asian pacific islander preserve america neighborhoods a...

Celebrating LA’s Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage

Asian Pacific Islander

Preserve America Neighborhoods

A CRA/LA-Community Partnership Project

Defining Asian Pacific Islander Destinations Through Cultural Heritage and Tourism

Think Outside of the Box

Pursue Tangible and Intangible Benefits

Leverage API Community Resources

Discover Ways to Build Public Awareness Be strategic, ambitious, creative,

visionary, flexible, and opportunistic.

Preserve America Neighborhood designation of LA’s 5 API Neighborhoods ~ a highly useful tool in our API community’s tool box. Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, and Thai Town have been designated Preserve America Neighborhoods.

API Preserve America Neighborhoods Project

Los Angeles not only has the unique status in the nation as

home to five Asian Pacific Islander Neighborhoods, but is now

also the only city in the nation with four Preserve America

Neighborhoods.

Promote API Community Pride

MAXIMIZE AND SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE & MARKET API COMMUNITIES

CUTE PHOTOS WORK

CELEBRATE WITH PARTNERS Chinatown Preserve America Neighborhood

Recognition Ceremony

Autumn Moon Festival

Chinatown Central Plaza/CAM LA Dinner

SPREAD THE WORD – SHARE ACHIEVEMENTS Thai Town Preserve America Neighborhood

Recognition Ceremony

Thai Culture Day

Protect and Celebrate API Culture and Heritage.

ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM

Ensure the program’s focus on quality and

authenticity both historically and culturally.

Authenticate

Market

Employ

Revitalize

Interpret

Collaborate

Achieve

Preserve

Remember

Engage

Strategize

Energize

Reach Out

Visualize

Educate

Build & Expand Public-Private Partnerships

Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles

Participating Redevelopment Projects Chinatown Redevelopment Project

Little Tokyo Redevelopment Project

Wilshire Center/Koreatown Recovery Redevelopment Project

East Hollywood/Beverly-Normandie

(Thai Town) Earthquake Disaster Assistance Project

API Preserve America Neighborhoods Project

API PAN Formed in November 2007

2008 & 2009 – Los Angeles City Council Resolutions Adopted in Support of Preserve

America Neighborhood Designation Applications for the 5 API Communities.

January 2009, CRA/LA and the API PAN Coalition awarded $250,000 National Park

Service Preserve America Grant,

April 2009, awarded State Historical Resources Commission recognition for efforts to

protect the historic resources and promote economic stability in L.A.’s five historic API

neighborhoods.

PEOPLE

PLACES

HISTORY CULTURE

IDENTIFY YOUR ARSENAL

Strengthen and Promote API Community Coalitions & Collaboration

ENGAGE & ENCOURAGE BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

CHINATOWN

PRESERVE

AMERICA

COALITION

MEMBERS Friends of Chinese American Museum

(Lead CBO) Chinatown Community

Advisory Committee

Chinatown Business

improvement District

Chinatown Service Center

Chinese America Citizens

Alliance

Chinese Consolidated

Benevolent Association

Chinese Historical Society

of Southern California

Chinese Chamber of

Commerce of Los Angeles

Elderly Indochinese

Americans Association

Evans Community Adult

School

Friends of Chinatown

Library

Hai Nam Association of

Southern California

Historic Cultural

Neighborhood Council

Indochinese American

Political Action Committee

PAMC Foundation

Southern California

Fukienese Association

Teo Chew Association

ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER PRESERVE AMERICA NEIGHBORHOODS CRA/LA’S COMMUNITY PARTNERS

HISTORIC

FILIPINOTOWN

COALITION

MEMBERS

Pilipino American Network &

Advocacy (PANA) Search to Involve Pilipino Americans

(SIPA) (Lead CBOs)

Historic Filipinotown

Neighborhood Council, Inc.

