APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILRESOLUTION NO. _______________C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS AND COUNCILPRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE SHENG THAO RESOLUTIONINCELEBRATIONOFMAY2022ASASIANAMERICANANDPACIFICISLANDERHERITAGEMONTHANDHONORINGASIANAMERICANSANDPACIFICISLANDERSWHOSESERVICEANDLEADERSHIPIN OAKLANDCONTRIBUTETO A MOREVIBRANT AND JUST CITY WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanshavemadeessentialandenduringcontributionstothehistoryofOakland,California,andthenation,helpingtobuild,defend,andstrengthenournation– as farmworkersandrailroadlaborers,entrepreneursandscientists,soldiers,publicsectorworkers,healthprofessionals,communityactivistsandleadersofgovernment; and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanshaveenduredhardships,includingunjustworkingconditions,prejudice,anddiscriminationin someofthedarkesttimesinourcountry’s history, includingtheChineseExclusionAct,naturalizedcitizenshipineligibility, theAlien Land Law, anti-miscegenation laws, and Japanese interment; and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanscontinuetocultivateandadvanceinnovativeknowledge,economicgrowthanduniqueculturalvitalityinthefieldsorart,fashion,business,technology, medicine,science,education,government,law, humanities,sports,andentertainment; and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslandersAmericanshaveledandjoinedalonglegacyofactivismandorganizingin theUnitedStatesin themovementsforcivilrights,immigrants’rights,women’s rights,workers’rights,LGBTQrights,racialjustice,andenvironmentaljustice,muchof whichtookrootin OaklandandthesurroundingBayAreaduringthe1960sandcontinues today; and WHEREAS,Oaklandishometonearly70,000AsianandPacificIslanderAmericans,andAsianandPacificIslanderAmericansareoneofthefastestgrowingethnicpopulationsinCalifornia and the United States; and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanscomprisemorethan17percentofOakland’s populationandrepresentdiverseancestriesthatinclude,butarenotlimitedto,AsianIndian,Bangladeshi,Bhutanese,Burmese,Cambodian,Chamorro,Chinese,Taiwanese,Filipino,Hmong,Indonesian,Iu-Mien,IwoJiman,Guamanian,Japanese,Korean,Laotian,Malaysian,Maldivian,Mongolian,Nepalese,NativeHawaiian,Vietnamese,Okinawan,Pakistani,Samoan,Singaporean, Sir Lankan, Thai, Tongan, and other Pacific Islander; and WHEREAS,therearemanychallengesthatpredominantlySoutheastAsianandPacificIslandermembersofthediverseAsianandPacificIslanderAmericancommunityarefacing,includinghigherratesof poverty, incarceration,healthdisparities,and limitedEnglishproficiency; and WHEREAS,thefederalgovernmentandtheStateofCaliforniaofficiallydesignateMayas “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month”; and WHEREAS,thecelebrationofAsianandPacificIslanderAmericanHeritageMonthoffersOaklandresidentsanopportunitytorecognizetheachievements,contributions,challenges,and history of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans; and WHEREAS,theOaklandCityCouncilwouldliketohonorthefollowingindividualsfortheir contributions to a more vibrant and just Oakland; and WHEREAS,District1 is honoredto recognizeSGI-USAOaklandBuddhistCenterlocatedat3834OpalStreetinNorthOakland.TheCenterispartofacommunityof12millionpeoplein 192countries.DaisakuIkeda,thecurrentPresidentof SGIis a Buddhistleader,peacebuilder, prolificwriter, poetandeducator, aswellasthespiritualfounderofanumberofcultural,educationalandpeaceresearchinstitutionsaroundtheworld.OneblockofOpalStreetwascommerativelyrenamedDaisakuIkedaWayinMay2021andmanyoftheneighborhooddiscussionfacilitatorsarefromAAPIcommunities.TheSGI-USAOaklandBuddhistCenterservesasthephysicalhubforoverathousandSGImembersinOaklandandthousandsmoreintheEastBaywhodiscuss,upholdandpromotetheidealsofpeace,humanity, andcross-culturalunderstanding through informal