TO: CityCouncil
FROM: AdrianaEberle(Chair),AmyHsieh,MaryKateStimmler,HumanRelationsCommissionInclusion&BelongingAdhocSubcommittee DATE: March22,2023
RE: ReportfromtheHumanRelationsCommissionregardingtheirResearchontheLivedExperienceofAsianAmerican,NativeHawaiiansandPacificIslanders.
BackgroundThisreportonthelivedexperiencesofPaloAlto’sAsianAmerican,NativeHawaiian,andPacificIslander(AANHPI)residentswasmotivatedbytwofactors.
First,thereisalargeandgrowingpopulationofAAHNPIresidentsinPaloAlto:AccordingtotheUSCensus,34.8%ofPaloAlto’spopulationisAsian,whichhasbeenincreasingsteadilyoverthepastdecade.ThereissignificantdiversitywithintheAsianpopulation,withthetopfiveethnicitiesbeingChinese(20.3%),Indian(6.4%),Korean(3.1%),Japanese(1.5%),andFilipino(1%).
Second,duringthepandemic,anti-Asianhatecrimesincreasedsignificantlyacrossthecountry.InMarch2023,theFBIreleasedaSupplementalHateCrimesStatisticsreportthatshowedthenumberofanti-Asianreportedincidentsincreased167percentfrom279in2020to746in2021.
Forthesereasons,alongwithinputreceivedfromtheCouncilandthePolicyandServicesCommittee,theHumanRelationsCommission(HRC)completedareportonthe“LivedexperienceofAsianAmericans,NativeHawaiiansandPacificIslanders.” MethodologyTheHRCInclusion&BelongingadhocSubcommittee(subcommittee)usedthefollowingsourcestounderstandthelivedexperiencesofAAHNPIresidentsbetter:● HumanRelationsCommissionAAHNPISurvey:(Spring2023)○ TheCommissioncreatedasurveytounderstandtheselivedexperiencesanddistributeditacrossthecommunitythroughcommunityleaders,culturalcenters,schoolforumsandgroups,andin-personcanvassing.Onehundredresponseswerereceived,includingsixtranslatedfromChinese.● ListeningSession/PublicComment:○ TheHRCheldalisteningsessiononOctober12,2023.● PaloAltoCommunitySurvey:○ ThePaloAltoCommunitySurvey'sresultswereanalyzedtocomparethemwith thoseoftheHRC’sownsurvey.Thesurveyhad190responsesfrom“Asian,Asian-Indian,andPacificIslander”residents.● AmericanCommunitiesSurveyData fromtheUSCensusBureau:○ TheAmericanCommunitiesSurvey(USCensusBureau)wasanalyzedtosupplementtheseanalyses.Itisimportanttonotethatracial/ethniccategoriesvariedbysource;seefootnotebelow.
KeyThemesFivekeythemesemergedfromHRC’ssurvey.Thesewere(inorderoffrequency):appreciationandgratitudeforlivinginPaloAlto,theneedforgreatervisibilityandcivicrepresentationforAANHPIcultures,experiencesofracismanddiscriminationrecentandhistorical,aneedforgreaterrecognitionofthediversitywithinAANHPIcultures,andculturaltensionswithinPaloAltoUnifiedSchoolDistrict(PAUSD).Thesearealldescribedindetailbelow:
AppreciationandgratitudeforlivinginPaloAlto
ManyAANHPIresidentsmentionedappreciationandgratitudeforlivinginPaloAlto,with27outof81responsesmentioningit.Commentslike“Enjoybeingpartofthecommunity”and“Greatplacetoliveandseefamilythrive”suggestthatmanyresidentsappreciatelifeinourcity.
Similarly,inthePaloAltoCommunitySurvey,93%ofAsian,AsianIndian,andPacificIslanderresidentssaidtheywouldrecommendthecityasaplacetolive,and85%wouldrecommendthecityasaplacetoliveifsomeoneasked(bothoftheseresponsesaremorefavorableforAsianpopulationsthanfornon-Asianpopulations).