Rotary Club


Chamber of Commerce

Filipino American Service

Group (FASGI)

Filipino American

Community of Los Angeles

Pilipino Workers Center

KOREATOWN

PRESERVE

AMERICA

COALITION

MEMBERS

Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC)

Korean American Federation of Los Angeles

(KAFLA) (Lead CBOs)

Korean American

Chamber of Commerce of

Los Angeles

Korean American

Museum

Korean American Coalition

Koreatown Immigrant

Workers Alliance

Koreatown Organizations

Association

Korean Resource Center

Korean Health Education

Information & Resource

Center

Wilshire Center/Koreatown

Neighborhood Council

LITTLE TOKYO

COORDINATING

COUNCIL

MEMBERS (LTTC Has Over 80

Members. Partial

Members Listing Below)

Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corp.

(Lead CBO) 100/442/MIS WWII

Veterans Memorial

Foundation East West Players

Friends of Little Tokyo

Branch Library Go for Broke National

Education Center Japanese American

Community Services Japanese American

Cultural & Community

Center Japanese American

National Museum Japanese Chamber of

Commerce of Southern

California Little Tokyo Business

Association Little Tokyo Community

Advisory Committee Little Tokyo Residents

Association

Visual Communications

THAI TOWN

PRESERVE AMERICA

HONORARY

COMMITTEE

MEMBERS

Thai Community Development Corporation (Lead CBO)

Thai Town Formation

Committee

Thai Association of

Southern California

Thai Community Arts and

Cultural Center

Thai Town Rotary Club

Thai New Year’s Day

Songkran Committee

Foster New Audiences Strategically develop broad-based support for both private

and public funding opportunities

Gather Your Data & Know Your Facts

Outreach to Private Sector Partners in the Travel Industry

Engage and Introduce Visitors to our Rich & Diverse API Heritage

2009 ECONOMIC TRAVEL IMPACTS FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY

•Travel and tourism is one of the most important “export-oriented” industries in California.

•Total direct travel spending in California was $87.7 billion in 2009.

•Spending by visitors generates sales in lodging, food services, recreation, transportation

and retail businesses – the “travel industry.”

•In 2009, international visitors spent $15.6 billion in California. This represents almost 18 percent of all travel spending in the state.

2009 Preliminary Estimates for Los Angeles County Total Direct Travel Spending was $20.43 billion

Total Visitor Spending at Destination was $16.38 billion Total Direct Employment Generated was 150,500 jobs Total Direct Tax Receipts was $1.213 billion (local and state tax receipts)

Source: California Travel Impacts Report by County 1992-2008, 2009 Preliminary State & Regional Estimates (April 2010), by Dean Bunyan Associates

• Los Angeles welcomed more than 23.8 million visitors.

• Los Angeles was the third ranked destination for overseas visitors.

• Direct visitor spending totaled $11.8 billion.

• Spending by domestic visitors totaled $8.1 billion, while spending by international visitors totaled $3.6 billion.

• 19.3 million domestic visitors came to Los Angeles.

• 4.5 million international visitors came into LA County.

• Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan and Australia were Los Angeles’ top five visitor-generating markets.

• Despite the economic downturn, there was a growth across many of our overseas markets, including the strongest growth in visitors from South Korea, followed by considerable increase in visitors from Philippines, China and Australia.

LOS ANGELES TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS

2009 QUICK FACTS

Source: http://discoverlosangeles.com/business-services/research-and-reports/TOURISMSTATS2010.pdf

http://discoverlosangeles.com/business-services/research-and-reports/TOURISMSTATS2010.pdf







WELCOME

AND

EXPERIENCE

OUR LOS ANGELES

ようこそ

MALIGAYANG

PAGDATING

歡迎 ยนิดีต้อนรับ

BIEN VENIDO

환영

WELCOME TO

LOS ANGELES

BIEN VENIDO ようこそ

BIENVENUE 歡迎

WILLKOMMEN

ยนิดีต้อนรับ

BENVENUTO 환영

ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ MALIGAYANG PAGDATING

ترحيب

HOAN NGHINH

Promote and Market our API Cultural Heritage Festivals and Events

Create/improve attractions, events, and programs that enhance and enliven the visitor’s experience to each of the five API neighborhoods.

