Citizen About Town

By Nancy C Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

Email: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

During the June 21^st Monterey Park City Council Meeting Fire Chief Matt Hallock presented a Training Video of the First Responders Perspectives of the January 21^st 2023 Mass Shooting in Monterey Park.

The video had several firefighters and paramedics voicing their thoughts, their concerns and their ways to cope with the tragedy at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio.

Mayor Jose Sanchez, Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Wong, Councilmember Vinh Ngo, Councilmember Yvonne Yiu, Councilmember Henry Lo (was absent), City Clerk Maychelle Yee, City Treasurer Amy Lee, the city staff members and the residents watched as the video played.

It featured several news reporters and several scenes of the triage set up in the back parking lot by our First Responders.

The City Council requested that this video to be shown on our city’s website.

For me this video is a reminder that Evil can happen to Good People anywhere in our world.

I always remember to tell my family that I love them and keep them in my prayers.

I always tell my friends to please be safe.

I always ask God to please keep all of us safe and sound.

I always ask God to please keep our United States of America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Lorraine Martinez addressed the City Council during Oral Communications. She reminded them that they honored Police Officer George Elder at the June 7^th meeting. You declared June 9^th in honor of George Elder who died in the line of duty on June  9, 1961.

George Elder was killed by two people robbing The Star Market that is located on Garvey Avenue.

He died of his wounds but was able to shoot at their getaway car.

The two robbers were arrested for their crime and convicted of his murder and  the robbery.

Lorraine Martinez reminded the Councilmembers that the park has a dedication site to George Elder. The site was dedicated on June 8, 2018.

She scolder the Councilmembers for allowing a Dragon to be painted on the front of  the building dedicated to Asian Americans Pacific Islander Heritage month from the Rams Team.

This building should be dedicated to our Police Department and Fire Department.

She suggested that the Dragon should be copied on to banners and placed around our city at major intersections to celebrate AAPI Heritage month.

Many residents and I agree with her that our city should have left the Elder Park building alone.

Maybe the city should have a dedication to our First Responders painted on the Elder Park Building in honor of their dedication and service to our community.

Monterey Park may be the First Suburban Chinatown but many of our residents are not Asians.

So, all Elected Officials should remember that our United States of America has dedicated citizens born and raised in other countries. They have pledged their hearts and souls to our America.

During Oral Communications at the July 5^th, I told the Elected Officials that I did not see them at the 4:00 PM Grand Opening of our Independence Day Ceremony.

I watched as Veterans from America Legion Post 397 presented our Colors and led our Pledge of Allegiance.

I listened to the Air National Guard Band performing many old classic songs as well as current songs to the delight of the audience.

I then went home as I was tired and sunburned after my afternoon at Barnes Park.

I thanked City Manager Ron Bow for his dedication and many years of service to our hometown.

I wished him a Very Happy Retirement!

I thanked Assistance City Manager Inez Alvarez for her dedication and service to our hometown.

I reminded the City Councilmembers that that voted to honor Women’s History Month  in March and Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October.

Now we have an Assistant City Manager who will be Acting City Manager. Inez Alvarez who has performed this job for us under the watchful eye of Ron Bow.

Inez Alvarez has worked her way up the ranks over the years.

Please consider her as our best candidate for our new City Manager.

The City Council voted to hire Inez Alvarez as our Interim City Manager.

The City Council Chambers were filled with applause by our City Councilmembers, city staff and residents who all agreed with Inez Alvarez is the right person to manage our hometown.

The City Council will decide at a later date if they decide to hire Inez Alvarez as our new City Manager.

I suggested to our City Council that they hire Inez Alvarez as our New City Manager since she has been working closely with Row Bow for the last five years.

Only time will tell what our City Councilmembers will do to fill the job.

Please attend our City Council Meetings and help our City Council hire the right person to run our hometown.