On the Season 2 finale of SGV Weekly, we dive into “A People’s Seal of El Monte.” This gave students and residents in Monte the chance to design their own seal, “not for the city, but for all those who identify with the region and are inspired by El Monte’s history," according to project organizers SEMAP. The group has been a consistent voice against celebrating El Monte’s pioneer narrative for some time.

Could it inspire people to make their own community based artworks? To answer that, we went to Alfred Mendoza’s ethnic studies class at Mountain View High School to see what his students would put in an El Monte Seal. These students spend just a few weeks out of one semester of ethnic studies reading SEMAP’s history book, East of East. 

With help from printmaker Daniel Gonzalez, we use this artwork as a jumping off point to talk about how people of color could reshape El Monte’s future.

DJ Spiñorita has been raving since she was born… give or take 14 years and a hundred backyard dj’s hired by her family.

She lived an important part of not only So Cal, but SGV history. Bygone party scenes like the 626’s Catholic high school dances and iBrowse Coffee and Internet live on spiritually through her streaming shows on Twitch and NTS Radio. 

But most importantly, she “reps the SGV HARD!” Electronic music fans all over the world toss up her custom SGV emote on Twitch. Even though most of ‘em have never been here, they get a pretty decent idea of what we’re about just from watching her get down in her garage with the zarape background and her signature dance moves.

Spiñorita tells us she's the Queen of the 'bra (that's Alhambra, kiddies), and she wants the key to the city. Does she deserve it? Is she a natural born ambassador for the San Gabriel Valley? We think so.

Listen and hear why aging party crews, veteranas and rucas tune into her as their nostalgia show of choice while today’s generation of ravers lose their shit alike to her masterful skill behind the 1’s and 2’s. And listen to her EP on her own Backyard Party Records!

Matilija Lending Library sits in an alleyway sized room that used to house a shoe repair shop on Lexington Avenue at the Valley Mall. That works in its favor though; it's like your favorite aisle at the library went on Pimp My Ride! Said ride was pimped by the shop's founders, Amy Wong and Andrew Yip.

Cushioned with benches and armchairs, the brightly colored hall of books feels like your woke Grandma’s living room. Cringe if you must at that description, but once you sit down with an eye-catching novel (and try to covertly open your chips INSIDE your backpack) you’ll realize the power this place has to expand consciousness in the San Gabriel Valley.

It’s filled wall to wall with stories and ideas that are shut out of the American mainstream, and way more interesting. If you’ve never read Viet Thanh Nguyen, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Cherrie Moraga, Luis Rodriguez… here they are, all in one place! No need to sift through thousands of Danielle Steel paperbacks to get to them either.

In a time where we’re blitzed with shreds of ideas and narratives on social media, it’s a life-affirming experience to read a fucking book. Take the time this week to visit Matilija during their open hours and immerse yourself in something thought provoking… Or just ask if they have any manga. It’s free, but donations are always welcome.

Special thanks to Daniel Ruiz-Camacho and La Puente Mutual Aid for sharing their photos of the grand opening of Matilija, and to Amy and Andrew for sharing photos of the shop taken by Jasmyn Bagonghasa.

Midnight Hour SGV and SFV are sibling stores run by the Amalfitano family, Argentineans by way of La Puente. Brother Brian grew up in the backyard punk and powerviolence scene, but these days he’s more into Fiona Apple. The stores have the understated mission of bringing a bit of everything to the racks – especially the stuff that plays to local Latino tastes. 

Midnight is riding the long rising wave of the vinyl boom – plus the pandemic-driven retail therapy bubble. They’re one of numerous record shops that’ve started up in SoCal recently. So what’s their philosophy on being part of and surviving in this very saturated market? Why should you buy from them instead of Amazon? And what’s the most expensive record Brian’s ever bought?!