CHINATOWN

Los Angeles Chinatown Dragon Parade

LITTLE TOKYO

NISEI WEEK PARADE

70th ANNUAL NISEI WEEK FESTIVAL AUGUST 14 – 22, 2010

KOREATOWN

KOREATOWN FESTIVAL KOREATOWN PARADE

2nd ANNUAL KBBQ FESTIVAL & COOK-OFF

AUGUST 7, 2010

HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN

HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN VETERAN’S PARADE

THAI TOWN 18th Annual Thai Cultural Day – September 19, 2010

THAI CURRY FESTIVAL

THAI TOWN NEW YEAR – SONGKRAN FESTIVAL

BENEFITS OF COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS $250,000 PRESERVE AMERICA GRANT

FOR HOSPITALITY & CULTURAL HERITAGE EDUCATION & TRAINING

Creating Community Economic Benefits

for Our API Communities.

Improving and Strengthening Our API Neighborhoods’ Image and Economy

Cultural Heritage & Hospitality Education & Training

Multilingual Workshops & Counseling for Businesses

Local Training Access through Speakers Bureau

Building Professional Capacity within Our Communities

Scholarships to Attend Workshops & Conferences

EAT, DRINK, ENJOY & COME AGAIN

Chinese American Museum Opening Historic Filipinotown

Veterans Monument

Little Tokyo WWII Memorial Dedication - 1999 Thai Town Angel

Japanese American National Museum

Korean American Museum

LA Koreatown: A Celebration of Community and Change Exhibit

Assess, Preserve, & Promote Our API Historic and Cultural Resources

Leverage Historic Assets for Economic Development and Community Revitalization.

Central Plaza – East Gate

Los Angeles Cultural Monument No. 826

Garnier Building in El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument – Home of Chinese American Museum

“Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana” –

largest Filipino American Mural in the Nation Chinatown Gateway Monument

Our Lady of

Loretto Church


Thai Town Shrine & Thailand Plaza Korean Philadelphia Presbyterian Church

Los Angeles Cultural Monument No. 91

JANM

Little Tokyo Historic District

National Historic Landmark

Business Incentives Program

Rejuvenating Chinatown’s Night Life

API Preserve America Neighborhoods Project OUR Next Steps

2010/2012 - Implementation of API Neighborhoods Cultural Heritage and Hospitality Education and Training Preserve America Grant Project

Conduct assessment of each API Neighborhoods' historic and cultural resources and hospitality services

Coordinate APISBP’s development of marketing curriculum for training workshops for local ethnic merchants;

Coordinate API SBP’s development and production of multilingual Cultural Heritage and Hospitality Training Handbook and DVDs of training workshops;

Schedule and develop API-multilingual Speakers Bureau series on cultural heritage tourism and historic preservation;

Develop scholarship program selection and priority guidelines for CRA/LA and API partner staff, interns, educators, and volunteers to attend in-state or out-of-state cultural heritage or preservation conference or workshop.

Coordinate Development of VisitAsianLA website

Identify and Pursue Funding and Development of Sustainable Programs and Projects that Preserve, Promote, Revitalize, Connect, and Green L.A.’s API Historic Cultural Neighborhoods.

SOON TO COME…

STAY TUNED…

HONORING OUR PIONEERS AND UNITING FUTURE GENERATIONS

A CRA/LA-Community Partnership Project

Prepared By:

Sharon M.Y. Lowe, Esq.