Needforgreatervisibilityandcivicrepresentation
ManyAANHPIresidentsmentionedtheneedforgreatervisibilityandcivicrepresentation(17outof81comments).Thefeelingofbeingunder-representedinlocalcityculturaleventswassimilarlyreflectedinthePaloAltoCommunitySurvey,whereAsian,AsianIndian,andPacificIslanderresidentsreportedlowersatisfactionwithrecreationprogramsandclasses(52%favorable,-17%vs.whiteresidents),city-sponsoredspecialevents(43%favorable,-14%vs.whiterespondents),opportunitiestoattendcultural/arts/musicactivities(63%favorable,-9%vs.whiterespondents),andartsprogramsandtheater(52%favorable,-8%vswhiterespondents).InthePaloAltoCommunitySurvey,themostsignificantgapbetweenAsianandwhiteresponsesisintheratingofadulteducationalopportunities(40%favorable,-19%vswhiterespondents).
IntheirHRCSurveycomments,residentsaskedforthefollowing:● Greaterrepresentationingovernment(4comments)○ “Weneedmorelocal leaderstorepresentourcommunity! Equality!” ● Morecommunityresources,especiallyinthelibraries(e.g.,booksinChinese)(4comments)○ “WouldliketohearmoreaboutsupportiveresourcesforAsianAmericans/Paci cIslanders.” ● Moreculturalrepresentationincommunityevents(2comments)○ “35%ofourcityeventsarenotAsianthemed/focused. Wewouldlovetohelpourkidsexperienceourparents' culture, butthatishardwhenmosteventsareTurkeyTrotsandChili Cooko s.”● Greaterrepresentationwithinschoolstaff/teachers/libraries(2comments)○ “ProvidemoreChinesenewspapers/magazines/videosatRinconadalibraryoronline.” Experiencesofracismanddiscrimination, recentandpast
SeveralAANHPIrespondents(14outof81comments)sharedconcernsaboutanti-AANHPIracistattitudesandexperiences,includingrecentandpast,first-handexperiencesandsecond-handexperiences.ConcernsaboutinclusionweresimilarlyreflectedinthePaloAltoCommunitySurvey.Forexample,only52%ofAsian,AsianIndian,andPacificIslandersratedtheopennessandacceptanceofthecommunitytowardpeopleofdifferentbackgroundsfavorably,comparedto61%ofwhiterespondents(althoughinsomesimilarinclusion-relatedsurveyitems,AANHPIresidentswereatsimilarormorefavorablelevelsofsatisfactioncomparedtowhiteresidents).
IntheopentextintheHRCsurvey,respondentssharedpersonalreflectionsontheirexperiencesofracism:● Thegeneralexistenceofracistattitudes(10comments)○ “RacismagainstAsiansisstillarealityinPaloAlto.”● Specificexamplesofrecentdiscrimination(5comments)○ “ThereisacolumnistforthePaloAltoOnlineNewswhohaswrittenthingsthatareveryhurtfultoAfricanAmericans,Asians,andotherpeopleofcolor.“○ Specificexamplesofpastdiscrimination(3comments)○ “Ihaveseenalotofchangesinmy68years.WhenIwasgoingtoWalterHays,mybrotherandIweretheonlyAsiansattheschool.IrememberwhileclimbingonajunglegymatEleanorParkaboypulledthecornersofhiseyesandmadenoisesmimickingtheChineselanguage.“ NeedforagreaterrecognitionofdiversitywithinAANHPI cultures.
Oneminor(8outof81comments)butnotablethemeintheHRCsurveywastheneedtorecognizethediversitywithinAANHPIcultures.Somerespondentscriticizedthesurvey’sattempttounderstandtheAANHPIcommunityasasingularculture:● “Anyattempttounderstandthisasagroupwillfailastheycomprisevery differentcultures,world-views,andpoliticalleanings.”● “Asianisnotamonolithichomogeneousgroup.Therearewilddifferencesinculture,values,beliefsandnorms.It’sfrustratingtobelumpedintoonecategoryAANHPIcommunityisverydiverse,howeveritisstereotypedtobeahomogenousgroup.“Commentsonthisthemeserveasanimportantreminderthatasweactonthefeedback,wemustappreciatethedifferenceswithintheAANHPIcommunityandappealtoseveralcultures.
