-428-000-armored-vehicle-for-whittier-police/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T15:52:26.000Z The Whittier City Council voted 5-0 on July 14 to approve the purchase of a new armored vehicle for the police department, replacing a 1979 model that began its life with the U.S. Air Force and ended up in Whittier sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s. The new vehicle, called the BATT-X, will cost the city $428,033.34, covering the vehicle itself, freight, taxes, and a dedicated police radio. It joins a second armored vehicle, known as the BATT-APX, which the department bought in 2016\. Both are built by the same manufacturer, The Armored Group. ## **Why the Department Wants It** Chief Aviv Bar told the council the vehicle exists for one purpose: protecting officers from gunfire in situations regular patrol cars can't handle. "Our regular police cars cannot protect officers from most firearms," he said. "It's really the only way we have to protect the men and women of this police department from gunfire in these types of situations." Bar described several scenarios where the department deploys an armored vehicle: serving search warrants on people known to carry weapons, responding to armed standoffs where a suspect has barricaded themselves, and reaching active shooting scenes where officers need cover to approach or attempt a rescue. He recalled a shooting inside a house a few weeks before the meeting, where the department brought out the vehicle in case a rescue was needed while the shooter was still nearby. The vehicle isn't used for routine patrol. "It's not a patrol car. We don't drive this thing around," Bar said. "It's brought out for critical incidents, in places where we have to provide our officers protection from potential fire." ## **Not a Weapon, Bar Says** Mayor James Becerra pressed Bar on an image in the documents, asking whether what looked like a hatch on top of the vehicle was actually a gun turret. Bar said no. "There is no mounted weapon on it," he said. "We don't carry machine guns, the stuff you see in the movies or in the military. It is a transport. It transports our people to these types of situations." Bar explained the hatch is used for what he called "overwatch," where an officer positioned at the opening can cover the rest of the team with a personal rifle while they approach a location, but nothing is mounted to the vehicle itself. Becerra asked whether adding a weapon to the vehicle in the future would require a separate approval process. Bar said the department has operated these vehicles for decades without ever attaching a fixed weapon, and that there's no precedent for doing so. ## **What the Armor Actually Does** Council Member Aida Macedo asked Bar to explain the vehicle's armor rating, listed in the purchase documents as protection against ".50 caliber ball ammo." Bar said most handgun calibers, including 9mm, .40, and .45, would penetrate a standard police car. The BATT-X's steel plating is built to stop rounds up to .50 caliber, one of the largest rounds available to the public before reaching military-grade munitions. The radio included in the purchase, priced separately at $9,974.27, is the same Motorola police radio used in every other patrol car, Bar said, allowing the vehicle to communicate on the department's existing radio system. **Maintenance and Lifespan** Bar estimated the vehicle is expected to last 20 to 30 years, noting the vehicles are driven very little and spend most of their time parked. "In our profession, we prepare for the worst, but we hope for the best," he said. "They do get deployed from time to time." ### Council Rejects Police Software Contract Over Privacy and Bidding Concerns URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-rejects-police-software-contract-over-privacy-and-bidding-concerns/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T21:31:24.000Z Whittier's city council voted 3-2 on July 14 to reject a police data software contract. The vote may matter less than what it revealed: council members pushing for clearer disclosure on no-bid contracts, and closer scrutiny of what companies do with residents' data. The software contract, with Peregrine Technologies, would have let police search across the department's existing records systems from one dashboard. The deal would have run five years: $96,000, then $98,880, then $101,840, with two optional years adding $104,895 and $108,040\. Total: about $509,655. Council Members Vicky Santana and Aida Macedo, and Mayor James Becerra, voted no. Cathy Warner and Mary Ann Pacheco voted yes. The rejection of Peregrine came the same night[ the council approved a larger drone contract with Axon Enterprise](https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-approves-police-drone-program-as-part-of-larger-3-4-million-axon-deal/), which the same records show no sign of having a competitive bid. Macedo, who also cast the only no vote there, said one reason was Peregrine's connection to Axon's systems. ## **A Push for Clearer Disclosure** Santana asked directly whether Peregrine was a sole-source contract, awarded without bids because of how proprietary the technology is. The city manager's office confirmed it was. Chief Aviv Bar defended that, saying Peregrine doesn't have a real competitor. "I'm not aware of a company that has a similar product that does what this does," he told council, adding he'd checked with other chiefs. Bar described Peregrine as "an internal search engine for your internal data," pulling dispatch records, records management, and evidence data into one dashboard. That function isn't unique to Peregrine. Axon, the same company Whittier already contracts with for body cameras and drones, sells its own version called Fusus, which its marketing describes as connecting live video, CAD data, and records systems into a single view. Motorola Solutions, another major law enforcement technology vendor, advertises similar cross-system search capabilities through its CommandCentral software. Whether any of them would have worked as well for Whittier, cost less, or fit better with the department's existing systems is unknown, because the contract was never opened to competing bids in the first place. That's the gap: not that Peregrine is necessarily the wrong choice, but that no one can say whether it was the right one, since the comparison was never made. Santana isn't against sole-source contracts on principle, comparing it to buying Android accessories that only work with a device she already owns. But she asked the city to change how these decisions get disclosed. "If we can just be clear in our staff reports, I would appreciate it," she said, asking that sole-source deals be labeled as such, with reasoning spelled out, and that competitive processes disclose bidder counts and selection rationale. That standard would apply well beyond this contract. If adopted, every future no-bid deal would have to show its work. ## **How Much Attention Is Data Privacy Getting?** The second thread worth watching is how closely the council now scrutinizes what companies can do with residents' data. Mayor Becerra read straight from the contract. Peregrine, he pointed out, can generate "usage analytics" about how the department uses the service, and use that "for Peregrine's internal business purposes and to operate and improve Peregrine's proprietary software and services." That data isn't deleted until the city asks for it, and only after the contract ends. Bar said Peregrine's access was limited to how often the system gets used, not what's being searched. "They do not have access to our actual data to be able to analyze, like, crime data," he said. Becerra wasn't convinced, and asked whether the city could negotiate the terms of the contract to limit how long Peregrine could hold the data. The city attorney said that probably wouldn't work. Companies like Peregrine serve agencies nationwide and are "disinclined to modify their forms" for one city, and pushing too hard could mean losing access altogether. Macedo reached the same conclusion, saying "We don't have any bargaining power with them." If walking away is really the city's only leverage, the question going forward is whether Whittier is willing to use it: will future software contracts get this same scrutiny, and will the city actually say no again if a vendor won't budge on protecting residents' data? ## **Three Different No Votes** Becerra's objection was the most technical. He read the contract's data-use language aloud and pressed on whether the city could negotiate better terms. When the city attorney said that wasn't realistic, that settled it for him. Santana was more resigned generally, comparing the spread of home cameras, license plate readers, and now integrated search tools to a train that's already left the station. "I feel that the train has left the station," she said, noting she'd argued against license plate readers more than twenty years ago, only to watch that technology expand far beyond what she once opposed. Still, the sole-source process and vague data terms pushed her to no. Macedo said the current moment, with growing concerns about AI and data oversharing, calls for more caution, not less. "I think it's my job as a council member to protect the residents of Whittier's data and privacy as much as I can," she said, adding she avoids posting photos of her own son online for the same reason. "I just don't want you to think this is an attack on the department, or my support of the police. I just think that weighing the benefits of something like this against the cost of privacy to residents, to me, that is more important." ## **What's Next** Whether Santana's request for clearer disclosure shows up in future staff reports is something Whittier Informed will be watching, along with whether council keeps asking these data questions on the next contract. It's also unclear whether the department will bring Peregrine back, seek another vendor, or drop the idea. ### Whittier Aims to Cut DUI Crashes by 10% With Cannabis Tax Grant URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-aims-to-cut-dui-crashes-by-10-with-cannabis-tax-grant/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T21:57:06.000Z The Whittier City Council approved a $130,000 state grant on July 14 to pay for extra DUI patrols and a drug-testing device for the Whittier Police Department (WPD). ## **Why it matters** Whittier had 95 crashes in 2025 involving alcohol or drugs, and 28 of those crashes caused injuries, according to WPD's grant application. The department wants this money to help cut injury crashes tied to impaired driving by 10% within a year. That's a specific number residents can check the department's work against once the year is up. The money traces back to Proposition 64, the 2016 ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana in California. State law directs a share of California's cannabis tax revenue to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for training and local law-enforcement grants like this one. None of it comes from Whittier's general fund or local taxes — it's money the state is handing to the city. ## **Key facts** The grant comes from CHP and covers one year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027\. It pays for two things: - **$85,000** in overtime for 12 DUI saturation patrols — stepped-up patrols where extra officers focus specifically on catching impaired drivers — three per quarter throughout the year. Each patrol puts six officers and one sergeant on the road for eight hours. - **$45,000** for a TruNarc analyzer, a device that tells officers on the spot whether a substance is an illegal drug, instead of waiting for lab results. WPD says this will help it file DUI and drug possession charges with the District Attorney faster. WPD originally asked for money to buy two of these devices, but CHP only funded one. CHP decides final award amounts after reviewing every agency's application, and the grant agreement doesn't explain the reduction. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/tau-05-900x900.jpg-650-1.webp) A TruNarc handheld narcotics analyzer. (Courtesy Thermo Fisher Scientific) **Context** WPD plans to send officers to training in field sobriety testing, drug recognition, and advanced roadside enforcement, and will partner with [Mothers Against Drunk Driving](https://madd.org/?ref=whittierinformed.com) on public education. The department says 69% of its patrol officers are already trained in DUI investigations, and it wants to keep that number steady or grow it. **How Whittier compares** [Whittier's grant is one of 160 law enforcement awards CHP made statewide this year](https://www.chp.ca.gov/contentassets/4e0b523cad734bfeb56f7843e4500b96/2026-ctfgp-awarded-organizations.pdf?ref=whittierinformed.com), totaling more than $41 million to fight impaired driving. Several nearby cities received the same grant in this cycle, including Baldwin Park, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Monterey Park, and South Gate — placing Whittier alongside a broad group of Southern California agencies funded through the same program this year. **What's next** The grant year starts July 1, 2026\. WPD has to send CHP progress reports every few months and a final report on how it spent the money within 60 days after the grant ends. Those reports, plus next year's crash data, will show whether the department actually hit its goal of cutting injury crashes by 10%. ### Council Approves Police Drone Program as Part of Larger $3.4 Million Axon Deal URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-approves-police-drone-program-as-part-of-larger-3-4-million-axon-deal/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T17:33:04.000Z Whittier police drones are about to get a lot faster. Instead of an officer driving to a call and launching a drone once they arrive, a drone-operating pilot working out of the police station will be able to send one up before any patrol car even leaves the lot, sometimes reaching a scene in under 90 seconds. The city council approved the program, known as [Drone First Responder](https://www.axon.com/dfr?ref=whittierinformed.com) or DFR, on July 14 in a 4-1 vote. The vote adds about $1.05 million for the drones to the department's existing agreement with Axon Enterprise, bringing that five-year deal to a total of $3.44 million. Axon is a publicly traded company with more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies as customers nationwide. Council Member Aida Macedo cast the only no vote. "I understand that it's a useful tool for the department. I think my concern is outweighing the privacy concerns, and the integration with Peregrine," she said, referring to Peregrine, [a separate data software contract the council took up and rejected later that same night.](https://www.whittierinformed.com/council-rejects-police-software-contract-over-privacy-and-bidding-concerns/) Council members spent close to an hour asking Police Chief Aviv Bar how the drones get used, who can see the footage, and how long the department keeps it. ## **What This Actually Costs** The drone budget covers three Skydio X10 systems, plus docking hardware, five-year software subscriptions, unlimited evidence storage, training, and support. The department plans to replace all three systems in February 2029\. That part of the deal costs about $1.05 million over five years. It starts around $193,000 the first year and climbs to about $226,000 by the fifth. But the drones are just one piece of what the council actually approved. Instead of placing a standalone equipment order just for the drones, the city is ending two existing equipment orders with Axon and rolling everything into one new five-year order worth $3,443,427.89\. The staff report Bar submitted to the council states that bundling the drones into the existing agreement "would provide the lowest cost available to the City." ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/Dock-AEP-Corpus-Christi-53.jpg) A Skydio drone docking station. (Photo courtesy of Skydio) Drones aside, the rest of the Axon budget is stuff the city already has: body cameras and evidence storage make up the biggest chunk, covering 150 officers. Plus automatic transcription and Axon Draft One, an AI program that writes a first draft of a police report using body camera audio. The order also includes recording equipment for what looks like six interview rooms, sold under Axon's "Axon Interview" product line. Axon markets it as a way to record witness and suspect interviews, store them locally, and automatically upload them to Evidence.com. The staff report doesn't mention it when describing what the department's current Axon agreement covers, so it's not clear whether this is new equipment or something the report's summary just left out. The staff report only mentioned the drone costs. What it didn't do was fully explain what was in the attached Axon quote, including the total price tag and the fact that two existing equipment orders were being shut down and replaced. Macedo ran into this firsthand. During the meeting, she said she couldn't find the actual Axon agreement anywhere in the packet. The city attorney pointed her to a hyperlink buried inside the document, which led to Axon's website and a long list of terms and conditions pages. The city attorney's office said it had reviewed Axon's master agreement beforehand. [Axon Quote: BWC Rewrite Adding Drone First Responder ProgramThe Axon equipment quote attached to the July 14 council meeting packet, covering the drone program.ATTACHMENT\_A\_-\_BWC\_REWRITE\_ADDING\_DFR\_V2.PDF\_(61236).pdf187 KBdownload-circle](https://www.whittierinformed.com/content/files/2026/07/ATTACHMENT%5FA%5F-%5FBWC%5FREWRITE%5FADDING%5FDFR%5FV2.PDF%5F-61236-.pdf "Download") The staff report does not indicate the city sought competing bids before expanding its agreement with Axon. Other companies do compete in this market. Motorola Solutions sells competing body camera and evidence management systems, and markets its own drone-first-responder technology through a partnership with Brinc and its own CAPE product line. Chula Vista Police Department, in San Diego County, [says it launched the world's first police drone-first-responder programs in 2018](https://www.nokia.com/newsroom/nokia-and-motorola-solutions-announce-drone-technology-integration-for-public-safety-and-mission-critical-industries/?ref=whittierinformed.com), using Motorola's CAPE software. Brinc separately markets its own dock-based DFR system directly to public safety agencies. Axon is widely used by law enforcement agencies nationwide, but without competing bids, there's no way to know whether Whittier is getting the best price or the best system for its money. Only a competitive bidding process would answer that question. ## **How the Drones Get Used** The department has 13 drones and usually flies just one at a time. Bar said an officer can't send a drone up on their own. It has to go through a watch commander first. Bar gave the council a few examples of how drones have helped on calls. In one case in a neighboring city, officers got a report of kids passing around what looked like a gun. A drone got above them from about 200 feet up, close enough to zoom in without being spotted, and the operator watching the video could tell it was actually a lighter shaped like a gun. That information reached the responding officers before they even arrived, changing how they handled it. He also talked about using drones with heat-sensing cameras to search for missing people at night, including someone reported on the Greenway Trail at 2 a.m. On foot, he said, that kind of search can take officers hours. From the air, it's much faster. And during standoffs with armed suspects in cars, Bar said a drone can land right on the hood and look inside without an officer having to get close. Cameras only record when a drone is looking into something tied to a possible crime, Bar said. That video gets uploaded to Evidence.com, the same system that stores body camera footage, and it's shared with the LA County District Attorney's Office if it's needed for a case. Council Member Vicky Santana asked about this year's Fourth of July, when the department used drones to catch people setting off illegal fireworks. "We wrote 41 citations for violations that were observed by the drones," Bar said. Property owners got the citations in the mail instead of being confronted in person. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/remoteOps_commandCenter.png) A Drone First Responder (DFR) command center. (Photo courtesy of Skydio) ### **Data Privacy and Retention** How long does the department keep all this footage? Bar said it depends on the case. Video tied to unsolved cases or homicides gets kept forever, since new evidence like DNA can turn up decades later. Everything else follows the city's standard retention schedule, which the department's Office of Professional Standards reviews once a year. Bar also said the department doesn't hand drone footage, or any other Axon data, over to federal immigration agents on its own. He pointed to SB 54, the state law that limits how much local police can help with civil immigration enforcement. ### **Transparency** Once DFR is up and running, residents will be able to go online and look up records of the department's drone flights. Bar said the dashboard will show the date, time, location, and stated reason for each flight, something the current drone program doesn't offer. Anyone wondering how often drones are flying near their neighborhood, or why, will be able to check for themselves instead of just taking the department's word for it. Bar also pushed back on the idea that these are military weapons. He described the drones as commercial products, similar to what real estate agents or utility companies use to check roofs and power lines. ### A Proposed 5-Story Storage Project Pitches a Parking Solution for The Groves URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/a-proposed-5-story-storage-project-pitches-a-parking-solution-for-the-groves/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T17:14:35.000Z A developer wants to build a five-story, 998-unit self-storage facility at 12090 Whittier Boulevard, next to Rodeo 72 at The Groves. Part of the proposal includes new parking that would be shared with customers visiting The Groves. But that tradeoff is bigger than a new storage building. To make it happen, the city would have to hand over a piece of city-owned land, allow this self-storage business where it’s currently not permitted, and decide whether the envircleanup plan for a longtime auto-salvage yard is enough. The Whittier Planning Commission will hold its first public hearing on the proposal Monday, July 20. Here's what's known about the project so far — and what's still being decided. ## **A longtime salvage yard would become self-storage** The project would replace the longtime M&S Auto Salvage at the southeast corner of Whittier Boulevard and Walnut Grove Drive. The proposal comes from Madison Capital Group under its [Go Store It](https://www.gostoreit.com/?ref=whittierinformed.com) brand. According to city documents, it combines the existing private auto salvage yard with an adjoining city-owned parcel through a proposed land exchange. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/location-map-project-storage-1.png) The proposed Go Store It project would replace the longtime M&S Auto Salvage yard and incorporate an adjacent city-owned parcel across from The Groves. Source: City of Whittier planning documents; annotations by Whittier Informed. The project would also remove a row of about 50 mature cypress hedge trees and other trees on the city-owned parcel, with replacement landscaping planned. City documents say the developer believes there is community demand for additional self-storage, although the materials prepared for the hearing do not include a market study or other data supporting that claim. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/skyline-1-1.png) A row of mature cypress hedge trees currently screens the site from The Groves (left). Project renderings show the view after the trees are removed and the five-story storage building is constructed (right). Left photo: Whittier Informed. Right image: City of Whittier planning documents. ## **The project's biggest selling point is parking** One of the project's biggest selling points is additional parking for visitors to The Groves and Heritage Court, an area that's dealt with parking shortages since it opened. The plans include: - 42 public parking spaces (6 a.m. to midnight) - 17 spaces reserved for Go Store It customers - Three loading bays for the storage facility For comparison, Whittier's parking standards would require only about 12 parking spaces for a storage facility this size. That means most of the parking being built isn't for the storage business itself. It's intended for public use. Recently, city staff warned that The Groves could reach maximum parking capacity if Capo Public House at Rodeo 72 expands and a proposed Korean BBQ restaurant opens. ([Read our previous article.](https://www.whittierinformed.com/parking-at-the-groves-is-already-strained-two-new-businesses-could-push-it-to-maximum-capacity/)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/storage-and-parking-map-1.png) The proposed site plan places the five-story storage building along Whittier Boulevard, with a new parking lot and pedestrian connection to The Groves below. Source: City of Whittier planning documents; annotations by Whittier Informed. ## **The parking comes with a land trade** But those parking spaces come with a catch. The project sits on two pieces of land side by side. One is privately owned — that's where the auto salvage yard operates today. The other is owned by the city. To build the project as proposed, the developer is asking the city to give up ownership of its land. In exchange, the developer would construct public parking and other site improvements that the city would keep. The city's report describes the proposal as an Exchange Agreement. The materials currently available don't include an appraisal showing what the city-owned land is worth, what the parking is worth, or whether the exchange is considered an equal trade. Those documents may become available as the project moves through future hearings. ## **The city has to rezone this site** Every property in Whittier has rules about what can be built there. Right now, those rules don't allow a self-storage business on this property. Before this project can move forward, the city has to change them. The city's long-term vision for this area is laid out in the [Lincoln Specific Plan](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/home/showpublisheddocument/674/636633151066130000?ref=whittierinformed.com). The property is currently designated as a "Future Expansion Area" — land set aside for whatever comes next. The plan is specific about what that "next" was supposed to be. The land was intended to support future commercial expansion connected to Heritage Court and The Groves. A five-story self-storage building wasn't part of that vision. ## **The site has already been tested for contamination** Because the property has operated as an auto-salvage yard for roughly 60 years, environmental consultants tested the soil before the project moved forward. Testing found petroleum in portions of the site, along with elevated levels of arsenic and lead in some locations. While the petroleum levels didn't exceed the report's screening levels for future commercial use, one soil sample contained enough lead that, if excavated, it would have to be handled as [California hazardous waste.](https://dtsc.ca.gov/managing-hazardous-waste/?ref=whittierinformed.com) The report also notes that environmental crews couldn't drill part of the northern portion of the property because vehicles, parts and equipment blocked access. Consultants instead collected surface samples in that area and concluded no additional environmental investigation was needed. The consultants called for a Soil Management Plan requiring affected soil to be properly excavated, tested and disposed of as the site is redeveloped. The report also notes that additional petroleum- or metal-affected soil could still be discovered during excavation, which is one reason the Soil Management Plan would remain in place throughout construction. In other words, the question before the city isn't whether contamination exists. It's whether the proposed cleanup plan is enough. [Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) – Go Store It Self-Storage ProjectOfficial environmental review for the proposed Go Store It self-storage project12090 Whittier Blvd\_ MND\_June 2026.pdf6 MBdownload-circle](https://www.whittierinformed.com/content/files/2026/07/12090-Whittier-Blvd%5F-MND%5FJune-2026.pdf "Download") ## **What's been approved, and what hasn't** So far, only the building's appearance has been approved. In May, the Design Review Board approved the project's design and signage. Still ahead are: - Changing the city's zoning rules to allow self-storage - Approval of the environmental review - Approval of the proposed land exchange - A Development Agreement - A Parking Agreement - Combining the two parcels into one development site ## **How to weigh in** The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 13230 Penn Street. Residents can review the environmental documents through July 20 at the Community Development Department, 13230 Penn Street, or [on the city's website.](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/government/community-development/environmental-documents-notices/whittier-go-store-it?ref=whittierinformed.com) Written comments can be emailed to **comdev@cityofwhittier.org** before 4:30 p.m. on July 20. Residents can also speak during the hearing in person or by Zoom. The Planning Commission's recommendation won't be the final word. Several key decisions would still go before the City Council before the project could move forward. Whittier Informed will continue following the proposal as those decisions unfold. ### Who Pays for Parking in Uptown Whittier? URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/who-pays-for-parking-in-uptown-whittier/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T21:57:46.000Z The Whittier City Council approved the yearly budgets for two Uptown parking districts on June 23, 2026, renewing a pair of property tax assessments that have funded parking in the area since the 1960s. It's the kind of routine city business that rarely makes headlines, but it touches more residents than most people realize. Some homeowners pay into these districts without knowing it, a private hospital has dozens of parking spaces reserved just for its staff, and a small handful of owners, including the city itself, control a large share of the land involved. The two districts, Whittier Uptown Parking District No. 1 and Parking District No. 2, cover much of the commercial core around Greenleaf Avenue, Bright Avenue, and Comstock Avenue. Together they fund the Multi-Deck parking structure, nine surface lots, a second parking structure, and six pedestrian walkways known as gallerias. Here is what the districts are, who pays into them, and what residents should know. ## **What is a parking district?** A parking district is a special assessment area. Property owners inside its boundaries pay an extra charge, on top of their regular property taxes, that goes specifically toward building and maintaining shared parking facilities in that area. The idea, when Whittier created these districts decades ago, was that businesses and property owners near Uptown would benefit from shared parking and should help pay for it. District No. 1 was formed in 1963 to build and maintain the Multi-Deck structure at 6721 Bright Avenue. District No. 2 was formed in 1965 to build surface lots and gallerias throughout Uptown. