Viet World Kitchen is a food place but I sometimes digress to discuss political issues. Last month, we started a conversation about the "Little Saigon" naming controversy in San Jose, California. It all started when disgruntled Viet-Americans called Madison Nguyen a
communist because they didn't like her support of "Saigon Business
District" over their preferred "Little Saigon." People took sides, there were generational splits, talk of recalls, and more.
In a nutshell, much has gone awry and the latest developments include the following:
(3/13/08) City of San Jose comes up with a temporary solution and Ly Tong ends his hunger strike. He'd stopped drinking water a little while ago. For more, read the thread below and also the postings at Solving San Jose's Little Saigon Controversy.
(3/4/08) The San Jose Mercury News released some numbers (finally!) saying that last August 2007 the City of San Jose's Redevelopment Agency sent out 1,136 surveys to people living near the stretch of Story Road, asking them what it should be called. Of the surveys sent out, there were 117 responses. Of those responses, 44 surveys were for "Little Saigon." The mayor, who's now being criticized for mishandling this situation, says they should have paused to outreach to people. The newspaper's editorial board calls for the city to end the "ridiculous" situation and name the area "Little Saigon" -- just so everyone can move on. It's a 1-mile strip of road.
(3/2/08) A protest of 7,500 Viet-Americans gathered in front of City Hall to support "Little Saigon."
In light of all the turmoil that this once small issue has created, Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilwoman Madison Nguyen are going to rescind (pull back) the name "Saigon Business District" on March 4. The City of San Jose will not have a costly city-wide vote on the name, and some kind of process will be devised for coming up with a name. This past week, commentary in the San Jose Mercury News has stated things like the situation has become "surreal" with the hunger strike, that the city has become a "laughing-stock" and that it needs to move on.
Perennial showman Ly Tong decided last Friday to eat his last bowl of noodles and go on a hunger strike until the city agrees to name the business-shopping district "Little Saigon" instead of "Saigon Business District," which was what was decided on by the city council. "I'll continue until I die," he says according to a 2/20/08 article in the San Jose Mercury News.
The City of San Jose is going to put the naming issue up to a city-wide vote (the name affects a couple of blocks in District 7, represented by Councilwoman Madison Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American woman to be elected to office)
The controversy has made national headlines in a 2/16/08 piece in the New York Times.
The wh0le thing has escalated into a mess that will unfortunately damage the San Jose Vietnamese American community for a long time, unless a diplomatic solution can be finessed. For 2008 Tet, San Francisco-based journalist and commentator Andrew Lam penned a terrific and insightful piece on the many unresolved issues in the Vietnamese American community. He carefully aired a little dirty laundry but got people thinking about the realities of Vietnam today, the tight relationship between overseas Vietnamese and the Motherland, and how people may come to grips with their anger and sense of loss:
New Year, Old Unresolved Passion: Vietnam and its Diaspora (New American Media, 2/7/08)
Anonymous says
A hunger strike over a name??? Rather like throwing a temper tantrum just because he didn't get his way.
Andrea Nguyen says
Yes, it is inappropriate and makes a mockery out of people who go on hunger strikes for legitimate reasons, for example, political and religious persecution. But the naming of a couple of blocks isn't quite the same cause.
white on rice couple says
I'm finally commenting on this post after 2 days of full conversation with my elders on this matter. After much discussion( often heated but civil), both I and my respected elders are more enriched from our exchange of frustrations, ideals, hopes and opinions. The most surprising and comforting opinion that I was able to gain from this vocal group of older, anti-communist, VERY pro-democratic Vietnamese men (one of which is my own Father), is they do not feel threatened by the proposal of "Saigo
Andrea Nguyen says
Good for you to engage the older men around you in conversation about this topic. I think it's dragged on for too long and we're all getting rather tired of it because it's becoming ridiculous. It's nice to hear how your father thinks about "SBD" -- especially because he lives down there, right? If you could only see the stretch of road they're talking about... it's not particularly impressive relative to Bolsa Avenue in Orange County's Little Saigon.
