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Monterey Park to host feedback sessions on local economy
San Gabriel Valley Apr 02, 2024
The Langley Senior Center. | Photo courtesy of the city of Monterey Park
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Monterey Park city officials are developing a five-year economic plan and have scheduled meetings later this month to hear community members’ thoughts and concerns about the local economy.
Two feedback sessions are set for April 25 at the Langley Senior Center, 400 W. Emerson Ave. The first session from 3:30 to 5 p.m. is for business professionals and commercial property owners. The second public event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is for community residents.
“These sessions are a direct opportunity to shape the future of Monterey Park’s economic landscape,” Economic Development Manager Joseph Torres said in an email to the Monterey Park Press. “The community’s input will be crucial in identifying priorities, challenges, and opportunities for Monterey Park.”
Torres said the eventual plan’s strategies will guide city officials’ decisions on investing public money, efforts to support businesses and policies that impact the daily lives of people who live and work in Monterey Park.
In addition to “insights into the current state of our economy and potential pathways to a more prosperous future,” the April 25 meetings are “also a chance to network with other stakeholders who are invested in our community,” Torres said.
Officials hope the meetings will help them gain understanding of the city’s wide-ranging needs while attempting to build consensus and identify priorities for future economic policies that foster growth, according to Torres.
“We recognize that business owners, commercial property owners, and residents have unique perspectives vital to a balanced plan,” he said. “These sessions help us understand the specific concerns and aspirations of different groups.
“Our goal is to create a plan with broad support,” Torres continued. “By gathering direct feedback, we can better identify areas of common ground and address potential areas of divergence. Input from the community will be crucial in determining where to focus resources, investments, and policy changes for maximum benefit.”
Monterey Park’s population in 2020 was just over 61,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median household income was $76,892.
The city’s 4.1% unemployment rate in February was under the state’s 5.3% tally, with 1,300 workers seeking employment in a citywide workforce of 28,800, according to the California Employment Development Department.
The last economic strategy was finalized in 2010. That strategic plan is available on the city’s website: https://www.montereypark.ca.gov/548/Economic-Development-Strategic-Plan.
