Republic Services Offers $780 to Christmas Program After Artesia Council Declines

A representative from Republic Services offered to give $780 to the after the Artesia City Council declined to increase its $4,000 contribution to $5,000.

At its September meeting held last Monday, Greg Nordbak, public affairs manager for Republic Services, stepped in after a dispute between Vic Norcia, the program’s organizer, and the City Council.

He said that the company, which provides trash disposal services for city residents, is committed to serving the community in times of need and understood Artesia’s fiscal responsibility.

Norcia wanted an increase in funding from the city given the rising costs of facilitating the program, but City officials cited budget cuts and worries about dipping into City reserves as reasons for the hesitance in adding additional money to its donation.

“I think you want to make this about the people who need the help in the City of Artesia,” he said to the Council.

Norcia was not satisfied with Mayor Manalo’s advice to seek the services of community organizations in the city and pointed out that while Artesia residents made up 85% of the program’s recipients, the city did not donate its fair share as Cerritos has given $5,000 to his organization.

“A thousand dollars is not going to break the City of Artesia,” he noted to the Council. “It will make this Christmas program for the 300 people a little easier. It would sure be a lot easier on me, my wife and the rest of the people that work on this program.”

Mayor Manalo did not agree with Norcia’s “characterization” of the City’s contribution.

“Four thousand dollars is not a little or the smallest amount,” he told Norcia.

“It is! It is the smallest amount!” Norcia interjected.

Councilmember Sally Flowers offered a motion for the city to add $780 to the original contribution, citing the report presented by Norcia that 78 percent of funds go towards food for families. However, none of her fellow councilmembers seconded the motion and the motion died.

Mayor Manalo suggested to Norcia that the organization should focus on delivering food to those in need and let other organizations take its share in donating toys for the children.

“When you say ‘Take the money, buy the food only and don’t give them toys,’ that’s not much of a Christmas for those kids out here,” Norcia objected.

When Councilmember Tony Lima suggested a fundraiser for the Cerritos-Artesia Christmas Program, Norcia also scoffed at the idea.

“I’m not going to do fundraising because I start next month getting a hold on this thing!” he told the council, noting that he spends three months out of his life to make this effort work. “I don’t think that I need to go out and raise money to do this program. That’s kind of ludicrous.”

He tried to argue that without the money, it would be like the now-closed Cerritos Valley Help Center—“it doesn’t exist” and that the city of Artesia would have to look over its citizens more.

“It’s a cheap program that takes care of 200 families in our community and you guys are sitting here arguing about $700,” Norcia added.

The dispute ended with Nordbak telling the council that Republic Services would give $780 towards the Christmas program.

City Honors Resident's 100th Birthday

The Artesia City Council presented a certificate to Ocean Miyake on celebrating his 100th birthday recently. His son was also in attendance during the presentation portion of the Council meeting.

The next regular Artesia City Council meeting is scheduled for October 10 at 7 p.m. at Artesia City Hall. For more information, call (562) 865-6262.