dialogue with all peoples; WHEREAS,District2 is honoredto recognizeAndrewPark,ExecutiveDirectorofTrybe.Park’s leadershipofTrybeduringtheCOVID-19pandemicoverthelasttwoyearshashada tremendousimpactonourOaklandcommunity, especiallyhouseholdsintheflatlands.Since2020,Trybehasserved9,500familiesandprovided8millionmealsandmealequivalentsintheSanAntonio,Eastlake,Fruitvale,andEastOaklandneighborhoods,tofamiliesthathavebeenprimarilyBlack,Indigenous,andpeopleofcolor. Lastsummer2021,Trybeprovidedsportsprogrammingandsummercampactivitiestoover250childrenandyouth,encouragingchildrenandyouthto beactivewhilelearningnewskillsandconfidencewithsports.Summercampactivitiesalsoincludedcooking,nutrition,andfoodsafety. Trybe’s AmbassadorsplayanimportantroleconnectingwiththecommunityandpromotingsafetyinSanAntonioPark,aswellas supportingcommunityeventsatClintonPark,BellaVistaParkandFranklin.Park’sleadershiphasprovidedcriticalemergencywellnessandsafetysupportto Oaklanders,andDistrict 2 is grateful for his service, vision, and love for our community; and 2 WHEREAS,District3 ishonoredtorecognizeChrisNguon,author, ProgramManageratLincolnFamiliesandconvenorofWestOaklandCommunityCollaborative.Nguon’s strongdedicationtowardsequitableeducationforourstudentsandbringingtogetherresourcesforWestOaklandresidentsvia firmgroundingin culturalcompetencyandincreasingcommunityawarenesscontributestowardsmakingOaklandavibrantandjustcity. District3isgratefulforhis dedication and care to our community; and WHEREAS,District4 ishonoredtorecognizeJubileeFanoTaufete'e,whohasshownherdedicationtohercommunitybysupportingyoungpeopleinorganizingfooddrivesaroundOakland,volunteershertimeattheAlamedaCountyFoodBank,assistsouryouthwithcollegepreparation, and helps organize golf tournament fundraisers for scholarships; and WHEREAS,District5ishonoredtorecognizeBruceVuong,theownerofQualityTechAutomotive.BruceispassionateabouthelpingpeopleandprovidingOaklandresidentsgreatqualitycustomerserviceathisshop.BruceVuongisalsoactivelyinvolvedincommunityToyDrives,charities,SafetyNeighborhoodgroups,andpromotesyouthprogramsattheYMCA.BrucehasalsocontributedtoCouncilmemberGallo’s weekendclean-upworkinDistrict5.Mr.Voungstronglybelievesthatserviceto thecommunityshouldcomebeforeprofitandheisalways pleased that no one is turned away from his business.
WHEREAS,District6ishonoredandproudtorecognizeSimaPatel,aself-madeCEOanddedicatedcommunityleaderwhohasexperiencedalifetimeofgroundbreakingmilestones.AstheCEOofRidgemontHospitalityshehasmorethan30yearsofexperienceinthehospitalityindustry, beginningatage16whenPatelmovedacrosstheoceanfromSurat,Indiatojoinherhusband,Pravin,inOaklandwhereshebeganworkinginafamily-ownedhotel.In1985PatelsowedtheseedsofwhatwouldbecomeherownhospitalityenterprisewhensheandPravinacquiredthelandonwhichtheywouldbuildtheirfirsthotel,TheRegencyInn.In2004, PatelbecamethefirstIndianwomanto chaira nationalorstatelodgingassociationintheUnitedStates,the CaliforniaLodgingIndustryAssociation. In 2016she becamethe firstindustry-electedchairofthenation’sbiggestdestinationmarketingorganization,VisitCalifornia.Today, thefamily-ownedandoperatedcompanyrunsOakland’s HamptonInnDowntownCityCenter, HolidayInnExpress,andHamptonInn&Suites,Alameda’s Home2SuitesByHilton,andMountainView’s HotelVue.ThroughouthercareerPatelhasremainedaninspiringleaderwhosecommitmenttohercommunityisunwavering.LocallyinOaklandshehasnotonlyservedas chairof theIndependentLodgingIndustryAssociationandis an activememberoftheOaklandRotaryClubandtheOaklandAirportAreaBusinessAssociation,butshehasalsosecuredcriticalfundingforVisitOaklandandgainedapprovalforanOaklandTourismBusinessImproveDistrictbytheOaklandCityCouncil.SimaalsoservesontheCaliforniaChamberofCommerceBoardandExecutiveCommitteeandremainsa leaderwithintheIndian-AmericancommunityandfoundedSAAHELI, aglobalonlinecommunityforSouthAsianwomenandhasworked to