Nikkei Man: Santa Monica P.D.;Copped out on Firing
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aci ic citizen National Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League S. 1009 on Senate Backburner-Amendments Submitted By Grayce Uyehara is cleared of S. 79 either by invoking tee was offered by Sen. Bill Roth WASHINGTON, D.C. - The filibus cloture or by an agreement to put (R-Del) to stretch out the authoriza ter on S. 79, known as the 'high risk' the bill down to be taken up again tion of appropriations over five fis bill, which requires employers to at another time, S. 1009 is on stand cal years. notify workers who are exposed to by . The Bulletin further states that substances that pose a substantial The March 18 Legislative Bulletin the time offloor action is uncertain. health risk, continues on the Senate of the Democratic Policy Committee The Democratic floor managers ar~ floor this week The Senate debate has published a report of S. 1009, Senators Glenn and Spark Ma on this issue started on March 17. ''Wartime Relocation and Intern tsunaga and Republican floor man- As of this date, four votes to invoke ment of Civilians." ager is Sen. Roth. cloture have failed, and the filibus The Bulletin states that S. 1009 The three sections of S. 1009 are ter drones on for the second week was reported favorably, with an reviewed in the Summary: The JAClrLEC Washington office amendment on Aug. 4, 1987, by the Title I-"Accepts the findings of had been informed on the week of Governmental Affairs Committee by the Commission on Wartime Relo March 18 that S. 1009 is now actually voice vote. Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) cation and Internment of Civilians on the Senate calendar as the next is chair of this committee. The and contains an official apology to bill for floor action. Until the floor amendment passed by the commit- Continued on page 10 Positive 'Role Model' Pacific Citizen Photo By George Johnston POLICE INACTION-Won Nok Choe (I) and Gary Hamamoto (r) both believe their firings by the Santa Monica Police Department were Inouye Receives AAPAA Award unjustified and racially motivated. Both are considering legal action. By Laurie Mochidome Committee in 1~3 and chairing last BEVERLY HllLS, Calif. - Against year's Iran-Contra hearings. Cur Racial Motivation Believed a star-studded backdrop of nearly rently, he is secretary of the Demo 800, U.S. Sen. Daniel K Inouye (D cratic Conferenc~e third rank Hawaii) was honored by the Associ ing leader among Senate Democ Nikkei Man: Santa Monica ation of Asian Pacific American Art rats. He has held this position since ists (AAPAA) with its Lifetime 1~8 . P.D.;Copped Out on Firing Achievement Award. The March 21 Although past recipients of event, which took place in the AAP AA's Lifetime Achievement By George Johnston course he had ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Award have included actors Pat PASADENA, CaI.it: - Ever since he Hamamoto found out that as a Hotel, was AAPAA's fourth annual Morita and Keye Luke, AAPAA was a kid, he had a boyhood dream, probationary employee, he could "Jimmie" awards ceremony, which President Ernest Harada stressed just like millions of kids weaned on basic~ be fired without a reason. recognizes media and individual that honorees were not limited to shows like "Ad~12"-he wanted The Police Officers' Association contributions to the Asian Pacific those working within the entertain Ernest Harada to be a cop. Unlike most other kids, president told him that he thought American community. ment industry. 'The award," said his dream didn't get lost in the shuf the firing was unfair and to see the Inouye, who later told reporters Harada, ''is given to a person who 'this is what Asian Pacific Amer fle of adolesence. association attorney. Hamamoto re he had been "shocked" to learn of by his or her example has brought icans are Let the media reflect the Born in Hawaii, he moved with ceived the same answer, but was his selection, was chosen by AAP AA honor and dignity to Asian Pacific reality.'" his family to Santa Monica, Calif. also advised by the attorney to take because of the positive "role model" Americans. Actor James Shigeta, in introduc while still a boy. His upbringing was a wait and see approach. ''I could he represents for Asian and Pacific "It is inseparable from what the ingInouye, added, ''WbatAAPAA is suburban and upper-middle class. never really figure out why they Americans. goals and ideals of AAPAA are--an trying to accomplish in the enter He joined in the police Explorers, fired me." The 64 year-old senator and war Asian Pacific American that repre tainment industry, Dan Inouye has where he led others as a captain, Academically, Hamamoto feels hero has gained prominence for, sents in life what we strive