California AAPI communities could come out as winners in redistricting

For better political presentation, district maps must be redrawn every 10 years.

ANALYSIS

In large part, the California's Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities won most of their arguments to keep AAPI communities intact in the new district maps for political representation at all levels -- from school boards to Congress.

On December 20, 2021, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission voted to approve maps for new Congressional, state Senate, and state Assembly districts, shaping who gets to vote together for elected representatives that will fight for their needs, interests, and aspirations. 

Nearly one-third of the state’s 52 new congressional districts would have a majority of Latino citizens of voting age under the new maps, according ot he L.A. Times. That’s an increase of three districts even as California lost a seat for the first time in its history because of a suspected undercount by the U.S. Census.

“As a result of community engagement, California has two majority Asian American districts ... as well as 16 Asian American influence districts, where Asian Americans make up 30% or more of eligible voters," said an analysis by a collaborative of Asian and Middle Eastern advocates. 

One of the big wins for the AANHPI community in the San Gabriel Valley west of Los Angeles. The heavily Asian-American cities of Alhambra, Monterey Park and Rosemead, which were initially placed with a larger Latino district have been joined with the Asian-majority cities of Arcadia, San Gabriel, San Marino and Temple City.

Redistricting maps are not final until the commission takes a final vote on Dec. 27. But Asian American leaders expressed optimism that the west San Gabriel Valley district would stay intact. Legal challenges are expected.

After record-breaking participation in the Census, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) residents throughout the state mobilized to have their preferences heard by the nonpartisan  commission fighting to keep their ethnic communities and neighborhoods intact, which should benefit Rep. Judy Chu who represents the 27th Congressional District.

AANHPI communities could retain their influence in the San Gabriel Valley.

If those cities stay together, that should  also open the possibility for an AAPI candidate for the state's Assembly.

Over the past year, dozens of community and civil rights organizations have worked together in the AAPI & AMEMSA State Redistricting Collaborative to capture their communities’ diversity and interests and develop responsive and equitable district maps. Community members and voting rights advocates participated in over 30 online workshops and coordinated with other statewide organizations, including the Black Census and Redistricting Hub, MALDEF, and the IVE Alliance, led by the Advancement Project, to develop map proposals that empower communities of color as well as communities enduring the impacts of economic and environmental injustices.

The Collaborative issued the following analysis after the final map was revealed:

“AAPI and AMEMSA communities represent nearly 20% of California’s population, the fastest growing among all racial and ethnic groups in the state. Through local and statewide organizing, community members affirmed the bedrock importance of an independent redistricting commission: residents have a platform to share what unites their neighbors and communities and learn from each other to identify district lines that empower those most often disenfranchised and underrepresented by partisan mapping.

“As a result of community engagement, California has two majority Asian American districts and 49 majority Latino districts, as well as 16 Asian American influence districts, where Asian Americans make up 30% or more of eligible voters. As the Commission explored big changes to California’s districts, our communities spoke up to make sure they and their neighborhoods were not divided and that they were in districts with communities who have shared interests and priorities.

“Now that the lines have been set, we and our community partners will continue to work for fair and accessible elections and to increase engagement from California’s diverse and growing AAPI and AMEMSA electorate.”

"As the Commission finalizes its maps, the AAPI & AMEMSA State Redistricting Collaborative continues to talk with community members about what new district lines mean for their civic power and advocacy. While these discussions continue, Collaborative members have identified several highlights as a result of communities’ engagement in redistricting as well as some areas of concern where the Commission maps split or divided communities.

"Sacramento Valley: Supported by AAPI FORCE and Hmong Innovating Politics, among others, communities of interest in Elk Grove and Vineyard were kept whole and with Sacramento County-based districts at all levels of government. With the support of CAIR-CA, Afghan and Syrian refugee communities in Arden-Arcade and Carmichael were also kept whole at all levels of government, a testament to the importance of listening to community testimony that details where they live as opposed to relying on official neighborhood or city lines.

Daly City's Filipino community mainly stayed intact.

"Bay Area: AAPI communities of interest in San Francisco, including Chinatown, Japantown, Richmond, Sunset, Excelsior, Visitacion Valley, Portola, and Bayview, were kept whole at all levels of government. 

"Daly City was also kept whole and with nearby Filipino American communities. Pacific Islander communities in south San Mateo County were kept together at all levels of government for the first time. 

"With the support of Asian Law Alliance, Collaborative members advocated for a near-majority Asian American Congressional district made up of Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Berryessa, Milpitas, and south Fremont. 

