RIAZ SURTI

Riaz Surti for Cerritos City Council 

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<h2>My name is Riaz Surti. I am Running to Build a Better and Safer Cerritos!</h2><h2>Riaz Surti is a homegrown candidate, Cerritos Dad, City Commissioner, and Small Business Owner running for Cerritos City Council to fight for Seniors, Youth, Parents, and Families to Keep Cerritos Safe.</h2>Son of immigrants. His parents came with nothing so that their children could realize the American Dream in Southern California. Through hard work and sacrifice, Riaz’s family opened a dry cleaner where Riaz worked every day after school.&nbsp;Family Man. Riaz and Sara are proud parents of two kids: Noah and Nyla. Both kids attend ABC schools and went on to college. Riaz and Sara works to instill the values of hard work, faith, and service that their parents taught them.Business experience. Riaz has extensive business experience. He worked in the fast food industry since the age of 18 years, learning hard work and perseverance.. He went on to become a multi-store franchisee of KFC's and Taco Bell all over Southern California. After selling his franchises, he went on to food manufacturing of South Asian food products selling nationwide to Whole Foods, Costco, and Sam's Club. Riaz now owns an e-commerce company selling health and wellness products nationwide. As a business, owner Riaz understands budgets, has managed hundreds of employees, and has vision to grow and protect the city of Cerritos.Government Service. When Cerritos faced the economic challenges as other cities in California did, Riaz was asked to serve on the Economic Development Commission to help addressed the challenges Cerritos was facing with the loss of redevelopment revenue. On the Economic Development Commission, Riaz helped bring businesses to Cerritos in order to create jobs and tax dollars, including Tour Les Jours, Amazon Fresh, Raising Caines, and more. &nbsp;

New Vision and Proactive Approach. Riaz's campaign mission and approach will be to bring innovation, fresh new ideas, and increase communication.

<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>These are some of the top issues our campaign is focused on. Learn more about our issues <a href="/issues" target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a>.

Our Campaign’s Top Issues

Cerritos has experienced an increased level of crime since the end of COVID. These crimes, including residential and commercial burglaries, have impacted Cerritos residents and businesses. The current council has worked to curb the increase in crime. Riaz's priorities are to work tirelessly to solve these important problems.<ul><li>Increase deputy staffing to strengthen our law enforcement presence.&nbsp;</li><li>Utilize data to identify high-crime areas and allocate resources accordingly.&nbsp;</li><li>Continue to use cameras and ALPRs to enhance the protection of vehicles, property, and children in our neighborhoods.</li><li>Work on improving emergency response times.&nbsp;</li><li>Encourage residents to report any suspicious activities to the Sheriff's Department, including supporting neighborhood watch.</li><li>Provide resident and school training on active shooters.</li><li>Improve communication between the City, Sheriff's Department, and Residents.</li></ul>

Cerritos has experienced an increase of crime since the end of COVID. These crimes, including residential and commercial burglaries, have impacted Cerritos residents and businesses. The current council has worked tirelessly to curb the increase, and Riaz's priorities are to continue to work towards solving these important problems.

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Keep Cerritos Safe

As a parent of two children, and as someone who grew up in the city, I understand the need to create a welcoming community that includes open parks, opportunities for sporting activities, and recreation classes. I have heard from our parents and community that they want to see more activities and classes available to their children.Riaz hopes to explore increasing recreation services activities including exploring:<ul><li>Creating an additional swimming center at Cerritos High School.</li><li>Encouraging more recreation classes available for enrollment</li><li>Staffing more parks</li><li>Promote to get you to know your neighbor programs. Make Sept. 28 as Good Neighbor Day which is a day to recognize the importance of good neighbors and encourage neighborliness. The day is intended to help people overcome isolation and build a sense of community</li><li>LAST BUT NOT LEAST: overcome neighborhood fragmentation (neighbors not knowing each other) by facilitating neighborhood meet &amp; greet events: neighborhood cleanups, fruit picking, yard sales, etc. fun opportunities for neighbors to get to know each other, build trust and participate in mutual aid.</li></ul>

As a parent of two children, and as someone who grew up in the city, I understand the need to create a welcoming community that includes open parks, opportunities for sporting activities, and recreation classes. I have heard from our parents and community that they want to see more activities and classes available to their children.

