Press-Telegram
City Council decides the proposed district on Anaheim Street requires further review.
By Mira Jang, Staff writer
Article Launched:10/24/2006 11:50:54 PM PDT
LONG BEACH - After a nearly two-hour discussion, the City
Council voted 6-3 to send the Cambodia Town proposal to a council
committee for further review and directed the city manager to obtain
feedback from affected residents and business owners.
Council members Gary DeLong, Bonnie Lowenthal and Suja Lowenthal voted against the measure.
The council was scheduled to decide whether a strip of Anaheim Street
would be designated as Cambodia Town for a six-month trial period.
But Councilwoman Laura Richardson, the author of the proposal, altered
this recommendation and instead asked the council to vote to send the
matter to the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee for further review.
Richardson also requested that the city get more community input and
give the council a report in 90 days. However, Councilwoman Suja
Lowenthal asked the council to approve a measure that would immediately
designate a Cambodia Town without specifying its boundaries. Like
Richardson, she asked the city manager to survey businesses and explore
the possibility of creating a business improvement district and for the
matter to be sent to the Housing and Neighborhoods Committee, which is
staffed by three council members.
Later in the night, after hearing comments from dozens of people,
Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga moved to vote on a motion similar to
Richardson's.
"It's about the people who live there. We need to be considerate of that point," Uranga said.
Councilwoman
Rae Gabelich asked to include in it a possible name change to Cambodian
Culture District or something similar of the "highest quality."
The majority of the council voted in favor of the motion. The matter will return to the full council within 90 days.
Councilwoman
Bonnie Lowenthal stressed the importance of the city recognizing a
Cambodia Town and assured opponents that their concerns will be
addressed.
"I think this designation is terribly, terribly important because that's what gives us official recognition," Lowenthal said.
More than 100 people filled the chamber hall and the council lobby,
some waiting several hours to voice their opinions for or against the
proposal.
Proponents organized carpools from as far away as
Fullerton and Westminster. Donning fluorescent green stickers that read
"Cambodia Town," they expressed their support for the designation.
Melinda Ung, a Cal State Fullerton student, gathered about a
dozen friends and drove 45 minutes to show their enthusiasm. She said
Cambodians throughout the region frequent Anaheim Street for Cambodian
food and shops, and an official designation is the natural next step.
"It'll benefit all of us," Ung said.
Him Chhim, executive director of the Cambodian Association of America, said his biggest fear became a reality on Tuesday.
"The worst-case scenario is a delayed action. We've been waiting
for many years," he said. "We're very flexible about the size and even
the name."
Opponents, however, said designating a Cambodia
Town will increase tension and violence between Cambodian and other
ethnic or race-specific gangs that will view this designation as a
territorial claim.
"This is Long Beach, not L.A. If we have
this, it will raise violence," said Hadassa Jackson, who works to curb
gang activity as an advisory board member to the nonprofit Anaheim
Street CPC.
Maria Lopez said only the people who live in the area really
understand the negative impact that Cambodia Town would have on public
safety.
"Who's going to be there to pick up the pieces?" said Lopez, also an Anaheim Street CPC board member.
Police
officials say a culturally based project like Cambodia Town will have
no effect on gang violence or interracial relations.
Proponents say an official designation will increase tourism and
private investment while instilling pride for the city's large
Cambodian community.
Mira Jang can be reached at mira.jang@presstelegram.com or at (562) 499-1278.