 Existing "Hitch" Style Bicycle Racks at Garfield Park in South Pasadena Wednesday, November 20, 2019 the South Pasadena City Council will vote on a $200,000+ contract to install new bicycle parking citywide. The good news is this grant-funded project -- first awarded to the City back in 2012 -- is finally moving forward after years of extensions and delays. The not so good news is that several important public requests are not in the latest implementation plan. These include focusing new bicycle parking in the downtown business districts (rather than parks or recreational trails with limited demand for bike parking) and making inverted U-style racks the program default (rather than the less functional "hitch" style racks pictured above). In advance of the meeting City staff has issued an updated Staff Report, which includes photographs of every proposed location for new bike parking in the City. In a nutshell, staff is recommending that the City move forward with the grant as originally envisioned, utilizing 100 Hitch-style racks (rather than inverted-U racks) and placing most bicycle parking outside of the City’s central business districts. To help sift through all this information, ActiveSGV staff put together a Google Map of the locations where the City currently proposes bike parking be installed (green icons), where bike parking currently exists (orange icons), and where bike parking was requested by the public over the past few years (purple icons). Click here to view the map.  Interactive Map of Proposed (Green), Existing (Red), and Public Requests for (Purple) Bike Parking Project Recommendations1. Remove a minimum of (25) proposed bike racks from park and other locations with limited demand and/or existing, underutilized bicycle parking. Staff’s current plan proposes installing 75% of new bike parking in areas that do not directly serve local businesses (map). ActiveSGV recommends that at least 50% of new bike parking be placed adjacent to businesses, given strong community preference for bike parking in these areas.
4. Install a “Cycle Corral” on Mission Street near the Gold Line. Multiple businesses on the block of Mission Street between Meridian and Diamond have requested but not received bicycle parking over the past two years, including Jones Coffee, Munch Company, Oculus Optometry, Mission Ten Eleven, and Rosebuds and Rosestuds. Since sidewalk space is limited, we strongly recommend converting red curb and/or a space of street parking to a bicycle parking corral.  Bike corral with street mural (image via Google Maps) 5. Purchase generic, easier-to-use “Hitch” racks in a higher-visibility color, if there is no way to purchase inverted-U racks. While far less accessible for users, a Hitch rack without a complex design in the center would be easier to lock to. It would also cost an estimated $100-$200 less per unit to fabricate, saving the City limited grant funds. We recommend the use of a brighter, city-consistent color such as orange to make it easier to identify new bicycle parking.  “Hitch” rack without custom design (Image courtesy of School Outfitters.com) Take Action!Wednesday’s meeting may be the final opportunity to encourage the City to address these issues. As always, public input is critical. There are two primary ways you can weigh in. 1) GREATEST IMPACT: Attend the meeting Wednesday 11/20 and provide public comment directly. There are only two Action/Discussion items currently on the City’s agenda, Item #21 - Adoption of the City Green Action Plan and Item #22 - Bicycle Parking. We are hopeful the item will be discussed by 8:30pm.
2) ALSO HELPFUL: Email the South Pasadena City Council and let them know you support secure, convenient, and accessible bicycle parking. Short, personal emails are generally most effective. A sample email can be found below. Emails should be sent to the City Council:
Sample Email (please personalize) Dear Members of the South Pasadena City Council, As a local [resident/stakeholder/shopper] who supports a more sustainable, multimodal South Pasadena, I am writing today to encourage the City to improve the latest draft proposal for citywide bicycle parking. Downtown South Pasadena continues to lack bicycle parking, an overlooked barrier to using a bicycle or scooter as a means of healthy, active mobility for short trips around town. The City’s current proposal for new bicycle parking would only partially address this issue by focusing most new bicycle parking in parks and other sites not conveniently located by businesses. This oversight could be easily addressed by shifting some proposed bike parking from areas where ample parking already exists -- such as Garfield Park and the Arroyo Seco Trail -- to the City’s key downtown corridors, especially Fair Oaks Avenue and Mission Street. Thank you, ActiveSGV Comment Letters
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 Potential Pasadena to NoHo BRT route corridors (Source: Metro) Metro Los Angeles is (still) studying options for a new, high-quality, "Bus Rapid Transit" line connecting the communities of Pasadena, EagleRock, Glendale, Burbank, and North Hollywood. Implementation of the new service is fully-funded and planned to be high-frequency (i.e. buses at least every 10 minutes). You can see a video about the project below and map of potential route options above. Unlike the Metro 501 bus service, which largely traverses the 134 freeway (and misses many destinations along the corridor), the proposed project would mainly run along City streets in order to connect each community's downtown district. At this stage in the process public input and support is critical if the new line is to be convenient and comfortable. HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE? 1) ATTEND A MEETING and provide comment in person! Meetings include a presentation by staff and opportunities to share feedback in person or via comment card. You may attend any meeting to provide comment on the entire project. Register here.
