10/31/2006What do you think about ethnic neighborhood designations
Long Beach Press Telegram (Long Beach, California, USA)
It doesn't take a sociologist to figure out why new immigrants settle in neighborhoods where they have their own shops, grocery stores, restaurants, religious institutions and cultural attractions. Some immigrants prefer to stay in their original neighborhoods; others move on as they assimilate into American society.
Those immigrants who stay do so because that's where they feel most comfortable and secure, or because they can't afford to move. We find Chinatowns in major cities, along with Koreatown in L.A., Little Italy in New York and Little Saigon in Orange County.
Long Beach is home to the largest Cambodian population outside Cambodia, and merchants have turned a rundown section of Anaheim Avenue into a vibrant business district offering just about everything Cambodian immigrants - and tourists - could ask for.
Some in the neighborhood would like to have signs identifying the district as Cambodia Town. After a contentious meeting last week, the City Council referred the proposal to a study committee. Some residents, it turns out, think that a Cambodia Town designation would send a message of non-inclusions to non-Cambodians, be bad for business or tarnish the city's image in ways we cannot imagine. If a non-Cambodian has been turned away from a Cambodian restaurant, we'd like to hear about it.
Last year, a proposal to post a freeway sign for Artesia's Little India was roundly denounced by the Artesia City Council, even though, arguably, the Indian shops and restaurants on Pioneer Boulevard were the best reasons for visiting the city.
What do you think?
Each week we invite readers to give us their opinions on a topic in the news. This week's questions:
In general, what do you think about naming sections of your city for their ethnic attractions? In particular, what are your thoughts about the Little Cambodia designation in Long Beach?
Here's how to respond:
By e-mail, with name and city: question@presstelegram.com
By anonymous phone call: (562) 499-1268
Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. We'll publish as many responses as we can accommodate, Saturday on the Speakout page.
Those immigrants who stay do so because that's where they feel most comfortable and secure, or because they can't afford to move. We find Chinatowns in major cities, along with Koreatown in L.A., Little Italy in New York and Little Saigon in Orange County.
Long Beach is home to the largest Cambodian population outside Cambodia, and merchants have turned a rundown section of Anaheim Avenue into a vibrant business district offering just about everything Cambodian immigrants - and tourists - could ask for.
Some in the neighborhood would like to have signs identifying the district as Cambodia Town. After a contentious meeting last week, the City Council referred the proposal to a study committee. Some residents, it turns out, think that a Cambodia Town designation would send a message of non-inclusions to non-Cambodians, be bad for business or tarnish the city's image in ways we cannot imagine. If a non-Cambodian has been turned away from a Cambodian restaurant, we'd like to hear about it.
Last year, a proposal to post a freeway sign for Artesia's Little India was roundly denounced by the Artesia City Council, even though, arguably, the Indian shops and restaurants on Pioneer Boulevard were the best reasons for visiting the city.
What do you think?
Each week we invite readers to give us their opinions on a topic in the news. This week's questions:
In general, what do you think about naming sections of your city for their ethnic attractions? In particular, what are your thoughts about the Little Cambodia designation in Long Beach?
Here's how to respond:
By e-mail, with name and city: question@presstelegram.com
By anonymous phone call: (562) 499-1268
Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday. We'll publish as many responses as we can accommodate, Saturday on the Speakout page.
4 comments:
I think Little Cambodia is a wonderful idea. There are many khmers there, and also around it, south and north. Little Italy, Little New York was a great way for people to experience some of the culture and mostly the food. Maybe this could be our way to put ourselves and share our wonderful yummy food, clothing and culture with others. =)
I never thought that the gangs problem and the racial tension dominated Little Cambodia issues. I always thought that the real issue deal with Little Cambodia is about economic, safety, and cleanliness issue of Little Cambodia.
A newspapers Cambodian-Vietnamese origin name Serey Pheap help fuel many oppositions and the negativities about the fear of racial tension and the senseless killing by gangsters in Long Beach to stop the creation of Little Cambodia.
Please note that Mr. Narin Kim the owner of Serey Pheap Newspaper don't even live in Long Beach! This guy live in the city of Signal Hill in a Townhouse and what the hell does he know about Long Beach?! If any average Cambodian people have a chance to check out his newspaper advertisement and many of those Business adverstisements are from Long Beach businesses! Who said he doesn't benefit from the City of Long Beach and yet he talked about how other Cambodian people live outside of Long Beach just want to come to Long Beach to make money!
I am just sicken tired of all his negativities about the city of Long Beach! What is so sad about Mr. Narin Kim is that he moved out the city of Long Beach long time ago in the 1980 and he still talk trash about the city of Long Beach! What up with that man?
The City of Long Beach is such a big and beautiful city and there is no place in the city for a narrow minded person like Mr. Narin Kim.
Let us as a community prosper.
Little Cambodian is a cute name. I like that, but please really pay attention to littering problem and sanitation. We could push a few grades higher to create a better standard of town and living. I'm sure everyone would appreciate that.
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