John is currently on a much-needed leave from education, living in West New York. Remote teaching and the cost of living in the area proved to be too much, so he and Anne decided to focus on their own work for a while. Since they may not return, we’re toasting John’s career at SAC – the school he went to – and sharing some of his advice on writing for a living. John is currently editor of the Journal of Radical Wonder, an artistic journal on Medium. He strongly encourages SGV writers to submit their work.

Why should I be a guest on my own show? That’s the central question a panel of Valleros asked me. Obvious answer: it’s a show about people doing stuff in the SGV - I’m a people doing stuff in the SGV! But it ended up being a journey to the center of my halfie mind: where Mexican-Jewish pride basted in Catholic-Jewish guilt roasts over a fire of love for the 626.

Jackie Mendez is a rocksteady and soul artist from South El Monte. She honed her chops singing in the backyards and dive bars of the Mid-Valley, starting with her legendary band The Boss Beats.

She’s one of the SGV’s most recognized songwriters after putting in over a decade, working her way through different styles. Her path seems to be a patient one; now she’s poised to release a flurry of top tier, lived in, “soulsteady” music.

In this episode we talk about her life all over the Valley, buying used cd's in the KROQ era of ska punk, how her parents put her on to playing music, the Boss Beats days, and how her ska style as a solo artist evolved and where her love for it comes from.

Jackie's physical releases are all sold out, but you can find some copies on discogs.
Stream her on Spotify.

Torres was born in 1986 and raised in South Pomona.
The speaker in his book, An Incomplete List of Names,
describes the joy and pain of growing up part of a graffiti crew:
Being there for a homie who just got dumped
and wanted to do figure 8’s in the mud in his convertible…
Inspecting a bullet hole at school in the computer lab…
attending numerous post-funeral family reunions. 

These are the kinds of memories Torres reckoned with for years
after he moved to Minnesota to pursue his Master’s of Fine Art.
His book’s title is a wide open reference
to everything and everyone he left behind.
He laughs now at the life-changing day when he got arrested
for painting on the roof of the Indian Hill Mall,
but the bulk of An Incomplete List of Names struggles
(not to be read, Torres is very clearly spoken). 

It struggles with violence, racism, family taken away, friends forgotten,
and the shedding of a constructed identity - REMEK, the painter.
Most of all, Torres grapples with understanding his motivations
to move away to evolve as a writer, and the consequences of that.
However, by getting through it Torres has created the opportunity
to construct his identity once again.
Whether or not he intended to,
he also gave his readers from the San Gabriel Valley a great gift
in laying out his journey.
It may help them on their own.

Buy a special graffiti-autographed copy of An Incomplete List of Names here.
Buy a less special, regular copy for $2 less here.

By the way, this is the season one finale of SGV Weekly.
Thanks for listening! You rock! Talk soon!

Looking back at the news coverage of the explosion at First Works Baptist Church, the question that rises to the top is why weren’t we hearing more from the group that had protested the Church’s hateful teachings? Keep El Monte Friendly was treated fairly in local reports, but we mostly just saw them in the context of their one protest. Their profile felt greatly overshadowed by the multitude of existing soundbites and loud personality of Pastor Delfin Bruce Mejia. 

Meeting two members of KEMF over Zoom, Abby and Bee, they were neither fervorous nor confrontational. They were soft-spoken. We discussed the highlights of their day of protest: a train of cars showing support, mothers crying tears of joy, the realization of not being alone. Then they shared their confusion and fear at the news of the bomb. They did not condone the attack and showed concern that the explosive might have hurt someone. It was clear that they wanted to move on from the experience.

This episode isn’t to say that reporters local and national didn’t make balanced coverage. Rather that the story has largely been focused on a hate group whose main tactic thus far is speech over action, who have now assumed the role of victims (as they proclaim their bravery). In that, there wasn’t as much of a look at the people they’re hurting, or how a group like them comes to exist. But there were a few outliers in what was written about the event.