2) SUBMIT COMMENTS VIA EMAIL. Your comments can have an impact. A sample email is below for your reference. Just be sure to submit by 11/20!
3) SIGN A PETITION supporting Bus Rapid Transit on Colorado Boulevard 4) SHARE WITH FRIENDS. Amplify your impact by letting others know about this project. SAMPLE EMAIL (Please personalize) As someone who shops, dines, and visits communities along the project corridor including [Eagle Rock, Glendale, Burbank, etc], I support the development of high-quality transit service connecting the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. [Please personalize: why does better transit service matter to you?] Frequent service (every ten minutes or less), shaded stations, and dedicated bus lanes along city streets are key components to making "Bus Rapid Transit" convenient and comfortable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The use of all of these components - in tandem - is critical for the proposed line to be successful. Cities around the United States including Boston, Seattle, and Las Vegas have realized successful BRT projects over the past decade, and witnessed the benefits of better buses firsthand. Many of these cities have also done so at low-cost, trying out bus-only lanes with cones and paint, measuring their impacts, and modifying them as needed. This project is an opportunity for Los Angeles County to learn from others as well as act on its commitment to sustainable mobility, clean air, and public health. I urge you to give BRT a chance to succeed with convenient service, a great user experience, and dedicated bus lanes on City streets. Sincerely,  More Resources/Information
 Behind every great team is a dedicated and hard working leader who guides and inspires their team to achieve big things. At ActiveSGV, David Diaz, does that! As Executive Director he works every day to continue realizing the Active mission and inspires our team to work the hardest we can to create a more equitable and healthier San Gabriel Valley. As an involved community member and leader, he actively participates in building more resilient communities and is constantly thinking of ways we can better serve our community members. This month, he shares how he got started at ActiveSGV, what he loves most about it and what he's digging these days.
Stay connected with him on Instagram: @daveed_diaz 1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? After failing to show up for my first scheduled interview at Day One (El Monte Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Coordinator position) I was fortunate enough to be given a second opportunity to interview by Christy Zamani. This time around I showed up and was fortunate enough to be offered the position! Shout out to Christy Zamani. I really wanted to work at Day One because it aligned with my passion and interests of serving the communities I grew up in, El Monte and South El Monte. I was born in Ensenada, Mexico, however I grew up in El Monte/South El Monte where I made some of my best friends, met my wife, and still live now. While in college I learned about how systemic racism impacts underserved communities, how zip codes determine life expectancies, how displacement and redlining have led to the toxic environments communities of color live in today. During my time at Day One I was able to connect with a lot of great people, including the all volunteer staff of "BikeSGV" Javier Hernandez, Andrew Yip, and Wesley Reutimann. I am fortunate enough to be one of the folks that made the transition from volunteer (since Jan 2014) to full time staff as of April 2018. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? Purpose and mission driven work. I wake up everyday thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the SGV. The climate crisis is real, the planet is on fire and we must take action everyday to change the outcome. I firmly believe the work we're doing is making a difference today and for future generations. Other cool perks: - I get to my ride my bike to work everyday - Awesome colleagues - Flexible schedule 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience? 626 Golden Streets, March 5th, 2017! After years of anticipation, it was great to finally see this event come true. Wes R came up to me and nearly tackled me with joy, it was the best! Post event folks surprised me with a birthday cake too, which was super cool. (Love good surprises**) 4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? An #Active day in the SGV (pretend it's a Saturday): -8:30am-9:30am: Run/workout at Legg Lake -9:30am-11am: Breakfast at Ajos y Cebollas -11:30am: Visit the only mural in SEM (10930 Central Ave) -12:00pm-4:00pm: Bike tour around the Emerald Necklace (with stops at Burritos La Palma, Progress Brewing, and the Jeff Seymour Family Center). -4:00pm-7:00pm- Rest (Visitors need rest time too) -7:00pm- ? : Gold line station tour starting from Azusa Station toward Union Station 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now? Currently vibing with a few things: Quiet by Susan Cain (Learning about the less known Ambiverts. Google it!), A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, and the MLS Playoffs (Go LAFC)!  The ActiveSGV team is made up of many unique individuals, but the most unique of us all is also the most elusive... our dear friend and Mayor of the San Gabriel Mountains: Gabe the Sasquatch! He only ventures from his beautiful mountain home about two times a year (shout out #626GoldenStreets!) but he remains a motivated leader and inspiration for our organization! This month, in honor of 626 Golden Streets, we sat down with the legend to find more about him!
