Pico Rivera public comments urge more medication‑disposal kiosks; council approves consent calendar and appoints veterans commissioner

Multiple community speakers addressed the council during public comment before the council acted on consent items.

Jonathan Grayson of Helpline Youth Counseling, speaking with the Southeast Community Alliance and the "Let's Make a Difference" campaign, urged local pharmacies to provide safe medication and sharps‑disposal options. He said the campaign contacted five Pico Rivera pharmacies and found only one had a sharps kiosk and none had a safe medication‑disposal kiosk; he invited pharmacies to contact the coalition for free kiosks and asked the city to collaborate on community events and the DEA National Take Back Day scheduled for April 25, 2026.

Christina Sandoval, controller at Heart of Compassion (based in Montebello), gave a 2025 community impact summary. She said that, with partnership and city CDBG support, the organization distributed 155,000 pounds of food across Thanksgiving and Christmas, reached more than 3,000 people, distributed 15,000 pounds of turkeys and 4,000 toys, and — as stated to the council — reported an overall figure of 17,000,000 pounds of food with an equivalent value of $34,000,000.

Lauren Talbot, community library manager at the Pico Rivera Library, provided programming updates (Black History Month teen event and adult craft program), announced the Rivera Library was closed starting Jan. 26 for facility improvements and anticipated reopening Feb. 9, and said holds are available for pickup at the Pico Rivera Library during the closure.

The council received a written comment from Victor Gonzalez regarding immigration and placed it in the record. The council then moved and seconded to approve seven consent‑calendar items; the mayor called for the vote and the motion carried. Item 3 on the consent calendar — the appointment of Efren Hernandez to the Veterans Commission — was highlighted and the council welcomed Hernandez, praising his local background and Navy service.

Next steps: community groups will continue outreach and the city will maintain the written record; the newly appointed veterans commissioner will join the Veterans Commission.