JOINT STATEMENT OF SAN GABRIEL VALLEY LEADERS ON THE DILUTION OF THE AAPI COMMUNITY IN DRAFT REDISTRICTING MAPS

JOINT STATEMENT OF SAN GABRIEL VALLEY LEADERS ON THE DILUTION OF THE AAPI COMMUNITY IN DRAFT REDISTRICTING MAPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Farrah Su

CAUSE Marketing and Communications Manager

Phone: (213) 269-5716

Email: farrah@causeusa.org

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021 -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- A coalition of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders and organizations are joining together to raise concerns over California Citizens Redistricting Commission’s draft maps of the San Gabriel Valley (SGV). The draft maps split West San Gabriel Valley cities (WSGV) and East San Gabriel Valley (ESGV) cities with significant AAPI populations into multiple congressional districts. In these drafted commission maps, the AAPI community would face an uphill battle to elect a representative from their own community and reverse four decades of progress by community coalitions  and partnerships.

Splitting the WSGV and ESGV AAPI communities is especially troubling at this time when the AAPI community needs political representation to address issues such as rise in hate crimes, loss of business revenues due to COVID-19 and being unfairly blamed for its cause, and other forms of historical and new forms of discrimination. Both WSGV and ESGV are represented by AAPI women, one Democrat and one Republican, and have been strong advocates for the AAPI community locally and nationally. Losing the ability to elect an AAPI representative in WSGV and/or ESGV would effectively suppress the collective power of the largest and most diverse AAPI community in the country.

The WSGV AAPI community has a strong long-standing cultural identity, which has allowed immigrant AAPI families to have a sense of belonging and seek opportunities for economic success. In WSGV, the cities of Monterey Park, Alhambra, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City, and Arcadia have AAPI majority and should be in the same congressional district. All but San Marino are in the same Assembly and State Senate districts in the draft maps, yet the cities are split at the congressional level in a way that dilutes the political power of the AAPI community. 

A burgeoning AAPI community is identifiable in ESGV by retail plazas with AAPI businesses, AAPI churches and temples, and AAPI language schools. In ESGV, the communities of Hacienda Heights, Walnut, Rowland Heights, and Diamond Bar are currently in a district with  33% AAPIs and in the new maps will be put in a new district with the Gateway Cities that will reduce the AAPIs to 21%, diluting AAPI representation. These communities should remain in a district with neighborhoods that reflect similar economic conditions that may cross county lines into North Orange County and San Bernardino.

As SGV is the birthplace of decades of AAPI political activism, splitting the AAPI community would not only cause a loss of representation locally but nationally as well. SGV representatives have been at the forefront of advocating for issues that the AAPI community cares about at the national level, providing representation for many who do not live in districts with large enough AAPI communities to elect their own representative. This is one of the ways the AAPI community makes its voice heard as the fastest growing population group in the country and must not be diminished.

As the deadline to finalize redistricting maps approaches, we strongly urge the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to right this wrong in the next release of draft maps and protect the right of both the WSGV AAPI community and the ESGV AAPI community to political representation. We also invite community members and organizations to join us in our effort to ensure AAPI representation in SGV and nationally.

Individuals and organizations who have signed on to this statement within the first day (as of December 15th, 2021) are listed below. Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) will release updates in the following days.

Organizations

  • John Bwarie, CEO, Alhambra Chamber of Commerce

  • Tammy Scorcia, President, Alhambra Teachers Association

  • Susan Lew, President, Asian Americans in Action

  • Ron T. Cho and Howard Wang, Co-Chairs, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association, Southern California Region

  • Heng Lam Foong, Director, Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement

  • Michelle Freridge, Executive Director, Asian Youth Center

  • Nicole Williams, Board Treasurer, Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California

  • Vinh Dang, Board Member, Bridge Beyond

  • Samuel Sukaton, Redistricting Coordinator, California Environmental Voters ("EnviroVoters") Education Fund

  • Dr. Juily Phun, Asian/Asian American Studies Faculty, California State University, Los Angeles Asian/Asian American Studies

  • Jesse Chang, Executive Director, Catalyst San Gabriel Valley Incorporated

  • Nancy Yap, Executive Director, Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE)

  • Peter Ng, Chief Executive Officer, Chinatown Service Center

  • Munson Kwok, Chinese American Citizens Alliance - Chinatown Branch

  • Charles Mau, Chinese American Citizens Alliance - Greater San Gabriel Valley Branch

  • Mike Fong, President, Chinese-American Elected Officials

  • Zig Jiang, President, Chinese American Equalization Association

  • Fred Hong, Founder and Chairman, Chinese-American Indonesian Association

  • Gay Yuen, Board Chair, Chinese American Museum

  • Mary Su, Former Mayor of Walnut, Founder, Chinese American Parents Association of Walnut Unified School District