1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? I didn’t. ActiveSGV works for me. I’m currently Mayor of the San Gabriel Mountains, a position I’ve held for the past four decades (we don’t have term limits, and the average life expectancy of a sasquatch is 137 -- #FunFact #Science). Needless to say, when the inaugural 626 Golden Streets was announced way back in 2015 the organizing team needed a lot of help getting the word out, and sought out a big name with a strong connection to the SGV. Some people say I’m kind of a big deal. And I’m 6’9”! 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? They tend to lean toward a very vegan-friendly lifestyle, which I appreciate greatly. Sasquatchi tend to get a bad rap (people always say we're gonna eat them??!) but we're vegan! And the amazing, multi-city, all-species-friendly open streets events, obviously! 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience This is a tough one as there are so many. I once wrestled the Mayor of Duarte and temporarily assumed his position presiding over a Council meeting. I’ve also driven an electric Foothill Transit Bus in a holiday parade, led an award winning marching band, and saved a kitten from a reckless driver during my time as official spokesperson for 626 Golden Streets. 4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? This is a rhetorical question, right? My home, aka the SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT! 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: A life changing book called the High Cost of Free Parking, by UCLA Professor Donald Shoup. If you don’t have time to read the full book, at least check out this video on the issue from Vox. More about Gabe: www.626goldenstreets.com/gabe-the-sasquatch.html Public Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GabetheSasquatch/  At its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 26th, the Metro Board of Directors will consider authorizing over half-a-billion in funding to local roadway projects. Over a dozen community organizations, neighborhood groups, and other key stakeholders have submitted a joint comment letter (also viewable below) urging the Metro board to support more sustainable, multi-modal transportation projects for the San Gabriel Valley cities within the SR-710 corridor. With $500 MILLION in very flexible funding on the table, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local communities to fund 21st century mobility improvements. Take Action!There are a few ways you can take action to support a more #Sustainable710! 1) Attend the Metro Board Meeting on 9/26 and provide Public Comment in person
2) Email Metro Board Member Kathryn Barger Due to the provincial nature of Los Angeles County transportation politics, Metro Board Members are largely deferential to colleagues who represent areas where sub-regional projects will take place. In this particular case, Board Member and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is the primary representative for the SGV cities, and thus is in the proverbial driving seat with regards to project selection. You can reach her and her transportation staff at the below addresses. A sample email can also be found below.