Cultural tensionswithinPAUSD
Thefinalminortheme(5outof81comments)weheardinboththeHRCsurveyandinpubliccommentwasaconcernaboutculturaltensionswithinPAUSD,especiallyrelatedtodebatesaroundthemathematicscurriculum. Forexample, ● Asawhitepassingperson,IoftenhearpeoplespeakingnegativelyaboutAsianparentsandkidsasiftheydon’t‘belong’orsomehowruintheirchildren’seducationalexperience.● TheywanttotakeawayopportunitiesforstudentstoexcelinSTEMsubjectsanditfeelslikeAsianstudentsaretargetedbytheirnewpolicies.● ThereisanassumptionbytheschooldistrictleadershipthatifanAsianstudentisfeelinganystressordepression(notnecessarilyassociatedwithacademics),itmustbecausedbyacademicpressurefromtheirAsianTigerparents.
AsthesetensionswithinPAUSDarewithintheschooldistrict'sjurisdiction,wehavenotaddressedthemdirectlyinourrecommendationsfortheHRCworkplanbuthaveincludedthemaspartofthelivedAANHPIexperienceswithinourCity.
NextStepsBasedonthefeedbackinthesurvey,theHRCisconsideringupdatingourworkplantoincludethefollowingfiveactionareas:
1. CreateaplantoincreaseAANHPIrepresentationoncitygovernmentboards,commission,andstaff.2. CreateadditionalAsian-centeredculturalevents,potentiallyworkingwithnewhiredstaffDEIandspecialeventsexperts.3. Investigatethepotentialinclusionofmoremultilingualandmulticulturallibraryandotherculturalresources,andcreatingawarenessaroundresourcesthatexist.
4. Researchthepossibilityofmultilingualwayfaringsignage,especiallytorecreationalandculturalresources.
Theprioritizationoftheseactionitemswillbebalancedalongwithotherprioritiesandcityneedsduringourworkplanre-organizationinMay2024.
FootnoteonRacial/ethniccategories:*indicatesthegroupusedtocomparetotherespondentsoftheHRCsurvey. ● TheHRCsurveyhadablanktext“write-in”optionaskingpeople“Howdoyouidentifyyourself?”● DatafromthePaloAltoCommunitySurveyhaddataavailableforfollowing:○ White○ Asian,Asian-Indian,PacificIslander*○ Multiracial/Other○ NotethatBlackwascombinedwithMulti-racialandOtherduetolownumberofresponsestoprotectanonymity● TheAmericanCommunitiesSurveyincludesdataonthefollowing:○ AmericanIndianandAlaskaNative○ Asian*○ BlackorAfricanAmerican○ HispanicorLatino○ NativeHawaiianandOtherPacificIslander○ NotHispanicorLatino○ SomeOtherRace○ TwoorMoreRaces○ White Human Relations Commission
March 2024
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Palo Alto
Asian American, Native Hawaiian,
Pacific Islander (AANHPI)
Lived Experiences
Survey
Contents
1. Introduction/Context
2. Top concerns for AAHNPI Residents (Findings from Palo Alto Community Survey and HRC Survey)
3. HRC Survey Respondent Characteristics
4. Cross Race Comparisons (Palo Alto Community Survey)
Introduction
Survey Goals
This survey was conducted by the Human Relations Commission to more fully understand the lived experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander residents.
Timing
This survey was conducted between May and July 2023.
Method
The survey was shared using word-of-mouth, social media posts, flyers, City enews and community cultural groups/events. There were 100 responses to the survey.
● To address the small number of responses, we supplemented where possible with two additional data sources:
the American Communities Survey from the US Census Bureau (using race/ethnicity category “Asian”) and the 2023 Palo Alto Community Survey (using 190 responses in the “Asian, Asian Indian, and Pacific Islander” race/ethnicity category).
