Rose Bird, JACL budget trouble and the Little Tokyo street renaming

Vol. 103, No. 17, October 24, 1986. 8 pages. View this issue

California Chief Justice Rose Bird spoke with the minority press about judicial independence and drew on the Japanese American experience during World War II, including the redress struggle, in Robert Shimabukuro’s front-page report. J.K. Yamamoto looked at how Japanese American groups split over her confirmation. The JACL National Board also met facing a projected cash flow deficit of more than $124,000, and Lynn Sakamoto-Chung reported on falling membership renewals and unpaid redress pledges. In Little Tokyo, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-0 to rename Weller Street for astronaut Ellison Onizuka.

The opinion page took up the JACL election controversy, with columns and letters from Clifford Uyeda, Bob Shimabukuro, Hank Sakai and Jack T. Kakiki, plus Bill Hosokawa on Japanese Americans in public service. Elsewhere were a House vote on Hong Kong immigration, a new scholarship named for Kyutaro Abiko, and a screening of Yankee Samurai, a documentary on the 442nd RCT.

What’s in this issue

National

• Bird: Independent Judiciary Vital to Rights of Minorities, by Robert Shimabukuro, page 1. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird met with minority press members to defend her record and emphasize the importance of an independent judiciary. She drew on the Japanese American WW2 experience to illustrate the value of a judiciary that protects minority rights against majority and political pressure.
• Nakasone Flap May Help Ties With Japan, Young Says, page 2. Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young said Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone’s controversial remarks about U.S. minorities could ultimately lead to better understanding between the two countries. Young compared the episode to mistakes made during the American civil rights movement and noted grievances among Black communities over treatment by Japanese businesses.
• Bill Will Raise Hong Kong Immigration, page 2. The House of Representatives approved an immigration bill on Oct. 9 that would raise the Hong Kong immigration quota from 600 to 5,000 per year. Rep. Norman Mineta said the provision, also included in the Senate bill, is likely to become law and end a longstanding racial bias in immigration policy.
• Bird: Minority Rights (Continued), page 5. Continuing coverage of Chief Justice Rose Bird’s press conference, she argued that control of the court, not the death penalty, is the real issue behind efforts to oust her. Bird also called for greater Asian American representation on the California Supreme Court, citing historical discrimination against Asians in the legal system.

JACL

• Nat’l Board Confronts Budget Problems, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The JACL National Board met Oct. 10-12 facing a projected cash flow deficit of more than $124,000 and unresolved election controversy issues. The board authorized borrowing up to $125,000 and deferred part of an advance to LEC to address the shortfall.
• Falling Renewals and Redress Pledges Seen as Major Factors, by Lynn Sakamoto-Chung, page 1. National JACL received board authorization to borrow up to $125,000 after membership renewals fell below projections, creating a roughly $50,000 shortfall. A direct mail campaign targeting non-renewing members and a New Member Incentive Program were launched to recapture lost revenue.
• National Board Budget Problems Continued, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Details of additional National Board motions were reported, including ending JACL’s affiliation with the Pan American Nikkei Association and approving a 100,000-piece membership mailing. The board also addressed LEC funding issues, including deferment of advances and the resignation of LEC Chair Min Yasui for health reasons.
• JACL Budget Problems: Falling Renewals and Redress Pledges, by Lynn Sakamoto-Chung, page 3. The article continues examining JACL’s financial deficit, noting that outstanding fourth-year redress pledges from chapters, totaling more than $70,000 as of Sept. 30, contributed significantly to the shortfall. A loan from the Endowment Fund and the LEC advance were cited as factors complicating the budget picture.
• JACL Scholarship Named for Pioneer Newspaper Publisher, page 7. A new scholarship honoring Issei pioneer Kyutaro Abiko, founder of the Nichi Bei Times, was established with a $5,500 donation from his son Yasuo and family. The fund will provide an annual $500 award with preference given to agriculture and journalism majors.

