MISSING: Richard Im, last seen January 2

32-year-old Richard Im was last seen late New Year's Day at his home in San Gabriel.



In Southern California, loved ones are asking for the public's help locating a man who went missing last week.

32-year-old Richard Im was last seen late New Year's Day at his home in San Gabriel. According to his family, he uncharacteristically hugged his family members before going to bed, then abruptly left in the middle of the night without a phone, money, identification, additional clothes or personal belongings.

He is described as Asian, 5'3", 125lbs., with a skinny build, mustache, beard and dark hair in a bun. He was wearing a white t-shirt, white pants, brown sandals, and a long dark grey zip hoodie. He is described as soft spoken, and likes meditation and walking.

Asian American police officers say they were 'routinely' subjected to slurs, stereotypes

Lawsuit claims San Gabriel police maintained a "racially hostile" work environment.



From the San Gabriel Valley Tribune: A group of current and former Asian American officers of the San Gabriel Police Department claim they were routinely harassed and discriminated against -- both by other officers using slurs and stereotypes and by the department’s leadership, who they say passed them up for promotion after complaining about the alleged abuses, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The lawsuit claims San Gabriel police maintained a "racially hostile" work environment in which they were demeaned "on a nearly daily basis," including other officers using "mock Asian accents" when speaking to them, as well as comments on their physical appearance and stereotypes about Asian culture.

More here: 5 San Gabriel police officers say they were ‘routinely’ subjected to Asian-Americans slurs, stereotypes

Chin Ho Liao was elected to San Gabriel's City Council. So why won't they let him serve?

Got this news passed along to me from our friends at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center... In San Gabriel, California, Councilman-elect Chin Ho Liao was the second-highest vote-getter in the city's March elections, where the top three candidates are elected to the council. So why is Mr. Liao still fighting for his seat?

Despite his clear victory, the City Council voted not seat Liao and launched an investigation after a resident filed a complaint alleging that his true residence is outside the city's borders. The council has been holding hearings to determine Liao's residency: San Gabriel councilman-elect in residency fight for his seat.

The vote not to seat Liao was taken by the previously constituted council, which included two outbound incumbents who had been defeated in the March election, having lost to Liao. Instead of seating Liao or appointing a neutral third party to adjudicate the claim, and despite the potential conflict of interest, the council decided to hold a hearing on whether the challenge to Liao's residency is valid.

APALC's voting rights team, which is representing Liao in the hearing, says the council's actions and the entire hearing process is huge conflict of interest:

ISA Charity Basketball Event, December 12

SGV! This one's for you. On Wednesday, December 12, KevJumba, the Fung Brothers, AJ Rafael, and more will face off in ISA's Charity Basketball Tournament. Your donation will benefit Toys 4 Tots, the non-profit 4C the Power, and the San Gabriel High School Associated Student Body. Here are more details:

jason chu's much love album release party, november 30

Los Angeles-based hip hop artist Jason Chu has been hard at work on his new album Much Love. He describes the project as "an exploration of all the places and ways that we look for love -- and how we find, or fail at it."

It drops November 30, and if you're in Southern California, you're invited to help him celebrate at a free release concert going down at EBCLA in Rosemead. Here are some more details: