Cerritos Anchors South Asian Civic Life as Diwali Gets County Recognition and City Elects First Indian-American Mayor

Cerritos has emerged as a focal point for Indian-American civic milestones in Southern California. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn led the Board of Supervisors to officially recognize Diwali for the fourth consecutive year, celebrating at the SoCal Diwali Festival in Cerritos, while the city itself made history when Naresh Solanki was unanimously elected as its first Indian-American mayor.

🗳️ LA County Officially Recognizes Diwali for Fourth Consecutive Year

For the fourth year in a row, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to officially recognize Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Diwali is observed by more than one billion people around the world. Hahn first led the effort to have the County recognize Diwali in 2022, marking the first time in the county's history that the holiday received official recognition. Reflecting on the significance of the motion, Hahn said that Diwali is meaningful for thousands of families across LA County and that it is important for government to formally recognize that significance. She added that she is proud to have led the County in doing that for its Hindu and Sikh communities. In keeping with her annual tradition, Hahn celebrated at the SoCal Diwali Festival held in Cerritos, reinforcing the city's role as a central gathering place for the region's South Asian community. The unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors each year reflects the County's sustained commitment to acknowledging the cultural contributions of communities that observe the Festival of Lights. [1]

🗳️ Naresh Solanki Becomes First Indian-American Mayor of Cerritos

Naresh Solanki was unanimously chosen by a 5-0 vote on April 17 at Cerritos City Hall to become the first Indian-American mayor in the city's history. Solanki had been serving as Mayor Pro Tem, the position from which Cerritos has traditionally elevated its mayors. It is a long-standing tradition in the city, which was transformed from the Dairy Valley to Cerritos in 1956, that the Mayoral post rotates among council colleagues and the Mayor Pro-Tem is the automatic successor. That tradition had been broken two years earlier when Solanki was bypassed and Grace Hue became mayor, making his eventual selection all the more anticipated. City Clerk Vida Barone opened the nominations; Councilman Jim Edwards nominated Solanki and Councilman Frank Yokoyama seconded. Planning Commissioner Deepak Jhaveri called the moment long overdue and said it marked a victory for the entire community, expressing hope that Solanki would serve as a role model and motivate future Indian-American leaders. In his acceptance speech, Solanki named public safety as his top priority and pledged to work with Cerritos Sheriffs. He committed to fiscal prudence and protecting city resources, and praised the city's internationally recognized public library and its state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. LA County Board Chair Janice Hahn and former Supervisor Don Knabe, who drove from Temecula, were among those attending. [2]

Sources: [1] County Supervisor Janice Hahn (.gov) · [2] India Journal