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/07/parking-maps-1-and-2.png) Boundaries of Whittier Uptown Parking District No. 1 (left) and No. 2 (right). Source: City of Whittier ## **The two districts use different funding formulas** **District No. 1's** assessment is a fixed dollar amount, unchanged since it was set decades ago: $6,850 total, split across 192 properties. That number does not grow with inflation or property values. Most of the district's income instead comes from parking fees. The district's entire annual budget for the coming year is small: $72,385 in revenue against $54,719 in expenses, ending the year with $17,666 left over. **District No. 2** works differently. Its charge is based on how much a property is worth, at a rate of $0.166660 for every $100 of assessed value. Because the charge scales with property value, this district brings in more money and carries a much larger reserve. It is projected to end the coming year with $1,201,769 in reserve, after $422,139 in revenue and $370,767 in expenses. That money pays for sweeping, litter control, landscaping, lighting, and contract security patrols across the district's lots and structures. Both districts cover overlapping ground. Of Uptown's roughly 190 properties, about 159 sit inside both district boundaries. That means many owners pay into both assessments in the same year, though each property's share of District No. 1's flat $6,850 total is small. ## **Some of the money goes to reserved hospital parking** Since 2010, the city has set aside a combined 161 parking spaces across both districts just for PIH Health, the hospital system with a nearby campus. That includes 85 spaces on the upper levels of the Multi-Deck structure, plus 76 more split between two surface lots. As of 2021, PIH Health told the city its staff no longer use 52 of those surface spaces, though the city still holds 24 spaces open for the hospital's use. Whether PIH Health pays the city anything for these reserved spaces is not stated in any document reviewed for this story. This isn't the first time PIH's footprint in Uptown has raised parking questions. In 2019, the city council debated whether to let PIH bring nearly 300 employees to its Uptown offices, with some council members warning that a proposed parking structure risked becoming, in one member's words, "a public gift to PIH." The council ultimately approved PIH's expansion, and the mayor at the time countered that the parking in question was public infrastructure the city was free to allocate as it saw fit. [Source: The Downey Patriot.](https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/pih-gets-approval-to-expand-in-uptown-whittier?ref=whittierinformed.com) Whittier Informed asked Deputy City Manager for Operations Kyle Cason by email whether PIH Health pays the city for its reserved parking spaces, through the standard permit program, a separate negotiated rate, or no charge at all. He did not respond by the time of this story's publication. ## **Homeowners pay into the district too** Parking districts are drawn by geography, not by how a property is used. That means several residential properties on Bright Avenue, checked against Los Angeles County Assessor records, are included in District No. 2 and pay its property-value-based assessment every year, the same as a storefront or restaurant would. To see what this looks like in practice, Whittier Informed reviewed several residential properties on Bright Avenue against Los Angeles County Assessor records. Two examples show how differently the assessment can land on similar homes: - A single-family home built in the early 1900s, assessed at $964,450, pays about $1,607 a year. - A multi-unit residential building assessed at $296,882 pays about $495 a year. Neither property is inside District No. 1's boundary, so each pays only the one assessment. Because the charge is based on assessed value rather than a flat rate, the amount a homeowner pays can vary widely depending on when the property was last sold. Under [California's Proposition 13](https://assessor.lacounty.gov/real-estate-toolkit/proposition-13?ref=whittierinformed.com), a property's assessed value is generally tied to its purchase price and rises slowly afterward, so two similar homes can carry very different tax bills depending on how recently each last changed hands. Whittier Informed also asked Cason whether the city's own parcels are exempt from the parking district assessments, and if so, whether that increases the assessment amount for private property owners. He did not respond. ## **Who owns the land inside these districts** Reviewing the ownership rolls for both districts shows Uptown property is fairly concentrated among a small number of owners. The largest are: - **City of Whittier and related public agencies** — roughly 40 properties combined across both districts, more than one-fifth of all the land inside their boundaries. Nearly all belong to the city itself, with a handful owned by the [Whittier Housing Authority](https://www.whittierinformed.com/three-budgets-passed-tuesday-one-raises-your-water-bill/) and one by the U.S. government. - **JPMorgan Chase Bank** — 7 parcels - **Ess Prisa LLC** — 7 parcels - **Hillview Investments LLC** — 6 parcels - Several family trusts and smaller LLCs each hold three or four parcels beyond that. California law does not require an LLC to publicly disclose who actually owns or controls it. That means it is not possible to determine from public records alone who is actually behind companies like Ess Prisa LLC. It is also not stated in the budget documents reviewed for this story whether the city's own parcels are subject to the assessments, or are exempt as government property. ## **Why this matters** These are two small budgets most residents will never notice on an agenda. But they shape everyday life in Uptown: what property owners pay, who gets guaranteed parking, and how a corner of the city's tax base actually works. Knowing that is part of understanding how Whittier runs, whether or not any of it ever changes. --- *This story is based on Whittier City Council resolutions, staff agenda reports, and public assessment rolls for both districts, along with Los Angeles County Assessor records and California Secretary of State business filings, all reviewed by Whittier Informed.* ### Whittier's Frontline Workers Are Fighting Back URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittiers-frontline-workers-are-fighting-back/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T00:12:08.000Z The controversy over Whittier's executive pay packages is no longer just a political story. It is now a labor story, and the workers who maintain this city say they are being left behind by what the union calls a take-it-or-leave-it proposal from the city. The union's attorney says filing an unfair labor practice complaint could be a next step. On June 23, a labor attorney and the president of the city employees union stood before the Whittier City Council and made the case that frontline workers are being left behind while city executives pull further ahead. Their comments were pointed, personal, and on the record. The Whittier City Employees Association represents the people who fill your potholes, trim your trees, staff your libraries, and keep your water running. They are the frontline workers — the ones residents interact with most but hear from least. ## **The Pay Gap** Brian Niehaus, a labor attorney representing the Whittier City Employees Association, told the council he has negotiated hundreds of contracts over many years. He said he has never seen a city treat its frontline employees the way Whittier has over the past several months. Niehaus opened his comments with a number he repeated three times to make it loud and clear. "Twenty-seven percent. Twenty-seven percent. Twenty-seven percent is what the city has given its executive staff in a salary increase over the next three years," Niehaus told the council. 0:00 /2:04 1× That number is not in dispute. Back in March, three weeks before the April 14 election, when three incumbent council members lost their seats, [the outgoing city council approved sweeping compensation increases for executive staff:](https://www.whittierinformed.com/how-whittiers-city-hall-was-reshaped-three-weeks-before-the-election-part-1/) - 9% raise in 2026 - 8% raise in 2027 - 8% raise in 2028 Combined, that totals roughly 27% over three years. City Manager Conal McNamara received the same raise structure on top of a separate 19% salary increase, bringing his base pay from $306,648 to $365,000, less than one year into his tenure. Seven director-level positions also received a separate 2% salary increase, applied before the first raise, because a compensation study found those positions were already below market rate. To understand the scale of that gap, it helps to look at the full picture. According to the city's 2026-27 Salary Resolution, a frontline field or maintenance worker in Whittier starts at roughly $45,000 a year. The City Manager currently earns $365,000 — more than eight times that. And it goes beyond base salary. Executive staff can cash out up to 200 hours of unused vacation every year, which at director-level salaries can add tens of thousands of dollars on top of their pay — every single year. Then there's the severance package the outgoing council locked in for City Manager McNamara. If the new council ever decided to replace him, it would cost taxpayers up to $547,500\. That is more than 12 years of pay for a city worker earning $45,000 a year — gone in a single payout. That is the gap Niehaus was talking about. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/2026-salary-ranges-1.png) **Whittier's pay structure by tier, based on salary ranges approved for fiscal year 2026-27.* 📈 **Figures in the chart reflect salary ranges from City of Whittier Salary Resolution No. 2026-30, adopted June 9, 2026\. Source: City of Whittier.* Niehaus said the association is not asking for the same 27%. But he argued that what the city is proposing for frontline workers would make that gap even wider. "What you're proposing for these frontline employees will create a chasm between those at the top and your frontline employees," he said. He also raised the issue of health insurance. In a follow-up email to Whittier Informed, Niehaus said frontline workers are the only group being asked to absorb any new medical costs under the city's current proposal. Executives, managers, and police would all have their premium increases covered by the city. "You're not asking the executive staff to pay a dime more for their medical, but you're asking these men and women, the frontline employees, to pay thousands more," Niehaus told the council. The exact dollar amount frontline workers could end up paying is unknown — because how much medical premiums will increase over the next three years is also unknown. The city has presented the proposal on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, according to Niehaus. [City of Whittier 2026-27 Salary ResolutionView pay ranges for every city position, from frontline workers to top executives.ATTACHMENT\_A\_-\_RESOLUTION\_NO.\_2026-30\_(61034).pdf163 KBdownload-circle](https://www.whittierinformed.com/content/files/2026/06/ATTACHMENT%5FA%5F-%5FRESOLUTION%5FNO.%5F2026-30%5F-61034-.pdf "Download") ## **The Workers Behind the Numbers** Robert Marquis, president of the Whittier City Employees Association, followed at the podium. He represents more than 150 city employees. Marquis's two-minute remarks were honest. On turnover, he told the council that in his eight years with the city, the water division alone has cycled through roughly 30 employees — including 10 engineers, 25 streets division workers, and too many parks employees to count. On morale, he described the experience of being told repeatedly by management that employees are valued — only to receive a contract offer he said tells a different story. "Every time upper management and executives tell us we are appreciated and the council has their full support, only to offer us a contract that falls short of what they give themselves, and then have the audacity to ask us to be the only bargaining unit to pay more for insurance," Marquis said. Marquis also alleged that some workers had been discouraged from attending Tuesday's meeting, saying employees had heard that names would be taken — a warning that showing up could come at a cost. Then he described what his members actually do. They maintain a water system he called one of the most challenging in California due to the city's rolling terrain. They pour concrete and asphalt on streets lined with mature trees that create constant maintenance demands. They staff parks that require workers to serve as arborists, plumbers, landscapers, and playground technicians all at once. They staff the recreation department that puts on the EGGxtravaganza during Easter, Concerts In The Parks in the summer, and countless other events. Engineers, planners, and building and safety employees face the challenge of moving a 120-year-old city into the future. Work where, as Marquis put it, "the phrase 'just how we planned it' is rarely ever spoken." He closed on something more personal. "I've chosen to stay with you over opportunities to make more money elsewhere," he said — and talked about how that choice weighs on him when it comes to providing for his family. ## **What Happens Next** Niehaus said the association is considering filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the [Public Employment Relations Board](https://perb.ca.gov/?ref=whittierinformed.com), citing what he described as unlawful actions by the city's negotiating team over the course of negotiations. The next formal step in the process, he said, is a declaration of impasse — which would trigger mediation and fact-finding. The specific proposals under negotiation have not been made public. Whittier Informed reached out to the City of Whittier for comment. The city did not respond prior to publication. ### LA Fitness Whittier Is Becoming Club Studio. Here's What That Means URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/la-fitness-whittier-is-becoming-club-studio-heres-what-that-means/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T17:13:05.000Z The LA Fitness at 13806 Whittier Blvd permanently closed on May 11, 2026\. A sign posted at the location directed members to the nearest LA Fitness, in La Habra. The building isn't empty. It's being converted into a Club Studio — a different gym brand under the same parent company. ## **Who owns what** Both LA Fitness and Club Studio are operated by Fitness International LLC, an Irvine-based company that also runs Esporta and City Sports Club. So while the LA Fitness name is going away at this location, the company behind it isn't. Fitness International launched Club Studio in 2023 as a higher-priced concept with boutique fitness classes and additional wellness amenities. The two brands are aimed at different markets and carry different price tags. The concept bundles multiple boutique fitness studios — think dedicated rooms for Pilates, cycling, boxing, and yoga — under one roof and one membership, rather than requiring members to pay separately for each. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot_20260625_225154_Instagram.jpg) Indoor cycling studio (instagram.com/clubstudiofitness) ## **What the price difference looks like** A standard LA Fitness membership typically runs under $50 a month for nationwide access. Club Studio memberships, according to the brand's current pricing page, start at $149 a month for access to a single location. A mid-tier membership is $189 a month. A top-tier membership with access to all Club Studio locations nationwide is $249 a month. Their site notes that pricing may vary by location. There are additional costs for recovery and cryotherapy services. ## **This isn't the only LA Fitness being converted** Fitness International has been converting LA Fitness locations into Club Studios at other sites as well. In Southern California, Club Studio currently has open locations in Long Beach, Santa Monica, Irvine, and more. Locations listed as coming soon also include Beverly Hills, Fontana, and Corona. The company has stated publicly it plans to grow the brand from roughly 20 locations to 50 nationwide within the next year, with California as a focus. City of Whittier building permit No. BL25-2595, issued April 9, 2026, values the 37,325 square foot interior renovation at $3,732,500\. The work includes remodeled walls, ceilings, lighting, and finishes throughout the gym and pool area. ## **What it means if you were an LA Fitness member here** For residents who relied on this location as an affordable gym option, the practical question is where to go next. Nearby budget-friendly options include 24 Hour Fitness at Whitwood Town Center, EOS Fitness at The Groves, and Planet Fitness on Washington Boulevard. Those gyms were already busy before this closure. Displaced members from Whittier Blvd. will be absorbed into whatever capacity those locations have. Club Studio is a different kind of gym. It has a price point similar to the boutique fitness options already in the area, like independent Pilates studios, CrossFit gyms, and boot camps. But it sits in its own category: bigger than a neighborhood studio, but more expensive than a traditional gym chain. An opening timeline for the Whittier Club Studio has not been announced. ### Whittier's New Disaster Plan Shows Who Faces the Greatest Risk URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittiers-new-disaster-plan-shows-who-faces-the-greatest-risk/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T19:00:09.000Z The City of Whittier adopted its first disaster risk update since 2016 this week, a 390-page plan that spells out what a major earthquake, wildfire, or other natural disaster could cost the city, and which residents would be hit hardest. The City Council voted June 23 to approve the 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Plan. To remain eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation grants, cities must update these plans every five years. More than a planning document, the report is a map of the city's weak points. From hillside neighborhoods vulnerable to wildfire to aging underground infrastructure and older housing more susceptible to earthquake damage. Here's what it says. ## **The earthquake threat covers the entire city** The plan's most striking finding: if the Puente Hills fault ruptured in a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, every resident, every property, and every city facility would be in the shaking zone. There's no part of Whittier that escapes it. The plan estimates roughly $7.1 billion in damage from that scenario. Homes would take the biggest hit at about $4.2 billion. Businesses another $1.9 billion. A fault farther away, the Elsinore fault, could produce a larger magnitude 7.3 quake, but it would shake Whittier much less. That scenario puts estimated losses at $618 million. Serious, but less than a tenth of the Puente Hills number. The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, a 5.9 centered in Rosemead, caused up to $358 million in damage and hit Whittier's Uptown especially hard, severely damaging at least 200 older homes and 30 businesses. It injured about 200 people across the region and killed eight. It struck at 7:42 on a Sunday morning, when most buildings were empty. The plan notes that timing kept casualties down. A 7.1 wouldn't offer the same luck. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-003022.png) Source: 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Plan ## **Liquefaction: the earthquake risk most people don't think about** When people picture earthquake damage, they picture fault lines. But the plan flags a different threat that affects far more of the city: liquefaction. When certain soils get saturated with water and then shaken, they stop behaving like solid ground. Foundations sink. Buildings shift. About 10,600 Whittier residents live in areas where this could happen, with roughly $4 billion in property at risk. By comparison, the narrow zones where the ground could actually split open along a fault line affect only about 440 people and 29 parcels. The fault gets the headlines, but unstable soil is the more common risk. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-004237.png) Source: 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Plan ## **Wildfire starts in the hills. Its impacts don't stay there.** Almost 14,000 residents, about 16% of Whittier, live in areas the state has designated as moderate, high, or very high fire risk. That's mostly the Puente Hills: Turnbull Canyon, Peppergrass Trail, the Hacienda Hills area. About 6,900 of those residents are in the highest-risk category. More than $5.6 billion in property sits in fire hazard zones, about 17% of the city's total property value. Fire season in Los Angeles County is now effectively year-round. The brush in the Puente Hills is at least 50 years old in many areas, thick, dry, and on steep slopes where fires move fast. When Santa Ana winds kick in, conditions can go from bad to catastrophic quickly. About half the roads and utility lines the plan accounts for run through fire hazard areas. In a fast-moving hillside fire, that's an evacuation problem, not just a property one. And even if you live nowhere near the hills, you're not off the hook. A major Puente Hills fire would push smoke, service disruptions, and road closures across the whole city. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-002819.png) Source: 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Plan ## **Climate change is making all of it worse** The plan treats climate change as a major hazard on its own, not just a backdrop. For Whittier, that means more days above 90 degrees, a permanent fire season, worse and longer droughts, and more intense rainstorms that actually do less to replenish the water supply. The plan says climate impacts won't fall evenly across the city. Residents with fewer financial resources, health challenges, or mobility limitations are expected to face greater risks. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-005344.png) Source: 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Plan ## **Who's most at risk** More than half of Whittier households rent, higher than the county average. Renters have less control over whether a building gets retrofitted, whether there's backup power, or whether the property around them is properly maintained for fire safety. Nearly 8,000 residents have a disability. About one in 17 households has no car, which matters a lot if an evacuation order comes. Nearly a third of households include someone 65 or older, with the highest concentrations of seniors living alone in Uptown and South Whittier. Older residents face layered risks: they're more vulnerable to heat and smoke, often on fixed incomes, and may need more help getting out. More than a third of households are Spanish-speaking. The plan flags this as a direct concern for whether emergency information actually reaches people in time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-012834.png) Source: 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Planisnt aPFEWhi **One thing worth noting about the process** The city collected resident input partly through an online survey that ran from October 2023 to January 2026\. It drew 84 responses. Of those respondents, 85% owned their home, in a city where 57% of households rent. Data from other outreach efforts, including in-person events, are not reported in the plan, so the online survey is the only public input with a documented response count. ## **What the city says it will do** The plan lists 42 actions, 20 new since 2016\. The big ones: replacing aging water and sewer pipes, managing brush in fire zones, more public education, and pursuing outside grant funding for retrofits and infrastructure upgrades. One specific project to watch: Whittier is pursuing a shared water line with the City of Santa Fe Springs that would deliver backup water supply if local pipes fail after a major quake. The plan also echoes concerns the city has raised elsewhere about aging underground infrastructure. Whittier's sewer system includes about [190 miles of pipe](https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-has-194-miles-of-sewer-pipe-some-of-it-from-1917-a-contract-typo-got-us-looking/), much of it installed in the 1950s, with more than $100 million in identified repair needs. One honest caveat the plan includes: the city doesn't control private utilities, the water district, state highways, or hospitals. Anything on that list is outside Whittier's hands. Adoption of the plan doesn't mean those projects are funded. Many of the 42 mitigation actions depend on future grants, partnerships, or capital improvement budgets. But with the plan now adopted, the city remains eligible to compete for federal funding to help pay for them. --- *The 2025 City of Whittier Hazard Mitigation Plan and supporting documents were included in the June 23 City Council agenda packet.* ### Whittier Is Voting on Term Limits. But Everyone Starts at Zero URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-is-voting-on-term-limits-but-everyone-starts-at-zero/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T21:02:39.000Z Whittier residents will vote this November on whether to add term limits to City Hall for the first time. They will also decide whether to move city elections from April to November's statewide general election. These measures will be on the November 3, 2026 ballot after the Whittier City Council voted Tuesday to put them there. Both measures would change Whittier's city charter — the document that sets the ground rules for how the city governs itself. And under California law, residents are the only ones who can change it. "I want to be clear to the public. This is not us deciding. This is us giving it to the voters to decide," Council Member Vicky Santana said Tuesday. ## **Term Limits: The Clock Starts Fresh** The term limits measure would cap how long anyone can serve as mayor or on the city council at 12 total years. If someone wants to run for office down the road and winning that seat would push them past the 12-year mark, they cannot even file the paperwork to get on the ballot — not even as a write-in. To understand what a 12-year cap could mean going forward, consider the council members just voted out. Joe Vinatieri served 20 years in Whittier city government, first elected to the city council in 2006 before becoming mayor in 2016\. Fernando Dutra served 14 years on the council, first appointed in 2012\. If a 12-year cap had applied to all their years served, neither could have stayed that long. The 12-year clock only starts counting after November 3, 2026\. Any years already served in office do not count toward the cap. Everyone essentially starts from zero. Council Member Cathy Warner is the clearest example of how this works. Warner was first elected in 2004 and is currently in her 22nd year of service, with her current term scheduled to run through 2028\. If the measure passes, none of those years would count toward the 12-year cap. She starts at zero. That was confirmed at Tuesday's meeting, when Council Member Mary Ann Pacheco asked the City Clerk directly. Years already served do not count. The clock starts the day the measure takes effect. 0:00 /0:38 1× Whittier's City Clerk explains the measures during the June 23 city council meeting (Video: City of Whittier) The 12 years do not have to be consecutive. It is a lifetime total, and years served as a council member and years served as mayor are counted together toward the same cap. To pass, the measure needs more than half of all votes cast in November to say yes. ## **The Election Date: Whittier Has Been Here Before** The second measure would move Whittier's general municipal election from April to November, consolidated with the state's general election. For Whittier, this would not be the first time. Whittier holds its elections on its own schedule in April rather than alongside state or national elections. In 2020, under pressure from a state law called the [California Voter Participation Rights Act](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill%5Fid=201520160SB415&ref=whittierinformed.com) (Senate Bill 415), Whittier moved its election to coincide with the state's March primary. The result was immediate: 22,526 ballots were cast, nearly three times the typical April total, because residents were already going to the polls for the presidential primary. Then a court case changed things. The City of Redondo Beach had sued the state, arguing that charter cities have the constitutional right to set their own election dates regardless of what state law says. In 2018, a Los Angeles Superior Court agreed, and a California appellate court affirmed that ruling in March 2020\. The Court of Appeal decision remained in place. With the legal pressure gone, Whittier's council voted 4 to 1 in 2021 to move the election back to April. [Turnout dropped 61% in the very next election in 2022.](https://www.whittierinformed.com/what-the-2026-whittier-election-data-shows-turnout-voting-trends-and-what-comes-next/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Pricenct-1_20260427_075927_0006-1-1.png) Total ballots cast in the City of Whittier by election year from 2016-2026 (Whittier Informed) Now the council is asking voters to move it again. This time it is voluntary, and the destination is November rather than March. The three members who led Tuesday's vote — Mayor Becerra, Council Members Santana and Macedo — were all candidates running for office just two months ago. At election forums leading up to the recent election, all three said publicly that they would support both term limits and moving the election to align with a statewide date. [Voters elected all three](https://www.whittierinformed.com/historic-night-in-whittier-first-latino-majority-council-new-mayor-doubled-turnout/), and Tuesday's vote is them following through. Not every council member is convinced the move is the right call. Council Member Cathy Warner voted yes but made clear she had reservations. "We are giving up our election sovereignty, and we've had a great record for many, many, many years when the city holds its own elections," Warner said. She also pushed back on the assumption that moving to November automatically means more Whittier residents will participate. "There is no guarantee of a greater turnout," she said. Warner also noted that consolidating with the county means election results could take up to 30 days to come in, compared to the faster turnaround Whittier has seen running its own elections. ## **Who Gets to Argue for the Measures** When Whittier residents open their voter information guide this November, they may find an official written argument — essentially, a case for why voters should say yes — in favor of both measures. The council authorized Council Members Macedo and Santana to write it, though the resolution says they are not required to do so. No council member was designated to write an argument against either measure. That does not mean opposition is closed off. Any resident can submit a written case against the measures through the City Clerk's office before the deadline the clerk sets. The City Attorney is also required to prepare a separate neutral analysis of each measure, no longer than 500 words, which will appear alongside the arguments in the voter guide. ### Whittier Has 194 Miles of Sewer Pipe, Some of It From 1917. A Contract Typo Got Us Looking URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-has-194-miles-of-sewer-pipe-some-of-it-from-1917-a-contract-typo-got-us-looking/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T20:39:43.000Z A routine item on Tuesday's Whittier City Council agenda caught our attention for an unusual reason. An amendment was needed for what staff describes as a numerical error in a contract with Tunnelworks Services, Inc., a company that helps maintain some of the city's hardest-to-reach sewer lines. The city approved a five-year agreement with Tunnelworks in February 2025, intending to pay the contractor $149,125 annually. But the agreement mistakenly listed that figure as the total compensation for five years, rather than the yearly amount — a difference of about $596,500 over the life of the contract. The amendment simply corrects the language to reflect the original intent. No additional work is being added. That's the whole story, administratively speaking. But the staff report sent us down a rabbit hole into Whittier's underground infrastructure, and we found some things worth sharing. Whittier maintains approximately 194 miles of sewer pipeline and roughly 4,300 manholes — enough pipe to stretch from Whittier to Ensenada, Mexico. Some of those lines have been in service for more than a century. According to the city's [2018 Sewer Master Plan](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/home/showpublisheddocument/4017/636897995402070000?ref=whittierinformed.com), the oldest pipes still operating today date back to 1917, predating World War I. After the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, the damaged Uptown buildings were rebuilt, and in some cases rezoned for more dense development. But the sewer pipes beneath them were never enlarged to match, leaving sections of the system carrying more than they were designed for. The contract itself also reveals something most residents probably never think about: not all sewer lines are easy to reach. The city is required to clean and maintain all 194 miles of sewer main each year — but about 3.5 miles run through easement areas, behind homes, along slopes, and in other spots where standard equipment can't go. That's less than 2% of the entire network, but it's the portion the city can't handle on its own. City crews clean most sewer lines using a Vactor truck with a high-pressure 600-foot hose system. In those tight easement areas, the hose has to be operated by hand at reduced pressure, which isn't enough to clear roots, grease, and debris effectively. Tunnelworks brings the specialized tools to do the job — equipment the city determined it couldn't justify buying for such a small slice of the system. At $149,125 annually, the contract works out to roughly $42,600 per mile of easement sewer line cleaned and inspected each year. After each cleaning, cameras are sent through the pipes to verify the work was done right. ![Map of Whittier's sewer system showing easement sewer lines maintained by outside contractor Tunnelworks Services, Inc. Numbered markers indicate specific easement locations scattered across the city. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-23-224715.png) Whittier's easement sewer lines, the roughly 3.5 miles of the city's sewer system that require a specialized outside contractor to maintain. | City of Whittier Whittier is a designated "[Tree City USA](https://www.arborday.org/our-work/tree-city-usa?ref=whittierinformed.com)," known for the tens of thousands of trees lining its streets and yards. Those same trees are the system's biggest issue: the 2018 master plan found that roughly 57% of the city's recent sewer blockages were caused by roots working their way into the pipes. It's part of why the city now favors PVC for new and replacement lines — its tighter joints are harder for roots to break into than the clay pipe that makes up most of the system. Worth noting: Whittier doesn't treat its own wastewater. The entire system runs on gravity, carrying roughly 8.8 million gallons of sewage a day downhill through the network until it connects to Los Angeles County trunk lines for treatment elsewhere. No pump stations. No lift mains. Just 194 miles of pipe, most of it clay, all of it quietly maintained year after year beneath the city's streets. One final note. While reviewing the amendment documents, we noticed that the signature page refers to "Tunnelworks Servies, Inc.", missing a letter “c” in Services. A new typo in a contract meant to correct an old typo. Some stories write their own ending. ### Korean Beer Chain To Open First U.S. Location In Uptown Whittier URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/korean-beer-chain-to-open-first-u-s-location-in-uptown-whittier/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T16:32:01.000Z The Whittier Planning Commission approved a permit June 15 allowing a Korean craft beer and fried chicken chain to open its first U.S. restaurant in Uptown, next door to Whittier Brewing Co. on Greenleaf Avenue. DailyBeer will occupy 7006 Greenleaf Ave. — a storefront many Whittier residents already know by sight. Eight years ago, a proposed Indian restaurant painted elaborate decorative murals on the building's exterior and then never opened. The murals are still there. The commission's approval allows DailyBeer to serve beer and wine, and to stay open until 2 a.m. daily. The city's staff report says DailyBeer's offerings are meant to complement the brewery next door, which the report refers to as Poet Gardens. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-18-145139-1.png) A DailyBeer location at night, showing the chain's signature neon-lit industrial storefront. (DailyBeer) ## **A permit approved in 2018, never used** The Planning Commission approved a permit that year for a proposed Indian restaurant at the same address. That business never started operating, and its permit expired. That permit was broader than what DailyBeer received — it included full liquor, live entertainment and 2 a.m. hours seven days a week. The building sat empty for eight years before DailyBeer's application came before the commission. DailyBeer's approval covers beer and wine only, with no live entertainment, DJs, dancing, cover charges or outside promoters. Permit holders have until June 15, 2028 to open. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/20260619_092946-1.jpg) The vacant Indian restaurant where DailyBeer will open. (Whittier Informed) ## **About the brand** DailyBeer was founded in South Korea in 2014 and calls itself the country's leading craft beer franchise, with more than 400 locations across South Korea, Singapore and the Philippines. The menu pairs Korean fried chicken and street food — tteokbokki (rice cakes), spicy noodles, ramen — with an extensive craft beer list. The business also operates under the name DailyChicken for its food side. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-18-144053.png) Dozens of exclusive craft beers, from IPAs to lagers and seasonal collaborations. (DailyBeer via City of Whittier) Its international expansion is new. The first overseas location opened in Singapore in 2024, followed by Manila in 2025\. Whittier would be its first North American location. The brand's slogan is "Life is short, drink more beer" — but the city is approving it as an eating place first. The state alcohol license DailyBeer holds requires food sales to outpace alcohol sales every quarter. The permit application's business description focuses on food and beer pairings rather than nightlife. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-18-144217.png) Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, gimbap and street food round out the menu. (DailyBeer via City of Whittier) ## **Too many alcohol licenses?** State alcohol regulators calculate how many licenses a neighborhood should have based on the number of people who live around it. For the census tract surrounding Uptown's business district, that number is only three. But this neighborhood currently has 45 locations with on-site alcohol licenses — and four more allowing off-site sales, like a liquor store. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-18-144516.png) Every business in Uptown Whittier's census tract with an active alcohol license. DailyBeer is listed as proposed at No. 49, next to Whittier Brewing Co. at No. 48\. (City of Whittier) When a neighborhood exceeds that population-based benchmark, the city can't simply approve another license. It has to formally justify why the area needs one more. The commission did that here, arguing that a new restaurant still adds value for residents and visitors despite the neighborhood already far exceeding that benchmark. ### PIH's New Three-Story Medical Building Hits a Milestone URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/pihs-new-three-story-medical-building-hits-a-milestone/ Last updated: 2026-06-27T00:34:01.000Z A new medical building going up on the PIH Whittier Hospital campus hit a construction milestone last week. Workers placed the final steel beam, so the building is now fully framed and on track to open in two years. When it opens, the plan is to fit urgent care, imaging, an outpatient surgery center, an eye clinic, primary care, and specialty offices all under one roof, at Washington Boulevard and Putnam Street. PIH's planning documents say part of the goal is to move services out of the hospital and into this new building. So some of what opens there might be shifting over from next door, not arriving in Whittier for the first time. PIH hasn't said which services, if any, would make that move. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-17-205703.png) ## **The building itself** The project sits on a 7.45-acre site at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Putnam Street, across the street from where AME urgent care operates now. Two older commercial buildings on the property were torn down to make room. Construction is happening in two stages. First, the building and an initial round of parking. Then, more parking on the north side of the property. Once it's all done, the site will have around 600 parking spaces, more than the 526 the city requires, all of it surface parking, no parking structure. The building itself will run entirely on electricity, no natural gas hookups, and it'll have rooftop solar panels and battery storage. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-17-205754.png) Project site map. Source: City of Whittier ## **More traffic, no required fixes** The project is expected to add about 3,500 car trips a day to the area. A traffic study looked at nearby intersections and found three that will struggle once the building opens, including the building's own driveway onto Washington Boulevard, which is expected to back up in the evenings. - Whittier Boulevard and Frontage Road: already fails today regardless of the new project; the city has its own fix planned. - The project's own driveway onto Washington Boulevard: projected to fail in the evening once the new building opens. - Painter Avenue and Whittier Boulevard: already fails today; the city plans to add a third lane. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/traffic-study-figure-2-1.png) Three nearby intersections, including the project's own driveway, are projected to operate poorly once the building opens. **Map: Gibson Transportation Consulting, June 2025; markers added by Whittier Informed.* Even so, PIH isn't required to pay for any traffic improvements. The study found that most of the congestion already existed before this project, and that the new traffic doesn't trigger the legal requirement for a developer to fund fixes. The city says it already has its own road work planned for two of the affected intersections. PIH is adding a few smaller things that should help the area: a new sidewalk on Putnam Street where there isn't one now, walking paths around all four sides of the building, a secure bike room, two dozen or so short-term bike parking spots near the bus stop on Washington, and a program that pays employees who choose not to drive to work. A piece of public art is also required near the Washington and Putnam corner, though no design has been picked yet. ## **Public land, headed to a private owner** Here's a piece of the project that's gotten less attention than the building itself. To put the site together, the city is giving up a stretch of alley running through the property, about 16,900 square feet of land that currently belongs to the public. Once the city signs off, that land becomes part of PIH's private property. PIH owns everything around that alley already and asked the city to hand it over, saying it would help traffic move better within the medical campus. That hasn't happened yet. On June 9, the City Council took the first step, scheduling a public hearing for July 14, where council members will decide whether to give up the land. City staff say PIH won't pay anything for it since the alley is already surrounded on every side by a single property owner. The city still has permanent rights to maintain a sewer line that runs through that strip of land, no matter who ends up owning the ground above it. Anyone who wants to weigh in can show up to the July 14 hearing at City Hall. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-17-205224.png) Survey exhibit showing the alley vacation area for the PIH Health project. Source: City of WhittierTr ## **What we don't know** A few questions are still open as we publish this. PIH hasn't said whether any services in the new building are moving over from the hospital or from its other campuses, how many jobs the project will create, or how it will improve how long people wait for a specialist appointment in Whittier. We'll update this story if that changes. ### Measure ER Passes. Whittier's Sales Tax Rate Going Up To 11% URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/measure-er-passes-whittiers-sales-tax-rate-going-up-to-11/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T17:21:03.000Z Los Angeles County voters approved [Measure ER](https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1202661%5FEssentialServicesRestorationActforLosAngelesCountyGeneralSalesTaxMeasureFAQ%5FFINAL.pdf?%5Fgl=1%2A1o166g7%2A%5Fgcl%5Fau%2AMTY2ODI1MzMyMS4xNzc0MzkwMDc1&ref=whittierinformed.com) — a measure that does two things at once. Starting October 1, Whittier's combined sales tax rate goes from 10.5% to 11%. And starting that same day, roughly $1 billion a year flows toward keeping county hospitals and clinics open and expanding healthcare access for residents losing Medi-Cal coverage. Whether that tradeoff works for you depends on your situation. Here's what it means for Whittier. ## **How close was it?** Very close. Measure ER was losing on election night, June 2, before pulling ahead as more ballots were counted in the days that followed. It passed 50.64% to 49.36%— a margin of roughly 25,000 votes out of nearly two million cast. The campaigns were far from evenly matched. [Supporters](https://laist.com/news/health/measure-er-backers-celebrate-passage-of-half-cent-sales-tax-for-healthcare?ref=whittierinformed.com) raised about $9.7 million, led by St. John's Community Health and backed by healthcare workers' unions. Opponents raised less than $10,000. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-13-221829-1.png) Measure ER vote results. (LA County Registrar) ## **What does it mean for your wallet?** Starting October 1, every taxable purchase in Whittier will be taxed at 11% — an extra 50 cents on a $100 purchase, an extra $5 on a $1,000 purchase. The tax does not apply to groceries or medications. It runs for five years and expires automatically on October 1, 2031. **How Whittier compares to nearby cities** Once the tax takes effect, Whittier's combined rate of 11% will be higher than Los Angeles city and unincorporated LA County, both landing at 10.25%. Neighboring cities in Orange County — which are not subject to the LA County increase — will remain significantly lower. Brea and Fullerton stay at 7.75%, La Habra and Buena Park at 8.75%. Rates sourced from the [California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.](https://cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/rates.aspx?ref=whittierinformed.com) That gap is worth noting. A Whittier resident buying $1,000 worth of goods in Brea would pay $77.50 in sales tax compared to $110 at home — a difference of $32.50\. For bigger purchases like appliances or furniture, the savings from crossing the county line add up quickly. It's the same concern opponents raised during the campaign — that higher rates push shoppers toward neighboring communities with lower tax burdens. One more step: California's base sales tax rate is 7.25%, and the state caps how much cities and counties can add on top of that at 2%. A few cities — including Pico Rivera, once Measure ER kicks in — are already brushing up against that ceiling. For those cities, the increase still needs sign-off from the state legislature before it actually takes effect, and that hasn't happened everywhere yet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-14-122159.png) Sales tax rates before and after Measure ER, by city. (Chart by Whittier Informed / Data: CDTFA) ## **What does Measure ER give in return?** The county estimates Measure ER will generate about $1 billion a year for the next five years — roughly $5 billion total. That money is meant to keep nonprofit clinics serving uninsured and low-income patients open, fund county hospitals and clinics, and support public health programs. For residents who rely on Medi-Cal or community clinics for their healthcare, this is significant. [Six of LA County's 13 public health clinics have already closed](https://abc7.com/post/what-is-los-angeles-county-measure-er-say-sales-tax-increase-crucial-health-cuts-primary-election-ballot/19176557/?ref=whittierinformed.com) following federal funding cuts. Measure ER is designed to stop more from closing — and to help cover people who lose their Medi-Cal and have nowhere else to turn. Measure ER is a general tax, so the money goes into the county's general fund — not a dedicated healthcare account. The spending plan is a commitment from county supervisors, not a legal requirement. The measure does require annual independent audits and creates a nine-member oversight committee to publicly track how the money is spent. ## **Who benefits — and who doesn't?** The answer depends on your situation. **If you're on Medi-Cal:** This was built for you. The money is meant to keep clinics open and create a local coverage program for people who lose Medi-Cal and have no other options. **If you're uninsured:** You benefit too. A large share of the spending plan goes to clinics offering free or low-cost care — the ones most at risk of closing without new funding. **If you have an HMO or PPO:** The benefit is indirect. When clinics close, uninsured patients end up in emergency rooms, driving up wait times for everyone. Measure ER is designed to reduce that pressure. **If you're low-income:** Sales taxes hit harder on smaller incomes. You'll pay into this tax like everyone else, even though the healthcare it funds serves lower-income residents most. Note that groceries and medications are exempt. **If you're higher-income:** You'll pay more in raw dollars but are less likely to depend on the services being funded. **Either way:** If you shop in Whittier, you'll pay this tax starting October 1. ## **Why did supporters push for it?** Federal budget cuts — under a law called H.R. 1, or the [One Big Beautiful Bill Act](https://calmatters.org/health/2026/06/health-care-sales-tax-split/?ref=whittierinformed.com), signed July 4, 2025 — are projected to cost LA County's health system $2.4 billion over the next three years. Six clinics have already closed. Supporters argued that without new funding, more closures were coming, pushing uninsured patients into emergency rooms and straining care for everyone. California's own Medi-Cal cuts added to the pressure, with the state freezing new enrollment for undocumented adults and planning to add premiums for some enrollees in 2027. ## **Why did opponents push back?** Critics argued LA County residents are already among the most taxed in the country and that sales taxes hit low-income people hardest. Some city leaders across LA County questioned whether the county would spend the money as promised, given that the measure's general fund structure gives supervisors broad discretion over spending. Voters in Contra Costa County rejected a similar healthcare tax at the same election, with 57% opposed. ### 605 Detours Aren't Going Away. Whittier Wants More Influence Over What Happens Next URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/605-detours-arent-going-away-whittier-wants-more-influence-over-what-happens-next/ Last updated: 2026-06-12T21:20:17.000Z Anyone who drives the 605 knows how freeway construction can spill onto city streets — slower signals, detours, cut-through traffic on neighborhood roads. Whittier wants a seat at the table when those decisions get made. The Whittier City Council on Tuesday authorized city staff to submit a letter of interest to join the I-5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers Authority, a coalition of cities that collectively negotiates with agencies like Caltrans, the Federal Highway Administration, and LA Metro on freeway corridor projects. The JPA is expanding to include cities north of the I-5/605 interchange — where Whittier sits — giving the city a formal voice in regional conversations about how freeway work affects local streets. No financial commitment is involved yet. Any formal decision to join, including reviewing membership costs and the joint powers agreement, would come back to the council for a future vote. The construction residents are seeing on the 605 right now is actually a separate project — but it illustrates exactly why Whittier wants in. Caltrans is in the middle of a $298 million rehabilitation of the entire freeway from Long Beach to the San Gabriel Valley, a project they're calling the [Super 605](https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-7/district-7-projects/d7-i605-605-enhancements?ref=whittierinformed.com). The segment closest to Whittier, running from Telegraph Road in Santa Fe Springs to the 10 freeway, started construction in spring 2024 and isn't expected to wrap until early 2030\. That stretch alone has 78 extended weekend closures scheduled. ### Three Budgets Passed Tuesday. One Raises Your Water Bill URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/three-budgets-passed-tuesday-one-raises-your-water-bill/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T06:31:53.000Z The Whittier City Council's [2026-27 budget](https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-approved-the-2026-27-budget-here-is-what-changed-and-what-to-watch/) vote Tuesday night was actually three votes in one. The same five council members also sit as the board of the Whittier Utility Authority, which runs the city's water, sewer and trash services, and the Whittier Housing Authority, which holds housing funds left over from a [state program](https://dof.ca.gov/programs/redevelopment/?ref=whittierinformed.com) that ended in 2012\. All three budgets passed on Tuesday. Here is what it means for residents. ## **Your water bill is going up in January** If you are a Whittier water customer, your bill is going up again in January 2027\. Here is what changes: - The base monthly service charge, the flat fee every customer pays regardless of usage, goes from $83.22 to $87.39 per month. - The standard usage rate goes from $2.96 to $3.11 per billing unit. - The rate for higher usage, above the standard threshold, goes from $4.90 to $5.15 per billing unit. These are not the first increases. The same rates went up in January 2026 as well. Combined, the monthly service charge alone has risen from $79.25 to $87.39 over two years, an increase of about 10 percent, before a single drop of water is counted.8 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-12-133544.png) Whittier water rates have increased twice in two years. Here is how each tier has changed since January 2026 and what changes again in January 2027. Both rounds of increases come from a rate study the council approved in November 2024. ## **Sewer and trash are going up too** Sewer fees stay the same through December, then increase from $1.26 to $1.30 per billing unit starting in January. The city's landfill tipping fee, which is what trash haulers pay when they drop off waste at the landfill, increases from $61.45 to $64.55 per ton. Residents do not pay this fee directly, but haulers may pass cost increases like this along to customers over time. ## **Where the utility money goes** The Utility Authority expects to bring in $34.3 million this year and spend $41.4 million, including $13.3 million on infrastructure projects such as pipes, equipment and water system upgrades. The gap between revenue and spending comes out of reserves the authority has built up over the years. Those reserves are projected to drop from $31.7 million to $24.1 million. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-12-133642.png) The Whittier Utility Authority spends more than it brings in. The gap is covered by reserves built up over previous years. The largest single area of spending is on water infrastructure. The city is directing $7.3 million toward water system projects this year, with another $10.9 million kept in reserve to address new state water quality requirements and future projects in the city's Water Master Plan, a long-range plan for maintaining and upgrading Whittier's water system. One figure in the budget stands out. The solid waste fund, which covers trash disposal operations, is projected to end the year with just $582,734 in available funds after spending $4.4 million on capital projects. The fund handles nearly $8.9 million in annual operations. According to the budget documents, no explanation is provided for why the working balance is projected to be that low. ## **The Housing Authority: what is it?** The Whittier Housing Authority is the part of city government most residents have never heard of. Here is what it is and why it exists. In 2012, the state of California shut down all local redevelopment agencies. These were city-run bodies that used a portion of local property tax revenue to fund affordable housing and economic development projects. When Whittier's redevelopment agency closed, the city created the Housing Authority to manage what remained: housing-related funds, properties and outstanding loan repayments connected to old redevelopment projects. The Housing Authority is not a general housing assistance program. It does not handle landlord-tenant disputes, rental assistance or Section 8 vouchers. It manages a specific and shrinking pool of money tied to the city's former redevelopment work. This year, the Housing Authority expects to bring in $120,000 in revenue and spend $349,288\. It is drawing the difference from its existing fund balance, which is projected to drop from $3.6 million to $3.4 million by next June. At the current rate of spending, that fund balance would last roughly 15 years. What the council chooses to do with those remaining housing funds before they are depleted. ## **Why these budgets get less attention** These budgets are adopted at the same meeting as the main city budget, typically late in a long evening. The same five council members vote on all three. But the money is legally separate from the city's General Fund. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-12-133700.png) The City Council approved three separate budgets Tuesday night. Each one is funded differently and covers different services. Utility revenue comes from water, sewer and trash fees paid by customers, not from taxes. Housing Authority funds are restricted by law to housing-related purposes. That is why these dollars appear outside the main city budget, and why the combined total across all three budgets adds up to $216 million in citywide spending, not the $174 million figure in the main city budget. ## **What to watch** 1. January 2027, when the new water and sewer rates take effect on bills. 2. Whether the solid waste fund's low year-end balance leads to additional fee discussions in the next budget cycle. 3. What the council decides to do with the Housing Authority's remaining $3.4 million in housing funds. The full budgets will be available on the city's website and at the City Clerk's office at 13230 Penn Street. --- *Sources: Whittier Utility Authority Agenda Report and Resolution No. WUA-2026-06, June 9, 2026; Whittier Housing Authority Agenda Report and Resolution No. WHA-2026-02, June 9, 2026; WUA and WHA Unappropriated Fund Balance Summaries, FY 2026-27.* ### Whittier Approved The 2026-27 Budget. Here Is What Changed And What To Watch URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-approved-the-2026-27-budget-here-is-what-changed-and-what-to-watch/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T19:40:38.000Z The Whittier City Council voted Tuesday to approve the city's budget for the year that begins July 1\. The total price tag across all city funds is $174.2 million. The city expects to bring in about $170 million. Including the [Whittier Utility Authority and the Whittier Housing Authority](https://www.whittierinformed.com/three-budgets-passed-tuesday-one-raises-your-water-bill/), which are budgeted separately, citywide revenues total $204.4 million against $216 million in expenditures. ## The city is using savings to pay operating bills The city's main checkbook is called the General Fund. It covers the things residents interact with most: police, parks, the library, street maintenance, code enforcement. This year, the General Fund is expected to bring in $114.5 million and spend $118.4 million. To close that $3.9 million gap, the city is pulling from reserve accounts that were set aside for specific purposes: - $2.4 million from a fund set aside to cover rising pension costs - $2.1 million from a fund for homeless shelter and outreach services - $166,000 from money tied to the city taking over Whittier Boulevard from the state After those draws, the General Fund balance lands at zero. The city presented this as a balanced budget. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-11-175546-1.png) City of Whittier FY 2026-27 Budget Adoption Presentation, June 9, 2026. ## Where the money goes More than half of every General Fund dollar goes to public safety. According to the city's presentation to the council Tuesday, police services account for 53 percent of General Fund spending: $44.8 million for the Whittier Police Department and $17.6 million for the Santa Fe Springs policing contract, for a combined $62.4 million. The rest breaks down as follows: parks, recreation and community services at 15 percent; public works at 11 percent; general government at 12 percent; library at 5 percent; and community development at 4 percent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-11-180118-1.png) City of Whittier FY 2026-27 Budget Adoption Presentation, June 9, 2026. ## Why the bills keep going up **Salaries and pensions are the biggest factor.** The city's wage bill for the General Fund goes from $42.5 million to $46.3 million this year, an increase of about $3.8 million. That increase reflects new labor agreements and inflation, according to city budget documents, [including a package of executive compensation increases](https://www.whittierinformed.com/how-whittiers-city-hall-was-reshaped-three-weeks-before-the-election-part-1/) approved by the outgoing council on March 24, 2026, three weeks before the April election. Those raises include a 9 percent increase for all department directors effective this July, followed by 8 percent in 2027 and 8 percent in 2028, a roughly 27 percent increase over three years. The City Manager's salary is tied to those same raises and is projected to reach approximately $468,000 by July 2028. On top of that, the city's payments into the state pension system (CalPERS) jump from $6.7 million to $8.1 million. Pension costs have become one of the most stubborn line items in the budget. The city has been drawing from a special pension reserve to soften the impact. That reserve currently holds $9.3 million. Based on the city's own five-year projections, it is expected to hold about $945,000 by 2030. **Insurance costs have nearly doubled in four years.** General liability costs, which cover the city against lawsuits and claims, have risen from $3 million in 2022-23 to $5.8 million this year. The city's five-year plan projects those costs rising again after 2026-27. **The city also carries $7.9 million in annual debt payments.