Community

• Council Approves ‘Onizuka Street’ in J-Town, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 1. The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-0 to rename Weller Street in Little Tokyo in honor of astronaut Ellison Onizuka. The proposal was opposed by some Weller Street merchants and drew mixed community testimony over historical significance versus honoring a Japanese American hero.
• JA Commissioner Named, by Clayton Fong, page 2. Marilyn Murata-Demetre was appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian as the first Japanese American commissioner of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. She previously served as health and safety manager for the city of Inglewood before joining the Deukmejian administration in 1985.
• Volunteer Tutor to Be Honored, page 6. Akira Suzuki, a 67-year-old volunteer tutor at All Peoples Community Center, will be honored for his work teaching elderly students through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Actress Tamlyn Tomita will present his award at a tribute dinner-dance in Los Angeles.
• County Commends Volunteers, page 6. More than 50 San Mateo JACL volunteers received certificates of commendation from county supervisors board president Anna Eshoo during a September luncheon. Special tributes went to long-serving volunteers Lucy Shin, Mitsuye Muranaga, and Kimi Watanabe.
• A/P Brochure, page 6. The Asian Pacific Planning Council released a new brochure explaining how United Way and Brotherhood Crusade donors can direct contributions to Asian Pacific charities. The brochure aims to increase donations to Asian Pacific community groups.
• Graduate, page 6. Diane Suda, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George Suda of Fresno, was awarded a doctor of dental medicine degree from Harvard University. Her studies focused on the specialized field of endodontia.
• Golden Anniversary, page 6. Fred and Hana Aoyama of Reno, Nevada, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 20. Their children and grandchildren hosted an open house at the family home on Palisade Drive.
• Fremont Symposium to Offer Advice on Tax-Reform Finance, page 7. A financial symposium titled ‘Winning Strategies After Tax Reform’ will be held Nov. 1 in Fremont, sponsored by the Fremont JACL Chapter and JACL Legislative Education Committee. The event will feature financial speakers and a redress update from Rep. Norman Mineta, Grayce Uyehara, and Mollie Fujioka, with proceeds benefiting JACL-LEC.

Commentary

• JAs ‘Going Public’, by Bill Hosokawa, page 4. Columnist Bill Hosokawa highlights several Japanese Americans in Colorado who have built careers in public service, including attorney Melvin Okamoto and various city administrators. He argues this reflects a natural integration process envisioned by WRA director Dillon Myer, noting the JA press often overlooks these stories outside ethnic enclaves.
• Airing Dirty Laundry, by Bob Shimabukuro, page 4. Using an anecdote about a man doing months’ worth of laundry at a laundromat, columnist Bob Shimabukuro defends his practice of publicly discussing JACL’s internal problems. He argues that issues left unaddressed, like unwashed laundry, only fester and cause greater damage.
• No on 64, by Mitsuo Tomita, M.D., page 4. A letter from the Pacific Southwest District Council of JACL announces opposition to Proposition 64, the California AIDS initiative backed by a Lyndon LaRouche-sponsored group. The letter compares the initiative’s fear-based rhetoric to the prejudice that led to Japanese American incarceration during WW2.
• Merit Over Gender, by Hank Sakai, page 4. A letter responds to a prior column about women delegates not voting for women candidates at the JACL convention, arguing candidates should be elected on merit rather than gender or ethnicity. The writer defends Harry Kajihara’s record and criticizes Rose Ochi’s performance as membership vice president.
• Direct Election, by Jack T. Kakiki, page 4. A letter from a JACL member and veteran expresses concern that the JACL presidential election was not conducted fairly, invoking the sacrifices of 442nd RCT soldiers. The writer suggests a re-election ballot be sent to all members to confirm Harry Kajihara’s position or allow a fair resolution.
• Intra-organizational Disputes, by Clifford Uyeda, page 4. Columnist Clifford Uyeda commends the Pacific Citizen for openly covering the JACL election controversy, contrasting it with past eras when such disputes were suppressed. He questions the need for a presidential investigative committee and calls instead for clarifying election guidelines and uniting the organization.

Military & Veterans

• Bird Issue: Are Individual Rights at Risk?, by J.K. Yamamoto, page 5. The article examines opposing views among Japanese American organizations on Chief Justice Rose Bird’s confirmation, with the Japanese American Bar Association supporting her and Japanese American Republicans opposing her. Both sides debate the role of judicial independence versus accountability in protecting minority civil rights, referencing WW2 internment and Alien Land Laws.

Arts & Entertainment

• ‘Silk Screen’ Series Enters Third Season, page 7. The PBS documentary series ‘Silk Screen,’ hosted by actor Robert Ito, returns for a third season showcasing films by and about Asian Americans, produced by the National Asian American Telecommunications Association. The six half-hour programs include works on Japanese American internment, Chinese American laundry workers, and other Asian American experiences.
• ‘Samurai’ Coming to W.L.A., page 8. The documentary ‘Yankee Samurai,’ about the 442nd RCT produced by Israeli filmmaker Katriel Schory, will be screened at the Venice Japanese Community Center on Nov. 1 and 2. The screening is presented by several Japanese American community organizations and chapters.

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