Gustavo Arrellano’s column in the Los Angeles Times gave a meatier depiction of KEMF’s stake in the story. His piece also broke away from the pack in that he wrote the only story in a major publication that called out First Works’ bigoted values. It presented a good opportunity to talk about morality in journalism - and explain how columns and opinion pieces work for the media illiterate - so the former OC Weekly editor is the second guest in this bizarro media roundup.

The third and final speaker is Dan Cady, a history professor at Fresno State who researches American hate groups. Cady’s chapter on the Ku Klux Klan from the El Monte history book East of East was quoted in Myriam Gurba’s LA Taco piece (which examined Mejia’s particular brand of hate preaching). Gurba raised a very important question: could First Works’ be a descendant of the KKK? Cady joined us to offer a more drawn out illustration of the Klan’s association with the Southern Baptist Church and how their mission and tactics inform organizations like First Works. He also outlines the flexible politics of American Christianity.

Bruce Mejia was contacted with the following questions, but did not reply by publishing time. 

• Members of Keep El Monte Friendly denounced the bombing, but their members say they have been issued hundreds of threats since then. Do you believe these threats are deserved?
• Gustavo Arrellano's column in the LA Times compares the presence of First Works in Monte to the Nazi Headquarters that was in town in the early 70's... Myriam Gurba's piece in LA Taco likens you yourself to the Ku Klux Klansmen of Monte's past... What do you say to these comparisons? 
• What do you say to the random assortment of people on Social Media who say that your values aren't truly Christian?

Special thanks to La Puente Eats for use of the sound from the arrest of Tacos Los Palomos in El Monte in this week's newscast.

After going to Rio Hondo College, Diaz became fixated on how the built environment he grew up in affected its residents' health. The two cities are surrounded by three freeways, a dump, freight lines, a private airport, and a very busy Metro Bus hub. They do however have two notable bike paths - the 38 mile San Gabriel River Trail and the 17 mile Rio Hondo River Trail.

Overall, besides these two recreational paths, the SGV at large doesn’t have much cycling infrastructure. Active SGV is trying to change that by partnering with our cities to build greenways, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways in majority minority communities. The non-profit began 10 years ago as a cycling group on Facebook, but over time it’s members expanded their focus from just mobility to environmentalism and public health. 

A founding principle of what the organization is doing is equity for the Valley’s most marginalized. Diaz comes across totally sincere in that. This interview includes questions about the relationship of bike infrastructure to gentrification, what working class concerns over bikeways really are, and how power can be built at a grassroots level.

Special thanks to Boom California Journal for their interview with Diaz, which served as a background primer for this piece.
And to Kevin Greenspon for recording street ambience on Valley Boulevard from the back of his Fairdale bike.

Last week, a hate group in El Monte’s profile rose from obscurity as a petition circulated on social media to oust the First Works Baptist Church from its physical location on Tyler Avenue. 

First Works’ spiritual leader, Delfin “Bruce” Mejia, doubled down on his Church’s values in a statement to SGV Weekly.

What is First Works' response to the petition for the Church's removal from El Monte? 

“It doesn't bother me (or us) at all. I am obviously going to preach sermons that rub people the wrong way. I am preaching God's Word, not running for office. I am not changing and I am not apologizing.”

What does the Church think of the hate group label being used? 

“Well, Jesus said, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." 

It doesn't bother me when people call us a hate group because of what I preach. Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.” 

El Monte’s City Council and City Manager did not respond to request to comment on the following:

1. What the City can do regarding the hate group First Works Baptist Church on Tyler Avenue
   
   
2. Whether the City would be willing to take the Safe Space training suggested by the SGV LGBTQ Center
   
   

The SGV LGBTQ Center’s response to the growing controversy was comparatively less hot  than Mejia’s, and more constructive than the City’s. Rather Camaleon and the rest of the Center’s board suggested that the City draft an anti-hatred statement of equality and have it’s employees take part in its Safe Space training. Camaleon told SGV Weekly if cities would invest in themselves in this way, it would diminish the power of hate preachers wherever they arise.

