By Matt Krasnowski
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE (USA)
LONG BEACH – An American-style political dustup is hardly much of a test for Cambodian expatriates in Long Beach, particularly those who survived a genocide that wiped out 2 million of their countrymen.
Still, for many Cambodians here, the dispute over their efforts to create a “Cambodia Town” in Long Beach is a bit baffling.
Cambodian business leaders have proposed that several blocks where Cambodian-Americans own businesses and restaurants be given the designation. It would be a simple but official acknowledgment from City Hall that Long Beach contains the largest concentration of Cambodians living outside the Southeast Asian country, which is also known as Kampuchea.
Some see the designation as a natural addition to the ethnic neighborhood map of greater Los Angeles, which includes the venerable Chinatown and Little Tokyo, as well as relative newcomers such as Thai Town and Little Armenia. Artesia's Little India and Westminster's Little Saigon are nearby.
The Cambodia Town designation, supporters believe, would help revitalize this down-on-its-luck neighborhood filled with weedy sidewalks and dingy strip malls, and attract more business and tourism. In addition, they say, it would help build the morale of a people who, studies show, are suffering from the trauma of late Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's reign of terror in the 1970s.
“This will help bring pride to our community, attract new business and help all of Long Beach,” said Sithea San, chairwoman of Cambodia Town Inc., which is pushing for the designation.
There are concerns about the effect of the designation, even within the Cambodian community. Some worry that it could heighten tensions among local street gangs. Others fear that it could make black and Latino residents in the area feel marginalized.
Cambodians began arriving in Long Beach in the 1950s and 1960s as part of an exchange program between the United States and Cambodia that sent students to California State University Long Beach. Their presence attracted many refugees who fled after the Khmer Rouge's takeover in the 1970s.
An estimated 17,000 Cambodians live in Long Beach, a city of 475,000 people that touts its ethnic diversity. But as demonstrated by a recent hate-crime case in which a group of black Long Beach teenagers attacked three white women, diversity can lead to conflict.
Paline Soth, a local Cambodian community activist and court interpreter, said he worries that the Cambodia Town effort may end up increasing violence between Latino and Cambodian gangs. Soth has urged its supporters to rethink their proposal.
“Just leave it,” Soth said. “I'm afraid some are going to look at it like it's some sort of territorial claim.”
Cambodia Town supporters and the police dismiss the gang concerns, and the group pushing Cambodia Town boasts having black and Latino leaders on its board.
Even so, city officials acknowledge that sensitivity must be shown to other ethnic and racial communities, and some question whether a city designation singling out Cambodians is necessary.
Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga said the proposed Cambodia Town is in a part of the city where other ethnic groups also have had a strong presence.
“It really has been an African-American stronghold, and there is a lot of Latino businesses owned there,” Uranga said.
Mayor Bob Foster said he is “generally supportive” of a Cambodia Town designation.
“But it has to be done so that other communities are involved and they have a say and a stake in the process,” Foster said.
In December, a City Council committee asked that a report be prepared on the feasibility of creating a business improvement district in the neighborhood, as well as defining what Cambodia Town's boundaries should be. The report is due this month.
“We are surprised by (the opposition),” said local businessman Richer San, Sithea San's husband. “We work with all of Long Beach and we believe this will benefit all of Long Beach.”
They acknowledge the official endorsement from the city wouldn't change the area overnight.
Los Angeles recognized Thai Town in 1998, “and they're just starting to talk about a gate, sculpture or something to (distinguish) it,” Sithea San said. “It would be five, six, 10 years (here), but eventually you're going to see a change.”
Cambodia Town backers say they hope the designation would help highlight the achievements of their home country – such as the greatness of Angkor Wat and Cambodia's' other ancient temples. Cambodia Town also would be bound forever to the tragedy of Pol Pot's brutal attempt to turn his country into a peasant farming society, and the toll it took on generations of Cambodians. If it weren't for Pot's reign, the exodus to Long Beach might never have occurred.
The terrors of the killing fields still haunt the Sans and Peter Long, a Cambodia Town backer who wept during a recent interview after telling of the killing of his 12-year-old stepsister on a farm camp. Her body was dumped in a well.
Long, chairman of the Cambodian-American Chamber of Commerce, said Cambodia Town would help community members move on from the horrors of their recent past.
“We want to show that it isn't just the tragedy that makes Cambodians famous.”
Still, for many Cambodians here, the dispute over their efforts to create a “Cambodia Town” in Long Beach is a bit baffling.
Cambodian business leaders have proposed that several blocks where Cambodian-Americans own businesses and restaurants be given the designation. It would be a simple but official acknowledgment from City Hall that Long Beach contains the largest concentration of Cambodians living outside the Southeast Asian country, which is also known as Kampuchea.
Some see the designation as a natural addition to the ethnic neighborhood map of greater Los Angeles, which includes the venerable Chinatown and Little Tokyo, as well as relative newcomers such as Thai Town and Little Armenia. Artesia's Little India and Westminster's Little Saigon are nearby.