** Years ago, Whittier took out pension obligation bonds to manage its retirement costs. Paying off those bonds costs nearly $8 million a year, every year, regardless of what else is happening in the budget. ## What the new council added At budget sessions in May, the council directed staff to include an extra $260,000 in one-time spending: - $200,000 for community investments, sponsorships and cultural programming. No recipients have been chosen. That will be decided at future council meetings. - $30,000 for the Whittier Shakes Theatre Co. - $20,000 for the Whittier Historical Society and Museum. - $10,000 for the Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce. ## A known gap in the city's financial forecast Whittier has been providing police services to the City of Santa Fe Springs for more than 30 years. That contract ends in February 2028. According to the city's presentation Tuesday, the Santa Fe Springs policing contract brings in $17.6 million annually, representing 15 percent of the General Fund's total revenue. It supports 39 police officer positions. City staff acknowledged in the budget documents that the five-year financial forecast does not include the impact of losing that contract, because the financial analysis is still ongoing. The contract also carries its own pension costs, budgeted at $2.9 million this year. What happens to those long-term obligations when the contract ends is part of the analysis the city says is still underway. Even with that revenue still included in the numbers, the city's own projections show deficits growing each year, reaching roughly $5.5 million annually by the end of the decade. Even with the Santa Fe Springs revenue still included, the city's own projections show the gap between what the General Fund spends and what it brings in growing every year, reaching roughly $9.4 million annually by 2028-29. Those projections assume the city continues drawing about $4 million a year from its reserves to soften the shortfall. Even after those draws, the budget still does not balance, with deficits of roughly $5.5 million a year projected by the end of the decade. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-11-180053-1.png) City of Whittier FY 2026-27 Budget Adoption Presentation, June 9, 2026. ## Police staffing: a numbers shift worth watching Whittier's police force shrank from 146 positions to 137 last year. This budget brings it back up to 144\. What happens to the 39 positions currently dedicated to Santa Fe Springs when that contract ends in 2028 has not been addressed in the budget documents. ## What else the council approved Tuesday **Historic preservation fees waived.** Through June 2027, the city will not charge application fees for homeowners who want to voluntarily designate their property as a historic landmark. The waived fees range from $767 to nearly $4,850 per application. The goal is to make it easier for Whittier property owners to pursue historic protections. Consultant and environmental review costs are not covered by the waiver. **Out-of-state travel approved.** The budget includes $54,001 for out-of-state conferences for city staff and council members. Three council members are scheduled to travel to Toronto, Providence (Rhode Island), and Las Vegas. The Toronto trip, budgeted at $9,000 for three council members, is partially offset by up to $4,500 in Prop A funds, which are county transit sales tax dollars. ## The "we have $101 million" question The city's General Fund balance and reserves are projected at $101 million as of July 1, 2027\. Residents sometimes ask: if the city has that much, why is there a shortfall? Most of that money is designated or restricted for specific purposes. According to the city's presentation, the breakdown is as follows: $58.6 million is the general fund balance representing roughly six months of operating expenses; $15.8 million is tied to the Caltrans relinquishment of Whittier Boulevard; $9.3 million is the PERS pension reserve; $7.8 million is the homeless shelter and outreach reserve; $5.9 million is an emergency contingency fund; and the remaining $3.6 million covers other earmarked reserves. Interim Finance Director Tram Pham noted Tuesday that maintaining six months of operating reserves exceeds the two-month minimum recommended by the [Government Finance Officers Association](https://www.gfoa.org/?ref=whittierinformed.com), the national organization that sets best practice standards for city budgets. The accounts being drawn on to balance this year's budget, the PERS reserve and the homeless shelter reserve, are among the smaller designated pools. Both are projected to shrink significantly over the next four years under current spending trends. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-11-175712-1.png) City of Whittier FY 2026-27 Budget Adoption Presentation, June 9, 2026. ## Measure W: what your sales tax is paying for Whittier residents approved Measure W, a local three-quarter cent sales tax, to fund specific community priorities. This year it generates $14 million. According to the city's presentation, that money is being spent as follows: $4 million on police services, $3.4 million on park maintenance, $2.4 million on community services, $1.3 million on patrol, $1.3 million on public works, $1.4 million on general city services, and $206,000 on additional homeless services. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-11-164605-1.png) City of Whittier FY 2026-27 Budget Adoption Presentation, June 9, 2026. ## What to watch The budget takes effect July 1\. Three things are worth tracking: 1. How the $200,000 community investment fund is awarded, and what process the council uses to pick recipients. 2. Whether city staff return with a formal analysis of the Santa Fe Springs contract loss before next year's budget cycle. 3. Whether the pension and homeless shelter reserves are drawn down again next year. The city has described these as one-time draws. A repeat next year would raise questions about whether they have become a recurring part of how the city balances its budget. The full budget will be available on the city's website and at the City Clerk's office at 13230 Penn Street. --- *Sources: City of Whittier FY 2026-27 Budget Adoption Presentation, June 9, 2026; City of Whittier Agenda Report, June 9, 2026; Resolution No. 2026-27; Resolution No. 2026-28; Resolution No. 2026-29; FY 2026-27 Unappropriated Fund Balance Summary; General Fund 5-Year Financial Plan; Gann Appropriations Limitation; Total Budgeted Positions FY 2022-23 through 2026-27.* ### Three Artists Compete To Paint Guirado Park's New Mural URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/three-artists-compete-to-paint-guirado-parks-new-mural/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T16:56:55.000Z A gray retaining wall behind the basketball courts at Guirado Park has been waiting for a makeover. Now three artists are competing for the chance to transform it. The City of Whittier's Art in Public Places Committee is reviewing final proposals for a $70,000 mural project at the park, located at 5760 Pioneer Boulevard. The wall wraps around the park's double basketball court with surfaces facing the courts, the softball field, the parking lot, and the park interior. Its varying slopes and angles made it a tricky canvas to design around. The committee will recommend one or more finalists to the Cultural Arts Commission, which will then send a final recommendation to City Council for approval. Guirado Park was dedicated on March 18, 1980, after the 605 freeway was completed through Whittier, and named after retired Judge Edward Guirado. The city wanted something youthful and family-friendly, built to last. Each finalist received a $1,500 stipend to sharpen their designs after the committee asked for more clarity on inclusivity, 3D renderings, and overall vision back in March. Here is what they came back with. ## **Key Detail (Andrey and Julia Kravtsov)** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-001149-1.png) A scale model submitted by Key Detail showing how their proposal would wrap the Guirado Park court structure. (City of Whittier) The Kravtsovs are proposing a bright, illustration-heavy design that wraps the entire structure. The main wall facing the basketball court centers on a basketball-inspired smiley face surrounded by players in motion, local squirrels, oak trees, and jacaranda blooms. The parking lot side depicts a family together in the park. The softball field side pairs a glove and ball with a sparrow. The rear wall shifts into bold abstract shapes and color blocking. The team built a physical scale maquette to show how the design reads from all angles. Andrey would handle all painting, with Julia managing logistics, using spray paint sealed with UV-protective and anti-graffiti coatings. ## Rosie Tos ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-001528.png) A rendering of Rosie Tos's proposed mural on the court-facing wall at Guirado Park. (City of Whittier) Santa Monica-based muralist Rosie Tos has spent more than 20 years painting walls across Southern California, with over 90 murals for the Los Angeles Fire Department and a commission at LA City Hall. Her proposal uses a continuous line drawing style to connect 11 figures rendered as flat, colorful silhouettes against geometric backgrounds, with the connecting line symbolizing a shared love of sports, nature, and community. The court-facing wall features basketball players of all ages. The opposite side shows a cyclist, a parent and child, a fitness enthusiast, a skateboarder, and a couple on a bench. The exterior walls depict joggers and kids playing soccer. ## **Where We Grow (Jacqueline Valenzuela, Mister Toledo, and Cheyne Ellett)** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-001845-1.png) A rendering showing how the Where We Grow proposal would look at Guirado Park. (City of Whittier) The three-artist team built their design around the park's existing mosaic tilework, extending its geometric patterns and color blocking across the mural walls. The court-facing side centers a bold "WHITTIER" letterform woven through scenes of kids playing sports, backed by poppies and Whittier's official flower, the friendship rose. The exterior wall traces the city's agricultural past through citrus groves, walnut trees, avocado fields, and oil derricks, connecting that history to present-day park life through images of street vendors and paleteros. A generational arc depicts life milestones from childhood to adulthood, with Guirado Park as the backdrop throughout. The team also plans to invite neighbors to add brushstrokes during the early stages of painting. Valenzuela is a Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist and UCLA MFA candidate whose work centers on Chicano culture and memory, and a lifelong Whittier resident who grew up near the park. Daniel Toledo, known as Mister Toledo, is a Los Angeles-based muralist whose credits include a Grammy Museum commission honoring Selena Quintanilla. Cheyne Ellett is a Pomona-based artist on the LA County Department of Cultural Affairs pre-qualified muralist roster who led a five-building mural series at Palomares Park for the City of Pomona. ### Whittier's New Congressional District Produces a Surprise in Early Primary Results URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittiers-new-congressional-district-produces-a-surprise-in-early-primary-results/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T19:39:56.000Z Ballots are still being counted from Tuesday's June 2 primary election for California's 41st Congressional District, but early results have produced a striking headline: Republican Mitch Clemmons is leading longtime Democratic incumbent Linda Sánchez. With 65 percent of votes reported, Clemmons holds 39.6 percent of the vote — 43,408 votes — compared to Sánchez's 36.4 percent, or 39,885 votes. Two other Democrats also appeared on the ballot: Hector De La Torre with 13.3 percent and Shonique Williams with 10.7 percent. Total votes reported so far stand at 109,536\. Results are from the [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/california-primary-results-us-house/?ref=whittierinformed.com#41), last updated June 4, 2026 at 7:14 p.m. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-05-111653-1.png) **What Happens Next** Both Clemmons and Sánchez are advancing to the November 3, 2026 general election. Under California's top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes advance regardless of party, setting up a direct Republican-versus-Democrat matchup this fall. The vote totals may still shift as counting continues. Most California voters cast their ballots by mail, and ballots postmarked on or before Election Day have up to one week to arrive. In the 2024 primary, roughly half of all results were reported by the morning after election day, and it took 10 days before 95 percent of ballots were tallied. **The Candidates** Sánchez, a Democrat who has represented the Whittier area in Congress since 2003, is one of the longest-serving members of California's congressional delegation. Clemmons, a Whittier-based plumbing contractor, is a first-time congressional candidate. **A Brand New District** The 41st District itself is brand new — and its geography helps explain the early results. California voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025, which redrew the state's congressional maps. The old 41st District covered the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley in Riverside County. The new one is an entirely different district in a different part of Southern California, covering southeastern Los Angeles County and a portion of northern Orange County. Notably, the district represents all of Whittier — including the city of Whittier itself as well as the unincorporated communities of South Whittier and East Whittier. Other Los Angeles County communities in the district include Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Downey, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, and portions of Lakewood (about 74%), Norwalk (about 47%), and Pico Rivera (about 39%). The district also extends into Orange County, covering all of La Habra, nearly all of Los Alamitos (about 92%), all of Rossmoor, about 65% of Brea, roughly 24% of Seal Beach, and a small portion of Fullerton (about 12%). [(Source: California Senate Office of Demographics)](https://sdmg.senate.ca.gov/committeehome/2025-congressional-districts/congressional-district-41-2025?ref=whittierinformed.com#COUNTIESINDISTRICT) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/06/cd41_2025.png) Established by Proposition 50 (November 2025), these boundaries take effect January 3, 2027\. Image: California Senate Office of Demographics. **What to Watch** The November ballot will look very different from Tuesday's primary. Two other Democrats — De La Torre and Williams — combined for roughly 24 percent of the vote. In a general election with only two candidates on the ballot, much of that Democratic support is likely to consolidate behind Sánchez, which could significantly close the gap. At the same time, the district's Orange County cities have historically leaned Republican, and their presence in the new 41st could make this a more competitive race than many expected. With only 65 percent of ballots counted, the final margins remain to be seen — and the general election is still five months away. *Whittier Informed will continue to monitor results as additional ballots are counted.* ### The Rules for Speaking at Whittier City Council Just Changed URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-rules-for-speaking-at-whittier-city-council-just-changed/ Last updated: 2026-06-12T21:18:34.000Z At nearly every city meeting, there is a stretch of time set aside for residents to step up to a microphone and tell their elected officials what is on their mind. This is called public comment, and it is the main way ordinary people get a say in front of the City Council. On May 26, the Whittier City Council changed the rules for how public comment works. The council dropped a requirement that residents fill out a card before they could speak and set a single two-minute time limit for all speakers. The changes apply not only to the City Council but to all of the city's appointed boards, including the Planning Commission, which reviews land use proposals, and the Historic Resources Commission, which deals with older and historic buildings. ## **What changed** Under the new rules, each person gets two minutes to speak regardless of how many people attend. Residents no longer have to fill out a speaker card or take a number. Speakers also cannot use a phone or other device to let an absent person deliver comments through it at the podium. Anyone who wants to speak forms a line behind the microphone, holding a spot for someone else is not allowed, and residents who cannot stand for long periods may remain seated until their turn. The person running the meeting, usually the mayor, may make small adjustments to how the rules work on a given night. The one exception is the time limit, which must be strictly enforced. ## **What the old rules required** The new policy replaced two earlier sets of rules, both passed unanimously by the previous council that was voted out in the April 14, 2026 election. The first was a speaker card system adopted in January 2026 that required residents to submit a card before a specific point early in the meeting. After that, no new cards were accepted, meaning a resident who arrived late could be turned away from the microphone entirely. Like other changes the previous council made to public comment, the card policy arrived without advance public notice or explanation. The second was a set of time limits from July 2024 that started each speaker at three minutes but dropped to two minutes once 21 people signed up and to one minute once 41 or more were in line. The meeting's leader could also cap the total time for all public comment. The new policy replaces all of that with a flat two minutes for every speaker, every time. ## **More changes under the previous council** The speaker cards and time limits were not the only restrictions the previous council and administration put in place. Between October 2024 and November 2025, the city made three changes to its meeting livestream, each without public explanation: it stopped showing residents at the microphone, then replaced the live view with a static slide, and finally removed the audio entirely. Then-Mayor Joe Vinatieri told the Whittier Daily News the broadcast changes were in response to concerns that some comments had made residents feel unsafe. State law requires cities to allow public comment but does not require them to broadcast it. Residents could still participate in person or by Zoom, but those watching from home lost the ability to follow what their neighbors were saying to the council. At its first meeting, the new council restored the livestream, once again showing residents at the microphone. ## **What the council said** Councilmember Aida Macedo, who introduced the two-minute proposal, said the goal was predictability. Under the old sliding scale, a resident who prepared a three-minute comment might arrive to find the limit had already dropped, depending on the crowd size. A flat limit means every speaker knows exactly how much time they have before they walk in. That raises the question of why two minutes rather than three. Councilmember Vicky Santana said two minutes is enough for a prepared speaker, noting that it is easy to tell when someone is not ready, as they often keep talking past the point they already made, filling time without adding anything new. Mayor James Becerra said goals of fairness, efficiency, and accessibility guided the changes. He also said that using a device to deliver someone else's comment at the podium had caused disruptions at past meetings, and the new rule addresses that. ## **How Whittier compares to nearby cities** Public comment time limits at eight nearby city council meetings: - One minute: City of Industry - Two minutes: Whittier - Three minutes: La Habra, Santa Fe Springs, Pico Rivera, Montebello, El Monte - Five minutes: La Habra Heights, South El Monte Seven of the eight cities reviewed allow more time per speaker than Whittier. Only the City of Industry allows less. ## **What residents said** Not everyone at the May 26 meeting was satisfied with the new approach. Resident Michelle Alvarado said public comment is one of the few direct ways residents have to speak to the people who represent them, and that the community has made clear its desire for open, ongoing communication with city leaders. Helen Rahder, executive director of the Whittier Conservancy and a former Whittier mayor pro tem (the council's second-in-command) focused her concern on public hearings. Unlike general public comment, a public hearing is called for a specific decision, such as a proposed development or land use change, where residents who live nearby can formally weigh in before the council or a city commission votes. Their testimony becomes part of the official record and can directly influence the outcome. Rahder said that capping that testimony at two minutes could silence the people with the most direct knowledge of what a project would actually mean for their neighborhood. ## **What stayed the same** Someone who submitted a formal application to the city, or who filed an official appeal of a city decision, still gets more time to make their case at those public hearings: 20 minutes to present and 10 minutes to respond. A rule allowing the meeting's leader to cut off a speaker for being disruptive, repetitive, off topic, or raising something outside the council's authority also remains in effect. And while the new rules describe speakers lining up in person, they say nothing about remote participation. The card rule they replaced had directed people joining by video call to raise a virtual hand before the comment period began. No equivalent step exists in the new rules. ### Parking at The Groves Could Reach Maximum Capacity URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/parking-at-the-groves-is-already-strained-two-new-businesses-could-push-it-to-maximum-capacity/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T13:10:56.000Z CAPO Public House, the bar currently operating inside the Rodeo 72 food hall at The Groves, is seeking approval to expand into a building across the courtyard. The building is the former Superintendent's Residence at 7008 Walnut Grove Drive, a 100-year-old brick building that was once part of the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility, California's oldest juvenile detention center, which operated from 1891 to 2004\. The property is owned by Whittier and Sorensen LLC. The proposed expansion would convert the 1,665-square-foot two-story building into a standalone bar and lounge with arcade games, pool tables, outdoor patio seating, and live entertainment, open daily from 6am to 1am. To operate, CAPO is seeking a Type 48 On-Sale General Public Premises license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license allows the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for on-site consumption, and off-site sale of beer and wine. Food service is not required, though customers can bring in food from any of the Rodeo 72 eateries. Under a Type 48 license, minors are not allowed to enter and remain. Separately, a new Korean BBQ restaurant called Sol Korean BBQ recently received permits to occupy the former Administration building of the same correctional facility at 7007 Walnut Grove Drive — adding a 5,270-square-foot restaurant with outdoor seating to Heritage Court. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-25-203309.png) Site plan submitted to the City of Whittier showing the proposed CAPO Public House expansion into Building 7 (center, labeled "Rodeo 72 Expansion") and its relationship to the existing Rodeo 72 food hall (Building 8, right) and the future Sol Korean BBQ location (Building 9, left). (Source: Bickel Group Architecture, via City of Whittier) **The Parking Problem** The city's own staff report doesn't bury the concern. In the same document recommending approval of CAPO's expansion, city staff writes that adding both businesses "may result in parking demand at The Groves reaching maximum capacity." To understand what that means, it helps to start at the beginning. When The Groves was developed, standard city code would have required approximately 1,495 parking spaces for a development its size. The site was built with 749 — roughly half. Under standard city code, EOS Fitness alone — which occupies 38,082 square feet at The Groves — would require approximately 761 parking spaces. More than the entire lot currently contains. The city approved that shortfall under a shared parking model — a common planning approach that assumes different businesses draw crowds at different times of day. A gym fills up early morning; restaurants peak at lunch and dinner; retail draws afternoon shoppers. In theory, the same spaces serve everyone without the lot ever filling up at once. Now subtract what's already spoken for. Of the 749 total spaces, 35 are handicap, 14 are time-limited, 13 are pickup, and 12 are reserved. That leaves 675 general parking spaces for the entire development — a gym, a food hall, a bank, a coffee shop, various food and retail tenants, and now a bar and a Korean BBQ restaurant. The city's proposed parking management plan to help with limited parking would cut that number further. Under the plan, 120 spaces would be set aside for employee parking in what the study calls "less desirable" areas of the lot. An additional 8 spaces would be converted to curbside pickup and carpool stalls near the Whittier Cruiser stop. That brings usable customer parking down to approximately 547 spaces. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-26-061434.png) Parking zone map of The Groves at Whittier, showing all 749 spaces divided into zones A through J. Zone E (133 spaces), nearest to Rodeo 72, recorded near-maximum occupancy during peak hours in the city's April 2026 parking survey. Zone C (157 spaces), in front of Stater Bros., consistently had the most available spaces. (Source: Linscott, Law & Greenspan Engineers, via City of Whittier) **What the Parking Survey Found — And What It Missed** A parking demand analysis conducted by traffic engineering firm Linscott, Law & Greenspan (LLG) in April 2026 surveyed the lot on three days: Wednesday April 1, Friday March 27, and Saturday March 28\. The results reveal a pattern familiar to anyone who parks at The Groves regularly. The lot is divided into zones A through J. - Zone E — the 133-space section closest to Rodeo 72 — ran between 85 and 99 percent full across all three days, hitting 99 percent on a Wednesday afternoon. - Meanwhile, Zone C, the 157-space section in front of Stater Bros. and the farthest point from Rodeo 72, consistently had the most open spaces, dropping as low as 38 percent full on a Saturday. - The most available parking exists almost entirely in the section that requires the longest walk — something anyone who has ended up near Stater Bros. after circling the Rodeo 72 lot has already figured out. The survey has limits worth noting. All three observation days ended at 8pm, missing the Friday and Saturday evening hours when a bar, food hall, and Korean BBQ restaurant would all be drawing crowds at the same time. The underlying model also draws from national averages published in a 2020 Urban Land Institute manual for generic shopping centers — not from observed behavior at this specific, heavily trafficked destination. **The Proposed Solutions** The parking management plan includes several proposed fixes. Beyond setting aside employee parking and adding pickup stalls, the plan calls for 90-minute time limits on parking near Rodeo 72 to keep spaces turning over. The plan also points to the Whittier Cruiser as an alternative for managing demand. The parking study identifies Rodeo 72 and EOS Fitness as the two most common destinations for Cruiser riders. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-26-061633.png) The proposed Parking Management Plan for The Groves at Whittier, showing 120 spaces recommended for employee parking (blue) pushed to the outer edges of the lot, and existing short-term parking locations (orange). Under the plan, designating those employee spaces would reduce general customer parking from 675 to 547 spaces. (Source: Linscott, Law & Greenspan Engineers, via City of Whittier) **What Happens Next** The City Council opens the public hearing on CAPO Public House's conditional use permit tonight, May 26, at 6pm at Whittier City Hall. The hearing is expected to be continued to the July 14, 2026 City Council meeting, where a final decision will be made. Public hearings are one of the few formal opportunities residents have to directly influence a land use decision before it's finalized. When members of the public speak or submit written comments, those statements become part of the official record that the City Council must consider before voting. If the permit is approved and later challenged, the public record — including community comments — becomes the foundation of that review. Tonight's hearing will open the item and accept initial comments, but because it is expected to be continued to July 14, residents have time to review the full agenda packet, consult with neighbors, and prepare comments before the final hearing. Written comments submitted ahead of July 14 will also be incorporated into the record. If you have concerns about parking, the bar expansion, or the broader development at The Groves, this is the formal channel to make your voice heard on the record. ### Metro Holding Public Hearings on Planned E Line Extension to Whittier URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/metro-holding-public-hearings-on-planned-e-line-extension-to-whittier/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T05:12:48.000Z LA Metro is holding a series of public hearings this month on a planned rail extension that would eventually bring the E Line to Whittier — making the city the final stop on the line. **What the project is** The Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 project would extend the E Line nearly nine miles east — from Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles to a new Lambert Station in Whittier. The corridor is home to roughly 722,000 residents and 274,000 employees, a population projected to grow 11% and gain 25% more jobs by 2042. Once complete, the line would add six new stations, linking the cities of Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier, along with the unincorporated communities of East Los Angeles and West Whittier-Los Nietos. Riders would be able to travel directly to Downtown Los Angeles, USC, and Santa Monica without transferring. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-093528.png) Lambert Station in Whittier, shown at bottom right, would be the E Line's eastern terminus once both phases are complete. Phase 2A (green) is the segment currently advancing through federal review. Map: LA Metro **What it means to be the end of the line** Being a terminus station is significant. As the final stop, Lambert Station in Whittier would be where all E Line service ends each night — every rider must exit the train at the last stop before cars are taken out of service for cleaning and storage. The extension to Whittier has been in [planning for years](https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-councilman-who-fought-to-bring-a-train-to-whittier-is-leaving-office/), with the Metro Board officially selecting Lambert Station as the eastern terminus in December 2022. **How it gets built** Because of funding constraints, Metro is building the project in two phases: - The first segment to be built, Phase 2A, would extend the E Line 4.7 miles from Atlantic/Pomona in East Los Angeles to Greenwood Avenue in Montebello, with three new stations: Atlantic/Whittier and Commerce/Citadel (both underground) and Greenwood (street level). - Phase 2B would continue through Pico Rivera and Santa Fe Springs before concluding at Lambert Station in Whittier. Measure M, approved by voters in 2016, allocates $3 billion for the project, with construction on Phase 2A targeted to begin in 2029\. Metro is also seeking additional federal and state grants to supplement Measure M funding. **Where things stand** Metro completed state environmental review (CEQA) in 2024 and is now conducting federal environmental review under NEPA — a required step to unlock federal funding for Phase 2A. The June hearings are part of that process. Community members can hear key findings from the federal Environmental Assessment and submit oral or written comments that become part of the official public record. All project materials are available in English and Spanish. **Why Whittier residents should pay attention** Whittier is the project's ultimate destination, but Lambert Station depends on Phase 2A getting funded and built first. Public comments submitted during this period become part of the official federal record for the project. **Hearing schedule** All hearings cover the same information. Attend whichever is most convenient: - **East Los Angeles (In-Person)** — Saturday, June 6, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | East Los Angeles Library, 4837 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90022 | Metro E Line accessible - **Virtual** — Monday, June 8, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Zoom: tinyurl.com/EastsideHearings | Meeting ID: 854 3383 6093 | Call-in: 213-338-8477 - **Commerce (In-Person)** — Wednesday, June 10, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Commerce Senior Citizens Center, 2555 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040 - **Montebello (In-Person)** — Saturday, June 13, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Chet Holifield Park Community Center, 1060 S Greenwood Avenue, Montebello, CA 90640 For more information or to submit written comments, visit metro.net/eastsidephase2 or contact the project team at 213-922-3012 or eastsidephase2@metro.net. ### What Is Measure ER? A Whittier Voter's Guide to the June 2 Sales Tax Measure URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/what-is-measure-er-a-whittier-voters-guide-to-the-june-2-sales-tax-measure/ Last updated: 2026-05-30T13:28:00.000Z If you're voting in the June 2 primary election, you'll see more than candidate races on your ballot. Measure ER is a proposed sales tax increase that would affect every purchase you make in Los Angeles County. Here's what you need to know before you vote. **What is Measure ER?