Saving Little Tokyo, and a feedlot rejected near Minidoka

Vol. 145, No. 8, October 19, 2007. 16 pages. View this issue

The fight over Little Tokyo’s future led this issue. Lynda Lin reported on young people using Facebook, MySpace and Yelp to protest the sale of properties including Japanese Village Plaza and the New Otani Hotel, while Harry Honda offered a timeline of the neighborhood’s history. On page 3, Jerome County commissioners voted 2-1 to reject a cattle feedlot planned near the Minidoka Internment National Monument, after testimony from former internees and JACL representatives. Floyd Mori wrote about the Bainbridge Island memorial project.

The issue also followed the case of Lt. Ehren Watada, including a vigil in Little Tokyo, and the campaign for a stamp honoring Nisei WWII veterans. Lin looked at Angel Island’s POW history and at what the SCHIP veto could mean for Asian Pacific American children. An asteroid was named for George Takei, and the Japanese American National Museum announced a 2008 conference in Denver on the Civil Liberties Act.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Youth Voice is Among the Loudest in the Movement to Preserve Little Tokyo, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Young Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans are mobilizing on social media platforms like Facebook, MySpace, and Yelp to protest the sale of Little Tokyo properties including Japanese Village Plaza and the New Otani Hotel. A vandalism incident with posters plastered on Weller Court walls sparked debate, while groups like J-Town Voice organized meetings and an online petition gathering thousands of signatures.
• Community Groups Hold Protest in Support of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, Launch Online Petition, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. About 40 community members and peace activists gathered in Little Tokyo to protest Lt. Ehren Watada’s pending second court-martial, organized by Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress and the Asian American Vietnam Veterans Organization. The groups launched an online petition and planned further vigils to support Watada and other military resisters to the Iraq war.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. A roundup of notable achievements among Asian Pacific Americans, including Medal of Honor recipient Hershey Miyamura being honored with a statue, Lotchana Sourivong joining JACL as membership coordinator, Hisami Yoshida becoming Washington’s first AA female prison superintendent, Cliff Akiyama’s appointment to the Congressional Award Foundation board, Robert Nakamoto’s Freedom Award nomination, and comedian Paul Ogata’s international comedy contest win.
• Vacaville Buddhist Church Approved as Calif. Point of Historical Interest, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. The historic Vacaville Buddhist Church, built in 1912 and destroyed by fire in 1951, has been approved as a California Point of Historical Interest Site through efforts by Takashi Tsujita and the Vacaville Heritage Council. The community continues to hold annual Memorial Day services and plans to dedicate a monument at the former church site.
• UC Berkeley APA Groups Host ‘Teach In’ to Dismantle ‘Asian American’, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. UC Berkeley’s Asian Pacific American Coalition and allied groups held teach-ins promoting the Count Me In Campaign, which seeks to disaggregate university data on Asian American subgroups to reveal educational inequities. The campaign coincided with Governor Schwarzenegger’s veto of a similar state bill, AB 295, which advocates say was necessary to address disparities among APA ethnic groups.

JACL

• Push for Nisei WWII Veterans Stamp Heading Into Last Stretch, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. A grassroots campaign supporting a commemorative stamp honoring Nisei WWII veterans is pushing hard as the U.S. Postal Service’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee prepares to meet and decide the proposal’s fate. Organizers have collected thousands of letters and signatures and gained support from celebrities, politicians, and the national JACL as they hope for approval for the 2010 cycle.
• JAVA Announces First Scholarships in Honor of WWII Vets, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 6. The Japanese American Veterans Association will offer its first memorial scholarships honoring WWII veterans Orville C. Shirey, Jack T. Tashiro, and Douglas Ishio, funded by JAVA members. The scholarships are open to applicants connected to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, MIS veterans, or JAPA members with at least one year of membership.
• JANM Sets Nat’l Conference, ‘Whose America? Who’s American?’, for Denver in July 2008, page 7. The Japanese American National Museum will hold a national conference in Denver in July 2008 examining the 20th anniversary of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the redress campaign, as part of its Enduring Communities project covering five states. Sessions will address redress history and the imprisonment of Japanese Americans by agencies beyond the War Relocation Authority.

In-Depth

• The Voices of the Past are Written on the Walls, by Lynda Lin, page 1. PFC Peter Ota recalls befriending young Okinawan orphan soldiers held as POWs at Fort McDowell on Angel Island during WWII, and worries their stories may be forgotten. The article explores Angel Island’s history as a POW processing site and the wall inscriptions left behind by prisoners, which historians are working to document.
• Fort McDowell: The Writing on the Walls, by Lynda Lin, page 11. This continuation explores Fort McDowell on Angel Island, where German, Italian, and Japanese POWs were processed during WWII, including young Okinawan orphan soldiers remembered by veteran Peter Ota. Historian Dr. Charles Egan discusses ongoing research into wall inscriptions left by POWs, which offer rare firsthand historical records.

