The SELA Sun

COMMERCE, CA — La Ciudad de Commerce celebrará nuevamente su tradicional festejo del Día de la Independencia con dos días de entretenimiento gratuito, juegos mecánicos, música en vivo, comida y fuegos artificiales este viernes y sábado en el Centro Cívico y Rosewood Park, de acuerdo con un comunicado de la ciudad.

COMMERCE, CA — The City of Commerce is bringing back its annual Independence Day Celebration with two days of free entertainment, carnival rides, live music, food, and fireworks this Friday and Saturday at Civic Center and Rosewood Park, according to a city news release.

The 4th of July is here once again. And while the White House may have had mixed success drawing crowds, Southeast LA is sure to turn out for a full slate of community celebrations honoring the United States Semiquincentennial—or, for those who prefer fewer syllables, America's 250th birthday! Here's your guide to FREE Independence Day events happening around SELA this week, celebrating the country, its diverse communities, and the freedoms that continue to be worth protecting.

PICO RIVERA, CA — Pico Rivera will once again forgo its annual Fourth of July celebration, with city officials citing venue limitations despite the completion of renovations at El Rancho High School. In a message to residents, the city said the high school's newly renovated stadium now features an artificial turf field with usage restrictions that prevent large public events from being held there.

DOWNEY, CA — Just in case anyone was worried the city manager might only be making almost as much as the police chief, the Downey City Council approved a pay increase to fix that. The council voted unanimously on June 23 voted to raise City Manager Roger Bradley's annual salary from about $319,807 to $337,122—an increase of roughly $17,315, or 5.41%. After Human Resources Director James McQueen presented the staff report, Mayor Claudia Frometa asked whether any councilmembers had questions.

HUNTINGTON PARK, CA — El Concejo Municipal de Huntington Park votó 4-0 el 23 de junio para extender por un año más el programa HP With You (HP Contigo), dando continuidad a una iniciativa que comenzó durante las redadas migratorias del verano pasado y que desde entonces ha brindado asistencia alimentaria, servicios legales y apoyo comunitario a cientos de residentes. El concejal Arturo Flores estuvo ausente de la reunión.

DOWNEY, CA — Tres cruces peatonales escolares en Downey, incluidos dos que comparten límite con South Gate, serán mejorados con fondos estatales y del condado luego de que el Concejo Municipal de Downey aprobara un contrato de construcción por $297,028 el 23 de junio.

DOWNEY, CA — Three school crosswalks in Downey, including two shared with South Gate, will be upgraded with state and county funding after the Downey City Council approved a $297,028 construction contract on June 23. The project will add pedestrian-activated flashing lights, known as flashing beacons, along with brighter signs and new pavement markings to make students and other pedestrians more visible to drivers.

HUNTINGTON PARK, CA — The Huntington Park City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to extend the city's HP With You (HP Contigo) program for another year, continuing an initiative that began during last summer's immigration enforcement raids and has since provided food assistance, legal services, and community outreach to hundreds of residents. Councilmember Arturo Flores was absent from the meeting.

BELL GARDENS, CA — After 1,620 crashes in five years, the Bell Gardens City Council has adopted a new safety plan aimed at reducing crashes and securing future grant funding for the city. The report found 1,620 collisions occurred on Bell Gardens streets between March 2020 and December 2024, including dozens that left people dead or seriously injured. The deadliest year of the study period was 2022, when Bell Gardens recorded 16 crashes resulting in death or serious injury.