Allyn Rifkin, P.E., RTPG

Asian

Pacific

Islander

Preserve

America

Neighborhoods

The History, Vision and Future of Thai Town

By

Chanchanit Martorell

Executive Director Thai Community Development Center

October 7, 2009

History

Designation Campaign of Thai Town Begins

Landmark Thai Community Needs Assessment Survey

Conducted in 1992

Under the direction of Chanchanit Martorell and with the

support of Southern California Edison, the Thai Chamber of

Commerce and the Office of Los Angeles Councilman Michael

Woo, half a dozen Thai American college students were trained

to conduct a landmark community needs assessment survey of

the Thai community in 1992 in the aftermath of the LA Civil

Unrest.

Designation Campaign of Thai Town

The 1992 Civil Unrest presented an ideal opportunity to address the social and economic disparities that existed between low-income communities of color and affluent White communities

The needs assessment would serve as an advocacy tool documenting the demographics of the Thai community, their social and economic characteristics, and their human service needs for the first time while demonstrating their support for Thai Town as a community economic development strategy

The research team also interviewed key individuals and leaders from Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Koreatown to determine the history of their community’s development

The first Thai Town proposal was submitted to the Office of Councilman Michel Woo in 1992 and no action was taken at that time

The adverse impact of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake suspended the Thai Town designation campaign

The campaign was resurrected again in 1998

Thai CDC convened several meetings in the Thai community in 1998 to recruit individuals for the Thai Town Formation Committee which would serve as the representative community body of the Thai Town campaign

Survey Results of 1992

Over 600 surveys were collected

371 surveys were analyzed

Results from the surveys reflected an overwhelming support for a Thai Town and for Thai Town to be more than just a commercial center

The majority believes that Thai Town should be located in the eastern section of Hollywood, California

Survey Results: Occupation

Survey Results: Income

Survey Results: Age

Survey Results: Residency

Location of Thai Town

Survey results indicated preference for East Hollywood as

the location of Thai Town for the following reasons: It has served as the historic port of entry for newly arrived Thai immigrants

spanning 45 years

Over the years, East Hollywood has become the enclave for Thai-owned businesses and Thai immigrants who work and reside in the area

Chanchanit Martorell also cited easy access to public transit and freeways as the Hollywood/Western intersection would be the future location of the Metro Red Line and a transit corridor would exist between East Hollywood and North Hollywood connecting Wat Thai of Los Angeles and another significant Thai community to Thai Town

There is also cache in the name Hollywood and Thai Town could benefit from its highly active and worldwide tourism

Vision

Thai Town as a Community Economic Development

Strategy:

Places the well-being of people and quality of life within

the area as paramount

The development of Thai Town should address the

fundamental needs of its residents for decent jobs,

economic security, and decent and affordable housing

Thai Town can achieve the three E’s –

empowerment

education

entrepreneurship

Thai Town as a Community Economic Development Strategy

It would provide an opportunity for people to take

charge of the development process more fully

Local residents bear the burden of what happens in

their community so theirs should be the prevailing

voice in the decisions about any plans to be

implemented as a matter of simple justice

Education through focus group meetings and charrettes

could serve as the mechanism through which

empowerment is fostered

Thai Town as a Community Economic Development Strategy

Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in the sustenance and vitality of Thai Town

Overall, the goal of Thai Town is to improve the financial well-being of economically disadvantaged people through fostering economic independence and self-reliance

Thai Town emphasizes exchange and equity, focusing on the community’s current skills, abilities and resources

Thai Town can improve the area’s economic and social strength

Thai Town can develop resources that will nourish households and neighborhoods by encouraging for example neighborhood banking and local purchases so that dollars are being circulated in the community

Additional Mission and Objectives of Thai Town

Promote neighborhood pride, multi-cultural exchange and cultural tourism

Identify and create economic development projects, e.g. cooperative markets, community banks, business incubators

Promote unity among diverse ethnic groups in the area

Encourage start up of Thai businesses in the area

Promote beautification of the neighborhood through an organized citywide plan aimed at improving the streetscape on Hollywood Blvd.