to ac done with his entire life ... Sen. Dan the top rank in that Explorer post his record was more than accept among achievements, serving as a complish in the media-someone Inouye continues to be a positive While going to school to earn an AA able. ''I finished second in the police member of the Senate Watergate we can point to with pride and say, role model-not just for the mem degree in criminal justice, he was a academy, I finished second in the bers of our community, [but] for all member of a police cadet program, reserve academy, I graduated with Americans ... and he has done it gaining insight and practical experi honors with my AA degree in clim with dignity and integrity." ence under the tutelage of full-time inal justice ... " NotJustinltfortheLaughs A 'Seal of Approval' police officers. He attended the Even so, Hamamoto was unable By George Johnston he thinks redress and monetary Upon accepting the award, the police academy, becoming the top to get hired at other police depart LOS ANGELES - Bob Matsueda is compensation are necessary for Ja senator admitted he was "at a loss recruit (number two overall) from ments. Because he was fired while a man with a mission ... a mission panese Americans interned during for words. the Santa Monica Police Depart under probation, he was unable to to enlighten, educate and sensitize WW2. "For many years and throughout ment, his eventual employer. In obtain his Peace Officer Standards people. His method is comedy. this lifetime of mine, I have received 1983-84, for the eight months of his and Training (poST) certificate, a Matsueda, 29, was the entertain many awards and honors," he said probationary period, he had vital credential for becoming a ment on March 26 at the 46th annual "But the award you bestow upon me achieved his dream: He was a cop. police officer. Western Young Buddhists League this evening is a very special one, So why is Gary Hamamoto now a Racially Motivated? Conference at the Los Angeles Air one that I will always cherish be sales clerk at a department store? Unable to figure out why he was port Hyatt Hotel. Although he has cause it represents to me a seal of State of Shock unqualified, Hamamoto went been doing comedy for a few years approval n-om my racial and ethnic In January 1984, three days before through a period of self-doubt After now, this was his first performance peers. And for me there's nothing his probationary period was a few months, his wife, Cheryl, asked in about a year and a half higher than that" finished, Hamamoto learned that he him why they might want to get rid After laying off stand-up comedy Earlier in the program, which was was fired 'There was basically no of him; he couldn't come up with an to attend to a number of personal emceed by KABC-TV anchorwoman legitimate reason for my being let answer. She asked him if he thought items, including studying for the bar Joanne Ishimine and former televi go. They called me in, gave me my it could be racially motivated. "At exam, Matsueda was a bit anxious, sion anchollnan Mario Machado, last evaluation and told me I wasn't first I thought 'No way.' She said, 'Do especially during the first minutes AAPAA honored the contributions going to make probation-I read it they make jokes about you in the of the show. Matsueda, who uses of the entertainment industry to the over real quick-I was in a state of department?' I said 'Well, yes they some off-color language in his Asian Pacific American community. ,shock," he recounted "I bad a long did, but it's just jokes.'" routines, met with "dead silence" Named for the late cademy history with the department, all Thinking that the racial jokes may after the first profanity. Fortunately, Award-winning cinematographer positive." have indicated some below the sur the young crowd didn't take long to Jame Wong Howe, AAPAA' "Jim After the initial shock wore off: face hostility, she suggested that her get warmed up to the man described mie" awards al 0 recognize enter Hamamoto examined his last evalu husband go to the Department of by some as the "Asian American tainment production companie ation, which held the basis for his Fair Employment and Housing Richard Pryor." which create balanced and reaH tic termination. He found a number of (DFEH). Hamamoto went there and Political Basis image of Asian Pacific Anlerican .questionable items. He contacted told one of the representatives his The description is meant as a and which e. 'pandjob opportunitie the Santa Monica City Personnel story. The investigation took about compliment and while the Pryor in A few years ago, Matsueda wa for Asian artists b hind and in front Board and the Santa Monica Police a year, with findings coming out on fluence is obvious, it is also some going to colleges to make pre enta of the camera .