Hurricane relief, a Little Tokyo theater and the Gresham monument debate

Vol. 142, No. 5, March 17, 2006. 12 pages. View this issue

Asian Pacific American victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes were still struggling six months later, and the front page followed how JACL and other groups responded. Lynda Lin reported on a free legal clinic planned for New Orleans in April. She also covered the redevelopment of the Linda Lea Theater in Little Tokyo into the ImaginAsian Center. Gil Asakawa announced the Spring Campaign to expand the paper’s website, and Caroline Aoyagi-Stom reported on students at the University of Illinois at Chicago pressing for an Asian American Studies program.

The national pages covered the sale of San Francisco Japantown’s two hotels, the postponed Gresham monument vote, and a bill by Rep. Xavier Becerra on Japanese Latin Americans. A Day of Remembrance dinner in Fresno and a reservation notice for the April 29 Manzanar pilgrimage ran on page 6. Sports pages followed Ichiro Suzuki and Yao Ming, and page 9 featured a documentary on Megumi Yokota.

What’s in this issue

National

• JACL, APA Groups Reach Out to Hurricane Victims, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Six months after hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast, many Asian Pacific American victims are still struggling to access federal assistance due to language and cultural barriers. JACL and other APA organizations are organizing a free Legal Community Education Clinic in New Orleans in April to help victims navigate the bureaucracy.
• UIC Students Fight for an AA Studies Program, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. More than 16 years after students first demanded it, University of Illinois at Chicago students are still fighting for the establishment of an Asian American Studies program. The Asian American Coalition Committee has created a detailed proposal and timeline and plans a campus-wide sit-in to pressure administrators.
• An ESPN Foul Up, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. During a World Baseball Classic game between Korea and Japan, ESPN used the derogatory term ‘JAP’ as an abbreviation for Japan in its box score, shocking viewers. ESPN acknowledged the mistake but the incident highlights ongoing insensitivity toward historically offensive terms used against Japanese Americans.
• National Newsbytes, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 3. Brief news items cover the sale of San Francisco Japantown’s hotels to a Beverly Hills company without long-term ownership guarantees, proposed federal budget cuts to programs assisting low-income APA students, and plans for a $50 million museum honoring Chinese railroad workers in Carson City, Nevada.
• Wu Receives Racial Harmony Award, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Congressman David Wu received the Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award for his work with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Wu is the first and only Chinese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Yee: Suspicion of Muslims Hinders War on Terror, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Former Guantanamo Bay Muslim chaplain James Yee says the military’s mistreatment of detainees and suspicion toward Muslims discourages American Muslims from helping in the war on terror. Yee, who was once accused of espionage, says the Bush administration needs to better engage U.S. Muslim communities.
• APA Law Officers Honored for Combating Hate, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 3. Sgt. Brian Moriguchi of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Special Agent Quan Vuong received the Helene and Joseph Sherwood Prize for combating hate crimes. Moriguchi has investigated hate crimes and trains Russian officials on combating bigotry through the Climate for Trust Program.
• APIA Alliance Requests Meeting With CBS Radio and KLSX FM Over Carolla’s Racist Remarks, by P.C. Staff, page 3. An alliance of Asian Pacific Islander American organizations is seeking a meeting with CBS Radio executives after radio host Adam Carolla parodied the Asian Excellence Awards using mock Asian language. Despite an on-air apology, the alliance wants further commitments including sensitivity training and educational programming.

Community

• Curtain Comes Back Up on Historic Japanese Theater, by Lynda Lin, page 1. The historic Linda Lea Theater in Little Tokyo, closed for nearly 30 years, is being redeveloped into the ImaginAsian Center, a modern Asian Pacific American entertainment and cultural venue. The $2 million project will include a theater, pan-Asian cafe, and karaoke rooms.
• Last Call for Submissions for San Jose Japantown Book, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A history book about San Jose Japantown, one of the last remaining Japantowns in its original location, is nearing completion after years of interviews and photo archiving by a dedicated team. The committee is making a final call for photos, news clippings, and documents from the community before publication.
• White House Commission Encourages AAPI Seniors to Call Medicare Prescription Coverage Multilingual Helpline, by P.C. Staff, page 6. The President’s Advisory Commission for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is urging AAPI seniors to use the NAPCA Multilingual Helpline to enroll in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage before the May 15 deadline. The helpline offers bilingual assistance in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and English to help seniors find suitable and cost-saving plans.
• Award to Help Playwright Tell JA Story, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The New York JACL is accepting applications for the Ruby Yoshino Schaar Playwright Award, established to encourage playwrights to tell the Japanese American or Japanese Canadian experience. The award honors Yoshino Schaar, a vocal artist and JACL chapter leader who died in 1987.

Commentary

• Spring Campaign: Expanding P.C.’s Online Presence, by Gil Asakawa, page 1. The editorial chairperson discusses the changing landscape of news consumption and announces this year’s Pacific Citizen Spring Campaign, which will fund improvements to the newspaper’s website. He outlines future goals including a members-only area and multimedia content.
• Mainland’s Kansha Project at Bat ‘In Good Conscience’, by Harry Honda, page 8. The column reviews ‘In Good Conscience: Supporting Japanese Americans during the Internment,’ a book by Shizue Seigel documenting non-Japanese Americans who helped JAs during WWII. It highlights several individuals including the Bells, Helen Ely, Pansy Ham, and the Mounts who supported Japanese American families before, during, and after incarceration.