The Cambodia Town designation, supporters believe, would help revitalize this down-on-its-luck neighborhood filled with weedy sidewalks and dingy strip malls, and attract more business and tourism. In addition, they say, it would help build the morale of a people who, studies show, are suffering from the trauma of late Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot's reign of terror in the 1970s.
“This will help bring pride to our community, attract new business and help all of Long Beach,” said Sithea San, chairwoman of Cambodia Town Inc., which is pushing for the designation.
There are concerns about the effect of the designation, even within the Cambodian community. Some worry that it could heighten tensions among local street gangs. Others fear that it could make black and Latino residents in the area feel marginalized.
Cambodians began arriving in Long Beach in the 1950s and 1960s as part of an exchange program between the United States and Cambodia that sent students to California State University Long Beach. Their presence attracted many refugees who fled after the Khmer Rouge's takeover in the 1970s.
An estimated 17,000 Cambodians live in Long Beach, a city of 475,000 people that touts its ethnic diversity. But as demonstrated by a recent hate-crime case in which a group of black Long Beach teenagers attacked three white women, diversity can lead to conflict.
Paline Soth, a local Cambodian community activist and court interpreter, said he worries that the Cambodia Town effort may end up increasing violence between Latino and Cambodian gangs. Soth has urged its supporters to rethink their proposal.
“Just leave it,” Soth said. “I'm afraid some are going to look at it like it's some sort of territorial claim.”
Cambodia Town supporters and the police dismiss the gang concerns, and the group pushing Cambodia Town boasts having black and Latino leaders on its board.
Even so, city officials acknowledge that sensitivity must be shown to other ethnic and racial communities, and some question whether a city designation singling out Cambodians is necessary.
Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga said the proposed Cambodia Town is in a part of the city where other ethnic groups also have had a strong presence.
“It really has been an African-American stronghold, and there is a lot of Latino businesses owned there,” Uranga said.
Mayor Bob Foster said he is “generally supportive” of a Cambodia Town designation.
“But it has to be done so that other communities are involved and they have a say and a stake in the process,” Foster said.
In December, a City Council committee asked that a report be prepared on the feasibility of creating a business improvement district in the neighborhood, as well as defining what Cambodia Town's boundaries should be. The report is due this month.
“We are surprised by (the opposition),” said local businessman Richer San, Sithea San's husband. “We work with all of Long Beach and we believe this will benefit all of Long Beach.”
They acknowledge the official endorsement from the city wouldn't change the area overnight.
Los Angeles recognized Thai Town in 1998, “and they're just starting to talk about a gate, sculpture or something to (distinguish) it,” Sithea San said. “It would be five, six, 10 years (here), but eventually you're going to see a change.”
Cambodia Town backers say they hope the designation would help highlight the achievements of their home country – such as the greatness of Angkor Wat and Cambodia's' other ancient temples. Cambodia Town also would be bound forever to the tragedy of Pol Pot's brutal attempt to turn his country into a peasant farming society, and the toll it took on generations of Cambodians. If it weren't for Pot's reign, the exodus to Long Beach might never have occurred.
The terrors of the killing fields still haunt the Sans and Peter Long, a Cambodia Town backer who wept during a recent interview after telling of the killing of his 12-year-old stepsister on a farm camp. Her body was dumped in a well.
Long, chairman of the Cambodian-American Chamber of Commerce, said Cambodia Town would help community members move on from the horrors of their recent past.
“We want to show that it isn't just the tragedy that makes Cambodians famous.”
5 comments:
If there was no agenda from CPP and Phnom Penh money laundrymat,then this designation is good.
Richer San and Sithea San have told halfhearted story to the City Council.They keep real agenda in safe yet. Richer San is a snake in the grass.
The opposition is using fear tactic to poorly argue matter. It has gooten to be an economic downside or political advantage but not the unruly gangster reason.
Afterall in that City Council not are all belong to Democrat or Republican party.
Come to think of it,grow up all side and be respectful to own integrity before venture out. Being assertive to uplift success is a good thing in US attitude.
They are just a bunch of idiots...
I support to have "Cambodia Town".
Here Sithea San said:
“[T]his will help bring pride to our community, attract new business and help all of Long Beach,”
It is the most brilliant project that the Khmers need to push it forward to have "Cambodia Town. Khmers must fight hard to have this town build. At least for a start, then keep expanding the towns. Don't worry about the gangsters. If Khmers surrender before a fight, then how Khmers are going to form a colony?
Forget about the CPP where many are Yuan.
How can Sithea San said that CPP are Yuon. Did she and her husband recently sponsored the visit of a high ranking CPP member in Long Beach.
It's unbelievable.
Quote
The Cambodia Town designation, supporters believe, would help revitalize this down-on-its-luck neighborhood filled with weedy sidewalks and dingy strip malls, and attract more business and tourism.
Unquote
I doubt very much that giving this part of town the official designation 'Cambodia Town' will change the looks or the makeup of this quarter. It all depends on the people who live there. And truly, there are a lot of Hispanics in the area, so is it truly Cambodia Town?
Check out Little Saigon. Hardly any other ethnic group there. In the end, 'What's in a name?', but why not ask all the people living there. The majority rules, right?
Post a Comment