January 21, 2023 Memorial
At the City Council meeting on the third anniversary of the Star Dance Ballroom event, City Council approved the initial concept for a memorial to the victims and survivors of the January 21, 2023 event.
See slides from the presentation here.
Key City staff, along with Council members Henry Lo and Thomas Wong, who comprise the Ad Hoc Memorial Subcommittee, will work with family and survivors to create the final design for the memorial over the coming months. Once the design is complete, Monterey Park will begin the construction, which is expected to be completed in 2026.
To provide input and for additional questions, email Memorial@MontereyPark.ca.gov.
Input Meetings
Community participation is essential in shaping a memorial that reflects collective remembrance, healing and hope. The City held two meetings to discuss a proposed concept and collect input : one for family and survivors on December 6, 2025 and one for the general community on December 11, 2025.
Attendees at both meetings heard an update on the project, viewed the conceptual design, and shared thoughts with City staff and architects.
Notes from those meetings can be viewed here.
Community Surveys
The City of Monterey Park recently invited residents and community members to participate in a public survey which closed on June 15, 2025 to help shape the emotional tone of a permanent memorial honoring the victims, survivors and all those affected by the tragic events of January 21, 2023.
View the dashboard to see how the community responded to the survey.
Chinatown Service Center's MPK Hope Resiliency Center conducted an initial community survey November 2024 through February 2025. Those results can be viewed here.
Staff Reports to City Council
- Concept Approval and Award of Contract for January 21 Memorial Design - January 21, 2026 - View the approved concept, read the staff report, and view the Council video, including a moment of silence.
- Update on Permanent Memorial Efforts and Request for Direction on Budget and RFP Development - May 7, 2025 - View the report for direction on issuance of an Request for Proposals and budget from City Council, and view the Council video.
- Update on Permanent Memorial Efforts and Request Direction to Engage a Consultant to Lead Community Engagement Process - March 19, 2025 - View the report for direction from City Council on next steps, and view the Council video.
- Update on the Work of the January 21 Memorial Ad Hoc Subcommittee and Consideration of Further Action - January 15, 2025 - View the report on the progress of the Subcommittee, the request for direction from City Council on next steps, and view the Council video.
- Establishing an Ad Hoc Subcommittee of the City Council to Discuss the Creation of an independent Memorial Committee for the January 21, 2023 Mass Casualty Incident - May 1, 2024 - View the report on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee of Council and view the Council video.
- Discussion of Establishing a Memorial Committee for the January 21st Mass Shooting Incident - September 6, 2023 - View the report on Memorial Committees, read research on similar committees, and view the Council video.