Residents and Volunteers Urge Council to Protect Champions Special‑Needs Baseball Amid Residency Debate

Dozens of residents and volunteers asked the Cypress City Council to preserve support for Champions special‑needs baseball after councilmembers discussed a potential 55% residency requirement for nonprofit grant eligibility.

Speakers from the community, many affiliated with Champions, said the league receives no direct city cash and relies on a waiver of field‑use fees and minimal staff support to remain free for participants. "Champions has always been a free league for a community that has very few options," Michael Mayer, who spoke on behalf of Champions, said. "Absolutely nothing other than the waiving of the use fees for the fields. That's it." He urged councilmembers to attend games to see the program's value.

Several parents and volunteers described Champions as an indispensable resource for players with disabilities. "This program gave them a safe, welcoming environment to learn, grow and belong," Ruby Garcia said, describing the program’s importance for her two children. Sherman Havelar, a long‑time volunteer, said the program acts as "surrogate parents" for some players who come from group homes.

Council members clarified that staff had only recommended levels for nonprofit support and that a 55% residency rule had not been adopted; the council made no immediate change to the nonprofit policy at this meeting. John Pete, a resident and commenter, presented a breakdown of the nonprofit grant program and argued that organizations that do not meet the 55% residency threshold currently receive a small fraction of the total value of nonprofit support.

Residents asked the council to preserve Champions' field access and fee waivers as essential to keeping the program free for families on fixed incomes and said the league draws volunteers and students from local schools who support the program.