National

• With SCHIP Veto, Many APA Children May Be Left Behind, by Lynda Lin, page 1. President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) expansion threatens health coverage for low-income Asian Pacific American children, according to Sherry Hirota of Asian Health Services in Oakland. The piece examines how many APA families fall into a coverage gap, unable to afford private insurance but ineligible for Medicaid, and how advocates are pushing Congress to override the veto.
• A Takei Asteroid, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Actor and community activist George Takei has been honored with an asteroid named in his honor. The brief teaser previews a longer story on the recognition found later in the issue.
• S. Idaho Officials Reject Feedlot Planned Near Minidoka, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. The Jerome County Commission voted 2-1 to reject a proposed 13,000-animal cattle feedlot near the Minidoka Internment National Monument, following testimony from former internees and JACL representatives. The developer, Don McFarland, has 28 days to appeal, and a lawsuit is considered likely by county officials.
• Federal Judge Blocks Court-martial of War Objector who Claims Double Jeopardy, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 3. A federal judge temporarily blocked the second court-martial of Army Lt. Ehren Watada, who refused deployment to Iraq, after his lawyers argued the retrial violated double jeopardy protections following a February mistrial. The Army maintains Watada will receive due process, while his term of service remains unresolved pending the legal proceedings.
• Wisconsin Hunter Found Guilty of Lesser Charge in Hmong Man’s Killing, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 4. An all-white jury convicted James Nichols of second-degree intentional homicide rather than first-degree murder in the killing of Hmong hunter Cha Vang, disappointing his family and Hmong community leaders. JACL’s Bill Yoshino urged Wisconsin prosecutors to pursue a hate crime sentence enhancement given Nichols’ demonstrated bigotry.
• Asteroid Named for Actor George Takei, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 4. An asteroid formerly known as 1994 GT9 has been renamed 7307 Takei in honor of actor and community activist George Takei, joining other Star Trek-themed asteroid names. Astronomer Tom Burbine proposed the name partly in recognition of Takei’s work with JACL and LGBT rights organizations.
• Son of Murder Victims Sets Up Foundation to Help Others, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Tom Ho established The Kwok Wai-Ho Foundation in honor of his father, who was killed in a July attack by teens in Philadelphia. The foundation will provide monetary rewards to help solve crimes against APA victims of violence.
• Apartment Tenants Say Recent Attacks are Race-Based, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Indian tenants in an Edison, New Jersey apartment complex report as many as 50 race-motivated attacks and vandalism incidents, prompting calls for police and mayoral investigation. Only a fraction of incidents have been officially reported, including a September assault that left a victim with a broken jaw.
• Study: Fewer APA Students Getting into their First Choice College, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. A UCLA study finds that fewer Asian Pacific American students are getting into their first-choice colleges, with more coming from low-income backgrounds facing rising education costs. The report is described as the largest compilation of data on APA college students ever undertaken.
• APA Pit Boss’ UAW Suit Signifies the Struggle to Unionize Dealers, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. An Asian Pacific American casino pit boss and his wife are suing the United Auto Workers for $100 million over alleged libel and slander during a union organizing drive at an Atlantic City casino. The lawsuit alleges a supervisor accused pit boss Wayne Chiw of threatening Chinese and APA dealers who might vote to unionize.
• City Council Delays Vote on Measure to Ban China-Made Goods, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Palm Bay, Florida city council members postponed a vote on an ordinance that would ban the city from purchasing goods manufactured in China after failing to secure enough support for a public hearing. The council instead agreed to send a resolution to President Bush urging federal action against Chinese imports.
• ‘Desperate Housewives’ Filipino Joke Draws Criticism; ABC Apologizes, Considers Editing Show, by Lynn Elber, page 5. A scene in the season premiere of ‘Desperate Housewives’ mocking Philippine medical education sparked outrage, an online petition with over 117,000 signatures, and criticism from Philippine government officials. ABC issued an apology and said it was considering editing the episode, while activist Kevin Nadal called for more substantial gestures like scholarships for Filipino Americans.
• Mississippi Vietnamese Community Rely on Each Other, by Associated Press, page 5. South Mississippi’s Vietnamese community, including war refugees Bien Bo and Tuat Nguyen who were reunited after Hurricane Katrina, has shown resilience through communal support following the disaster. Organizations like Boat People SOS and local religious leaders have helped residents cope with the storm’s aftermath, showing few outward signs of lasting trauma despite housing loss and hardship.
• Future of Health Care for Low-Income APA Families Hangs in the Balance, by Lynda Lin, page 13. Following President Bush’s veto of the SCHIP expansion, advocates warn that low-income Asian Pacific American children could lose critical health insurance coverage. Asian Health Services in Oakland and JACL leaders including Floyd Mori and Rep. Mike Honda are pushing for a congressional override, citing the Model Minority Myth’s role in masking APA health disparities.

