Thread: SJ officials square off against "Little Saigon" cr

C'mon, is this America or what? I'm tired of people slicing and dicing this country!

San Jose officials square off against "Little Saigon" crowd
CROWDS CLAMOR FOR MORE BANNERS ALONG STORY ROAD
By Joshua Molina
Mercury News
Article Launched: 07/23/2008 12:37:46 PM PDT



Mayor Chuck Reed and Madison Nguyen, the first Vietnamese... (Karen T. Borchers / Mercury News)«1»

San Jose will allow 18 temporary banners at two gateway locations on Story Road to mark "Little Saigon," the city's planning director tentatively ruled this morning.

Joe Horwedel will issue a formal decision later in the week, but he abruptly called a halt to today's meeting after chaos erupted among the nearly 100 people in the audience.

Several dozen Little Saigon activists walked out of the City Council chambers, shouting "Recall Chuck Reed," and "Recall Madison" Nguyen, after an audience member was not permitted to speak following the end of the designated public comment period.

Mayor Reed and Nguyen, the first Vietnamese American elected to the council, have drawn the ire of activists since controversy arose last year over what to name a Story Road retail area. A recall effort already is underway against Nguyen, who opposed naming the area "Little Saigon."

The city eventually decided not to formally name the area but to allow private banners welcoming visitors to "Little Saigon." Wednesday's administrative hearing centered on a disagreement between Horwedel and activists over the location and number of banners.

Activists wanted 20 of the signs spread out along Story Road, but the city said only 18 should hang clustered near the corner of McLaughlin and Story roads.

The so-called "Community Identification Signs" would be temporary, until the city formally adopts new rules for the installation of banners in retail districts.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9972270?nclick_check=1

C'mon, is this America or what? I'm tired of people slicing and dicing this country!

Once they are done slicing and dicing....just point me to the good ole USA section. If there's anything left.

Little Saigon, Little Mexico, Little Cuba, Little China Town, Little Here and Little Bit There -- Good-Bye America