Letters to the Editor
October 19, 2000
Becerril’s Record on Chinatown
Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to respond to a letter to the editor entitled “District 3 Candidates Ignore Chinese American Kids,” (Sept. 28). I would like to thank the youth members of Asian Community Teens Organized for Neighborhood Empowerment (ACT ONE) for their interest and participation in community affairs. I am encouraged that young people are taking a concrete interest in public issues, to the point of attending a candidates’ debate. I had the opportunity to meet with the members of ACT ONE on Sept. 28, and was impressed by their energy and the forthrightness of their questions.
I did, however, want to point out my long-standing leadership within the Chinatown community and my advancement of youth issues in particular. As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, I was the lead sponsor of Proposition D, the reauthorization of the Children’s Amendment, which annually allocates funding for over 100 nonprofit children- and youth-serving agencies. I initiated the Chinatown Night Market and have worked aggressively with grassroots organizations to curb Ellis Act evictions in our community. I successfully lobbied for the central subway to Chinatown to be included in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission blueprint.
In the 2000-2001 city budget, I allocated funding to the following agencies: Tel Hi Neighborhood Center ($50,000); Chinatown Community Development Corporation’s Chinatown Alleyway Youth Tour Project ($45,000); Mission/Chinatown YWCA ($35,000); and Pathway for Kids ($10,000). I also serve as a member of San Francisco’s joint School/Board of Supervisors Digital Divide Task Force for bridging the digital divide among our city’s public school students. Most recently, I have led the effort on the Board of Supervisors to control the sale of firearms, a major health care and public safety concern.
I am proud of my record on behalf of all of District 3, whether it’s an issue of concern in Chinatown or Pioneer Park. Consistent with my Open-Door policy, I welcome the people of ACT ONE to work with me in continuing to improve the quality of life for all our community.
Alicia Becerril
S.F. Board of Supervisor
Merging Ethnic, American Studies
Dear Editor: I am deeply concerned after reading “Educating the New America” (Oct. 12). What kind of message is Professor Ron Takaki sending to AsianWeek readers? While Asian American studies programs are expanding in universities all across the country, Takaki is opposed to “merging,” or having closer cooperation between ethnic studies and American studies programs. Why? How else can any civilized nation of so many diverse cultures hope to bring about understanding and social cohesion? Is that what we need from our institutions of learning—more conformity, monopoly of thought? For over two years we have been trying to participate in the president’s “One America” Initiative in the White House. We have asked that ethnic studies and American studies programs be merged in order that students of all races and viewpoints may participate in honest, open dialogue on the important social issues.
Philip Melnick
San Francisco
Thanks from a Democrat
Dear Editor: Thank you AsianWeek for generously sponsoring the reception honoring the Asian American delegates at the Democratic National Convention, and for honoring me with a Lifetime Achievement recognition. I am grateful for the kindness and generosity of all those whose devotion to our common cause made all of this possible.
How does one express gratitude for all those intangibles that widen one’s understanding and enrich one’s life as politics has enhanced mine. My odyssey in politics has accorded me the opportunity for growth and development of lasting values, and has enabled me to cross the bridge to my better self.
Democrats celebrate and foster respect for cultural and religious diversity. We are constant in our dedication to improve the quality of life for the elderly, the homeless; to use our resources to amplify the voice of the voiceless, identifying with the hopes, dreams and longings of others that we may understand and help them; to assist those struggling to live in dignity; to celebrate together our openness and generosity; to face the challenges and confusion of our most disheartening moments and be better for it.
We are unwavering in our pursuit for equity and justice for all, striving to close the gap between the privileged minority and underprivileged majority. We cannot regard as sacrosanct our present way of life if it can be sustained at the expense of others. If one person is wounded, all persons bleed.
We work to increase educational opportunities, to make certain that we are not wasting our most valuable resources: the minds of young children. We commit to excellence at all levels of our education system and provide basic skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to function in a changing world.
We labor to heal the earth so that its gifts may be used wisely to sustain life for all God’s creatures. We are unyielding in our quest for peace, affirming our belief in the power to change our direction and act on the vision of a world without war.
Each of us is obligated to fight for what is right and make government accountable. If we don’t, eventually it will affect us all.
Mary Miyashita
Whittier, Calif.
Ending Workplace Discrimination
Dear Editor: Your recent story, “Workers’ Rights Center Opens” (Sept. 7), underscores the importance of community partnerships in eradicating dangerous and discriminatory working conditions for Asian Americans. That is why the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) at the U.S. Department of Justice was pleased to continue funding the Asian Law Caucus in our effort to educate the community and help immigrant job discrimination victims.
OSC is the only government office whose sole mission is to enforce federal protections against national origin and citizenship status discrimination and document abuse faced by immigrant workers. The continually higher levels of backpay obtained for discrimination victims and fines imposed on discriminating employers demonstrate that bias still exists. Together, OSC, Asian Law Caucus and other community institutions are the places to turn to for fighting discrimination. For free, multi-lingual information on legal protections for Asian American workers, please call 1-800-255-7688.
John D. Trasvina
Dpecial Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices
Washington, D.C.
