Democrats Pick L.A. for 2000 Convention
Location holds promise for APAs, says host committee member

By Sam Chu Lin
LOS ANGELES—For businessman Charlie Woo and dozens of other Los Angeles Democratic advocates, months of schmoozing and bargaining paid off Monday, when the Democratic Party announced it would hold its 2000 convention in the city.

“This site has great symbolic value,” said Woo, the only Asian American on Mayor Richard Riordan’s host committee. “Los Angeles is known for its diversity, and if the Democratic Party wants to come across as the party of inclusion, a party that embraces diversity, then Los Angeles is the place to be.”

Riordan said Monday that Woo’s role was key in his success. “Charlie Woo is like a godfather! Charlie Woo, more than anybody I think, helped to bring the Democratic convention to our city.
“Anything Charlie wants, he gets.”

Democratic National Committee Chair-Designate Joe Andrew stressed that the convention would be sponsored by the private sector with the cooperation of public officials, ensuring, he said, “that the citizens of California will get the benefit and not the burden.”

Referring to the 1960 convention, Andrew said: “John F. Kennedy was nominated at the Democratic National Convention the year I was born. He began right here the Democrats’ quest for a New Frontier.”

The host committee had proposed assuming full responsibility for the event, as the private sector did when the Olympics were held in the city 15 years ago. “Like the 1984 Olympics, Los Angeles will be the focal point of the nation and the world,” Woo said.

In its proposal, the committee said the publicly held Los Angeles Convention Center and privately held Staples Center would be offered free of charge for the convention. The Staples Center is scheduled for completion in October, far in advance of the August convention.

The City Council must vote on a contract before the deal is completed, DNC officials have said, but it’s unknown when that might be. Boston and Denver are backup options in case the party can’t resolve differences on money and other amenities.

Woo, however, remained confident that the convention and the $150 million in revenue it promises will indeed grace the city in 2000. That goal has been foremost in his mind in the year that he’s worked with six other committee members to bring in the convention, and for Woo, especially, the fight was especially arduous on a physical level.

The 47-year-old Mega Toys CEO has been disabled since he contracted polio as a baby. Yet he said that only furthered his determination in courting congressional representatives and DNC officials.

“A person like myself who is disabled can bring to the table some sensitivity towards that issue, to make sure all of the facilities are accessible as possible,” he said.

He knows the battle is only beginning on other fronts.

“As an Asian American, the only one on the executive committee, I will make sure that the doors are open for Asian American young people who are interested in working and participating,” he said. Those who get involved will reap an “invaluable experience”—one that not only will expose them to the political process but will “give them a chance to interact with political leaders like [Washington] Governor Gary Locke and [Oregon] congressman David Wu.”

The convention’s location—in a city that more than a million Asian Americans call home—also allows Asian Americans to demonstrate their political clout, something he sees as more imperative than ever.

“Many of us were very disappointed when President Clinton said he would appoint a cabinet that would look like America, and no Asian-American was a part of that picture,” he said. “Asian Pacific Americans were perceived as too easy.

“I think this time it’s going to be more difficult. We are going to demand concrete results. We’re going to do this with both parties.”

Given that Asian Americans comprise up to a third of some major California cities—the highest representation on the mainland—they could well swing California and its 54 electoral votes.

“We now have the opportunity to get the attention of both parties,” Woo said.

“I think it’s sad that we need to remind the country over and over that we are contributing significantly to this country. But unfortunately we need to do that. ... Hopefully we will create a picture of Asian Americans participating at all levels of the political process and in everyday life.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.