I wish that there was a vibrant Vietnamese b
white on rice couple says
No, my Father lives Orange County , Little Saigon. But my uncle and aunt live in the heart of San Jose. They feel the same way that my Father does and as I talk to more and more Viet people, SBD is not negatively looked upon. It's a shame that a small minority of voices get so much attention.
I have not been to San Jose yet, but from your descriptions, it certainly needs some revitalizing.
Thanks again for all the great posts updating all Viet current events!
Andrea Nguyen says
Oh, you're getting a great broad range of perspectives. Good for you!
Zach says
White on Rice Couple, obviously you post this before the rally in San Jose on Sunday....you can see now it is no longer just a vocal minority. ABC Channel 7 News reported that they pulled in over 7,000 protestors while San Jose Mercury News reported 2,500. The supporters of Saigon Business District all signed a petition from Que Huong Radio Station, they had 350 signatures, but I think they changed the number to 600 now. Either way, that's very "puny" comparing to the thousands of people that
Andrea Nguyen says
Ah Zach... things are getting heated...
QT Luong says
Regardless of the merit of their cause, the group so-called "San Jose Voters for Democracy" misunderstands the very nature of representative democracy.
As an example, millions marched in the streets to oppose the Iraq war. Yet you do not see *anybody* calling Bush's decision to start that war "undemocratic".
Tuan.
Zach says
Tuan, representative democracy only works if there's a fair number of people representing the group. For example, we are all Americans and representative democracy works for the presidential campaign because everyone is thinking for the sake of America. However, when you're talking about an ethnic group, in this case Vietnamese, and there are 11 council members and only ONE of them is Vietnamese, how is that considered the same as representative democracy? That's the same as saying if you were
Lana Tran says
I hope Little Saigon name wins to put an end to this matter.
Andrea Nguyen says
Yep, it needs to end, Lana.
Josh says
Reasons to continue the protest. 1 – ‘Little Saigon’ has a high chance of winning. Although the city council voted to have the business owners decide the name for the affected area this doesn’t mean that ‘Little Saigon’ has lost. Last Tuesday, a list of nearly 100 business owners around the area signed a petition against ‘Little Saigon’ was presented to the City council. This list isn’t entirely accurate. Many business owners whose names were on Tuesday's list called a Vietname
Tin says
Madison Nguyen had a secret deal with the developer of the Vietnam Town Mall (Lang Tap) on Story Road very early on in April of 2007. Lang Tap wanted to call the it Vietnam Town Business District. She might have wanted a supporter with a lot of ammunition on her side. She had set up a meeting with her, Lang Tap and the redevelopment agency. He even emailed them three designs he wanted. The deal was, 1. RDA will provide $100K for the project. 2. Lang Tap will design the banner and monuments. 3. L
civil says
keep hunger protesting ,Ly Tong .You must keep a promise whick you have made to public .Be a man you must be ,Ly Tong .Be a hero ,Ly Tong ,keep yourself away from food .That's a man .Ly Tong is a proud of Little Saigon's man .Brave to death .Keep promised .
quang says
I personally prefer Saigon Business District as it does carry Saigon , my former hometown and it does not have "Little" in it as this has some negative connotation of the city of Saigon.
With respect to this vocal group of Vietnamese people demonstrating , I believe they do not represent the community. Majority of us do not support them nor condone their actions of militant threats , anticommunist extremism and dirty tactics of labelling anyone who disagree with them communist .
Having said th
civil says
More than 1 million people in San Jose city will say Thanks to Ly Tong .Ly Tong is the guy who can bring democracy back to the city .Let him die in honor .I will build a marble wall with his name on it .
