About Concerned Citizens of Cerritos
Concerned Citizens of Cerritos (CCC) is a community-led group formed by residents who believe that transparency, fiscal responsibility, and meaningful public participation are essential to good local government.
The seeds of CCC began in late 2025, when residents across Cerritos started organizing to inform neighbors about proposed water and sewer rate increases after official notices had been mailed in November 2025. As neighbors compared information and discussed the potential impact on their households, many began taking a closer look at broader city spending and policy decisions.
For some residents, concerns had already been growing earlier. City Council approvals of discretionary spending — including international travel connected to a newly approved Sister City program, expanded festivals, and ongoing financial losses associated with the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts — prompted questions about the City’s financial priorities.
Those concerns intensified when residents learned that the proposed water and sewer rate schedule would increase the average household bill dramatically over a five-year period. In response, residents organized a citywide effort to inform their neighbors and encourage participation in the Proposition 218 protest process.
By the time of the January 26, 2026 public hearing, the City reported receiving approximately 6,400 written protest forms from property owners or bill payers. Council chambers were filled beyond capacity, with dozens of residents speaking against the rate increases and many more attending to show their support.
Despite the significant public turnout and formal protests submitted, the City Council voted to approve the rate schedule without modification. During the same meeting, councilmembers also indicated they would begin exploring additional revenue measures, including potential sales tax and utility tax increases.
Shortly thereafter, residents also received notice of additional potential cost increases from other agencies, including a Los Angeles County Sanitation District Proposition 218 notice, discussions of a possible countywide sales tax increase, and statewide conversations about policies that could affect long-standing property tax protections.
In response, a nonpartisan group of Cerritos residents came together to form Concerned Citizens of Cerritos. The goal of CCC is to continue advocating for fiscal transparency, responsible spending, and the right of voters to make decisions when major policies significantly affect their community.
Concerned Citizens of Cerritos works to inform residents, encourage civic participation, and promote accountability in local government. To learn more about our efforts and the issues involved, please see our FAQ.