Welfare bill, the O.J. trial and a JACL in financial turmoil

Vol. 120, No. 8, April 21, 1995. 12 pages. View this issue

A welfare reform bill that would cut federal aid to most lawful immigrants led the news, along with remarks during the O.J. Simpson trial that drew apologies after Asian American leaders objected. Much of the issue turned to JACL’s finances and the dispute on its National Board, with columns by Bill Hosokawa, Terry Yamada and Travis Nishi, and Harry Kajihara’s look at the Barrington Report numbers. Cherry Kinoshita and Harry K. Honda wrote about the paper’s own budget and postal rates.

Other pages cover the Tule Lake Reunion planned for May 19-20, the Florin Time of Remembrance event, and a talk by George Takei to the Twin Cities chapter. Bill Marutani recalled serving in occupied Japan, Frank Iritani reported from Florin, and President Clinton’s nomination of A. Wallace Tashima to the 9th Circuit appeared on page 6.

What’s in this issue

National

• Welfare Bill Hits ‘Legal’ Immigrants, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The House passed the Personal Responsibility Act 234-199, which would deny federal health and social program access to most lawfully admitted immigrants including AFDC, Food Stamps, SSI, Medicaid and Social Services Block Grants. JACL and NAPALC officials condemned the bill as pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment and urged members to contact senators before a Senate vote.
• O.J. Trial: Shapiro Uses Racial Stereotype, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Defense attorney Robert Shapiro apologized after handing out fortune cookies to reporters and referencing a fictional ‘Hang Fung Restaurant,’ a comment linking criminalist Dennis Fung to a racial stereotype. JACL President Denny Yasuhara and other Asian American leaders demanded and received apologies, calling the remarks racist and troubling given the trial’s focus on racism.
• D’Amato Apologizes for Racist Behavior, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New York Sen. Alfonse D’Amato apologized on the Senate floor for mocking O.J. Simpson trial judge Lance Ito using a fake Japanese accent on a radio talk show. JACL’s Bill Yoshino and Rep. Norman Mineta responded to the apology, with Mineta saying he was relieved D’Amato understood the offensiveness of his remarks.
• Clinton Names Tashima U.S. Appellate Judge in L.A., by P.C. Staff, page 6. President Clinton nominated federal trial judge A. Wallace Tashima to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which would make him the first Japanese American and third Asian American on that court. Tashima, appointed to the federal district bench by Jimmy Carter in 1980, previously blocked the Los Angeles School District’s plan to end mandatory busing for integration.