Promote democratic decision-making in the Thai community by allowing Thais to be actively involved in the future of Thai Town

Improve housing and other amenities for low-income families

Create a community center that will serve as a business, community and cultural center

Create infrastructure and institutions that will support future community projects

Heighten awareness of Thai culture

Promote cultural preservation

Additional Mission and Objectives of Thai Town

Preserve the Thai community’s cultural integrity

Enhance an ethnically diverse area

Put demands on the greater polity and local institutions

Encourage Thais to interact with the greater community

Ask for concessions not as Thais in Thailand but as Thai Americans residing in LA

Advance social and material goals requiring participation and interest from the rest of the Thai community as a united entity

Act of assertion of one’s community consciousness

Declare that the Thai community exists in LA, occupies a space, defining itself as a community associated with a place in history

Engage Thais in a community building process

Count Thais as more than just another part of the “rich tapestry” but a united entity that can come to a consensus

Long Term Thai Town Plan

1. Housing

Making housing decent and affordable for individuals and families in the community.

2. Commercial Revitalization

Create an atmosphere in the community in which economic institutions (industry, small business, retail, etc.) find it attractive to conduct business while simultaneously retaining and multiplying the consumer dollars in the community economy.

3. Jobs and Employment Training

Create quality jobs for local residents and eliminate high levels of unemployment in low-income communities. Also, provide training so that individuals may develop skills necessary for gainful employment.

4. Small Business Development.

Induce specific entrepreneurs (i.e. retailers and vendors) to locate in and service the community markets; making financial resources accessible to small start-up investors; developing commercial and industrial space. Overall, business development strategies have multiple goals aimed at strengthening a community’s economy, such as creating jobs, training workers, providing needed services, and attracting and circulating money in the neighborhood.

5. Land Use and Amenities

Advocate proper and socially responsible land use to benefit the community (i.e. building schools, hospitals, gyms, recreation centers, creating parks and open space), and determining the ownership of the land. Provide amenities such as public libraries, cultural institutions, senior and youth centers. Provide security such as having an on-site police substation.

Long Term Thai Town Plan (Continue)

6. Social and Human Services

Develop long-term strategy for greater involvement in social service oriented economic development. Explore the potential for human services (health, educational, and social) to become economic development activities.

7. Financial Services

Provide financial assistance that would help fund special projects (i.e. arts, cultural, recreational), help start up specific business incubators.

8. Transportation

Advocate for public transportation network and incentives.

Thai Town Designation Campaign in 1998

Chanchanit Martorell proposed a new strategy for the resurrected campaign that

would demonstrate broad based support for Thai Town with boundaries that

would encompass a smaller area to make the designation more politically viable

and in addition, the following steps were taken:

The Thai Town Formation Committee was formed comprising of different

sectors of the Thai community (business, arts, media, labor, and

professionals) and Thai CDC trained them in the participatory democratic

process and civic engagement

They canvassed East Hollywood and collected signatures from mostly non-

Thais and got postcards and letters of support from the broader community

sent to Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg

Victory

After recognizing broad based support for Thai Town, Councilwoman Jackie

Goldberg introduced a motion in the Los Angeles City Council on October 27, 1999

and Thai Town was designated by a unanimous vote of the council making it the first

official municipal designation in the world.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the Thai Town signs was held in January 2000.

In attendance were members from various communities, local, state and federal

representatives along with representatives of the Thai government.

Measuring the Success of Thai Town

The success of Thai Town should be measured on how well it

contributes to the overall development process and how well it

satisfies the basic rights for decent jobs, economic security, and

decent and affordable housing.

Thai Town Boundaries

1992

Encompassed a larger area that ran from

Hollywood to Melrose and Vermont to La

Brea.

1998

Because the East Hollywood community is so diverse and multi-

ethnic, we did not want the community to feel like we were balkanizing

the area so we proposed a smaller area. Also, to make it walkable and create a

Thai ambiance, we also needed the area to be more compact. Therefore, we

proposed a 6 block stretch from Western Ave. to Normandie Ave. on

Hollywood Blvd.