Commentary

• An Open Discourse, by Steven Yoshida, page 2. A letter writer responds to a previous letter critical of Lt. Ehren Watada, defending Watada’s right to challenge double jeopardy and arguing the Iraq War was built on misinformation. The writer emphasizes that open discourse on controversial topics strengthens community rather than damaging it.
• Letters to the Editor: Re: Gala Dinner and Chicago Drowning, by Art Gorai, page 2. A reader comments on two prior Pacific Citizen articles, praising the JACL’s inaugural awards gala honoring Karen Narasaki and family, and expressing support for JACL Midwest director Bill Yoshino’s efforts to have a Chicago drowning of Vietnamese fishermen investigated as a hate crime. The writer offers to help fund further investigation if needed.
• Reader Supports Name Change, by Don Ino, page 2. A reader expresses support for a potential JACL name change, arguing that as the world progresses toward greater inclusivity, the organization should evolve too. The writer notes uncertainty about whether such a change aligns with the JACL’s original mission and focus.
• Nidoto Nai Yoni: Let it Not Happen Again, by Floyd Mori, page 2. JACL National Director Floyd Mori recounts his visit to Bainbridge Island, the first site from which Japanese Americans were forcibly removed after Pearl Harbor, and describes ongoing efforts to build a memorial there led by Dr. Frank Kitamoto and Clarence Moriwaki. He details legislative efforts to grant the site National Park status and encourages donations to the $5 million memorial project.
• Timelines for Little Tokyo and Tie-Ins, by Harry Honda, page 8. Columnist Harry Honda reflects on the recent controversy over non-Japanese buyers purchasing Little Tokyo properties and offers a historical timeline of Little Tokyo’s development from 1871 to 2000. He connects the neighborhood’s past growth, demographic shifts, and challenges like affordable housing and crime to today’s preservation debates.
• Eko House, by Cheryl Watamura Martinez, page 8. Columnist Cheryl Watamura Martinez describes the Eko House of Japanese Culture in Düsseldorf, Germany, a cultural center offering Japanese arts classes, Buddhist services, and a traditional garden and teahouse. She notes Germany’s surprising tolerance of Buddhism, contrasted with controversy over a nearby mosque, and highlights the center’s popular New Year’s Eve bell-ringing tradition.

Arts & Entertainment

• Justin Lin is Back in the Hood, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Filmmaker Justin Lin returns to independent film with ‘Finishing the Game,’ a Bruce Lee-inspired comedy, after directing studio blockbusters like ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.’ Lin discusses accusations of selling out, his complicated relationship with the APA community, and his strategy of using studio money to fund independent projects.

Sports

• Given a Mulligan, Wie Would Not Have Played This Year, by Associated Press, page 10. Golfer Michelle Wie says her biggest mistake of a disastrous season marked by wrist injuries and a feud with Annika Sorenstam was not taking the year off to heal. Now a Stanford freshman, Wie reflects on balancing academics with golf as she competes in her final LPGA event of the year.
• Yi Practices with Bucks for the First Time, Dodges Age Question, by Associated Press, page 10. Milwaukee Bucks draft pick Yi Jianlian avoided questions about his true age during his first practice and press conference with the team, following rumors he may be older than his listed birth date. Yi, who traveled from Shanghai, participated in his fourth training camp practice and demonstrated improved English skills compared to when Yao Ming was drafted.

Obituaries

• Violet de Cristoforo, Nationally Recognized Haiku Poet, Dies, by Associated Press, page 15. Violet Kazue de Cristoforo, a nationally honored haiku poet who documented the desolation of WWII Japanese American internment camps through poetry, died at her home in Salinas, California. She received a National Heritage Fellowship Award from the NEA shortly before her death and was a longtime advocate for redress and reparations.
• Sheriff Harry Lee Dies at 75, by Associated Press, page 15. Harry Lee, the seven-term Chinese American sheriff of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, known for his blunt style and colorful persona, died of leukemia at age 75. Despite occasional friction with Black community leaders, Lee remained a popular and enduring figure in Louisiana politics until his death just before a scheduled re-election.
• Florence L. Imaizumi Hamada, page 15. Florence L. Imaizumi Hamada, a Bellflower, California resident and WWII-era Women’s Air Force veteran, died October 3, 2007 at age 80. She is remembered for her career with the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools and is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and extended family.
• Seiko Ota Murase, page 15. Seiko Ota Murase, who served as a bridge between Japan and the United States through social work and community activism, died October 1, 2007 in San Francisco following a stroke. She co-founded the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program in San Francisco public schools and is survived by her husband Kenji and their three children.
• Minoru “Min” Sano, page 15. Minoru “Min” Sano, founder of the Berkeley Bears Youth Organization and 1976 Berkeley JACL chapter president, died peacefully on September 24 at age 86 in his Berkeley, California home. He is survived by his wife Yaeko, three children, and three grandchildren, and was remembered for his love of Cal sports, golf, and his dog.

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