Officials tout gun proposals near scene of Monterey Park mass shooting

By City News Service

SGV area Jewish Federation to host consul general of Israel for town hall

By Staff

On Monday, May 15, the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys will host a special Town Hall Meeting with the consul general of Israel, Dr. Hillel Newman. Jewish Federation’s Executive Director Jason Moss will moderate the evening program. It will cover topics ranging from the current controversy regarding judicial reforms and the situation on the Temple Mount to Iran, how Israeli innovations are impacting everyday life and addressing worldwide issues, and much more. In addition, attendees will be able to have their questions answered. The event is open to the public, but for security reasons, people must pre-register by Monday, May 8, by going to www.jewishsgpv.org.

Dr. Hillel Newman became consul general of Israel in July 2019, serving as the senior representative of the State of Israel to the Pacific Southwest. Before his post, Newman spent over 20 years in diplomatic service. He served in several influential and critical positions, including policy advisor to three foreign ministers of Israel and ambassador of Israel to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Most recently, Consul General Newman served as special policy advisor to the director general and director of the World Jewish Affairs Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As a result, he has been intimately involved in the Jewish community’s most pressing global issues.

“The opportunity to bring the highest-ranking Israeli official in Southern California to our community is wonderful, especially with what is currently happening in Israel today.” explains Jason Moss, Jewish Federation’s executive director. “It is my hope that this event will open the eyes of many in our community as they hear what is going on in Israel and the amazing impact Israel has on the entire world.”

The event will be held at Temple Beth David (9677 E. Longden Ave., Temple City) at 7:30 p.m.

Local elected officials gathered last Monday in Monterey Park, scene of a shooting that left 11 people dead earlier this year, to tout three pieces of proposed state legislation they said would make communities safer from gun violence.

Assemblyman Mike Fong, D-Alhambra, who authored the three bills, said they are critical to counter shootings that are “happening almost daily at schools, grocery stores, churches and dance studios.”

“Lawmakers are the ones who have the power to end this plague, and I’m proud to take leadership on this effort to help get weapons off our streets,” Fong said in a statement. “I look forward to working in partnership with the Prosecutors Alliance of California and gun safety advocates to pass these measures.”

Fong, joined by the nonprofit Prosecutors Alliance of California, District Attorney George Gascón and Monterey Park Mayor Jose Sanchez, held a news conference at Monterey Park City Hall Monday to discuss the bills, which are pending in Sacramento.

Fong said Assembly Bill 732 is aimed at strengthening the process of removing firearms from people who are legally prohibited from possessing them. The bill would prevent a court from closing a case against a criminal defendant unless there is proof that all firearms have been surrendered.

“We know that we have way too many people in our communities that are still in possession of guns, where the law clearly says that they’re not supposed to have firearms,” Gascón said.

Fong said that according to state figures, there are nearly 24,000 people in the state who are prohibited from possessing firearms but continue to own them.

AB 1638 would require local agencies that serve jurisdictions where 10% or more of the population speaks a language other than

English to have adequate staffing to provide information in that language during an emergency situation. Officials pointed to the Monterey Park mass shooting in January as one that affected a largely Chinese-speaking population.

“It has absolutely no use when we are communicating in languages that the majority of people in that community do not fully understand,” Gascón said.

AB 733, meanwhile, would prevent state and local agencies from selling surplus firearms, ammunition and body armor.

“State and local government agencies should not be arms dealers,” Fong said.

To learn more about this event or the Jewish Federation’s programs and services, contact the Jewish Federation’s Executive Director Jason Moss by calling 626-445-0810 or emailing federation@jewishsgpv.org.