Camaleon, 26, grew up in Baldwin Park on Milbury by the Walmart. Her mother was single, and supported her children as a housecleaner. From a very young age, Camaleon was interested in organizing and pushing gay rights into straight spaces. Her college years at UC Santa Barbara focused on feminism and black studies. Two mantras emerged from her formative experiences. “When you show up to a table, remember who you’re showing up to the table with,” and “Everyday I’ll show up humbly as a student.”

The interview juxtaposes the idealism of an organization facing a new beginning, and the realism of the old threat which mandates its existence. 

To volunteer with the SGV LGTBQ Center, email info at sgvlgtbq.org

She’s not always an easy listen. When she’s flowing about the traumas women go through, it’s spine chilling. When she’s expressing her constructive attitude about art, it can be off putting if you expect anger and obscurity in music. But it’s always sincere, and not written to measure up to what anyone else wants.

Vel’s rise as an artist has been down to earth, despite the fast buzz she picked up. She made her way through the underground thoroughly, performing in Riverside and NELA, working her own merch, and producing tons of collaborations with peers. But the rapper hasn’t thrown herself at us. She lets the fans find it on their own. The HBO featured track ‘Frutas’ took her exposure to another level, but it came on the back of relentless releases, not publicity blasts. It actually took me five years to get this interview. I originally pitched it on an LA radio show - to no response. But a show about the SGV on the other hand…

In this episode we talk about Vel the Wonder’s enduring connection to Baldwin Park, and examine her growth as a musician. Listen to more of her music on Spotify and buy her latest album Trophy Wife. Special thanks to Mariel, The Cypher Effect, and Professor Galactico.

Songs featured in this episode:
Isaiah’s Father (Laced with Pearls)
Los Arboles (Laced with Pearls)
Ice Cream (Single)
Mija (La Sena Ave)
La Sena Avenue (La Sena Ave)
Vinyl Frontier (La Sena Ave)
Painter’s Touch (La Sena Ave)
The Cypher Effect (first appearance)
Woman in the Crowd (Joyride)
Opposite Direction (Joyride)
Frutas (La Sena Ave)
Deep End (La Sena Ave)
Double Line (Trophy Wife)
Trophy Wife (Trophy Wife)

The project was founded by South El Monte Arts Posse’s Romeo Guzman and Carribean Fragoza. Fragoza is an art critic, journalist, and poet who's written for KCET. She was born and raised in South El Monte and graduated from SEM High School in 1999. Her creative non-fiction as well as journalism graces several chapters of the book. Guzman was, at inception, a historian in training at Columbia University (as well as a Mt. SAC alum), and now teaches public history at Claremont Graduate University. His family has roots in South El Monte, though he grew up in Pomona and attended Garey High. He served as East of East’s lead editor. The book was also edited by Ryan Reft and Alex Sayf Cummings.

Initially, oral histories were recorded with the help of other locals and homies. Over time articles were published on KCET that would eventually become chapters of the book. An older history written by the Works Progress Administration under the New Deal proclaimed the town had no Spanish, Mexican, or Indigenous roots - Whites Only. East of East starts with the region’s indigenous background followed by colonization as the bedrock of its story. This legacy of racism and discrimination gave way to the radical politics of the Brown Berets, Teatro Urbano, and legendary exiled anarchist Ricardo Flores Magon, as well as the Monte boys lynch mob, Klansmen in public office, and a fledgling outpost for American Nazis.

Seeing El Monte as a point where a clamor for equality was continuously fomented, if not glorified, East of East documents a fuller identity for the town than the “End of the Santa Fe Trail” (which it is not). This episode also looks at the pre-existing, segregated narratives of El Monte that have existed for decades at the town’s two museums, the El Monte Historical Museum and La Historia.

