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As our community and the globe begins to navigate uncertain times and as new information around COVID19 emerges, we encourage you all to continue to practice best health practices, including social distancing and keeping a clean and sanitary space at all times. We know that events like these can further highlight disparities and inequities in amongst our SGV communities and can cause many folks to carry the burdens caused by a pandemic for many, many months. As an organization, we hope to bring as much information and as many resources to our community members as possible during this time. As the situation continues to unravel and you or someone you know needs support or assistance, please check THIS LIST of resources. We will update it regularly with more information as it becomes available. Thank you and stay healthy! 
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Dear ActiveSGV community, The health and well-being of our community is of utmost importance to our organization, therefore we’ve decided to take cautionary measures and follow the recommendations from multiple health and government organizations. Active SGV will cancel the following events:
ActiveSGV does not wish to contribute directly or indirectly to the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations in LA County. We are monitoring the situation closely and will update you all accordingly. With precautions in mind, we strongly encourage you and your colleagues to practice good hygiene and social distancing. We strongly believe we must do our part to not overwhelm the healthcare system in LA County. We appreciate your understanding and efforts in minimizing our community’s risk for exposure and the spread of COVID-19. For more information on how to prepare yourself, please check out the helpful article, linked here.   You might recognize Ed from one of our Outreach or community events, or perhaps you've seen him around the SGV passing out flyers for our next Golden Streets event (ABP: ALWAYS BE PROMOTIN'!) -- but we bet you didn't know he's always lived 5 minutes from our office! Who knew that Facebook and a love of bikes would connect us with one of our El Monte neighbors and spark an awesome volunteer-turned-employee experience? Read on to find out more about our good friend, Ed (aka Spg-Edward).
1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? I graduated from CSULB with a degree in Communication Studies and had no idea what I wanted to do in my profession. I did the only thing I knew I wanted to do, which was to be around bicycles and with friends who also enjoyed biking. I then found a facebook group which conducted family friendly bike rides in the SGV. I went on the ride, met the people who organized the ride and fell in love with what they were all about and what they did as an organization. I decided to go to their office one day and see if I could volunteer with them. I was able to become a bike marshall during their bike trains, helped with their bicycle and pedestrian counts, and eventually became a part-time League Certified Instructer to teach bike classses for Bike SGV. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? I love working with Active SGV because it is not too common that your closest friends are also your co-workers. I get to work directly with our community members and see the difference our organziation makes in our neighborhoods. 3. What is your favorite Active memory? My favorite Active SGV moment dated back to our very first Open Streets event on March 5th, 2017. For a young organization to put on an event of this magnitude, working with 8 different communities, over 18 miles of open streets, and have around 100,000 people attend our event is something I will never forget. I saw so many people on the streets from kids to adults, people on bikes and skates laughing and smiling. It was a very surreal and a very feel good moment for myself. 4. If a friend was visiting from out of town, which would you take them to visit and why? I consider myself lucky when I tell people that it takes me around 5 minutes on bike for me to get to work. I consider myself even luckier that there is a BMX pump track located where I work. I would want my friends from out of town to check out the only public bike pump track in the SGV and after a few hours of shredding, I would take them to Sweet Veggie for dinner. 5. What are you listening to/watching/reading right now? My current faves are: Music Genre: Tropical Sax House Artisit: Ehrling Song: Willow Smith- Wait a Minute TV Show: Casa de Papel Movie: Time Trap  Los Angeles County Public Works is in the midst of final design for the Puente Creek Greenway, a Class I Multi-Use Path along the Puente Creek Channel through unincorporated Valinda and the City of La Puente. The project is part of the County’s 2010 adopted Bicycle Master Plan, and is a long time in the works. In addition to creating a protected, off-street path for people to use on foot, bike and other rolling modes, the project would include crossing improvements, signage, new trees, a rest stop, and new fencing. Pending final approval, the project is slated to go into construction in 2021. You can learn more about the project here. Get Active! Want to see this greenway become a reality in the San Gabriel Valley? There are a few ways you can weigh in and support the Puente Creek Greenway!