** It's a proposal to raise the L.A. County sales tax by half a cent on every dollar for five years. If it passes, the county expects to collect about $1 billion a year — roughly $5 billion total — before the tax expires in October 2031. The measure only needs a simple majority to pass, meaning more than half of voters need to approve it. **What would it mean for your wallet?** Whittier's combined sales tax rate is currently 10.5% — already higher than the countywide baseline because the city has its own tax on top of county and state rates. If Measure ER passes, Whittier's rate would go up to 11%. In everyday terms: an extra 50 cents on a $100 purchase. An extra $5 on a $1,000 purchase. It adds up most for people who spend more — but as a sales tax, it also touches everyday purchases for people across all income levels. **Why is this on the ballot?** The federal government recently cut billions from Medicaid — called Medi-Cal here in California — through a budget law known as H.R. 1\. Those cuts are projected to cost L.A. County's health system around $800 million every year going forward. About 3.8 million county residents — nearly 4 in 10 people — were enrolled in Medi-Cal at the start of this year. Estimates suggest around 1.1 million of them could lose that coverage by 2028\. Six county health clinics have already closed. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in February to put the question directly to voters rather than try to absorb those cuts on their own. **Where would the money go?** This is where it gets a little complicated. Measure ER is technically a general tax, meaning the money goes into the county's general fund — not a dedicated healthcare account. There's no legal requirement that it be spent a certain way. That said, county supervisors approved a spending plan alongside the measure. Under that plan, 45% would go to nonprofit clinics serving uninsured, low-income patients; 22% would go toward keeping county hospitals and clinics running; and 10% would fund public health programs like disease prevention and health inspections. The measure also calls for independent annual audits and a nine-member oversight committee to publicly track how the money is spent. The spending plan is a commitment — but not a legally binding one. **What supporters say** Backers of Measure ER argue the county's safety net is already fraying. Four public hospitals and roughly two dozen clinics that serve many Medi-Cal patients are facing a projected $700 million annual revenue loss by 2028-2029\. When clinics close and people lose coverage, they end up in emergency rooms — which puts pressure on the whole healthcare system, including for people with private insurance. Supporters include major health providers, unions, and medical associations across the county. **What opponents say** Critics argue that L.A. County residents are already among the most taxed in the country, and adding another half-cent isn't the answer. They also point out that because the money goes into the general fund, the county isn't legally locked into spending it on healthcare — voters would have to trust that supervisors follow through. Some cities have also raised concerns that using up available county tax capacity now makes it harder for them to raise their own revenue later. **The bottom line** Measure ER is a temporary tax asking Whittier residents — and all L.A. County voters — to help backfill a hole left by federal healthcare cuts. Supporters say without it, clinics will close and coverage will disappear for hundreds of thousands of people. Opponents say the county is asking taxpayers to solve a problem that the state and federal government created. The decision is yours. Ballots are due June 2. ### The Old Joann Fabrics on Whittier Blvd Is Being Split Into 3 Businesses URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-former-joann-fabrics-on-whittier-boulevard-is-getting-three-new-tenants-we-dont-know-who-yet/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T19:03:00.000Z The former Joann Fabrics store on Whittier Boulevard has sat empty since closing. Now, city documents confirm the vacant building is being redeveloped into a three-tenant commercial center — and depending on how the surrounding area develops, it could end up being one of the only commercial spaces left on this stretch of the boulevard. On May 14, the Whittier Design Review Board approved a Master Sign Program for the property — essentially a rulebook to ensure future tenant signs look coordinated. But the sign program isn't really the story here. It's a window into what's coming. While no tenants have been announced, the building is actively under construction and detailed architectural plans have already been submitted to the city. The project is referred to as a "commercial center," signaling that it will be home to active retail or service businesses. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-18-102005.png) The south elevation drawing shows three equal tenant bays, each with a dedicated sign space above the entrance. Tenant names are still unknown. (Drawing: 16051 Whittier, LP / FASTSIGNS) **How a national chain closure left a gap on the boulevard** The Joann Fabrics store that occupied 16051 Whittier Blvd was a massive single-tenant retail space. The company had been struggling financially for several years, filing for bankruptcy twice within a year before announcing in February 2025 that it would close all of its nearly 800 stores nationwide by the end of May 2025\. After the Whittier location closed, the building sat largely vacant, becoming a visible gap on the boulevard. Site photos submitted to the city as part of the approval process show the building is mid-renovation. New wood-framed roof canopy structures have been installed along the storefront, giving it the appearance of a craftsman-style commercial strip. The parking lot has not yet been resurfaced. The property is owned by 16051 Whittier LP, a limited partnership based in Tarzana. The development application was submitted by Ronald Lam. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-18-102052.png) The site at 16051 Whittier Boulevard sits vacant, with a leasing sign still posted at the entrance. Construction on the three-tenant redevelopment is now underway. (Photo: City of Whittier) **Plans were in motion before the closure was even announced** In July 2024, the city approved a permit allowing the existing commercial site to be partitioned into three new tenant suites and to receive an exterior remodel. That was roughly seven months before Joann publicly announced it was closing all of its stores — meaning the developer had already secured approval to redevelop this location while the chain was still operating and before any public word of a full shutdown. The three suites are labeled Suite A, Suite B, and Suite C in the site plans. Based on the floor plan included in the signage documents, Suite A appears to be the largest space, located on the west end of the building. Suites B and C occupy the center and east portions, respectively. None of the three suites have named tenants in any of the city documents reviewed for this story. The sign program uses "Tenant Name" placeholders throughout, which is standard practice — businesses are often not locked in until construction is further along. **A zoning detail worth flagging** The property is officially zoned for high-density residential housing — not commercial use. In fact, the entire stretch of Whittier Boulevard from Santa Gertrudes Avenue to Valley Home Avenue carries R-4 residential zoning, which allows residential development at up to 35 dwelling units per acre, with buildings up to 35 feet tall sitting as close as 5 feet from property lines. It remains unclear how many commercial spaces, if any, will be permitted along this stretch under the new zoning. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/former-Joann-Fabric-store-1.png) A screenshot from the City of Whittier's GIS zoning map shows the former Joann Fabrics site (red dot) within a stretch of Whittier Boulevard designated R-4 Heavy Multiple-Family Residential (light blue). The commercial redevelopment was approved before the city's updated Zoning Code took effect in October 2024, locking in the residential designation for surrounding parcels. (Map: City of Whittier GIS / Whittier Informed) **What comes next** The approval does not identify future tenants or indicate when businesses may open. Each individual sign will still require its own separate city permit before it can be installed. And the building itself must pass inspections before it can receive a certificate of occupancy — the document that legally allows a business to operate. Whittier Informed will continue monitoring city permit records and the property for any updates on tenants or a timeline. ### The Councilman Who Fought to Bring a Train to Whittier Is Leaving Office URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-councilman-who-fought-to-bring-a-train-to-whittier-is-leaving-office/ Last updated: 2026-05-16T05:15:22.000Z Fernando Dutra lost his Whittier City Council seat on April 14, and that loss comes with an unexpected consequence: he also loses his spot on the LA Metro Board of Directors. Challenger Aida Susie Macedo beat him by a [wide margin](https://www.whittierinformed.com/what-the-2026-whittier-election-data-shows-turnout-voting-trends-and-what-comes-next) — about 67% to 27% — and Dutra conceded. Under state law, Metro's city-representative board seats can only be held by a sitting mayor or council member. When Macedo is sworn in on April 28, Dutra's council term ends and his Metro eligibility goes with it. The timing is notable. Dutra isn't just a board member — he's the current Metro Board Chair. He's expected to run the April 23 board meeting and has said he plans to stay in the chair role through the end of June, when it was already scheduled to rotate to someone else on July 1. **He's the reason Whittier is getting a train** Before getting into how Dutra got onto the Metro board, it's worth understanding what he did while he was there — because the impact on Whittier is significant. Metro is currently extending the E Line, its light rail that runs from Santa Monica through downtown LA and East LA, all the way to Whittier. When it's complete, Whittier will have a light rail station at Lambert Road near PIH Health Hospital, with direct rail access to the rest of Los Angeles County. That was not always the plan. For 13 years, cities across Southeast LA County were divided over where a rail extension should go. One camp wanted the line to run along the 60 Freeway toward South El Monte. The other wanted it to follow Washington Boulevard to Whittier. Dutra was on the Whittier City Council's Gold Line Light Rail Ad Hoc Committee and had been pushing the Washington Boulevard route since at least 2008 — more than a decade before the debate was settled. The turning point came in February 2020, when Metro staff recommended dropping the 60 Freeway route entirely. The reasons were practical: Caltrans had plans to widen the 60, which would have blocked the rail corridor. The route ran through a Superfund toxic waste site. It crossed flood plains that the Army Corps of Engineers objected to. And Metro couldn't find a large enough piece of land for a maintenance facility anywhere along that stretch. On top of all that, a two-pronged extension would have meant trains running no more than every 10 minutes at peak hours — not exactly a strong case for getting people out of their cars. The Metro board approved staff's recommendation that same month. The Washington Boulevard route to Whittier was in. The 60 Freeway route was out. Less than a year later, Dutra was on the Metro board. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-15-214609.png) The planned route of the Metro E Line Eastside Extension. Phase 1 (green) runs from East LA to Montebello, targeted to open between 2029 and 2035\. Phase 2 (pink) continues to a terminus at Lambert Road in Whittier, with completion estimated between 2035 and 2037\. (Map: LA Metro) **Getting on the board wasn't easy** In January 2021, the cities that make up the Gateway Cities subregion — Southeast LA County — voted to send Dutra to Metro. He beat out Bell Mayor Ali Saleh 87 to 74 in a weighted vote, where each city gets votes proportional to its population. But that wasn't the finish line. Metro's city-representative seats also require ratification from the full LA County City Selection Committee, a countywide body of city mayors and representatives. When Dutra went before that group on January 25, he came up short — 243 votes, when he needed 262. The opposition came from the Southeast Cities — Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lynwood, and South Gate — a cluster of smaller, dense, heavily Latino cities that felt they had been left out of regional representation despite having some of the highest transit ridership in the county. They voted no. Dutra went back to the Gateway Cities, got unanimously re-selected on February 18, and was ratified by the full committee on March 8, 2021\. He replaced outgoing Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia on the board. Once he was in, he moved up steadily — Construction Committee member, then its chair, then Vice Chair of the full board, then Board Chair for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The first person from Whittier to hold that role. Throughout, the E Line extension was his main focus. In May 2024, the Metro board approved the project's final Environmental Impact Report — a major step that opened the door to federal funding and construction. At that meeting, Dutra walked the board through the route stop by stop, showing how the line would thread through Commerce, Montebello, Pico Rivera, and Santa Fe Springs before reaching Whittier. The project is nine miles of new track in two phases. Phase 1 goes from the current East LA terminus at Atlantic Station through underground stops at Atlantic/Whittier Boulevard and the Citadel in Commerce, then to Montebello — targeted to open between 2029 and 2035\. Phase 2 continues to the Lambert Road station in Whittier, with completion estimated between 2035 and 2037\. Total cost: around $7.5 billion. About $6 billion is already committed through Measures R and M, with the rest to be pursued through federal funding. **What happens now** Dutra's seat doesn't just disappear — it has to be filled through the same process that put him there. The Gateway Cities subregion will hold a weighted vote among its mayors and council members, then send a nominee to the full LA County City Selection Committee for ratification. In that vote, Long Beach holds 48 out of 173 total weighted votes — more than a quarter of the subregion on its own. Whittier has 9\. Whoever Long Beach backs will have an outsized say in who gets the seat. That matters because Dutra's replacement may not share the same priorities. Whittier is one of the more suburban cities in the Gateway Cities subregion. A new representative from Long Beach or one of the dense Southeast LA cities could bring a very different set of concerns to the board. The E Line extension will keep moving forward either way. But Dutra spent nearly 17 years making sure Whittier was at the end of that line. He won't be on the board to see it open. *Metro's Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 fact sheet outlining the project timeline, funding, and planned stations from East LA to Whittier. (Document: LA Metro)* ### Whittier Has No Plans For Whittier Boulevard URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-has-no-plans-for-whittier-boulevard/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T17:00:42.000Z The City of Whittier spent years pursuing ownership of 7 miles of Whittier Boulevard from Caltrans. In 2025, the state formally handed it over, along with a one-time $16.7 million payment. But the relinquishment agreement, the official document transferring ownership from the state to the city, reveals the city took on far more than a road. Under the terms of the agreement, the city accepted full ownership, maintenance, and liability for the boulevard — not temporarily, but permanently. The city also accepted the road in its existing environmental condition, including known contamination risks. Caltrans had identified 50 contaminated sites adjacent to the boulevard, with 11 still active as of December 2024\. One of them, the Omega Chemical Corporation site at 12504 Whittier Blvd, is a [federal Superfund site](https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0903349&ref=whittierinformed.com), meaning it has been designated by the U.S. government as one of the most seriously contaminated properties in the country. Once the transfer was recorded, Caltrans was no longer responsible for any contamination costs going forward. The city agreed to all of it. And now, according to City Manager Conal McNamara, there is no plan. Speaking during last week's 2026-27 fiscal budget review meeting, McNamara said that if the city council wants a plan for Whittier Boulevard, staff can put one together. But as of now, none exists for the 7-mile stretch the city worked years to acquire. 0:00 /0:44 1× **How the $16.7 Million Is Being Managed** Rather than spending the money outright, the city put the $16.7 million into U.S. Treasury bonds, a type of government-backed investment, which earned around $350,000 in interest this fiscal year. The goal is to use that interest to cover ongoing costs without touching the $16.7 million itself, except for one-time startup costs like equipment and trucks. On paper, it's a cautious approach. But the numbers reveal a problem almost immediately. City finance staff confirmed that personnel dedicated to Whittier Boulevard alone will cost $466,000 this year, already $116,000 more than the interest covers. And that's before repairs, upkeep, and outside contractors. When the city hires consultants for studies or surveys, those contracts can run six figures each. The agreement also transferred every traffic signal and streetlight along the full 7 miles to the city, each one requiring ongoing maintenance, electricity costs, and eventual replacement. The interest isn't keeping up. And the $16.7 million, if left untouched as intended, can't fund improvements on its own. It's also worth noting that the $16.7 million wasn't the state's first offer. According to the city, Caltrans initially offered around $5 million for the transfer before negotiations pushed the final number to $16.7 million. Even at $16.7 million, the money may not be enough. **Santana's Question** Councilmember Vicky Santana raised the harder question during the budget discussion: where does the money come from to actually improve Whittier Boulevard if the city is only spending interest? It's a question without a clear answer, at least not yet. To understand what improvements cost, consider this: the construction projects currently underway at the Painter Avenue and 5 Points intersections, two of the busiest spots along the boulevard, are running up to $7 million combined. Those projects are paid for by LA Metro through a federal congestion relief program, not by the city. The city had to apply for that funding and wait years for approval. The city now permanently owns the entire 7-mile corridor. With two intersections alone costing $7 million, the scale of what full improvements could cost is significant, and that's before factoring in the environmental cleanup costs the city accepted responsibility for when it signed the transfer agreement. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/540273412_18291893755266715_6367931950539502629_n-1.jpg) Aerial view of the 5 Points intersection on Whittier Boulevard, one of the busiest spots along the corridor and currently under construction through LA Metro funding. Photo: City of Whittier/Facebook. **What the City Said Before** Santana's question is particularly striking given what was said when the city first took ownership in 2025\. City council members and staff publicly discussed plans to widen Whittier Boulevard to six lanes wherever possible along its full length to help with traffic flow. The city also rezoned the eastern end of the boulevard, from Santa Gertrudes to Valley Home Avenue, to allow for high-density housing development. This will inevitably bring more residents and more traffic to a road the city is already struggling to fund. McNamara, who was not yet with the city when those discussions took place, did not indicate whether any of those ideas have been further developed. It remains unclear whether developers building on the newly rezoned land will be required to contribute to boulevard improvements as part of future development. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-12-114252-1.png) The highlighted area shows a stretch of Whittier Boulevard zoned R-4, allowing for high-density residential development. Source: City of Whittier GIS Zoning Map. **A Growing Deficit** The financial picture makes the question more urgent. The city is already projecting a $3.6 million budget shortfall for 2026-27, expected to grow to $9 million by 2030\. [The city has been spending more than it brings in for years](https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-is-spending-more-than-it-makes-the-citys-own-numbers-show-it-getting-worse), drawing on savings to make up the difference. When asked about long-term solutions, McNamara pointed to growing sales tax revenue as a key path forward. His plan includes working closely with the Whittier Chamber of Commerce, the Whittier Uptown Association, and the Uptown Whittier Improvement Association to drive more business activity along Whittier Boulevard and in the Uptown area. The boulevard is being counted on as part of the solution to the city's financial pressures. But attracting more business takes time, and the bills for maintaining the road are already here. **What Comes Next** The 2026-27 budget proposal returns to the city council on May 12, where further discussions on the city's finances and Whittier Boulevard are expected. The budget must be finalized by June 30. The council has yet to direct staff to develop a formal plan for Whittier Boulevard, or identify how to pay for one. What is clear is that the city took on a permanent obligation. The question now is whether it has a permanent plan to match. ### 2 Homes Built in the 1900s Are Coming Down. 9 Market-Rate Townhomes Are Going Up URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/2-homes-built-in-the-1900s-are-coming-down-9-market-rate-townhomes-are-going-up/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T07:28:21.000Z A development proposal that would demolish two single-family homes in Uptown Whittier and replace them with nine three-story market-rate townhomes is heading to its first official public hearing on May 14 at Whittier City Hall. The project, known as Camilla Street Townhomes, is proposed for 13444–13448 Camilla St. — a site that consists of two adjacent lots totaling roughly 15,000 square feet. The applicant is Lauren Huynh on behalf of Purunjian Investments LLC. **From Community Meeting to Public Hearing** Some residents may remember an informal community meeting hosted by the developer at the Whittier Public Library back in March. That meeting was voluntary and organized by the applicant — not an official city proceeding. May 14 is different. A public hearing is part of the city's formal approval process, and comments made on the record can influence the board's decision, including requiring the developer to make changes to the design. The May 14 hearing is before the **Design Review Board**, which evaluates the architectural design of the project for compliance with Whittier's design guidelines. This is the first of multiple city approvals the project will need — the full development, including the subdivision of the property into nine individual condominiums, will require a separate Planning Commission hearing down the road. **What We Now Know** During the March community meeting, many details were unavailable. The full project plans have now been submitted and reviewed by city staff. Here's what the documents reveal: The nine townhomes are three stories tall at approximately 32 feet, ranging from 1,229 to 1,307 square feet each with two bedrooms. Three primary floor plan layouts are offered, including one ADA-designated unit. All units feature tuck-under garage parking — each with an enclosed two-car garage — plus three additional guest parking spaces on site. The architect describes the style as 'Contemporary Farmhouse,' though the city's staff report refers to it as 'Craftsman' — a distinction the Design Review Board will weigh against Whittier's architectural guidelines. The project also includes one Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), located on the second floor above the covered guest parking. The ADU will not be sold independently — it will be bundled with one of the nine primary units. The nine townhomes are for-sale condominiums at market rate. The documents include no affordability requirements. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot_20260507_175227_Chrome-1-1.jpg) A first look at the proposed Camilla Street Townhomes. Renderings show the three-story development, including the central shared driveway flanked by tuck-under garages. These images are part of the official Design Review Board submittal. (Credit: City of Whittier / LCRA Architects**)* **What's Being Lost** The two homes being demolished were built in 1907 and 1910 — part of Uptown Whittier's earliest residential development. The project site sits directly across the street from The Bailey House, Whittier's first home and a designated historic landmark. Multiple consultants, including one hired by the city, assessed both properties and determined they do not qualify for historic protection. The site is also down the street from Hoover Elementary School. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot_20260508_150655_Drive-1-1.jpg) The project site (highlighted in yellow) at 13444 & 13448 Camilla St. The Bailey House — Whittier's first home and a designated historic landmark — is visible across Camilla Street. Hoover Elementary School appears at the upper right. (**Credit: City of Whittier)* **How to Weigh In** The Design Review Board meeting is open to the public. Residents who attend can speak on the record during the public comment period. Written comments can also be submitted to the Community Development Department in advance. **May 14, 2026 | 4:00 PM** **at Whittier City Hall,** **Design Review Board Meeting** ### Whittier Is Spending More Than It Makes: The City's Own Numbers Show It Getting Worse URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-is-spending-more-than-it-makes-the-citys-own-numbers-show-it-getting-worse/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T13:43:22.000Z The City of Whittier is currently reviewing its proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27, and buried inside hundreds of pages of financial documents is a straightforward problem: the city is spending more money than it takes in. The proposed budget projects expenditures exceeding revenues by approximately $3.6 million before reserve adjustments. The city plans to fill that gap by drawing from reserve funds. On paper, the budget balances. In practice, the city is consuming savings to make that happen. That would be a manageable situation if it were temporary. The city's own five-year financial plan suggests it is not. ## A Gap That Keeps Growing The gap between what Whittier earns and what it spends is expected to grow significantly over the next several years. The five-year financial plan attached to the proposed budget projects the deficit widening from $3.6 million this year to more than $9 million annually by fiscal year 2029-30\. Those projections come directly from city staff documents presented to the City Council in May 2026. For context, Whittier was taking in significantly more money than it was spending just a few years ago — but those years were unusual, shaped by pandemic-era conditions that have since faded. The longer trend tells a different story. Since 2020, city revenues have grown by roughly 24 percent. Expenditures have grown by roughly 78 percent. Those two lines are moving in incompatible directions, and the gap between them is widening every year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Whittier-Is-Spending-More-Than-It-Makes-1.png) Whittier General Fund revenues and expenditures, FY 2020-21 through FY 2029-30\. Figures from FY 2027-28 onward are city projections. (Chart: Whittier Informed/Source: City of Whittier budget documents) ## Why the Surplus Years Were Misleading For several years, Whittier's budget looked healthy on paper. Two factors explain why that picture was not fully representative of the city's longer-term trajectory. First, the pandemic years. During COVID, city spending was temporarily reduced — events were canceled, projects were delayed, and the federal government sent cities relief money that offset costs. The city received approximately $16.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds beginning in 2021\. That money helped fund the Homeless Navigation Center and other services. It was never a permanent revenue source, and it is now exhausted. Second, a one-time state payment. In 2025, the state of California transferred responsibility for Whittier Boulevard from CalTrans to the city and provided a one-time payment of $16.7 million as part of that transaction. The city set those funds aside in a dedicated reserve to cover the long-term costs of maintaining the road and absorbing the surrounding annexation area — including new staffing, vehicles, and operational obligations. That payment won't happen again. Both of these one-time payments helped make the city's finances look healthier than the underlying trend actually was. ## The Projections Kept Getting Worse Here's what makes this worth paying attention to: just two years ago, the city wasn't projecting a deficit at all. In the fiscal year 2024-25 five-year financial plan, city staff projected that fiscal year 2026-27 would end with a surplus of $889,000. One year later, the fiscal year 2025-26 five-year plan revised that projection to a deficit of $1.1 million for the same year. Now, the actual proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 shows a deficit of $3.6 million before reserve adjustments. That's a $4.5 million downward swing in two years. In 2024, the city told us this year would end with a surplus. Today the city is projecting a deficit nearly four times larger than what it forecast just one year ago. The biggest driver appears to be employee costs — which came in roughly $3.5 million higher than projected, largely because labor agreements were settled at higher rates than the city had budgeted for. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot_20260507_054303_Chrome.jpg) The city's proposed FY 2026-27 budget summary presented at the May 5 budget study session. Expenditures exceed revenues by $3.6 million — covered by reserve adjustments to reach a net zero balance. (Source: City of Whittier/Budget Study Session, May 5, 2026) ### Raises Approved as the Deficit Was Already Visible All of this makes one decision particularly worth noting. On March 24, the previous city council, before they were voted out in April 14 election, approved 27 percent raises over three years for all executives and department directors. The entire police department got the same. The City Manager got a separate 19 percent raise, bringing his base salary to $365,000. Those raises kick in over the next three years — the exact same three years the city's own projections show the deficit growing from $3.6 million to more than $9 million. The full cost of those salary agreements was never publicly disclosed. That matters because employee costs are already the single biggest driver of Whittier's budget gap — accounting for more than half of all General Fund spending. Every year those raises take effect, the pressure on the city's finances grows a little more. ## How the City Is Covering the Gap To balance the budget, the city is drawing from three dedicated savings funds this fiscal year. **PERS Reserve — approximately $2.36 million** drawn to offset rising pension costs. The city's Unfunded Accrued Liability payment to CalPERS has nearly tripled in two years, from approximately $2.2 million in fiscal year 2024-25 to $5.3 million in 2026-27\. The PERS reserve was built specifically to cushion this kind of increase. Its balance is projected to decline from $11.7 million to $9.3 million this year. **Homeless Shelter and Outreach Reserve — approximately $2.13 million** drawn to fund the Navigation Center and homeless outreach operations. This reserve was originally funded with federal COVID relief money — part of the $16.8 million the city received through the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021\. Its balance is projected to decline from $9.98 million to $7.85 million. **State Relinquishment Reserve — approximately $166,000** drawn for Whittier Boulevard and annexation-related costs. This reserve remains relatively stable because only a small portion is being used annually, but it is committed to road and annexation obligations rather than available as a general operating cushion. It's not as simple as the city raiding one account to cover a shortfall. Each reserve has a specific job. The city is using dedicated savings to simultaneously manage pension costs, homeless services, and Whittier Boulevard responsibilities — while the overall budget structure nets to zero on paper. It is also worth noting that beyond these dedicated reserves, the city maintains a broader general fund balance — projected at approximately $58.9 million as of July 1, 2026 — which provides additional financial cushion. The PERS reserve draws noted above are specifically for their designated purpose of offsetting pension obligations, not general budget balancing. Whittier's overall reserve position remains stronger than many cities of comparable size. The question the city's own numbers raise is simple: what happens when those savings run low? Under the current trajectory, the PERS reserve and the Homeless Shelter reserve are both projected to be nearly depleted by fiscal year 2029-30\. At that point, the city would need to find new recurring revenue, reduce services, or some combination of both to cover obligations it is currently funding from savings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot_20260507_054420_Chrome.jpg) Whittier's total General Fund balance and reserves are projected at $101.3 million as of July 1, 2027\. The largest share — 58% — is the general fund balance of $58.9M, which is not designated for a specific purpose. (Source: City of Whittier/Budget Study Session, May 5, 2026) ## What the Projections Don't Account For One of the bigger unknowns looming over these projections is the city's policing contract with Santa Fe Springs, which is scheduled to terminate in February 2028\. That contract currently brings in approximately $17 to $18 million per year — roughly 15 percent of the city's total operating revenue. The city's own budget memo acknowledges the termination date but states the financial impact has not yet been fully incorporated into long-term projections. That's a significant gap. It's not yet clear whether the contract ending will be a net wash — the city would no longer be spending on those services either — or whether there are deeper financial implications that will need to be managed. What happens to the roughly 30 officers currently dedicated to Santa Fe Springs is also an open question. The city says it is still evaluating the impact. Until that analysis is complete, the deficit projections in the five-year plan should be read with that uncertainty in mind. ## What Comes Next The City Council is scheduled to continue reviewing the proposed budget at its meeting on Tuesday, May 12\. Final adoption is expected in June. The new council — James Becerra, Vicky Santana, and Aida Macedo, sworn in on April 28 — is encountering these fiscal realities in their first weeks in office. The decisions made during this budget cycle, and in the years immediately ahead, will determine whether Whittier's reserve cushion serves as a bridge to structural stability or is drawn down to the point where the city faces significantly harder choices. --- *This reporting is based on publicly available documents from the City of Whittier, including the proposed FY 2026-27 budget, the five-year general fund financial plan, and budget proposals and five-year plans from fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, 2024-25, and 2025-26.* ### Historic Night in Whittier: First Latino-majority Council, New Mayor, Doubled Turnout URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/historic-night-in-whittier-first-latino-majority-council-new-mayor-doubled-turnout/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T16:52:47.000Z Whittier's April 14 municipal election delivered a series of milestones that will reshape the city's government for years to come. Voters ended a decade-long mayoral tenure, flipped the city council from Republican to Democratic control, and elected the first Latino-majority council in the city's 128-year history. James Becerra defeated incumbent Mayor Joe Vinatieri with 67% of the vote. Vicky Santana defeated incumbent Councilmember Fernando Dutra in District 2\. Aida Macedo defeated incumbent Councilmember Octavio Martinez in District 4\. All three challengers were endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. The races were officially nonpartisan. Voter turnout doubled compared to recent city elections. **The End of an Era: Vinatieri's 20-Year Run** Joe Vinatieri first joined the Whittier City Council in 2006 under the city's old at-large election system, in which all voters citywide chose every council seat. He served on the council continuously for 20 years. In 2016, when Whittier implemented district-based elections and created a separately elected citywide mayor's race for the first time, Vinatieri won that inaugural election. He held the directly-elected mayor's seat for the next 10 years — the only person ever to hold that position — until voters removed him on April 14, 2026. **From All-Republican to Democratic Majority** As recently as 2024, all five Whittier City Council seats were held by Republicans. That changed when Mary Ann Pacheco defeated incumbent Jessica Martinez to flip District 3\. Even so, Republicans still held a four-to-one majority heading into this year's election. The victories by Becerra, Santana, and Macedo completed the flip. Four of the five council seats are now held by Democrats. Cathy Warner is the sole remaining Republican member. While Whittier's municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, the April 14 race drew unusually overt party involvement on both sides. Vinatieri leaned into his party affiliation openly. His campaign materials labeled him the "Republican's Choice," and at a meeting with Young Republicans Los Angeles and Log Cabin Republicans LA, he told the group, "We're a red city." The remark spread widely [online,](https://youtube.com/shorts/PNfIM7QOlfc?si=uJCTaL2Pv64TNpyA&ref=whittierinformed.com) sparking debate about the political identity of a city that votes Democratic in state and federal races but had been governed locally by Republicans for decades. His campaign also carried endorsements from the Republican Party of Los Angeles County and the Lincoln Club of San Gabriel Valley. On the other side, the LA County Democratic Party endorsed all three challengers, recruited volunteers, and ran ads on their behalf. The party's chair, Mark Ramos, attended campaign rallies alongside the three endorsed candidates in the weeks leading up to the election. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/IMG_7641-1.png) This promotional text message for Joe Vinatieri emphasized Republican endorsements and party affiliation in Whittier’s mayoral race **Turnout Doubles — But the Gap Remains** Whittier has more than 55,000 registered voters. In the 2024 municipal election, roughly 8,000 of them voted. After that election, Mayor Joe Vinatieri was asked about the low turnout by the Whittier Daily News. He said: "Those who wanted to vote, voted and there's no real excuse other than you chose not to vote." Two years later, turnout jumped 107% — the highest the city has seen in recent April cycles. The competitive mayoral race, an energized electorate, and months of community organizing all contributed to the surge. Even so, overall turnout on April 14 still came in at 28.76% of registered voters — a reminder of the limits of asking residents to show up when nothing else is on the ballot. Becerra, Santana, and Macedo have all said moving Whittier's elections to the same date as state and federal elections is a priority for the new council. **First Latino-Majority Council in 128 Years** The April 14 results also produced what the LA Times reported as the first [Latino-majority](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-01/whittier-city-council-latino-majority?ref=whittierinformed.com) council in Whittier's 128-year history, raising the number of Latino council members to four. The milestone caps more than two decades of organizing. In the city's first 115 years, only one Latino had ever been elected to the city council. Since 2000, nine Latino candidates ran for council under the at-large system and not one won. A 2013 lawsuit documented the pattern in detail. The complaint argued that the city's at-large voting system and standalone April election date together diluted the voting power of Latino residents — meaning their votes carried less influence over election outcomes — in violation of the California Voter Rights Act. Vinatieri's first council win in 2006 was among the elections cited as evidence. According to the complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Latino candidate Alex Moisa received support from 87% of Latino voters in that race but only 22% of non-Latino voters. Vinatieri received 76% of the non-Latino vote and less than 1% support from Latino voters, winning 3,901 votes to Moisa's 2,677. The city was sent written notice twice — in June 2011 and again in June 2013 — and refused to act both times. It settled in 2014, agreeing to end at-large voting and create four council districts. A Latino candidate won a council seat the following year. *(The 2013 voting rights lawsuit filed against the City of Whittier by residents Jafet Diego, Miguel Garcia, and Lisa Lopez, challenging the city's at-large election system and April election date as discriminatory toward Latino voters.)* **First Mayor With a Latino Surname Since 1990** City records show that Victor Lopez served as Whittier's mayor from 1980–1982 and again from 1988–1990\. Based on available records, Becerra is the first mayor with a Latino surname since Lopez left office — a gap of more than 35 years. Whittier Informed could not independently confirm the ethnic identity of every person who has held the office. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-12-205209.png) Whittier’s official mayor timeline, published by the City of Whittier, traces the city’s leadership from 1898 to the present and reflects the evolution of local political culture and civic leadership across generations. Courtesy of the City of Whittier. **What Comes Next** Becerra, Santana, and Macedo have said they intend to push for moving Whittier's elections to the same date as state and federal elections. Any such change would require council approval and then a public vote. ### Available, But Not Accessible: Whittier's Spanish-Language Outreach Under Question URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/available-but-not-accessible-whittiers-spanish-language-outreach-under-question/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T17:40:16.000Z On April 28, the Whittier City Council approved a federally required transportation equity plan for the city's Dial-A-Ride program. Dial-A-Ride is a city-operated, on-demand transportation service serving Whittier seniors and residents with disabilities. The plan, required every three years by the Federal Transit Administration, documents how the city ensures its transportation programs are accessible to all residents regardless of race, color, or national origin. But before the vote, Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco raised a question about whether posting resources in Spanish is enough. "We had a discussion between the difference of available and accessible," Pacheco said. "Some things may be available, but if you don't know how to get them, if you don't know they exist, they are in reality not accessible, so they may as well not exist." Pacheco said she wants the city to more proactively reach residents who speak Spanish as their primary or only language, so they can take full advantage of transportation options within the city. "I really want to see in the next report that we have consciously and seriously, really beefed up our outreach," she said. 0:00 /0:43 1× Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco comments on Spanish language accessibility at the April 28, 2026 City Council meeting (City of Whittier) **What the Plan Says** The Title VI Program Plan, which covers the city's Dial-A-Ride (DAR) program through December 31, 2028, includes a Language Assistance Plan specifically designed to address the needs of residents with limited English proficiency, defined federally as those who do not speak English as their primary language or who understand it "less than very well." According to 2021 U.S. Census data cited in the plan, approximately 8.6 percent of Whittier's population, roughly 7,033 residents out of 81,890, falls into that category. The plan outlines a range of language access measures specific to transit services: bilingual English/Spanish brochures distributed at senior and community centers, bilingual staff at the Transit office and on DAR vehicles, and Spanish interpretation available upon request at meetings related to transit services. Some measures extend beyond transportation. Spanish translation is available on the city's website, and interpretation services are offered upon request at City Council meetings. The plan documents what exists. Pacheco's question is whether residents are actually finding it. [View/Download: Title VI Program PlanCity of Whittier Title VI Program Plan: Language Access & EquityATTACHMENT\_A\_-\_TITLE\_VI\_PROGRAM\_PLAN.DOCX\_(60614).pdf281 KBdownload-circle](https://www.whittierinformed.com/content/files/2026/05/ATTACHMENT%5FA%5F-%5FTITLE%5FVI%5FPROGRAM%5FPLAN.DOCX%5F-60614-.pdf "Download") **The Gap Between Available and Reached** The Language Assistance Plan acknowledges that roughly 20 percent of DAR riders are bilingual Spanish speakers, but notes that staff often cannot determine whether Spanish-language communication is necessary or simply preferred. The plan also relies heavily on residents finding city resources on their own, through the website, by visiting a senior center, or by already knowing the service exists. The plan does not describe targeted outreach efforts in specific Spanish-speaking communities. One example stands out. A Spanish-language notice posted on Dial-A-Ride vehicles and at senior centers is supposed to tell riders how to reach the city if they believe their civil rights have been violated. Questions about the level of review given to the Spanish-language version arise from two details: typos in the Spanish text and a wrong number, a 559 area code that reaches Able Inc., a disability employment nonprofit in Visalia, nearly 200 miles away, with no connection to the City of Whittier. For a Spanish-speaking resident who sees that notice and calls the number listed, it would not connect them to the city's transit services or complaint process. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot_20260504_115325_Drive-1--1.jpg) The Spanish language "Public Notice of Rights under Title VI" included in the document lists the wrong number. This notice is posted in vehicles and the senior center. **A Broader Question** Dial-A-Ride is, in many ways, an entry point to a larger conversation. The Title VI plan is specific to transit, but the question Pacheco raised applies across city services: how does a resident who primarily speaks Spanish learn what is available to them, and what does the city do to make sure they do? The plan was approved unanimously, but Pacheco's comments put something on the record that the next update, due in three years, will need to answer. The question is not whether the resources exist. It is whether residents know they do. For now, that question remains unresolved. ### What The 2026 Whittier Election Data Shows: Turnout, Voting Trends, And What Comes Next URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/what-the-2026-whittier-election-data-shows-turnout-voting-trends-and-what-comes-next/ Last updated: 2026-05-16T05:20:05.000Z Whittier's April 14, 2026 election drew the highest turnout the city has seen in recent April cycles. A total of 17,006 ballots were cast out of 59,125 registered voters, a turnout rate of 28.76% and a 107% jump from the 8,202 votes cast in 2024, a sharp increase that points to higher engagement in a competitive race. The results reshaped City Hall, with voters electing a new mayor and two new council members. **Mayor** James Becerra defeated incumbent Mayor Joe Vinatieri by a wide margin, collecting 11,383 votes to Vinatieri's 5,298\. A third candidate, Isaiah L. Leon Savage, was also on the ballot and received 253 votes. Becerra won every precinct in the city. The race ended a decade-long run for Vinatieri, who had served as mayor since 2016 and won reelection in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024\. His winning margin got smaller with each election, and the 2026 race was not close. Becerra received more than twice as many votes. Vinatieri's 2026 total was largely consistent with his past performance. Since 2016, he has typically received between 5,000 and 6,000 votes in April elections. What changed in 2026 was not his baseline, but the scale of turnout around him. Becerra's 11,383 votes far exceeded what past challengers had received, suggesting the race drew from a broader pool of voters than prior April elections. The closest race was in Precinct 31, covering the area around Friendly Hills – including East Whittier Middle School and La Serna High School, where Becerra edged Vinatieri 590 to 565, a margin of just 35 votes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Pricenct-1_20260427_075927_0005-2-1.png) Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri's vote history compared to runner-up opponents (Whittier Informed) **District 2** Vicky Santana won the District 2 seat with 3,013 votes. Octavio Martinez finished second with 1,221 votes, followed by Rene Ramos with 417, Rolando Cano with 255, and Brian Ahern with 50\. District 2 saw 5,017 total ballots cast, a turnout rate of 32.33%. Martinez had held the District 2 seat since 2022 (only one four-year term). **District 4** Aida Macedo won the District 4 seat with 3,404 votes, defeating incumbent Fernando Dutra, who received 1,305 votes. Phil Longoria finished third with 322 votes. District 4 saw 5,093 total ballots cast, a turnout rate of 33.61%. Dutra had held the District 4 seat since 2016. **Turnout by neighborhood** Whittier divides its four council districts into 12 smaller areas called precincts, each representing a specific neighborhood. Turnout can vary significantly between them. In 2026, that gap was nearly 3 to 1\. Precinct 42, located near Michigan Park around Ocean View Elementary, recorded the highest turnout at 44.15%, with 1,637 of 3,708 registered voters casting ballots. Precinct 12, which includes City Hall and Lee & Erika Owens Park, recorded the lowest at 16.20%, with just 360 of 2,222 registered voters participating. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/updated-precinct-map-1.png) Ballots cast by precinct for the top two candidates in each race (Whittier Informed) **How people voted** Most votes were cast before Election Day, meaning the outcome was largely shaped in the weeks leading up to it. Of the 17,006 ballots cast, 13,734 (80.8%) were submitted by mail. Just 3,272 voters (19.2%) cast ballots in person. **The bigger picture on turnout** Whittier is an off-cycle city, meaning it holds its elections on its own schedule in April rather than alongside state or national elections in June or November. When voters go to the polls for governor, Congress, president, or high-profile ballot measures on issues like housing, taxes, or public safety, they cast ballots for local races at the same time. In an April-only election, the ballot has just one thing on it: Whittier City Council. In 2015, the state passed SB 415, the California Voter Participation Rights Act, which required cities with chronically low off-cycle turnout to move their elections to align with statewide dates. Whittier fell under that requirement and moved its 2020 election to March to coincide with the state primary. The result was immediate. In 2020, 22,526 ballots were cast, nearly three times the typical April total, because residents were already voting in the presidential primary. In 2018, Redondo Beach had successfully sued the state, winning a court ruling that SB 415 does not apply to charter cities. Whittier, also a charter city, followed Redondo Beach's lead and pointed to that ruling when its City Council voted 4 to 1 in 2021 to return to April elections. Turnout dropped 61% in the very next election in 2022. The 107% jump from 2024 to 2026 shows a competitive mayoral race can move the needle even on an off-cycle date. But the overall turnout rate of 28.76%, still reflects the limits of asking residents to show up when nothing else is on the ballot. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Pricenct-1_20260427_075927_0006-1.png) Total ballots cast in the City of Whittier by election year from 2016-2026 (Whittier Informed) **What comes next** The council that made that 2021 decision to move elections back to off-cycle is no longer in place. Two of the members who voted to return to April elections, Joe Vinatieri and Fernando Dutra, were voted out on April 14. When candidates were asked at election forums whether they would support moving Whittier elections back to align with statewide dates, Becerra, Santana, and Macedo each said they would. That decision could play a major role in how many Whittier residents participate in future elections. The 2026 election results will be certified by the Whittier City Clerk on April 28, 2026. ### PIH Health Whittier Hospital Names New Nursing Chief as ER Visits Near 80,000 a Year URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/pih-health-whittier-hospital-names-new-nursing-chief-as-er-visits-near-80-000-a-year/ Last updated: 2026-05-16T05:28:08.000Z PIH Health Whittier Hospital sees nearly 80,000 emergency room visits a year, along with more than 300,000 outpatient visits and roughly 2,000 births annually. Now, a new leader is stepping in to oversee the nursing operations behind those numbers. PIH Health has appointed Lydia Arroyo as chief nursing officer at its Whittier hospital, a role that carries executive responsibility for nursing staff, patient care standards, and daily operations that shape the patient experience. Arroyo has been with PIH Health since 2022 and has moved through several leadership roles, including senior director of maternal child health, an interim assignment overseeing surgical services, and most recently vice president of nursing operations. The hospital credited her leadership with helping earn recognition as a top facility for maternity care. "Throughout my career at PIH Health, I have had the opportunity to work across multiple service lines," Arroyo said in a statement. "I am honored to serve in this new role and remain committed to supporting our caregivers and advancing excellence in care for every patient we serve." Her appointment comes as hospitals across California face mounting pressure from staffing shortages and rising patient demand. Nearly 60% of California counties have nursing shortages, and the gap is projected to widen over the next decade, according to October 2025 reporting by KFF Health News. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/1000071787-1.jpg) PIH Health Whittier Hospital. Photo Courtesy of PIH Health. At PIH Whittier, officials said workforce challenges have affected the healthcare industry broadly, but did not provide current staffing figures. Instead, the hospital pointed to recruitment and retention efforts, including partnerships with local colleges that help licensed vocational nurses advance to registered nurse roles and give non-nursing employees a pathway into the profession. The hospital also highlighted its newly earned ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation, a credential held by roughly 300 hospitals worldwide and considered a global benchmark for nurse residency programs. When asked how Arroyo's success will be measured, PIH cited patient outcomes, satisfaction scores, and staff retention. The hospital said it continuously monitors patient flow and emergency department wait times, but did not provide specific figures. For the Whittier residents who rely on PIH Health for everything from emergency care to delivering their children, Arroyo's leadership will be felt in the day-to-day: how quickly someone is seen, how attentive the care is, and whether the hospital continues to meet the needs of a growing community. ### After ICE Costume Scandal and Election Power Shift, Planning Commissioner Resigns URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/after-ice-costume-scandal-and-election-power-shift-richard-quirk-resigns/ Last updated: 2026-05-16T05:18:49.000Z A Whittier Planning Commissioner has resigned following months of controversy over an ICE-themed costume, and just days after voters removed the City Council majority that had declined to act on calls for his removal. The controversy began when a video surfaced showing Commissioner Richard Quirk and his husband dressed as an ICE agent and an undocumented immigrant at a costume party. The video drew criticism from residents and sparked calls for Quirk’s resignation. In July 2025, Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco held a [press conference](https://www.foxla.com/news/whittier-planning-commissioner-richard-quirk-video-backlash?ref=whittierinformed.com) outside City Hall, calling for Quirk’s removal and describing the video as offensive and out of step with the community. In an interview, his husband said the costume was intended as a joke. “That was a parody,” he said, adding that he would not wear the costume again today. He also argued the backlash was politically motivated and targeted them as openly gay conservatives. Pacheco rejected that explanation, framing the issue as one of community impact and public responsibility. Aside from Pacheco, the rest of the City Council did not take action. **Months of pressure, no decision** In the months that followed, residents repeatedly raised concerns at City Council meetings, submitted public comments, and called for Quirk’s removal. Some also [disrupted](https://youtube.com/shorts/APoDJck4v5U?si=j-ETYLPqz5PgsWwV&ref=whittierinformed.com) Planning Commission meetings to confront him directly. Despite sustained pressure, the issue remained unresolved. **Ethics gap identified — but not addressed** Pacheco later requested a review of the city’s ethics policies for appointed officials, including commissioners. In November 2025, she directed staff to prepare a report outlining existing standards and potential updates. The report found that while Whittier requires financial disclosures and biennial ethics training, it does not have a standalone code of ethics governing the conduct of board and commission members. A staff report was scheduled for February 2026 but was pushed to a future meeting and has not returned to the council agenda. The report also reviewed other Southern California cities — including Santa Ana, Torrance, and West Hollywood — where ethics policies go further, outlining expectations for professionalism, conduct, and accountability, along with enforcement mechanisms. Whittier has not adopted a comparable code. **Resignation follows election shift** The controversy extended into early 2026 without resolution. Then, in the April 14 election, voters removed Mayor Joe Vinatieri and Councilmembers Fernando Dutra and Octavio Martinez from office, shifting the balance of power on the City Council. Three days later, Quirk resigned from the Planning Commission, effective immediately. Pacheco called the resignation “a step in the right direction.” It is unclear who will be appointed to fill the vacancy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/mary-ann-pacheco-quirk-resignation-letter.jpg) Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco's press release announcing Richard Quirk's resignation. ### How Whittier's City Hall Was Reshaped Three Weeks Before the Election — Part 2 URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/before-the-election-whittiers-police-unions-got-three-years-of-raises-part-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T05:34:50.000Z On March 24, the same city council meeting that restructured Whittier's city hall also approved new three-year labor contracts for the Whittier Police Officers Association and the Whittier Police Management Association, both running through June 2029. Like the city hall package [covered in Part 1](https://www.whittierinformed.com/how-whittiers-city-hall-was-reshaped-three-weeks-before-the-election-part-1), these contracts were approved three weeks before the April 14 election that removed Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Councilmembers Fernando Dutra and Octavio Martinez from office. Mayor-elect James Becerra, Councilmembers-elect Vicky Santana and Aida Macedo — who won that election — had no vote on either agreement. Whittier Informed is not suggesting these contracts are unreasonable. Police compensation in California is competitive by design — departments compete for qualified officers in a tight labor market, and Whittier is no exception. The questions worth asking are about timing, transparency, and what the incoming council now inherits. The existing police contracts were set to expire June 30, 2026 — new agreements were needed. However the council had until that date to finalize them, including after the new council was seated on April 28\. The specific terms negotiated and the decision to approve everything on March 24 were choices made by the outgoing majority. **Raises Across the Ranks** Whittier's police department has two labor groups. The Whittier Police Officers