Pemaco Maywood

The "Sleepy Lagoon murder" was the name that Los Angeles newspapers used to describe the 1942 death of José Gallardo Díaz, who was discovered unconscious and dying near a swimming hole (known as the Sleepy Lagoon) with two stab wounds and a broken finger in Commerce, California, United States, on the morning of August 3rd. Earlier, Díaz was seen at a party for Eleanor Delgadillo Coronado where he left afterwards with two friends, Luis "Cito" Vargas and Andrew Torres. He was then confronted by a group of young men from the 38th street neighborhood, who came to the party seeking revenge for an earlier beating of some of their friends.Díaz was taken by ambulance to Los Angeles County General Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards without regaining consciousness. The hospital's autopsy showed that he was inebriated from the party and had a fracture at the base of his skull. This might have been caused by repeated falls or an automobile accident. The cause of Díaz's death remains disputed to this day. However, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was quick to arrest seventeen Mexican-American youths–Jack Melendez, Victor Thompson, Angel Padilla, John Y. Matuz, Ysmael Parra (Smiles), Henry Leyva, Gus Zamora, Manuel Reyes, Robert Telles, Manuel Delgado, Jose Ruiz (Chepe), Victor Segobia, and Henry Ynostroza–as suspects. Despite insufficient evidence, the young men were held in prison, without bail, on charges of murder. The trial ended on January 13, 1943, under the supervision of Judge Charles W. Fricke. Twelve of the defendants were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to serve time in San Quentin Prison. The rest were charged with lesser offenses and incarcerated in the Los Angeles County Jail. The convictions were reversed on appeal in 1944. The case is considered a precursor to the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943.Sleepy Lagoon was a reservoir beside the Los Angeles River that was frequented by Mexican-Americans. Its name came from the popular song "Sleepy Lagoon", which was recorded in 1942 by big band leader and trumpeter Harry James. The reservoir was located near the city of Maywood at approximately what is now 5400 Lindbergh Lane in Bell. The current address has also been given as approximately 5500 Slauson Avenue.

Bell is an incorporated city in Los Angeles County, California, near the center of the former San Antonio Township (abolished after 1960). Its population was 35,477 at the 2010 census, down from 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles. At 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), Bell is the thirteenth-smallest city in the United States with a population of at least 25,000.In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Bell's land area at 1245 out of 1257 cities (defined as incorporated areas) and two unincorporated areas that had a population of at least 25,000 in year 2000. Ten cities in the list of 1267 cities had no land area data (e.g., Goleta, California). City residents voted to become a charter city in a special municipal election on November 29, 2005. Fewer than 400 voters turned out for that special election. More than half of those votes were dubiously obtained absentee votes. Being a charter city meant that city officials were exempt from state salary caps. A scandal ensued, in which several city officials were indicted for giving themselves extraordinarily high salaries.

Maywood Assembly or Los Angeles No. 1, was a Ford Motor Company assembly plant located in City of Commerce, southwestern Los Angeles County, California.

Los Angeles (Maywood) Assembly was a Chrysler assembly plant located in the City of Commerce, near Maywood in southeastern Los Angeles County, California. It was an assembly location where vehicles were shipped by railroad in "knock-down kits" from Detroit, where they were locally assembled, combined with locally sourced parts. Vehicles assembled at Maywood were largely sold in California and the Western United States. It operated from 1932 until 1971, at 5800 Eastern Avenue and Slauson Boulevard. The Ford Maywood Assembly Plant was across the street and began operations in 1948. GM later opened the South Gate Assembly further south in 1936.

Cheli Air Force Station, formerly located within Bell in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, was a United States Air Force installation and a Cold War Radar Bomb Scoring site of the Strategic Air Command, from 1947 to 1961.

Maywood is a small Gateway city in Los Angeles County. At 1.18 square miles (3.1 km2), Maywood is the third-smallest incorporated city in Los Angeles County. It is bordered by the cities of Bell on the south, Vernon on the north and west, Huntington Park on the southwest, and Commerce on the east. It is the most densely-populated city in California, and has the highest proportion of Latinos, immigrants, and undocumented immigrants in the county. As of July 1, 2010, Maywood became the first municipality in California to outsource all of its city services, dismantling its police department, laying off all city employees except for the city manager, city attorney and elected officials, and contracting with outside agencies for the provision of all municipal services. The population was 27,395 at the 2010 census.

Maywood Academy High School (MAHS) is an alternative high school of the Los Angeles Unified School District, located in Maywood, CA. All residents are zoned to Bell High School in Bell and Huntington Park High School in Huntington Park may apply to Maywood Academy High School; Maywood Academy, which opened in 2005 and moved into its permanent campus in 2006, does not have its own attendance boundary because it lacks American football, track and field, and tennis facilities. Several municipalities are in the service zone of MAHS.Areas within the service zone include the City of Maywood, the City of Bell, the City of Cudahy, the City of Huntington Park, portions of Vernon, and most of the Walnut Park census-designated place.

Bell High School is a public high school in Bell, California, United States. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of District 6 of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Bell High’s motto is "Honor lies in honest toil", its mascot is the eagle, and the school colors are purple and gold. They are rivals with the Huntington Park Spartans. The school serves several municipalities. The school serves the cities of Bell, Cudahy, and Maywood, and it serves portions of Huntington Park and portions of Vernon. Some portions of Huntington Park and Maywood are jointly zoned to both Bell High School and Huntington Park High School.

The Bicycle Hotel & Casino (commonly, "The Bike") is a poker cardroom in California.Founded by George Hardie Sr. in 1984, located in Bell Gardens, California, The Bicycle Casino offers a selection of poker games and Asian games, with a wide range of limits. The casino features games including: Blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha hold 'em, Mexican Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Baccarat (card game). Financing to build the original Bicycle Club casino was provided by Sam Gilbert, who allegedly used money partially obtained from laundering drug money. The casino is home to the Legends of Poker, a tournament series established in 1995 that now includes a stop on the World Poker Tour. Prior to the Legends, the casino's main tournament series was called the Diamond Jim Brady.

Cudahy ( KUD-ə-hay) is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. In area, Cudahy is the second smallest city in Los Angeles County after Hawaiian Gardens but with one of the highest population densities of any incorporated city in the United States. It is part of the Gateway Cities region and had a population of 23,805 as of the 2010 U.S. Census.

Commerce is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 12,823 at the 2010 census, up from 12,568 at the 2000 census. It is usually referred to as the City of Commerce to distinguish it from the common noun. It is bordered by Vernon on the west, Los Angeles on the northwest, East Los Angeles on the north, Montebello on the east, Downey and Bell Gardens on the south, and Maywood on the southwest. The Los Angeles River forms part of its southwestern boundary, and the Rio Hondo separates it from Downey. Commerce is served by the Long Beach and Santa Ana freeways, as well as the Metrolink commuter rail service at the Commerce station.

Bell Gardens is a city in the U.S. state of California in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Located in Los Angeles County, the city's population was 42,072 at the 2010 census, down from 44,054 at the 2000 census. Bell Gardens is part of the Gateway Cities Region, a largely urbanized region located in southeastern Los Angeles County. Bell Gardens is notable for being one of only six Los Angeles County cities (out of 88 total) to permit casino gambling and for being home of the oldest building in Los Angeles County.Bell Gardens is named after James George Bell, an American businessman. The “Gardens” in its name derives from the many Japanese who, early in Bell Gardens’ existence, established vegetable gardens and rice fields. The adjacent city of Bell is also named after James George Bell as well.