Increasing Community Activities

I believe small businesses are the backbone of our community. As a business owner in Los Angeles County, I am committed to promoting Cerritos as a business-friendly city and attracting more businesses that offer high-quality jobs to the area. Make it easier for business to apply business license and conduct business.<ul><li>Working with the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce to focus attracting and promoting local businesses.</li><li>Working to consider a mixed-use project to replace the empty Sears space (Cerritos Mall), the empty Grocery Store (Carmenita/Artesia), and others to generate tax revenue for Cerritos.</li><li>Create a Cerritos Job Fair for local residents to get job with Cerritos businesses. </li><li>Use Cerritos First policy to support Cerritos business. </li></ul>

I believe small businesses are the backbone of our community. As a business owner in Los Angeles County, I am committed to promoting Cerritos as a business-friendly city and attracting more businesses that offer high-quality jobs to the area.

Encouraging Local Business

I aim to establish a direct relationship between the City Council and the ABC School Board. I would encourage collaboration and explore opportunities to open underutilized buildings, such as the Performing Arts Center, for school-related activities, like plays and events.Coordinate with the ABC School Board to address concerns and enhance partnerships. For instance, avoid city construction or street maintenance during peak traffic times related to school drop-off and pick-up. Establish an internship program for ABC students to volunteer at Cerritos City Hall, the Cerritos Senior Center, Cerritos Library, Cerritos Performing Arts Center, and within Cerritos Parks and Recreation. This initiative will promote civic engagement among students while providing valuable job experience.<ul><li>Also improve a safe student drop off and pick up students at our schools. </li><li>Construction free and maintenance free zone during peak traffic times related to school drop-off and pick-up. </li></ul>

I aim to establish a direct relationship between the City Council and the ABC School Board. I would encourage collaboration and exploration of opportunities to open underutilized buildings, such as the Performing Arts Center, for school-related activities, like plays and events.

Schools And The City

I want to support our seniors. While the Senior Center offers its attendees programming, we need to reach out to those who don’t utilize it and provide additional services and activities to benefit them, including through local non-profits..<ul><li>Organize a First Ever City Marathon Celebrating Seniors. Plan a marathon that honors the seniors of Cerritos, allowing participants to dedicate their run to a loved one while exploring the city. Starting at City Hall, and ending at Cerritos City Mall.</li><li>Implement a Volunteer Program for Seniors. Create a volunteer program to assist seniors with daily tasks, such as taking their trash cans in and out. Form a service corps consisting of ABC students and vetted community volunteers from Cerritos.</li><li>Assist Seniors with Utility Bill Savings. Help seniors complete forms to reduce their monthly energy bills by applying for SCE Assistance Programs. Train ABC students to guide seniors through the application process.</li></ul>

I want to support our seniors. While the Senior Center offers its attendees programming, we need to reach out to those who don’t utilize it and provide additional services and activities to benefit them.

Seniors

As self-proclaimed health addict, Riaz believes in health-conscious activities and lifestyles. However, Cerritos residents have explained that they want more opportunities to achieve those lifestyles, without the need to leave the city or maintain costly gym memberships. As such, Riaz wants to build a walkable Cerritos by:<ul><li>Fixing our sidewalks so residents don't need to walk in the streets</li><li>Creating a walkable path on South Street by the Cerritos Mall connecting the Cerritos Promenade and Lucille Restaurant Shopping Center.</li><li>Creating a walkable path from Cerritos High School to the Cerritos Library. Also, Cerritos Library to the Cerritos Towne Center with designated safe pathways.</li><li>Explore diagonal crosswalks for walkers and students at corners especially during peak school drop off and pick up times. </li></ul>

As self-proclaimed health addict, Riaz believes in health-conscious activities and lifestyles. However, Cerritos residents have explained that they want more opportunities to achieve those lifestyles, without the need to leave the city or maintain costly gym memberships.

Walkable Cities

Reinforce and expand the Neighborhood Watch (NW) Program to include not only the essential crime prevention services butalso strengthen neighborhoods’ resiliency in the face of extreme weather emergencies:• Identify Cerritos solar/battery backup homes and incentivize them to become neighborhood “Electric Charging Hubs” in case of prolonged power outages. Neighbors can charge their cell phones &amp; medical equipment.• Organize &amp; prepare neighborhoods to assist neighbors in major disasters.• Help neighbors in identifying neighborhood resources: who is a medical doctor/nurse, who is a ham radio operator, who has a tall ladder, who has a strong back, etc.• Assist neighbors to identify special needs in their block or tract: the elderly, people with disabilities, etc.• Guide NW block captains in creating neighborhood WhatsApp/Facebook chat rooms.• Support neighborhoods in building a disaster response team• Enlarge the City’s Emergency Preparedness Office

Expand the Neighborhood Watch (NW) Program to include not only the essential crime prevention services but also strengthen neighborhoods’ resiliency in the face of extreme weather emergencies:

Emergency Safety First Plan

Make a Difference and Bring Positive Change To Cerritos!