Next Step
The HRC will consider adding four key recommendations to the HRC Work Plan when it is revised in Q2 2024.
Context
In 2022, 34.8% of Palo Alto was Asian*; the majority of Asian residents are Chinese (20.7% of all residents).
Context Source: American Communities Survey (US Census Bureau) Percent of all Palo Alto Residents
Only includes people who identified as one race. 2.2% of residents are Asian and white. ACS 5 year estimate is +/- 2.2%.
American Communities Survey Data
The Asian population has been steadily growing in Palo Alto.
American Communities Survey Data
Context Source: American Communities Survey (US Census Bureau) 17,079
residents
20,977
residents
23,647
residents
%
%
%
What should we know about your experience as an AANHPI individual in Palo Alto? Appreciation and gratitude for living in
Palo Alto.
Need for greater visibility and civic
representation of AANHPI cultures.
Experiences of racism and discrimination,
recent and past.
Need for a greater recognition of
diversity within AANHPI cultures.
Cultural tensions within PAUSD.
There were five recurring themes within responses:
Findings
Number of responses that mention theme (Response can mention more than 1 theme) Source: Palo Alto Community Survey
I feel comfortable in the community.
I feel safe and comfortable living and walking in Palo Alto, I didn't realize the proportion of Asians was so high. Its gone up since we moved here in 1986.
It’s great
Love the diversity
Overall it is great
Enjoy being part of the community
Great place to live and see family thrive!!
I have enjoyed living in Palo Alto and have been treated well.
I feel satisfied so far.
Palo Alto is a great place to live and raise children. We plan to continue to live here after our retirement.
”
The most common theme expressed by
AANHPI residents was a general sense of
gratitude for living in Palo Alto.
27 out of 81
comments
1. HRC Survey shows many AANHPI residents have appreciation and gratitude for living in Palo Alto.
“
Findings Source: HRC Survey
1. Community Survey results similarly show that AANHPI residents have high levels of appreciation for the city.
Findings
93% of Asian respondents would recommend Palo Alto as a place to live (+1% compared to white respondents)
85% of Asian respondents would recommend living in Palo Alto if someone asked (+10% compared to white respondents)
Due to low n-counts for other races/ethnicities, only white and Asian respondents responses were available from comparison.
Source: Palo Alto Community Survey
We need more local leaders to represent our community! Equality! It would be nice to see representation in different places of city government and school admissions.
We do not have enough representation in the government.
Sometimes feel like we don’t see enough cultural events or representation in media at Paly. Would like to hear more about supportive resources for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.
35% of our city events are not Asian themed/focused. We would love to help our kids experience our parents culture but that is hard when most events are Turkey Trots and Chili Cookoffs.
Provide more Chinese newspaper/magazines/videos at Rinconada library or online.
Palo Alto is not very diverse. Suggest adding more cultural programs, more communication to decrease AAPHI hate problem.
I think the community can provide more Chinese signs for Senior Chinese person, such as bus station, public parks, etc.
”
17 out of 81
comments
2. HRC Survey shows a greater visibility and civic representation of AANHPI cultures.
The second most common theme was a need
for greater visibility and appreciation for AANHPI
residents and their culture, including:
● Greater representation in government (4
comments)
● More community resources, especially in
the libraries (e.g. books in Chinese) (4
comments)
● More cultural representation in
community events (2 comments)
● Greater representation within school
staff/teachers/libraries. (2 comments)
“
Findings Source: HRC Survey
2. The Community Survey also shows a need for greater visibility and civic representation of AANHPI cultures.
Findings
-17% vs white respondents
-14% vs white respondents
-9% vs white respondents
-8% vs white respondents
Due to low n-counts for other races/ethnicities, only white and Asian respondents responses were available from comparison. -19% vs white respondents
Source: Palo Alto Community Survey
“
”
14 out of 81
comments
3. The HRC Survey shows experiences of racism and discrimination, recent and past.
Respondents mentioned the general existence
of racist attitudes (10 comments), specific
recent incidents (5 comments) and some past
incidents (3).