Association covers frontline sworn personnel: patrol officers and sergeants. The Whittier Police Management Association covers police leadership: lieutenants and captains. Think of them as two separate unions within the same department, one for the officers doing the work and one for the managers overseeing them. Both groups received the same raise structure: 9% raise effective July 1, 2026, 8% raise in 2027, and 8% raise in 2028 — adding up to roughly 27.7% over three years. In dollar terms that means a Police Officer at the highest pay level goes from roughly $10,304 per month today to approximately $13,158 per month by July 2028 — before any specialty pay, overtime, or benefits. A Police Sergeant at the highest pay level goes from roughly $13,150 per month to approximately $16,792 per month. Police management sees even larger numbers. A Police Lieutenant at the highest pay level reaches approximately $20,362 per month by 2028\. A Police Captain tops out at approximately $23,580 per month — nearly $283,000 per year in base salary alone. Those are base salaries. The full compensation picture is considerably higher. **Layer by Layer: Beyond the Base Salary** Both contracts include a layered system of additional pay that stacks on top of base salary. Understanding the full picture requires looking at all the pieces together. Importantly the 27% raise doesn't just increase base salary in isolation — every specialty pay provision is calculated as a percentage of the base. So as the base salary rises each year, the dollar value of every add-on rises with it. An officer with multiple assignments and certifications sees their total compensation grow by more than 27% in real dollar terms. Officers and sergeants can receive additional pay for POST certifications, which are professional training certificates issued by California's police standards board. An officer with an Advanced POST certificate receives an additional 11% on top of base salary. A sergeant with a Supervisory POST certificate receives up to 13%. Detectives and traffic investigators receive an additional 7% for their assignments. Field training officers, motorcycle officers, canine officers, school resource officers, and others receive an additional 5%. Education pay adds another layer. An officer with a bachelor's degree receives an additional 4% on top of base. A master's degree adds 5%. For management the stacking goes further. A lieutenant with both a Supervisory POST certificate and a Management POST certificate receives a combined 22% added to base salary — on top of education pay, special assignment pay, and longevity. Longevity pay adds between $2,000 and $8,500 annually depending on years of service, paid on top of everything else. A fully loaded Police Officer — with an Advanced POST certificate, a bachelor's degree, a detective assignment, and 20 years of service — could reach approximately $197,000 per year by 2028 before overtime. A fully loaded Lieutenant with maximum certifications, a master's degree, and a special assignment could approach $340,000 per year — closer to the City Managers salary — before overtime. The contracts also include annual uniform allowances of $1,200 for all sworn personnel, paid each December. **Vacations, Health Scans, and Quantico** Both contracts include provisions worth examining beyond base salary and specialty pay. Police management received an expanded vacation cashout benefit — lieutenants and captains can now convert up to 200 hours of unused vacation into cash every year. By 2028 a lieutenant earns roughly $117 per hour, making that cashout worth up to $23,400 annually. A captain earns more — their 200 hours would be worth approximately $27,200. For context, most private sector employees either lose unused vacation at year end or carry over a limited balance. Converting five weeks of unused vacation to cash annually, on top of an already significant salary, is a benefit that does not exist for most people. The WPMA contract also includes a new health benefit: the city will pay up to $2,000 every two years for a heart and full-body health scan for lieutenants and captains. It is a meaningful benefit for employees in a physically demanding profession. Also new in the management contract is a provision for leadership development. Lieutenants and captains who complete certain executive training programs receive a one-time $1,000 payment per course. The programs listed include POST Command College, the California Police Chiefs' Executive Leadership Institute, and the FBI National Academy. The FBI National Academy is not a local seminar or an online course. It is a 10-week residential program at the FBI's training complex in Quantico, Virginia, where the bureau trains law enforcement leaders from agencies across the country. An officer attending is away from Whittier for 10 weeks — almost certainly on paid city time, with travel and housing costs on top. The program is prestigious and selective. It is also worth noting that the incoming council now oversees a police department whose leadership is being financially incentivized to train at a federal facility, at the city's expense, with a $1,000 bonus upon return. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/National-Academy-Students-Running.jpeg) Students run on the track at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virgina. Photo courtesy of FBI. **The Disability Pay Increase** One provision in the WPOA contract that drew no public discussion is a significant increase in disability pay for non-job-related injuries and illnesses. The biweekly payment increases from $672 to $1,200 — a 78% increase. No public explanation for the specific figure appears in the agenda documents. **The One Tradeoff** The contracts include one change to how overtime is calculated. If an officer takes a sick day, vacation day, or holiday and then comes in to work later that same day, those leave hours no longer count toward overtime eligibility. It is a modest change compared to the raises, which grow every officer's paycheck for the next three years. **A Commitment Without A Price Tag** The fiscal impact section states that future year costs will be funded through existing reserves — without specifying how much those costs will be. Both contracts run through June 2029\. The incoming council cannot renegotiate them — they inherit a three-year financial commitment whose total cost to Whittier taxpayers was never publicly disclosed. **What The New Council Inherits** When Becerra, Santana, and Macedo are seated on April 28, they inherit two police contracts they did not negotiate and cannot reopen until they expire in June 2029\. A comparable cities list — the benchmark used to determine market rate in future salary negotiations — locked in for up to nine years, with any changes requiring mutual agreement between the city and the union. And a compensation structure that grows automatically with each passing year. The March 24 meeting was a single agenda item. It touched the City Manager, city hall's organizational structure, executive compensation, and both police unions — all at once, all three weeks before the election that changed the council's majority. The decisions were made. The election was decided. What happens next is up to the council voters chose — and the residents watching. --- *This analysis is based on publicly available documents from the City of Whittier's March 24, 2026 City Council agenda, including the WPOA Memorandum of Understanding 2026-2029, the WPMA Memorandum of Understanding 2026-2029, and Resolution No. 2026-15.* ### How Whittier's City Hall Was Reshaped Three Weeks Before the Election — Part 1 URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/how-whittiers-city-hall-was-reshaped-three-weeks-before-the-election-part-1/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T03:55:47.000Z On March 24, the city council took a series of actions that will define how the city operates for years to come. This was three weeks before the April 14 Whittier General Municipal Election, when voters would go to the polls and vote-out three incumbent council members from office. Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Councilmember Fernando Dutra, and Councilmember Octavio Martinez, all of whom would lose their seats on April 14, voted to approve a sweeping package of compensation increases, organizational restructuring, and contract amendments affecting virtually every level of Whittier city government. It passed without the input of the incoming council members voters had chosen to replace them. Mayor-elect James Becerra, Councilmember-elect Vicky Santana, and Councilmember-elect Aida Macedo — all of whom ran campaigns calling for greater transparency, accountability, and faster project timelines — will inherit the results of that vote when they are sworn in on April 28\. Whittier Informed is breaking this down in two parts. This article focuses on city hall employees and the restructuring of city leadership. [Part two](https://www.whittierinformed.com/before-the-election-whittiers-police-unions-got-three-years-of-raises-part-2) will focus on the police department. **The Contract That Binds the Next Council** On May 5, 2025, the City Council hired City Manager Conal McNamara at a salary of $306,648 per year. Less than one year later, three weeks before the election that removed the council majority that hired him, that agreement was amended — approving a 19% raise bringing his salary to $365,000 per year. Amendment No. 1 sets McNamara's annual base salary at $365,000 — or $30,417 per month — and restructures his severance package, making it significantly more expensive for the incoming council to replace him. Unlike the police contracts which were set to expire, McNamara's contract had no expiration date. The amendment was not required — it was a choice made by the outgoing council. If McNamara is terminated without cause, the city must pay a lump sum equal to 12 months salary ($365,000), plus all accrued leave. That amount increases by one month for every year he is employed, up to the maximum of 18 months allowed by California law. At 18 months the severance payment alone reaches $547,500\. The city would also continue providing health, dental, life, disability insurance, and a city vehicle for 12 months or until he obtains new employment — whichever comes first. The amendment also guarantees McNamara the same raises approved for department heads, now and in the future. Any raise approved for city directors automatically applies to him as well. Under these raises, his base salary would reach approximately $468,000 by July 2028. The newly elected city council, who campaigned on change and accountability, now faces a significant financial challenge. If they determine a change in city management is in Whittier's best interest, termination without cause would cost taxpayers up to $547,500, per the new agreement. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/conal-mcnamara.png) City Manager Conal McNamara (Photo credit: City of Whittier) **More Bureaucracy, Not Less** Among the changes approved on March 24 was an expansion of the city's administrative structure — adding layers rather than reducing them. The Assistant City Manager position had been vacant since Shannon DeLong left to become City Manager of Cerritos. An Assistant City Manager normally serves as a general second-in-command, coordinating across all departments, acting in the City Manager's absence, and helping implement council priorities without running any specific department. Instead of recruiting a replacement for that role, the council created two brand new positions: a Deputy City Manager-Administration and a Deputy City Manager-Operations. But first, they gave salary increases to all executive management employees: 9% raise effective July 1, 2026, 8% raise in 2027, and 8% raise in 2028, adding up to roughly 27.7% over three years. In addition, seven of those director positions will receive a separate 2% salary increase because a study showed those positions were below market rate. Directors receiving raises include the Director of Community Development, Director of Finance, Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, Director of Parks Recreation and Community Services, Director of Public Works, and City Clerk. The city's own argument was that these are highly qualified professionals who deserve competitive, market-rate compensation — then created new positions to supervise them. The Deputy City Manager-Administration will oversee the HR, City Clerk, Finance Department, Parks Recreation and Community Services, and the Library. The Deputy City Manager-Operations will oversee Public Works, Community Development, the Parks and Trees Division, and Transit operations. The qualification requirements for these roles are worth examining. Both positions require just five years of experience in their respective fields and a bachelor's degree. Neither requires expertise in the departments they will also oversee — the Deputy City Manager-Administration will supervise Finance, Parks Recreation, and the Library without any required background in those areas. The Deputy City Manager-Operations will oversee Community Development and Transit without any required experience in either. The directors now working under these new positions just received raises because the city deemed them highly qualified market-rate professionals. The people hired to supervise them will need less documented expertise to get the job. Executive management employees also received an expanded vacation cashout benefit — up to 200 hours of unused vacation can be converted to cash every year. At director-level salaries that can add tens of thousands of dollars annually on top of base pay, with no total cost disclosed in the public-facing documents. One of the defining issues of the April 14 election was that Whittier moves too slowly. The incoming candidates ran on fixing that. The result was more layers, not fewer. Capital projects, budget approvals, permitting timelines, and affordable housing — these are the types of decisions where an extra layer of review creates real delay. **Two Different Types of Employees** Most Whittier residents interact with the city through the people at the bottom of the salary scale — the worker filling the pothole, the library assistant helping their kid find a book, the park maintenance worker keeping the grass cut. Those are the faces of city government that residents actually see and depend on daily. Those workers start at roughly $36,000 to $45,000 a year. A Street Maintenance Worker at the highest pay level makes roughly $57,000\. Library workers who stay for evening shifts get a shift bonus of 75 cents an hour. That's roughly a 7x or 8x difference between the people filling potholes and directors. The City Manager's severance package alone would be worth more than nine years of a Street Maintenance Worker's salary. To be clear, executive compensation at this level is not unique to Whittier. These are standard public sector salaries across California. The issue isn't that these salaries exist. It's that they were approved three weeks before an election by a city council that voters were already in the process of voting out, without disclosing the total cost, and without any input from the representatives voters had just elected. The city also did not provide an overall cost or even an estimate of the budget impact in any of the public-facing documents. Instead the agenda report simply states future costs will be covered by existing reserves — without specifying how much. **What The New Council Inherits** When James Becerra, Vicky Santana, and Aida Macedo begin their terms on April 28, the work of delivering on their campaign promises runs directly into these decisions made a month prior. None of what happened on March 24 was illegal. The votes were properly noticed and publicly taken. But the incoming city councilmembers were elected precisely because residents wanted something different. What they are inheriting is a city hall that was reshaped in the final weeks before the transition of power — with longer decision chains, protected leadership, and a three-year financial commitment whose total cost was never disclosed to the public. Whittier residents showed up on April 14\. Now they're watching to see whether the people they chose can actually deliver. --- *This analysis is based on publicly available documents from the City of Whittier's March 24, 2026 City Council agenda.* ### Whittier's longest-serving leaders face stunning defeat in early election results URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittiers-longest-serving-leaders-face-stunning-defeat-in-early-election-results/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T04:04:32.000Z Whittier has not seen an election night like this in a long time. If Tuesday's early results are any indication, voters were ready for a change. In the first ballot count from the April 14 Whittier City Election, James Becerra is leading the mayor's race with approximately 68% of the vote. Mayor Joe Vinatieri, who has held a seat on the city council for more than two decades, is trailing with roughly 31%. The story in the council races looks the same. In District 2, Vicky Santana is leading with approximately 64% of the vote, while Octavio Martinez trails with roughly 24%. In District 4, Aida Susie Macedo is leading with approximately 69%, while Fernando Dutra trails with roughly 25%. Across all three races, the leaders are not just ahead. They are ahead by a lot. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Ballots-Received-As-of-April-13--2026-at-800-p.m.-2-1-1.png) Results after the first official ballot count on election night, April 14 at 8pm. To understand the scale of what these numbers represent: Joe Vinatieri has been on the Whittier City Council for 20 years and has served as mayor for the last 10\. Fernando Dutra has held a council seat and various commission positions for 26 years. If these results hold, two of the longest-serving figures in Whittier's political history would be leaving office on the same night, defeated by wide margins. These are early results. Tuesday night's count included mail-in ballots received before Election Day and in-person ballots from the weekend voting period. Additional counting rounds are scheduled for Wednesday, Friday, and next Tuesday at City Hall, as remaining mail-in and other ballots are processed. Results become official once the City Council certifies the final count. But the margins are wide enough that the direction of these races is already clear. **Turnout was low. Engagement was not.** Off-cycle elections are genuinely hard. Unlike many cities that align their local elections with the November state or national ballot, Whittier holds its city elections separately in April, so they do not appear alongside a governor's race or a presidential contest. There is no built-in reason for most people to know local election is even happening. Getting voters to show up takes real effort, and historically in Whittier, most registered voters do not. But this year looks different. With counting still underway, the mayor's race has already recorded 11,660 votes cast, more than the 8,015 total votes counted in the 2024 mayor's race. Final turnout numbers will not be known until all ballots are counted, but the early indication is that more Whittier residents participated in this election than the last one. Those numbers alone do not tell the full story, but context matters. More people showed up anyway, and that points to something real. The candidates, the issues, and the stakes connected with residents in a way that does not happen by accident. People paid attention this cycle. And when they did, they voted. **A vote to end off-cycle elections could be coming** All three leading candidates have expressed support for moving Whittier's city elections to align with the state election calendar. Under that change, Whittier voters would cast ballots for local offices alongside major statewide races. For example, this year, California holds its state primary on June 2, with races including governor at the top of the ticket. Elections like that naturally draw far more voters to the polls, and when more people show up for the big races, more people vote in local ones too. If that change moves forward, Tuesday's election could turn out to be a pivot point: a low-turnout race that produces leadership committed to making sure future races look nothing like it. Final results will continue to be updated as additional ballots are counted in the coming days. ### Whittier Announced a Roller Rink. We Confirmed It's Not Coming URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-announced-a-roller-rink-we-confirmed-its-not-coming/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T19:35:50.000Z That roller skating rink we heard was coming to the Whittier Packing House at Philadelphia St and Whittier Blvd? It's not happening. Whittier Informed confirmed with the property developer on April 6 that the concept is not being pursued. **How We Got Here** In September 2024, former City Manager Brian Saeki announced during the State of the City address that a roller rink was expected to come to the Packing House, the Philadelphia Street and Whittier Boulevard property where King Richard's Antique Center is located. King Richard's is not affected by the redevelopment plans. The announcement generated significant excitement. State of the City addresses typically spotlight a city's major priorities and commitments, not wishful thinking. Shortly after, Whittier Informed received tips that the project wasn't moving forward, but we were unable to confirm that with the property developer at the time. Then on April 4, 2026, 10 days before the April 14 local election, the Whittier Daily News published a Q&A with Mayor Joe Vinatieri about his 2026 reelection campaign, in which he said, "I am hopeful a new roller-skating rink will open in the future when the Whittier Packing House opens." [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/skateland-1.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DA35xiaSrly/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==) Former City Manager Brian Saeki at the State of the City address in 2024 (Instagram/@WhittierInformed) **What the Developer Actually Said** So we reached out to the property developer, and on April 6, they confirmed it: a roller rink is not being pursued. The concept was explored early on in coordination with the City, but further review revealed it would require a special permit, along with substantial building upgrades and retrofits to meet current code. Given the scope and cost, it was ruled out. Ground Review, the site's developer, said they are now actively in discussions with a strong group of retail and experiential tenants across food, wellness, and family-oriented uses that they believe will create a meaningful destination for Whittier. **Why This Mattered to Whittier** For many residents, the idea of a roller rink returning hit close to home. Whittier Skateland was a community institution that operated for 51 years at 12520 Whittier Blvd before closing when its owner sold the property to a group of companies responsible for cleaning up a hazardous waste site next door, formerly occupied by Omega Chemical Corp. Omega Chemical operated from 1976 to 1991, contaminating the surrounding soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds. The site was designated a federal [Superfund](https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.Cleanup&id=0903349&ref=whittierinformed.com#bkground) site — a classification reserved for some of the most contaminated locations in the country, triggering a federally mandated cleanup process. Air pollution from the Omega site had been seeping into Skateland's building, and a federally mandated ventilation system would have required a temporary closure. The owner opted to sell rather than go through that process. The building was later demolished. For many Whittier residents, Skateland wasn't just a rink. It was a rite of passage. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-14-091934-1.png)](https://map22.epa.gov/cimc/superfundZoom¶ms=0903349&15?ref=whittierinformed.com) Red marker identifies location of Superfund site, with orange lines designating Superfund site boundaries (EPA) **About the Whittier Packing House** The Whittier Packing House has its own storied history. Originally built in 1894, the Whittier Citrus Association purchased and expanded the facility between 1904 and 1913, where it served as the cannery, warehouse and packing plant for the Whittier District Fruit Exchange — one of the city's main economic engines for many years. Today the property is home to King Richard's Antique Center and is in the early stages of redevelopment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/6647ee8551ea09fbcd5b01dd_12310-12320-Penn-St-Whittier-CA-Primary-Photo-1-LargeHighDefinition-p-1080.jpg) King Richard's at the Whittier Packing House (Ground Review) **What's Next** The gap between what was announced publicly, what is actually feasible, and what city leadership was still saying days before an election raises questions worth noting. Whittier Informed will continue to follow what's coming to the Whittier Packing House. ### City Council Approves $4M in New Settlements for Sexual Abuse of Minors by Whittier Police, Bringing Total Payouts to $7.5M URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/city-council-approves-4m-in-new-settlements-for-sexual-abuse-of-minors-by-whittier-police-bringing-total-payouts-to-7-5m/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T03:58:21.000Z On March 24, the Whittier City Council approved $4 million in new settlements tied to lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors in the city's Police Explorer program, bringing the total the city has agreed to pay to $7.5 million. The settlements resolve multiple lawsuits spanning allegations from the late 1970s through the 1980s, when teenage girls participating in the department’s youth program were allegedly groomed and sexually abused by officers associated with the program and entrusted with their supervision. **What is the Explorer program?** The Whittier Police Department's Explorer [program](https://www.whittierpd.org/programs/explorers-program?ref=whittierinformed.com) is a volunteer program that allows young people between the ages of 16 and 21 to gain experience in law enforcement. A junior program is also available for teens as young as 12\. Participants assist with clerical work, traffic control, and community events. Central to the program is the ride-along component, which places a single Explorer in a patrol vehicle with a single officer, often for an entire shift and late into the evening. It is this structure that sits at the center of the allegations. According to the lawsuits, officers used ride-alongs to isolate underage female Explorers and coerce them into sexual activity. The program remains active today. **The allegations against Charles Drylie** Former Whittier Police Officer Charles "Chuck" Drylie has been named in multiple lawsuits involving the Explorer program, including cases previously reported in 2022\. He served as an Explorer advisor and worked for the department from the 1970s through the early 2000s. According to court filings and attorney statements, Drylie is alleged to have used his position to groom and sexually abuse teenage girls in his patrol car during ride-alongs, at the police station, and at his home. The lawsuits allege that the abuse was not limited to Drylie. Several of the women say they were abused by multiple officers. An unnamed corporal who replaced Drylie as Explorer advisor allegedly continued the pattern of sexual abuse. A lawyer for the corporal has said his client did nothing wrong, and the corporal was dismissed from the case. Court filings and plaintiff testimony describe a culture within the department at the time where misconduct involving Explorers was tolerated and officers protected one another. Drylie's attorney, Steve Rothans, has denied the allegations. In a 2022 interview with the Whittier Daily News, Rothans said Drylie had 33 years with the department and had been honored as officer of the year. The allegations described in the lawsuits have been denied by those accused. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Charles-Chuck-Drylie-img-1024x1024-1.webp) Charles “Chuck” Drylie, a former Whittier police officer connected to lawsuits involving the city’s Police Explorer program. The allegations have been denied. (**Photo credit: DeMarco Law Firm*) **What the city knew** The lawsuits allege that multiple officers knew or should have known about Drylie's conduct and that the department failed to act. A sworn declaration made available by the firm of attorney Anthony DeMarco, who represented the four women in the $3.5 million settlement, offers firsthand corroboration of these claims. In it, a former Whittier police officer who served on the force from 1977 to 1989 states that Drylie personally told him he had had sex with one of the plaintiffs. The same officer states that he observed another officer's interactions with two high school-aged female Explorers that led him to believe the officer was having sexual relations with them. He also states that other Explorers were aware of and discussed the relationships among themselves. The declaration was signed under penalty of perjury. The lawsuits allege that rather than remove Drylie from contact with minors, the city reassigned him to a community relations role that involved working with children. He was later placed as a School Resource Officer at La Serna High School, where he eventually began teaching courses in administration of justice and forensic science. He remained at La Serna at least until the lawsuits were filed against him. No criminal charges were filed against Drylie due to the statute of limitations. In a deposition, he invoked his right against self-incrimination. Drylie is still alive. *(Declaration from a former Whittier police officer describing alleged conduct within the department during the 1970s and 1980s. Document provided by DeMarco Law Firm)* **The $3.5 million settlement: four women, four decades of silence** The first wave of cases involved four women who were between 14 and 18 years old when the alleged abuse occurred in the late 1970s. They had joined the Explorer program with aspirations of careers in law enforcement. For decades, none of them came forward. That changed in 2020, when a television commercial about Boy Scouts of America abuse prompted two of the women to open up to each other for the first time. They discovered they had both been victimized by the same officer and had kept it secret independently for over 40 years. Lawsuits followed. The City Council approved a $3.5 million settlement in October 2025, and payment was made on March 13, 2026, shortly before the first of the cases was set to go to trial. The four women were represented by DeMarco, who previously secured a $4 million settlement for three victims in a similar Explorer program abuse case involving the Irwindale Police Department in 2018\. DeMarco has described ride-alongs as among the least safe components of any youth-oriented program when it comes to protecting minors from sexual abuse. **The $4 million settlement: Brady and Louk** The two remaining cases, Constance Brady v. City of Whittier and Leslie Louk v. City of Whittier, describe similar allegations involving the 1980s. The lawsuits include claims of grooming, abuse during ride-alongs, and failures by the city to intervene despite warning signs. Each case will be settled for $2 million. Brady is represented by attorney Brian Williams. Louk is represented by a legal team that includes Greenberg Gross and Jeff Anderson & Associates. The Brady case was first [reported](https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2022/05/06/police-dispatcher-sues-city-of-whittier-retired-officer-over-sexual-abuse-allegation-from-36-years-earlier/?ref=whittierinformed.com) by the Whittier Daily News in 2022, when she was working for the Whittier Police Department as a dispatcher. Her attorney said Brady chose not to keep her name confidential. She is the only plaintiff across the three cases to publicly identify Drylie by name to the media. The four women in the earlier settlement filed under Jane Doe pseudonyms. Court filings in both cases describe alleged incidents spanning the early to late 1980s and raise questions about oversight of the program during that period, including whether warning signs observed by others were acted upon. The City Council approved both settlements on March 24, 2026. **The city's response** In a March 18 [press release](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/home/showpublisheddocument/16770/639094533610770000?ref=whittierinformed.com), the City of Whittier said it is working to resolve lawsuits filed by six plaintiffs who allege misconduct by former police officers in the 1970s and early 1980s during their involvement in the Explorer program. The city said it takes the allegations seriously while placing the highest value on the safety and well-being of community members. The city said the alleged incidents occurred decades ago and that the defendants involved had not been employed by the department for many years prior to any allegations being made. The city also stated that federal and state laws, as well as city policies, have evolved to establish mandatory reporting and investigation policies. The settlements do not include an admission of liability. Settlement costs are being covered jointly by the city and its insurance provider. **A pattern beyond Whittier** The Whittier cases are not isolated. Police Explorer programs across the country have faced similar allegations of officers abusing minors entrusted to their supervision, particularly during ride-alongs. **What comes next** In total, the city has now agreed to pay $7.5 million to resolve multiple lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors connected to the Explorer program. According to DeMarco, additional individuals have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse by Whittier police, suggesting further lawsuits may follow. ### Whittier Ends Hadley Tow Contract After Owner's Arrest — Following Years of Documented Issues URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-ends-hadley-tow-contract-after-owners-arrest-following-years-of-documented-issues/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T19:59:31.000Z The City of Whittier has moved to terminate its towing contract with Hadley Tow following the arrest of the company's owner on felony insurance fraud charges, ending a relationship the city had repeatedly chosen to continue despite documented violations dating back more than a decade. On March 16, the City Council held a special meeting where the city attorney read a statement on behalf of the council: *"Council accepted the Chief of Police recommendation to terminate the agreement with Hadley Tow at any time without cause upon 30 days written notice to the contractor, so staff will be issuing that notice as soon as possible."