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El Monte Housing Crisis As Cost Outpaces Income
The El Monte housing crisis reflects a broader statewide trend, but with even starker consequences. In 2024, only 14% of El Monte households could afford a median-priced home, compared to California’s overall affordability rate of 18%, according to the California Association of Realtors. The city’s median home price reached approximately $760,000, requiring a qualifying income…
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El Monte Farmers Market Boosts Community Connections
Farmers markets like the one in El Monte have long been cherished as vibrant hubs of community connections and local commerce. Not only do they provide a platform for residents to access fresh, locally grown produce, but the El Monte Farmers Market boosts community connections and local business. Energizing Local Economies Farmers markets are a…
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Reduce Sedentary Lifestyle
In today’s digital age, where much of our time is spent in front of screens, finding ways to reduce a sedentary lifestyle is crucial for maintaining our health. Prolonged sitting has been linked to a variety of health issues, including obesity, heart disease, and premature death. The good news is that even small adjustments to…
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California Housing Affordability Hits New Low
California housing affordability continued to decline in 2024, with only 18% of residents able to purchase a median-priced single-family home. The California Association of Realtors reported that the median home price reached $865,440 last year. Buyers needed a minimum income of $221,200 to cover the average monthly mortgage payment of $5,530. That affordability rate fell…
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Rosemead High School Senior Wins Edison Scholarship
Rosemead High School senior Carmen Ung was in second grade when her father came home with a family gift, a Dell tabletop computer. Ung was immediately fascinated – the way the screen lit up her face, the ability to explore new worlds with a touch of the keypad – she knew right away that technology…
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El Monte Consumer Spending Stays Strong
Despite a nationwide drop in consumer confidence, El Monte consumer spending remains steady, signaling resilience across the community. In April, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index dropped 8 percent to 52.2—among the lowest levels in recent decades. Yet in El Monte, households continue to fuel local commerce through consistent purchases, especially in essential and…
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San Gabriel Valley Spending Stays Strong
San Gabriel Valley spending remains steady in 2024, supporting small businesses and local jobs despite a reported decline in national consumer sentiment. According to the University of Michigan, sentiment dropped to 52.2 in April, but communities such as El Monte, Rosemead, and Baldwin Park continue to show strong economic engagement through consistent retail, dining, and…
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Small Business Impact on Local Economies
Small businesses play a critical role in shaping the economic and social fabric of communities. The small business impact on job creation, community investment, and neighborhood revitalization is especially visible in cities like El Monte and Baldwin Park. As foundational contributors to local economies, small businesses generate employment opportunities, stimulate growth, and often act as…
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Jobless Claims Stay Low as Hiring Holds Steady
The U.S. labor market showed continued strength in the week ending April 19, as initial jobless claims stay low at 222,000 and continuing claims fell to 1.84 million. These indicators reinforce the ongoing stability in employment, suggesting that most Americans are staying in their jobs even as industries adapt to changing global conditions. The slight…
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Students Embrace the Power of the Vote
With students across the El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) soon reaching voting age and the midterm elections around the corner, the District is making voter registration and civic engagement a priority by participating in the California Department of Education’s High School Voter Education Weeks, April 14-25. Following the Board of Trustees’ approval of…