There is still some racial discrimination against (immigrant) Chinese people.
Racism against Asians is still a reality in Palo Alto.
Enjoy the cultural diversity and open-mindedness of most people but there are always some who don’t appreciate it and those who aren’t open to sharing.
There is a columnist for the Palo Alto Online News that has written things that are very hurtful to African Americans, Asians, and other people of color.
It feels like the Southeast Asian community and Islander community are largely viewed as "the help". I don't think there is any inherent racial bias, but the economic entry point to the city pretty much guarantee that Palo Altans are only learning about their wealthy neighbors instead of other Asian cultures.
My experience has not resulted in any ethnic prejudices, but I was upset when I heard about the Asian mailman that was verbally accosted a few years ago on Ross Road.
I have seen a lot of changes in my 68 years. When I was going to Walter Hays, my brother and I were the only Asians at the school. I remember while climbing on a jungle gym at Eleanore Park a boy pulled the corners of his eyes and made noises mimicking the Chinese language. I was probably 10 or so. But that's the only negative experience that I remember while growing up in PA.
Findings Source: HRC Survey
3. Feedback in the Community Survey also shows some evidence of discrimination among Asian, Asian Indian and Pacific Islander residents.
Findings
Due to low n-counts for other races/ethnicities, only white and Asian respondents responses were available from comparison.
Ratings of Community
Ratings of City Govt
-9% vs White respondents
+1% vs White respondents
+5% vs White respondents
+8% vs White respondents
Source: Palo Alto Community Survey
“
”
8 out of 81 comments
4. HRC Survey Shows the need for a greater recognition of diversity within AANHPI cultures.
Some residents mentioned the need for a
greater appreciation of the diversity within
AANHPI cultures. Firstly, the term AANHPI is offensive. It attempts to reduce the rich diversity of all the communities defined by the term as if they were a homogenous group.
Any attempt to understand this as a group will fail as they comprise very different cultures, world-views, and political leanings.
Asian is not a monolithic homogeneous group. There are wild differences in culture, values, beliefs and norms. It’s frustrating to be lumped into one category AANHPI community is very diverse, however it is stereotyped to be a homogenous group.
Within AANHPI not only there are cultural differences, but there are inequities experienced between the populations based on the group they represent, class, education, immigration status, generation (how many years lived in US), and darkness of skin
There should be more voices in the world for mixed people.
Findings Source: HRC Survey
“
”
6 out of 81 comments
5. Finally, the HRC Survey included feedback on cultural tensions within PAUSD.
Respondents noted that there are cultural
tensions within PAUSD and different cultural
standards for public education, particularly
around parenting styles (2 comments) and STEM
education (2 comments).
As a white passing person, I often hear people speaking negatively about Asian parents and kids as if they don’t ‘belong’ or somehow ruin their children’s educational experience.
The concept of ‘forever foreigner’ is alive and well in Palo Alto.
Schools in PA feel less welcoming to Asians with the current district leadership. They want to take away opportunities for students to excel in STEM subjects and it feels like Asian students are targeted by their new policies.
I feel that the PAUSD school district demonizes Asian Americans as two-dimensional and as creating academic pressure not only on their own children, but the children of the entire community. There is an assumption by the school district leadership that if an Asian student is feeling any stress or depression (not necessarily associated with academics), it must be caused by academic pressure from their Asian Tiger parents.
We have experienced a very hostile school board that did not take us as parents' feedback when making decisions.
There is an anti-STEM vibe flowing through the PAUSD administration that disproportionately affects Asian kids. The current kerfuffle over multivariable calculus and linear algebra is an example. These are courses primarily taken by Asian kids and the administration decided to initially drop them, and after a big fight has allowed them back in a less than ideal manner.
Findings Source: HRC Survey
Four key ways to build a more inclusive community for Asian residents To be considered for future inclusion in the HRC workplace in Q2 2024 Greater representation
in city government boards,
commissions, and staff
Additional Asian-centered
cultural events
More non-multilingual or
multi-cultural library and
other resources; or
greater awareness of
existing resources
Multilingual wayfaring
signage
Recommendations
There were a wide-range of ways that respondents identified.