Incarceration & Redress

• Gresham Postpones Monument Decision, by Associated Press, page 3. The Gresham, Oregon city council postponed a vote to honor former mayor Dr. Herbert Hughes with a monument after criticism emerged regarding his ties to an anti-Japanese group during WWII. JACL leaders called for more thorough investigation before proceeding with the honor.
• Rep. Becerra Introduces Bill to Study JLA Internment, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Rep. Xavier Becerra, joined by Reps. Daniel Lungren and Mike Honda, introduced legislation to create a commission investigating the wartime deportation and internment of Japanese Latin Americans. An identical Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Daniel Inouye, marking the 25th anniversary of the original 1981 Commission hearings.
• Blessing, Dedication Ceremony for Bainbridge Island JA Memorial Set For Mar. 30, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Leaders from six faiths will consecrate land for the first phase of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial, commemorating the March 30, 1942 forced removal of 227 island residents. The National Parks Service study could make the memorial a satellite unit of the National Parks System, with over $2.1 million raised toward the $5 million project.
• Fresno Hosts Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Project DOR Dinner, by P.C. Staff, page 6. A Day of Remembrance dinner in Fresno raised over $20,000 for the Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Project, exceeding its $17,000 goal. Justice James Ardaiz delivered the keynote address emphasizing the importance of remembering Executive Order 9066 and the accomplishments of Nisei soldiers.
• Reserve a Seat for the April 29 Manzanar Pilgrimage, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Reservations are open for a bus to the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 29, departing from Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. This year’s theme is ‘Footsteps in the Hallway: The Effect of Internment on America’s Youth.’

JACL

• JACL 2006: An ‘Oasis’, by Ted Namba, page 5. The chairperson of the 2006 JACL National Convention describes the Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Arizona, the venue for this year’s convention, highlighting its golf courses, spa, restaurant, and proximity to Native American cultural sites. He also touts the discounted convention room rate secured for attendees.
• Youth Activities at Convention, by Todd Sato, page 5. The national JACL youth representative previews planned youth activities at the 2006 convention, including trivia games, an Azuki Bean Hashi Race, and a Godzilla-building activity. He encourages youth to attend the Youth Luncheon and workshop and to start fundraising for the trip.

Sports

• China’s Ice Swimmers Splash Their Way Through Winter, by Audra Ang, Associated Press Writer, page 7. In Harbin, China, ice swimmers perform twice-daily shows in a frigid river as part of a winter festival tradition that began in the late 1940s. Enthusiasts claim the practice, mostly popular among retirees, provides health benefits like easing high blood pressure and heart disease.
• Mariners’ Manager Wouldn’t Mind Ichiro Speaking Out Again, by Gregg Bell, AP Sports Writer, page 7. Ichiro Suzuki’s candid criticism of the Seattle Mariners’ direction after a rough season proved beneficial according to manager Mike Hargrove. Suzuki has since taken on a more vocal leadership role with Japan’s national team in the World Baseball Classic.
• Yao Ming Named China’s No. 1 Celebrity in Forbes, by P.C. Staff, page 7. NBA star Yao Ming topped Forbes magazine’s annual mainland Chinese celebrity rankings for the second consecutive year, earning $21.1 million in 2005. His ranking was bolstered by a new five-year, $75 million contract with the Houston Rockets.
• Kim Wins First on Korean Gold at Figure Skating Worlds, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Fifteen-year-old Kim Yu-na upset defending champion Mao Asada of Japan to win the women’s crown at the World Junior Figure Skating Championship, marking South Korea’s first title at a major international skating event. Kim landed five triple jumps including a difficult combination during her performance.

Arts & Entertainment

• One Missing Girl, a Heartbroken Family, Warring Countries and Two Passionate Filmmakers, by P.C. Staff, page 9. Filmmakers Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim spent a year and their own savings making ‘Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story,’ a documentary about a 13-year-old Japanese girl abducted by North Korean spies in 1977. The film, executive produced by Jane Campion, will screen at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

Obituaries

• Hideo Mayeda, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Hideo Mayeda, 78, a Los Angeles-born Nisei and U.S. Army veteran, passed away March 2. He was a member of the Japanese American Korean War Veterans Association and the JACL, and is survived by his wife, sons, brothers, and sister.
• Former Gardena City Councilman Mas Fukai Passes, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 11. Mas Fukai, who served 28 years on the Gardena City Council, died March 5 at age 79 after a lengthy illness. Born in Gardena, he was incarcerated at Gila, Arizona during WWII, served in the U.S. Army, and was remembered as a beloved community leader.
• Margaret Inouye, Wife of U.S. Senator, Dies at 81, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Margaret Inouye, wife of Hawaii Sen. Dan Inouye, died March 13 from complications of colon cancer. She played a prominent public and behind-the-scenes role in representing Hawaii and was credited by the senator for his political career.
• Delbert Wong, First Chinese American Judge Dies at 85, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Judge Delbert E. Wong, the first Chinese American appointed to the bench in the continental United States, died March 10 of complications from a heart attack. A WWII veteran and Stanford Law graduate, he served over 20 years on the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
• AA Journalist Sam Chu Lin Dies at 67 in Burbank, by Associated Press, page 11. Sam Chu Lin, a pioneering Asian American journalist and one of the first AA reporters at a national network, died at age 67 after becoming ill upon arrival at Bob Hope Airport. He was praised for opening doors for Asian American journalists during his decades-long career in broadcast and print media.

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