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Press Release

For Immediate Release                                             

May 1, 2001                                                                

Contact:  Jacquelyn Maruhashi                     

Asian Law Alliance

(408) 287-9710

PRESS CONFERENCE:

On May 3, at 5:45 p.m., Professor Paul Fong and other community leaders will convene a press conference regarding the proposed dilution of the Asian Pacific American community from 44.2% to 38.7% in San Jose City Council District 8.  Thereafter, Professor Paul Fong will facilitate a strategizing meeting with community leaders concerning this important issue.  Both the Press Conference and community meeting will take place at the Asian Law Alliance located at 184 East Jackson Street in San Jose.

Fair redistricting is a critical issue to the empowerment of the Asian Pacific American community.  As you know, every ten years after the Census, political jurisdictions such as the County and the City of San Jose, redraw their district boundaries to equalize the growth in population between the districts.  How a boundary is drawn will determine the political power of that community.  If a community of interest is divided between two districts, the community will have a difficult time voting into office, a candidate of its choice.  If a District has 50% or more Asian Pacific American (APA) population, it is a majority/minority district that may have protection from minority vote dilution under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

A unified Asian Pacific American community is needed to preserve City Council District 8 as an Asian Pacific American community District and to maximize the APA community of interest in Supervisorial District 3.  Time is of the essence since the last chance for public comment before the San Jose Redistricting Commission is May 9, 2001. 

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