Template Email (please personalize) Dear Supervisor Barger and staff, As a constituent concerned about [the health of my neighborhood; the safety of our streets for people of all ages; reducing the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in California -- vehicle emissions; etc), I urge you to support more sustainable mobility projects for the San Gabriel Valley. The reallocation of another $500 million in SR-710 North funding is a historic opportunity to move our region towards a more healthy, sustainable future. For the past six decades we have focused almost all our transportation spending and investment on moving more vehicles faster, to the detriment of public health, public safety, and our environment. Given this historic opportunity to fund multi-benefit projects, I ask you to please provide San Gabriel Valley cities eligible for SR-710 funding additional time to submit sustainable mobility projects for consideration, and direct Metro staff to select a more balanced portfolio of mobility projects. San Gabriel Valley residents deserve a chance to benefit from multi-modal improvements similar to the ones recommended for LA City and LA County. Sincerely, NAME EXAMPLES OF UNFUNDED, MULTI-MODAL PROJECTS FOR SGV CITIES
3) Encourage Board Member Barger to Support a More #Sustainable710 on Social Media You can reach her via the below platforms. Please include #Sustainable710
Project BackgroundIn Spring 2017 the Metro Board of Directors unanimously voted to shelve its support for tunnel option for the 710-N corridor project. The landmark vote was the latest chapter in over 40 years of struggle over the proposed freeway extension through the communities of El Sereno, Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Pasadena. The motion by Directors Fasana, Barger, Solis, Garcetti, and Najarian encouraged Metro, Caltrans, and the corridor cities to: “pursue policies and actions that would promote smart and functional land use, reduce automobile dependency, encourage multi-modal trips, improve traffic operations, and maximize the use of the latest available technologies to enhance performance of the existing transportation system to minimize impacts of the regional traffic on the communities along the SR-710 corridor.” The motion also directed staff to redirect almost $1 BILLION in Measure R and other funding originally set-aside for the freeway to local mobility projects within the project corridor, to be split up and redirected as follows:
Project Area Vehicle Traffic Ostensibly all this funding for local mobility improvements would be geared at mitigating regional traffic. However, per Metro's own detailed analysis, only 13.7% of peak PM traffic in the project area is regional (i.e. moves between the I-10 and I-210/I-134 freeways). Over 86% of auto trips along major arterials such as Atlantic, Rosemead, and Garfield in the corridor are thus local in nature (Source: DEIR Transportation Technical Report, Table 4-9, page 4-18). Many of these trips are also less than 3 miles long, distances which can be covered by transit and active modes with relative ease, conditions permitting. According to the Southern California Association of Governments, approximately 20% of work trips, and 40% of non-work trips, in southern California are under 3 miles.  Source: Southern CA Association of Governments Round 1 Funding (December 2018) At its December 6, 2018 meeting, the Metro Board approved over $500+ million in funding for projects that will increase automobile dependency, discourage multi-modal trips, and further entrench auto-centric land-use. With the exception of the $100 million allocated for stub redesign in the City of Alhambra, the selected projects focused on moving vehicles faster, an approach that will result in more vehicle miles traveled (VMT), more localized air pollution, more greenhouse gas emissions, and more preventable traffic collisions and deaths. See StreetsblogLA coverage of that decision here. At the time, Metro staff and board members stated Round 2 funds would be focused on multi-modal projects. Round 2 Funding - Staff RecommendationsFor LA City and County project area residents, the draft project list includes a variety of transit, active transit, and multi-modal projects designed to reduce vehicle trips. This is laudable and the direction Los Angeles County needs to move in to successfully address existing health, environmental, and equity issues. These projects are also largely consistent with board adopted Complete Streets, Equity, and Sustainability policies.  Yet for San Gabriel Valley residents, staff recommendations do not include a single transit, active transportation, or other demand management project to support reducing vehicle trips. Recommended projects for the San Gabriel Valley are singularly focused on enhancing vehicle capacity, to the detriment of public health, public safety, greenhouse gas emissions, and the region’s worst-in-nation air quality.
No longer a highway project, the SR 710-N reallocation must consider the needs and safety of all roadway users, including older adults, children, and mobility-impaired residents who walk along and walk across streets selected for auto improvements -- not for recreation, but transportation -- to access local schools, community sites, and businesses. The vast majority of Round 1 and 2 San Gabriel Valley projects are designed to move cars versus people via “improvements” that will make streets more difficult to cross by foot. Unless mitigated with best practices in safe design, this will result in more serious injuries and deaths at a time when such preventable collisions are on the rise across Los Angeles County; traffic crashes are the number one cause of premature death in Los Angeles County for children aged 5-14, and number two cause for children 1-4, young adults 15-24, and adults 25-44 (Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Mortality in Los Angeles County). At the Metro Planning and Programming Committee meeting on September 18th, 2019, Metro staff stated that eligible cities were invited to submit a wide range of project types, including transit, active transportation, and rehab/safety projects. Yet over the past nine months city staff from multiple San Gabriel Valley communities have shared that Metro staff members declined requests to integrate safety measures and pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements to corridor projects, even in cases when the latter would have no impact on vehicle throughput. Due to the inconsistency between the original board motion, project submission directions, and project selection process, the Cities of Alhambra, Pasadena, and South Pasadena submitted a joint letter to Metro on March 26, 2019 requesting clarification on this matter. Six months later every San Gabriel Valley request for multi-modal project funding -- including but not limited to Bus Rapid Transit, first/last mile improvements, and Gold Line shuttle service -- was unjustifiably rejected by Metro staff.  #Sustainable710 Group Letter Many of us lead busy lives, and it's tough to keep up with all the decision-making being made in our names. The team at ActiveSGV is thus committed to making SGV residents aware of opportunities to support a more sustainable San Gabriel Valley. One of the most impactful and time-efficient ways you can make your voice heard is by calling your state legislators. These calls generally take 2 minutes or less, as legislative staff only want to tally community support/opposition to bills, and confirm your residency within the district. To be adopted, bills must be approved by both houses of the legislature, and then be signed by the Governor. If you've never called your State Senator or Assembly Member before, we have included a sample script below, as well as a brief summary of each bill ActiveSGV has taken a formal stance on. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us for more info! Pending, ActiveSGV-supported BillsThe following bills are still making their way through the CA legislature and in need of support!
