News From the City of Monterey Park

Posted by Nancy Arcuri on 10/20/20 • Categorized as Articles

Monterey Park Police Department

Monterey Park Police Department: Assault with a Deadly Weapon Investigation

News Release Assault with a Deadly Weapon Investigation 9.26.20 Opens in new window

On September 26, 2020, at approximately 5:37 p.m., Monterey Park Police officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 300 block of South Garfield Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found a male suffering from a single gunshot to the abdomen. He was transported to the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center where he is undergoing surgery for his injuries.

A perimeter was established with the assistance of the Alhambra Police Department, Montebello Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. A search was conducted and a suspect was located. The suspect was arrested; no other suspects are being sought at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information and would like to remain anonymous please contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library Offers Free Contactless Printing Services

Since October 1 contactless printing is now available at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library. Patrons may print up to 10 free single sided, black and white pages per day by mailing libraryprinting@montereypark.ca.gov with the subject line “Print Order.” Please attach your document, and include your name and phone number in the email.

Staff will call you when your print job is ready. Prints will be held for two business days and can be picked up Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 626-307-1366 when you arrive at the library and staff will bring your order out to the Contactless Checkout table at the front door.

The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library is the city’s public library located at 318 South Ramona Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Library staff is available to answer questions by telephone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also “Text a Librarian” via the new two-way text service with Gabbie® by texting to 626-283-6062 during open hours for information about your account, questions about books or programs, or assistance with library services. Find the library’s live, virtual events and programs on Facebook and the City Website.

For more City of Monterey Park news and information, please visit the city website at www.montereypark.ca.gov.

Monterey Park Police Department Joins Fight Against Breast Cancer, Supports Pink Patch Project

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The Pink Patch Project (#PinkPatchProject) is an innovative public awareness campaign that is designed to bring attention to the fight against breast cancer and support cancer research organizations and support groups in combating the disease. In addition to raising funds to fight breast cancer, the project aims to raise awareness about early detection and treatment for breast cancer.

It is estimated that approximately 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. While the disease can have a profound impact on the patient and her loved ones, it is also one that can be effectively treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

The Pink Patch Project has grown into a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles County Chiefs’ of Police Association and numerous law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County and beyond, including the Monterey Park Police Department.

The Pink Patch Project centers on vibrant pink versions of the police officer’s uniform patch, which have been specially designed by each agency for the Pink Patch Project campaign. Police officers at each of the agencies participating in the campaign will wear these pink patches on their regular police uniforms for the entire month of October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The pink patches are intended to stimulate conversation within the community and to encourage public awareness about the on-going fight against this disease and importance of early detection.

For more information, follow MPPD on Twitter @MontereyParkPD.

MPK Bruggemeyer Library Adds Online Resources “JobNow & VetNow” to Help Support the Community

The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library has added two new online resources – JobNow & VetNow – to help support our community. JobNow helps our residents to learn new skills, prepare for certification testing, create more impactful résumés, prepare for and practice interviewing, and search for jobs through online classes and live support.

VetNow provides access to a host of nationwide resources for veterans and their families. Residents can also connect with live VetNow Navigators Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. to learn more about eligible VA benefits and community resources.

JobNow & VetNow are currently live on the library’s website and will be valuable to our veterans and to community members who are searching for support during and post-pandemic. Please click here to access JobNow & VetNow. A MPBL library card is required to log in. Individuals who do not currently have a library card can get one by completing a digital library card request here.

For more City of Monterey Park news and information, please visit the city website at www.montereypark.ca.gov.

Monterey Park Police Department Focuses on Distracted Driving Enforcement

On October 8, 2020, the Monterey Park Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers that are violating the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

Under the law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while driving. This includes talking, texting or using an app.

“Distracted driving is a serious issue, but one that can be easily solved simply by putting the phone down,” Monterey Park Police Chief Kelly Gordon said. “That text, phone call, email or social media post can wait.”

A driver cell phone violation is subject to a $157 fine for the first offense.

Other distractions include eating, grooming, talking to passengers, using GPS, adjusting the radio, taking off a jacket, reaching for an object on the floor or navigating a vehicle’s in-dash touchscreen.

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Monterey Park Police Department Awarded Grant to Improve Traffic Data Reporting

The Monterey Park Police Department received a $24,800 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to streamline processes to collect and report traffic data.

“Accurate and timely data is critical to the safety of our roads,” Monterey Park Police Chief Kelly Gordon said. “This funding will help paint a clearer picture of our biggest traffic safety issues.”

“This program is new for 2021 and is an effort to improve how quickly crash data is collected and reported,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “High quality safety data is critical. It’s used to determine the nature of our road safety problems and it informs our actions in how best to address them. We are happy to provide local agencies with the necessary tools to develop or enhance their electronic traffic reporting systems.”

Grant funds will be used to:

Develop a new, or update an existing, electronic crash reporting system with software that is able to submit data to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).

The grant program runs from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Monterey Park Police Department Awarded $109,000 Grant From the OTS

The safety of everyone traveling is the focus of a grant awarded to Monterey Park Police Department. The $109,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) will assist in Monterey Park Police Department’s efforts to reduce deaths and injuries on Monterey Park roads.

“These are trying times, and now more than ever, it is important that we are at the forefront of traffic safety,” Monterey Park Police Chief Kelly Gordon said. “This funding allows us to educate and enhance the safety of all residents.”

