APA Panel Saved From the ‘Terminator’
Pending since January, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reform plan — which included the elimination of 88 boards and commissions, including the Commission on Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs — has been withdrawn for further review.
“The creation of this citizens commission was such a milestone for our community,” said commission member and Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park). “It is privately funded and is not a fiscal burden to the state and taxpayers. There was simply no value gained for the state to eliminate it.”
After the initial proposed elimination, community members launched a letter-writing campaign stressing the need for an official voice to express the social and economic rights and interests of API communities. The fastest-growing ethnic group, California’s 4.2 million API residents now compose 13% of the state’s total population.
Chu Spotlights Anti-black Hate Crimes
SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Hate Crimes, plans to hold a hearing on the recent hate crimes in Santa Clarita. According to news reports and Valencia High officials, multiple black American children have reported suffering racist bullying, harassment and violence by white peers. School officials say these incidents are a byproduct of the city’s growing diversity and the difficulty youths face in adjusting to these changes.
While the black American population remains at about 2% of the total population, the Latino population has increased to 21% while the white population has decreased from 71% to 69%. Chu is seeking a full inquiry by the FBI and Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
Banataos Pledge $500K Challenge for S.F. Manilatown
The “Coming Home to Manilatown” capital fund campaign continues working toward its goal of $1 million for the construction of the Manilatown Center in the new International Hotel on Kearny and Jackson streets.
Earlier this month, Dado and Maria Banatao announced their own $500,000 challenge that would match dollar for dollar all contributions made toward the Manilatown Heritage Foundation’s efforts to promote Filipino culture and history. The International Hotel Manilatown Center will be a permanent art museum and community learning center while offering 104 subsidized housing units for the elderly.
Donations can be sent to Manilatown Heritage Foundation, 953 Mission St., Ste. 30, San Francisco, CA 94103. For more info contact Sylvia Vivar at (415) 777-1130 or go to www.manilatown.org.
Bowling for ‘Old and the Useless’
On Jan. 25, Yukata Handa, an 81-year-old San Franciscan, bowled 28 strikes in the Tuesday night Nikkei Invitational Mixed Trios on his league team at Serra Bowl in Daly City. Handa bowled an impressive 277, 256 and 268, which totaled an 801 series. “I can’t believe it; I didn’t expect it,” Handa said. “Everyone in league is ecstatic about my score.”
Handa, a retired building contractor and avid bowler for 47 years, carries a 192 average. Notwithstanding double knee-replacement surgery, Honda managed to bowl his best series in October 2002 with a score of 816. He continues to bowl twice a week for his league team, “The Old and the Useless.”
Nakanishi Wants School Defibrillators
Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi) introduced Assembly Bill 254 on Feb. 8 to encourage the presence of automated external defibrillators in schools. The defibrillators are used for resuscitation in emergencies. The bill extends current law to provide schools with the same liability protection given to public buildings. Nakanishi has found groups to donate the devices to school districts.
SoCal Women’s Shelter Expands
ALHAMBRA, Calif. — The Asian Pacific Women’s Center of Los Angeles has opened a satellite office in Alhambra to reach the growing Asian population in the San Gabriel Valley.
The battered women’s shelter is intended to help women who face language barriers and fears about immigration laws escape abusive relationships.
Chun-Yen Chen, the group’s executive director, told the San Gabriel Valley News that many Asian immigrants are surprised to learn that battered women’s shelters even exist. A recent study showed that 1 in 5 teenage girls reports being shoved or hit by her boyfriend.
Little Tokyo Relief Concert
Event: Tsunami relief concert
Background: The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and local community artists are collaborating to raise relief funds for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.
Interesting: Local bands include Zoo Hero, Random Ninjas, Elistate, Kiyoshi Graves, Envee and Things Go Awry.
Details: Suggested donation is $10, Feb. 27, 12 to 6 p.m., JACCC plaza in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles, carlomusprime.com or Tsunami_Relief_Concert@yahoo.com .
Nominate Local APA Heroes
Event: KQED nominations for Bay Area Local Heroes for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Interesting: Selected heroes will be recognized on Channel 9, at the KQED website and at a community celebration in May.
Details: Submit nominations by March 4 to Jennifer Benito at JBenito@kqed.org or fax (415) 554-2333.
Acupuncture Demo at 25th Anniversary Fete
Event: American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s 25th Anniversary Celebration
Interesting: Lion dancers, acupuncture demonstrations, calligraphy and brush painting, tai ji exercises, traditional music, a Chinese cooking display, and more.
Details: Feb. 27, noon to 4 p.m., Pioneer Square, 555 DeHaro St., San Francisco.
Exiled Again
Event: “Exiled Once Again: A Symposium on the Deportation of Southeast Asian Refugees”
Background: Hosted by the Asian Law Journal at Boalt Hall, the symposium examines the impact of immigration law on the Southeast Asian community.
Interesting: There will be panels on the political and historical contexts of U.S. deportation policy and on community activism and education. There will also be a screening of Sentenced Home. Lunch will be included.
Details: Free, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Booth Auditorium, Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley, arthurliou@berkeley.edu or jasonhlee@berkeley.edu.
$850,000 PacifiCare Ad Campaign
PacifiCare has hired Los Angeles-based Asian American A to Z agency (AAAZa) to handle its new “Asian American Markets Initiative.” This $850,000 advertising account will feature radio ads and TV spots in Mandarin and Cantonese, supplemented by print ads, Internet banners, billboards and direct mailings in Chinese characters.
Operating in eight states, PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. is one of the nation’s largest health organizations. Using a new theme, “Caring with devotion, serving with commitment,” it hopes to reach the 4.1 million Asian Americans residing in these areas. It has also launched a multilingual website at www.pacificareasia.com.
Bridging the Pacific
Event: “The USF Center for the Pacific Rim Gala: Bridging the Pacific”
Background: The event will honor three individuals for their contributions toward bridging the Pacific Rim and connecting cultures and people.
Interesting: Awards will be presented to Hatsuro Aizawa, Richard C. Blum and Peter Liu.
Details: $150 per person, March 22, 6 to 8:30 p.m., The Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental Hotel, Ron Wong and Associates at (415) 355-9988.
Chu Named Top Eco-Advocate
SACRAMENTO — The California League of Conservation Voters’ “California Environment Score Card” gave Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) a perfect score for the second year in a row. The advocacy group works to increase public awareness of the need for conservation. As part of its goal of holding officials responsible for upholding the state’s environmental agenda, the CLCV distributes its scorecard of all state legislators to its 30,000 members, other environmental organizations and the news media.