Sample Call ScriptHello my name is___________ and I'm calling today as a local constituent from the City of _______ to urge my representative to support the following bills: [Share which bills you support here, such as:]
[Staff may ask you for your home address to verify you live in the District.] Thank you and good day! SGV Area State Legislator NumbersUnsure who your rep is? Find out here. Once you know yours, we strongly recommend saving their numbers on your phone to make any future calls even easier.
Bill Checker: Pending, Adopted, Shelved Bills[AWAITING GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE]
Call the Governor's office at 916-445-2841 to help carry these bills over the line!
[ADOPTED BILLS]
[PUNTED to 2020] Sometimes legislative authors elect to put their bills on a two-year track, to buy themselves more time to garner support.
 Teamwork makes the dream work. Here at ActiveSGV, we are fortunate and grateful to work alongside some amazing folks! This month's Staff Spotlight is Carly Curiel. 1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? I met Diane Velez (my work wife) through People’s Yoga Teacher Training and we became friends because we shared a lot of similar interests (hip-hop, podcasts, environmental justice, funny memes). I started to follow Active (then BikeSGV) through her and attended some events including the first 626 Golden Streets. I had just moved back to the SGV after living in San Francisco for 7 years and was missing the Bay Area and its efficient public transportation system and access to parks and open spaces. I was so happy that there was an organization working to make the SGV more sustainable, equitable, and livable! I knew I had to be a part of this organization. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? I love that our entire team is made up of a diverse group of people who are from or who currently live in the SGV. We are not outsiders coming in; we ARE the SGV and we’re passionate about these communities and the issues that burden them. It also helps that I love each one of my coworkers like family. They are all so unique and talented and I’m grateful to be able to work alongside them.  3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience Some of my favorite ActiveSGV memories were working my first 626 Golden Streets: Mission-to-Mission and our staff retreat to Seattle, Washington. 4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? I would pick up some some food from one of my favorite SGV restaurants (we seriously have the best food, don’t @ me), then bike over to Legg Lake in Whittier Narrows for a picnic and maybe some yoga and reading. 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: Currently reading “The Sun and her Flowers” a book of poems by Rupi Kaur and just started “A Manual for Cleaning Women” by Lucia Berlin for my book club. Currently watching “Euphoria”, “Barry”, “Stranger Things”, “Jane the Virgin”, & Bachelor in Paradise is my very guilty pleasure. Currently listening to a lot of Tyler the Creator, Blood Orange, Cuco, and Natalia Lafourcade.