Takaki to Speak at Day of Action
Dear Editor: Professor Ronald Takaki accepted my invitation (pictured in your feature article, “Educating the New America,” Oct. 12), and will be speaking at the Statewide Day of Action to Reverse the Ban on Affirmative Action in the UC system on Thursday, Oct. 26 at U.C. Berkeley at noon on Upper Sproul Plaza. It’s very important for Asian Americans to speak out and show support for affirmative action. The increase in racism that accompanies the attack on affirmative action harms every minority. Conversely, affirmative action programs were responsible for opening U.C. Berkeley to Asian and Asian American students as well as blacks, Chicana/os and Latina/os.
We need to build the emerging new civil rights movement to attack the discrimination that Asian Americans face after graduation. As only one example, Asian American women lawyers are paid on average 50 percent less than their white male colleagues five years after law school graduation, even though the Asian American women graduated in the top 10 percent of their elite law school classes, compared to the white men’s graduation with a lower ranking from less prestigious schools.
For more information, visit the Web site or call the BAMN hotline at (510) 895-3068.
Hoku Jeffrey
Berkeley, Calif.
Correction
For AsianWeek’s story, “In the Spirit of District Elections” (Oct. 11), 24-year-old candidate Hubert Yee should have been said to be the youngest Asian American candidate running for S.F. Supervisor. Dennis Isner, who is running in District 6, is also 24 years old.
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I did, however, want to point out my long-standing leadership within the Chinatown community and my advancement of youth issues in particular. As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, I was the lead sponsor of Proposition D, the reauthorization of the Children’s Amendment, which annually allocates funding for over 100 nonprofit children- and youth-serving agencies. I initiated the Chinatown Night Market and have worked aggressively with grassroots organizations to curb Ellis Act evictions in our community. I successfully lobbied for the central subway to Chinatown to be included in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission blueprint.
In the 2000-2001 city budget, I allocated funding to the following agencies: Tel Hi Neighborhood Center ($50,000); Chinatown Community Development Corporation’s Chinatown Alleyway Youth Tour Project ($45,000); Mission/Chinatown YWCA ($35,000); and Pathway for Kids ($10,000). I also serve as a member of San Francisco’s joint School/Board of Supervisors Digital Divide Task Force for bridging the digital divide among our city’s public school students. Most recently, I have led the effort on the Board of Supervisors to control the sale of firearms, a major health care and public safety concern.
I am proud of my record on behalf of all of District 3, whether it’s an issue of concern in Chinatown or Pioneer Park. Consistent with my Open-Door policy, I welcome the people of ACT ONE to work with me in continuing to improve the quality of life for all our community.
Alicia Becerril
S.F. Board of Supervisor
Merging Ethnic, American Studies
Philip Melnick
San Francisco
Thanks from a Democrat
How does one express gratitude for all those intangibles that widen one’s understanding and enrich one’s life as politics has enhanced mine. My odyssey in politics has accorded me the opportunity for growth and development of lasting values, and has enabled me to cross the bridge to my better self.
Democrats celebrate and foster respect for cultural and religious diversity. We are constant in our dedication to improve the quality of life for the elderly, the homeless; to use our resources to amplify the voice of the voiceless, identifying with the hopes, dreams and longings of others that we may understand and help them; to assist those struggling to live in dignity; to celebrate together our openness and generosity; to face the challenges and confusion of our most disheartening moments and be better for it.
We are unwavering in our pursuit for equity and justice for all, striving to close the gap between the privileged minority and underprivileged majority. We cannot regard as sacrosanct our present way of life if it can be sustained at the expense of others. If one person is wounded, all persons bleed.
We work to increase educational opportunities, to make certain that we are not wasting our most valuable resources: the minds of young children. We commit to excellence at all levels of our education system and provide basic skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to function in a changing world.
We labor to heal the earth so that its gifts may be used wisely to sustain life for all God’s creatures. We are unyielding in our quest for peace, affirming our belief in the power to change our direction and act on the vision of a world without war.
Each of us is obligated to fight for what is right and make government accountable. If we don’t, eventually it will affect us all.
Mary Miyashita
Whittier, Calif.
Ending Workplace Discrimination
OSC is the only government office whose sole mission is to enforce federal protections against national origin and citizenship status discrimination and document abuse faced by immigrant workers. The continually higher levels of backpay obtained for discrimination victims and fines imposed on discriminating employers demonstrate that bias still exists. Together, OSC, Asian Law Caucus and other community institutions are the places to turn to for fighting discrimination. For free, multi-lingual information on legal protections for Asian American workers, please call 1-800-255-7688.
John D. Trasvina
Dpecial Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices
Washington, D.C.
Takaki to Speak at Day of Action
We need to build the emerging new civil rights movement to attack the discrimination that Asian Americans face after graduation. As only one example, Asian American women lawyers are paid on average 50 percent less than their white male colleagues five years after law school graduation, even though the Asian American women graduated in the top 10 percent of their elite law school classes, compared to the white men’s graduation with a lower ranking from less prestigious schools.
For more information, visit the Web site or call the BAMN hotline at (510) 895-3068.
Hoku Jeffrey
Berkeley, Calif.
Correction
Do you have something to say? Send a letter to the editor via e-mail (to asianweek@asianweek.com)!
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