M. T. says
I think this is wrong that we are fighting amongs each other over just a naming issue. Calling people communist is just WRONG. I think we should just stick to the facts and come together in a more professional ways. This is what this country is all about if you have live here long enough. Just because you do not get your way does not mean you should call them names or threaten them. I think that we should concentrate on how we can make the city better as a whole for vietnamese people. Such as he
civil says
If Ly Tong don't die ,democracy won't come back to San Jose .
Let him die .
civil says
More than 1 million people in San Jose silently to Ly Tong .What does it mean ????
Mike says
Stop being a bunch of sore losers.
The city council already made their decision ,accept it and move on.
These people only insisted on their way , trying to impose their way on other people , businesseses , don't really know what democracy is and how to be a law abiding citizen. They still have the third world mentalities .
Remember San Jose 's Vietnamese population is only around 10%. Being raucous and extreme certainly only makes this group of people look bad . I know Vietnamese people can be
Quy says
" don't really know what democracy is and how to be a law abiding citizen. They still have the third world mentalities ."
Civil, do you even think before you speak? What are they doing that's not democratic? what are they doing that's now law abiding?
mike says
I assume Quy addressed me but he used the wrong name.
Let me elaborate on why I made those comments .
1) The demonstrators refused to let the process take care of itself , refused to accept the decision of the city council , which after all was elected by the people of San Jose ... a perfectly democratic process ,should I say. Once you elect the council , they are supposed to represent the people 's voices , all San Jose voters ... I must emphasize , instead of just several thousand demonstrator
pham says
Why does the name "Saigon Business District" (SBD) cause so much protest and anguish?
Because SBD was perceived as a variation of the name "Vietnamese Business District" which was allegedly suggested by the Communist Party in Vietnam. Many Vietnamese people perceived that Councilmember Madison Nguyen received instructions from the Communist Party in Vietnam to name the 1-mile strip "Vietnamese Business District."
Due to strong protest, Councilmember Nguyen hoped by inserting a 'little adjective
Anonymous says
A rose by any other name is still a rose as they say. Starving oneself for such a trivial matter is uncalled for and unnecessary. I often wondered what good would come out of such determined people if they would put their efforts towards constructive causes instead of destructive causes. It's a shame really... maybe Story road should just keep the same name so that our people may continue on as they always have instead of fighting. You would think that after years of war that all we would wan
Andrea Nguyen says
Pham, thanks for the run down of events.
Yep, Ly Tong's campaign hopefully will come to an end soon.
civil says
Little Saigon angel has been waiting for you ,Ly Tong .Are you ready to depart ??.It's been to long to act that way,Ly Tong .City hall is not Hollywood playground ,Ly Tong .
If you don't want to die ,then you don't have to fake .Why do you have to lie ,Ly Tong ?? Do you really love the name Little saigon or it just a game for you to play .Look at your action from the day you begin .I know it is not true anything you have said ,it's just a dirty game .That's all .
I know because there is no way t
Dung says
Very well said .
One more generation removed and all this garbage forgotten.
These demonstrators are really stubborn and such sore losers.
Let 's work on some better cause instead of crying foul like a child asking for candy after candy.
M.T. says
"A rose by any other name is still a rose as they say. Starving oneself for such a trivial matter is uncalled for and unnecessary. I often wondered what good would come out of such determined people if they would put their efforts towards constructive causes instead of destructive causes. It's a shame really... maybe Story road should just keep the same name so that our people may continue on as they always have instead of fighting. You would think that after years of war that all we would want
Anonymous says
Please do not post allegation and similar stuffs here Pham.
Proven evidence and facts only.
