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SuperParty 2008 for David Chiu, SF Supervisor Candidate

2008-10-17 4:19AM / 標準BLOG

I’m joining Rich Pio Roda, Dale Minami, Lovely Dhillon, Brian Wang, Ben Wan, Keesa Ocampo, Genevieve Jopanda and John Lin in co-hosting David Chiu’s biggest and best party and fundraiser supporting his run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors! At a time when the City is facing record crime rates, an ailing economy and fiscal challenges, David (votedavidchiu.org) hopes to bring his experience as a criminal prosecutor, business founder and city commissioner to move San Francisco forward.

The party’s on Thursday, October 23, from 6:30 p.m. at Rich Rio Roda’s Mercury Lounge, 1582 Folsom Street, San Francisco. RSVP on the Facebook listing or on evite.com.

David is running to represent San Francisco’s District 3, which contains many of our city’s most famous neighborhoods — North Beach, Union Square, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Telegraph Hill, Polk Street, Financial District and the Waterfront — and would be the first Asian American to represent the oldest and largest Chinatown in the U.S.

Since this will be our campaign final event before Election Day, David is bringing out the big guns! This bash will feature performances by Brazilian jazz singer Emy Tseng, comedians Joseph Nguyen, Loren Kraut, and Kevin Munroe, and indie/alternative rock band Lumaya, at one of San Francisco’s newest and hippest lounges.

As this is a fundraiser, please bring your checkbooks! This is a competitive race, and your support in this final week before the election will be critical to help bring new leadership to the Board of Supervisors. Donations between $50 and $500 are requested.

We look forward to seeing you there. Feel free to contact Cynthia Wang at cynwang@gmail.com if you have questions.

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One in 3 Asian American Voters Undecided

2008-10-17 4:12AM / 標準BLOG

The National Asian American Survey reveals that 34 percent of all likely Asian Americans voters remain undecided between the two presidential candidates, said APIA Vote in an email today. The survey highlights the potential impact of Asian Americans-numbering 7.2 million eligible voters in 2006-in highly contested and leaning states such as Nevada, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio.

“Our voter mobilization work in contested and leaning states and traditional AAPI states show the tremendous growth in our AAPI population, and how our votes could impact these tight races. AAPIs are emerging as the vote to court,” said Vida Benavides, APIAVote Executive Director.

“The findings indicate that the rate of contact by parties and candidates to this electorate is very low, and might be why so many Asian American likely voters remain undecided. We acknowledge however, the efforts of both presidential campaigns to incorporate AAPI issues; but with twenty days before November 4, we further encourage candidates to continue and expand their AAPI outreach.”

“While we understand that the AAPI constituency is relatively smaller than others, we remind campaigns about the rapid growth of the AAPI population,” said EunSook Lee, APIAVote Board Chair, and executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC). “Most AAPIs are still foreign-born, and naturalizing to citizenship at a far higher rate than other immigrant populations. In southern California alone, NAKASEC registered 10,000 first-time voters, many of them at citizenship naturalization ceremonies,” said Lee.

APIAVote is a national non-partisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of AAPIs in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. APIAVote does not endorse parties or candidates. For more information, please visit www.apiavote.org.

The National Asian American Survey (NAAS), a project of Rutgers, UC-Berkeley, UC-Riverside, and USC, is the first nationwide political opinion poll of Asian Americans, and can be found at: http://www.naasurvey.com.

Asian American & Pacific Islander Voting Statistics in Selected States

Pennsylvania
In 2004, approximately 43,000 Asian Americans voted in Pennsylvania. While this was only 32% of the state’s 135,000 eligible Asian American voters, it was almost 1% of all PA voters, showing that AAPIs can make an impact where only a few points separate the candidates.
APIAVote Partners: APIAVote-PA/APALA, Cambodian Assn. of Greater Philadelphia

Ohio
While AAPI eligible voters make up only .6% of Ohio’s voting population, Ohio is still a toss-up, with recent polls’ spread ranging from a neck-and-neck race to a ten-point difference. In 2004, approximately 25,000 Asian Americans voted in Ohio– 48% of the state’s 52,000 eligible AAPI voters.
APIAVote Partners: OCA-Columbus

Washington
In 2004, approximately 169,000 AAPIs voted in Washington, making up about 5.9% of the state’s 2.85 million votes. Washington’s 300,000 eligible AAPI voters make up 7% of the state’s 4.2 million CVAP (2004). AAPIs could impact the outcome in Washington, with only a few points separating the candidates.
APIAVote Partner: APIAVote-WA

Virginia
In 2004, approximately 45,000 Asian Americans voted, making up about 1.4% of Virginia’s 3.1 million voters.
Eligible AA voters may make up only 3% of the state’s voters, but are still critical to such a tight race. Jim Webb’s won his 2006 race by 7,231 votes, an indication that AAPI eligible voters can impact the outcome in Virginia.
APIAVote Partner: APIAVote/APALA-VA

Nevada
In 2004, 32,000 Asian Americans voted in Nevada, making up about 3.7% of the state’s 871,000 votes.
Nevada has a rapidly growing AAPI population, with a CVAP of 68,000 that could impact the state’s 5 electoral votes. APIAVote Partner: APALA/ One APIA Nevada Coalition