* Before the vote, Hadley Tow's attorney appeared during public comment and asked the city to reconsider. He said the charges are disputed and the company has the right to challenge them in court. He noted that Hadley Tow has operated in Whittier since 1952, and that terminating the contract would cause the company to cease to exist, putting hundreds of employees out of work. The city terminated the contract anyway. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot_20260414_103255_Instagram-1.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWPzTpjj1FM/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) Video of city attorney making statement to end Hadley Tow contract at the March 16, 2026 city council meeting. (Instagram/@WhittierInformed) **The Fraud Scheme** The termination followed the March 11 arrest of brothers Mark Hassan, 46, of Corona Del Mar, and Ahmed Hassan, 35, of Walnut. According to the California Department of Insurance, the agency opened its [investigation](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2026/release013-2026.cfm?ref=whittierinformed.com) after receiving two fraud referrals from an insurance company alleging that Mark Hassan had underreported Hadley Tow's employee payroll. The investigation expanded after a third referral alleged that Ahmed Hassan, owner of California Heights Tow, filed a fraudulent employee injury claim against his insurance policy for a Hadley Tow employee. Both brothers were arrested on multiple counts of felony insurance fraud. Investigators found that Mark Hassan used Courtesy Tow, an uninsured shell company based in Sylmar, to conceal portions of Hadley Tow's employee payroll and defraud workers' compensation carriers out of premiums they were owed. Ahmed Hassan separately underreported employee wages at California Heights Tow to reduce his own workers' compensation insurance costs. A forensic audit revealed the full scope of the scheme. For both companies combined, the brothers reported a payroll of just over $3 million to their insurance carriers. The actual combined payroll was more than $16.7 million. The estimated loss to insurers was nearly $5.9 million. The brothers also paid portions of employee wages in cash without withholding standard deductions, which led the Employment Development Department to open a separate payroll tax evasion investigation. Mark Hassan's operations extended well beyond Hadley Tow. Through his company FMG Inc., he operated Courtesy Tow in Sylmar, Crescenta Valley Tow in La Crescenta, California Coach Towing in Walnut, and several other towing companies across greater Los Angeles. At the time of his arrest, he held active towing contracts with multiple Southern California law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. **A History of Concerns** The fraud arrest was the most serious development in a long and troubled history between Hadley Tow and the city, but the concerns stretch back more than a decade. The Whittier Police Department stopped using Hadley Tow in May 2013 following a series of documented violations. When the contract came up for renewal in October 2014, Police Chief Jeff Piper recommended against it, citing a pattern of concerns serious enough to put before the City Council. According to a memo from Police Chief Jeff Piper, obtained by the Whittier Daily News through a public records request, those concerns included the mishandling of evidence from vehicles involved in serious and fatal collisions, allegations that Hadley staff pressured customers into using the company's own repair shop, and a string of citations and conduct issues involving drivers. The memo noted instances where evidence from fatal collision vehicles was improperly handled and a motorcycle being held as evidence from a serious crash was left outside in the rain. Driver conduct was also flagged. In one documented incident, a Hadley driver pulled over for speeding became irate during the stop, grabbed a citation from the officer's hand, and drove off at speed. In a separate incident from October 2013, a Hadley maintenance worker was found parked in a disabled space with an open beer can and an empty liquor bottle visible inside the vehicle. The worker had a suspended license and an outstanding DUI warrant. Despite the police chief's recommendation, the council deadlocked 2-2 in October 2014\. Councilmen Joe Vinatieri and Fernando Dutra voted to renew the contract. Councilwoman Cathy Warner and Councilman Owen Newcomer voted against it. It also came to light during this period that Hadley had hired lobbyists to help secure the renewal, including former City Councilman Greg Nordbak and former Whittier Uptown Association executive director Allan Nakken. When the full council reconvened in December 2014, the contract was renewed 3-2\. Councilman Bob Henderson cast the deciding vote, saying the Police Department should have sent formal written notices to Hadley before recommending termination. He voted yes while acknowledging that the evidence mishandling "should have been a serious warning instead of a conversation." Newcomer again voted no, calling the renewal "akin to ticket fixing." The council added a stipulation requiring close monitoring and regular performance reports. The Police Department resumed using Hadley in March 2015\. By the time of a September 2015 council review, new violations had already accumulated. A tow truck was cited for blocking multiple parking spaces. A vehicle was delivered to Hadley's yard instead of the body shop the owner had requested. A driver was arrested for driving under the influence. In one call, the Police Department waited 45 minutes for a Hadley truck that never arrived before contacting another company. The council voted 4-0 to keep the contract. Mayor Dutra acknowledged the issues but said changing a business takes time. "This business has been in Whittier for over 40 years and they have over 80 employees," he said. "We made a decision that we'd give them a second chance. We're still in that process." **Connections and Controversy** The Hassan family's presence in Whittier extended beyond the towing contract. In July 2016, ten residents from a Whittier hills neighborhood came before the City Council with allegations that police had looked the other way during an illegal block party and fireworks display on the Fourth of July. The residents alleged the incident involved brothers of Mark Hassan and two unnamed Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies. Residents described fireworks that shook windows, frightened pets and children, and sent sparks onto nearby homes. They said officers arrived but left without taking action, and that the fireworks continued after police left. One resident called on Hassan to "stop bringing thugs, drugs and drunken parties" to the neighborhood. Another said residents felt "left to fend for ourselves." The council directed the city attorney to refer the matter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for review. **What's Next** With Hadley Tow's contract terminated, two other companies currently hold towing agreements with the city: Bob & Dave's Towing and Vernola's Towing Services, both listed on the city's [website](https://www.whittierpd.org/information-center/impound-information/tow-companies?ref=whittierinformed.com). It is unclear how the city will replace Hadley Tow's role, or whether it will add another contractor. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the fraud case against both brothers. The Employment Development Department has a separate payroll tax evasion investigation underway. Hadley Tow's attorney has said the charges are disputed and the company intends to fight them in court. ### The Murals at Rodeo 72 Weren't Supposed to Be There URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/the-murals-at-rodeo-72-werent-supposed-to-be-there/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T03:44:52.000Z If you've paid a visit to Rodeo 72 Public Market at The Groves, you've seen the murals: a vintage lowrider trailing colorful flowers across the building's white facade, bold street art wrapping around corners, contemporary designs that pop against the Groves' beige hardscape. The thing is, those murals were never supposed to be there. The developer didn't follow the city's approved plans. Instead of building the two sculptural steel pavilions the City Council signed off on in 2020, property owner Whittier & Sorenson LLC painted contemporary street art murals and asked for permission after the fact. On March 10, the City Council said yes, completing a months-long process that flipped the city's public art review system on its head: installation first, approval later. Here's what was actually approved: "Art Pavilions" designed as functional structures with covered seating for the public, walls that would cast light patterns at night, and a $170,000 price tag. Think museum-quality installation meets community gathering space, incorporating historical imagery of the site's past as a youth correctional facility. Those pavilions were never built. The company's letter requesting the change was clear about why the switch happened. The murals, owner Dan Almquist wrote, serve as "a meaningful contributor to the project's branding, marketing, and overall identity." In other words: the approved pavilions didn't match the vibe. The marketing murals did. So the murals went up, approval or no approval. *(Letter from Whittier & Sorensen LLC to the City of Whittier requesting approval for murals / City of Whittier)* **How Public Art Is Supposed to Work** Whittier's Art in Public Places ordinance ensures developments give something back to the community. Projects over $250,000 must either install qualifying public art or pay 0.5% of their construction costs into a city art fund. The art has to be reviewed and approved before installation. Committees exist specifically to make sure what developers propose actually serves the public, not just the developer's brand. When Brookfield Residential proposed a $1 million art program for the Groves in 2019, the company followed that process. Four art elements went before committees, then the Cultural Arts Commission, then City Council: - Heritage Trail and Historical Trail Markers ($475,000) - installed - Mockingbird Tree at the Commons ($239,000) - installed - Poets Park ($159,000) - installed - Art Pavilions at Heritage Court ($170,000) - never installed The first three happened as planned. The fourth became a problem when Almquist's company bought the commercial property in December 2019, inheriting Brookfield's public art obligations. **What Actually Went Up** Instead of steel pavilions with historic imagery, Rodeo 72 got murals by David Flores, Estevan Oriol, and four other artists known for tattoo work, graffiti, and street photography. The centerpiece, "Still Dreaming" by Flores, features a Chevy Fleetline lowrider cruising across the exterior wall with surfboards strapped to the roof and flowers blooming in its wake. The Art in Public Places Committee didn't review the murals until January 28, 2026, after they were already done. The Cultural Arts Commission didn't weigh in until February 23\. The City Council didn't vote until March 10. By then, telling the developer "no" would have meant demanding paint-overs on finished, professional murals visible to thousands of people. Both committees unanimously recommended approval. The Cultural Arts Commission added one caveat: a recommendation that "AIPP rules and regulations be followed to ensure that no art piece is created prior to review." Translation: don't do this again. The City Council approved the substitution without objection. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-29-193621-2-1.png) "Still Dreaming" mural by David Flores (City of Whittier) **What Got Swapped** The 2020 approval called for architectural sculpture incorporating historical photographs of the Nelles School and Whittier's agricultural past, with functional public space, sophisticated perforation technique creating transparency and nighttime lighting effects, and permanent steel construction designed to last decades. What got installed instead were contemporary murals celebrating cruising culture and street art with no functional space, explicitly described in the owner's letter as serving "branding, marketing, and overall identity." According to the cost breakdown submitted to the city, the developer spent approximately $193,591 on the murals and associated costs, exceeding the $170,000 budgeted for pavilions. The accountability issue isn't financial—it's that the developer chose what to install without city input. City staff's March agenda report describes the murals as paying "homage to what once stood as a former youth correctional facility." But nothing in the imagery (a lowrider, surfboards, flowers) references the Nelles School, its history, or the young people who lived there. The "homage" exists in the artist statement, not the art itself. **The Two Problems** The retroactive approval creates two distinct accountability issues: First, the process problem: A developer installed artwork without approval, then sought permission after the fact. This sets a precedent that the Art in Public Places review process is optional if you're willing to paint first and apologize later. Second, the missed opportunity: If vibrant street art celebrating Whittier's cruising culture and Chicano heritage is what the community actually wants, why isn't the city proactively including culturally relevant artists in the planning process from the beginning? The original 2020 proposal came from Brookfield's consultants: architects and landscape designers who proposed steel pavilions with historic photographs. It was professional, museum-quality work designed by people who do public art installations for a living. The murals that actually got installed capture something about the city's identity that perforated steel panels with old photos of the Nelles School never would have. The problem isn't that they got painted. The problem is that the city never had the chance to help shape them, ensure they served public goals beyond marketing, or negotiate what the community would get in return for accepting a substitution. When developers control the entire creative process and present finished work for rubber-stamping, the city loses leverage to ensure public art actually serves the public. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-29-201135.png) Rendering of the Art Pavilion approved by the City in 2020, which was not installed (City of Whittier) **The Questions** Other questions remain unanswered: When exactly were the murals painted? Did the owner notify the city beforehand, or did staff discover them during inspections? And the bigger questions: If the city wants culturally resonant public art that reflects Whittier's identity, who should be selecting the artists? If developers are going to substitute marketing-focused murals for approved functional art, what does the community get in exchange? Rodeo 72 may have pulled off marketing-focused art this time, but what if the next developer's marketing art is too much like an advertisement? **What Comes Next** Whether that warning from the Cultural Arts Commission means anything depends entirely on what happens the next time a developer paints first and asks permission later. But there's also an opportunity here. If the city wants public art that actually sparks cultural connection (art that feels like Whittier rather than generic development amenities), the Art in Public Places program could proactively bring artists like Flores into the planning process from day one. Not as vendors executing a developer's marketing vision, but as creative partners helping the city define what public art in Whittier should be. The murals at Rodeo 72 are staying. The question is whether the process that put them there becomes the norm, or whether the city takes control of its own cultural identity. ### Mayor Joe Called Whittier a "Red City." Here's What the Data Shows URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/mayor-joe-called-whittier-a-red-city-heres-what-the-data-shows/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T03:58:53.000Z On Sunday, the Los Angeles Young Republicans and Log Cabin Republicans hosted a door-knocking event in support of current mayor Joe Vinatieri and councilmembers Fernando Dutra and Octavio Martinez, all running for re-election in Whittier's April 14 municipal election. At the event, Mayor Joe Vinatieri described Whittier as a "red city" while thanking his supporters. The remarks were part of a longer speech. The appearance is notable because Whittier's city elections are officially nonpartisan — meaning a candidate's political party does not appear on the ballot next to their name. But that doesn't prevent candidates from receiving endorsements and support from political parties. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot_20260414_114238_Instagram-2.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVbi73Vj0yv/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) **What the voting data shows** To understand how Whittier voters behave when party labels are visible, here are the November 2024 General Election results for the City of Whittier, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: - 39,564 ballots cast from 55,963 registered voters (70.7% turnout) - President: Harris 22,221 vs. Trump 15,632 - U.S. Senate: Schiff (D) 21,153 vs. Garvey (R) 16,077 - U.S. Congress (CA-38): Sánchez (D) 20,790 vs. Ching (R) 14,563 - State Assembly (AD-56): Calderon (D) 20,790 vs. Martinez (R) 16,160 In each race, the Democratic candidate received more votes within Whittier. **Turnout tells a different story** Municipal elections operate under very different conditions than state and national races. Whittier's 2024 city election, held in April separately from state and national races, drew significantly fewer voters: - Just 8,202 ballots cast from 55,188 registered voters (14.86% turnout) - Mayor Vinatieri received 6,022 votes — a majority of ballots cast in that race and approximately 10.9% of registered voters. That means roughly 1 in 10 registered Whittier voters determined the outcome of the mayoral race. Far fewer voters participate in city elections. That difference in turnout can lead to very different outcomes depending on who shows up. **What's at stake on April 14** Whittier's April 14 election includes races for mayor and two city council seats. All three incumbents — Vinatieri, Dutra, and Martinez — face challengers. Voter registration in Whittier currently stands at over 55,000\. Based on historical turnout patterns, the election could be decided by fewer than 10,000 votes — possibly significantly fewer. --- *Sources: November 2024 General Election results, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk; 2024 municipal election results, City of Whittier.* ### Whittier Election Heats Up As "Chainsaw Joe" Sign Targets Mayor With 20 Years on City Council URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/whittier-election-heats-up-as-chainsaw-joe-sign-targets-mayor-with-20-years-on-city-council/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T03:59:07.000Z A political sign targeting Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri is showing up around the city ahead of the April 14 city election. The sign, which reads *"Chainsaw Joe Has Got To Go,"* was paid for by Save Our Trees Whittier, a group officially registered with the state as a political committee. The committee has endorsed James Becerra, one of two candidates challenging Vinatieri for mayor. Vinatieri has served on the Whittier City Council for 20 years, the last 10 as mayor. He is being challenged by Becerra and Isaiah L. Leon Savage. **What is the Greenleaf Promenade?** The Greenleaf Promenade has been one of the most divisive issues in Whittier in recent memory. The $20 million [project](https://www.cityofwhittier.org/government/whittier-transparent/greenleaf-promenade?ref=whittierinformed.com#!/) calls for removing 108 trees — including 83 ficus trees that have lined Greenleaf Avenue since the 1960s — along a three-block stretch between Wardman and Hadley streets in Uptown Whittier. The trees would be replaced with 118 smaller trees and shade structures. The project grew out of a smaller, one-block pilot called the Gardens of Uptown, which would have preserved clusters of trees and was estimated at $3.8 million. That project was shelved during the pandemic. The latest version expanded significantly in scope — and in controversy. In December 2023, the City Council voted to pursue the full promenade plan, choosing to remove all of Uptown's ficus trees at once rather than gradually replace them over time. The following June, the council voted 3-1 to move forward with some changes, including larger replacement trees and added shade structures, in response to community concerns about lost shade and reduced carbon capture. Supporters of the project argue the Uptown area, last updated in the 1980s, is overdue for a makeover. The redesign would bring wider sidewalks, outdoor dining spaces, street furniture, and decorative lighting. City officials have also pointed to aging water pipes beneath Greenleaf Avenue as an additional reason the trees cannot be saved. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/cf/accfc1a2-ea62-48e2-b850-eeeee5053c41/content/images/2026/04/greenleaf-promenade.png) Greenleaf Promenade conceptual rendering (City of Whittier) Critics say the cost is too high — not just financially, but for the environment. The city's own report projected a significant drop in the trees' ability to absorb carbon in the first year after removal, with levels not expected to recover for 24 years. A community [petition](https://www.change.org/p/save-our-trees-in-uptown-whittier?ref=whittierinformed.com) to save the trees has gathered more than 8,200 signatures, with residents arguing the ficus trees are essential to Uptown's shade, charm, and walkability — and that younger replacement trees would take years to provide any meaningful canopy. **Why the project is on hold** In late 2024, the Whittier Conservancy — a local preservation nonprofit — filed a lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court. The suit alleges the city broke state law by skipping required environmental reviews before approving the project. Under California law, cities must assess the potential environmental impact of major projects before moving forward. The conservancy says the city failed to do that — specifically around the project's effects on shade and the trees' ability to absorb carbon. The suit also alleges the city improperly bundled a water main replacement project with the promenade to avoid additional review, and that the final approved project lacked enough detail to meet legal requirements. The conservancy says it went to court only after repeated attempts to work out a compromise with the city were rejected. The project is currently on hold. Whittier is not alone in this fight. Cities across California, including Beverly Hills and Burbank, have faced similar lawsuits over the removal of mature urban trees. **The Conflict of Interest investigation** The sign also calls out an active state investigation into Mayor Vinatieri. The complaint was filed by Conny McCormack, a Whittier resident, former L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, and founder of Save Our Trees Whittier, the same committee that paid for the sign. At the center of the complaint is a vote Vinatieri cast on August 22, 2023, to expand the promenade's footprint by 51% — without stepping aside from the vote, even though he owns Auntie's Bakery and Cafe at 6506 Greenleaf Ave., a restaurant located directly along the promenade route. Vinatieri had stepped aside from most other promenade-related votes, making this one instance stand out. The California Fair Political Practices Commission — the state agency that enforces political ethics rules for elected officials — confirmed it opened a formal investigation in September 2024\. The agency has not determined whether a violation occurred. If one is found, consequences could include fines, hearings, and other legal action. The Greenleaf Promenade, the lawsuit, and the FPPC investigation are expected to be central issues in the April 14, 2026, mayoral race. Vinatieri faces two challengers: James Becerra, who has been endorsed by Save Our Trees Whittier, and Isaiah L. Leon Savage. ### Whittier Keeps Considering — and Delaying — Stop Signs Its Own Traffic Engineers Rejected URL: https://www.whittierinformed.com/city-council-may-vote-to-approve-stop-signs-its-own-traffic-engineers-rejected/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T03:59:26.000Z For the second time, a City Council vote on installing stop signs at Anaconda Street and Hornby Avenue was delayed — this time after the item was pulled from Tuesday night's agenda. The vote is expected to be pushed to the next council meeting. It has now been nearly four years since the Council first approved the installation, despite two separate engineering studies recommending against it. **A Single Request** At some point prior to 2018, one Whittier resident requested a multi-way stop at the intersection of Anaconda Street and Hornby Avenue, a residential crossing near Anaconda Park. The city took the request seriously, contracting with RBI Traffic, a professional traffic engineering firm, to conduct a formal warrant study — the state-mandated process for determining whether a stop sign is justified. **What the Data Said** Under California's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), a multi-way stop requires that the major street approach average at least 300 vehicles per hour during the eight busiest hours of the day. At Anaconda and Hornby, that number came in at just 71 vehicles per hour — less than a quarter of the threshold. Minor street traffic averaged just 21 vehicles per hour against a requirement of 200. The study also found no significant accident history at the intersection over the previous five years. No pattern of collisions. No conditions that would otherwise justify the installation of stop signs. RBI Traffic's conclusion was unambiguous: the intersection did not meet any of the required warrants. Staff presented the findings to the Parking and Transportation Commission in March 2019 with a recommendation to deny the request. The Commission agreed. **A Second Look, A Second Denial** In December 2021, the city was asked to take another look at the intersection. A new round of traffic counts was collected in January and February of 2022 — two separate collection periods, the second conducted to ensure results weren't skewed by residential tree trimming activity in the area. The updated data told the same story, only more so. Traffic on Anaconda Street had actually decreased 24% since the 2018 study. The intersection now qualified even less than it had before. City staff again recommended denial. The Parking and Transportation Commission again agreed, voting to deny the request at its May 5, 2022 meeting. **The Council Steps In** The item might have ended there. Instead, a council member pulled it for City Council review. At the June 28, 2022 City Council meeting, council members discussed the Commission's denial. Rather than upholding the recommendation of their own staff and commission, the Council voted to install the stop signs — citing personal experience driving through the neighborhood and community concerns about speeding near the adjacent park. No new engineering data was presented. No updated traffic study was conducted. The decision rested on anecdotal reasoning that directly contradicted two years of professional analysis. **Four Years of Nothing** Following the June 2022 vote, the stop signs were never installed. No resolution was formally adopted. No installation was scheduled. The intersection sat unchanged for nearly four years while residents who had advocated for the safety measure waited. It wasn't until February 24, 2026 that the city moved to formally adopt Resolution 2026-13, authorizing the City Traffic Engineer to install stop signs at Anaconda Street and Hornby Avenue at an estimated cost of $3,000\. That item was pulled from Tuesday night's agenda before a vote could be taken. Whittier Informed visited the intersection prior to Tuesday's meeting. The stop signs are not yet installed. **The Liability Question** A stop sign sounds harmless, but when a city goes against its own expert data twice and installs it anyway, the city is less protected from certain lawsuits. This is the same city that has cited sidewalk trip and fall liability as justification for removing trees. Under California Government Code §820.2, cities carry certain legal protections for discretionary decisions — but those protections weaken when elected officials override professional recommendations without technical justification. If someone gets hurt at this intersection, those documents become evidence against the city. In Whittier, that means taxpayers. **What Happens Next** The vote on Resolution 2026-13 is expected to be placed on a future City Council agenda. If adopted, the City Traffic Engineer will be authorized to proceed with installation. The city has not publicly stated a timeline for when the signs would actually go up. *Sources: City of Whittier agenda reports (2019, 2022, 2026); RBI Traffic Multi-Way Stop Warrant Report (2019); Resolution No. 2026-13; California Government Code §820.2*