"At all levels of government, Centerville, home to a large Afghan community, was kept whole. In San Jose, the Collaborative worked to reduce splits to Little Saigon when a new Latino Voting Rights Act district led to changes to the San Jose Congressional map. 

"AAPI communities and other working class communities in Union City and Hayward were kept together at all levels of government, and with San Leandro at the Assembly level. In Oakland, Korean and Yemeni communities of interest and Asian refugee communities of interest were kept whole at all levels of government.

"In the Senate map, community members remain concerned that the Commission has drawn San Leandro into a Contra Costa County-based district and out of an Alameda County-based district. San Leandro is diverse, with many lower-income residents, and should be with other cities along the 880 corridor.

"Central Valley: Hmong Innovating Politics and Hmong residents in Fresno successfully advocated for their communities to be largely kept whole and together within a Latino Voting Rights Act district, as the community wished. Throughout the redistricting process, Hmong community members noted that being together within that district would empower them due to shared interests and characteristics with their Latino neighbors.

Los Angeles'' Koreatown residents fought for their neighborhood to stay together.

"Los Angeles: Community members mobilized in large numbers to advocate for the Asian American community of interest in west San Gabriel Valley. At the Congressional level, the Commission listened to community voices and united west San Gabriel Valley. At the Assembly level, the Commission determined the Voting Rights Act applies to this area and drew a majority Asian district. In metro Los Angeles, Chinatown, Historic Filipinotown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, and Thai Town are whole at all levels of government, reflecting residents’ definition of their neighborhoods. The Asian American community that spans the southern portion of Gardena and the northeastern portion of Torrance are also together at all levels of government.

"Still, while Carson residents, including the Filipino American community, repeatedly called for Carson to be kept whole at all levels of government and the Collaborative offered proposals to balance a wide range of interests, the Commission split Carson and these communities at the Assembly level.

"Orange County: Supported by OCCET’s leadership, community members in Orange County were able to advocate for improvements to their district maps. Cerritos and Artesia were drawn with south Buena Park, La Palma, and Cypress in Orange County-based districts, keeping AMEMSA communities together. 

"The community of Little Saigon in Garden Grove, Westminster, and Fountain Valley is together, and in the assembly and congressional maps, drawn with other inland immigrant communities. 

"The Korean American community in north Buena Park and northwest Fullerton is also kept together at all levels of government, as are the Pacific Islander communities in Garden Grove and immigrant communities in Irvine and Costa Mesa.

"San Diego: City Heights, which is an essential home for immigrants and refugees resettling in the San Diego area, was previously split into multiple districts at all levels of government. The new lines unite the neighborhood into single districts for Assembly and Senate, and bring more of the growing community into the Congressional district with the historic core of the neighborhood. The new Assembly lines also unite Linda Vista with other neighborhoods that form the major Asian community of interest in San Diego, including Claremont, the Convoy district, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa."

The AAPI & AMEMSA State Redistricting Collaborative includes Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund, Asian Law Alliance, Asian Solidarity Collective, AAPI Equity Alliance (formerly the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council), CAIR California, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Hmong Innovating Politics, Jakara Movement, and Orange County Civic Engagement Table (OCCET).

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd

Lawmaker introduces resolution to honor late community leader Alice Bulos

RAY BUENAVENTURA

Daly City councilmember Ray Buenaventura gives his respect to the late Alice Bulos with a 'mano po.'

One of the most respected leaders of the Filipino American community in Northern California might get a highway named in her honor.
California's Assembly Transportation Committee Tuesday approved ACR 165, a resolution by Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, that designates the Daly City portion of State Route 35 as the Alice Peña Bulos Memorial Highway.

Bulos spent most of her life as a San Mateo resident and a leader who was able to unite the different factions of the community, before she died of heart failure on Oct. 21, 2016 at the age of 86.

“Every May, we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month to commemorate the important contributions Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have provided our country,” said Ting. “With this in mind, it is my honor to recognize Alice Peña Bulos, who is considered the Godmother of Filipino American politics and empowerment. Her career in community organizing epitomizes leadership not just in the Filipino community, but also throughout the state of California. I am proud to represent the district where Bulos’ activism was rooted and her legacy lives on.”

Bulos was born on March 31, 1930 in the Philippines. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social and behavioral science at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she later served as professor and chair of the Department of Sociology. In 1972, she and her family moved to San Francisco and later to Sacramento. 