The one-year grant is for the 2021 federal fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

The grant will fund a variety of traffic safety programs, including:

Patrols with emphasis on alcohol and drug-impaired driving prevention.
Patrols with emphasis on awareness and education of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
Patrols with emphasis on education of traffic rights for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Patrols with emphasis on awareness and education of primary causes of crashes: excess speed, failure to yield, failure to stop at stop signs/signals, improper turning/lane changes.
Collaborative efforts with neighboring agencies on traffic safety priorities.
Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

“Through education and behavior changes, we hope to create an environment that is safe and equitable for all road users in our community,” Chief Gordon said.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

California Offers $1,000 Credit to Small Businesses

With millions of people out of work in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a law giving tax breaks to small businesses that hire more workers over the next two months.

The law, CA Senate Bill 1447, offers businesses with 100 employees or less a credit of $1,000 on their state tax bills for each new employee hired between July and the end of November 2020. It only applies to businesses that have lost at least half of their revenue from April to June this year compared to the same time period last year. To qualify, a business must show its gross receipts fell 50 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019.

The credit is capped at $100 million statewide or $100,000 for each business. Businesses get the credit only if they hire employees, not contractors. Small businesses that are owned by large companies are not eligible.

Unlike most tax breaks, businesses can also use the credit to lower the amount of sales taxes they have to send to the state. The business will have five years to use the credit and can apply it to any taxes owed, including sales and use taxes.

Everyone Is a Pedestrian: October Is National Pedestrian Safety Month

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month and Monterey Park Police Department encourages the public to remember that everyone is a pedestrian.

“Whether in a parking lot, crosswalk or intersection, we are all pedestrians,” Monterey Park Police Chief Kelly Gordon said. “Always be aware and look for pedestrians. We want those who are out walking to be safe and feel safe when traveling.”

In an effort to promote a safe walking environment in our community, Monterey Park Police Department will focus on locations with a higher number of incidents of vehicle crashes involving pedestrians. On October 20, 2020 officers will monitor crosswalks for drivers and pedestrians who fail to yield the right-of-way or other violations that put pedestrians at risk.

The number of pedestrians killed has grown by about 50% over the past decade, with 6,283 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2018, or one traffic-related pedestrian death every 84 minutes.

Excess speed, poor lighting, crossing outside crosswalks and impairment are the main factors that lead to a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

Monterey Park Police Department offers the following tips for drivers and pedestrians:

Drivers

Slow down on busy streets and intersections.
Always look for pedestrians in intersections. Stop and allow pedestrians to cross. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all marked or unmarked crosswalks.
Stay off the phone and avoid other distracting behaviors such as eating, grooming, or using in-dash touch screens.
Do your best to not block crosswalks making a right-hand turn.
Keep headlights on at night and be extra careful when pedestrians are harder to see.

Pedestrians

Obey signs and signals. Try to cross at marked crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals where cars expect to see pedestrians.
Make eye contact and nod or wave at drivers. A quick nod or wave is an easy way to let a driver know you see them, and they see you.
Get in the habit of walking with a flashlight or wearing a reflective vest at night so it is easier for drivers to spot you.
If you need to briefly walk into the street to maintain social distancing on sidewalks, look both ways for passing cars.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

L.A. County Businesses Eligible to Receive $30,000 Relief Grants

Eligible business applicants will receive $30,000 to remain open.

Applications for the program will only be accepted from 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 9, to 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 16.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors recently voted to use Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds to create the Small Business Revitalization Grant Program.

Eligible applicants will receive $30,000 to use for employee payroll, working capital to continue operations, payment of outstanding business expenses and adaptive business practices needed to remain open.

The program is designed to assist businesses that have been closed due to the pandemic.

Applications for the program will only be accepted from 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 9 to 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 16, 2020. L.A. County officials said the grants are time-sensitive and businesses need to apply within the time frame to be considered. Applications will be selected through a lottery, and applicants will be selected in the order of that process. The lottery will be broadcast live at 9:00 a.m. October 20, 2020 at wwwa.lacda.org/home/small-business-revitalization-grant.

“Through grant programs like the one we’re announcing today, we are doing what we can to help ease the financial burdens these businesses are facing, even as some are gearing up to reopen in the near future,” said Emilio Salas, acting executive director of the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA).

Program details are available at wwwa.lacda.org/home/small-business-revitalization-grant.

Monterey Park Fire Department Statement on Donations To the Department

Whether it is managing the COVID-19 response or responding to wildfires throughout California, City of Monterey Park Firefighters are dedicated professionals sworn to protect life, property and the environment. We truly appreciate the outpouring of support the community has shown to us.

The fire department has begun to receive calls to make donations such as food or PPE supplies. We love our community and their willingness to reach out to us to show their support.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to take food donations simply because we need to make sure our firefighters remain safe and healthy. Any type of outbreak within the fire department would be devastating to our commitment to respond.

In lieu of donations to the fire department, we respectfully ask that you make a donation to the California Fire Foundation. Within this great organization is a program called “Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency or SAVE.” By donating to this cause, you will be helping victims of these horrific wildfires throughout California buy basic necessities such as food, clothing or medicine.

Donating to this charity is supported by Fire Chief Matt Hallock as well as the Monterey Park Firefighters Association. You can find the link to donate at https://www.cafirefoundation.org/programs/supplying-aid-to-victims-of-emergency/.

Again, a sincere “thank you” to all who have reached out to show such fantastic support for our firefighters. It is support such as this that highlights the character of Monterey Park and we couldn’t be more proud.