JACL

• Tri-District Set for April 28-30 in Reno, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The CCDC-NCWNP-PSW tri-district conference in Reno will feature a special workshop on JACL’s financial crisis moderated by Dale Ikeda, along with sessions on Nisei to Sansei transition, Hapa issues, and children of camps. Keynote speaker Harry Kitano will address out-marriage and its effects on the Japanese American community.
• National Board to Meet May 6-7 in S.F., by P.C. Staff, page 1. A JACL National Board meeting will be held May 6-7 at headquarters in San Francisco. The Saturday session begins at 9 a.m. and the Sunday session runs from 9 a.m. to noon.
• Karyl Matsumoto Named HQ Office Administrator, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Karyl Matsumoto, president of the San Mateo Chapter, was hired as JACL office administrator at national headquarters in San Francisco, resigning her national board position to take the role. She will supervise headquarters staff, oversee business and financial management, and membership processing beginning in May.
• Dissidents Allege Crime in Bank Signature Card Oversight; Legal Counsel Says ‘No Harm, No Foul’, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A March 20 bank signature card dispute involving JACL secretary-treasurer Jon Kaji caused thousands of dollars in bounced checks and was used by dissident board members to attack the Yasuhara administration. JACL legal counsel Tom Hara said the episode was used as ‘guerilla warfare’ by dissidents, while National Board members Terry Yamada and Travis Nishi called for an end to personal attacks.
• Insight into D.C. Politics Highlights Leadership Conference, by Leigh-Ann Miyasato, page 4. The second annual JACL/OCA Leadership Conference held March 4-8 in Washington, D.C. drew 13 JACL and 16 OCA participants for sessions on lobbying, media advocacy, hate crimes, and civil rights featuring speakers like Congressman Norman Mineta, Congressman Robert Matsui, and Bruce Yamashita. Participants toured the Smithsonian internment exhibit and met with the Office of Redress Administration to receive briefings and family internment records.
• JACL Members, Chapters Should Send Membership Updates to HQ, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Interim Membership Coordinator Amy Yamashiro is now handling the membership database at JACL national headquarters in San Francisco. Members and chapters are asked to send all address changes and membership updates directly to headquarters rather than to Pacific Citizen.
• Legal Counsel Responds to Variety of Issues, by P.C. Staff, page 6. JACL legal counsel Tom Hara addressed banking issues in memos to the National Board, noting that roughly $30,000 in checks were issued before Kaji blocked accounts and that bounced checks could trigger penalties. Hara clarified that a March 18 meeting of dissident board members was a ‘non-meeting’ with no quorum and that expense reimbursements for that meeting were inappropriate.
• Dissidents (continued): Memo Campaign Details, by P.C. Staff, page 6. This continuation details a memo-writing campaign among dissident board members Jon Kaji, Ruth Mizobe, Trisha Murakawa, and Randy Imai alleging possible criminal acts related to bank signature card changes. Legal counsel Tom Hara dismissed the allegations, warning that pursuing such claims without proof of criminal intent was a misuse of legal threats amid internal disputes.
• PSWDC to Publish Quarterly Newsletter, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The PSWD Times, a new quarterly newsletter from the PSW-JACL office, will be distributed to chapter presidents beginning May 21 and will focus strictly on news items and upcoming events. Chapter presidents are encouraged to submit calendar items and articles for the first issue by May 4.
• New Numbers from Barrington Report, by Harry Kajihara, page 10. Former national JACL president Harry Kajihara analyzes revenue projections from the Barrington Report, proposing detailed 1995 revenue estimates based on 1994 actual cash flow data. He concludes that JACL must keep 1995 expenditures below $1.3 million to avoid deficit spending and warns that continued 5% annual expense growth will require major revenue increases in coming years.
• JACL Scholarship Evaluations Begin, by P.C. Staff, page 12. National JACL received several hundred scholarship applications by the April 1 postmark deadline, with chapters pre-screening local high school applicants. The Mountain Plains District Council will evaluate entering freshmen awards while the Intermountain District Council reviews applications from students already enrolled in college, graduate, or law school.