  Class IV "Protected" Bike Lane (NACTO) A growing body of research underlines the many safety benefits of physically-protected bike/rollways, not just for people on bikes, but for everyone on the road. ActiveSGV thus applauded a March 5, 2019 motion from Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis directing the Department of Public Works to assess the feasibility and cost of converting the County's existing network of Class II Bike Lanes to Class IV Protected Bikeways. Los Angeles County as a whole continues to suffer from troublingly high rate of serious roadway injuries and fatalities. The very clear safety issues on our streets remains a significant barrier to greater adoption and normalization of healthy, sustainable, zero-emission modes of transportation such as walking, biking, skateboarding, and scooting. Making matters worse, for decades LA County has criminalized the use of low cost, sustainable modes of micro-mobility on County sidewalks. In contrast to many other cities in the region, it remains illegal to ride a bike, skateboard, scooter, or other wheeled device on any sidewalk in unincorporated County, regardless of age of user or the continued lack of streets designed to safely accommodate these modes. As a result, people of all ages, including students, are faced with the choice of putting their own lives in harm's way, or risking a several hundred dollar ticket, to get from home to school or work while on a bike, skateboard, or scooter. Not surprisingly many choose the latter, and every year some of these individuals are cited for doing so. Since launching a "Traffic Diversion Program" with the El Monte District Count in 2017, ActiveSGV has helped dozens of residents have their citations and court fees waived for sidewalk riding. In most cases these individuals rely on low-cost modes of active transportation as their primary means of mobility, and cannot easily afford the high cost of these citations. Buffered Bikeways: a Golden Opportunity? Class II "Buffered" Bike Lane (NACTO) One of the primary reasons ActiveSGV was founded almost a decade ago was to support the development of a cohesive network of protected bike/rollways. The County's review of existing bikeways within the 2010 Bicycle Master Plan, which lacked protected, on-street bikeways, was therefore warmly received by staff, volunteers, and members who live, work, shop, or just pass through one or more of the many unincorporated communities within the San Gabriel Valley. As the image above illustrate, Class II buffered bike lanes offer separation for people on bikes from moving vehicles via a striped buffer generally several feet in width. Over the past decade multiple studies have shown that vertical infrastructure such as bollards, delineators, or even parked vehicles provide a safer environment for people on bikes than painted lines alone. By reducing the likelihood of high-speed rear collisions, protected bikeways result in fewer severe injuries and fatalities when collisions occur. July 2019 - County Recommends PBLsIn July the Department of Public Works released the results of its protected bike/rollway study (the full report can be downloaded here, or viewed above). Of 46 miles of existing Class II bike/rollways in unincorporated LA County, staff determined that 6.4 miles could be feasibly converted to Class IV protected bike/rollways at this time. A number of other lane miles were identified as requiring further study due to existing parking and driveways, or not having sufficient space for a buffer. None of the recommended conversions included a parking-protected lane at this time, a potential opportunity for further review and analysis given the widespread adoption and use of this treatment in other cities across the United States and world.
If you would like to see the County advance protected bike/rollways and safer streets, we strongly encourage you to contact your County Supervisor and let them know. Unsure what district you live in? Find out here. Contact Information for LA County Board of Supervisors District 1 - Supervisor Hilda Solis
District 2 - Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
District 3 - Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
District 4 - Supervisor Janice Hahn
District 5 - Supervisor Kathryn Barger
 We at ActiveSGV are fortunate to have worked alongside two amazing interns this summer! With their internships completed, we wish nothing but the best for them (and, of course, hope they'll come visit us soon!). Learn more about Emily Zheng here. 1. Tell us about yourself and how you heard about ActiveSGV. Hi everyone! My name is Emily, and I’m an incoming Junior at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. I’m a Studio Art major and a Justice & Law and Urban Studies concentrator. I’m originally from a small town in Indiana called Shelbyville (yup, like from the Simpsons!) where the corn to people ratio is probably something like 55000000:1 (rough estimate, feel free to quote me @USDA). I first heard about ActiveSGV through the grapevine while internship-hunting at school this past Spring. Wes, the former executive director at ActiveSGV, also went to Williams (#GOEPHS), so ActiveSGV on the Environmental Center's internship list. A classmate knew I was interested in Urban Planning and Transportation and referred me, then before I knew it, I was on ActiveSGV's website filling out an application. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? I LOVE getting to be around the people who work at ActiveSGV. Day 1 of my internship blew me away with the fact that there are so many cool and interesting people with deep hearts for their community working together under one roof, and every day since has only impressed me more. Every single person who works at ActiveSGV is a role model for what it looks like to be an engaged citizen, enthusiastic public servant, and better friend and human being in general. The environment at ActiveSGV is truly special and the energy here is something I will carry with me long after this Summer. 