  • Diana Zhao, Vice President, Chinese-American Parents Association of Walnut Unified School District

  • Sherman Lee, Chairman of the Board, Chinese American Professional Association

  • Sherly Ho, President, Chinese-America Senior Association of Southern California

  • Calvin Sung, Board Member, Chinese Association of Walnut

  • Chester Chong, Chairman, Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles

  • Adnan Khan, Chairman, Council of Pakistan / Advisor Committee of the LA County Sheriff

  • Teresa Lin, President, Diamond Bar Chinese-American Association

  • David Fang, President, Hacienda Heights Chinese American Association

  • Marielle Arcana, Co-President, Kalahi Filipino-American Student Organization, California State University, Los Angeles

  • Stacy Kim, Founder and President, Korean-America Circle of Friends

  • Akira Nakano, President & CEO, Artistic Director, Los Angeles Inception Orchestra

  • Paul Isozaki, Treasurer, Monterey Park Japanese American Senior Citizens, Inc.

  • Kristin Fukushima, Coordinating Committee Member, Nikkei Progressives

  • Ed Lew, President, OCA-Greater Los Angeles

  • Myron Quon, Executive Director, Pacific Asian Counseling Services

  • Tony Catagena, Former Mayor of Walnut, Pilipino-American Association

  • Cary Chen, President, Rowland Heights Chinese Association

  • Edward Rendon, Executive Director, San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance

  • Eric Sunada, Executive Director, San Gabriel Valley Oversight Group

  • Jennifer Lee, Co-Executive Director, University of Southern California Asian Pacific American Student Assembly

  • Sun Wei, President, US-China Economic Trade and Cultural Art Association

  • Francis Cullado, Executive Director, Visual Communications

  • James Su, President, West Covina Chinese-American Association

  • Valarie Gomez, CEO, YMCA of West San Gabriel Valley

Businesses 

  • Johnny Phun, Gentre Thomsen, Owners, Ancestral Brews

  • Marie-Reine Velez, Stefanie Lau, Producing Artistic Leaders, Artists at Play

  • Tue Huynh, CEO, Fear for Breakfast

  • Eurie Chung, Producer, Flash Cuts

  • Angela Chang, Chief Strategy Officer, KCAL Insurance Agency

  • Vivian York Fung, Founder and Program Director, Kind One

  • Phong Lau, Owner, N&P Fashion

  • Raymond Sham, President/Shareholder, Raymond Sham, PC - A Law Corporation

  • Panney Wei, C.Ht., CEO, See the Way Consulting

  • Sammy Ng, Owner, Wishfield Commercial Development LLC

Individuals

  • Yvonne Yiu, Mayor of Monterey Park

  • Henry Lo, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Monterey Park  

  • Jeffrey Koji Maloney, Vice Mayor, City of Alhambra

  • Tony Ding, Vice Mayor, City of San Gabriel

  • Stephen Sham, Former Mayor, Councilmember, City of Alhambra 

  • Andrew Chou, Councilmember, City of Diamond Bar 

  • Hans Liang, Councilmember, City of Monterey Park

  • John Tang, Councilmember, City of Rosemead

  • Jason Pu, Councilmember, City of San Gabriel

  • Linda Wah, Trustee, Pasadena Community College

  • Sandra Chen Lau, Governing Board Member, Pasadena Area Community College District

  • Ken Tang, President, Alhambra Unified School District

  • Robert Gin, Board of Education Member District 4, Alhambra Unified School District

  • Thomas Wong, Board President, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

  • Alexander Fung, Chairperson, Monterey Park Economic Development Advisory Commission

  • Ricky Choi, Vice Chair, City of Monterey Park Planning Commission

  • Michael Woo, Former Los Angeles City Councilmember

  • Lily Lee Chen, Former Monterey Park Mayor

  • Adam Milman, Public School Teacher

  • Aiju Baldonado

  • Akemi Mechtel

  • Alan Beadle

  • Albert Young, MD

  • Alex Cena

  • Allen Li

  • Alton Wang

  • Alvin Huang

  • Amanda Wong

  • Amy J. Wong

  • Andrew Chou

  • Andrew Murphy, Korean American Democratic Committee

  • Andrew Truman Kim, National Internship Chair, Asian Pacific American in Public Affairs 