 Crossing improvements include a pedestrian traffic signal, lighting, and high-visibility crosswalk striping Did you know that ActiveSGV was started over a cup of coffee and a small group of community members who wanted to discuss safer streets for walking and biking? From side project (volunteer run) to main hustle (12+ full time staff!), Active SGV has grown immensely over the last 11 years. Find out how one of its original founders, Wes Reutimann, helped create one of the most engaged advocacy organizations in the region! 1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV (/ in this field)?
When I moved back to southern California after almost a decade of living on the east coast and in Austria/Switzerland, I found myself frustrated by the prospect of spending so much time in a car, stuck in traffic. I had taken a job in Granada Hills and was living in Pasadena, which meant a long daily commute. Even though it was largely against the flow of rush hour traffic, it still added up to about 90 minutes a day. Or 8 hours a week. 40 hours a month. Almost 500 hours a year. As much as I enjoyed listening to public radio, I knew it was bad for my health, the air, and our future. It also wasn't particularly safe. I almost got into a solo collision due to fatigue one day driving home from work. Luckily a plastic bollard came to the rescue! Around the same time I started to get back into bicycling after a knee injury sidelined me from other athletic pursuits. I had largely relied on two feet, public transit, and a bike to get around while living abroad, and was thankful to be able to re-explore the SGV and mountains on two wheels. Yet riding a bike, walking, or using public transportation wasn't particularly easy or comfortable in LA County, so I found myself looking into who was working on these issues. The internet connected me to LACBC, then CICLE (and Pasadena Bike Week), the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and MoveLA. Around this time StreetsblogLA was also launched, which provided another source of good information. I started attending LACBC planning committee meetings with then director Alexis Lantz and Eric Bruins. I found a new position closer to home with Pasadena-based public health non-profit Day One, a job that gave me the opportunity to run into then Monterey Park Environmental Commissioner Vincent Chang at a Monterey Park City Council meeting when he was asking the City's leaders to declare May "Bike Month" in the City. After learning about our shared interest in safer streets for walking and bicycling, Vincent invited a group of SGV residents including former Alhambra Council Member Efren Moreno to have coffee and discuss what could be done. This was the genesis of ActiveSGV. Six years later what had begun as an all-volunteer endeavor became too much to do as a side project -- particularly organizing the first 626 Golden Streets event -- and I transitioned from a volunteer to staff member. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? I truly value the opportunity to work with so many diverse, creative, and rising San Gabriel Valley leaders. ActiveSGV has long focused on hiring locally, elevating former volunteers/interns, and buildilng capacity within the San Gabriel Valley to advocate for positive change. Our team has deep roots in the valley, with most staff having extended family networks that reside in the SGV as well. This background that reflects the region's rich diversity helps keep us grounded in the region, improves our ability to connect with our neighbors, and supports more nuanced decision-making. As someone who has been with the organization since its inception, it has also been wonderful to see how it has evolved and grown since 2010, too. From a rag-tag, all-volunteer, community coalition to a professional organization with 17 full time staff, it has been quite a ride so far. Other perks I enjoy include: - Working on local health, mobility, and climate issues - Opportunity to work on a diversity of projects - Office E-cargo bike share! - Flexible work hours -- super helpful when you have young children -Our office home at the Jeff Seymour Family Center, a green jewel of the SGV! 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience? Staging the original, 19 mile, 8 community, 626 Golden Streets ciclovia in March 2017. In addition to being our longest and most amibitious open streets event to date, it was also our first. In hindsight we really were in over our heads, but we simply dug in and chipped away at it until we got to the finish line. The event was literally 3-years in the making. Key steps included getting all the respective City Council's to endorse the concept in 2014; submitting a proposal to Metro for funding; facilitating planning with 16 police and fire agencies across the route; soliciting sponsorships to cover additional costs; postponing the event at the last minute due to wildfires breaking out in Azusa and Duarte a few days before the originally scheduled 6/26/16 event date; securing funding to cover sunk costs and re-stage the event (e.g., all the traffic control equipment had already been staged across the 19 mile event route when the fires broke out); facilitating agreement among all the cities on a make-up date; coordinating with over 500 volunteers and more than 150 vendors, performers, community organizations, and groups; and then encountering heavy rain in the middle of the 6-hour event. Needless to say, it was a lot. But I was so incredibly grateful to see so many families come out and enjoy the event. 4. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino! If they're able to ride a bike, this would be a sample itinerary: --Meet at the Gold Line Mission Station in South Pasadena or Filmore Station in Pasadena (if they're coming in via transit) --Bike via Pasadena's "Roseway" network of bicycle-friendly streets to The Huntington. Park right next to the entrance at one of two dozen or so good quality bicycle racks. --Enjoy a half-day or more exploring the gardens and catching up, as well as taking a peek in the Library's extensive collections. --Time permitting, take a detour on the way back through some of the many tree-lined residential streets in San Marino, South Pasadena, Pasadena en route to lunch or dinner at a local, family-owned eatery. If a spot in downtown Pasadena is selected, ride down San Pasqual and through Caltech's verdant campus. 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: As I'm juggling childcare and remote work with my partner at the moment during COVID-19, my time for reading anything other than children's books is currently limited. However I do try to listen to podcasts while doing chores around the house, including the "California Report" to stay up to date with CA news; "Gimme Shelter" on housing issues in CA; "Radiolab" for its consistently excellent story-telling; "LA Podcast" on LA City/County politics; "The City" for deep dives on community issues when new episodes become available; and "Drilled" for interviews with people working on climate action. Every month #ActiveSGV staff shares at least one thing you can do to support a more sustainable, healthy, and equitable San Gabriel Valley. Our February 2020 action opportunities revolve around actions to support Clean Air.  SGV Cities to Select SCAQMD Board Member February 6th SCAQMD Board Member Cacciotti This may be the first time you’ve ever heard of it, but the “South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)” oversees the quality of the air you breathe each and every day. The board has a lot of influence over what, if anything, is done to address air pollution in southern California, which remains among the most polluted air basins in the United States (and world!). Unfortunately after decades of consistent improvements our air quality has been on the decline the last several years. In 2018 we all suffered from the longest streak of unhealthy air in decades -- 87 consecutive days of smoggy air. The local effects of climate change -- hotter weather, less rainfall -- are expected to make things even worse unless we redouble efforts to reduce local sources of air pollution. The SCAQMD board is composed of 12 members, one of whom represents the San Gabriel Valley - Michael Cacciotti. A long-time champion of zero-emission technology, public transit, and active transportation, Mr. Cacciotti is a clean air advocate who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. He remains one of the only AQMD representatives (or public officials at any level in the SGV) to actually use public transit on a regular basis, commuting to work and events across the SGV via Metro and Foothill Transit. He also regularly walks and/or uses a bike to get to transit. Other members of the board are not as supportive, a troubling reality at a time when prioritizing cleaner forms of mobility (the #1 source of emissions in our region and state) are critical to reaching our climate and air quality. Over the past decade the AQMD board has also been very divided insofar as how to address air pollution, with a single vote often deciding whether to promote unfunded voluntary efforts to reduce air pollution, or require the biggest polluters to clean up their act. Industry groups supported by major polluters (including oil refineries and petroleum manufacturers) are largely responsible for this state of affairs. These groups have worked quietly behind the scenes to remove AQMD board members that support science-based regulatory actions to clean our air. Every four years 34 Mayors in the SGV get to select our representative to the board. The selection process for 2020 has been scheduled for Thursday, February 6th at El Monte City Hall. You can speak up for clean air by either emailing your City’s Mayor and encouraging them to support clean air and board incumbent Michael Cacciotti, or attending the meeting in person and doing so via public comment. Attend the Meeting
 Better Buses: Metro to Host NextGen Meetings in the SGVMaking buses more comfortable, convenient, and frequent is critical to making public transit more appealing and accessible in Los Angeles County. In 2018, Metro began taking a step in that direction by reimagining its bus system to better meet the needs of current and future riders through the NextGen Bus Study. After nearly 300 meetings, events, presentations, and workshops, the Draft Plan has been released for review. If implemented, the NextGen Plan would be the most comprehensive overhaul of Metro bus service in decades. Over the course of 2020 the public with have an opportunity to help shape and refine the final plan. Your first opportunity to do so is in February-March, when Metro will host a series of public input meetings across the County. Each meeting will cover the same material, so attend whichever is most convenient for you. Here's the list of SGV-area meetings:
 Gold Line Eastside ExtensionAs construction is underway to extend the Gold Line to Pomona, planning continues for an east-side extension from the southern terminus at Atlantic Blvd in Monterey Park. Two route options are still under consideration:
Which do you prefer? Metro is conducting a round of community meetings to share the latest information on the project. Learn more and share your feedback at one of these meetings.