The original version of this story ran on KCRW’s Greater LA with Steve Chiotakis on June 24, 2020. It was edited by Sonya Geis.

KNX 1070’s Claudia Peschiutta is known for many things in LA news: getting beanbagged by LAPD on her day off, yelling “I object!” at the second Lee Baca trial, and calling the Mayor of Los Angeles “Eric” at a press conference... Ok, those are all outliers, but her reputation is well-earned. She turns around compelling, human stories every day while pressing city officials for real information in an era of passing the buck. Claudia is a badass. And she probably has the best reporter Twitter too. 

Perhaps part of what makes her such a formidable journalist for Los Angeles is that she’s actually from here. Peschiutta was born and raised in Monterey Park. Her parents came from Argentina. When the Night Stalker was terrorizing the SGV, she was going to schools in Sierra Madre and San Gabriel. She even wrote for the Arcadia Weekly (getting in with a paper about the Canterbury Tales and a promise to work for oxygen). After she learned how to actually write news, she went to work for a subsidiary of the LA Times. Though she’d have to relearn it all over again when she began doing radio in the early 2000’s. There are no commas in radio.

Does such a goofy break into the industry support the claims of some of her coworkers that she’s “fearless?” Peschiutta says no. Sticking a microphone in front of powerful people is still nerve wracking. But she manages to pull together some of AM 1070’s most defining coverage on their famously brutal turnaround - and that’s what this interview is about. It’s sort of a how-to for getting started in news media and what to expect on the job. We also talk about why local coverage of our Valley (the real Valley) has melted away so much as the news business has consolidated.

And if you - like Claudia - would like to support small time journalism, SGV Weekly has a Patreon.

The brand will belong to the girls when they get older. Meeting with Bobby, Draven, and friends Jaelyn Rose Sedano and her father Joe, the kids radiate confidence, and their dads seem happy and at ease. The girls take after their fathers; Draven the chaotic troublemaker, and JRose the focused competitor. A funny pair of friends, body slamming each other and sharing junk food. 

Bobby grew up in Hacienda Heights (and Norwalk) and is the main instigator, taking his friends’ kids to skateparks all over the state, and finding sketchy local spots to shoot clips at. He recalls spending many an afternoon ditching school and trekking up to the Jungle Bowl, a burnt out pool at the top of Turnbull Canyon where a fire destroyed some homes in the 80’s. He became a father early in life, and has a humble but mischievous spirit - still young at heart. His 12 year old Daughter Draven is a video game addict, a piercing fanatic, and a fire alarm puller. She bought her first skateboard with her own money, and can now skate vert. She goes everywhere in her Misfits sweater and trucker hat.

Joe Sedano is a lifelong skater and sports lover. He named his daughter after Jalen Rose, obviously. He encourages skating not just for fun, but also as a form of exercise and responsibility. JRose is top five in the state in her age group, says Joe. She’s gotten paid shoots and gets to hang with pros like Daewon Song (former La Puente resident!). 12 year old JRose comes off very studious about her craft of skating, but also shows interest in coding. She handles the interview with thoughtfulness and professionalism. But she’s not above soaking Draven with water when the opportunity arises.

The team has 6 members: Aberdeen Ramirez, Darla Encinas, Draven Redline, Jaelyn Sedano, and Unique and Julie Ann Mora. They’re mentored by their dads (inc. Chris Encinas and Julian Mora) and the mysterious Defacing Property Griptape. 

The girls table events like Exposure and give decks to little kids. Joe believes that the Daughters are becoming role models for the next generation of girls below them, and that it’s important to have people close to your age to look up to. Or hell, even some young kids to shame you into putting new bushings on your old deck.

All photos courtesy of Bobby Redline, Daughter Skateboards.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: YAPO member James Valenzuela is currently being hospitalized with Covid-19. Please donate to his family's medical bill fundraiser. Thank you.

