About Us
California Cities for Self-Reliance Joint Powers Authority (JPA) comprises four member cities with local card club operations that include the cities of Bell Gardens, Commerce, Compton and Hawaiian Gardens. The JPA’s mission is to empower communities and leadership statewide to advocate for card rooms as vital resources to cities and local services such as police, fire, schools and transportation. We achieve our mission by educating and engaging community, lobbying, communications and legal action.
Values
- Collaboration across community, business and elected leadership
- Integrity in work, decision making and relationships
- Work regionally to effect change statewide
Goals
- Increase awareness of the essential economic value that cities and communities derive from card rooms.
- Local leaders advocate for card rooms as vital to the economic health of cities, communities and local services.
- Build a network that can communicate and activate support in real time
Board Members
Chair - Dr. Francis de Leon Sanchez, City of Bell Gardens
Dr. Francis De Leon Sanchez is a proud Bell Gardens native and lifelong public servant dedicated to education, equity, and community empowerment. She currently serves as an Administrator in the HLPUSD, where her leadership and impact have been recognized through honors such as Administrator of the Year and state finalist distinction by ACSA Region XV in 2021.
With over a decade of teaching experience in Montebello Unified School District (MUSD), Dr. De Leon Sanchez has served in diverse leadership roles, including English Teacher, Activities Director, and ACE Pathway Lead, where she championed student success and academic opportunity. She holds a B.A. in English Education from California State University, Long Beach, an M.A. in Educational Leadership, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Cal Poly Pomona. Her doctoral research focused on the lived experiences and success of at-promise students in continuation high schools.
Deeply rooted in her hometown, Dr. De Leon Sanchez lives in Bell Gardens with her husband. Her family has been part of the community for over 50 years, planting strong roots and instilling in her a lifelong commitment to service.
Guided by the belief that leadership is about action and advocacy, her personal motto and campaign slogan, HOPE: Helping Other People Everyday, reflects her mission to uplift others, create opportunity, and lead with integrity.
Dr. De Leon Sanchez continues to serve with humility, purpose, and dedication to the people and future of Bell Gardens.
Vice Chair - Hugo A. Argumedo, City of Commerce
Mayor Hugo A. Argumedo moved to the City of Commerce in 1994 and was elected to the City Council in 1996 to fill the unexpired term of Ruben Batres. He was reelected to the City Council in 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2020.
Mayor Argumedo has played an active role in the City and is committed to improving community safety, education and employment. Among his accomplishments are helping to initiate the City’s Education Commission; restructuring the City scholarship program resulting in more money being raised for Commerce students with college expenses; and initializing the Citadel expansion project, doubling the number of stores at the Citadel and creating many jobs and added revenue to our City for years to come. In addition, he helped pass the Hotel Visitor Tax, which generates an estimated $2.3 million annually; negotiated a new fire department contract, saving the City of Commerce over 11 million dollars; oversaw new homes being built in the Bristow and Veteran Park areas; and is a strong advocate of community-based policing and the Neighborhood Watch Program.
In addition to his duties on the City Council, Mayor Argumedo served as a member of the California Contract Cities Association, I-710 Oversight Policy Committee, Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District and also served as a representative with the Southern California Association of Governments.
He also served as a member of many community-based organizations, including the Model City Democratic Club of Commerce, the Commerce Sister City Association, and the Rosewood Park Elementary School PTA.
Mayor Argumedo is the proud father of four children and has 30 years of work experience as a computer/network technician for Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Secretary - Victor Farfan, City of Hawaiian Gardens
Victor Farfan was born and raised in Hawaiian Gardens. After graduating from Artesia High School he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Occidental College. Victor has always had an affinity for his home town and has been committed to its betterment. Prior to his election to the City Council, he served as chair of the Hawaiian Gardens Public Safety Commission and as a trustee of the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. Councilman Farfan has also served as a member of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the Cities for Self Reliance Joint Powers Authority. He is a Commercial Insurance Broker with Spectrum Risk Management and Insurance Services. Council Member Farfan and his wife Arlene are proud parents of two sons, Troy and Cole Farfan.
Treasurer - Emma Sharif, City of Compton
Emma Sharif is the Mayor for the City of Compton since July 2021. Prior to her Mayoral victory, she was elected to represent the 4th District of the Compton City Council in June of 2015. Emma has been a resident of Compton for over 20 years, proudly raising her children and working in the community throughout that time. No stranger to hard work, Emma has always had a passion for education and public service. She demonstrated her passion for students through her time as a public-school teacher, and a Youth Development Director in Compton. Observing the need for more qualified and dedicated teachers Emma became a staunch advocate for student success and their overall well-being.
As a result of her passion and advocacy, in 2001, Emma was appointed to the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees, filling a Board vacancy. In 2003, Emma successfully ran for the full term and served as Trustee of CUSD Board of Directors for 14 years. In her time as Trustee, Emma successfully championed the efforts of bringing the Emergency Repair Program (ERP) to the District. The ERP program yielded over $40 million to repair 28 schools within the District. As Trustee, Emma continued to exemplify her leadership by serving in various capacities, including President, Vice President, Clerk, and Legislative Representative.
In 2015, Emma ran a successful campaign for Compton City Council District 4. Since serving on the council, Sharif has championed many projects. As a freshman, Emma was given the task of continuing and enhancing the existing scholarship program awarding over $10,000 to the city’s scholars in most need. She has championed and supported the Collaborative Court, which was implemented at the Compton Courthouse. Emma coordinated efforts with partnering cities to address the growing concerns of human trafficking in Compton, Long Beach, Lynwood, etc. Emma has been leading the charge to address the growing concerns of Homelessness in Compton with partnering cities and agencies. She also coordinated the redevelopment and renovation of South Park. As Councilperson for the 4th District, Emma served on several regional and statewide committees. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science/Sociology; and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Emma’s future vision is to make sure Kelly Park receives the same updates and renovation. Her strong community ties and independent thinking led to a strategic and systematic effort of cleaning up the city. Mayor Emma Sharif is dedicated to addressing quality of life issues, government transparency, and equality for all residents in Compton and its neighboring cities. Mayor Sharif proudly represents Compton when building relationships with other cities and counties as well as State and Federal Legislative Leaders. She works to create a professional and respectful business culture.
As Mayor, some of Emma’s priorities are to:
- Improve the city’s technology infrastructure to allow the online processing of common payments, forms, and applications
- Pay-off existing deficit by 2024
- Identify innovative ways to generate revenue for the City
- Create an initiative to clean and beautify the City
- Re-establish the Department of Parks and Recreation
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Juan Garza
Juan Garza is the Executive Director. He is also Principal at Six Heron in Southern California, a strategic communications & relations firm where he is engaged in and has advocated on behalf of a broad variety of industries including cardrooms, international trade, beverage, housing, land use, public transportation, telecommunications, horse racing, security and infrastructure at the local, regional, state and federal levels. Additionally, he has successfully engaged in industry-leading environmental initiatives and capital improvement projects in areas that include water, waste, development, and technology.
Juan is also a policymaker, previously serving as Mayor of the City of Bellflower and as President of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, representing 86 of its member cities. In these capacities, he has engaged in issues that include transportation, homelessness, air quality, fiscal education and housing solutions at the state, regional and local level.
As manager of operations in the private sector, he has been responsible for annual operating budgets up to $90 million, generated annual revenues up to $120 million, successfully lobbied and obtained over $350 million in public funding and managed headcounts up to 350 employees.
He has a Master of Public Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and a Certificate in Urban Studies, all from California State University, Long Beach. He and his wife Mayra, Educator, have three young sons.