News Archive - Contains the latest news of special events or activities

Press Releases - Contains news releases or alerts sent out to media

Resource Links - Contains brochures, articles, specific information on present issues or programs related to the City of Torrance and its community

On Monday, November 9, 2009, at 7 p.m. the Torrance City Council and the entire Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) Board of Education will convene for a special joint meeting. The meeting will be held at the Toyota Meeting Hall in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center located at 3330 Civic Center Drive. Its main purpose is to explore areas of collaboration in services and processes between these two governing bodies; topics to be discussed include - facility maintenance, library resources, field lighting, etc. read more (PDF)>>

1. "Find a Flu Shot" website (http://www.findaflushot.com/) will give you non-County sites that may charge a fee.  Click the message box on the upper right.  It will give you locations such as:

• CVS Pharmacies, some are stand-alone and others are located in Stater Brothers markets, charge $25.  They waive the fee to unemployed individuals who present a voucher from certain employment sites.  In our District, unfortunately only the Marina Del Rey Work Source Center (310) 309-6000 distributes these vouchers though there are others distribution points scattered outside our District.  Locations of other voucher distributors can be found by using either the CVS website www.CVS.com/promoContent  or calling them at 1 888 flu shot.
• Ralphs and Food for Less stores that have pharmacies are giving flu shots for $25.
• Rite Aid  charges $30Walgreens charges $24.99 for the injection and $29.99 for the nasal spray version

2. The County's Information Line (dial 2-1-1) has locations of only County sites.  County sites provide free vaccinations.

3. The Department of Public Health's website has County only sites, see (http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/flu/index.htm.

4. Department of Public Health's L.A. County Health Line provides info on County sites and also volunteer sites such as churches, senior centers etc. that are partnering with the County.  Vaccinations at these sites are free.  The L.A. County Health Line number is (800) 427-8700, from Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Spanish interpreters available.

TORRANCE, Calif., October 16, 2009 - On Friday, November 13, 2009, the Mayor and City Council will dedicate the Sports Center at Wilson Park in honor of former Mayor Dee Hardison, naming it the "Dee Hardison Sports Center." The ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Wilson Park located at 2200 Crenshaw Boulevard. This dedication ceremony is in recognition of Dee Hardison's numerous contributions and continuous commitment to excellence in the City of Torrance.  

Dee Hardison is a longtime community activist who has had an enormously positive impact on the City of Torrance.  As former mayor, councilwoman, and commissioner or the City of Torrance, she has participated in many important decisions that helped improve the quality of life in Torrance. Specifically, under her watch, the City developed the following facilities presently enjoyed by the rest of the community: the Wilson Park Sports Center, the Madrona Marsh Nature Center, the expansion of the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, and the installation of the Veterans Memorial.

In January 2007, Dee Hardison joined a committee to develop City Council's concept for a "Students and Government Day" to help students gain a better understanding of local government.  She has actively participated in the program for three years running and in the same year was a recipient of the highest honor given by the City of Torrance - the Jared Sidney Torrance Award for all her contributions to the City and continued community involvement.

Please click here for the agenda item recommending the naming of the Wilson Park Sports Center after Dee Hardison during the September 15, 2009 City Council meeting wherein it was also approved.

As working families struggle to make ends meet due to the current economic downturn, Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) is urging customers to take advantage of the utility's assistance programs.

These are the types of programs offered that may be helpful for Torrance customers:

Gas Company Assistance for Struggling Families...
The Southern California Gas Co. offers several assistance programs to their customers to help reduce winter heating bills and increase energy efficiency during these hard economic times.

CARE (California Alternate Rate for Energy)
Provides a 20% discount on the monthly gas bill for eligible households who may not be able to make their monthly payment. Customers may be automatically eligible if they currently receive benefits from the Women, Infants and Children, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or LIHEAP programs.

Direct Assistance Program
Provides energy-saving home improvements to income-qualified renters and homeowners. Services include weather-stripping, ceiling insulation, low-flow showerheads, furnace replacement and other minor home repairs.

Medical Baseline Allowance
Customers with a person in the home with certain medical conditions who may require additional heating to sustain their health, may qualify for additional natural gas at the lowest baseline rate.

Gas Assistance Fund
Provides a one-time grant to customers during the winter who are income-qualified and unable to pay their bill.

Please click here for more information.

TORRANCE, Calif., October 2, 2009 - The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) has selected the City of Torrance as a finalist for its 2009 Most Business-Friendly City in L.A. County award for the population of 60,000 and over category.  The LAEDC honored the City of Torrance for creating a business-friendly environment that encourages businesses to locate or expand in the community by reducing red tape and improving response time with additional assistance.  Torrance has implemented streamlining measures such as a onestop permit center, ombudsman services, online project status tracking, and training.  In addition, Torrance is proud to have the second lowest rate of property crime and third lowest rate of violent crime among 15 L.A. County cities with populations of 100,000 residents.

"These ten city finalists have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to creating a businessfriendly environment where businesses can thrive and create jobs," said Bill Allen, LAEDC president and CEO. "Each year, this competition reveals that more and more cities are being proactive in their efforts to retain and attract quality jobs and businesses in their communities. The ability and commitment of our local governments to attract and retain good jobs is absolutely essential if our region is to regain its economic vitality and sustain our quality of life."

One winner from each category will be announced live at the 14th Annual Eddy Awards® honoring economic development leadership on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at the Beverly Hilton hotel.  The Eddy Awards® has become one of the most prestigious economic development award programs in the state of California, and more than 700 leaders from the business, government, and education sectors are expected to attend the gala dinner.

Please click here for the Eddy Awards® website.

TORRANCE, Calif., August 7, 2009 - On August 12, 2008, the Torrance City Council adopted the 2008 Strategic Plan for the City.  The Plan was updated by a group of sixteen citizens, who met weekly from January through May.  The City of Torrance Strategic Plan is a proactive statement of where we as a community want to be in the future, how we will get there and who will be responsible for taking us there.

The biggest change in the Strategic Plan is the addition of a new priority addressing environmental concerns and practices.  This priority, entitled "Stewardship of the Environment", addresses goals ranging from increased recycling to more environmentally friendly development practices, and also includes goals encouraging new, green businesses.

The City of Torrance is now working on an Action Plan to implement the goals and sub-goals identified in the Plan. Workshops were conducted in June, and work continues.

To view the Strategic Plan Full Report, click here.

TORRANCE, Calif., July 16, 2009 - The Los Angeles County West Vector & Vector-Borne Disease Control District has issued a pamphlet called "Biting and Stinging Insects" to inform the public about biting and stinging insects in Los Angeles County.  Recommendations listed in this pamphlet should be followed in order to reduce the risk of exposure to the following vectors and vector-borne diseases:

• Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus
• Africanized Honey Bees
• Ticks and Lyme Disease
• Red Imported Fire Ants

This pamphlet will be available at various public counters in City Hall and can be downloaded from the website: http://www.lawestvector.org/.

TORRANCE, Calif., June 26, 2009 - The City of Torrance announces its new web address and domain name (URL) - www.TorranceCA.Gov/ as a step toward providing the community with clear, convenient and easy means of accessing City information.  Starting July 1, 2009, everyone can access the City of Torrance website through this new address. In addition, and all emails to City contacts will also use the new domain "Name@TorranceCA.Gov." read more (PDF)>>

To help keep our community informed of important issues, the City of Torrance launched a citywide Twitter account today. Please "follow" us at http://twitter.com/TorranceCA to stay in touch.