Torino Olympians, a Pinedale memorial fight and the Alito vote

Vol. 142, No. 2, February 3, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue

A memorial for the former Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno, Calif., where more than 4,800 Japanese Americans were held during World War II, led the news. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on the disagreement between the memorial committee and the property’s developers, with a city council decision expected in February. Samuel Alito’s confirmation to the Supreme Court drew a reply from JACL, which had opposed him. Lynda Lin covered Chinatown’s Empire Zone in New York, a campaign against racist T-shirts, and Korean War veterans suing a cemetery. A seven-page sports spread, “APA Olympians See Gold in Torino,” profiled Michelle Kwan, Apolo Anton Ohno and others.

Also inside: a $15,000 preservation grant for the JACL Hall in Monterey, and a Los Angeles Day of Remembrance program on the 1930s Mexican “repatriation” campaign. Readers wrote in about a previous “Top 10” list, and Floyd Mori wrote on the Washington leadership conference and Medicare. Columns by Yumi Sakugawa and Harry Honda, and a Q&A with author May Pare, fill the later pages.

What’s in this issue

Sports

• Can Kwan Catch Gold? Special Sports Preview of Torino 2006, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A preview teaser highlighting Asian Pacific American Olympians competing in the 2006 Torino Winter Games. The piece points readers to a special sports section detailing which APA athletes could win medals.
• APA Olympians See Gold in Torino, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A profile feature highlights numerous Asian Pacific American athletes competing in the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, including figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Rena Inoue, speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno, skier Toby Dawson, and hockey player Julie Chu. Each athlete’s background, achievements, and Olympic prospects are detailed alongside the curling Fenson family.

JACL

• Preserving JACL History: Monterey Hall Receives Preservation Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The historic JACL Hall in Monterey, Calif., which has served the APA community for 80 years, has received a preservation grant. The teaser points to a fuller story on the building’s landmark status and restoration efforts.
• JACL Credit Union Gets New Vice President, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Dean Takeshi Hirabayashi was named executive vice president of the National JACL Credit Union, bringing 21 years of credit union management experience. He is a member of the JACL Mount Olympus chapter in Salt Lake City.
• Leadership Conference and Medicare, by Floyd Mori, page 5. JACL Washington representative Floyd Mori discusses the upcoming JACL/OCA Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference in March and outlines resources available to help JACL members and chapters navigate the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program. He encourages members to attend conference and utilize CMS training materials distributed to chapters.
• JACL Masaoka Fellowship Deadline is April 1, by P.C. Staff, page 6. JACL is accepting applications for its Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship, which places students in Congressional offices to learn about public policymaking. The fellowship includes an $8,500 stipend and honors Masaoka’s legacy of public service and civil rights advocacy.
• PSWDC Receives $10,000 Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The JACL Pacific Southwest District received a $10,000 grant from Southern California Edison to revamp its website and improve advocacy on hate crime prevention, leadership development, and education issues. The grant was presented to district staff by Edison representatives.

National

• Judging Alito: JACL, APA Organizations Say No to the New Supreme Court Justice, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL and other APA organizations opposed the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. The teaser points to further coverage of the confirmation and the reasons behind community opposition.
• APAs Successfully Campaign Against Racist T-Shirts, by Lynda Lin, page 1. National retailer Spencer’s agreed to discontinue three T-shirts featuring racist Asian caricatures and jokes after backlash from Asian Pacific American community members and bloggers. Activists say the incident reflects a broader pattern of retailers, including Abercrombie and Fitch and Burlington Coat Factory, marketing anti-Asian merchandise.
• Alito Ascends to Supreme Court, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Samuel Alito was confirmed as the 110th Supreme Court justice in a narrowly partisan 58-42 vote despite strong opposition from JACL and dozens of other civil rights organizations. JACL cited concerns over Alito’s record on affirmative action, discrimination, and due process protections.
• Former ‘Loveline’ Host Mocks APA Awards, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Radio host Adam Carolla faced criticism after his show dubbed a segment on the Asian Excellence Awards with mocking ‘ching, chong’ sounds. Community groups including the Asian American Justice Center and Coalition Against Hate Media condemned Carolla and CBS Radio for the broadcast.
• Farmers Branch Police Chief Resigns Amid Charges of Racism, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Police Chief J.R. Fawcett of Farmers Branch resigned after making a racist remark about a Vietnamese police recruit, saying the department wouldn’t hire ‘gooks.’ Fawcett apologized but stepped down after 32 years with the city.
• Sun Mercantile Building Makes Endangered List, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The Arizona Preservation Foundation named the Sun Mercantile building, the last remnant of downtown Phoenix’s Chinatown, one of the state’s most endangered historic places. The building sits at the center of a proposed $200 million luxury hotel and condominium development, prompting a lawsuit from preservationists and APA community groups.
• APA Professors Land on Political Blacklist, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Three APA university professors, including UCLA’s Jerry Kang, Vinay Lal, and Kent Wong, were named to a ‘Dirty Thirty’ list by the Bruin Alumni Association for alleged ‘radical’ ideology. The targeted professors are working together to formulate a response to the campaign, which recruited student surveillance.
• APAs Successfully Campaign Against Racist T-Shirts (continued), by Lynda Lin, page 4. Further details describe how activists Jong Leong and Vanessa Au organized an online campaign against Spencer’s racist T-shirts, prompting the retailer to issue an apology and discontinue the products. JACL Executive Director John Tateishi and other critics argue such incidents reflect ongoing tolerance of anti-Asian racism in mainstream media.