Such quote as "allegedly" do not mean anything to us Ameircans. We want fair and balanced viewpoint with any accusation stated being proven and backed up with fact or evidence.
vietguy says
For those of you think that the fight for the name Little Saigon is just a fight for a name, and why make it a big deal, then you are too naive or plain idiot. Think about Rodney King's case back 12-13 years ago, why did the black people made it a big deal. If there is no small vocal group with all those old peoples (that you guys are laughing at) to started with, then the Vietnamese community might never have a voice to ask for our right in the future. And for those of you think that Ly Tong
vietguy says
Oh yeah, if you guys dont think the small vocal Vietnamese group can win this battle, then wait and see. Have respect for the elderly, by slap your faces a few times if the city reverse their decision and give in.
civil says
I slap who told me Little Saigon is my identity .Then i slap whoever label people communist whom disagree with them .Two slaping face for 2 liars .
M.T. says
vietguy,
You are missing the point when I said the quote from Rodney King was that we should be coming together instead of fighting with each other. If our SJPD do what the LAPD do to Rodney King, I will support you all the way. But this is not the case, we are not fight for any kind of valuable cause except what is in a NAME. Don't get me wrong that it mean something to some people but we need to do in a better way. The bottom line is that the decision was made and we need to live with it a
M.T. says
Wow, it is finally over. Here is the link to the news: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8561149?nclick_check=1
Now I support this because someone came up with the funds of their own to ask the Mayor and City council members to put up the signs of "Welcome to Little Saigon", and pay for it.
This is what I am talking about vietguy, whoever is doing this, did it the right way. He has the stakes in it so he can call it whatever he wants. This is a good day for everyone involve. Now we can be at peace a
Andrea Nguyen says
Hi MT, thanks for the link and the support for this site. I'm a professional writer, cookbook author and cooking teacher. But when this topic started simmering, I thought it may have boiled over. Glad to know that the flame was tamed at the end.
Yes, time to move on. Hope the markets and restaurants on Story road will benefit from this.
Long says
The whole thing was a joke! I live in San Jose. Half of my relatives were killed by the communists, the others were killed by US, French during the war.
I hate communists as much as I can hate but what the supporters of little Saigon did were not for the sake of demoncracy.
How many Vietnameses live in San Jose areas? How many showed up for at city hall? Do the math! They keep saying "the voice of the community". Whose voices? I think a lot of young Vietnameses can't even related to the name Sai
M.T. says
Long,
I totally agree with you, I feel the same way. I was in the Thailand refugee camp for 3 years myself before coming to the U.S. in San Jose. I have live here in since 1980.
Like I said in all of my posting, we are NOT fighting for demoncracy here. We are fighting over a naming of business centers. Of which I feel these protesters have no rights to name, in my opinion. As for Mr. Ly Tong, I am lost for words when he said he is doing it for demoncracy? I honestly feel Mr. Ly Tong was tr
sj viet guy says
Many of your posts are oppinions are irrelevant because you don't have enough information to understand the reason why we fight for Little Saigon. Why waste your time with frustration?
You all should go out there and get litteratures from Ly Tong and the people who fight for LS in front of the City Hall and read for yourself and then you make you call after you have enough information. Stop your frustration now and go get some info before you bother with this problem.
vinh says
Ly Tong is a perenial showman who has nothing better to do.
How pitiable and pathetic.Enough said.
M.T. says
sj viet guy,
You are just totally missing the point. I totally agree with Vinh about Ly Tong. Let just stop at that and move on. Life is too short to be bothering with a name. Why don't you and Ly Tong fight for a better cause. You know that Ly Tong and the protestors did not win anything here. The city only approve for sign to be put near by and only temporary for a year now instead of 3 years. As long as someone is paying for the sign NOT tax payers money, I do not care how long it is u
Peter says
I support the name Little Saigon but I do NOT support this vocal group of protesters and their abusive usage of the word DEMOCRACY.
Nor do I support Ly Tong as he proved that he is just clamoring for fame instead of really fighting for a real cause of democracy.
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marlon says
The city council already made their decision ,accept it and move on.
marlon says
The city council already made their decision ,accept it and move on.
These people only insisted on their way , trying to impose their way on other people , businesseses , don't really know what democracy is and how to be a law abiding citizen.
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