The most common ways that respondents
identified where:
● Asian (24)
● Asian American (8)
● Indian (8)
● Chinese American (8)
● Chinese (8)
● South Asian (3)
● American (3)
Some of the unique ways that respondents
identified were: 100% Vietnamese immigrant,
Burmese Chinese, British-Born Chinese, East
Asian American, American Born Chinese,
Filipino-American, AAPI, mixed.Taiwanese and
Chinese American.
Respondent Characteristics Source: HRC Survey
Monolingual English was the most common language of respondents, but several other languages were also spoken.
Language(s)
English only 34
English + other language(s) 58
Chinese* 33
Chinese only 7
Indian Language other than Hindi* 10
Japanese* 8
Spanish* 8
Hindi* 6
Vietnamese* 4
French* 3
*Most speakers also spoke English.
Languages only spoken by one respondent included: Korean, French, Tongan, Samoan, Taiwanese, Filipino, Burmese, Italian, German.
According to American Communities Survey (US
Census), 33% of Palo Alto residents speak a language
other than English at home.
% of all residents who speak a language other
than English at home who speak
Spanish 4%
Indo-European language 11%
Asian or Pacific Islander language 18%
Respondent Characteristics Source: HRC Survey
A large majority of respondents were either young-middle aged adults(25-54) (39%) or seniors (55+) (44%).
What is your age range?
According to 2022
American
Communities
Survey (US
Census), 38.5% of
Palo Alto was
25-54 and 29%
were 37.6% were
over 55%,
suggesting that the
demographics of
respondents
roughly matched
those of the city.
Respondent Characteristics Source: HRC Survey
A large majority of respondents have lived in Palo Alto 10+ years (63%).
How long have you lived in Palo Alto?
Respondent Characteristics Source: HRC Survey
In the Palo Alto Community Survey, “Black, Multi-Racial, and Other” residents have a generally less positive experience compared to White and Asian residents. n=330
n=190
n=46
3 20
66 Cross Race comparison Source: Palo Alto Community Survey In the Community Survey, there is general consensus across racial groups about the areas of our city that need the most attention. Gray boxes indicate that item was not in lowest 12 for group. 3 20
66 Lowest ranked items on Community Survey
across all respondents All Residents White
Asian, Asian Indian,
Pacific Islander
Black, Multi-Racial,
“Other”
Cost of living in Palo Alto 8% 7% 8% 14%
Availability of affordable quality housing 10% 7% 14% 9% Availability of affordable quality mental health
care 17% 17% 15% 21%
Building and planning application processing
services 20% 14% 29% 32%
Availability of affordable quality
childcare/preschool 20% 16% 26% 28%
Ease of travel by public transportation in Palo Alto 23% 25% 19% 19% Variety of housing options 24% 20% 31% 22%
Land use, planning, and zoning 32% 28% 41% 26%
Affordable high-speed internet access 35% 36% 35% 30%
Taking care of vulnerable residents 39% 38% 45% 25%
Code enforcement 40% 36% 45% 44%
Working hard to keep utilities prices competitive 41% 46% 33% 41% Cross Race Comparison Source: Palo Alto Community Survey Unique areas of concern for each racial group: Items were ranked in the racial group’s bottom 12 but not in the bottom 12 for all residents combined. 3 20
66 White
Asian, Asian Indian, Pacific
Islander
Black, Multi-Racial, and
Other
Items that were in the racial
group’s bottom 12, but not in
bottom 12 for the city
overall.
● Employment
opportunities.
● Opportunities to learn
about City services
through social media
such as Twitter,
Facebook, and
Nextdoor
● Adult educational
opportunities
● Treating all residents
fairly
● Value of services for
taxes paid to Palo Alto
● Overall direction Palo
Alto is taking
● Being open and
transparent to the
public
Cross Race Comparison Source: Palo Alto Community Survey