Asian Pacific Islander Preserve America Neighborhoods A CRA/LA-Community Partnership Project Celebrating LA’s Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage 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
Promote API Community Pride
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. 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 ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM Protect and Celebrate API Culture and Heritage.
Ensure the program’s focus on quality and authenticity both historically and culturally. Preserve Authenticate Remember Market Engage Employ Strategize Revitalize Energize Interpret Reach Out Collaborate Visualize Achieve 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. IDENTIFY YOUR ARSENAL PEOPLE
HISTORY CULTURE
PLACES Strengthen and Promote API Community Coalitions & Collaboration ENGAGE & ENCOURAGE BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER PRESERVE AMERICA NEIGHBORHOODS CRA/LA’S COMMUNITY PARTNERS
CHINATOWN HISTORIC KOREATOWN LITTLE TOKYO THAI TOWN PRESERVE FILIPINOTOWN PRESERVE COORDINATING PRESERVE AMERICA AMERICA COALITION AMERICA COUNCIL HONORARY COALITION COALITION COMMITTEE
MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS MEMBERS Friends of Chinese Pilipino American Koreatown Youth (LTTC Has Over 80 Thai Community American Museum Network & and Community Members. Partial Development (Lead CBO) Center (KYCC) Members Listing Below) Corporation Advocacy (PANA) Chinatown Community Korean American Little Tokyo Service (Lead CBO) Search to Involve Advisory Committee Federation of Center Community Pilipino Americans Chinatown Business Los Angeles Development Corp. Thai Town Formation (SIPA) improvement District (KAFLA) (Lead CBO) Committee (Lead CBOs) Chinatown Service Center (Lead CBOs) 100/442/MIS WWII
Chinese America Citizens Veterans Memorial Thai Association of Historic Filipinotown Alliance Korean American Foundation Southern California Neighborhood Council, Inc. Chinese Consolidated Chamber of Commerce of East West Players
Benevolent Association Los Angeles Friends of Little Tokyo Rotary Club Thai Community Arts and Chinese Historical Society Branch Library Cultural Center of Southern California Korean American Go for Broke National Historic Filipinotown Chinese Chamber of Museum Education Center Chamber of Commerce Thai Town Rotary Club Commerce of Los Angeles Japanese American
Elderly Indochinese Korean American Coalition Community Services Filipino American Service Thai New Year’s Day Americans Association Japanese American Group (FASGI) Songkran Committee Evans Community Adult Koreatown Immigrant Cultural & Community
School Workers Alliance Center Filipino American Friends of Chinatown Japanese American Community of Los Angeles Library Koreatown Organizations National Museum
Hai Nam Association of Association Japanese Chamber of Pilipino Workers Center Southern California Commerce of Southern Historic Cultural Korean Resource Center California Neighborhood Council Little Tokyo Business Indochinese American Korean Health Education Association Political Action Committee Information & Resource Little Tokyo Community PAMC Foundation Center Advisory Committee Southern California Little Tokyo Residents Fukienese Association Wilshire Center/Koreatown Association Teo Chew Association Neighborhood Council Visual Communications
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 TOURISM BY THE NUMBERS 2009 QUICK FACTS
• 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.
Source: http://discoverlosangeles.com/business-services/research-and-reports/TOURISMSTATS2010.pdf WELCOME AND EXPERIENCE OUR LOS ANGELES
MALIGAYANG PAGDATING ようこそ
환영 歡迎 ยินดีต้อนรับ BIEN VENIDO WELCOME TO LOS ANGELES
BIEN VENIDO ようこそ BIENVENUE 歡迎 WILLKOMMEN ยินดีต้อนรับ 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
Creating Community Economic Benefits for Our API Communities.
BENEFITS OF COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS $250,000 PRESERVE AMERICA GRANT FOR HOSPITALITY & CULTURAL HERITAGE EDUCATION & TRAINING 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 Assess, Preserve, & Promote Our API Historic and Cultural Resources
Japanese American National Museum
Thai Town Angel Little Tokyo WWII Memorial Dedication - 1999
Chinese American Museum Opening Historic Filipinotown Veterans Monument Korean American Museum LA Koreatown: A Celebration of Community and Change Exhibit Leverage Historic Assets for Economic Development and Community Revitalization. “Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana” – Chinatown Gateway Monument largest Filipino American Mural in the Nation
Our Lady of Loretto Church Historic Filipinotown
Garnier Building in El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument – Home of Chinese American Museum
Central Plaza – East Gate Los Angeles Cultural Monument No. 826
JANM Thai Town Shrine & Thailand Plaza Korean Philadelphia Presbyterian Church Little Tokyo Historic District Los Angeles Cultural Monument No. 91 National Historic Landmark Business Incentives Program
Rejuvenating Chinatown’s Night Life GO 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 sian A UNITING FUTURE GENERATIONS
Pacific
Islander
Preserve
America
Neighborhoods A CRA/LA-Community Partnership Project Prepared By: Sharon M.Y. Lowe, Esq. Allyn Rifkin, P.E., RTPG 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 1998
Because the East Hollywood community is so diverse and multi- ethnic, we did not want the community to feel like we were balkanizing Encompassed a larger area that ran from the area so we proposed a smaller area. Also, to make it walkable and create a Hollywood to Melrose and Vermont to La 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 Brea. 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
Highlights of Accomplishments
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
Highlights of Accomplishments
Successfully secured a East Hollywood Streetscape Project from the Community Redevelopment Agency of LA who has allocated $1.3 million for the project.
Highlights of Accomplishments
Organized and held Live, Work and Play in East Hollywood Consumer Resource and Health Fair annually in Thai Town since 2000
Highlights of Accomplishments
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.
Highlights of Accomplishments
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.
Highlights of Accomplishments
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.
Highlights of Accomplishments
Co-founded the Thai Town Rotary Club in 2007
Highlights of Accomplishments
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