support human trafficking survivors; and WHEREAS,District7ishonoredtorecognizeNikDehejia,ChiefExecutiveOfficerfortheOaklandZoo,whichislocatedinthebeautifulrollinghillsofEastOakland,inDistrict7.Asa14-yearveteranofOaklandZoo,NikDehejia’sroleasChiefExecutiveOfficerisintegraltoallZoooperations.Nik’spassionforadvancingtheZoointothefuture,bothinwildlifeconservationandasa visitordestination,hasbeenkeytoestablishingOaklandZooasweknowittoday. Amemberof the prestigiousAZAHonorsandAwardsCommitteeandthe AZATrendsCommittee,aswellasa boardmemberoftheRegionalParksFoundation,Nik’s twingoalsof3 TakingActionforWildlifeandover-archingfutureprogressdrivessuccessfulprojectsacrosstheOaklandZoo.HisleadershiphasstrengthenedtheZoo’sfinancialposition,theirrelationshipwiththelocalcommunityandincreasedequityandinclusionacrosstheorganization.Alongwithconservationefforts,heismakingit a priorityfordeeperinvolvementinthelocalandgreatercommunityanddevelopingprogramstoincreaseaccessandinclusionacrosstheOaklandZooasanorganization.UniversalaccesstotheZoo,acrossalldemographicsandcapabilities,ispartofhis vision; and WHEREAS,theAt-LargeCouncilOfficeis honoredtorecognizetheAsianPrisonerSupportCommittee(APSC).APSCprovidesdirectsupportto incarceratedandformerlyincarceratedAsianAmericanandPacificIslanders(AAPI)andraisesawarenessaboutthegrowingnumberof AAPIsbeingimprisoned,detained,anddeported.Basedin OaklandChinatown,APSChasledprogramsinprisons,organizedanti-deportationcampaigns,providedresourcesto “lifers,”anddevelopedculturallyrelevantreentryprogramssince2002.TheseprogramsincludetheROOTSprogram- RestoringOurOriginalTrueSelves– whereAPSCsponsorsa weeklyclassatSanQuentinStatePrisonmodeledafterethnicstudiescurriculum,whichseeksto increaseunderstandingaboutimmigration/refugeehistory, intergenerationaltrauma,leadershipdevelopment,andreentryplanning.Forreentryservices,APSCsupportsformerlyincarceratedAAPIsandothersviapeersupportandmentorship,communityimmersionopportunities,andreentrynavigation.APSCalsoconductsanti-deportationcampaignsforcurrentlyandformerlyincarceratedcommunitymembers,helpingAAPIindividualsgaintheirfreedomfromICE,advocatingfor policychangesto preventor reversedeportations,andsecuringgubernatorialpardons.APSCfacilitatesimpactfulprogrammingandsupportservicestoAAPIsandothercurrentlyandformerlyincarceratedindividualsthroughcommunity-basedreentry services, educational programs in prisons, and deportation defense campaigns; and WHEREAS,theMayor’s Officeis honoredto recognizeDr. RussellJeungforhisoutstandingcontributionsto theAsianAmericanandPacificIslandercommunity. Dr. RussellJeungreceivedaBAinHumanBiologyandaMAinEducationfromStanfordUniversity. AfterworkinginChinaandintheMayor'sOfficeofSanFrancisco,heobtainedhisPhDinSociologyfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeleyin2000.HejoinedSanFranciscoStateUniversity'sAsianAmericanStudiesDepartmentin 2002.Dr. Jeungis theauthorof numerousbooksincluding:FamilySacrifices:TheWorldviewsandEthicsof ChineseAmericans, MovingMovers:StudentActivismandtheEmergenceofAsianAmericanStudiesamongothers.In2020,Dr. JeunglaunchedStopAAPIHate,a projectofChineseforAffirmativeAction,theAsianPacificPolicyandPlanningCouncil,andSFStateAsianAmericanStudies.TheprojecttracksCovid-19relateddiscriminationin orderto developcommunityresourcesandpolicyinterventions to fight racism. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED:ThattheOaklandCityCouncilrecognizesMay2022asAsianAmericanandPacificIslanderHeritageMonthandcelebratesandhonorstheserviceandleadershipofthese individuals and organizations contributing to a more vibrant and just Oakland.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
4 AYES - FIFE,GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO ANDPRESIDENTFORTUNATOBASNOES –ABSENT –ABSTENTION – ATTEST: ASHA REEDCity Clerk and Clerk of the Council of theCity of Oakland, California 5