The City of Monterey Park is Saddened to Announce the Passing of Fred Sornoso

The City of Monterey Park is saddened to announce the passing of former City Council Member, Fred Sornoso.

Ron Bow, City Manager, said, “it is with sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of former Council Member, community member, friend, and colleague, Fred Sornoso, who passed away on July 8 at approximately 12:07 a.m. surrounded by his family.”

Fred Sornoso was sworn in as a Council Member serving District 3 on April 1, 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A little over two years later, health concerns arose and his bout with cancer returned. Fred expressed his mixed emotions about having to step away from serving his beloved community and decided to submit a letter of resignation, officially resigning from his post as the Mayor Pro Tem of Monterey Park as of April 14, 2022. This day was specifically selected because it was Opening Day for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Fred adored the Los Angeles Dodgers just as much as the Monterey Park community.

While on City Council, Fred shared that he was proud of the work that he and his fellow colleagues achieved. “He believed there has not been any City Council in the history of Monterey Park that achieved as much as they did while facing the COVID-19 Pandemic and undertaking unprecedented action to protect and preserve the health and safety of the Monterey Park community,” commented City Manager, Ron Bow.

The Monterey Park community will remember Fred for his exceptional public service during his tenure on the City Council. Fred championed many accomplishments to improve the quality of life for all community members, including reestablishing community clean-up events to keep Monterey Park a desirable place to live, work and play; encouraged residents to report issues such as graffiti and abandoned shopping carts to improve the aesthetics of the community; supported family excursions to the Los Angeles Dodgers games to promote community engagement and established the MLB Junior Home Run Derby for youth to participate in a free and friendly baseball competition; supported wellness programs and the purchase of fitness equipment to provide accessible opportunities for community members to stay healthy and active; volunteered for local organizations exhibiting community spirit and civic engagement; and supported the historical preservation for future generations to learn about the rich culture and history of the Monterey Park community.

City Manager Bow added, “most importantly, Fred fostered friendship, goodwill, and being a good neighbor to promote cooperation and community collaboration and I will never forget when Fred was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem, he said, ‘just call me MPT!’ We will remember Fred for his sense of humor, kindness, energy, and graciousness, which enriched the lives of those fortunate enough to know and work with him.”

Today and always, we remember Fred for his unwavering commitment, willingness, and ability to understand and respond to the people of Monterey Park and for making a substantial contribution to the betterment of the City.

Please allow Fred’s family privacy during this difficult time and to grieve their loss while planning for service arrangements. On the behalf of the City Council and City staff we express our sincerest condolences to the Sornoso family.

Monterey Park Police Department Responds to Ralphs Supermarket on North Atlantic

On June 15, 2022, at 7:20 p.m., the Monterey Park Police Department dispatch received several 911 calls from employees and customers of the Ralphs Supermarket at 330 N. Atlantic Boulevard. One caller stated a male subject walked into the store, bumped into her, and said he had a gun in a threatening manner; however, no gun was seen.

Monterey Park Police Officers responded to the scene and employees stated the subject was in the rear of the store. The store was surrounded and evacuated by officers.

Officer searched the interior of the store and confirmed the suspect had retreated into the back of the store by reviewing the interior store cameras. Officers located a ceiling crawl space where they believed the suspect was hiding.

After an extended period, officers were able to get the subject to surrender. The 57-year-old male subject was taken to a local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

An article search of the interior of the store was conducted with a Monterey Park Police K9 and no gun was recovered. No one was injured during the incident.

“Through the Lens: An Asian American Experience in 2021” Photo Exhibition & Reception at the Library

The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library, the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA) and the Chinese Culture Development Center (CCDC) present “Through the Lens: An Asian American Experience in 2021” from July 8 to August 8, 2022 on the first floor of the library.

Photos on display will feature ten award-winning photojournalists who documented anti-discrimination rallies and commemorative events in the Asian American Pacific Islander community throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. This project was sponsored by East West Bank.

On Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., members of the public are invited to a reception in the Friends Room of the Library with participating photojournalists who will discuss their works and experience. This event is presented in partnership with the Greater Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce.

This event is free to the public. For more information about the event, visit www.montereypark.ca.gov/library or call Adult Reference Services at 626-307-1368. For more information about the exhibition, or CCDC, visit ccdcusa.com or follow on Facebook @ccdcusa. For information about the Greater Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, visit gmpkchamber.org or follow on Facebook at @greatermontereyparkchamber. The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library is the City’s public library located at 318 South Ramona Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation Planned for Monterey Park

Monterey Park Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operation on July 20, 2022 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Monterey Park Chief of Police Kelly Gordon said. “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

The Monterey Park Police Department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.
• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.
• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.
• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.
• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.

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

Asian American & Pacific Islander-owned Small Businesses Encouraged to Apply for AAPISTRONG Grants

The City of Monterey Park invites Asian American or Pacific Islander American-owned small businesses to apply for $10,000 and $25,000 cash grants from AAPISTRONG, a project of National ACE and Reimagine Main Street, with support from Meta.

Applications open thru July 26,2022

• $10,000 cash awards to give a boost to 40 Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) business owners who launched their business during the pandemic.
• $25,000 cash awards to 60 AAPI business owners who launched prior to the pandemic and made it through, where a cash grant could help take their vision to the next level.

Eligibility Requirements

• The business must be Asian American/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian (AAPI) majority-owned (51% or more AAPI-owned).
• The business must be based and operating in the United States.
• The business must currently be in operation.
• The business is legal and for-profit.
• The business generated at least $10,000 in revenue since January 2021.
• You are able and willing to document revenue.

Why AAPI Entrepreneurs?

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Asian and Pacific Islander American entrepreneurs across the country hard.

AAPISTRONG recognizes the power of Asian and Pacific Islander American entrepreneurs and knows all too well that economic barriers and bias all too often stifle the growth and innovation that AAPI entrepreneurs can bring to our economy.

By providing cash grants and other valuable resources, AAPISTRONG can fuel the aspirations and boost the trajectory of more than 100 Asian and Pacific Islander American entrepreneurs.

Learn more at www.reimaginemainstreet.org/AAPISTRONG.

For more information, contact the City of Monterey Park Economic Development Division at 626-307-1385 or econdev@montereypark.ca.gov.