1 Mayra Ochiqui
From:Mayra Ochiqui
Sent:Monday, June 22, 2026 2:07 PM
To:Angelique Duarte
Cc:Mark Politzer; City Clerk
Subject:RE: NORMS Restaurants Request to Address Public Safety Concerns at June 22 Council Meeting
Attachments:Bellflower City Council .pdf
Hi Angelique:
This is to confirm receipt of the additional materials. The matter will not be added to the agenda as a separate item, but the previous email and the attached will be distributed to the City Council, made available to the public, and archived as part of the meeting record. Again, comments can be made during the general Public Comments portion of the agenda.
Sincerely,
Mayra Ochiqui
City Clerk
City Clerk's Office
(562) 804-1424 x2272
[email protected]
16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA, 90706
www.bellflower.ca.gov
From: Angelique Duarte
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2026 1:36 PM
To: Mayra Ochiqui
Cc: Mark Politzer
Subject: FW: NORMS Restaurants Request to Address Public Safety Concerns at June 22 Council Meeting
Hello Mayra,
I hope you’re doing well.
Attached is the speech Mark will be presenting at the Bellflower City Council meeting today at 7:00 PM.
I wanted to ask if there is a way to have this added to the agenda or included as part of the meeting materials. Please let us know what steps are needed to make this request.
Thank you for your assistance.
Best regards,
Angelique Duarte
2 From: Angelique Duarte
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2026 10:38 AM
To: 'City Clerk'
Cc: Mark Politzer
Subject: RE: NORMS Restaurants Request to Address Public Safety Concerns at June 22 Council Meeting
Good morning,
Thank you for the update and for forwarding my email to the City Council Members. I appreciate the information regarding the meeting agenda and public comment process.
Mark will be in attendance and looks forward to addressing the City Council during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Angelique Duarte
From: City Clerk
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2026 10:20 AM
To: Angelique Duarte
Cc: Mark Politzer ; City Clerk
Subject: RE: NORMS Restaurants Request to Address Public Safety Concerns at June 22 Council Meeting
Good morning:
This is to confirm receipt of your email below. It will be forwarded to the City Council Members as requested.
Attached please find a copy of the June 22, 2026, City Council Meeting Agenda. You may provide comments under the “Public Comments” portion of the Agenda. The Mayor will open the section for public comments and you may approach the podium at that time. There will be a sign-in sheet at the podium on which to write your name. Each speaker is given three minutes to address the City Council.
Sincerely,
Mayra Ochiqui
City Clerk
City Clerk's Office
(562) 804-1424 x2272
[email protected]
3 16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA, 90706
www.bellflower.ca.gov
From: Angelique Duarte
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2026 4:26 PM
To: City Clerk
Cc: Mark Politzer
Subject: NORMS Restaurants Request to Address Public Safety Concerns at June 22 Council Meeting Importance: High
Dear Members of the Bellflower City Council,
My name is Angelique Duarte, and I am writing on behalf of NORMS Restaurants.
We would like to respectfully request an opportunity for our President and CEO, Mark Politzer, to speak during the next City Council meeting on June 22nd, regarding a public safety concern affecting our Bellflower restaurant location.
Over the past several years, a van dweller has been parked near our restaurant’s gate entrance, resulting in ongoing concerns from both our employees and guests. The individual residing in the vehicle has been generating excessive noise, creating disturbances that have impacted the restaurant environment and contributed to concerns expressed by members of our staff and customers.
Please advise us on the process for being added to the agenda or participating during the public comment portion of the meeting. We would also appreciate any information regarding speaking time limits and registration requirements.
I have copied Mark, our CEO on this email. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please reply all so that we may respond promptly and ensure all parties remain informed.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your guidance and the opportunity to address the Council.
Sincerely,
Angelique Duarte
****THIS EMAIL IS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF NORMS ORGANIZATION****
SUPPORT CENTER: 17904 Lakewood Blvd. | Bellflower, CA 90706 | 562.804.4485 March 26, 2026
The Honorable Sonny R. Santa Ines
City of Bellflower
16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA 90706
RE: Concerns Regarding Public Safety and Need for Increased Security Measures
Dear Mayor Ines,
I am writing to express my growing concern about the lack of adequate security and police presence in our community, particularly in relation to ongoing vandalism and issues associated with homelessness in our area. This matter has been brought to the attention of your code enforcement offices repeatedly and the LA County Sheriff's servicing the area and the unsafe conditions exist. We had multiple incidents this past weekend involving violence and damage to our property.
Over the past several months, there has been a noticeable increase in vandalism, including damage to our restaurant (located at 17844 Lakewood Blvd), our Support Center offices (located directly across from our restaurant), graffiti, presence of homeless individuals, and disturbances that are affecting the quality of life for our employees, guests of Norms and probably other local residents and businesses. Sir, the current approach appears insufficient as multiple calls to the Sheriff’s station have been made in vain. Particularly troublesome is the presence of a white and blue van/camper parked directly near our entry gate (at times blocking our gate) which appears to be engaged in some type of criminal activity to include sale of drugs and maybe even prostitution. Many of our team members from the restaurant and the support center feel unsafe entering our parking lot due to having personally observed the presence of suspicious individuals waiting outside the van to conduct “business”.
Such lack of resolution leaves us all feeling unsafe due to the local authorities’ inability to take action by ordering removal of the parked van or cessation of activity occurring in plain daylight. The optics behind all this reflects very poorly for the city and, most of all, leadership who up to now has mostly looked the other way.
While I understand that these are complex challenges requiring permanent solutions, the current situation has created an uncomfortable noise caused by the generator that constantly runs from the rear of the van. I am unable to offer my employees a response to their ongoing concerns and share in their frustration.
Again, the van’s makeshift power generator which supplies power to the driver while he sleeps overnight in his vehicle (which I believe violates Bellflower Municipal Code § 10.12.070 )is a point of nuisance. We have contacted the Sheriff’s department repeatedly, yet nothing gets done.
SUPPORT CENTER: 17904 Lakewood Blvd. | Bellflower, CA 90706 | 562.804.4485
Honorable Mayor, while increased police presence, improved response times, and more proactive measures to prevent vandalism would go a long way in restoring a sense of safety, I ask your office to personally look into this problem before it expands further .
Due to no obvious action, many of our employees have been outspoken and intend to attend future townhall meetings to voice their frustration and anger towards leadership of the city to a topic that remains ignored. I respectfully urge your office to take immediate action to improve safety and ensure that our neighborhoods are secure and well-maintained. I would appreciate any information on steps being taken to address these concerns. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (562)688-8665.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
NORMS RESTAURANTS, LLC
SUPPORT CENTER: 17904 Lakewood Blvd. | Bellflower, CA 90706 | 562.804.4485