Highlights of Accomplishments

Thai CDC published/commissioned/completed the following landmark studies

and research on Thai Town:

1. The Thai Town Atlas and Community Analysis by Ernesto J. Vigoreaux of the UCLA Department of Urban Planning for Thai CDC, 2000

2. A Land Use Assessment of Thai Town by Jennifer S. Wang and Donna Pang of the UCLA Department of Urban Planning for Thai CDC, 2001

3. Thai Town Area Agency Report by Ernesto J. Vigoreaux, funded by The California Endowment for Thai CDC, 2001

4. Surveying East Hollywood: A Profile and Needs Assessment of the Business Community by Shea Cunningham and Thai CDC, funded by Washington Mutual Bank and Office of Councilman Eric Garcetti, 2002


More studies completed in conjunction with Thai CDC:

5. Public Markets as Sites for Immigrant Entrepreneurship in East Hollywood by Matthew Lum, UCLA Department of Urban Planning for Thai CDC, 2007

6. Marketplace of Purpose: A Feasibility Analysis of Thai Town’s First Public Market by Alexander R. Holsheimer, UCLA Department of Urban Planning for Thai CDC, 2009


Successfully secured a East Hollywood Streetscape Project from the Community

Redevelopment Agency of LA who has allocated $1.3 million for the project.


Organized and held Live, Work and Play in East Hollywood Consumer Resource and Health Fair annually in Thai Town since

2000


Founded the Thai Town Festival in 2001 which has evolved into the annual Thai New Year’s Day Songkran Festival/International Curry Festival and 5K Run/Walk

making Thai Town a cultural destination and increasing tourism and visitation into the

area. The festival now attracts 100,000 visitors.


Successfully negotiated community benefits from the East Hollywood Redevelopment Plan by the Community Redevelopment Agency of LA that included historic preservation,

affordable housing, small business preservation, open space, pocket parks, landscaping,

and parking.


Installed the Thai Town Angel Apsonsi Gateway in 2006 as markers to welcome

visitors at the western entrance of Thai Town. Installation of the eastern entrance gateway

is pending construction.


Co-founded the Thai Town Rotary Club in 2007


Obtained the designation of Thai Town as a

Preserve America Neighborhood by

the White House in 2008 placing Thai Town on

the map nationally.

Proposed Plans

Fulfill recommendations of the East Hollywood Business Needs Assessment Survey

Utilize Manage Neighborhood Change tools and strategies to prevent displacement of residents and small businesses from gentrification

Build the Thai Town Marketplace as a business incubator, engine of job creation, and placemaking project

Complete construction of the East Hollywood Streetscape

Create a Community Design Overlay/Master Plan

Create a Business Improvement District

Designate Bangkok as a Sister City of Los Angeles

Develop a mixed use project to serve as a community and cultural center

Develop more affordable housing

Organize a trade mission to take city leaders to Thailand to meet with the Thai government and consortium of investors to pitch investment in Thai Town

Install Thai stylized pedestrian street lamps along Hollywood Blvd.

Implement the Preserve America project for FY 2009 to promote cultural tourism and business hospitality

History of Thai Town Community Stakeholders

Thai Town Formation Committee (1998-1999)

Comprised and representative of diverse sectors of the Thai community including business, arts, labor,

community organizations, media and professionals from throughout Los Angeles with the mission of

campaigning for the designation of Thai Town.

Thai Town Merchant Association (1999-2001)

Comprised of local Thai Town merchants with the mission of beautifying, improving and promoting the area.

Thai Town Advisory Council (2003-2004)

Comprised of diverse sectors of the Thai community from throughout Los Angeles with the mission of

promoting Thai Town and seeking investment opportunities from the Thai government and Thai investors.

Thai Town Preserve America Honorary Committee (2008 – Present)

Comprised of diverse sectors of the Thai community from throughout Los Angeles with the mission of

providing guidance and input on Preserve America projects for Thai Town.

Thai Town Preserve America Honorary Committee

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