  In our February edition of Staff Spotlight, we are highlighting Amy Wong, one of our amazing Program Specialists and co-founders of ActiveSGV's Women on Wheels-WoW. Amy has worked with us on some of our biggest projects and is a passionate and creative leader. She always brings a smile to the office--and to think, her path to us started with a just Google search! Find out more about Amy below!
How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? It all started with a simple Google search. Fresh out of college, I was driven by a passion to advance environmental justice, but didn't know exactly how I would go about doing so. After months of jobhunting and testing out various volunteer positions, through a Google search, I came across Day One, a public health non-profit based in Pasadena. I started volunteering there and eventually was hired as part of the team. It was during my time at Day One that I was introduced to ActiveSGV (formerly BikeSGV) and also, Nature for All (formerly the San Gabriel Mountains Forever coalition). I am fortunate to be continuously working towards environmental equity and justice in the San Gabriel Valley. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? We're all passionate about creating sustainable communities here in the SGV. Since almost all of us are from the SGV, we live and breathe the issues we're trying to solve. That authenticity inspires and fuels me, and gives me hope. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience I have a lot of great memories at ActiveSGV. I enjoy the moments spent outdoors. One experience that was really fun was our Women on Wheels bikepacking trip. I'd never gone bikepacking before, and we biked southwards to camp overnight at a beach. Funnily enough, we rescued a turtle that was lying on its back in the middle of the street, and it ended up coming with us back to the SGV via Metrolink. If a friend from out of town were to visit, which place in the SGV would you take them to and why? We'd start with a beginner-friendly hike in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument- either at the East Fork or West Fork of the San Gabriel River. I grew up thinking these mountains were far away, when in actuality they are only 30, 40 minutes away by car. Then we would eat lunch at Thien Tam, a vegan Vietnamese restaurant in El Monte (love their bun rieu). Finally we would hang out at a local park, such as Peck Road Park, to picnic w/ burritos from La Palma and watch the sunset, enjoying the view of the lake and mountains. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: At the moment I'm reading Slaughterhouse-5 by Kurt Vonnegut. I want to read The Changs Next to the Diazes next, it's also our Book Club book for ActiveSGV this year. Follow Amy on Instagram (@sunlightleak) and Twitter (@amyjwong)!  Single-use plastic littered in Pasadena AB 1080 / SB 54 - the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act - would set our state on a path to reduce single-use, non-recyclable plastics by 75% by 2030. Less than 9% of plastics currently produced are “downcycled” (plastics cannot be “recycled” in the same manner metal or glass can). Decreasing our reliance on single-use plastics made from fossil fuels will also help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and remove plastic pollution from our rivers and open spaces. This legislation is strongly endorsed by hundreds of community organizations across the state, including ActiveSGV, and has already passed the State Assembly. Now it needs to clear the State Senate in order to move forward! #GetActiveSGV - Call Your State Senator! Calls only take a minute, and we have a sample call script below. Just be sure to call during business hours, for most offices M-F 9am-5pm. It only takes a minute, so a lunch or other break is ideal if you're a 9-5 employee. We also recommend saving your State Senators phone number for future reference! Unsure who your rep is? See below or check online here.