Community

• New York Launches Business Development Effort to Help Chinatown Recover from 9/11, But at What Cost?, by Lynda Lin, page 1. New York state designated Chinatown an Empire Zone to spur economic recovery after the Sept. 11 attacks devastated local businesses. Some business owners welcome the tax incentives while others fear gentrification will erode the neighborhood’s authenticity and displace longtime residents like ice cream shop owner Phillip Seid.’
• Fighting for Eternal Peace: Korean Veterans Sue Cemetery for Fraud, by Lynda Lin, page 1. A group of elderly Korean War veterans sued Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, Calif., alleging fraud and misrepresentation after the cemetery failed to build a promised veterans memorial despite selling hundreds of burial plots. Attorneys say the case highlights a pattern of businesses exploiting elderly, limited-English-speaking immigrants.
• Reverend, JACLer Wins Honors from Alma Mater, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Rev. Wallace Fukunaga, a Honolulu JACL board member, was named a distinguished alumnus of the Pacific School of Religion for his civil rights work and church rebuilding efforts. He participated in the civil rights movement and traveled to Vietnam with a World Council of Churches delegation during the war.
• Gardena Inducts Wall of Famers, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The city of Gardena inducted four honorees, including George Inouye, Iku and George Kiriyama, and Tad Uyemura, to its Wall of Fame for their community contributions. The induction ceremony was held Jan. 21.
• Salinas Valley Honors Scholarship Winners, Educators, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. The Salinas Valley JACL awarded scholarships to eight graduating high school seniors for their academic and community achievements. Dr. Pamela Durkee was also honored with the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award.
• Monterey JACL Receives $15,000 Preservation Grant, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Monterey Peninsula JACL received a matching grant to help preserve the historic JACL Hall, built in 1926 and designated a historic landmark in 2001. The chapter is raising additional funds to renovate the building, which hosts cultural classes and community events.
• Fighting for Eternal Peace (continued): Veterans Detail Cemetery Fraud Allegations, by Lynda Lin, page 12. Continuing coverage of the Oakdale Memorial Park lawsuit describes how Korean veterans like Young Soon Ahn were persuaded to buy burial plots through promises of a memorial that was never built. Attorney Julie Su of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center says the case reflects a broader pattern of fraud targeting immigrant communities with limited English skills.

