Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library Seeks Community Input: Share Your Feedback!

The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library is currently undertaking an important community needs survey and strategic planning process to help the Library design programs, collections and services to meet the needs of the residents for the next three to five years. Whether or not you are a regular Library user, we want to hear what matters to you.

City Librarian Diana Garcia expressed her enthusiasm regarding the process, saying, “The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library has a long history of adapting to meet our community’s needs. I hope every resident, whether they use the library daily or have never used it, will take the survey. We want to hear from as many people as possible as we work to develop and implement a shared vision for our Library.”

Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library’s collection currently includes more than 100,000 items and features print materials, recordings, DVDs, eBooks, and downloadable audiobooks in our community languages, as well as Chromebooks and wireless hotspots available for checkout. The digital library includes resources for job assistance, vocational and tech classes and news. Programs and services offered include film screenings, cultural programs, English as a Second Language and citizenship preparation classes, storytimes and other programs for families and children, art and photography exhibitions, passport processing, home delivery services, and many more.

The survey and virtual idea board is available online now in multiple community languages. Its goal is to identify which services are most important to patrons and to give patrons an opportunity to make suggestions. Paper copies of the survey, comment cards and an idea wall are available at the Library and at the following outreach events in the community:

• Tuesday, September 6 & 20, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Langley Senior Center, 400 W. Emerson Ave.
• Wednesday, September 7, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tiny Tots daycare, 350 S. McPherrin Ave.
• Saturday, September 17 & 24, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave.
• Thursday, September 15, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Monterey Park Farmers’ Market, George Elder Park, 1950 Wilcox Ave.
• Wednesday, September 28, 6 to 8:30 p.m., State of the City Address, El Encanto, 700 El Mercado Ave.
• Saturday, October 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., ELAC Resource Fair, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez.
• Saturday, October 8, 4 to 7 p.m., Electric Park event, Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave.

To learn more about the Library’s strategic planning process and provide your input, please visit the Library’s strategic planning website at bit.ly/3zJRiNp.

Slow Down, Look Out for People Walking: September Is Pedestrian Safety Month

September is Pedestrian Safety Month and the Monterey Park Police Department will participate in activities throughout the month encouraging the safety of people walking.

Based on data projections from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 7,485 people, or an average of 20 people every day, died after being struck by a vehicle last year – an 11.5% increase from 2020 and a 40-year high.

“People should not feel in danger walking,” Monterey Park Chief of Police Kelly Gordon said. “Drivers, please slow down and be aware of people who are walking. If we all look out for one another, we can all get where we need to go safely.”

To promote the safety of people walking, the Monterey Park Police Department will conduct traffic safety operations on September 14 and 20 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield, and running stops for signs or signals.

The Monterey Park Police Department offers these safe driving and walking tips, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking:

Drivers

• Do not speed 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.

Pedestrians

• Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers may anticipate foot traffic.
• Watch for approaching vehicles and practice due care crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Make it easier for drivers to see you at night – wear light colors, reflective material and use a flashlight.
• Be careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night or on busier streets with higher speed limits.

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

Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation Planned for Monterey Park September 20

The Monterey Park Police Department will conduct a pedestrian safety enforcement operation intended to educate drivers and pedestrians on traffic laws meant to keep them safe on the road.

On September 20, 2022, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and pedestrians that are illegal and dangerous. Special attention will be directed toward drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, speeding, making illegal turns, not stopping for signs and signals or any other traffic violation. Officers will stop pedestrians who cross the street illegally, fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way, or are distracted while walking.

Pedestrian fatalities are rising at an alarming rate. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads, up nearly 33 percent from 2012. In 2021, the Monterey Park Police Department investigated four fatal and injury collisions involving pedestrians.

Pedestrians should only cross the street using crosswalks or intersections, preferably with a stop sign or signal. In addition, pedestrians should be looking for cars backing up and avoid darting between parked cars, make eye contact with drivers and wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

Drivers should wait for pedestrians to cross the street, slow down or prepare to stop when crossing an intersection where there is foot traffic and stop at the crosswalk line to allow other drivers to see and yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians and drivers can also ensure everyone gets where we need to go safely by avoiding distractions.

“Drivers and pedestrians should be looking out for one another and not down at their phone,” Monterey Park Chief of Police Kelly Gordon said. “When it comes to roadway safety, they share equal responsibility.”

The Monterey Park Police Department supports the new OTS public awareness campaign, “Go Safely, California,” a resource for Californians on how to be safe on the go. To find out more about the campaign, visit gosafelyca.org.

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 Holding DUI Checkpoint September 23, 2022

The Monterey Park Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint September 23, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the City of Monterey Park.

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The Monterey Park Police Department is committed to keeping the traveling public safe.

“The safety of our community is and always will be our mission,” Monterey Park Police Chief Kelly Gordon said. “We are looking for impaired drivers because driving under the influence is dangerous and puts others on the road at risk.”

The Monterey Park Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or “operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

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

Brainfuse HelpNow Online Tutoring Available Through Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library

The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library now offers students and adult learners access to live online homework assistance through Brainfuse HelpNow at no cost. Brainfuse helps students and job seekers reach their goals by connecting them with qualified eTutors and job coaches anytime, anywhere. Users can also initiate and organize online meetings for peer-to-peer learning. The Brainfuse learning platform gives power to students and job seekers to manage outcomes better by seamlessly integrating the latest online technology.

HelpNow services include expert academic tutoring and self-study tools to empower users to study at their own pace or collaborate with peers and teachers. Students can access live, on-demand academic help and state-aligned skills-building lessons from expert tutors. Homework assistance is available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese. With HelpNow, tutors and students communicate in real-time in online classrooms by typing, drawing, and marking-up lessons and web content. The Brainfuse full-service test center offers practice tests for all levels in math, reading, and writing as well as college preparatory tests, including the SAT.

To access Brainfuse, visit https://bit.ly/3Lk6sOP. This project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library. For more information, call Children’s Services at 626-307-1358 or Adult Reference Services at 626-307-1368.