CITYOFOAKLAND
MEMORANDUM
DATE: May11,2023TO: CityCouncilandMembersofthePublicFROM: CouncilPresidentNikkiFortunatoBas,District2SUBJECT: ResolutionRenamingAliceStreetBetweenNinthandTenthStreetTo“SherryHirotaWay”,InHonorOfHerContributionsDedication,AndServiceToHealthEquityForAsiansandPacificIslanderAmericansAndTheBroaderOaklandAndBayAreaCommunity.
DearCityCouncilColleaguesandMembersofthePublic,
ItismyhonortorespectfullyrequesttheCounciladoptthefollowingresolution:ResolutionCommemorativelyRenamingAliceStreetBetweenNinthandTenthStreetas“SherryHirotaWay”PursuanttothePolicyandCriteriaEstablishedByResolutionNo.77967C.M.S.
SherryHirotawasthefoundingChiefExecutiveOfficeratAsianHealthServices,whichstartedin1976fromjustastorefrontinOaklandChinatown.Overthepast47years,Ms.Hirotaledtheclinictobecomethehigh-qualitycommunityhealthcenteritistoday,with12sites,employing450communitymembers,andserving50,000patientsin12languages.
Ms.HirotabuiltapowerhouseofadvocacyandhealthcareequityforAsiansandPacificIslanderAmericans(AAPI)atthelocal,state,andnationallevel.Shefoundedtwoofthenation’sfirstAsian,NativeHawaiian,andPacificIslanderhealthorganizations.ShepioneeredawarenessandlegislationofAAPIhealthneeds,andindoingso,strengthenedalliancesforMinorityHealthandthenation’sattentiontohealthdisparitiesforallpeopleofcolorandtheunderserved.
LeadinginbuildingcoalitionsandpracticingtrueanddeepsolidarityhavebeenmajorcontributionsofSherryHirotatotheunityoftheBayArea’sdiversecommunities.WhetherorganizinginthewakeofbudgetcutsfromProposition13,orthethreatofthe“publiccharge”ruleonnon-citizensaccesstoqualityhealthcare,Ms.HirotahasdiligentlyforgedalliancesandjointadvocacywithNativeAmerican,Latinx,AfricanAmerican,andLGBTQservinghealthcentersandcommunity-basedorganizations.
Ms.Hirota’sleadershipisfeltthroughcommunity-drivenadvocacyandworktopromoteathrivingChinatown.SheorchestratedeffortstoinstalltheCity’sfirst“scramblesystem”topromotepedestriansafetywherenumerouselderlypeopleinChinatownhadbeenhitbycarsandkilled.Ms.HirotawasinstrumentalinalertingBARTtotheenvironmentalimpactandcommunitydevelopmentneedsintheirLakeMerrittBARTStationAreaplans.
I’dliketothankSherryHirotaforbeingadedicatedandexemplaryleader,forheryearsofserviceandcontributionstohealthandcommunityequity,forbeingachamberinthebeautifulheartofourAAPIcommunities,andasisfitting,thelocationofthecommemorativestreetrenaming,AliceStreet— between9thand10thStreets,isintheheartofOaklandChinatown.
I’dalsoliketothankAsianHealthServicesstaffandleadershipforpartneringwithmyofficetospearheadthisefforttocelebrateandhonorSherryHirotawiththiseffort.
Lastly,AsianHealthServicesishostingacelebrationforSherryHirotaonSaturday,July15that5:30pmattheOaklandMuseumofCalifornia.Iinviteyoutojoinmeatthiseventwhenwealsohopetohavethenewsignsinstalled.
Forquestionsregardingthismemo,pleasecontactAmayaLin,SeniorPolicyAdvisor,OfficeofCouncilPresidentNikkiFortunatoBas,[email protected].
RespectfullySubmitted,
______________________________NikkiFortunatoBasCouncilPresident,District2