Incarceration & Redress

• JAs Fight for Memorial at Former Pinedale Assembly Center, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Japanese Americans are pushing to have the former Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno, Calif., where more than 4,800 JAs were held during WWII, declared a California Historical Landmark with a permanent memorial. Community members and the property’s developers disagree over the size and location of the proposed memorial, with a city council decision expected in February.
• Jefferson County, Texas to Honor Mayumi Family, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Following a 12-year fight to rename the controversial ‘Jap Road,’ the town of Fannett, Texas, will now build a historical marker honoring the pioneering Mayumi family who introduced rice farming to the area in 1905. The marker, approved by the Texas Historical Commission, is expected to be completed in 2006.
• Pinedale Memorial Project Faces Hurdles Over Land and Funding, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 4. Continuing coverage details the disagreement between the Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Project Committee and property developer Granum Partners over the size and funding of a proposed memorial. Survivors like Dr. George Suda and Jack Hata recall their experiences at the camp and support efforts to build a lasting tribute.
• JAs Fight for Memorial at Former Pinedale Assembly Center (continued), by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 4. The article details the history of the Pinedale Assembly Center, noting HR 1492’s approval by the House allocating $38 million for preservation of internment camps and assembly centers. It also compares the Pinedale effort to prior successful landmark designations at Manzanar and the Fresno County Fairgrounds.
• LA DOR to Focus on Mexican ‘Repatriation’ Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The 2006 Los Angeles Day of Remembrance program will highlight the 1930s Mexican ‘repatriation’ campaign, in which over a million people of Mexican descent were removed from the U.S. Speakers including Professor Francisco Balderrama and Congressman Xavier Becerra will address parallels to the Japanese American incarceration and ongoing redress efforts.
• Oregon Memorial Needs Donations to Commemorate WWII Evacuation, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The Eugene JA Memorial Committee is raising funds to build a memorial commemorating the WWII evacuation of Japanese Americans from Oregon, including Min Yasui. A $50,000 challenge grant from the Spirit Mountain Foundation must be matched by July 2006, with a bronze sculpture and educational program planned.
• Mayumi Family Marker Details Emerge as Wording Finalized, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 12. Further details on the Mayumi family historical marker reveal that Fannett resident Wayne Wright, who fought against the ‘Jap Road’ renaming, is providing historical information for the marker’s text. The Anti-Defamation League and state officials will give final approval to the marker’s wording, expected to be completed by summer 2006.

Commentary

• Reader Finds ‘Haole Hubby Club’ Article Offensive, by Rachel Eunda, page 2. A reader criticizes a previous Pacific Citizen article, ‘Top 10 Reasons to Marry a Haole,’ arguing it objectifies Asian American women and disparages Asian identity while glorifying whiteness. The writer calls on JACL to hold itself to higher standards in combating stereotypes.
• Derogatory or Harmless?, by Shigeo Yuge, page 2. A reader responds to a prior Top 10 list article, disputing the characterization of the terms ‘Kuichi’ and ‘Kurombo’ as derogatory based on his own upbringing and experiences. He shares a personal anecdote about prejudice and language within his own family.
• Attention All Lovers of Golf, by Mas Hashimoto, page 2. A letter announces the 3rd National JACL Golf Tournament, ‘Swing For Justice,’ to be held at Harding Park in San Francisco, and invites golfers to sign up. The writer also seeks stories and photos from readers who played golf while incarcerated in WWII camps like Poston.
• Go UCLASIANS, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. In her ‘Memoirs of a Non-Geisha’ column, the writer reflects on UCLA’s large Asian American population and the unique campus culture it creates, including a wide array of AA student organizations and courses. She contemplates whether being surrounded by so many progressive Asian Americans has left her unprepared for life outside of that bubble.
• Frohe Weihnachten und ein Gutes Neues Jahr, by Harry Honda, page 8. In his ‘Very Truly Yours’ column, Harry Honda reflects on aging, holiday greetings from a friend in Austria, and political concerns for 2006 including the Bush administration and elections in Latin America. He also discusses the symbolism of the Year of the Dog in Japanese folklore.

In-Depth

• Last Link to Truckee’s Chinatown Has New Lease on Life, by Associated Press, page 3. The Chinese Herb Shop, the last surviving building from Truckee, Calif.’s 19th century Chinatown, has been restored after a two-year preservation effort. The building, which survived multiple fires that destroyed the rest of the historic district, will now be leased as retail or office space.
• Chinatown’s Empire Zone Designation Raises Hopes and Fears, by Lynda Lin, page 6. New York’s designation of Chinatown as a tax-free Empire Zone aims to spur post-9/11 economic recovery, but some business owners and scholars worry it will accelerate gentrification and displace the community’s authentic character. Urban affairs professor Peter Kwong warns that revitalization efforts often benefit tourists more than longtime residents.

Arts & Entertainment

• Q&A with May Pare, Waitress, Author and Idiom Expert, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Thai-born waitress May Pare discusses writing her book ‘Body Idioms and More,’ which explains American English idioms and expressions for non-native speakers based on her observations working at a Southern California restaurant. Pare shares her research process, favorite idioms, and the surprising popularity of her book among native English speakers.

Obituaries

• Philanthropist, Leader Clarence Nishizu Passes at 96, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Longtime community leader and philanthropist Clarence Iwao Nishizu died Jan. 25 at age 96, having founded several JACL chapters and championed Japanese American agricultural heritage preservation at Cal State Fullerton. He received numerous honors including a Japanese government medal and an honorary doctorate for his decades of civic contributions.

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