During his time at La Verne College (now a University, of course) the image cracked. Then named John Gordon, Rasshan began to expand his consciousness with the radical black thought of the time. He decided the way he would enact reparations would be by giving back to South Pomona as a teacher. By the time he became credentialed in the late 70’s, the area was experiencing white flight. 

Lessons on colonialism for Pomona’s brown and black youth gave way to the founding of a black bookstore downtown on Second and Garey - The Nile Garden. It was there that Rasshan received the message that his mission as an educator had larger implications than he had ever thought. He was to found an institution, a university, for African Americans. In 2010, after retiring from Garey, he and his wife founded the African American Museum of Beginnings. 

We visited the museum off hours, and Rasshan told us of his life in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, how his consciousness came to fruition, and what he believes that can do for other African Americans. The museum is currently in a transitional process of changing locations, but will be around for the future after Covid restrictions are lifted. In the meantime, join us for this intimate conversation on hidden African history and strategies for self-repair.

The San Gabriel Valley has America’s highest concentration of Asian immigrants, and a regional dining selection to match. The LA press corps has published plenty about this in recent years, but how much of it is actually relevant to locals? To kitchen workers?

This week we hear from “Duchess of the SGV,” Kristie Hang, freelance food & travel journalist. She’s reported on the Valley’s full spectrum of Asian cuisine, from supermarket sushi to chicken you need a hammer to eat. 

We had a great conversation about the area’s Asian diaspora; its contributions to SoCal’s food scene, the dark side of the service industry, struggles with Covid, and why certain towns in the 626 aren’t feeling the magazine love. Listen up, and follow her on IG and Twitter!

There are two main punk sounds associated with the San Gabriel Valley. Backyard street punk, and more and more, the Gun Club. Fifteen years ago though, it was mainly just street punk. Everyone had a Misfits shirt. And Noe Silva was no exception.

But Silva was influenced by an older generation who came up on 1980's SoCal punk like Bad Religion, Nardcore, X, The Adolescents, and 45 Grave. This was the music in the background while he skated around South San Jose Hills and threw eggs down from the trailer park on Azusa and Temple.

His brother Johnny always had instruments in the house, but it had never occurred to Silva to do anything other than bang on them until a classmate told him he needed a bassist to jam with. Silva was bowled over when his friend played Bro Hymn on guitar and claimed it as his own song. He needed to do that too.

Entering Nogales High, Silva began to build up his confidence on the bass - more so than the rest of his jamming partners. Backyard gigs were booked and abandoned. Opportunities were missed. Frustrated, he took to the refuge of marijuana between classes. His schoolmasters, duly disappointed, remanded him to Valley Alternative School. 

The young man found himself under house arrest his sophomore year. While moping around the backyard one afternoon, he noticed a familiar face next door. He thought he saw his old school friend, Eric Miller, but it was actually his younger brother, Dylan Miller. Silva seized on this lifeline to the outside world and forced a stack of cd’s on Dylan to take home. 

After his punishment was lifted, Silva and the Millers formed The Uglies. Gigs were played. Gun Club and Minutemen cd’s were burned. Young ladies may have been said “what up” to. The band went through numerous member changes and explored the blues, post punk, classic rock, and hardcore. Their style was somewhat at home with the rest of the local scene, but more often than not their sets were twice as long as anyone else's.

Silva had some dreams of stardom as T.U. continued to advance their sound. The band wouldn't last forever; he wanted to mix more with artier heads in the LA and OC scenes (Boss Beats' guitarist and future Meru bandmate Zubin Peer once said Silva had been "constipated" in T.U, trying to write perfect songs). But in the band's final line-up, they made something unlike anything they had allowed themselves to do before, yet still undeniably rooted in their identity. Untitled IV - The Song of the San Gabriel Valley.

Hosted by Chris Greenspon
Logo by Felipe Flores & Rita Greenspon
Theme song by the Gun Club, courtesy of Manifesto Records
Ambient music by Kevin Greenspon