*Senator Rubio has not supported the legislation to date. **Senator Archuleta has not voted on the measure to date. **Senator Portantino supported the bill in 2019. Sample call script: "Hello my name is___________ and I'm calling today as a local constituent from the City of _______ to urge my Senator to support AB 1080 - the CA Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. [Staff may ask you for your home address / zip code to verify you live in the District.] And you’re done! Super easy!  SGV residents and AB-1080 supporters - January 2020!  1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV/In this field?
When I was a kid bicycling gave me the freedom to go anywhere I wanted and allowed me to enjoy the world at my leisure. I grew up in Highland Park and always enjoyed the endless summer nights of riding. To this day I can still recall the joy I got when I received my first bike. Prior to working at Active SGV I had the privilege of working for a variety of different bicycle shops and was able to witness, as others were able to experience the same joy. I began volunteering for Active SGV prior to working at Active because I saw the need and enjoyed helping others learn how to complete basic maintenance on their bicycles to give them the freedom to ride. I look forward to continuing to work with individuals who want to get out and safely enjoy the beautiful San Gabriel Valley in a car free way. 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? Active SGV is a resource for the community and gives opportunities to individuals to explore their city in a safe and healthy manner. Additionally, I appreciate that Active SGV has given me the opportunity to connect to other individuals who connect and value the San Gabriel Valley and are passionate about safe streets and accessibility for all. 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience My favorite memory of Active SGV has been the 626 Open Streets. It has been great to see people enjoy their community out of their vehicles while enjoying the streets without the stress of vehicle hazards. I look forward to our future 626 Open Streets where we will be giving people the opportunity to ride down the 110 Freeway. Additionally I enjoyed leading the Bike Trains because I was able to explore different parts of the city that I was not aware of before such as different museums and cultural landmarks. 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 down the Emerald Necklace and stop by Cyber Yogurt. This would give them an opportunity to experience the city without the hustle and bustle of traffic and have a delicious zero waste treat since Cyber Yogurt encourages that you bring your own container. Afterwards, we would get back on the Emerald Necklace bike trail and stop at one of its many beautiful parks to enjoy the sunset. 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: You can find me listening to the Meat Eater Podcast or delving into any historical book. I just completed The Labyrinth of Ice and I highly recommend it. I enjoy reading and learning about historical figures and events. Social media handles? If you are interested in helping fight climate crisis check out @zerowastegracias for some easy Zero Waste Tips you can implement in your every day life!  We all found our way to Active through different avenues, but Gabriel found his way here completely by chance (and ended up becoming our youngest staff member)! He works in the BEC helping out with all things bicycles and was the 2018 recipient of the Brian Velez Memorial Award for his outstanding work as a volunteer! Thanks for everything you do Gabriel! We love having you as part of our team!
1. How did you get started working at ActiveSGV? I met Monica Curiel in Baldwin Park while she was passing out bike lights. She and I got to talking and I told her how much I love working on bikes. She asked if I had ever visited the BEC in El Monte (I had not!) and that I should go check it out. When I finally went to check it out, I met Ernest, who was working there at the time and he told me I could volunteer there on the weekends. I thought it was super cool so I i started volunteering on Saturday’s… and then the next Saturday…. And then the next! Until I ended up going every weekend for a year! After that year, Ernest told me that I was getting an award for all the help I had done at the BEC! I was honored and the awards ceremony was really fun. That day, they offered me a job at the BEC and, of course, I said yes! I’ve been a part of the ActiveSGV family ever since! 2. What do you like most about ActiveSGV? I like all the projects and ways that ActiveSGV helps out within the community. I know they work very hard and I’m very happy to be a part of it all. 3. Favorite and/or memorable ActiveSGV experience One of my favorite Active SGV experiences was the day we where we participated in the LA County Fair Parade 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? I would take them to the Santa Fe Dam to ride the bike routes. Then I would take up the the beautiful mountains to see the beautiful views of San Gabriel Valley! 5. What you're listening to/ reading/ watching/ digging right now: At the moment I’m listening to corrdios and I am watching Disenchantment (which is on Netflix). Catch Gabriel on Instagram: @gabriel_5637 and Snapchat: @golvera503! |
ActiveLabWant to learn more? Check out ActiveSGV's new podcast, ActiveLab
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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.