Minnesota
In a state where candidates are separated by about 3 points, AAPIs can affect this state’s results. 59,000 Asian American voters made up 2% of Minnesota voters in 2004, and also made up more than half of the Asian American CVAP, a proportion larger than the national AA average.
APIAVote Partner: Lao Assistance Center

*CVAP= Citizen Voting Age Population
Statistics derived from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey 2004 and from the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

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Wine-Down Wednesdays at Bong Su, XYZ

2008-10-16 6:10AM / 標準BLOG

My pal Kevin Lee is the GM at Bong Su, where on Nov. 12 you can join Wine-Down Wednesdays. Wine-Down starts with a mixer and then an optional Chef Tasting Menu Dinner. There’s also one in October at XYZ.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 @ XYZ Restaurant & Bar @ W Hotel San Francisco, 181 3rd Street, San Francisco. 5:30pm, Mixer @ XYZ Bar – 2nd Fl - Sip on biodynamic and organic wines, handcrafted cocktails and micro brew beers. Pair your selection with organic small bites. 6:30pm, Chef Tasting Menu Dinner @ XYZ Restaurant – 1st Floor - Be the first to preview Executive Chef Paul Piscopo’s fall-inspired menu with farm-to-table ingredients.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 @ Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge | 311 Third Street, San Francisco (At the corner of Folsom Street). 5:30pm, Mixer @ Champa Lounge - Sip on unique wines and exotic cocktails. Pair your selection with modern regional Vietnamese small bites. 6:30pm, Chef Tasting Menu Dinner @ Bong Su Restaurant - Preview Executive Chef Tammy Huynh’s innovative approach to Vietnamese cuisine with contrasting textures and exotic flavors.

Space is limited. Please RSVP to info@andrewfreemanandco.com. Tickets must be purchased at the door: $50 per event includes the Mixer & the Chef Tasting Menu Dinner, or $10 for the Mixer only.

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Back Online

2008-10-14 12:43PM / 標準BLOG

I had to take the site down for a few months because Google started thinking this site was malware infected. I finally re-installed a fresh version of Wordpress and imported the old posts. Will take me some time to put the finishing touches … after Nov. 4 for sure. Now go here.

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Honda, Issa: House should vote for Filipino vets

2008-09-18 4:05AM / 標準BLOG

An op-ed by Rep. Mike Honda & Rep. Darrell Issa:

Sept. 17, 2008 -- Recently, Manuel Braga attended the funeral of yet another friend and World War II veteran.

As the body of James Mijares was lowered into a grave, all Braga, 81, could think was that another friend had died waiting for something he earned that never arrived: the veterans’ benefits the U.S. government promised in 1942.

Braga and Mijares, both Filipinos, fought in World War II under the U.S. flag. Ironically, the weekend of Mijares’ funeral was also the 67th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ordering into service the Armed Forces of the Philippines, an American commonwealth. But the U.S. Congress went back on its promise in 1946 when it passed a bill that specifically yanked benefits from Filipino veterans.

As Congress comes back into session this month, we will have in the House of Representatives one more opportunity to right this wrong. In April, the Senate passed the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act by an overwhelming 96-1 vote, with all the World War II veterans from that chamber standing behind their Filipino comrades.

Now it is our turn in the House. And this is not just about benefits for a few surviving heroes; it is also about our honor as a country and a legislative body. If we are a country of promise making, we should also be a country of promise keeping.

More than 250,000 Filipinos fought, bled and sometimes died next to the soldiers of America’s “Greatest Generation.” Many suffered through the infamous Bataan Death March and many, such as Braga, later served during Japan’s occupation. Braga’s legs were wounded by the Japanese, and he was infected with tuberculosis as he fought a guerrilla war, holding out even after the Japanese Army pushed Gen. Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor, the last American stronghold in the Philippines.

Of all the Filipinos ordered into combat by Roosevelt, only 18,000 are alive today, with each passing day bringing another funeral.

The bill before the House would qualify these men to receive benefits for which other WWII veterans are eligible. It would use the same disability and income formulas for their Filipino comrades.

Those who oppose the bill argue that foreigners would be receiving veterans’ benefits. Let us not forget that, during WWII, the Philippines had been a commonwealth since being acquired by the United States in 1898 during the war against Spain — and that it was made subordinate to the American military.

Most importantly, when these men bled all over the Pacific Theater, they bled for the same cause as our soldiers who came from Kansas and California. They bled because of the same flag and from bullets fired by the same enemy.

Some argue this bill would take benefits away from American veterans. That is not true. The bill is fiscally responsible, paying for itself by closing a loophole that gives double payments to some veterans. The loophole would be closed for future instances but would not revoke benefits from any veteran currently receiving them.

Further, the act actually enhances benefits for other American veterans. Only one-third of its $853 million would restore benefits to Filipino veterans. The other two-thirds would pay for benefits such as adaptive automobile equipment for American veterans with severe burns and would help veterans obtain life insurance.

This bill responsibly refocuses priorities and fixes a mistake we made as a government more than six decades ago. One American virtue is that when we have made mistakes as a country, we have had the courage to fix them. This fix needs to happen soon so that it will be meaningful.

The hourglass has only a few grains left for old heroes such as Braga. He has been fighting for this recognition since 1969, when he joined a group seeking equity. Most in that group, including Mijares, have died waiting.

Funerals are sad enough occasions for Braga. We can, and should, give him the recognition he deserves before it is too late.

Rep. Mike Honda, a Democrat, and Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican, represent California in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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