Injured Japanese American Bicyclist Suspects Hate Motivated Attack
Aki Maehara told the L.A. Times the driver of car that struck him April 29 as he rode an e-bike in the suburb of Montebello, Calif., directed a racial epithet at him before hitting him. The 71-year-old Japanese American professor, who has taught the history of racism in the U.S. at East Los Angeles Community College and the history of the Vietnam War at California State University Long Beach, suffered injuries to his elbow, neck, cheekbones, jaw, hips and lower back. Because he has been harassed in the past while teaching and because he was wearing a full-face helmet that hid his facial features, he told the Times that he believes he may have been the target of a hate crime and shared with the police the name of a possible perpetrator. No arrests have been made.
Suspended H.S. Baseball Coaches Reinstated After Ethnic Taunts at Game
The Pinole Valley High School varsity baseball team’s coaches have been reinstated this month after being suspended following an April 23 game with Albany High School. An Albany High School parent made the accusation that during the game, chants of “Baljeet” — the name a South Asian character from the TV cartoon “Phineas and Ferb” — originated from the Pinole Valley dugout when an Albany pitcher, who is of South Asian heritage went to the mound. When another Albany player — of Chinese heritage — entered the game, he was taunted with, “P.F. Chang, is that you?” and “He can’t see through those eyes.” (P.F. Chang is a Chinese-style restaurant chain.) Following an investigation by the West Contra Costa Unified School District, head coach T’won Blake and assistant coach Will Tipton were reinstated because it could not be determined that the taunts did in fact originate from the Pinole Valley team’s dugout.
Oakland’s Mayor-elect Taps Miya Saika Chen for Chief of Staff Role
Barbara Lee, the mayor-elect of California’s other major city on the San Francisco Bay, has appointed Miya Saika Chen to serve as her chief of staff. Saika Chen’s résumé includes 20 years of local, state, and federal government experience. Lee was scheduled to be sworn in May 20. Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled by voters Dec. 17, 2024. She and three associates were later indicted on charges of bribery, conspiracy, and mail and wire fraud.
Japanese Government Taps Orange County Duo for Spring 2025 Decorations
Kimiko Fujita of North Tustin, Calif., and Makiko Shirai of Santa Ana, Calif., have been named by the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles to receive Spring 2025 Decorations of Japan honors. Fujita, who was one of six honorees recognized May 4 with a Woman of the Year award presented by the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California and the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the JACL, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays. Shirai, who will receive Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, joined the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles on Sept. 1, 1988, serving for more than 35 years until her May 3, 2024 retirement.
UConn Alum Kaitlyn Chen Drafted By, Cut From Golden State Valkyries
Former UConn guard Kaitlyn Chen, a third-round draft pick by the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries, was cut May 14 after she made her professional debut May 6 in Los Angeles in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks. She scored two points in eight minutes of play.
Visual Communications Announces VC Archives Artists in Residence
The Los Angeles-based AANHPI community-based media nonprofit announced its four new VC Archives Artists in Residence. They are filmmaker Mia Barnett, director-screenwriter Derek Benig, filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Habiba Hassaan and storyteller Linda Wei.
Journalist Chan Tapped as USC Annenberg Senior Fellow After CJR Firing
The University of Southern California announced that Sewell Chan will be a senior fellow at the USC Annenberg Center for Communication Leadership & Policy, focusing on the fight for press freedom in the U.S. The news came after reports that the former Texas Tribune editor in chief was fired in April following an eight-month stint as executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review. When Chan was hired, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism Jelani Cobb said, “We could not be more excited about working with him as he charts a new course for the Columbia Journalism Review.”
— P.C. Staff