Commentary

• Fund-Raising Goal to Return PC to Weekly, by Cherry Kinoshita, page 3. PC Board Chairwoman Cherry Kinoshita recounts the history of Pacific Citizen’s publication schedule and dues allocation, noting that dues have remained at $12 since 1988 despite rising costs. She calls for donations and fund-raising support to help return the paper to weekly publication in 1996, citing past successful JACL fund-raising efforts.
• New Postal Rates Threaten the P.C., by Harry K. Honda, page 3. Editor emeritus Harry Honda explains that the U.S. Postal Service has petitioned for new rates that would increase 2nd-Class postage by at least 20% while subsidizing large publishers, severely affecting small publications like the Pacific Citizen. He details the PC’s budget shortfalls for 1995 and 1996 and appeals to JACL members for donations to sustain the paper.
• It’s Wild in This Wonderland, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Columnist Bill Hosokawa examines the confusing financial narrative surrounding JACL’s reported deficit turning into a surplus and criticizes the National Board’s internal conflict over the ouster of President Denny Yasuhara. He cites a Professional Exchange Service audit finding severe accounting deficiencies and warns that continued board division threatens JACL’s stability.
• Nisei no Shin-chu-gun, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Columnist Bill Marutani reflects on his experiences as a Nisei serving in the occupation forces in postwar Japan, recalling encounters ranging from curious civilians to acts of kindness by Nisei soldiers like Peter Okada and Fujio ‘Wymo’ Takaki. He shares personal anecdotes about small moments of connection and consideration between occupying Nisei troops and the Japanese populace.
• Notice: PC to Limit Editorial Opinions, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Pacific Citizen announces a policy change limiting editorial opinions to approximately 750 words and restricting letters and editorials to designated pages. The notice clarifies that letters sent to other media outlets will not be published in Pacific Citizen.
• Dissension Prevents Positive JACL Actions, by Chizu Iiyama, page 8. A letter writer expresses concern about internal JACL dissension amid national political challenges like attacks on affirmative action, urging members to stop the ‘blame game’ and focus on solving financial problems. She calls for a financial audit, practical budgeting, and increased membership engagement across generations.
• It’s Time to Move Forward, by Terry Yamada, page 9. Pacific Northwest District Governor Terry Yamada argues that personal attacks on President Denny Yasuhara over the National Board’s staffing decisions are counterproductive and that Yasuhara does not control board votes. He urges the National Board to move forward with the December reorganization plan rather than continuing internal conflict.
• The Financial Crisis Is Real—Let’s Deal With It, by Travis Nishi, page 9. CCDC Governor Travis Nishi describes the decline in JACL’s public image due to infighting and urges the organization to stop airing disputes publicly and focus on constructive solutions. He notes the CCDC passed a motion opposing calls for Yasuhara’s resignation, citing the depletion of JACL’s reserve fund as a genuine financial crisis.
• Blame Yasuhara, Liggett, Suenaga for JACL Problems, by Neal Taniguchi, page 9. Former JACL vice president of membership Neal Taniguchi explains his resignation, criticizing National President Denny Yasuhara, legal counsel Peggy Liggett, and PC editor Richard Suenaga for mishandling the firing of headquarters staff and damaging JACL’s credibility. He argues the organization has lost touch with the community and is failing to attract young leaders.

Community

• Personally Speaking, by P.C. Staff, page 5. This roundup column reports on community members including Yoshi and May Honkawa establishing a $252,000 endowment for USC health services fellowships, Togo Tanaka receiving the first ‘Spirit of The Wellness Community Award,’ and the Yamashiro triplets excelling in sports at Point Loma High School. It also notes Jerry Nakagawara’s career change from postal worker to real estate in Las Vegas, new Japan America Society officers, and Jay Y. Fukushima’s election as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.
• Nikkei Honored for Work with Teens, by P.C. Staff, page 5. West Los Angeles resident Gregg Murakami was honored by the National Conference for his volunteer work with the organization’s interracial Brotherhood/Sisterhood USA Camp for teens. Murakami received the conference’s distinguished merit citation for his contributions to youth leadership and human relations training programs.
• Whereabouts, by P.C. Staff, page 10. This recurring feature seeks information on the whereabouts of various Nisei individuals including WWII veteran Yukio Kishi, Misao Pat Fujii, and cast members of the Tule Lake Little Theater group. Readers are asked to contact listed parties with any information about these individuals’ current locations or histories.

Incarceration & Redress

• First-Hand Experiences Highlight Florin Event, by Frank Iritani, page 7. The March 11 Florin Time of Remembrance event featured speakers, workshops, videos, and exhibits including a replica internment barrack, with keynote speaker Chizu Iiyama discussing the roles of Japanese American women across three generations. The event included oral history presentations, a Korematsu case workshop, and outreach to Elk Grove Elementary School students who visited exhibits and heard firsthand accounts from former internees.
• Tule Lake Reunion Set for May 19-20, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Tule Lake Reunion V, possibly the last gathering of former internees, is scheduled for May 19-20 at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento with over 500 already registered. Featured speakers include retired judge Bill Marutani and Irene Hirano, with a companion Sacramento Area Reunion IV also planned for May 21.

Arts & Entertainment

• Actor George Takei Gives Talk at Twin Cities, by P.C. Staff, page 7. George Takei spoke at the Twin Cities JACL Chrysanthemum banquet and installation, drawing three times as many attendees as the previous year according to board member Connie Fukuda. Takei discussed ongoing civil rights issues for Asian Americans and praised the emergence of Asian American writers like Philip Kan Gotanda, David Hwang, and Amy Tan telling their own stories.

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