Over the span of four decades, Bulos dedicated herself to empowering generations of Filipino Americans to amplify their voices through civic participation. Her influence includes serving on the Filipino American Caucus for the California Democratic Party, the National Filipino Women’s Network, and the National Asian Pacific Democratic Council.

In 2006, Bulos was honored as the Woman of the Year for the 19th Assembly District. Her leadership has guided recently-immigrated residents towards building a better life in America. She has worked to address issues ranging from domestic violence, health care, and the US residency application process.

She has been honored as Women Warrior of the Year by the Pacific Asian American Women Bay area Coalition and has been inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame.

In 1993, Bulos became the first Filipino American appointed by a sitting US president to a federal council when then-President Bill Clinton picked her to be part of the National Council on Aging in 1993. Two years later, Clinton called upon Bulos to serve as a delegate for the White House Conference on Aging.

“Throughout her life, ‘Tita Alice’ was committed to opening doors for young Fil-Ams who wanted to enter public service and politics but did not see themselves represented in those places of power. While she is no longer with us, her memory lives on in her family and the numerous friends, supporters, and pupils she inspired over her decades of service,” said the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County, whose members include Daly City and South San Francisco Council members, as well as other prominent San Mateo County Filipino American leaders.

ACR 165 has a few more stops in the legislative process. If it’s signed into law, supporters may raise money for the cost of signage. Non-state funds are required for the creation of all memorial highway signs.

People Acting Stupid: Racist spews hate in Daly City

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

An unidentified woman verbally attacks Filipina American.

ASAM NEWS

FILIPINOS KNOW Daly City, Calif. worldwide as the Filipino American capital of the United States. It is a majority Asian American city with a population of 33 percent Filipino and 15 percent Chinese.

The incident caught on video there at a Lucky Grocery Store shows that racism knows no boundaries.

A woman is seen on camera trying to get under the skin of those customers ahead of her in the checkout line, as well as the cashier.The woman starts out speaking nonsense.

“Look at, honey, Look at honey. Licky, licky.”

It’s unclear what she’s trying to do, but a little later her intentions becomes clear.

“Come on, come on, come on, look at all the groceries they buy. Steal our food. Steal our money, our jobs.”

“So racist, oh my god,” a customer ahead of her responds.

“Got a family to feed,” said another.

“Go back to your country,” the woman responds.

“This is our country,” said a customer.

“You lie, you lie. Just like you got there,” said the racist woman.

“Take our food, Take our jobs. And then they say, oh you’re prejudice. They’re all looking for the dream. Well, screw our dream.”

Danika Aquino explained wny she posted the video online.

“Earlier today our close friends went to our local Lucky supermarket store in Daly City & as they were checking out this old racist disgusting hag was behind them harassing them and making racist comments towards them. This is exactly what America has turned into and we need to put a stop to people like her!”

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Woman is first Filipina American mayor of Daly City.

Juslyn Manalo became is sworn in as mayor of Daly City.

THERE'S AN OLD JOKE shared by the San Francisco Bay Area Filipino community:

"What's a Filipino baby's first three words?"

The answer: "Mama, Papa and Serramonte."

Serramonte is the shopping center located in Daly City, where over a third of its 102,000 residents are Filipino, the highest percentage in the U.S. mainland, according to the U.S. Census.

The city recently installed its first Filipina/American mayor: Juslyn Manalo.

Her Vice Mayor will be Ray Buenaventura, another Filipino/American . Along with Michael Guingona and Glenn Acosta Sylveste, Filipinos make up the majority of the five-member city council.

"This moment is surreal and something special to me,” Mayor Manalo said immediately after being sworn into office by State Assembly Member Phil Ting. “I thank the community and every single person here who put me (in the position).“

Manalo, who won election to the City Council in 2016, was raised in Daly City since she was 8 years old, and has deep roots in serving the community from a young age. Being raised in the multi-ethnic city of Daly City has given Manalo a deep appreciation for diversity.

Early in her career, she became a community advocate providing direct service to the Filipino World War II veterans at the Equity Center in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco, another Filipino/American enclave.. Manalo also managed the Bill Sorro Housing Program (BiSHoP), a program that helped low to moderate income families, find, defend and sustain their housing.

Currently, she is a Community Engagement Associate, building partnerships to create community development opportunities such as affordable housing, jobs, open space, and youth development.

Manalo is not the first Daly City mayor of Filipino descent. The three Filipno/American city council members preceded her.
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