3. What are you learning from your internship so far? I’ve spent the summer trying to dabble in as many programs ActiveSGV works on as I can, and have gotten a much better understanding of the relationship between productive activism and community because of it. I’ve gotten to see all the big and little steps that go into creating meaningful change, and how the greater hopes and aspirations we have for our communities are made up of small, tedious office tasks as well as long days of meetings and huge, fun events. Everything goes into the bigger picture! 4. What are your future plans and how has your work with ActiveSGV impacted you? I’m open to a ton of things right now! I’ve become interested in sustainable planning and architecture in recent years, but I’ve always been the “artsy kid” and a huge Disney fan, so one of my dreams is to become an animator. Interning with ActiveSGV is part of my exploration into what kinds of post-grad jobs I might pursue, and also an experiment to see whether West Coast really is the Best Coast… 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: One of my favorite things to do is watch BAD movies and spend the entire time roasting them. It's so much fun and takes all the pressure off having to focus on a movie while hanging out with your friends. One of my favorites to laugh at and trash is Country Crush on Netflix - definitely consider it next time you want a low-key and fun evening; I promise you won't regret it! Instagram: @ama_zheng   Teamwork makes the dream work. Here at ActiveSGV, we are fortunate and grateful to work alongside some amazing folks! This month's Staff Spotlight is Andrew Fung Yip. 1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? I met Javier Hernandez, who was the former Executive Director of ActiveSGV, in 2011. I volunteered as a ride marshal and quickly moved on to other tasks such as tabling and graphic design. At the time, I was still at Mt. San Antonio College and often took transit to school. When I transferred to Azusa Pacific University, I rode my bike every other day to school from my home in Hacienda Heights. I realized how horrible our streets were for transportation modes other than driving. I wanted to do more and found ActiveSGV's Facebook page. I remember volunteering at the Emerald Necklace rides and moved on to plan some small rides myself. I was certified as a League Instructor in 2013 and helped coordinate and teach over 50 classes throughout the San Gabriel Valley. In 2013, I graduated from the San Gabriel Mountains Leadership Academy and was brought on ActiveSGV as the first part-time staff of the organization. My primary role was to help do outreach and advocate for a National Monument designation for the San Gabriel Mountains. I went to Washington D.C. to lobby with the San Gabriel Mountains Forever Coalition on behalf of ActiveSGV and by October 2014, I attended the National Monument designation by President Barack Obama at San Dimas' Frank G. Bonelli Park. It was a huge honor to be a guest of the White House and that cemented my passion for advocating for not only active transportation but for open space in our communities (read an article in The Guardian Andrew was quoted in).  By early 2015, I came on board as the first full-time staff member of ActiveSGV and my focus was on organizing community bike rides, designing materials, coordinating bicycle classes, and advocating for our San Gabriel Mountains. It was perfect timing because I was honorably discharged from the United States Army by the end of that year, which allowed me to take on more work at ActiveSGV. Fast forward to the present, I am now one of 14 staff so I'm not as lonely and it feels great knowing I can rely on my coworkers when I need help. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? ActiveSGV touches on a lot of the issues that matter for me as a resident of the San Gabriel Valley. Our communities have been historically and systemically overlooked in the areas of education, transportation, environmental justice, and in general, money. I'm glad to be able to work for an organization that understands that and actively seeks out programs, grants, and projects that benefit our communities. Whether it's advocating for parks, transportation funding, air quality research, bike rides, etc; the focus is on improving the well-being and livability of our communities. 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience Many memories have been made over the years. Although I can pinpoint all the happy ones, I do have to say the most memorable memory has also been one of the most tragic memories. When ActiveSGV was rolling out these new grants, it also meant a lot of new staff were coming on board. We're not just coworkers, but many of us are good friends outside of work. One of them was Brian Velez. He passed away suddenly and our hearts broke. It was through this difficult time that we found solace in each other's memories and experiences with one another. I want to make sure we remember him because he made such a huge impact in this organization and in many of our lives - in spite of the short time he was with us. I still think about Brian a lot, what he has done for this organization. And through all the new happy memories we create, I've always wondered whether he would have enjoyed our memories too.  4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? I would take them to the top of the Puente Hills on a clear day to show them how vast Los Angeles County is since the hills offer 360 views. You can see the San Gabriel Mountains, Downtown Los Angeles, and even Catalina Island on a clear day. Even though the region is so large, we can see how our communities are interconnected. There are no visible borders except for our freeways. 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: I'm currently reading "The Changs Next Door to the Díazes" by Wendy Cheng (KPCC interview here). The book talks about how racial identity is shaped by place with its focus on the San Gabriel Valley. Funnily enough, I found the book while browsing The Strand Bookstore in New York. I'm currently listening to "decolonized: a love story" playlist on Spotify. Give it a listen!  Follow Andrew on social media:
IG: @Yiperoo Twitter: @Yiptastico |
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ActiveSGV is a project of Community Partners, a non-profit public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.