<h3>Contribute now to support our campaign!</h3>

Dozens of local organizations and leaders are standing together!

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Election day is March 4th

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<h2>Expand our Food Bank to more Cerritos Residents in Need</h2>

<h2>Speed Up Sheriff Response</h2>Riaz will work to put more police patrol on the streets to crack down on rising crime. And Riaz will fight for more investments in violence prevention by adding more police officers, parking lot cameras in our schools, streets and parks.

<h2>Please Donate</h2>Make Check Payable to RiazSurtiCerritosCouncil2025 or donate online to the following links below.<ul><li><a href="https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RiazSurtiCerritosCityCouncil2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Riaz Surti Cerritos City Council 2025 - Online Contributions by eFundraising Connections</a></li></ul>

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Campaign Events

Meet Riaz Surti at Pieology get pizza.

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Meet Riaz Surti at Pieology Pizzeria at Cerritos Towne Center.

Join me for Pizza and lets talk about everything Cerritos.

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Campaign Kick Off Event

Come join us to celebrate the Riaz's Kickoff campaign

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Leadership to Reduce Crime, Home Burglaries, and Promote School Safety.

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Help Riaz Surti Win Cerritos City Council. Let’s make every vote count and secure this victory together!

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<h2></h2>Successful Businessman and Innovator. Riaz and his companies have been featured on Amazon, Shopify, Netflix, Food Network, ABC Good Morning America. He has also won product of the year in Bon Appetite Magazine and been the first person to introduce South Asian products to Whole Foods, Costco, and Sam's Club in 2001. Riaz is an innovator in gluten free deserts, plant based flours, and single ingredient wellness products.

Riaz has the best interest of our kids. I trust him to be the best candidate for the job of Cerritos City Council-Tatiana Yokoyama Bui ABC Unified School District, Board of Trustees, Area 4

Riaz has the best interest of our kids. I trust him to be the best candidate for the job of Cerritos City Council-Tatiana Yokoyama BuiABC Unified School District, Board of Trustees, Area 4

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"My parents and I moved to Cerritos in 1979. I went to ABC Schools, owned a chain of KFC and Taco Bells. Now I owned a international health company. I served as Cerritos Economic Development commissioner. Cerritos has been a wonderful place to live for me and my family. I will fix the street, sidewalks, curbs, trees, and walls. I’m running for Cerritos City Council to put people ahead of politics, protect our community, and ensure the safety of our city and schools.”

Latest News. Get the latest in on what's happening.

Riaz's Campaign Developments

Cerritos, CA — December 16, 2024 — Riaz Surti is a candidate for the Cerritos City Council and has received an endorsement from newly elected U.S. Representative Derek Tran of California's 45th District. Tran won the election against incumbent U.S. Representative Michelle Steel.Derek Tran, a Democrat, expressed his support for Riaz Surti, stating, "You're going to make big positive changes, and I'm glad to be part of your journey."Surti is one of ten candidates competing for three open seats on the Cerritos City Council. This election marks a historical moment, as it is the first time that all three available seats have no incumbents running. Riaz Surti has lived in the district since childhood, having attended local elementary, junior high, and high schools, as well as community college before graduating from USC.As a first-time candidate, Surti has previously served on the Cerritos Economic Development Committee. Additionally, he owned KFC and Taco Bell franchises from 1986 to 2005.

New Elected U.S. Rep. Derek Tran endorses Candidate Riaz Surti for Cerritos City Council-“You're going to make big positive changes and I'm glad to be part of your journey", Representative Derek Tran.

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Derek Tran Endorses Riaz Surti for Cerritos City Council

politico article, “They want to try to lock in their partisan change of our elections,” said councilmember Frank Yokoyama. “They’re not doing this just because they want the residents to be able to vote on this subject matter.”

What's a Good Day for Election

Article on Cerritos Voter Suppression, Now the three Republicans on city council – Bruce Barrows (who was appointed, not elected), Naresh Solanki and Chuong Vo – want to move the election from April 2024 to April 2025, an off year/odd year when there is traditionally lower turnout.Many are residents are protesting, which will fall on deaf ears at tonight’s Republican-led city council meeting.

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Campaign Events

Campaign Kick Off Event

Meet Riaz Surti at Pieology Pizzeria at Cerritos Towne Center.