  • Andrew Yam

  • Angela Jay

  • Anna Li

  • Audrey DuBois

  • Barbara Lee

  • Barbara Ngai, Board Member at Large, Monterey Park Democratic Club

  • Beth Baker

  • Betty Sit

  • Brandon Yim

  • Caterina Lungu, Leadership Launchpad

  • Cathy Ta

  • Charlotte Nguyen, Community Organizer, Chinatown Community for Equitable Development

  • Charley Lu, Executive Vice Chairman, I-Chinese American Political Action Committee

  • Christie Li

  • Christina Chang

  • Christina Huynh

  • Christine Lam

  • Christine Tung, San Marino Chinese Club

  • Chloe Chuong

  • Cindy Yee

  • Clarissa Choy

  • Courtney Shojinaga, Communications Coordinator, Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement

  • Craig Kaneshiro

  • Cyndie Chang, Past President, Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

  • Danny Woo, Educator

  • David Yuen, Past President, Chinese American Citizens Alliance - Greater San Gabriel Valley

  • Debbie Milman, MD

  • Denise Menchaca

  • Diane Gin, Chinese American Citizens Alliance  

  • Duke Choi

  • Edmond Pi, MD

  • Edward Yen

  • Eledy Vargas, Senior Program Coordinator, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics

  • Elise Dang

  • Emily Matsumura

  • Erik Jimenez

  • Eugene Moy, National Board of Directors, Chinese American Citizens Alliance

  • Felix Lau

  • Gregory Wong

  • Hannah Geller

  • Hannah Wong, Program Coordinator, CSULA Asian Pacific Islander Student Resource Center

  • Holly Yu, Faculty, California State University, Los Angeles

  • Jackie Pai

  • Jacky Ha

  • Jacqueline Iniguez

  • James Nash

  • James Okazaki

  • Jan Nishida

  • Jane Permaul, Former Executive, Student Affairs, UCLA

  • Janet McIntyre, VP of Programs and Training, Executive Service Corps of Southern California

  • Jackie Wu

  • Janise Ho

  • Jason Han

  • Je-Show Yang

  • Jean Park

  • Jennifer Ho

  • Jennifer Tang

  • Jin Wei Chu

  • Jonathan Yang, Board of Associate Member, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Los Angeles

  • Jonathan Woo

  • Joy Chen

  • Justine Ventura Mejia, Program Manager, CAUSE

  • Kathy Ko

  • Kathy Pham

  • Kerry Lam

  • Kevin Cheng

  • Kevin Hayakawa, Director, Walnut Valley Water District

  • Kevin Ho

  • Kevin Lian

  • Korakot Sarunchartinonth

  • Kurato Sato

  • Kyle Tsukahira , Program Manager, Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement

  • Laura Tejeda

  • Lauren Hokoyama

  • Lenora Hall, Daniel Hall Enterprises

  • Leo Pallares

  • Leonard Lee

  • Leslie Huynh

  • Leslie Toy

  • Lilian Kawaratani

  • Lori Sato

  • Maeley Tom, Founding President, California Asian and Pacific Islander American Legislative Caucus Institute

  • Margarita de Leon

  • Mary Liu, National President, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs

  • Mary Nguyen

  • Maya Lee

  • Michael Wong

  • Milton Liu, Filmmaker, Kulture Machine

  • Moses Lim

  • Nafis Ahmad

  • Noel Madrigal

  • Paul Perez, Asian Pacific State Employee Association

  • Phil Timoteo, Administrative Assistant, Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement

  • Phiona Lu

  • Po Lin Han

  • Po I Li, Jin Wei Chu D.D.S.

  • Rafael Solorzano, Assistant Professor, California State University, Los Angeles, Department Of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies

  • Raymond Xie

  • Richard Leong

  • Rose Scobie

  • Rossana Huang, Vice President, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association, Southern California Region

  • Ryan Duong

  • Sandra Kim, Co-Executive Director, Asian American Justice + Innovation Lab

  • Sandy Kuoch

  • Sarah Bang

  • Shanahan Europa

  • Shannon Wong

  • Sin Fong Han

  • Stan Tsukahira

  • Stephen Ho

  • Steve Lin

  • Steven Yim

  • Suellen Cheng

  • Susan Rodzik

  • Susan Woo

  • Tara Kwan

  • Terrence Ng

  • Therese Hokoyama

  • Tina Wong

  • Trevaughn Christian

  • Trixie Ramoso

  • Vicky To

  • Victor King, University Counsel, California State University

  • Vincent Lai

  • Vivian Chan, CEO, Asian Link Marketing

  • Wen Hong

  • Wendy Cheung

  • Yukio Kawaratani

  • Zenni Duong

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information or to schedule an interview, call (213) 269-5716 or email farrah@causeusa.org.

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